Very tasty baked goods and drinks with pleasant outdoor seating. Caught a great breeze in the shade and enjoyed my fizzy yogurt drink immensely. Service was on the slow side, but no biggie of you're there to socialize. FYI- the staff seemed largely unaware of the ingredients in many of the baked goods. So use caution if you are vegan or have allergies/intolerances. read more

This is truly exceptional Turkish/Middle Eastern food delivered at haute cuisine levels of execution. You must have anything baked - boreks, galettes were out of this world. The gigante white bean salad and the baba ghanoush are classic and yet better than any you have ever had. Ana Sortun is ridiculously gifted. read more

Who knew that the Turks made such amazing breakfast and baked goods?? After a red eye flight into Boston, a delicious breakfast was what I needed to kick off my visit with family the right way. My doctor friend brought me here, where we both ordered the Shakshuka breakfast - a poached egg with a delicious sauce, and some pita crumbs on top, with a piece of spongy bread to sop up the sauce. Ohhh... it so hit the spot. The poached egg was perfectly cooked, and the spiciness of the sauce was a bit smoky, tomato based, and just savory heaven. I just wish there had been more bread to go with the sauce. Also, the pita crumbs were a bit too hard. Doctor friend also got a Sicilian croissant. Everything was fresh - the croissant and the sweet tangy orange cream that was slathered between the 2 halves of the croissant were not too sweet and just deliciously fresh. The coffee was strong, though I wish I hadn't jumped immediately to my go to coffee drink and waited long enough to see that there was Turkish coffee, which i've never had before. Oh well... next time. The place is cute, but on the small side, and very crowded. The decor is, I assume, Turkish-modern with an unmistakable New England bakery feel. The tables are copper and low like coffee tables, which makes eating breakfast a bit of a challenge. Can't wait to come back to try more of the baked goods and Turkish coffee. read more

I live in Watertown and drive by SOFRA all the time. It seems that there are a lot of people that must really like this place. But as for me, the service was poor, the food was bad, and the atmosphere was just ok. We ordered the chicken shawarma, curried beef soup of the day and the buttered hummus. The chicken shawarma was recommended in previous reviews but I don't understand why. My take on the chicken shawarma is saucy chicken wrapped in a tortilla. The curried beef, which my wife ordered she refused to eat after having two sips. I didn't want to waste money so I sucked it up and ate most of the soup. A few hours later I was on the toilet regretting it. As for the hummus it was decent I don't have any complaints but neither do I have any compliments. So sad to say, "hot spot" isn't going to be getting our business again. Oh, I would give Sofra one star if it wasn't for the Baklava which pushed it up to two stars. read more

Sofra feels like Flour and Oleana had a bastard child and stuck it way out in Watertown, which is a wonderful thing (minus the Watertown part, it's too damn far for me to get to on a regular basis, which I guess is a good thing). I'd been meaning to come here for *ages*, but we always seemed to get here right as they closed (they don't have the best hours). But hurrah, yesterday we managed to make it over there midafternoon to experience it in all its glory, and were not disappointed. I split the spinach and 3-cheese flatbread with a friend, and I don't think we said a word to eachother as we each devoured our half (a very good sign). It was sort of similar to a rolled-up crepe, but far superior. I had a pear-cardamon sharbat to drink and it was delicious, pear puree spiked with tasty spice (warning: be prepared for the thickish consistency, it's not thin like lemonade). And to end the meal, I went up a third time- yes I'm that girl- and got myself an earthquake cookie, and promptly got powdered sugar alllll over me as I devoured its chocolatey goodness (how attractive). The atmosphere was welcoming and cozy yet casual, so no one seemed to notice I was a mess (it's fine), and they didn't judge me upon my third return to the counter (a huge plus in my book). I love how Sofra not only sells sweets and savories and drinks, but mezze and other odds and ends that make for a delicious trip (dukkah and za'atar and ras el hanout, oh my... these are a few of my favorite things). I can't wait to go back and sample the Turkish coffee, have some more of that glorious whipped feta with peppers or carrot puree with dukkah, buy myself some wonderful spice mixes to whip up my own Middle Eastern masterpiece, and soak up the wonderful smells and tastes Sofra has to offer. Could you please open up a location in Brookline? (Hey, it worked with Jasmine!) read more

