I'd been to Dali many many years ago (in the 90s) and back then the food was great and the atmosphere was electric. This time, though there was still that great energy with a full house, we had a pretty mediocre experience here. To start with, I felt like service was minimal and rushed. I feel like our server was spread thin, just too busy. Every time I looked for her she was taking an order at another table, running food, clearing tables, etc. She was obviously busy. To start, we were seated, ordered drinks, and then probably waited another 15 minutes for her to come back with drinks/to take our order. Once that happened food came quickly, but it was mostly a disappointment. The one exception --sizzling garlic shrimp -- delicious and just as I remember --best thing by far. Sopo de ajo (garlic soup) was okay but missing some flavor. Same with the Pa amb Tomàquet (tomato/garlic bread) I never add salt, but I found myself asking the server for some.Not much flavor from tomatoes or garlic! We also ordered Bolitas de Queso, fried cheese balls (just okay); grilled chicken skewers (very very spicy --too spicy for some to eat though the description on the menu is not clear just how spicy they are...and in addition, some pieces of chicken were undercooked) ; short ribs in rioja wine sauce (a couple of pieces were actually tough to cut, which is pretty unusual with short ribs) Desserts were chocolate mousse and churros -- probably the best part of the meal. Churros were piping hot. We were celebrating a birthday and the staff singing/tamborine playing was very nice...but I'm not sure I'd rush back. If our server had been a bit more engaged, perhaps it would have made a bit of a difference. read more

Service was very friendly. Food came out quickly and had great presentation. Mulled wine was perfect and fit the cozy atmosphere. read more

Dali Restaurant & Tapas Bar - Seafood paella - Spanish Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

AMAZING!!! I lived in Barcelona for a 4 months and can say the food lives up to true Catalan cuisine. The service was incredible (Julio was so fun and engaging!!!) You won't regret visiting this lovely place. read more

Very popular, definitely get a reservation, even on a weeknight. The vibe inside is great--mood lighting, but fun and quirky decor. All the dishes we tried (spinach with pine nuts, lamb chops with peach, stuffed artichoke, veggie empanadillas) were quite good, but were notably expensive for both the quality and the quantity. It's definitely an upscale night out if you're trying to get full. Note that I wouldn't recommend this spot for vegetarian/vegan friends--while there are technically vegetarian options on the menu, you'll struggle to leave with a full stomach. read more

Dali Restaurant & Tapas Bar - Spanish Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Blown away by the ambiance, the service, but most importantly, the food! We had a slight mishap where someone dropped a bit of wine on my shirt, but the servers immediately got some stain removed that cleaned it off instantly! The tapas kept coming, and I was stuffed to the brim before I rolled out of there ;) Definitely worth a visit! read more

I've been here twice now. 5 stars all the wayyyyy. Both times I came food was exquisite, service was amazing, ambiance it's beautifully presented based on the culinary arts of the cuisine. If you love Spanish Tapas you need to check Dali out. If you don't, you need to check it out anyway and will then become a huge fan! Also they import their Spanish wines which adds to the experience and is a hugeee plus. read more

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Dali is so fun. The decor is really unique; they have some eclectic elements crammed in every space but somehow it just feels cozy and welcoming rather than claustrophobic. The drinks are really cheap for the area, especially for a pitcher of sangria. Skip the paella and just order a bunch of the super diverse tapas. The octopus and the ceviche were both very flavorful. The rabbit, both beef tapas, the garlic shrimp and the empanadas were particularly good. The charcuterie was just ok. Lots of seafood, red meat, and vegetarian options. The staff is fun, friendly, and casual. The menu is huge and there were so many exciting options so have to go back to try what I missed. read more

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The food was terrible. It is so easy to make tapas. I don't understand how can you take a great easy dish like a Mexican rice and make it into the one of the greatest disasters that there is in Boston. Please if you want to have good tapas do not go here. read more

Best salt encrusted sea bass on the planet. Awesome atmosphere. Great music. Festive decor.

Great as always! Julio took good care of us at the bar. Paella & clams were delicious, the sangria is the best in town!

