I couldn't be any happier with my dinner. Moving from New York, I've been having a tough time finding rustic Greek food, nothing fancy but consistent and casual. Again, super happy with the menu and can't wait to keep coming back. read more

Delicious food (authentic greek food according to greeck friends), nice location, staff are very friendly. read more

Desfina Restaurant - Pikilia (Greek Dips) - Greek Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Stopped by here for a quick lunch after seeing the majority positive Yelp reviews. Now I can add to the positivity. Food was cooked fresh, flavorful, and the portions/price were not too shabby as well (although $17 for the octopus appetizer was bit excessive--I don't regret ordering it as a main meal). The food overall was exactly what I hoped for--flavorful Greek such as charred chicken, lemon, and creamy tzatziki! They also bring out a basket of nice chewy bread at the beginning. As for the rest of the menu, they have it all from gyros to salads to dips and anything else you're hoping for from a Greek restaurant--I want to get the Saganaki next time! I was surprised by how packed it was during lunch hour for this sit down restaurant. It seems to attract a local crowd consisting of residents and business people, meaning they have efficient and quick service! It's definitely a solid Greek restaurant where I hope to return soon! read more

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Very mediocre beef kabob. Asked for med rare, got med well. Roasted potatoes looked like they were boiled. Won't go back.

Ate here for a friend's birthday last week and overall it was a mixed experience. The server seemed to be a new hire but she was trying her very best. The food was a hit and a miss. For appetizers, the tzatziki, spanakopita and grilled sardines were delicious but caviar dip seemed to be out of a box and was just awful, no one at the table ate it. Saganaki was very very salty and had a weird after taste. For mains, lamb roast was just meh but the lamb shank and grilled cod was tasty. I have had gyros for lunch in the past, but they are just ok. My favorite gyros are at Greek corner restaurant. For the quantity and taste of the dishes, the prices are on the higher side. read more

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I went to this place with a friend who lives in Cambridge. This place is so quaint. The food was really good as well. The portions were large and the price was affordable. I would definitely recommend this place if you are looking for greek food. read more

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We got a bunch of soups, some green beans and a chicken kebab to go. Every single bite was deeelicious. Soups were all top top tier. My only regret was the rice was covered in some red sauce that tasted like it had been simmered in lamb. I can't eat lamb. This did not ruin how happy I was to be eating everything else though. I plan on being back no less than once a month. read more

Looks can be deceiving and that's the case here. When we pulled up, we were debating to go in or go to another restaurant but I am so glad we decided to give it a try. Some of the best Mediterranean food I've had on the East coast. The octopus is very tender, the fish very crispy and cooked to perfection, and the sardines lightly battered to perfection. Their salad dressing is very very good, along with their taziki sauce goes well with everything. The waiter was also very accommodating and gave us good suggestions. read more

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Neighborhood restaurant with authentic Greek food - charcoal grill in the back, fish to look at and pick from and you will be hard pressed to find a better grilled Octopus anywhere. My favorite place hands down. read more

This food is so authentic and so good! I'm visiting Cambridge and I just happened to bump into it on my way to getting lost. L The people are nice I can tell that there are Greeks eating here which says a lot. I ordered grilled octopus and moussaka! So good!! read more

Everything was very good and the staff is excellent. Came with a group of 6 and was easily accommodated.

Three hours after my underwhelming delivered meal from Desfina I got sick. The Greek dips didn't taste right. Their kitchen should be inspected by the department of public health for food-borne pathogens. read more

Best meal at a restaurant I've had in a while. Dropped in for an early dinner on a whim and left completely satisfied. Great and friendly service, the bartender had a sweet sense of humor and the ambiance was low key and comfortable and remained so as patrons poured in. We each had a different soup with a taste that brought me back to a delicious home cooked meal of my childhood. The grilled octopus was fantastic and the spanakopita was classic. Finished off with a chicken kabob dinner that was top notch. Excellent date spot but I may sneak back in for another delicious mixed drink and grilled octopus. Definitely a gem. read more