I have a picture of their Turkish Breakfast on my phone. I show it to people from time to time (like, honestly) and then I weep because I don't live in Boston anymore. This place is so good. So SO good. My first time there, my friend and I ordered breakfast and then, weirdly, stuck around ordering other random stuff off the menu to the point where we might've tried half the menu in one sitting. It's an easy thing to do if you have a willing buddy. Individual entres aren't expensive and are easily split. We were uncomfortably stuffed, so the walk back to the Harvard t stop was a welcome one (yes people, it is walkable from Harvard Square and I actually prefer that than bussing it). In addition to the Turkish Breakfast (every bite is different, tasty and wonderfully nuanced), try the mezze platter - the bread and the dips...faint. The lamb wrap is only ok (not as good as the turkish breakfast) but everything is worth a try, even just once. Ok, I just have to stop. I really miss this place. read more

Droolworthy. Its Pavlovian.... mention Sofra in my presence and I start to salivate. I can't help it, its just the way Ive been wholly rewired after tasting such delicacies as the Morning Bun (cinnamon and cardamom brioche with butter and sugar and a glaze of orange and saffron... STUNNING) and the sweet focaccia with "spoon sweets", which, when I had it, were confiture of rhubarb. Oh; the pumpkin confit turnover was HEAVEN. Oh... did I mention the rose petal and cocoa pod black tea? Or the mango and coriander sharbat? Or the egyptian style bread pudding with candied blood orange and pistachio? Or the mezze bar with the worlds best muhamara (pomegranate/garlic/hot pepper dip)? GO. Blame me for your fat deposits; Im ok with that. I'll own it. Dont think about calories, just know that everything in this building is at once good as well as good for you. How can it not be good for you when its taste is so heavenly? There are some standards that are always on the menu, and a whole bunch of things that may only be there for a week... but I have never been disappointed in what I have ordered. It gets crowded, yes... but it gets crowded for a reason. I swear one of the main reasons the Rapture didnt happen was to allow us all more time to go eat at Sofra. You will agree. read more

This is what I had: Ice Coffee: Awesome. Refreshing but just strong enough. It has a slightly unique flavor, with a little more depth than most coffees, but add a little bit of cream and it is perfect. Moussaka: the best I've ever had! I don't even like eggplant, but I definitely do now. The sauce is perfect and there's just the right amount of lamb and eggplant. The cheese sauce on the top is so good and creamy. And the portion is perfect. Cheese Borek: Almost like a quiche, but BETTER. much more fluffy and light. There's nothing fancy in it and that's why it's so good. Just egg, cheese, and filo (I think). Chicken Shawarma: This is also really excellent. Lots of spices make the chicken really flavorful and the sweet potato puree inside goes so well. It gets a little sweet after awhile, but if you're a sweet potato fan, you won't have a problem. Earthquake cookies: AMAZING. It's a cookie, but it's almost fudge, but it's almost a brownie, but it's almost a truffle! It's completely covered with powdered sugar which at first looks like too much, but isn't. It's got kind of a grainy uncooked kind of texture inside...IN A GOOD WAY. If you are one of those crazy Sofra fans looking for the recipe, I think I may have a found something really close.... read more

