Incredible, authentic greek food. Came here with my parents the day after Christmas...there were only 2 tables filled the entire time we were there, why??? We called ahead of time for a reservation and the man who answered (in a heavy greek accent) responded "No, you come at 8 and you be fine, no reservation! See you then!" Greek music in the background, every flavor and every bite was incredible, and cheap too! This was a great place to try out after a night of walking around Boston to see the lights and decorations! read more

I'm really really surprised by everyone else's rave reviews of this restaurant as having extraordinary food, because we only got one solid good item out of three, and the rest were so deplorable that I'm actually giving it one star, despite the UNBELIEVABLE tzatziki (and I know I'm butchering that spelling). I love Greek food, more than anything else, and I am NOT a snob when it comes to down-and-dirty Greek food. And to be fair, the tzatziki was incredible. Creamy, but still light, and so so flavorful. But no one ever handed us the complimentary bread basket (shame). The fried calamari was so saturated with grease (and I am a greasehound - I never, never pat the grease of the pizza slice with napkins) that it was virtually inedible, and it was cold. But the spanakopita was the real crowning achievement. Everyone else on this has said that it tasted flavorless and like it had been sitting on the counter for hours, and that's exactly what happened. I've never seen a more unappetizing piece of spanakopita. My boyfriend took one bite and said "this tastes and smells EXACTLY like play-do." And you know what? He was right. As someone who has choked down THE most inedible food and abhors leaving anything behind on her plate, I could not take more than one bite of this. The one star is due to the fact that exactly six hours after this meal, I was on my hands and knees with the most violent case of food poisoning that I can ever imagine. I have a stomach of iron, and yet, the spanakopita at Desfina managed to trigger something insane. I would. not. recommend this place. read more

Finally an Authentic Greek place! Boiled greens (horta), Greek salad (Horiatiki: tomato, cucumber, peppers all covered in olive oil) and delicious "village" style bread. From the main courses: lamb dishes, mousakas, pastitsio, octopus, cod fillet etc.. all very high quality food! Kitchen stays open late, which is excellent (they are Greek after all. Closing early would be a very bad sign). And! They have a bar to select from a range of drinks. All in all- I come here for late dinners quite frequently, when I'm looking to satisfy my craving of a home cooked meal! Parking: right across the street reserved for Desfina customers (free) read more

I second Nicole C.'s comment about the lamb. STAY AWAY from the Roasted Lamb entree. Far, far, FAR away. The lamb tasted absolutely horrid. Additionally, the meat was either tough or very chewy (depending on the bite). I tried cutting all different parts of the meat to see if I could find one single decent bite. I found none. The bread was okay, the salad unexciting (although my tomato was fresh), and the service very friendly. Plus it appears a lot of the other Yelpers have had good experiences here. So take my review with a grain of salt. With that said, there is no way I can pay $15 (including tax and tip) again for this quality of food. I can understand a restaurant having a bad night and the taste being bland or a little off, but this lamb was disgusting. The fact that at least one other Yelp-er has had the same experience with the same dish makes me wonder what type of standards this place has for itself. Embarrassing. Spend the extra 5 minutes and walk down to 1st street and try out The Similans instead. It is isn't Greek (it's Thai), but for the same price you can get infinitely better quality and taste. But if you really feel like trying the place out, DO NOT ORDER THE ROASTED LAMB! read more

You know, a restaurant where you can use the place mat to plan your vacation to the Greek Islands is definitely my place. There are many delicious choices here, I have been a few times for lunch. The bread you get, while waiting for your delicious food, is amazing. very eggy and chewy and delicious. I've had the grilled chicken Greek salad, lamb, moussaka and spanakopita. All were worthy of a re-do at some point in the future. read more

New England not being abundant in Greek eateries, I was excited to try this place. Best was: -The red Greek wine ($40 full-bodied amazing) -The bread -Service I had grilled sardines ( no side included so order that in addition) and my bf pork chops, all decent...but the bread and wine alone did constitute a Sacred Supper. Can't wait to go back and try the appetizers highly recommended on Yelp. read more

If your grandmother was Greek, and she was an AMAZING cook, and she decided to open a neighborhood restaurant, Desfina would be the result. This is corner-restaurant food at its absolute best -- delicious, warm, casual, and made with love. I love everything about this place. The kitschy paper placemats with Greek trivia on them, the regulars yelling (happily) in Greek at the bar, the friendly family-oriented service, the cheap prices, the amaaaaazing homestyle food, the fact that they have retsina on the wine list...this place is the real deal. I used to live around the corner from Desfina, and I miss it SO MUCH. Nothing like a big hot plate of dolmades & a glass of house wine for a cold, snowy Boston night. Try the fried cheese & octopus for apps, the dolmades for an entrée (seriously, just do it), and the retsina or a house wine to drink. Can never go wrong with any of the desserts. Desfina, please open a California location - I'd be in there all the time. Since that probably won't happen soon, though, I'll make sure to stop in whenever I'm back home to visit! Opa! read more

