Koshari (8/10): delicious and nutritious. Flavors were well balanced. I loved the fried onions!…read moreSpicy CKN sandwich (8/10): this was surprisingly delicious. The sauce was amazing!! I also loved the fake chicken meat. Bread had very good texture and aroma Kofta sandwich (7/10): bread and meat were also very good. I prefer the spicy CKN sauce over this one, but they're both solid choices. Ambiance is very chill and comfy. Service is good.

We went again this past Saturday night for date night. It's about an hour plus drive ti get into…read morethe city but always look forward to the food and atmosphere. This visit was just as delicious as our past several visits but the night was quite amazing! They had a performer singing and playing middle eastern music which added to the night. When we walked in the waitress greeted us as old friends welcoming us back, and just felt nice to get that warm reception. They truly aim to make everyone feel like family there. The food was amazing starting with a mezze plate with hummus, babaganoush, yogurt with mint, and the best falafel ever! We also had the special French fries with an amazing sauce I can't spell but definitely exceptional. We also shared the main course The Koshiri special which is a mix of rice, levtals, macaroni and sone other things with a set of sauces you add to taste, and that's can be ordered spicy to mild, we had medium which warmed me right up! Desert was amazing with a filo bred pudding which is delicious and light, and we had the rice pudding which maybe the best I've had in a long time! Great night, great food and music made for an exceptional date night! Thank you!

Heard really great things about this spot but unfortunately it was a little bit underwhelming…read more Ordered the Arabi Chicken Shawarma wrap-- there were a lot of fries and they were fine, and the chicken wrap was just chicken and sauce in a wrap that tasted too greasy and salty for my liking. Service was pretty quick, but there's not a ton of places to sit because it's so small.

Mannnn the falafel wrap and za'atar are straight BUSSIN! This really hit the spot especially as a…read morepicky vegan. Ordered Togo no left overs made it out of the restaurant, nearly re ordered the same exact order to actually eat at home the 2nd time. FIRE!

This is the best Egyptian food in town. The dishes are fresh, hearty, and packed with authentic…read moreflavor. It's a no-frills spot, but that's exactly what makes it special. We're absolutely coming back.

An excellent choice for a cheap, filling meal -- it came out to $30 including tax and tip for a…read morefalafel and kushari. Both were nicely filling and reasonably tasty. The eat in space is nice, but unfortunately the paper plates could not really stand up to the kushari and disintegrated. Not a destination, but I'm sure a great spot for the local collage students.

For my own birthday this year, I chose Oleana, supposedly one of Boston's best Mediterranean…read morerestaurants, and reservations are almost a month in advance. Overall, I was satisfied. Fatteh: The presentation was beautiful, with a delightful array of layers. Between two layers of crispy chips laid the chewy texture of fried mushrooms, the sweetness of cauliflower, the nutty aroma of pine nuts, and the refreshing sweet and sour taste of yogurt--a random combination that offered a different experience with every bite. The cauliflower, in particular, was crisp yet not tough, with a naturally gentle sweetness--a first for me. However, towards the end, the crispy chips became very slightly oily. Sultan's Delight: Perfect as a main course. The beef was stewed to perfection, incredibly tender and flavorful, almost falling apart the moment it touched the knife. It required absolutely no effort, reminiscent of a master butcher skillfully carving up an ox in Zhuangzi莊子, who kept his knife like new over nineteen years. The tamarind brought a slightly fermented, tangy aroma, while the smoked eggplant puree, likely babaganoush, was smooth and creamy with a mild, pleasant smokiness. The lemon juice, however, adds a refreshing touch, creating an interesting layering of acidity. It looked small, but it was surprisingly satisfying. The only downsides were the beef was slightly over-salty and the basil leaves, which seem to serve only a decorative purpose. Baked Alaska: A signature dessert, very popular on social media. Frankly, I came specifically for this, but after eating it, all I can say is, "Who's promoting this?"... The presentation was truly stunning, and the first few bites were quite good. The meringue was was torched to create a thin, burnt crust, resulting in a delicate and light texture, while the coconut ice cream blended with the bitter aroma of coffee. However, the base, a nut tart similar to a five-nut mooncake五仁月餅 filling, was too dense and heavy; the passion fruit syrup was excessively sweet and acidic, even a small amount was cloying, making it a torture by the end. The restaurant tables were a bit uneven and hopefully they will be repaired soon.