Delicious authentic Greek food! Sea bass, steak tenderloin tips, and octopus were all very good. Will definitely be back! read more

Desfina Restaurant - Tenderloin Tips Dinner sea bass - Greek Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

This restaurant serves authentic Greek food! Amazing seafood options and others. The staff is so friendly and well organized, they know their menu well! I have been there several times, definitely consistent with their food and service quality. The ambiance is not maybe as good as the food and service, but I would care less compared to others. read more

Took us quite a long time to visit this Cambridge hidden gem after living around the area for so many years. The food is exceptionally delicious and as authentic as can be for Greek. The best part of the experience is the service and atmosphere it provides; very welcoming and attentive servers and staff. We had a wonderful experience and its somewhere I can see us returning over and over again (maybe even with a larger crowd.) read more

Have visited in the past, but recently the portions have gotten to half of what they used to be. Food came out tasteless and without any basic flavoring. Service was also subpar, basically had to flag down wait staff for anything and everything. Finally, our server didn't even wait for us to order desert, just brought the check...oh well. Then we got home, I started to feel sick and was sick for a good hour+. Health inspector should check this place out, sad to see it slip up... read more

Don't come here hangrrry, it will be a while till you get service and food! The question is it worth It? Let's start by saying when the bread came out I was so hangrrry started to eat pc by pc as we were waiting patiently for our grilled octopus, we did want calamari, but it was sold out.. Grilled octopus: the texture was soft melted in your mouth and the taste of olive oil was a nice touch.. I highly recommend it. $15.99 Swordfish kabob: I was waiting for this dish to come out much sooner than 45 mins, it took forever to get food but was it worth It? The kabob was juicy, tasty and the side of fresh okra went well with the kabob $17.99 worth the price.. The wait wasn't worth it. The restaurant has a very homey feel to it like other yelpers have stated, it is very small and tight.. they were very busy and seemed no one that works there were communicating with one another, one person sat us down and she said she will be back to take our order... well she never did, so the bartender came and apologized so he took our order,... The amount of time spent here with our table empty was just not good at all. Was it worth It? waiting for food was unacceptable, ususally greek restaurants are much faster and no one came to check on us while we were eating, and when a gentleman came by and asked if were done I just asked for the check right away. I wanted to get out of here fast!! read more

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We liked this restaurant enough to be huge fans. Having been to Athens, we're pretty familiar with Greek cuisine. Desfina met our needs for Greek food in Boston, and we recommend it highly. Why did I deduct a star? Based on value, mainly. We ate at 4:30 pm, early birds, the place was empty, on a Thursday. We paid full menu price, no specials offered. Comparatively, we were able to get outstanding Italian food in North End and early bird specials at a better price, with salads, dessert, and wine included, M-F. I guess it's all about competition. read more

This is one of my favorite Mediterranean restaurants. We usually go there for their seafood and have always been happy with the freshness of the sea food we ordered. Their staff is very friendly and the place is super clean. If you are craving for a European sea bass then you must check this place out. Oh and also do not forget to taste their hand cut fries with feta cheese on them if you like octopus which is also something my friends save about in this place. read more

Desfina Restaurant - Mediterranean Sea bass with side of hand cut fries and salad - Greek Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

This rating is strictly based on service. I unfortunately did not get to try the food because service at the front end was so poor that we had to walk away before ordering. I made a reservation for a table through their website, and we showed up 5 mins late. There was no host or place to check in; I flagged down a server and they didn't seem to have record of the reservation -- apparently you have to take an extra step and verify it once you get an email from the restaurant, which is annoying when trying to make dinner plans on the fly. That aside, we were told our table would be ready in 15 mins so we circled the block. We had 2 hungry kids with us so we studied the menu and were ready to order as soon as we sat down. We were finally seated 30 mins after our reservation time... considering when you make a reservation you take a table for a set period of time, that would presumably help them manage the flow of people and vacate tables for the next reservation. We were seated and the waitress pointed out the QR code for the menu, and disappeared. 10 mins went by and no one came out to greet us, offer water, take our order, nothing. After a long wait and having just seated a party with children, you would think they'd at least bring water and bread. The place was crowded indoors and outside and I could only see 2-3 staff serving -- so it was obvious this would take a while. None of the tables around us had been attended to in the 10 mins we were seated there so we just decided to cut our losses and find someplace else to eat. I'm bummed I didn't try the food and might come back again when they appear to have more staff people to serve their diners. But that night it felt like they really didn't care if they got our business or not. read more

