Stopped in on a Friday night for dinner without reservations and had a fantastic experience. I would definitely categorize this as a fine dining spot, but with generous, family-sized portions. The service was an absolute 10/10; our server, Mario, was incredibly pleasant and made sure our entire evening was flawless. We will absolutely be back! As for the food, it was an 8/10 overall. The Santorini Spritz was the perfect drink to start the meal, and the Roasted Beet Salad and Baked Shrimp Santorini were absolute standouts and personal favorites. The Angry Halibut was also decent. The Chicken Souvlaki was a bit "mid" and wasn't my favorite, but it's still a safe fallback option if you aren't sure what to get. Overall, it's a 10/10 experience! read more

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Good vibe but it's not organized. Don't even think about restroom, it's nasty. Food is good. read more

We went late on a Saturday night, so I'm not sure if the experience would be different on other nights. But on Saturday, it seems they turn from mid-upscale restaurant to nightlife vibes. Between the cranked-up music and the crowd, I was very happy to be sitting outside where it was relatively quieter and warmer. If this is the vibe you're going for though, then you'll love it. The staff was clearly a bit overwhelmed though - there was a long line at the hostess stand and even those with reservations were waiting. We didn't make a reservation (didn't think we needed one for 9pm but again we weren't aware of the pseudo-nightlife nature of this place), so it took a while to get seated. The appetizer and dinner we ordered were tasty and well portioned, though pricey. read more

upscale and chic vibe, Great bar with a decor that feels both modern and warm, creating a lively Mediterranean ambiance. We went on a Friday evening without a reservation, and while the main dining room was buzzing, we luckily snagged a spot at the first-come, first-served high-top tables on the bar side. We started with some perfectly mixed drinks--the margaritas were crisp and the Spritz was refreshing--paired with a few vegetarian appetizers. The Dafina Chips (crispy zucchini and eggplant with tzatziki)and Greek spread platter was great as well. Overall, a fantastic spot for a casual yet sophisticated night out. read more

Dafina - Fish & Chips Near Me - Somerville, New Jersey

My friend and I had brunch here today and it was AMAZING! Stephanie and Torou made sure we were happy and our bottomless mimosas were always filled. They were both so friendly and knowledgeable about the menu and answered our questions on the private party room reservations. We will be back!! Give Stephanie and Touro a raise! read more

Dafina - Fish & Chips Near Me - Somerville, New Jersey

Dafina is an interesting mixed bag. My wife got home from work quite late on Saturday night and we decided to go out. We arrived at Dafina just shy of 9pm and were shocked to find we had to wait quite a long time just to get to the host stand. And so we waited in line for about 15 minutes before we made it to the front, only to learn they were sold out to reservations for the whole evening. And while it is surprisingly to be sold out that late at night, it wasn't entirely unbelievable as the first comment I made to my wife when we entered was "so loud." The place was packed and everyone had to speak incredibly loudly, because the music being played was incredibly loud. I would say it's akin to the level of volume you'd expect in a nightclub. The clientele was also dressed as if it were one too. This is definitely a fancy dress establishment, though there is no enforced dress code as far as I could tell. Maybe it was the generic nightclub-styled music but it didn't give off a particularly authentic Mediterranean vibe, despite the motifs around the building. We inquired about eating outside, where we found there was plenty of availability. This was a good move, because otherwise, it truthfully would have been difficult to have a conversation. We started with the beefteke, which came with four patties of ground beef and lamb, two pieces to pita and a tzatziki sauce blend. For an appetizer, it was definitely a shareable portion and a quite a flavorful one, like a gyro in burger patty form. Next for the entree I had the seafood pappardelle. There were chunks of whole lobster on the plate and a good portion of various seafoods, absolutely smothered in sauce. It was rich, flavorful, and I didn't come close to finishing it. Last we had the galaktoboureko for dessert, which our waiter described as a cross between a key lime pie and cheesecake with a thick layer of phyllo dough on top. It was warmer than expected, but was just as described and delicious. Served with a side of ice cream, whipped cream, and some assorted fruits. This is one of those rare reviews where the food was excellent, but the other aspects of the restaurant hold it back. The loud atmosphere isn't for everyone and you will need a reservation, especially on a weekend to get in. Also, for the money, while the portions were large, you can expect to spend about $100 per person. Drinks here are about $20 a pop and appetizers can go for quite a bit more than that, so you're not getting a lot of value there. A comment was made between my wife and I when we sat down that these were "Hawaii prices," if that helps in context for anyone. And to cap off the evening, while our service up to this point was great, they seemed to forget to take our card after a long wait, and I ended up having to bring it to the host stand myself. All and all, it's not a bad experience, but a "premium" one. Fancy dress, loud music, and pricey menu items aren't a bad combo, but definitely not one suited to everyone. read more