Tasty & expensive food. Definitely wouldn't call this authentic Turkish fare.I still dream of the Turkish breakfast I had in Istanbul a couple of years ago. I expected the food quality to be a lot better since the owner of the restaurant group is the same lady who runs Oleana (which is quite amazing IMHO. See older reviews). SOFRA is a tiny cafe located on a nondescript corner by the pond. Came in at 11.30 on a Saturday and we waited about 20 minutes for our food. There is also limited seating, so would advise early (at like 9am) for your breakfast! Thankfully, due to this bizarre January winter, we were able to sit outside as though it were spring. It's self-service. For brunch, I got the Turkish breakfast ($9, shakshuka ($7), while my partner had the lamb shawarma ($10). We also got the pear and almond bostock ($3), simit ($2.50), baklava ($2) and the tahini brown butter donut ($2.50). We also got an Americano ($3) and a Turkish coffee ($2.75). An expensive breakfast, but I must tell you that I love Turkish food and so I had set a high mental bar for this place. The savory servings were quite small, especially the Turkish breakfast.The Turkish breakfast was mediocre at best, the only saving grace of the platter was the fried feta (two measly morsels) and the nested six minute egg. The shakshuka was very watery -- too much gravy, NOT ENOUGH EGGS. I would've loved at LEAST 3-4 eggs in there. Greedy? Absolutely not. That, or make the bowl smaller and so it doesn't look like I'm drinking tomato soup. The bread was warm and fluffy though. The lamb shawarma was very tasty, but again, a little undersized. At this point, I will tell you that I am an average sized individual and do not regularly consume obscene amounts of food. The pastries and coffees were the highlight of the meal. The tahini brown butter donut was delicious! Sort of like a Boston creme, but made with tahini and so much less sweet and cloying. Similarly, the baklava was on point - light, crumbly with the right amount of sweet on and in between the filo pastry layers. SOFRA uses Counter Culture coffee, which was exactly what was needed to wake me up on a sleepy Sunday. Would I come back? I'd tag along if someone offered me a ride, but wouldn't trek through inclement weather conditions for the food here. read more

I recently tried their flatbreads (the butternut squash one and their spinach one) and they were both very good. There was an *incident* in the kitchen and it took a while for my friend and I to receive our flatbreads but they did apologize which was fine. There was no goat cheese in my butternut squash flatbread by the time I got it but I was so hungry I didn't care (and it tasted fine without). My biggest gripe, though, and partially reason for my update is that when my friend and I ordered two individual mezze from the hummus bar they come with two tiny chips each. If you want any more than that, they charge you (I think I had to pay $2 for 5 or 6 more chips). I think that's just ridiculous. I want to enjoy my hummus with crackers, I don't want to eat it plain with a fork. I absolutely cannot stand that they don't give you enough chips/crackers. read more

I come at early morning around 8am When they just open. Start busy around at 8:30am. Good quality food. read more

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I LOVE this place. I wish it was closer to my house. The food diversity they have is absolutely amazing. If you don't like one thing, you will for sure find something else to love. Not only their food menu that makes me wanna go back but also their dessert menu is out of this world. If you like Mediterranean cuisine then you have to try this place. It's a tiny place sol not much room to go sit down and enjoy your meal but they have parking available at the back of the restaurant. read more

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I have known Ana since 1996, these days her reputation deservingly precedes her. She does great things with fresh ingredients and inspired creativity from her trips abroad, and that's pretty much the story. She's a great person, I love her food. The bakery is excellent. It's not a boulangerie, but they pump out sugar+flour treats with a mission. Earthquake Cookies were already mentioned, but I will add that Chocolate Baklava was a revelation, and it makes so much sense, why haven't I had this before? Top notch treats in this department, this is where Ana and partners are really pushing themselves. The cover story is familar, Sofra highlights her partner's farm produce and her love of Turkish mezze, Magreb, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean food. There's even a few Armenian things snuck in there, probably giving props to nearby Watertown. If it sounds fusion, it is, and all the dishes carry Ana's taste. So, because it's setup more like a farm stand than a cafe, I grabbed some of the top-notch cow milk mozzarella, some heirlooms, some squash and red peppers, a small japanese looking watermelon, a couple of cookies and baklava, plus 2 mezzes and I put on one heck of a easy, fresh, and fast meal on for my parents. I felt like Rachel Ray just slapping stuff together with EVOO everywhere. (Although I used a couple Jacque Pepin recipes actually.) Very inspired. Technically, I'm pretty sure Sofra falls in Cambridge, as well as the big Shaw's Market next door. read more