As a half-greek ( my mom is greek) this place has a very greeky feel. But the food doesn't even come close to my "standards". The food seems bland and cookie-cutter. Unsure if that is by design to cater to a North American palate - the owners did seem to know about Greek food - the food misses the mark IMHO. Wish they could do better. read more

Good decent plain, not too expensive, Greek food! Lovely fries, great fish, and some decent Greek wine makes this a good neighbourhoodly place. Went here for a Greek friend's going away party and I thought the food was decent. If I lived close by I'd probabably stop here at least once. read more

Going along with the "I'm not Greek but my significant other is" trend in these reviews... The food here is about as authentic as your going to get unless you know some Greeks that will cook you dinner. I have eaten in Greece and at my boyfriends parents house and the food tastes practically the same! Expect some foods that you can find in almost every Greek place....moussaka, Souvlaki, salads, Spanakopita. And for gods sake don't expect lettuce when you order "the Greek salad" or horiatiki Salata. They also have some hard to find specialties like these little fried fish that we thought we could only find in Greece...we were so excited when we saw them on the menu. All in all this is a great place to have dinner if you like Greek food. In my opinion better than Steve's. read more

Everything was absolutely delicious and the service was terrific: warm, friendly, and helpful staff. Highly recommend the octopus appetizer--tender as can be!-- and the baked lamb shank. No one in our party of 5 had any complaints. Will definitely be returning! read more

I LOVE DESFINA! Their grilled octopus is divine, as is the spanikopita. It is a great place to go with a group of friends so you can share a bunch of things. And then, when the bill comes, I am usually shocked at how inexpensive the place is. Such a hidden gem. read more

If I could actually give Desfina a 3.5 stars, I would. As a gal originally from Detroit (with a yummy greek town), I was very excited to learn there was a greek place in the neighborhood. We went there with another couple (one of whom was of greek decent) and left stuffed to the brim and satisfied with the meal. Lots of greek wines, and really tasty espresso, old guys speaking greek at the bar- the whole 9 yards. I ordered the Moussaka for my entree (a go-to order for me back in D-town). It was a huge portion, with a delicious side of green beans. Tasty, it was, but not the absolute best I've had. Same goes for the saganaki we ordered, its fried cheese thats lit on fire- so how can it NOT be awesome? It was good, but I think it should have been on fire a little longer and on a hot plate (to get the cheese nice and gooey in the middle). AKA, I like my saganaki at a lower viscosity, as opposed to the higher viscosity saganaki we got (again, it was still the effin bomb, it's fried cheese guys). Anyway -- all in all a good spot. I approve. read more

Good food for lunch or dinner. I get the steak tips and the roasted potatoes. You have to try the potatoes. So good. Lunch can be quick if you want. Usually 45 min to an hour. It's also good for drinks after work. The bar is a welcome relief from the fancy and expensive bars that have encroached on Kendall recently. read more

This place has been one of my go to spots for years. Beautiful fish, killer Greek veggies, delicious house made salad dressing...it's a hidden gem and not to be missed. read more

Bottom line: if you don't live nearby, this good Greek restaurant is a bit too far out of the way to visit regularly. Probably the most authentic Greek food I've had in the Boston area, and if you live nearby, a great choice. I found this place after doing a Google search for Greek food in Boston, and it was aptly described as a hidden, local's hangout. Too true. Every time I've gone for dinner--if you can get here on your lunch break you're probably swinging by after collecting unemployment--the journey was time consuming. Additionally, be prepared for the assortment of laborers hogging the bar. I'm not a foodie, but I enjoy Greek, this being the best around. Bring a book for the T ride, and enjoy. read more

The wine here is fantastic - went with the Amystheyos, it was $39 - a red with character. The atmosphere at this place needs a face lift - the lighting was cranked high and the "art" on the walls was a bit tacky. Servers were friendly. The appetizers were quite good, got the Calamari grilled which was great. The low mark is due to the poorly prepared entrees. I got the "Lamb" which was as dry as a bone. It had the texture of shoe leather. The atmosphere and entree plate is the issue - the leathery lamb came with fries and freezed dried salad. I would recommend the wine and apps only and bring sunglasses to cope with the lighting. read more

This intimate hideaway is the closest thing to a Greek taverna experience greater Boston has to offer. Tucked away in the shadows of the gleaming glass biotech giants, Desfinas warmth shines through its inconspicuous brick exterior. Authenticity is their specialty-and it's achieved naturally. Immerse yourself in a restaurant frequented by local Greek families-young and old. The saganaki is top-shelf, and the meat fresh and plentiful. Ouzo actually tastes better in the right environment - and where else, but here! The staff is friendly and welcoming-and knowing even the slightest bit of Greek goes a long way. Only downside-they're not open on Sundays! Tough when you're having pre-Monday cravings for a Mediterranean escape-but you can't have it all! Parakalo, yelp-verse! read more

