Easily one of the best food I've had in Boston!! Every dish blew me away. I will be trying to grab the reservation for when my family comes to visit (reservations open a month in advance online I believe). Definitely worth the price! Our party tried: - warm gyro bread - avocado muhummara - citrus salad - black sea cornbread (A MUST) - sicilian cauliflower - octopus panzanella (thick pieces of octopus!) - king salmon - moroccan street carrots - sesame fried chicken (SO CRISPY) - harissa bbq duck - milk chocolate frozen yogurt (the toppings were AMAZING) The only cons were that it was quite loud inside and that even though we made our reservation a while in advance, they did not accommodate the nut allergy in our group. They did make sure to tell the person every time there were nuts in a dish. read more

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As a late night dinner, this place was the perfect spot to go! I truly enjoyed all of the dishes we ate here, as well as the wonderful staff who were attentive and quick to help out when needed. Since we were dining near their closing time, I think the food serving was a little rushed, but they were very prompt with clearing out empty plates so it didn't become too big of an issue. The first dish I really loved was the dip with burrata, it was SO tasty and melted in my mouth! It was a little spicy, sweet, and savory all at the same time. We also got some bread for dipping, and that was amazing as well due to the added spices and fluffiness. I was also surprised at their falafel hushpuppies, which were so soft and flavorful, definitely the best falafel I've ever had! Their mole carrots were also delicious, also arriving with a yummy dipping sauce underneath. We also tried the gnocchi mac and cheese, which was really good, but slightly mushier than I'd have liked. The gnocchi kind of started melting into the rest of the dish due to this. Lastly, I especially loved their cornbread! It was much denser than I'd expected, which meant I could only fit in a couple of bites, but I seriously savored each bite. When we brought this dish home, it was still delicious after reheating the next day. Overall, I can't wait to come back again to try other seasonal dishes! read more

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Service was a strong highlight of the night--our waitress was attentive, welcoming, and made sure we were taken care of from start to finish. The restaurant itself has a trendy, lively vibe, but it's very loud, even on a weekday. Tables are close together, which made the space feel tight and a bit chaotic at peak hours. The menu is ambitious and creative, but execution was inconsistent, especially considering the high price point. The Black Sea Cornbread ($19, 9.5/10) was outstanding--rich, comforting, and unlike anything I've had before. The Brussels Sprout Bravas ($18, 10/10) were perfectly crisp and balanced. We also loved the Ora King Salmon ($37, 9/10), which had great acidity and depth, and the Steak Shawarma ($42, 9.5/10), which was flavorful and tender (my husband devoured it). On the downside, several dishes didn't deliver. The Spinach Artichoke Dip ($24, 7.5/10) was interesting but not memorable. The Lentil Nachos ($24, 6/10) were fine but underwhelming. The Chicken Wings ($25, 4.5/10) were overly fried and heavily seasoned, while the Eggplant Fries ($19, 4/10) and Parsnip Poppers ($24, 3.5/10) were visually appealing but lacked flavor. Overall, there are a few standout dishes, but many plates didn't justify the cost. Creative concept, but overpriced and overhyped for our taste. read more

3.5 stars Was really excited I was able to snag a last minute reservation here, since this has been on my list for a long time. We had: - Black Sea Cornbread - Harissa BBQ Duck - Scallops - Jerk Chicken Fatteh - Brussel Sprout Bravas - Fried Chicken The cornbread I must admit was delicious. Also really enjoyed the scallops! The fried chicken was a dish we added at the end of our meal since we were still hungry. At this point, we had ordered 5 dishes for 2 people. So they were walking around with the fried chicken and it actually ended up being one of our faves here. Sadly, they charge a 5% kitchen appreciation fee. Really don't like the restaurants that have a surcharge - please just include it in your fees instead of at the end. As customers, we do not like seeing that! Overall, I thought the food here was above average, but it didn't blow me away. Had a good dining experience though and the service was great. Parking was a nightmare. Very difficult to find street parking and we had to park pretty far. read more