I really want to REALLY like this place, but I have trouble doing so. It is too expensive to be added to the list of places I stop for coffee while at work. The pastries are very tasty, but it's hard to get the employees to tell you what has nuts in it, and what doesn't. Also, they are REALLY expensive, and TEENY. The coffee is good, I have to say that for them, the service is decent - though there are always about 8 people behind the counter when I've been in, there is usually a small line, and one person doddering around getting stuff. They did a good thing when they opened up the side of the building to the ramp, it let in some much needed light. I am curious about the lunch that they serve, just don't want to be disappointed, I'm gearing myself up to try it sometime soon. read more

If you like Oleana but would love to do a low-key takeout, check out this place. I placed the order over the phone and the pickup was seamless. Items on the menu are creative (staple dishes such as spinach falafel are just as good), the dessert/pastry section is impressive, and they have a small section of prepared small dishes ready to go. Would definitive come back. read more

Sofra is the next chapter in Ana "Oleana" Sortun's empire. It's more bakery than cafe. As previous posters have said, this is NOT the place to do work or write your novel. There are only 2-3 of those small drum-type tables to sit at. I went here in the late afternoon and it was pretty empty--but I wouldn't be surprised if getting breakfast here in the morning was a huge production. For such a small place, the menu's pretty ginormous in comparison. Even at that late point in the day, the selection was still pretty good: they put the menu on brown paper and cross off whatever is gone. I was actually a little overwhelmed by the to-go groceries, the ready-made good PLUS the stuff they make to order (like flatbreads). I had to wander around a couple of times among the cases and displays (It probably didn't help that I had come from the Hot Beer Mess at Wine Gallery but I digress). I didn't get anything made to order, but the ready-made stuff was super delish. The bread pudding, umm-ali, should be renamed Yummmmm-ali. Amazing. Sweet without being cloying. The counterwoman said it was good either cold or heated up. I couldn't decide what to do, so I microwaved it for 15 seconds so it could be both. I also got their olive-walnut spread, some labneh cheese and some crick-crack crackers. The crackers were soft, and I wasn't sure if that was the way they were supposed to be, or if they were getting stale. And at $3 a pack/6 crackers, I might stick with Triscuits next time. Yes, I would definitely go back and try some other things, even though it is a bit of a haul for me to get there. Ana's husband is a farmer guy, so that's why the veggies are there. read more

I travel internationally, and this is my go-to place after being away for awhile. Sofra is charming and delightful are the words that first come to mind when I think of Sofra, with fresh and unique menu offerings, the menu managing to stay both fresh and familiar, changing old standbys with in-season goods. The menu consists of exquisitely prepared foods consisting of in-season produce, that generally leave me satisfied without leaving me feel stuffed. On menu items... The almond-fig bisteeya, the bistock, & the sesame caramel roll stand out among the baked goods. The turkish breakfast is a must-share tour of well cooked Middle Eastern inspired specialties. The sahlep, an orchid root drink, and the sharbot, a natural soda of sorts, are both delightful and worth a try if unfamiliar. There are a few things a little lackluster about this place... Every now and then I get a dish that doesn't quite click, often they are super crowded without a place to sit (i try to go in more off-times), and their counter-service delivery can be lacking. Often I have found myself waiting for a long time for my food, only to look at the counter and see that it had been delivered without a call, and there it sits, cold. However, these little short comings pale in comparison to this plane-based heritage whole foods journey across the fertile crescent. read more

After eating here on Sunday, I feel like my life is slightly more complete. It was busy, the line was long, but I managed to get through the line quickly and found a table inside. Split a mezze platter with a friend and then we shared the chocolate baklavah and a pistachio/rose water bread pudding...washed down with the orange blossom lemonade. Special shout-outs to the desserts, the quality of ingredients and thoughtful use of spices, and the spongey pita rounds. I left the meal feeling nourished but not gross-full, and my taste buds were totally dancing. I only wish they'd open up a branch closer to my house!!! My only other complaint is that there wasn't a lot of space inside the restaurant and that took away from the ambiance somewhat. read more