I am not a big yelper but these guys deserve a big shout out. We showed up at 6 for an 8 pm reservation on parents weekend. There was no room but somehow they squeezed us in. It was much like a Christmas miracle--with the charming Julio as the magi! He made the evening vey fun. read more

Food was tasty and service was good. Ambiance transports you to another place from the plain block building on the outside - the decor is Spanish, rich and a bit dark with a bit of kitsch. My only big complaint is it's extremely loud. I enjoyed the duck and garlic shrimp the most and would return to try more plates! read more

Dali Restaurant & Tapas Bar - Lamb chops - Spanish Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

The restaurant was very busy and lively, which was fantastic. We had a reservation so we were able to sit down immediately. We ordered the red sangria, which was strong but delicious. However, the food was a little disappointing. We ordered the croquettes, watermelon salad, short ribs, and the paella. The croquettes had manchego cheese, which the menu didn't say (just said cheese) and I dislike any sheep's milk cheese so we didn't enjoy these. The watermelon salad was ok, nothing special. It was just spring mix on top of a block of watermelon. The short ribs were fantastic and probably the best thing on the menu. The meat was very tender and flavorful but it only came with two pieces of meat. We then ordered the scallops because we were still hungry and waiting on the paella. The scallops tasted very ocean-y and didn't taste like it was quality seafood. The sauce was very under salted and the scallops were only seared on one side so they were mushy. Very disappointing. We waited almost an hour for the paella to come out and we were looking forward to it, but it was also just as disappointing. The mussels and clams weren't cleaned very well and we could taste sand. In general, it didn't seem like they were using high quality ingredients because everything tasted like ocean water. There was nothing wrong with our server, he was great. The food was just not as great as we had hoped. Will probably not be coming back. read more

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Tiny portions of over-priced mediocre food. Uncomfortable vibe. I'd rather eat nothing than $200 of garbage. read more

Dali is my favorite Spanish place in the city. Time after time it never fails to give me full tummy with seriously good food passed down over generations. The wait staff is superb and very affable and even funny to boot! For my last birthday they went all out. One of the best birthdays ever. Perons poured into gullets, patatas bravas and roasted rabbit, tortilla espanola, Sopa de Ajo...It's a little slice of Spain in Cambridge and you should give it a try! read more

Not bad. We came on a super busy night and the place was absolutely slammed. Brought back memories of a pre-covid era where we could all sup in relatively close spaces without a second thought. Maybe on the weekdays the atmosphere is a little more chill? Though I've been to much louder restaurants, I had a hard time hearing everyone around me. Food: In terms of portions, I would say get 1 dish per person if the overall hunger level is more "I could munch on stuff" and get 2-3 if everyone's ravenous and looking for an actual meal. I'm not the biggest tapas person, in part because I never know if I'm satiated or not after going through a round of small dishes. We got the warm spinach, the potatoes, garlic shrimp, some of the ham, the beef short rib, and the octopus. On the whole, almost everything was either doused in oil or deep fried, which sure made the first few bites taste good, but it would've been good to have more than one salad on the menu. The garlic shrimp, which all the other reviews raved about, was pretty meh - the shrimp were tiny prawns the size of my pinky nail. The presentation when they brought it out to our table was cool but that was it. Spinach was borderline inedible with how much oil was added to it. Can't remember much about the octopus - it was brought out so late that I considered just cancelling it. Service: Nice but really, really spotty, given how short-staffed they were. Towards the end, as we were finishing up dessert, our waitress just leaned over and started clearing up our dishes and utensils, even though we still had a few bites of our dulce de leche left. Parking: Some street parking spots right out front and along Line Street (Cambridge permit not required on Sundays), but we ended up just parking in the nearby Whole Foods lot and walking over. read more

Dali does not disappoint. Long time patron, there tonight for a special date night with my sweetie and it was amazing! Food was unbelievable and Julio Trullio at the bar made the night! Can't say enough about this iconic place. Don't hesitate. Go! read more

Went here for a date night, and the ambiance and main host were absolutely incredible, our waiter however wasn't as great. We always felt rushed, and it was hard to get his attention. Overall we had a good night out, but the food was a little hit or miss. We started off with the sangria and Mango Caipirinha. Both of them were delicious! We had: - Sope de Ajo: a super strong roasted garlic flavors. I was a little caught off guard at first by how garlicky it was, but it grew on me. I would recommend to serious Garlic lovers! Empanadillas de Vegetales: You get two with the order, and they were crunchy, light, and flavorful. We loved these Patatras Bravas: Pretty disappointed here. The sauce served with the potato's were great, but the potato's themselves were very undercooked, not even close to crispy. Queso De Carba: Another disappointing dish here. I love goat cheese, but there were a super bitter and overpowering olive oil taste. Gambas con Gabardina: Good crispy batter on the shrimp, and it was seasoned nice. Wasn't a biggest a fan of the sauce and didn't think it went with the shrimp Churros: light, crispy and delicious. Th sauces were both fantastic and were not too sweet. Dulce de Leche Pastel Helado: another delicious dessert. Loved the Ice cream and cake. read more