Dafina - Seafood Pappardelle - Fish & Chips Near Me - Somerville, New Jersey

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My parents and I came in on Christmas day 2025. The interior space is beautiful with lots of light coming in from the large windows. I did think it was weird that there were TVs on? Didn't really match the vibe but maybe if you're sitting at the bar on a normal night that makes sense. Food was good but didn't match the price point. My lamb was not cooked to my desired temp (wasn't burned, but it was over) and the vegetables had a bit of a funk (burned garlic? hard to say). My dad's platter and my mom's shrimp were well cooked. Up to here this sounds like 3-4 stars. Unfortunately, it was some of the worst service I've ever seen in a restaurant and definitely the worst service I've seen in a restaurant at this price point/market segment. Every question about the menu was met with monosyllabic answers. Nothing about the service was proactive. Every interaction with the servers (there were two working sort of together) was as if we were inconveniencing them. The only person trying was the busser. I would try again but not before a long list of restaurants on the to-try list. read more

4.25 stars for a great first impression! This is one of those reviews which I needed my pictures to help me remember what we ordered (ALOT!). There are some things that can be improved as below. A beautiful space and well used space. There were tables of various sizes including private parties. Service was professional, timely, and friendly. The owner was walking around chatting as well. They have a good sized menu with varied food choices and a good sized wine list as well. 1. French onion soup - Good broth, lots of cheese on top, no big loaf of bread inside which is a good sign. Slightly above average for me. 2. Zucchini, fried - Thought these would be thinner and crunchier but there could be improvements here. Good flavor; some with too much salt; some soggy. 3. Octopus appetizer - Solid with good grilled flavor that is not overbearing. 4. Fig and burrata - Good refreshing dish; simple 5. Beet salad - Large portion. You have to like beets and strawberries to appreciate this dish. Good balance of flavors with the other appetizers. 6. Crab cakes - One of the best ones I've had. Minimal filler which made the cakes very flavorful. Also not too salty, which I appreciate. 7. Crab ravioli - Loads of flavor here with good tasting sauce and the right portion size. 8. Charred broccoli (side) - Wish it was a bit more crunchy but the charred flavor is nice 9. Fries - Good but not great. Could be a bit crunchier. Good size though. 10. Grilled Lobster - Big size, great grilled taste, loved it. 11. Tiramisu - Good portion and good mix of texture. Not alcoholic. 12. Baklava - Large portion size to be split (or not). Pistachio gelato is fake tasting. They could just get rid of that. Overall, a great first time here. Ordered a ton of food and will be back for more! read more

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The food was ok and the mixed drink was not great. The Paloma did not taste like any Paloma I ever had, not sweet enough and I'm not sure what Tequila was used. The omlete had no salt or seasonings nor the potatoes. The place is very pretty. Will try again and hopefully the dinner meals are better. The pancake was yummy. Service was ok. read more

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I came to Dafina with a group of friends for happy hour on a Wednesday. It was pretty easy to find parking nearby on the street. For busier times like the weekend, park in lot 1 which is behind the restaurant. We were impressed with how nice it is inside and also how big the space is. We sat at a high top in the bar area and had some wine and shared the Greek Spreads. The wines were all good and the dips were tasty but small portions with only 4 pieces of pita. One in our group if gluten free so we requested some veggies to dip and were grateful the server brought us a handful of sliced cucumber. Overall, we had a good experience but be aware the prices are a bit high for most entrees. I'd come back to try more food but would pick Sunday-Tuesday from 3-7 as they current have 30% off the whole menu then! read more

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Went to this restaurant last night based on the recommendation. The atmosphere was beautiful and the service was okay. The food in my opinion was not traditional Greek food . I had the Mediterranean grilled fish which was supposed to be deboned but it wasn't... I have been to Greece a couple of times and was so looking forward to the reservation but quickly became disappointed that many traditional food was not listed.. the Greek lemon potatoes was the biggest disappointment.. shame on you for saying this was Greek lemon potatoes. read more

Food is good enough. The spices make lots of dishes taste the same. I love the appetizers overall. On the pricier side. Staff is alright.