Sofra-gette city. OK, let me just tell it like it is - de-friggin-licious. This place knocks out all kinds of Pan Middle-Eastern/Mediterranean morsels. Shwarma. Dolma. Baba Ganouj. Don't worry if can't pronounce any of it, it's all good. Just go up to the counter, close your eyes and randomly point your finger at the menu or the dessert case and buy whatever you picked. If you pointed at one of the staff, just ask them what their favorite snack/dish is and buy that. There are only two real problems with this place: 1) You can't eat everything there. 2) And this is a real problem, it's tiny. That's where they lost star number 5 with me. You're gonna need to drop kick someone to get a seat in this place and then you won't feel comfortable when you do because the small tables are very low. You'd probably be better off sitting on floor. But fuggit, you're eating some delicious food and fighting off scoliosis. I mean, I know why Ms. Sortun (of Oleana fame) picked this location - the Art Deco-ish feel of the building (used to be a Packie!) and that bright green color just scream yuppie coolness, and I say that sarcastically and sincerely, as in I'm a yuppie food nut myself. But really, it's cramped. Others have mentioned this in their reviews. It's true and you have been warned. What it really comes down to is this - don't saunter in there on a Sunday morning thinking it will be calm and relaxing, the place is a zoo. But the food's killer so don't complain about it if I'm there, cause I will gladly take your place in line. read more

Great Middle Eastern brunch place/bakery. This shop initially started out as a wine shop which was expanded into small cafe. The wine store can still be found in an adjoining room. If you go in on a weekend this place is sure to be packed and finding a place to sit will be difficult. They have a small parking lot, but more likely than not you'll have to find parking on the street. Thankfully parking in that area is free. The food is good and definitely different from normal brunch fare. They serve middle eastern pastries and dishes like falafel and shakshuka instead of the usual pancakes and waffles. read more

Small but delightful place. Care and taste are baked into all the dishes with the middle eastern breakfast options, including the eggs in spicy sauce, along with stellar baked goods, being the highlight. Better in the summer than winter due to limited seating. Staff is consistently trying hard to provide a good experience. read more

This place definitely has the feel of a hip, harvard square cafe, you wouldn't really think a place like this would be in the location it's in. When I first walked in I was pretty impressed, if I had to rate it on design and atmosphere, I would give it a 5, but I went there for the food so that's what I'm rating it on. I thought I'd give one of their shawarma sandwiches a try. Now I know they are more of a cafe/bakery than a sandwich shop, so I'm not going to be too hard on them, but they do sell it so I'm going to review it. The sandwich took what seemed like forever to make and wasn't cheap, so I expected it to be amazing. Once I finally got it, it was soooooooo small I couldn't believe it. So how did it taste? Terrible. I've eaten more shawarma sandwiches in my life than I can remember and I would rate this as one of the worst. For what I paid and how long I waited, I was severely disappointed. You can pretty much blindfold yourself and walk 5 mins in any direction in this neighborhood and stumble upon a better sandwich shop. Anyway, as I said this place isn't primarily a sandwich shop, so read the other reviews that cover everything else they sell because they might have other things that are amazing, but if you're looking for a sandwich I'd pass on this place. read more

We went here this morning after a lot of rage and hype. Let's just say, I could have dont with out it. My husband loved the breakfast sandwich. so I'll start with the good parts. The bread was delicious, well cooked eggs, and yummy bread. The persian spiced donut did not have much that was persian about it. I'm persian, I'm familiar with the spices. I didn't really taste them there. the quality of the donut was great though. I had the shakshuka, the eggs were very undercooked, very slimey and clear. The tomato base was like straight tomato sauce, with a measly piece of brioche. Very much could have done without it. The line was about 15 people long, but actually went quickly and we got a table inside at like 11am on a saturday morning. Not sure i'd come back. read more