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Charming spot in Somerville near City Hall and Somerville High school. Very hard to get reservations . Resy one month in advance. Well worth it though. Warm open space with a large bar area. The food is boldly spiced which I love (even the gyro bread though). Went with our waitress's suggestions. Had the warm gyro bread, Black Sea cornbread (a must order), beet tahini, fava bean pate (different and delicious), Tunisian brik tacos (light but tasty), rock shrimp tempura (good but a little heavy), mushroom manti (loved it), branzino (hard to go wrong with branzino). For dessert got the bici bici, halva and peanut crunch ( the desserts are not too sweet which I like, but on the smaller side). Interestingly there is no sarma on the menu. If I lived in the area I'd go often read more

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Located in Cambridge so it's a quick ride from Burlington or Boston. The restaurant itself was super busy for a Tuesday night but we were able to get seated at the bar. The tables are all reservation but they keep some high tables open for walk ins. The bar is first come first serve. It is very busy inside and loud. You get to watch the chef if you sit at the bar which is cool. Service is quick and friendly here. The server was helpful and friendly. The menu is middle eastern tapas style. We ordered a few dishes and they were all great! Avocado Muhummara with warm gyro bread - the bread was nicely seasoned with Lebanese za'atar. We used it to dip in the avocado Muhummara which is basically an avocado hummus. Perfectly seasoned dip! I loved the addition of pistachio for texture. Black Sea cornbread - this was interesting. It wasn't bad but just different. The texture was kind of mushy. The feta cheese definitely added a salty flavor. Very decadent for sure. Sugar snaps - this was refreshing. The sugar snaps were crispy and the addition of fried quinoa added a good crunch! Zucchini fritters - this was ok. The frittered were kind of soggy inside. Nothing special about it. Brussels sprouts bravas - good and nicely seasoned. I loved the aioli. The sprouts were perfectly crispy. Frozen yogurt with havla caramel - the addition of sea salt and olive oil to the froyo was good but the additional addition of caramel was amazing! Perfect way to end the meal. read more

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Overall, all the food was delicious. Sarma does a good job of marrying different flavors offering unique flavor palates. Our server was also super sweet and affable, easily making small talk and showing interest in our experience. Some noteworthy food mentions: The first bite of the Black Sea Corn Bread was divine. It was warm, soft and juicy on the inside, crispy on the outside, and a blast of flavor. The creaminess of the feta paired perfectly with the heat of the hot peppers which was enhanced by the sweetness of honey, all held together by the thick cornbread mixture. The mixture of flavors in my mouth was divine. We got this to share, but I definitely could have eaten one whole order by myself. The Haloumi Saganaki was another unique combination of flavors: the sweetness of figs + acidity of tomatoes + sturdiness of the Haloumi + freshness of herbs was amazing. The (off-the-menu) fried chicken was perfectly crispy and fatty and juicy, but paired with the yogurt sauce, perfection in my mouth. Lastly, the unexpected jewel of the night was the rainbow carrots. The balance they served to the meal was comparable to the way fries add to a burger. Quite necessary and a game changer. Overall, everything was good and I had a great night with my girls in this super cool, vibey restaurant. read more

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I went there 3 times. Each time was a different experience. Each time, new dishes. I highly recommend it. The dishes are really delicious. read more

My wife and I wanted to try this for our anniversary. Par for the course, it was a last minute decision with no reservation. For those who know Sarma, it is always a very popular place that books out weeks in advance. Thankfully though the friendly staff were able to take our name for walk ins and we got bar seating after waiting for one drinks worth. For the also poor planners out there, if you are risking it without reservation I would recommend going early or late. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable. Several worked together between bar tender, waiter and busser to answer various questions we had with the menu and guaranteed a pleasant evening. Finally the food. Let me start with saying the hype is worth it. Each dish we had was unique in flavor and a party on our taste buds. There is an element of spice with many dishes to be aware when ordering there may be a kick when eating. read more

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Simply amazing! Every single thing we had was delicious! The harissa duck was my absolute favorite followed by the cornbread. Amaro selection was awesome too! Service was great and prompt. Solid bustling ambiance I definitely want to come back and try more dishes read more