Dafina is a great addition to downtown Somerville. The atmosphere is beautiful and unlike anything else in the area making it a perfect spot for dinner. The food has been consistently excellent every time we visited. The only area that could use some improvement is the pacing of the service. On several occasions or entrées arrived just a few minutes after the appetizers were placed on the table. It made the meal feel rushed, and we barely had time to enjoy the first course before the main dishes arrived overall it's a restaurant I would definitely recommend and look forward to going back. read more

We enjoyed the food, but the billing experience left a bad impression. I noticed that one of our dishes was priced at $22 on the bill, even though the menu listed it at $16--a 38% difference. What was surprising was the response. The server didn't apologize and simply went to the front desk, returning with a $6 adjustment. The entire situation was handled very casually, which made it feel like this might not be an isolated issue--especially for larger groups where such discrepancies can easily go unnoticed. read more

Amazing interior area, came with my family for my 18th birthday and it was amazing. Service was good, our host was nice and the food came quickly. We didn't have to wait too long for food. Appetizer was the shrimp avocado and was amazing, and I ordered the lobster and crab ravioli and it came out perfect. Crab and Lobster were cooked perfect, and their homemade pasta lived up to the name -- perfect and made with love. Cheesecake for my birthday was delicious too! Definitely a nice classy place to eat well made Greek and Mediterranean food. read more

4.5 stars for me but I'll round it up. Went here on NYE they had a live Dj, I'm sure it's just for that night. The dining room was beautiful. When you sit at your table it feels like you're in a different world, definitely not in Somerville anymore. Simple, modern, clean, you can tell they spent a lot of money on the restaurant. Our server was Diamant and he was so attentive. The service was excellent! I hope this doesn't change. Very experienced staff. Everyone who came to the table was professional. Big WOW for me. It's not easy to train staff so kudos to the manager. Food was a 9 out of 10. Huge portions. Definitely getting your moneys worth. The appetizers were all good. We got fried calamari, shrimp Santorini, and the grilled octopus. The ribeye, I thought was cooked properly and seasoned well but my friend thought it was under seasoned so I guess this comes down to personal preference. The crab & Lobster ravioli was the star in my opinion. The sauce was just so good! The dishes that was a miss was the Halibut and the side spinach. The halibut was cooked properly however I didn't care for the taste of the sauce. The sautéed spinach was just so bland. Overall very good experience. Will definitely be back. With all the drinks we ordered the bill came out to $670 which was not bad at all for 6 people. If you're not looking to spend that much, perhaps split the entree or skip the apps because the portion is big. read more

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Great addition to the downtown Sommerville, New Jersey ! Great ambience, great food, great drink drinks, and great music and by the way, dress up a little bit read more

Very good experience overall! Food was great, ambience is immaculate and fun and the service was very good too. Sat at a high top by the bar to enjoy their great happy hour specials they run daily! Highly recommend checking that out. The lobster and crab ravioli's were so yummy! The crab cake was the best I've ever had -- super fresh! Clams casino also very good with great flavor and the bean appetizer from the daily specials was enjoyable too. Martini could have been a little stronger but still enjoyed. Will definitely be back! read more

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If you like a scene, this is your spot. If you want fine dining, go elsewhere. My husband and I visited Dafina on a Saturday night. We did our part; booked our reservation weeks in advance and arrived on time. Like many other reviewers, we were seated 40 minutes after our reservation time. A "thanks for your patience" or "our apologies for the wait" was not extended and would have gone a long way. Customers have clearly expressed dissatisfaction with this issue and the lack of resolution feels like disregard for their customers. On the positive side, my husband loved his rigatoni and the space was beautiful. read more

Beautiful airy main dining room with an upscale ambiance and unmistakably Mediterranean vibe but minus the stereotypical kitsch. Service was on point, if a tiny bit stuffy. Some minor things to be ironed out (food runner couldn't find our table and circled twice). Food was fresh and flawlessly done. We all ordered off the Specials. They included a lobster pappardelle, a filet mignon tips cacio e pepe, and a grilled whole Dorade (sea bream?). This isn't traditional Greek per se, but Greek-inspired (I know, most of what we ordered isn't Greek at all). Yes, it's pricey, but hopefully will do well. read more

Dafina - Grilled Dorade Special, sauteed Horta, lemon potato - Fish & Chips Near Me - Somerville, New Jersey

Place is one of the prettier rest in Nj , great vibe well lit . Went last night had a couple apps Beet salad was very good Octopus very good Seafood tagliatelle was a problem Seafood was cooked perfectly however the pasta Jist about ruined the dish . Pasta is way too thick and pasty . Pasta was big clump in the middle of the dish had to peel it apart . Other dishes were all very good , work on the pasta please ... read more

Service is slow after main meal. Also Mother's Day brunch we showed up at 11am reservation and they had dinner menu and not brunch menu. Who does that for Mothers Day brunch?? read more