Sofra is a high-end bakery café with an ethnic twist. It is not for the price obsessed. Instead, Sofra offers value with very well made pastry, baked goods, and prepared food. The chefs here a very talented--period. They do not make what Bostonians might think as weird stuff, they simply present a bit of the Middle East/Mediterranean ethos in cuisine to otherwise proven offerings. The quality of the ingredients and the nuance of flavors far out paces other restaurants of the same format where menus are frequently old hat. Even the coffee is better at Sofra. Coffee is my first test of a restaurant. If it can't make good coffee, then it can't do much of anything to my liking. read more

Everything I've had to eat or drink here so far has been really, really delicious, and they did a great job fixing up the building. I'm so happy they kept the funky enameled metal siding! Excellent lattes, and the shakshouka makes a great savory breakfast if you like curry. All the pastries are great, and I especially like the farmer's brioche (I think that's what it was called), which had in-season toppings. Don't go when you're super hungry because the portions are on the smaller side, but perfect as a light meal. As others said it's little pricey, but I don't think it's any worse than going to a Starbucks. read more

A scrumptious and affordable place to eat in or order for delivery. My wife and I were planning a rehearsal dinner for 60 people before our wedding, and we spent a long time researching different catering options. We and both sets of parents love Sofra, and when we looked into pricing we realized that Sofra was not only reliably yummy but also by far the least expensive option for this size party of all the places we looked into. Macy was fantastic to work with over e-mail, keeping us apprised of prices and availability and continually updating our order form. When the day came, Sofra delivered ahead of schedule and piping hot. The food was a huge hit with our guests, making a wonderful beginning to our wedding weekend. read more

The baked goods here are to die for. NOM. I love their cookies and pastries, which are oh-so-delicious but oh-so-terrible-for-you. Also love the mezze, especially the whipped feta and muhammarra. I'm actually not the biggest fan of their prepared foods... The Turkish breakfast was especially disappointing. Also, this place is absolutely jam-packed during breakfast and lunch on the weekends. I'd recommend picking up some stuff to go (including a platter of mezze and the delicious bread, and a Turkish coffee of course) and taking it home. Pretty pricey, especially for the portion size. read more

Halloumi Boccata: seared, Middle Eastern cheese, braised kale, shredded carrots, and walnut spread on crumbly, toasted whole-wheat. Ha-loo-mi Bo-ka-ta. Say it with me. Now say it to the cashier. You're welcome. While you're at the counter, you might notice the treasure trove of baked goods in front of your face. Indecisive? I've got you covered! The time I spent $40 on pastries at Sofra has brought me up to at least novice level dessert-nosher. The best of the best: Kunefe - a sweet cheese cakelet topped with kadaif (baked crunchies in a bird's nest shape that taste like baklava). Just try it. Milk Chocolate Passionfruit Tart - A crumbly, black cocoa crust filled with the tangiest, creamiest, bittersweet chocolate ganache I've ever had the pleasure of inhaling in two bites. Ma'amoul - not made the classic format, but unbelievably delicious. Figs, almond paste, crumbly, soft cookie... please, sir, I want some more. The Persian Spiced Doughnut, Sesame Cashew Square, and Egyptian Bread Pudding also deserve an honorable mention, but I'd skip the Passionfruit Square, Meyer Lemon Tart, Chocolate Hazelnut Baklava, and Pistachio Pop Tart in future. To drink, the seasonal lattes and red dragon tea are both big hits. If you're having doubts about the sandwich, know that nothing - from the squash pancakes, to the feta & cheese flatbread, to the chicken shwarma - was nearly as popular. Everyone wished they'd ordered the Boccata after tasting it. The hummus is consistently delicious, as well, but be wary... you'd better save room for at least four desserts afterwards. read more