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I am in town for a few days and saw this place was 1200 feet from my rental. I walked over around 7pm and the place was packed on a Monday night. The place has a funky vibe between the colors, the brick, open kitchen and music selection. Cocktails were on pointe and every single thing was flawless. I had the zucchini fritters which are more like a bread pudding consistency. Perfect, creamy, little pops of pomegranate and pepitas. Next I had the baby artichokes which have a handful of different vegetables in it as well. Delicious. I ate the leftovers tonight with a spoonful of hummus. I would recommend getting the warm bread to go with this dish since it was rich. Lastly I had the lamb sliders which are perfection. The yogurt is so rich against the pickles and the spice is just right. The staff was on it and hustled in a way that showed their passion for the restaurant and that they are awesome! The bartenders recommended 2-3 items per person. I know I cannot eat a lot at one sitting but I wanted to try multiple things. I just had some of the leftovers for dinner and could likely get a third serving from it. Yes you should go! Yes you should make a reservation. read more

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We walked in on a Tuesday night around 9 pm and they had open tables. We ordered the avocado muhummara, Brussel sprouts brava, duck, chicken wings, and tuna tartare tacos. The flavors are all very interesting. The avocado muhummara paired with their pita bread was very good. I loved how it melted in your mouth. The chicken wings were crispy and moist on the inside (usually they walk around with this so don't order too much off the menu if you plan to get it). We weren't a huge fan of the duck as it was tough and a little gamey. The tuna tartare tacos had a good crunch and were super fresh! The restaurant was quite dark at night and people were chattering away quietly. The food is expensive!! Each plate can range from $15-30. read more

Sarma - Middle Eastern Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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Truly the best of boston. Still dreaming of the cornbread especially. Service was great as well, whether at the tables or by the bar

I've heard so many amazing things about Sarma and I'm glad I could finally come - great time, good food, overall amazing experience! We came here on a Sunday evening for dinner with reservations and we were seated pretty quickly - definitely make sure to reserve if coming to guarantee a spot and no wait! We made these plans a few weeks in advance to ensure we got a spot. Their decor was super pretty as well - that paired with a super lively atmosphere made for a nice night. The menu was honestly a little hard to read as it's all condensed onto one page, but the selection was good as there was a diverse mix of dishes. As a small dishes restaurant, we settled on a few to share and got our order in pretty fast. We got 5 to share between two people, but also managed to snag a fried chicken dish too - keep your eyes open for the that as it's an a la carte option where a server walks around and you grab it from them. Everything was really delicious and great to share. I enjoyed the cornbread, scallops, and chicken the best - the cornbread and chicken are a must for sure! Their drinks were also tasty as well - not too strong but not too watered down either. We ended the night with one of their desserts and it was such a sweet way to go out. We had a great time and I'll definitely be back as soon as I can. Thanks, Sarma! read more

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Spectacular in all aspects. Crowded but deservingly so. Get a res 30 days in advance for no stress. This place is a must try. Everything was so yummy with the chickpea fritters, mole carrots, harissa duck, octopus, and duck confit being sleeper picks that i dont see talked about much! The cornbread of course was an amazing set up to the rest of the meal. The brussel sprouts were good but not mind blowing and that was shocking because everyone talks about them, though I think its a presentation issue more than anything because the star of them is the sauce at the bottom but because its tight packed in a traditional bravas style bowl, you can't scoop it without making a huge mess and so you miss the sauce on a majority- i think you can skip this. Would also skip the fried chicken as it was also good but just not as mind blowing as the rest of them. No desserts because we were stuffed but this is the best restaurant in boston and its not close. read more

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Sarma comes highly recommended and it does not disappoint. My friend and I waited an hour and a half for seats at the bar, and I think it was worth it. The service was friendly, but quick given how busy they were. I loved that every bite was a playful blend of flavors. Each dish was unique and memorable. - Black sea cornbread: I was hesitant to order this because I'm not the biggest fan of Feta, but the Feta is very faint and blends in seamlessly with the sweetness of the honey. The cornbread just melts in your mouth while the sesame keeps it from getting too overwhelming. - avocado muhummara: one of my favorite burrata eating experiences that perfectly danced between different textures and flavors. The crunch from the pistachio crisp paired well with the buttery-ness of the avocado and burrata. It was sweet, it was savory, it was slightly spicy from the chili oil. It was delicious. - crab orzotto: this dish was great, but paled in comparison to the above. I thought the flavors were more muted and the texture was more mushy overall. - chicken karaage: this one is not on the menu, and honestly it's nothing unique. It's crispy and the coating itself is light, but it does leave an oily after taste. read more