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I am so happy I finally found a tapas place to call my favorite! The whole building (although the outside could use a bit of a face lift) and interior is a maximalist's dream and nice little eccentric nod to its namesake, the artist, Dali. Filled with vibrant colors, lacey lingerie, gold accents, and rustic furniture, Dali has built an atmosphere where you forget that you live in Boston, just for a little bit. The servers are fast and friendly, and the food is solid. Recommend getting about 3 tapas and a paella if you are wanting to dine out big with a partner! The liter size sangrias come in a clay pitcher which adds to the ambience of the whole experience. Highly recommend getting the seafood paella (plenty of seafood on it!), the short ribs braised in red wine sauce, the BREAD (I know, but really, it comes grilled with butter and capers! Delicious), croquettas, honestly, you can't really go wrong (although the saffron scallops is a little priced highly for the 4 that you get). Put in a reservation if you're going on a weekend, weekdays usually there is a handful of tables available. Street parking is available on Beacon Street! read more

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Food and drink are AMAZING! i only wish this place was open 7 days a week. make sure to visit Julio at the bar, he and the staff are so kind, welcoming, and a lot of fun! read more

New favorite restaurant in the Boston area. Everything we had here was incredible. I especially recommend the croquets, both the jamon and the pollo! The restaurant is super cute and feels like you're truly in Spain. Cannot wait for our next trip to Dali. read more

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Great environment, tasty food. Perfect for dates and celebrations, as the staff is friendly and have festive cheers for different occasions. Pricey, but that goes for all tapas style restaurants in the Boston area. This might be my favorite though. I liked the Sierra Cantabria Crianza red wine. They offer wine flights--a great deal for trying four wines. I liked every dish ordered. As these are small plates it's easier to share between 4 adults (or less). My favorite were the deep fried cheese and lamb meatballs. read more

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5 stars for Julio the bartender. Sit at the bar with him and be instantly reminded of what good service should feel like. Warm, entertaining, and makes great cocktails. With that said every server, hostess, food runner, etc i interacted was nothing but pleasant and welcoming. What a great vibe. read more

i walked by this place and saw a line out the door so immediately yelped it and it has been on my radar since because of their cute interior! definitely did not disappoint Pa amb Tomàquet - MUST GET! definitely worth it to add the anchovies Pimientos a la plancha - so simple yet done so well Gorditas - so good and i'm a sucker for a bacon wrapped prune Mariscos - we were surprised how full this left us. given we had only had three small plates leading up to this we were assuming we had to order more but the creamy sauce and rice left us more than satisfied. loved the variety in seafood and would def recommend over the paella. Flan - not as silky smooth as I expected but still delicious This place got very crowded very quickly so be patient with the service. Enjoy the decoration and ambience once seated. With such a large offering you can't go wrong with the menu! read more

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Visited Dali again last Friday for Galentine's dinner with my friends. We ordered the queso rebozado, croquetas de jamon, octopus, pimientos (shishito peppers), patatas bravas, gambas al ajillo (garlic shrimp), and a seafood paella (small), which was the perfect amount of food for four people. We also split the churros for dessert with chocolate and dulce de leche. I absolutely loved the garlic shrimp and queso rebozado and would order those again. I usually love croquetas, but I found these ones to be a bit bland and probably would skip them next time I come back. The dulce de leche served with the churros was amazing and I actually preferred it to the chocolate. Overall, we really enjoyed our dinner at Dali and will be back sometime soon! read more

