Stunned by this place. Travel all over the country and this is my best surprise meal of 2025 so far. Randomly walked in as I was at Harvard and it blew me away. The simple Turkish breakfast wowed me in quality and preparation and I left with a whole entire box of dynamic pastries full of texture and flavor. Will drive to Cambridge in traffic just to eat here again. read more

SOFRA Bakery & Cafe - Turkish Breakfast - Middle Eastern Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

It was a nice day to be outside, 75° on Oct 30, that we made the most of the day and biked here for brunch. We got there before the line got long and we sat outside to the left of the cafe entrance since it was a nice day out and inside was full. I must warn you that in the summer time there are bees that will join your table. This wasn't a bother for us as we were sitting far away from their hive but as all bees do, they fly around. Anyway, the food was a very light, just what we were feeling for. Everything was delectable as well as the treats we got (no pics). read more

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The line and wait for a table is moderately long, even after normal lunch times. On the cashier's recommendation, I got the lamb shawarma (14$+tax+tip) and the fatteh (12$). Both were good flavorwise, but it wasn't quite enough food for two, so I went back and got a Meze Platter (12$) with a pita (1.75$). The pita came out much earlier than the rest, which meant it ended up a little soggy... I enjoyed most of the things we tried, but not all were perfectly balanced flavor-wise imo, often a little too sour without compensatory savoriness? It was nice to be able to try five different mezze though. I think my favorite of everything I tried was the fatteh. Of the sweets, the chocolate hazelnut baklava (3.5$) was INCREDIBLE, so fresh and delicious. The molasses cookie (2.25$) was fine, too sweet for my taste, but with a lovely soft texture. Note they have a 6% kitchen appreciation fee before the tip. Definitely worth a visit! read more

I've heard great things about Sofra but never tried it until recently, and I'm obsessed! I may just be a sucker for scones, but the savory scones I've had at Sofra are top tier. The cheese scone was soft, buttery, crunchy, and cheesy. The carrot scone was also delicious. The greens tahini galette was amazing as well! Such buttery pastry and tasty filling. I think Sofra does savory pastries extremely well. I've also tried the morning bun, spanakopita, cinnamon pumpkin muffin, and chocolate gingerbread loaf, all of which were good, but not as amazing as the scones and galette. We also tried the mezze platter (sampled 5 of the cold apps). The baba ganoush was good but a bit lacking in eggplant percentage, and the spinach dish was pretty good too. The dolma and couscous were a bit sweet for me and the beans and olives were a bit sour. I probably wouldn't get the mezze platter again. I'm eagerly awaiting my next visit to have more savory pastries! read more

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This place is Popping! Such a popular spot in Watertown! If you want great pastries this is the spot! Not only do they serve delicious coffee but they have super yummy breakfast eggy sandwiches, flatbreads, bowls and a nice variety of tasty pastries. I had their breakfast eggy sandwich which was very good and flavorful. I've also tried their morning bun which is kind of like a muffin that is covered in an orange blossom glaze. That fresh baked morning bun was nice and sweet and it was perfect with a cup of their vanilla latte. They also have many products for sale which all look very tempting inside their market which is also located inside the restaurant. There is no seating inside so be prepared to find a spot in their outdoor seating area which is not too big. But people usually don't stay too long so if you don't mind waiting you will find a place to sit and dine outdoors. read more

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Beautiful place to visit of you are in Watertown. Got here right when they opened and there was a line. They sell spices but also breakfast lunch items. Try them Out! Food- outstanding - the breakfast pastry was delicious. Coffee- delightful was rich and I didn't need any additional cream read more

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sofra was so adorable and welcoming. i loved that they sold a bunch of spices, ingredients, to go foods as well. my fatteh was so good and so was the almond date ma'amoul. would definitely go back for great food and vibes read more

SOFRA Bakery & Cafe - inside - Middle Eastern Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Overall my experience at SOFRA was enjoyable, the sweet corn biscuit was delightful and my friend really enjoyed the morning bun and we will definitely return. However the sausage pita was not what I expected, it was bland and textureless. The coffee is strong and flavorful and will keep you up for the day. read more