Desfina is named after a Greek island and I like that it really feels like one of those cafes in Greece. They serve gyros the way I like it if I ask them too (with French fries and ketchup and mustard all mixed in). The lamb I had wasn't great. I think the strength of Desfina lies in it's mezedes (appetizers) and salads. The eggplant salad is delish, and the calamari is always fantastic. The gavros (fried anchovies that you eat whole - do not embarrass yourself by leaving the heads!) are I believe responsible for convincing my boyfriend to go to Greece with me. That said, a meal of appetizers here is not cost efficient, so I doubt many people do it. But I still like it, even if I can only afford the $12 appetizer of gavros when my parents are paying. read more

I'm a big fan of Desfina for lunch! Admittedly, I've only had take-out, but everything I've had has been fantastic. The Greek salad with chicken is perfectly sized for lunch and comes with some deliciously marinated chicken and TWO pieces of delicious bread. The gyro is enormous, and comes with fries for only $6.25! I've also tried their grape leaves and spinach pie combo, which comes with 2 good-sized dolmades with avgolemono sauce, a big piece of spanakopita, a side of rice, roasted potatoes, or fries, a salad, and TWO pieces of delicious bread, all for $7.75! This stuff is delicious, as well. One of my coworkers orders the chicken souvlaki 2-3 times a week. I can't wait to try more of the menu items! The restaurant itself is cute, and they have real table service and a small (but fully stocked!) bar. The staff is fantastic, and remember me when I come in, even though I have only been in a few times. This is a great place to get some tasty Greek food at a reasonable price! read more

This place makes the whole block smell great! Popped in for some gyros, the lamb is excellent! Huge tender chunks, nicely marinated, and with the tzatziki sauce and grilled pita for less than $10 (includes fries). It's a pretty good deal considering you're in Cambridge. read more

Desfina Restaurant - Lamb gyro - Greek Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Desfina is not just a great neighborhood place, but a solid Greek food option overall. I've cozied up to the bar and had an inexpensive glass of wine with a delicious greek salad fairly often - the feta cheese here is unbelievably delicious. It gets busy for takeout around dinner time, but service is always friendly. read more

I am greek and can certify that there is no better greek food in the area. I used to like Meze for its nouveau-greek but overpriced menu and when it closed, I tested every greek restaurant I could find inside 128. Desfina is by far the best. The food is as authentic as it gets and you can make a meal out of the appetizers alone. The grilled octopus is tender and well cooked and comes in a generous portion and a great price. The various dips are also well prepared and tasty. The lamb chops and moussaka are also great, if you have any room left for a main course. The wine list has a nice but limited selection of greek wines at very reasonable prices. But make sure you save room for dessert, as their galaktompoureko is amazing. I only wish they would go back to having real greek pittas (the pocketless kind) to go with the dips. The ambience is cozy and can be sometimes loud, but it's friendly and very comfortable! read more

I came to Desfina with my dad and sister, and we are big fans of Greek food. We all left here full and happy! Having visited Greece, I feel like I have relatively high standards for Greek food. Desfina met those standards, and then some! We started with apps: we ordered an eggplant dish appetizer (the name escapes me at the moment) and grape leaves. Both were outstanding, but the grape leaves continue to haunt my tastebuds. I frequently order the grape leaves plate at Falafel Palace, and while their version is yummy, at Desfina they are served WARM! This blew my mind. I wish you could order this as an entree! However, I had the mousakka, which was huge and delicious. I had enough to bring for lunch the next day, and I was actually sad when I finished it. My sister had a rack of lamb that was also enormous and falling off the bone. Desfina definitely meets the Yelp 5 star criteria--the food is great, the ambience is very home-y and intimate, and our waiter was beautiful. Literally the most handsome waiter I think I'ver had. And thanks to my gregarious father, I know he is 24 and does not have children. That's my dad, always inquisitive. read more

It's a trifecta: Ambience, quality and value. Ambience: Totally cute family restaurant, warm and cozy. I like the people eating food at the bar, and there are tons of tables near windows. The service is really good - very friendly and happy. Quality: I don't get people's 1 or 2 stars here, calling the food mediocre or bland. Everything I have gotten here has been full of tasty spiced goodness. I am Indian, I don't like bland food. Greek food is not "spicy", but I appreciate well spiced food, and this is it. I have had the shrimp dishes (very garlicky, be forewarned); and last night I had the beef kebab (medium-rare steak, so yummy). My boyfriend's favorite is the mussels chablis because of the broth, which I have tasted - yum. I also love the vegetables that come with the entrees (okra or green beans) - in a great tomatoey oniony sauce. Value: My beef dish was $13, try to beat that. read more