Sarma is chef's kiss of a place. First and foremost, if you have any trouble booking a table on Opentable or Resy, then be sure to call the restaurant directly at least a couple weeks before your desired reservation date. This is what I did and I didn't have any trouble reserving a table for a Saturday night. Also, in terms of transportation the Gilman train stop is nearby and if you plan to drive, then you can easily find street parking on Dana Street or Medford Street. My boyfriend and I have been dying to try Sarma and it exceeded our expectations. You MUST order the Black Sea cornbread, lentil nachos, and Istanbul Bronzino. Here's a list of some of the items that we tried for dinner. Warm Gyro Bread 4/5 - The gyro bread is warm and freshly seasoned with zaatar. It is accompanied with a side salad with greens, sprouts, and onions covered in an acidic dressing. The gyro bread was good, however the cornbread stole the show, Black Sea Cornbread 5/5 - The cornbread was covered in toasted sesame seeds and served at the perfect temperature. It was such a unique flavor and each bite felt like a warm hug from an old friend. Lentil Nachos 5/5 - The lentil nachos were topped with a whipped feta cheese, pickled vegetables, and some green herbs. This dish was such a unique blend of flavors and textures, which you could easily devour within minutes. Istanbul Bronzino 5/5 - the Bronzino was served like a taco in a flaky and tasty shell with a side sauce. The fish was nicely seasoned and was presented in perfect bite size portions. Armenian Cheesesteak 4.5/5 - The cheesesteak was wrapped in a fluffy, warm, and freshly made pita and dressed with a pickled vegetable. It's definitely worth the hype! Harissa BBQ Duck 5/5 - The duck is served on a skewer complimented by pieces of citrus fruit on-top of it as a garnish. The duck was tender, juicy, and delicious. read more

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I was really looking forward to dining here for a long time, since it's so hard to get a reservation. I REALLY wanted this experience to blow me away given the hype that I've heard and read. I'm a foodie and love dining out, trying all types of eclectic cuisines, and mediterranean cuisine is one of my favorites. Overall assessment - the dishes were too salty, and too heavy. This coming from someone who is not at all shy on salt in my own cooking, and I LOVE all types of sauces and condiments. The dishes need more balance to them. It wasn't all bad: The Black Sea Cornbread was totally delicious and unique - it's a sweet/savory dish, although it's almost sweet enough to be a dessert. But the texture was ethereal, light, nice balance with a bit of feta and jalapeno. This was the # 1 dish of the night. We also had wonderful cocktails, very well balanced. The other dishes we had were the Sugar Snaps, Fried Chicken (that was brought around as a special, it wasn't on our original plan to order), and King Salmon. In each case, I feel like each dish could have been amazing if the sauces that accompanied were different. Salmon is already a rich fish, so the sauces overpowered it; the sugar snaps were crisp and fresh but the quinoa that blanketed it was way too salty; the chicken was fried chicken thighs, which again are already very rich so the thick dipping sauce that came with it made it much too heavy - would have been better with a contrasting accompaniment. The people sitting next to us appeared to have a similar experience - they couldn't finish their dishes, since the plates are not really "small" given, again, how rich and heavy they are. I will say, since it was my first time, I'm going to give Sarma one more try, since maybe I just picked the wrong dishes (for me). The service was very good, both at the front desk and our server, so compliments to them. read more

We have moved closer and have since come to Sarma probably over six times in the last year or so. It still is one of the best restaurants in New England period, let alone Boston or Somerville. The ambiance is casual, modern, and Mediterranean vibes. The most recent menu items we enjoyed, though the menu rotates often, were the scallops in tamarind sauce, the yam kipur, lamb crunch rolls, and Turkish calamari. My husband and I always finish with the mint tea which has proven time and time again to be the way to do it. I would recommend probably 4-5 dishes for 2 people. The bread options don't generally come with the dips or shmears, so don't order those assuming that. Service has always been really good, but in our experience it has been better at the bar than the tables. We often get in without a reservation by waiting outside the restaurant in line before it opens, but for a larger party make a reservation! read more