SOFRA Bakery & Cafe - Sweet corn biscuit - Middle Eastern Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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A hidden little gem in Cambridge that even offers a small parking lot. It was a gorgeous September day so we were able to sit outside for our meal. We arrived around 10:30am, so breakfast it was for us. We ordered at the counter. The person taking our order was kind but clearly trying to hurry through the long line wrapped around the island. We had the sausage pita, the egg sandwich with bacon, the sweet brioche, sticky bun and the shakshuka. Everything was delicious, but I do need to be honest and real here-- as we know, eating out has gotten really expensive lately, but I felt a little robbed when the prices were super high and the portions were insanely small. Advice-- if you order breakfast, you will also want to order a pastry to go with it or you likely won't be full after finishing your dish. read more

SOFRA Bakery & Cafe - Shakshuka - Middle Eastern Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Tahini brownie was so fire...it's my tradition to go on a run around fresh pond and grab a sweet treat from there! read more

SOFRA Bakery & Cafe - Tahini brownie - Middle Eastern Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

The heirloom tomato galette was amazing. I thoroughly enjoyed every bite, especially the whole/multigrain pastry crust... so incredibly flaky that the normal / white flour pastry crust on the raspberry rose petals turnover felt a bit boring. The sweet rose and tart raspberry combo was nice though. Cookies: - the "earthquake" was a delightful soft brownie textured cookie that was not too sweet, especially after I dusted off some of the powdered sugar on top - the pistachio shortbread cookie with saffron sugar was very yummy. I'm usually not into crunchy / crumbly cookies but recommend this one read more

Ranked as the best bakery in Boston, we had to go. I'm not sure if it deserves that ranking though. I tried: Sesame cashew nut: This was my favorite out of the bunch, and the earthy, sweet flavor of the sesame and tahini sauce blended so well with the cashews. I would get this over and over again. Maureo: I didn't like this - the tahini filling didn't really taste like tahini. There was a 'spiciness' kind of like cinnamon that I couldn't identify that overpowered the taste. Raspberry turnover: It was fine, not bad but not great either read more

SOFRA Bakery & Cafe - Middle Eastern Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Sofra is one of those rare places where anything you order is going to be delicious, innovative, and utterly delightful. Come for brunch when you can try some of their breakfast entrees (the Turkish breakfast is a particular favorite; it's perfect for someone who can't make up their mind, as it has a little bit of everything!). Come for lunch to sample some of their flatbreads or stuffed breads (the Borek is my absolute favorite) and drinks (the hibiscus seltzer was so refreshing). Come at any time to order from the wide array of sweet and savory pastries behind the counter (you can't go wrong with anything here, truly, and will have to keep yourself from ordering one of everything) or from their prepared food section (everything from full entrees to sides to dips/sauces). Everything is prepared with care and high quality. The cafe itself is quite small and there is an outdoor area with both shaded and unshaded tables. Be prepared to wait if you come at peak times, especially on the weekends. Service is fast and good. Dine-in is self-service. read more

Sofra's really great: we loved the soup, the tea, and the cookie we had today. All of the food looked terrific and we're excited to come back again to try something new! One star off because the cashew nut bar was so hard we couldn't bit into it for fear of losing some teeth... read more

There are a lot of downsides to Sofra. A bit out of the way, long wait times, limited seating especially in bad weather, high prices, and small portions. It remains as a local favorite because it's doing delicious and interesting middle eastern dishes in a way no other cafe in the area could compare to. If you want a little taste of the quality and care put in at Oleana and Sarma in a casual setting, give Sofra a try. read more

SOFRA Bakery & Cafe - Middle Eastern Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Not just bakery. Many options to choice from. Cookies are great gift, nicely packed. Meze to go containers and dishes are wonderful for a tatsy dinner at home if you would like to impress your family or guests. Many different breakfast options to choose from, none will disappoint! Great selection of Turkish, Mediterranean baked goods. So lucky to have SOFRA in Boston area read more

Apologies to anyone viewing my photos for all the half-eaten pastries. Someone I was with couldn't wait! I saw Sofra had made the NYT and so I knew one of these days I'd have to give it a try. I am a bit saddened to say it did not live up to my expectations. Went on a Saturday around 2:30. They close at 3 yet they were packed. Luckily, they allow customers to stay in til 3:30/40 so keep that in mind if you would like to dine there. I was really on a mission for pastries so picked up many. The morning bun, syrian shortbread, ma'moul, baklava, and some orange scone. I also tried a bite of someone else's ginger molasses cookie. Opted for a flat white for my beverage. The coffee was super milky I sat there wondering if it was a latte the whole time. I felt that the pastries were all slightly off. I think this stems mostly from the fact that it was all too sweet, leaving an uncomfortable feeling in my mouth. My favorite item was the morning bun, but I love anything laminated. I think that they could generally do without a lot of the icings they put on their pastries because its too overpowering. also think they can make their pastries more enjoyable by warming them up slightly. read more