We introduced our friends to the wonderful Tapas and drinks at Dalis. We showed up on Saturday evening without a reservation and the place was packed. No problem, Brian secured a table for the 4 of us in 15 minutes. We started off with a liter of Sangria. It was FRUITY and REFRESHING! We enjoyed sharing many tapas varieties including sausage, beef ribs, gorditas, rabbit and garlic bread. The garlic bread is ESSENTIAL for soaking up the gravy from each tapas dish. You won't want to leave anything behind. Service was polite and efficient. It was a WONDERFUL, LIGHT MEAL to end the day. read more

I went for the first time last week with my boyfriend and couldn't recommend this place enough. The best way to go is at the bar with Julio; his energy lights up the room, he provides wonderful service, and makes great conversation! Also, the food is to die for!!! Our fan favorites were the shrimp (pictured) and calamari (pictured). Can't wait to join Julio again at our new favorite spot:) read more

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This one star is the service at Dali. Dali is one of our favorite place to go since Tapeo(former sister restaurant) closed its door. Although it is a bit of a drive we try to visit for their great ambiance and tapas. We celebrated many birthdays, graduations and anniversaries. Unfortunately, the old man who was a server will put an end to our visit to Dali. He ruined our b-day celebration with delay serving(drink served much after food was finished- we aren't talking about tapas; finishing paella), then he came back to the table to complain about the tip. FYI- we left little over 15% of pretax amount and he was in happy because he thinks he deserves well over 20%. Yeah- definitely not worth it. G'bye Dali. read more

Dali Restaurant & Tapas Bar - Tip and wages info 2023. - Spanish Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Love the food! Duck and Lamb lollipop and mussel! Great service experience from Rafael!!! read more

Dali Restaurant & Tapas Bar - Spanish Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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Been going since they opened in '89. Great then, great now, and all the years in between. Gambas Gaberdina! Limiting Al Cabrales! and always my personal fav: Sopa de Ajo! read more

Been here many times over 25 years, in my opinion, the best Tapa and Spanish entree food in Boston, although it is technically in Somerville. Beautiful ambiance and excellent service. I want to come more often but reserve Dali for special dinners. I melt with the dishes- the passion, perfection and atmosphere of this with a sherry or two after each bite or so. I want to try so many dishes each time with some repeats. Like the garlic and shrimp, not afraid to use garlic and flavorings. Pear,manchego and bacon burst with flavors, heated just enough to allow the pear sweet to open w a sharp salt of manchego. It is simply prepared but with skill to get the complex flavors to meld. It's in the details. read more

If you're ever in greater Boston, this is the best tapas you are likely to find this side of the Atlantic. Best tapas I've ever had -- and I f*cking love tapas -- most cozy AND interesting decor/atmosphere around, and my Top 3 bartender of all time, Julio, who may be older than the building itself, who dresses as flamboyantly as the great painter himself, whose personality is even more flamboyant (and hilarious), and who eliminates the need for a menu. This was my third time there, and each time was better than the last. You don't have to sit at the two bar seats furthest to the right -- although they w ere voted the two most romantic seats in any restaurant in greater Boston -- but you DO have to sit at the bar. Trust in Julio, and tell him I sent you. read more

Dali Restaurant & Tapas Bar - Salted caramel chocolate mousse - Spanish Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Great food and cute decorations! We ordered the rabbit which was a pleasant surprise since this is not something you can usually have in a tapas place in the US. In my opinion, this is one of the best tapas place in the Boston area. read more

Such a cozy spot! Dimly lit and elaborately decorated. The food was delicious as well - the focaccia was deliciously crispy and buttery, and the gambas al ajillo was another of my favorites read more