Absoluetly delicious. The chef creates a perfectly exoctic experience with Sofra's offerings and ambience. I don't have much to say other than try it! The flavors will tantalize your senses . This is definitely a spot for the adventurous eater. The food is unique and unlike anything I've seen in a while. With that said, I want to state that , like many reviewers have mentioned, the place gets packed, so be prepared to wait around for a seat or take it to go. In some cases, you may have to sit next to strangers. Be ok with that. The grocery items for sale: spices, salts, eggs, cous cous, etc, are a bit on the pricey side, but thats relative and only my opinion. The meal that I had was reasonably priced and filled me up for several hours. A quick correction to what Alicia K said about public transportation access to Sofra , bus route 71 travels from Harvard square to Watertown Sqr via Mt. Auburn. The bus stop is steps away from Sofra and across the street from Shaw's. its fairly easy to get there . read more

Tried Sofra for a late Saturday breakfast, which is thankfully served all day. Didn't realize it's owned by the same group as Oleana, which I loved from my one previous visit. As a dairy-free vegetarian, I saw there were many exciting meatless options and non-dairy milks (for 50 cents extra). I got the Mujaddara lentil bowl and my two friends got the Shakshuka with the non-brioche bread. We also got a golden tumeric latte with Oatly and a couple pastries. For the entrees being $9 each, the portions were a lot smaller than expected, but delicious! The lentil bowl has hearty ingredients, which helps with making it more filling. The golden tumeric latte was nice but nothing special. When it arrived, I hardly recognized it because it was light brown without any appearance of tumeric. It didn't really taste like tumeric either. I'd visit again to try the other pastries and entree options, just don't expect large portions! read more

It's a little too good to be true. Funky little cafe - small, interesting selection of pastries, flatbreads, soups.... And a hummus bar. The flavors are intense, much like its parent resto's offerings (Oleana). But wedged on the cambridge/watertown line on belmont street, it seems a fish out of water - a bit too urban for such an area. I can't imagine there's much foot traffic here and parking at such a busy merge of belmont and mt auburn streets can be tricky. Despite that, it's so worth the hassle to come here. read more

An unexpected breakfast stop at SOFRA is about as exciting as landing on the moon. For a time, we lived by the Sienna Farms store in the South End of Boston. We gobbled up the SOFRA crackers and spreads and pretty much anything SOFRA we could get our hands on. We really hit the motherlode the other day when we drove by SOFRA Bakery. It was the best U-turn ever made. The egg sandwich is delicious, and made even better when dipped into the shakshuka. My cappuccino was quite simply one of the best I've ever had. Did I mention they have Tahini donuts?!?! I can't believe we waited this long to visit the SOFRA Bakery, a mistake that we will not make again! read more

I think all of the neighborhood mommies converge on Sofra during the daytime when the kids are in day care. Boy was it packed. Then again it is a small place. They should do themselves a favor and knock out the wall to the wine bar and just forgo the wine sales. Food was outrageously yummy! The flavors were perfect and endless options. It was the perfect day for some bean and sausage soup with a warm flat-bread on a rainy New England Day. Go and check it out but you may want to do takeout because it packs them in - at least it did on this particular day. read more

SOFRA is great. Very much a "cafe" experience - very little sit-down space, and even the tables they have are small and close together. If you're going here (and dining in) make sure you're in a "bite to eat" type of mood and not a sit-down meal type of mood. That said, the food is fantastic. Fresh, full of flavor, and full of CHARACTER. You can tell it's made right there, and made right. Felt very wholesome, natural... you feel good after eating it (not icky). My friends and I split a 5 Mezze Platter (eggplant dip, labne with spicy pepper, whipped feta w/peppers, a walnut dip, and 'everything green with garlic and yogurt'). ALL of the dips in the mezze were amazing. I do recommend getting some extra bread, though. We got extra (6 pieces instead of usual 3) and it seemed to match up just right w/the amount in the Mezze. Also split a walnut & pomegranate hummus, which was chunky and delicious with just the right amount of walnut pieces, pomegranate seeds, and evoo on top. The "pita" this is served with is VERY VERY thin, may be too thin for some. For "entrees" we had the lamb shawarma. This was juicy and full of delicious flavors. A good sized sandwich for one. We also had the falafel flatbread with beet tzatziki. YUM-O. I only wish the falafel was a touch warmer. The boys also got some sweets - Moroccan spiced donuts and chocolate chunk cookies they raved about. (They said the chocolate tasted really rich and special.) Overall: great food, great options for take-out, fast service. Small, cramped atmosphere... I'd recommend for lunch or early dinner on an off-time. Or take out! They have a substantial, reasonably priced refrgerated/ to-go section. read more