Desfina is a lovely place, just a few blocks from the tall office and lab buildings in Kendall Square (East Cambridge.) Greek food made similarly to what my maternal Grandma would make. A party of four, at 5:30 seating on a Saturday night, the place was just getting started. We were the third table seated; it was nearly full when we left. It's quiet enough for conversation, and service was good. Everyone gets a nice basket of fresh-baked bread; we ordered dolmades as a shared appetizer, followed by house salads (add the feta cheese, which is great.) Main dishes were baked lamb, roast lamb, mussels, and chicken shish kebab. The baked lamb is their most popular dish and it's excellent. The others were very good. More bread let us soak up the sauces. We'll definitely come back! read more

Desfina is adorable and affordable. You know it's authentic when you walk in the door. We were there on a Tuesday night and the owners were mingling with a group of regulars at the bar. The service was great and very attentive (plus they get a major bonus for our waiter being really hot). The food is some of the best Greek I have had. I think my favorite dish was the dolmades, or stuffed grape leaves, that they serve hot in this incredible buttery sauce. A lot of places serve them cold but the heat helps meld the flavors better. My main dish was the baked lamb, which was gigantic and gave me plenty to take home, and it was only $13.95! Everything was delicious and overall, it is just a pleasant atmosphere. read more

Very delicious and authentic Greek food. The atmosphere is cozy and it's always busy there. read more

Great place for Greek food. Make sure to get anything & everything with feta - it is really delightful here. Ambiance is quite authentic as well, with folk Greek music playing. Wouldn't change a thing! read more

Delicious, authentic Greek food. I went for lunch and had the spinach pie and moussaka. It came with a simple salad - nothing remarkable. I wish it had a little feta on it. Desfina has a diner sort of feel. Our waitress was super friendly. I'd definitely go again to try other dishes. read more

Love the authentic Greek food here! I feel like I'm in Greece when I eat here! Everything is fresh and delicious, from the greek chicken salads to the gyros, grilled octopus, eggplant salad, saganaki, mmm Its hard to pick my favorite dish. The customer service is great as well! I will definitely be back!! read more

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Dining as Desfina is always a pleasure. As others have stated, the food tastes just like our Yia Yia's! This place is nothing fancy, but the food and service have always been good. It feels like you're dining in someone's home - intimate, good food, and a place to relax and enjoy a great meal. They also have parking across the street - an added bonus! read more

Awful experience! Got carry out last weekend. Too bad I did not check order, got two potato orders instead of potato and rice. Moreover chicken kebab was over cooked, green peppers and onions were burned. Pastichio was just ok. Never ever I would buy stuff from Desfina. read more

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OMG this place is good! From the outside it could be mistaken for a neighborhood dive with bad food. Well, maybe it is a neighborhood dive, but the food is fantastic. And at terrific prices... A couple tips: 1) Order the grilled octopus. Yes, I know you probably don't like octopus but this is nothing like you've ever had. Tender and crispy, drizzled in the best olive oil. Yum! 2) Dolmades (aka grape leaves) are served warm and some of the best I've had. I haven't yet ventured beyond the lamb and chicken kebab because they are so good and filling. Drinks are good as well. Enjoy! read more

Excellent salad with feta. Mouth-watering lamb chops. And friendly service to top it off. My only complaint was the busy atmosphere. Noisy; too brightly lit; and slow service (presumably from too many customers and not enough staff). read more

What a great time Carol and I had eating here on our first visit! We had the tzatziki, saganaki, grilled octopus. We split the mousakka and baked lamb shank and then had the galaktoboureko and baklava for dessert. Everything was just great including the atmosphere and service! read more

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I enjoyed my delivery. Three stars (tentative rating) means not anything special for the price. It's not cheap in my opinion ($10 for horiatiki). I didn't order anything very adventurous--just horiatiki and the appetizer platter. Liked everything, and liked the bread. Would definitely order again. Second order: pretty marginal. Third order: Would give 4 stars if it weren't a bit overpriced. 3.5 stars as is. Much better than Greek Corner imo. read more

The grilled octopus is the most tender and flavorful I have ever tasted. Definitely going to be coming back on future business trips and try some of the other dishes that I saw 'walk' by me. They all looked super delicious and then patrons gave 10 thumbs up. read more

Desfina Restaurant - Greek Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Amazing atmosphere and fantastic food. Felt really authentic. We got the lamb kebab and mussels

This is a great spot. Surprisingly pretty quiet on a Tuesday - but delicious food at a fair pricepoint. The menu is expansive and everything we had was very good. The tzatziki, oddly enough, may have been the high point. It was AMAZING! Service good not great, but worth going regardless. read more