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I have been recommended Sarma by so many Boston friends so I was super excited to check it out -- and it did not disappoint! I was unable to get a reservation in advance (they were snapped up in seconds for a Saturday night) so I walked in shortly after they opened and was told there was a 2 hour wait. They texted updates on the wait time through the Resy reservation system. My favorite dishes were the Black Sea cornbread and the lamb loin chops. The Black Sea Cornbread was the perfect combination of sweetness, savoriness, crispiness and spiciness. The variety of textures in this dish made it super fun. I also really enjoyed the depth of flavor in the lamb loin chops, with the cherry nuoc cham lending sweetness and banaganoush two ways giving it a smoky flavor. I had to order extra gyro bread to sop up all the delicious sauce. The fried chicken was also fantastic- definitely make sure it to grab it when you see if making it's rounds (it's not on the menu but will come out as soon as there's a fresh batch). The Brussels sprout braves were also delicious - definitely add chorizo! The only dishes that were good (but not amazing like the others) were the crab taramasamalata (cucumber dolmades, mango, crispy rice) which honestly reminded me a lot of a deconstructed crispy California roll, the seven layer hummus (hummus was nice and creamy but the flavors ended up blending too easily and got confusing) and the harissa bbq duck (carrot brown butter, orange blossom, almonds) which was too sweet. For dessert I tried the meyer lemon protokolopita with ginger and pomegranate - the flavors were well balanced and this was the perfect end to the meal! Highly recommend this restaurant and will definitely be back. read more

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This is gonna be two reviews because I forgot to write one from 2 years ago... woops!! And I want to dump my photos from then too. If you've watched Ratatouille, there's a scene where Remy is tasting the cheese and strawberry and there's fireworks as he savours each bite. That is is exactly what happens to me when I go to Sarma. I'm yet to be disappointed by them, even the things that are "okay" are still above the bar to the average restaurant. In Boston, there's not many restaurants that do this to your taste buds. The menu rotates seasonally so there's always something new to try throughout the year. Ok so.. July 2022 We came here for a friend's birthday, it was a group of 6 of us. We had Sarah as our server (I remember because she was our server again this year in 2024 and and it's hard to forget such a sweet personality). What we ordered: Black sea cornbread - this is a must get. Funny enoughthe flavours remind me of a quiche I make, except my quiche has meat. Avocado Muhummara Goat Cheese Katayif Brussel Sprouts Bravas - a must get Fennel Fritters - if it's crispy, I already love it. Blackened Shrimp Lentil Nachos Za'atar Bread - I wish the serving was more *cries* so many sauces that need cleaning up with this soft bread. Mushroom Larb - this was good but assembling my food isn't my forte Tuna Malawach Sesame Fried Chicken - this is off menu. They bring out a tray and walk around the restaurant with a limited amount so keep your eyes out for it if you want to try it/ have it with your meal. Now for April 2024 Sarma has always been a hot commodity but jeez it's like hunger games now to get a reservation. You can reserve by phone as of 5:30pm when they open for dinner or on Resy as of 10am but it has to be within 30 days of the date you want a table. I usually come here for special occasions and the most recent one was for my anniversary dinner. Our experience from start to finish was great. The hosts were welcoming and our server Sarah took very good care of us- I'll never forget when she sprinted for the last bowl of sesame fried chicken for us since we were towards the end of our meal and the tray hadn't gotten over to our side of the restaurant yet. We got a some staples: Brussel Sprout Bravas with Chorizo added Black sea cornbread Sesame Fried Chicken (off menu) New items that we tried: Pork Souvlaki - so juicy and tender, we should have order za'atar bread to sop up the tzatziki Lamb Loin Chops - drooling just thinking about it Beet Kibbeh - I enjoyed this, very refreshing notes but I would have skipped it if I had known the beet kibbeh was served cold. Thankfully it came out early on and the arayes were hot. I think this would do great in summertime. Halva Bites (dessert) - It was nice...The texture of the inside was new to me, like a finely grated/powdery paste. Being bite-sized made sense now that I reflect on it. Orange Creamsicle Frozen Yogurt (dessert) - this took me by surprise. I don't like citrus flavored foods and I liked this. And a shout out to Jenny with special treats at the end both times as well! read more