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Waited ~30 mins in line on a Sunday around 2PM. Next time would def try to arrive earlier in the day as it seemed to be hectic towards the end of their hours. Iced chai latte - 4.5/5 super good one of the best chai lattes I've had but the $1 for oat milk and $1 for iced would discourage me from ordering again Sweet potato soup- 5/5 so amazing, must order and definitely underrated 5 mezze with bread - can't go wrong with their mezze bar. My favorite was probably the babaganoush 5/5 Chocolate hazelnut baklava - 3/5 would order the walnut baklava instead, the chocolate is a little overwhelming Tahini brown sugar donut - 3/5 nothing special With so many menu offerings will definitely be going in the future to try more items. Holistically definitely a gem with mostly everything being yummy! read more

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Busy little corner cafe. Good coffee (and interesting other drinks I didn't try). Delicious chicken shawarma (although rather small) and dolmas. Would definitely come back and try more things. read more

This was the first time my bf and I sat inside. Recommend getting there on the earlier side of the breakfast rush. The service is so fast and the meals are so delicately flavored. My bf's breakfast was my favorite ;). I got the shakshuka, which we both enjoyed (flavorful sauce, extremely dip-able), but he got this unique breakfast plate with this awesome combo of flavors. I like little tastes of things- so I should have known his would be my favorite. There was this rich creamy labne with a delicious jam, cheese with a crunchy fried exterior, a sweet fresh tomato mash, Persian cucumbers, olives, and a soft boiled egg in a kind of phyllo nest pastry. Also enjoyed my turmeric tea latte. The drinks I saw at different tables also looked great. Will have to come back to try more. Noticed that they can add halva flavoring to your latte. read more

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I came with here a friend and we ordered two falafels. These are listed as $8.00 here on yelp under "menu", but somehow the bill came to over $27, and included a "kitchen appreciation fee." I mean really, pay your staff and stop adding surprise extras onto the bill. It's just dishonest and unethical. Food wise, I didn't care for the falafel. The tahini sauce was way too salty and the whole thing was a gooey mess. If you like mushy gooey salty falafels and surprise charges at the checkout, this place is for you. Me, personally, I will not be returning. read more

Came on a rainy Saturday morning before they opened and there was a line already. Sheeesh. With high expectations going in, I must say the food was good but pricey. $70 for breakfast for two and the portion sizes are tiiiiny. I was shocked to see a liter of lemonade was close to $40. I didn't get it but I still wonder to this day whether that lemonade would've changed my life. read more

The best bakery and cafe in Boston. Truly worth the wait. I would come here daily if I could. The food is beyond incredible and their baked products are unique, delicious, and fresh. There is plenty of seating and you get to enjoy the shop which lines the walls and inspires the cook in you. read more

SOFRA was featured on Mashed's YouTube video called "The Best Bakery in Every State", which was why I was so excited to try this place out. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drpfImCU8w0 Unfortunately, I didn't think that it lived up to the hype. Both the morning bun and the date & turmeric roll were so thickly coated in icing that I couldn't take more than a few bites. The lamb shawarma had no other filling in it apart from the meat. read more

SOFRA Bakery & Cafe - Lamb Shawarma - Middle Eastern Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Really great food! Quite original and super flavorful. The staff were friendly as well. Can't wait to go back... read more

SOFRA Bakery & Cafe - Potato Kofte Turkish - Style Breakfast - Middle Eastern Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

They should play "Don't Stop Me Now" by Queen on repeat. The great food, pastries, and drinks never stop coming, no matter how packed or along the line. I wish there were more seating, but it's worth the tight-knit quarters. Food A++ Service A+++ Ambiance B - read more