I'm not sure whether this is a 3 or 4, but I feel like sometimes Yelp inflates things, so I fell it is my duty to bring the average down a bit. In a vacuum I really like Sofra, food is good, drinks are fresh and tasty and I can walk to it! However, it's really expensive and the amount of food you get is pretty small. $9 for a breakfast sandwich that's like 4 bites. Overall its a great treat if you want to grab a coffee, tea, or homemade fruit drink and a snack, but my wallet can't handle it very often. If your's can, more power to you and I highly suggest going to Sofra. read more

The food is great, especially the selection of appetizers. The only downside is it's often too busy to find a spot to sit.

Sofra is by far my favorite breakfast place within the Boston area and I have brunch there pretty much every Sunday. I have tried much of the menu, from the Turkish breakfast to the spinach and felafel flatbread. Both are outstanding, along with the shakshuka (yum) and the halloumi bacon egg and cheese. The pastires are SO good and you have to get a few of them when you go. My favorite is the Kunefe (not even sure what it is) and the coffee cake. The cookies are also outstanding. They have several seasonal items such as the honeycomb aleppo chocolate and the aleppo peanut butter. Definitely get both of these to go. Along with their amazing brunch, Sofra also offers cooking classes. I took a class on Eggplant and I cried the food was so good. Cara Chigazola (of Oleana) was leading the class. It was intimate, delicious, and fun. The classes are pricey and you don't actually do any of the cooking, but it is basically a tasting menu of things you would otherwise never try eating there regularly, and it is an opportunity to ask the chef anything you want. TIP: don't come to Sofra to hang around for an hour or so over coffee, especially on the weeeknds. It's extremely packed and the best way to enjoy your meal is quickly, especially to be considerate of the other customers that also want to sit and eat. read more

I can't believe I haven't already reviewed one of my most favorite places to eat!!! Extremely busy on most weekends, so try to come here early. There is limited seating, but if the weather's nice, there are additional tables outside. Highlights include the chicken schwarma, Turkish breakfast, and pastries (i.e. chocolate hazelnut baklava, kunefe, and Persian donut). Top it all off with some iced tea or hot cocoa rose tea in the colder months. You can even buy ready-made meals, imported ingredients, as well as wine (from next door). A true genius concept by chef Ana Sortun (owner of Oleana in Cambridge). read more

Meh.... described my experience best. I grew up on homemade Spanakopita made fresh by a group of little old Greek and Albanian ladies who didn't have to measure ingredients. They just knew how to make the it fillo and all. I suspect unfortunately the pie had been sitting there for a while. I'll have to give it one more try. I won't try the Spanakopita again. read more

Went here for lunch on a day off and OH. MY. GOD. Tastiest food ever! I got the sesame, walnut, butternut squash and mozzarella stuffed flatbread, which sounds odd, but was AMAZING. Somehow all the elements worked together perfectly, which is not surprising, given the chef (her main restaurant, Oleana, is known for quirky but awesome ingredient combos). The bf got their spinach and 3 cheese flatbread, which was also delicious, but not quite as memorable. We had a mezze (small side dish) of Armenian bean/walnut pate, which was great, though it was topped with some type of sweet syrup, which is different from how they do it at Oleana, and a bit odd. The Earthquake cookie was delicious (if not messy as hell) and a huge hit of dense, chocolatey goodness. The one major drawback is the seating setup. I appreciate the low, round tables/benches and the ambience they create, but it seems like a very inefficient use of space (they could easily fit several more seats in there to help with crowd control), and the setup caused my poor, 6'3" boyfriend to have a very sore back by the time we left. I think that next time, we'll take our food to go and enjoy it at home. read more