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Black Sea Cornbread: The unexpected blend of feta, honey, and sesame in the Black Sea Cornbread creates an amazing taste that deserves a perfect 5/5 rating. This is a must try! Manti: Among the offerings, the Manti stands out as a favorite. Its lightness and freshness, coupled with the combination of lamb merguez, potato leek soup, fava beans, and chili butter, make it a truly delicious dish that leaves a lasting impression. Sesame Fried Chicken: There was a lot of hype for this dish and although it was delicious, it wasn't my favorite. Although the chicken was juicy, the dish leaned heavily towards the fried side, making it a tad too heavy for some palates. Seven Layer Hummus: Was delicious and I love the bread! Lamb Kofte Sliders: Another highlight, with their juicy and tender texture complemented perfectly by the flavors of tomato, yogurt, sumac onions, and pickles. A definite must-try for any visitor. The food was incredible but the drinks were even better! Our server was so helpful in guiding us in what to get. He was knowledgeable and attentive. read more

Sarma - Middle Eastern Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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We had a really great dinner at Sarma! We tried the potatoes, broccolini, shrimp lettuce wraps, warm bread, shishito peppers, and a couple cocktails. Service was extremely attentive and the server even put in a request for a special dish for us that was off the menu. We did have to wait almost an hour for a seat to open up (including at the bar) because we didn't have a reservation. You are able to stand and order a drink or something from a limited food menu while you wait. read more

Sarma - Boom boom potatoes and shrimp lettuce wraps - Middle Eastern Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

I was finally able to visit Sarma after almost a year of trying to get a reservation and will def have to admit it lives up to the hype! We ordered around 8 dishes for 3 people and that was plenty of food. Highlights were the cornbread, brussels sprouts, and tuna tacos. However, I will admit that every single dish was too salty, especially the spicy Clams. The clams had an amazing taste profile but after a couple bites, all I could taste was just salt. Overall a great meal but wish it wasn't so salty! read more

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Amazing food! I highly recommend eating here if you're anywhere close by. So delicious. We had the AVOCADO MUHUMMARA, CHICKPEA FRITTERS, DUCK LEG CONFIT, and SALMON NIGIRI and we rate them from best to worst in that other, although I'd say the salmon nigiri was still like a 9/10 Trust these reviews, you won't be sorry. 100% read more

So glad we walked in and got bar seating right away. Cocktails were great, and the menu was hitting the spot. The Lamb Sliders were my favorite and one of my favorite bites our entire week in Boston. read more

Sarma - Black Sea Cornbread - very yummy - Middle Eastern Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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Overall: this is consistently rated highly across all platforms and is always suggested. Now I know why! Their dedication to customers is unmatched as they have specific menus that they bring depending on your dietary restrictions. Food: huge fan of roasted carrots and this did not disappoint. They extract the sweetness from the carrots superbly to blend it with (I think pomegranate?). Incredibly creative. The Asian pear salad on the contrary was not sweet. Rather they used the soft flavor of the pears to draw out tart flavors. Perfect balance with the pears. Then we ordered the stewed short rib. This was quite a culinary feat as it balanced the hearty rich beef stew that was quite tender. But added incredible texture with crispy deep fried noodles almost like Spanish fideuas (might be spelling wrong). Ambience/Decor/Service: very lowkey low lit date night kinda spot. Would highly recommend coming on a first date anniversary and any special occasion. Larger party the better so you can taste all the wonderful dishes. Service was quite good allowing us to have conversation but checking on us to make sure we had everything. read more

Pretty solid creative dishes. Found the avocado and the corn bread to be the best dishes. read more