I really want to dislike this place. It's out of the way (what even is West Cambridge), it's always insanely crowded and it's like $95 for a cookie. But it's a pretty damn good cookie. And everything else, the place is just good. The pastries are top of the line, the breakfast sandwiches would make even the most avid Dunks lover cry and dips and spreads for days. Really, the beet hummus has to have cocaine in it or something it's ridiculous. They also have this wild assortment of (pricey) spices that I've found pretty much goes with everything I'm making. I'd like to spend more time perusing them but I'm usually getting run over by some yuppie pushing a stroller filled with baby Calebs or Ezras or whatever. They need to open another place. Or at least another few feet of floor space. I warn you against the chocolate earthquake cookies. I bought a few of them and they disappeared before I got home. Not sure where they went, but whoever took them left crumbs all over me. read more

Can't believe we haven't reviewed this place. This was our last big take out adventure a year ago before lockdown and our first the following year. Did the big walk from Fenway for this. As usual, we started our walk too late for some of the bakery items--as we were preordering, the donuts (including the Dukkah donut that I was curious about), the morning bun (croissant dough, orange blossom glaze, etc), and the saffron pistachio bohsalino (an Easter special) all sold out. They had already sold out of the Greek croissant ("crougasta") and the apricot strawberry halvah (another Easter special) so I'm bookmarking those and will be sure to get an earlier start next time...definitely........ Anyways, this we did end up getting the almond rose cake, which always has the most elegant, beautiful taste and texture (almost a denser cake lightly soaked in syrup), decided to try some cashew butter/sesame brittle ice cream, which just absolutely wowed us with some of the freshest and cleanest caramel/sesame/cashew flavors we've had in a dessert, and tried the date turmeric cinnamon roll, which is beautifully executed with a lovely fresh cream cheese frosting (though despite the beautiful yellow color and visible chunks of date, we didn't detect much strong turmeric or date flavors--still, didn't stop this from being an absolutely delicious roll and enjoying hints of orange blossom). And of course something savory--lamb shawarma. Delicious as always with nice crunch from the crisped wrap and cabbage and slathered with some labneh--continues to be a favorite though there was less intense lamb flavor than we remembered. Also got some zhoug and labneh, which both always have super fresh flavors and feel decadently thick (especially the creme fraiche-like labneh). What a treasure for Boston. One of those places that consistently wows us and in our opinion holds its own and has a unique place amongst culinary gems in other big cities. read more

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I live really close to Sofra but I've never had their breakfast before. I was out for a walk and the smell coming out of the place captivated me. My gf and I went in with the plan to get some coffee and pastries but ended up having breakfast instead. The place is small but cozy. And while it was packed, service is very quick. We did not struggle to find a little table inside. I tried the Turkish breakfast and my gf had the shakshuka. The food was very delicious. I was surprised by the soft boiled egg. I've never had it that way but it was new and delicious. I was left craving more and I'll have to come back for breakfast again next weekend. read more

SOFRA Bakery & Cafe - Middle Eastern Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I've come here twice since seeing the long lines on the weekends, but I think this food simply isn't for me, and has left me with a headache each time / gross after taste. I've tried a lot of the savory and sweet pastries, and the savory ones simply taste too fermented/pickled and filled with way too much cheese/cream. The sweet pastries are OK but definitely overpriced for what you are getting. I would recommend other bakeries in the area like La Saison. read more

what a great spot for breakfast. a bit crowded but tables seem to open up quickly. the egg dishes and and pastries were fantastic. nice take on shasuksuka, and the egg sandwich was perfect. The turkish breakfast plate was unusual and very tasty. Don't pass up the chocolates from Karma Coffee if they are on sale at the counter... out of this world and hard to find! read more

SOFRA Bakery & Cafe - Outstanding Shakshuka - Middle Eastern Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Delicious but pricey dishes and baked goods, definitely a treat-yourself place. It's very small inside, with some seats (and a few more tables outside, though only the ones in the shade were taken the day we visited). We ordered the beet tzatziki, the salad of the day, a walnut baklava, iced tea, and the basil lemonade, coming out to around $37, which gave me a little bit of sticker shock. The beet tzatziki was nicely creamy, both the beet and labneh balancing well, but a tiny thing of it was $7. Also on the expensive side was the $12 salad, which was loaded with watermelon and heirloom tomatoes, really awesome dressing, a dab of feta, a pinch of sunflower seeds - I only wish there was some protein added to it. The basil lemonade was a little too heavy on the basil side for me, but if you like a tart drink, this one's for you. Iced tea was delicious - it's rare for me to enjoy a tea drink that doesn't come sweetened. This one had tons of flavor. I'd want to come back and try their flatbreads and the other hot/cold mezze. They have a wall set up full of goodies like dates, olive oils, nuts, seeds, even a fridge for ice cream cartons,, as well as a smaller room in the back for wine. Be prepared for a line for ordering. There's some street parking around the side of the shop, but we just parked in the Star Market one street over and walked. If you don't mind a bit of a trek with your coffee and pastry, Sofra is right on the Watertown Cambridge Greenway and it's a straight shot to Fresh Pond. read more