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I've been to a few tapas places in Boston, but nothing is quite like the vibe at Dali. As soon as you walk in, you are instantly transported to a different world - the art and decor is quite unique, and very loud in the artistic sense. However, the lighting is dim and the restaurant is divided into smaller dining rooms, creating a surprisingly cozy environment. The noise level was actually rather quiet, possibly because of this, and I appreciated this to have conversations with others. We walked in on a Thursday evening and got seats at the bar, and I personally think that was a great decision. Our server Julio behind the bar made my day. He was an amazing character, joking around with all of us at the bar - we got to talk with other diners next to us because of this friendly atmosphere, and even cheers-d (salud!) together with our glasses of wine. Julio made sure there was enough space at the bar to have all of our dishes, had great attention to detail, getting out clean plates and utensils halfway, and pouring us water and wine. I think the bar table was actually quite wide - it was kind of like two levels to put things on, and it worked well for this restaurant. Food service seemed quite slow, probably due to the crowdedness; the kitchen seemed backlogged. Each thing we ordered was delicious - Dali seems like one of those places where you can't really go wrong with what you order. Minor detail but I think the menu could have some spaces between certain items on the tapas calientes section - it's organized logically but still looks too crowded to navigate. Things ordered: -gorditas: an interesting take on the more popular bacon-wrapped dates, the flavors were a bit more subtle. I liked how thin the bacon was and how it had a nut inside. -alcachofas rellenas: artichokes were there, but the mushrooms were the dominant flavor here. The cheese paired well with the strong, earthy mushroom flavor. -plato mixto: i don't usually order charcuterie from restaurants, but this was cool because of the it had a lot of variety and because it was labeled nicely on a little sign -pato braseado: the duck was cooked well and the berry sauce was delicious - I was just scooping up the sauce at the end - but since the sauce had some sweetness and tartness to it, it would have been nice if the meat were richer and more seasoned to balance it -buñuelos de verdura: crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and flavored well with the sauce. I wish the verdura (vegetable) part came through more. -mousse de chocolate: standard chocolate mousse, topped with some nice flavor pairings (salt, cherry, cream) which was nice to combine/explore -dulce de leche pastel helada: a bit on the sweeter side, but so fun. The whipped cream mixed with the ice cream mixed with a decadent dulce de leche sauce, sandwiched between a vaguely graham-cracker-tasting cake and chocolatey crisps on top. So much going on and yet somehow works together - just like the decor of the place. -Viña Alberdi Reserva (Rioja Alta): a wine I knew I would like, and presented well with the decanter. The prices for the imported wine seemed quite reasonable, and I liked that the menu focused on Spanish wines. read more

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Since our last visit to Dali, we've been to Spain MANY times. While this resembles Spanish tapas joints, it's a tapas-themed restaurant. Nevertheless, we ordered setas al ajillo (mushrooms in garlic), croquetas de jamon (ham croquettes), queso rebojado con miel, (cheese with honey), and albondigas (meatballs). The star was the albondigas - a 5-star delicious dish of lamb meatballs in a rich savory sauce. The croquetas were good but you'll find better in most of the tapas bars. The queso was superb. The setas were boring. (Note that LOTS of tapas in Spain are supposed to be boring, but we tend to go for the more exciting dishes.) The service was excellent. And yes, as I wrote in an earlier review, it was NOISY. But in Spain, tapas bars are always noisy. read more

Y'all. The sangria here is so tasty!! Everything we ordered was so good. The paella is super flavorful and the tapas we ordered were delicate and bold. The interior is very colorful and cozy (read: cramped), but maybe some people like that level of proximity. The service is solid and items came out at a good pace. Overall, it's a really cute date spot, however, I would say that it can get pretty loud because of the tight quarters, so if you want to have a private, intimate conversation or vibe, this not the place for that. Also, probably not a great place for those who have sensory issues as it is high an different kinds of stimuli: visual, auditory. read more

Dali is one of my favorite spots for Spanish tapas! The ambiance here is wonderful.... its stylish, fun, and cozy (which makes it a great spot for the winter). The portion sizes are good/filling (considering they are small portions) and the food comes out hot/whenever its ready. I recommend 4-5 dishes between two people. Our favorites were the croquettes, short rib, and the Dulce de Leche Pastel Helado dessert. Getting a sangria with your meal is a must! They really have perfected this drink... its not too sweet and strong... but not too strong. Overall I really love this place, its a great go to for friends, families, and date night. The staff is friendly, the price is good, and the food is delicious! read more

Dali Restaurant & Tapas Bar - Vieiras al Azafran - Spanish Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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Such a great experience here! I went there for a girl's night dinner and it was the total package! The decor and the atmosphere itself is beautiful! You can really experience Spain and you walk through the restaurant and see the hanging jamón. The tapas are a little bit pricey but they taste delicious. There was 3 of us and we were set after order 4-5. read more

Dali Restaurant & Tapas Bar - Spanish Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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I love Dali! It's been my go-to neighborhood restaurant since 2021. We enjoy date nights, birthdays, and dinners with out-of-town guests at Dali. The food is delicious, the ambiance is friendly and unique, the drinks are great, and the price is very reasonable, especially for the area. I will continue to go back again and again. read more