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Sarma was a wonderful experience. The waitstaff is knowledgeable, timely and kind. There is a beautiful atmosphere and it is very elegant. The food was quick and delicious! Our waiter let us know to order about 4-6 plates for two people. We got 5 plates and it was the perfect amount of food. We ordered the scallops, pork belly biscuits, tuna tartar, steak gyros, and the fried chicken. The fried chicken was incredible! And the steak melted in my mouth. The only item I wasn't as impressed with was the pork belly. It was a little dry and bland compared to the incredible taste of everything else. All in all would highly recommend! read more

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We had a great meal at Sarma! The service was excellent and very attentive. I appreciated that it was an elevated ambiance without feeling upscale and unapproachable. The fusion of the dishes was just the right combination of traditional flavors with something new to keep it interesting. The sesame fried chicken had super crispy breading and the meat was really tender and moist. The sauce compliments it really well. It was served dimsum style, so you'll have to catch the waitress walking around! The avocado muhammara was so delicious with the fresh pita. I loved the crunchiness of the seeds/nut combination with the burrata cheese. There were a few bites that were a bit too salty, but balanced with the pita it wasn't too bad. You can never go wrong with a seared scallop! This was definitely my favorite dish and I wish there were more of it! All elements of the dish were delicious. The scalloped potatoes complimented the scallops well. The harissa bbq duck was tasty, but the other dishes outshined it to me. My boyfriend enjoyed the duck the most - the meat was moist and tender. Would definitely come here again! read more

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Booking Samra is like playing a game of chance. You have literally about 30 seconds after the 10:00 AM start on a single day, about a month in advance, to snag a reservation. It isn't easy. I had to practice several times to get the knack, and even then it's part skill and part luck. Not what you might call real customer-friendly. Having scored a table at a good time, we were quite looking forward to Sarma again after a long hiatus. I thought we knew what to expect, so not too surprised at the noise level and crowding which is so common everywhere these days. But we were surprised to be met at the front by a young guy with straggly hair in a long rather disheveled tee-shirt and knee-length cut-offs - we imagined this was maybe a busboy but not a host. Minor point loss, but somehow it set the tone for the evening. The biggest surprise was the menu. We are both lactose intolerant, and this is the first time anywhere to see a separate dairy-free menu. We were delighted initially at the idea this could save a lot of Q&A with the wait staff as to what is or isn't safe to eat. Then we looked at the menu; it had just 13 items from appetizers through dessert. So very few choices - what was going on? We asked for the regular menu - and behold, 41 items! In other words, over 70 percent of items containing dairy in some form were removed. My first reaction - this is no longer a Sarma menu, with a full range of tasty offerings everyone else got to pick from. So it won't be a real Sarma food experience. And it wasn't! The message now was: We don't have time (and neither will you, with the 1.75 seating time limit) to find ways to modify any other dishes to remove a dairy constituent. It seemed more like what a Sarma food truck might offer, not one of the most-acclaimed eating spots in the Boston area. But we had to choose from the measly 13-item menu. We started by ordering drinks and two appetizers. The food arrived reasonably quickly, given a packed house, but, alas, the drinks didn't. Everywhere else we eat we expect drinks to come right away and wait for the food; or perhaps to arrive together. But we were totally done with the small plates well before the drinks arrived. I had a beer, and my spouse a cocktail that was about three sips in size, to get us through to the next part of the meal. While everyone else got to select from a variety of meats, poultry and seafood main dishes, we were limited to two fish items. Not feeling so inclined for those, we ordered three more small plates, which pretty much exhausted what we found appealing to both of us. Next to us, diners were chowing away at full plates with all the items they ordered arriving together, like they should. Not so lucky for us. One item came after a few minutes; then another about 8-10 minutes later. We enjoyed both, but had expected all three plates would come together, as would any 'main course' selections. But we finished the two items and sat around and still the third had not arrived. We assumed they'd forgotten, so we asked for the check. At that point, the final small plate arrived. The server explained that items were brought out as they were ready. That's the Sarma way. Wow, what a concept when you're sitting there hungry, to wait a half hour for part of your main meal! No apologies, just that's how it is. We had the food put into a take out box so we could just get out of there. And that's what we got for our $150 tab. What we did not get was a chance to order from probably as many main menu items that could be made dairy-free with just a little effort, such as leaving off some cheese or switching to oil instead of butter to prepares a dish. That's what everyone else does, and they do so without the least complaint or delay. But not Sarma. It's not the Samra way! My bottom line is that if you need to be diary-free, Sarma is not your destination. While we quite liked most of the items we ordered, it was an very unsatisfying experience, especially given the poor service to boot. read more