The food was very good! A little expensive for the quantity, but definitely worth it. Dolmades (10$) were amazing! It was so flavorful and the texture was amazing. Usually I don't like the texture of the wrapper, but this one was so tender. The sauce was also very well balanced in lemon flavor. Eggplant salad (10$) was not bad, but very strongly flavored. Octopus (18$) was sooooo good. I've never had octopus with a nearly meaty texture, so it was very interesting! Slightly too salty and definitely pricey, but worth it. Shrimp kebab (18$) was average in flavor unfortunately. The feta on salad (75c) was really good, though the additional price seems not worth it. I had the okra for a side, and it was very tasty. read more

The food and service was excellent!! Love to go back for sure!! Octopus was great as other people described :)

My wife and I love this restaurant. Whenever we around Cambridge we go there. Great grilled Octopus, feta cheese, Ouzo (of course ;), you have to try the baked potato in combo with any meet (chicken or steak tips, fish). Amazing. read more

We come here every 2-3 months when we come into Boston from the burbs. Staff is friendly and the owner makes you feel like family. My daughter always has the moussaka, my son and husband like the different fish dishes and lamb. I should add that my husband is from Greece so he knows Greek food, and judges this as authentic. I have always tried the same dish (grilled calamari on salad). I'd like to think I'll try some of the other great-sounding dishes some day, but I dream of that grilled calamari. It is so amazing. Drinks are good. We've gotten hooked on Negronis. read more

Worse gyro I've had in my entire life. it was huge Chuck of chicken that wasn't cut. They used white onion that were barely cut instead of red onion. the Tzatziki sauce tasted terrible. I don't know if these guys are Greek or not but they sure as hell don't know how to cook Greek food. Straight garage. Do not eat there. read more

Had a nice dinner here before heading home from a conference. The food was very good. We tried the four dips and I had the grilled sea bass. The service was friendly. It is a nice neighborhood restaurant. read more

Disgraceful performance ! It pains me to write this review but I have to tell the truth. The wait staff did their best but were totally left out out to dry. Kitchen was understaffed and dishes came out burned and flavorless. An epic disappointment . Unfortunately we won't be back. When Papa and Son are not there place falls apart. read more

Casual and homestyle Greek dining. Food at Desfina is simple, but good. This philosophy is best encapsulated by their must-try grilled octopus. Nicely charred, extremely tender, some olive oil and lemon, yum. Simple and delicious. I have also tried their mousaka and roast lamb mains, and the tzatziki, scordalia, taramosalata, eggplant salad, and saganaki OPA flamed cheese appetizers. So far, everything I have tried has been good and satisfying. Their homemade Greek dressing makes their side green salads with feta more enjoyable. I also really enjoyed the side of green beans. Service is warm and friendly. Great for when you need some comfort food. read more

This is my favourite place in Boston/ Cambridge. the food 10, staff 10, and the owner Toma, really knows how to ensure everyone is having a great time . love it here read more

I had the chicken souvlaki twice, and it was filling both times. The portion size is excellent, and it'll leave you wanting more. Many people were sitting indoors and outside when I went. Takeout was easy and convenient for me to pick up. I will be back when I'm in the area!I had read more

Used to come often. We were looking forward to a good meal. Food did not please. Service not great.