I'm just going to start by saying that this is now my new favorite bakery in the Boston-Cambridge area. I have heard great things in the past about Sofra and it surpassed expectations! My friend and I went on a social distancing date to pick up a late breakfast. We stood in line for about 5-10 minutes and when it was our time to place the order the staff member was so patient and kind, and made amazing food recommendations. I ordered the Meze platter, Turk au lair with oat milk, and strawberry pistachio bostcock. The meze platter had four different paste/ veggies. They were all extremely savory, and my favorite was the beet and an orange paste (not sure what it was). The Turk coffee was good and I was glad they had oat milk. Now, the bostoc was out of this world delicious. It was the perfect combination of flaky, doughy mix with pistachios crumbles and strawberries. I can't stop think about this pastry and will be back very soon for more! read more

SOFRA Bakery & Cafe - Middle Eastern Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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We came on a Friday afternoon after visiting the Mount Auburn cemetery. Ordered the meze platter and the lamb shawarma. The meze platter was delicious especially the baba ghanoush and tahini hummus. The lamb shawarma was a surprising favorite! The wrap was fried and tightly wrapped the shredded lamb. Yogurt sauce was much needed to balance the spices. Walnut baklava wasn't too sweet and a perfect afternoon snack. Highly recommend this place! read more

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The moment I took a bite of the sausage pita I wanted to run back inside and order another one. My god it is so flavorful it's incredible. I think I'm in shock? I've been here twice and there's been a long line. Don't be deterred, Sofra is well worth the wait. And there's an order ahead option! You can't order drinks though, so you may end up waiting in line anyway for a good ol cup of Turkish coffee. Still in shock and I will be back in during the week to repeat the process. read more

This spot is a true treasure. It's a tight spot chock full of tasty Middle Eastern treats. They have pre boxed cookies and a case full of decadent sweets. read more

Outstanding Middle Eastern bakery/café! Cornbread and egg sandwich with halloumi and bacon were highlights. Get there before 10:30 on Sunday! read more

They're always busy with a queue outside when the weather is good, but it's for good reason! The wait is never too long, and it's worth it. Had my sister come and stay with me and this was her favourite food that she tried during her trip! read more

SOFRA Bakery & Cafe - Red Dragon Iced Tea, Cilbir - Middle Eastern Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Sofra is SO AMAZING. As a Middle Eastern person I can really appreciate a place with amazing food and pastries that have all the right flavors. I went there on Saturday and got the Morning Bun which is a delicious classic breakfast pastry with orange glaze. ITS PERFECT. You also cannot leave without getting the Tahini Brown Butter Donut. Its absolutely delightful and a must-try. For food we got the sausage pita that had sausage, feta butter, pickled peppers, cumin, orange, and olives. Its a little greasy but its fantastic and I highly recommend it. We also got the Geno's egg sandwich which was supposed to have halloumi cheese, feta butter, tomato concasse, and zhoug, on a brioche bun. This item was my least favorite and I don't recommend it. There only appeared to be an egg and some zhough on it, and the egg yolk was overcooked so it was hard. Definitely not worth 8 dollars. But everything else was great and I can't wait to return! read more

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Anything that is related to the Sarma Restaurant is a 5/5 in my book. I've only even tried Sofra's take out during the pandemic but was really impressed with everything I had. I've tried a selection of pastries (chai biscuit, baklava, a date bun, Syrian shortbread, etc) and they were all great. We also got some lunch items to go and were impressed with them as well. The mezze platter was pretty standard but good. Shockingly though, the crick-cracks were incredible: flaky, salty, hint of sweetness, so good! The sausage pita was also an unexpected hit. We finished most of it because we could even take the picture. I could go on and on about each item, but overall, yes you need to check out Sofra. And Sarma. You just gotta go! read more

SOFRA Bakery & Cafe - Mezze platter - Middle Eastern Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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