Another one of my favorite restaurants in Boston. My friend was lucky to snag a reservation - apparently it's pretty tough. We ordered a couple of different dishes. My favorite was the corn bread - this is not your usual corn bread, it's very soft, warm, chewy and crispy. Get it, please! My second favorite item was the Banh Mi. My only regret here is not trying more dishes! read more

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The food was incredible! The cornbread was a stand out. The Brussels sprouts were the most loved thing we ordered, and the lentil nachos were a hit as well. The service was great and the tapas style was fun. The metal chairs weren't our favorite but the rest of the restaurant makes up for it. The drinks were great, we got the gossip wine and and a mezcal tequila drink. We got 10 plates for 4 people and that was plenty. read more

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Love their seasonal menu. Excellent menu options for vegan and egg free diets too. It's been our favorite for several years now. Friendly staff. Good ambience. read more

Updating my review a year later. Sarma continues to remain my favorite restaurant in Boston and just as hard to get a reservation as ever. Got a cocktail this time, which was well crafted and exactly what I wanted. The Harissa BBQ duck remains my absolute favorite dish and I sincerely hope they never take it off the menu. Second favorite, a surprise contender, was the avocado muhammara (so flavorful and an amazing mixture of textures, highly recommend and would order again). Fried chicken and cornbread remain very solid and both are worth ordering. My friends also ordered these fried tofu wrap things, glazed carrots (little bit too sweet-- I think a bit of spice would've made the flavor profile more well rounded), and the halloumi fries (my least favorite, although I'm not the biggest fan of halloumi). They were all good, don't think you can really go wrong with anything here, but wouldn't get them again. read more

As a late Christmas gift, my fiancé got us a reservation at Sarma and it did not disappoint. As someone with a Nut Allergy, I was very impressed with their service and inclusiveness My fiancé placed the reservation online and indicated my allergy and upon arrival they had a special menu ready for me and our waitress was already aware prior to arriving at the table. All the food that followed could not have been more worth it. The highlights for us had to be the Black Sea Cornbread (Crispy & Buttery on the outside, Warm & Sweet with a little kick on the inside), Ricotta Babagaboush (pork was so tender paired with the shmear was so delicious) and the Apple Fatoush (Great light bite with delicious rosemary ranch dressing). All the other dishes we got were also so well balanced and flavorful. Definitely one of our new favorites and we hope to be back! read more

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I was lucky enough to get a reservation here as I heard it's one of the best restaurants in Boston. There is a parking lot that was very full, but there is some street parking as well. We were promptly seated when we entered and the restaurant has a beautiful blue interior with influence from the mediterranean/middle east. The food was delicious - my favorite dishes were definitely the hummus and the fried chicken special. I did notice a lot of greek yogurt and pomegranates in the dishes, which did not help my lactose intolerance lol. Personally, I was not the biggest fan for this reason but the restaurant itself was still delicious. read more

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Food was absolutely excellent. Really wonderful combinations of flavors and lots of vegetarian options. Also really appreciated seeing mocktails on the menu. read more

The food, ambience and experience were perfect. Best Mediterranean food in greater Boston area. 10/10

Worth the hype one hundred percent. They have walk in only seating at the bar, which in my opinion has some of the best seats in the house. Pro tip: get the fried chicken that they walk around with. When it's gone, it's gone. What else we ordered: warm gyro bread- came out much later than the avocado muhummara that we wanted to dip with, and it was lukewarm. You can skip this one Avocado muhummara: really worth it. The flavors are so unique with crunchy, tangy, etc. Black Sea cornbread: omg this was one of the best bites of the night. Insanely good Tunisian tacos: the shell wasn't very crunchy and I think you can skip! Fried chicken: insanely good with the dip Tandoori lamb and harissa duck: both come on skewers. I'd recommend the duck over the lamb but both are great' Chocolate dip halva bites: not too sweet and a great way to end off the night read more