Disappointed. For $18 I was expecting more than a plate of food that looked like leftovers. The moussaka was very bland. At the most basic level it needed salt but was missing flavor. On top of that it was not generous. I kept thinking to myself, "is this all there is for $18? Wow..." I find this a bit troubling to write as Greek restaurants and diners are usually a great value and the food is interesting and flavorful. This review is the second less than stellar experience at a restaurant in Cambridge, MA. Not good. read more

OPA! And a dish of flaming cheese is set down in front of us. This is going to be a good night. Although I'm not Greek, I've traveled there a bit, and Desfina seems awesomely authentic. Our accented waitress was very sweet and helpful. When we inquired about the white wines, she told us her preferences and even gave us samples of the one we were considering. It was good we got to try the Retsina beforehand because it is different; very flavorful and heavy for a white. My friend went with that while I ordered the one she recommended initially, the Mosochofilioro, which was light, crisp and great for a warm summer day. The Saganaki Opa wasn't too gooey and had great lemon and charred undertones which added a bit of complexity to the fried cheese in front of us. And the experience of eating something that was recently on fire is always fun. Most of the other customers seemed to think so too since we saw (and heard) at least 4 others come out during our meal. We weren't starving, so we decided to split the baked lamb. This comes with a side salad, which was simply greens with one olive, one cucumber, and one tomato (it was pretty funny to have to cut each of these in half). They ask if you want feta. And of course, how could you not want feta on a Greek salad? You say yes. You don't know there's not going to be a ton of it, and it costs 75 cents. Not a huge deal, but I don't think just including the feta would break the bank, Desfina. We opted for potatoes as the side for our lamb, and this was a wonderful choice. The wedges were seasoned well and just the right texture and tenderness. Greeks are known for their lamb, and there's a reason for this. The meat was moist and practically fell off the bone. The sweet, tomato-based sauce made the dish for me, as I wanted to eat it with the meat, potatoes, and even by the spoonful. The atmosphere of Desfina is casual and homey, and the staff and other patrons seemed genuinely happy to be there. It's the type of place that you can enjoy a long meal with family and not feel rushed or out of place. I wish I were Greek, so I could drink wine, set cheese on fire, and eat delicious lamb like this all the time. Or I could just come here. read more

First time ever in a greek restaurant. One word AMAZING! We ordered grilled lamb, octopus and a shrimp risotto. The lamb a bit too well done, but not enough to ruin it. Shrimp was unforgetable. Service extremely friendly. The only reason I'm not giving five stars is for the portion size. The food is just too good not to serve larger portions! And yes, I am planning to return there. Recommended! read more

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I am Bulgarian and the closet cuisine to ours is the Greek. At Desfina restaurant is where the magic happens. The octopus is to die for, their fish is always fresh and delicious and the Aris (Greek lager beer) is now my favorite beer. The price there is reasonable and worth spending every single dollar because the food is outstanding ! Binka was our waitress and she did great taking care of me and my friends. read more

Desfina Restaurant - Yamas.... - Greek Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Wow! The BEST greek restaurant I've ever been to and trust me, I've been to many of them. I'm also Romanian and very familiar with Greek cuisine. This place is down THE BEST! 100% authentic food Great cozy decor and atmosphere. Very reasonable priced Wonderful service. read more

Stumbled into this place while looking for a quick & casual dinner spot in Cambridge - so glad we decided to pop in! The interior is very simple & casual, and the patrons seem like locals who know the area well. Lots of people speaking Greek - always a good sign! Surprisingly, it was pretty busy for a Wednesday night! I ordered a cocktail, and while good, it was way too strong (and I'm not normally the type to complain about that sort of thing!) My boyfriend said the same about his drink, as well. I highly recommend the dolmades (stuffed grape leaves) - they were extremely fresh and flavorful, and well seasoned. Dolmades typically are heavy on the lemon, but these were perfectly balanced. I also got the octopus salad, the octopus was grilled to perfection. It's very easy to overcook them, so the chef definitely knew what he was doing! All in all, great spot for some homemade authentic Greek food. Would love to pop in another time to try their other classic dishes. read more

Food is really good. Love the seafood dishes! Friendly service and they have takeout!!!

Was excellent all around if you are looking for a privately owned, authentic, small Greek restaurant experience. Food came out quickly and the waitress was great. read more