I've heard the name Oleana numerous times over the years. heard it was fetching and provided a…read morelevel of quality and excellence unparalleled. and yet was never intrigued enough to go. Something seemed off, in-authentic, shallow. just read a few reviews many of which seem to validate this burnished image and reputation. finally last Saturday night it was no longer an option to avoid an experience. There was an event to celebrate and I was invited. the propitious moment was hoisted upon me. would it measure up or be a mirage in the desert? Having never dined there I had no real experience to compare it with but for a Turkish-Mediterranean place it felt like all sizzle, no steak. While there are too many things to take issue with the most obvious is the wide discrepancy between the quality and quantity of portions relative to price. Under any circumstances the food was uniformly entirely unexceptional outside the fact it was consistently mediocre to poor. Tasteless, unimaginative, inappropriate cooked, greasy, ,lacking authentic spicing, and decidedly NOT presented for purposes of sharing. It is a deceptive approach to call it Tapas like and the predominant theme from our "primary waiter" was spend more money. The commercialization based on its reputation was frankly embarrassing and reason to cross it off a "must visit" list. Reminded me of a visit to Eastern Standard a few years ago. I have to imagine refined diners must have a wistful "used to be good attitude". My one and only trip made me feel like I was swindled at a Casablanca bazzar.

Fantastic place, they were super nice, the food is great and absolutely a nice environment. Would…read morego again

Just Excellent! Simple, no frills restaurant with comfortable atmosphere, friendly, hard-working…read morestaff and very authentic, delicious food. I've been going to this restaurant for years. It has only improved and the recent changes to menu and decor are even better. Thanks for being a true neighborhood staple. Keep up the great work!

Update on Sofra! I've been going recently and the new hand-drawn menus are everything! I have been…read moreloving the vibe and the customer service is always on point. I will always be a huge fan of Sofra!

Literally the best lamb shawarma I've EVER had hands down…read moreThe staff are super friendly and helpful The store is clean and beautiful :)

Dining at Sarma was a delightful experience. We came on a Tuesday at 6pm and luckily got seated at…read morea countertop within 30 mins. I would recommend calling beforehand to ask about the wait. Although we commuted from Cambridge, this meal was worth it. For two people, we got: - Black Seed Cornbread: it's soft, sweet yet savory. I've never had cornbread like this, and the first bite into this was unforgettable. You must get this. - Honey Nut Hummus: this was honestly fine and I'd probably try a different dip next time. - Warm Gyro bread: well seasoned and great to share between two. I normally don't like gyro but I enjoyed this. - Lamb al pastor: this was a favorite. It was sweet and the lamb was tender. We were really impressed with the sauce. - Brussel sprout bravas: this was okay. I liked the crunchy nuts and the star of this dish was once again the sauce/seasoning rather than the brussel sprouts. With all of these dishes, we ordered enough for two, with a few bites leftover. If you have a smaller appetite, you could get away with ordering a plate less. Overall, I loved the dining experience here. Even though I'm not typically a small plates mediterranean person, I appreciated Sarma - from its beautiful interior space and open kitchen concept, to the liveliness of the restaurant on a random weekday night. Definitely come here if you're in the area (or even if you're not!)

I had been looking forward to checking out Sarma for quite some time. Unfortunately, the experience…read moredidn't live up to the expectations. The food was overly salty, and the portions were very small.... even for tapas style dining. The flavor profiles just weren't there. The only thing that I would say tasted good was the cornbread and lamb skewer (which was definitely overpriced still). The cornbread was impressive and the ingredients made for a unique flavor. Service was also underwhelming. While the staff did their job, there wasn't much warmth or attentiveness and we didn't feel welcomed. We left feeling pretty disappointed given the hype and effort it took to get a reservation.

Old Stinky yearning for a wicked good burger today. Remember seeing on Yelp that this place had…read morewicked pissah ones, so let's give it a whirl and see what happens. So punched one up with Uber Eats. Arrived with a nice big order of very tasty fries and a large thick burger of wicked good quality. All wicked tasty! Burger was so large, Stinky could not finish it. The Baklava for dessert was really wicked pissah yummy! Wish I had gotten two! Wish everything had arrived sooner and hotter, but not the restaurant's fault. One always takes a chance with a delivery service.

It's not fine dining, so I went in with low expectations--especially after seeing the reviews--but…read morethe falafel wrap was wrapped to perfection. The ratio of falafel to greens to hummus was excellent, with everything well distributed throughout. The falafel itself was slightly overcooked. I will definitely find myself back here for the next falafel cravings

Al Wadi is a gem. Everyone that works here/the service is amazing…read more I only had an appetizer on my first visit, but am coming back for more. This place is special. Come enjoy/respect the food and the joy you are about to experience. Nice bar seating for solos/couples and a nice dining space for larger groups.

TERRIBLE restaurant, multiple issues, no apology or anything from restaurant…read more I repeatedly told the server " we don't eat red meat", she continued to recommend beef & lamb dishes, I repeated it, she repeated her beef dishes 1- do your servers not pay attention to guests? 2- Many items on the menu were not actually Lebanese or even from that region. 3- Also, the vegetarian stuffed grape leaves had zero flavor, they tasted like the ones I buy in a can at any supermarket...... I grew up in a family where stuffed grape leaves are made " fresh from scratch", so I can taste the difference. 4- reception / bathroom area is not very nice, smells like strong chemicals which I could even smell further away from the table