Wow I'm blown away !!! The inside of this restaurant is absolutely gorgeous, great vibes . The staff is very professional. The food is unbelievable, I had the rack of lamb "holy moly" not only was it a huge portion with 7 pieces but was probably the best lamb I've ever had, from the seasoning to the way it was cooked blew me away !!! I will definitely be returning . Best restaurant in all of Somerville hands down !!!!! read more

My friend and I saw this restaurant online and we knew we had to try it out. The restaurant is definitely very cute and aesthetically pleasing for dinner, but the food was absolutely fabulous in the service was great as well. Definitely planning to go back with my other friends! read more

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As an aside, we had lunch in the middle of a weekday afternoon, so they were not at all crowded, and there was only mild background music (although Greek music would have been appropriate). The prix fixe lunch was excellent: very nice presentation, good-size portions, very good quality food done well. The server and support staff were very professional: welcoming and attentive. It was the ideal time for the quiet, professional dining we prefer, for an enjoyable meal. read more

Nice cool spot, with a good ambiance and great service. floors are verrrrryy slick I almost slipped, so that is only downside. The staff was very attentive, the food was delicious, but very big portions. they also gave a few extras which is nice (like biscotti after dinner, chocolate strawberries with dessert, pita etc) -especially if we were to have more people to share. read more

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Food was incredible! Truly astonished by every dish we got. Service was fast and helpful! Our waiter was amazing and so was everyone else. The restaurant is so cute and plays amazing music. 10/10! read more

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Great ambiance and food was well presented and flavorful. Large portions on some dishes for sure. The courses came a little too quickly and they could do with slowing the pace to allow diners to enjoy fully. Otherwise it felt a little rushed. Great attention from waitress - though if they slowed just a bit maybe more time for them to elevate the experience. read more

The only bad thing I could say about the place it's loud . Food was great, service was on point. I would go back again. read more

Dafina - Organic salmon - Fish & Chips Near Me - Somerville, New Jersey

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The place is LOUD. The service is good. The food is way overpriced. Da fina is apparently a place to be seen (such as it is in Somerville, New Jersey). Won't be on my go-to list in the future only because to pay those prices, the food has to knock my socks off. Sadly, my socks and shoes remained on the entire evening. read more

The food is outstanding and the portions are generous. However, we went for lunch on a Monday and service was horrendous. TWO hours! The person who greeted us and seated us had his nose stuck in his phone the entire time we were there and didn't help the wait staff. He even took a walk outside for a phone call. Ambiance is lovely. I'll give it another try because the food is so yummy. Grilled artichokes! read more

Dafina is a nice addition to Somerville. Food and service were great! The ambiance is warm and inviting! The wine pours are a little weak sadly. read more

The restaurant is beautiful. Service is spot on and the food is terrific. My only issue this time was where we were sitting. They say us in the back room around two very large loud parties. It was hard to hear and talk to each other. But otherwise, everything was amazing. read more

Food and as very good, but pricey. Great wine and bar. Definitely worth going again as I had Chilean Sea Bass which was slightly undercooked, but the lamb chops looked amazing. read more

Had a really nice meal at Dafina in Somerville. The food was very good, well prepared, and everything came out at a good pace. Steve and Nick were great throughout the meal -- friendly, attentive, and easygoing. Overall, just a solid spot with good food and good service. We'd definitely come back and recommend it. read more

Everything amazing - food, service, decor and vibe. I felt like I had left New Jersey and landed on a surprise vacation. Will be back!!

My wife and I went there for dinner one night and it was a great experience. The Waite staff was beyond excellent. They were very attentive, but not covering over you like some restaurants. The food was cooked to perfection I had to Bronzino and my wife had Lamb. The atmosphere was relaxing and made you feel like it's one of your favorite places to be I would recommend this restaurant as one of the top food establishments in the area. read more

1st time at restaurant having dinner with friends. The wait staff and bus staff rushed our drink order and meals. Constant interruptions in our dining experience. I took 3 bites of my main course and was asked twice by 2 different waiters if I wanted a box. I then notified the Manager who was less interested. We will not return here. The ambience was nice and the food was good. Service is Everything. read more

Very pretentious, especially for a new restaurant. Food was ok, nothing special. Greek spreads are way overpriced for what you get. And credit card service charge is ridiculous please stop with this. $18.00 martinis and apps and then 3% for using cc. Just because you can charge it doesn't mean you should.! read more

Reverations ignored. We arrived Sat night (super busy) at 7:50 for a 8pm reservation. At 9pm... "we were next" apparently, after being told "it will be just a couple minutes." We left. Very Sienfeld, "you know how to TAKE the reservation, you just don't know how to HOLD the reservation." Don't bother. They're plenty busy, they don't need your business. read more