One of my favorite dining experiences all year…read more Service- exceptional. Everyone interacted with was amazing. My server had excellent recommendations and was super knowledgeable about the menu and the popularity of items. Food- we got 5 dinner items and 1 dessert item and that was enough for two. Zaatar Bread- our favorite item. Bread was thick but light. Buttery but not overpowering. And the dip! Wow was the dip so good. Whipped Feta- delicious but could've use 2 more chips as the dip to chip ratio was off. Sultans Delight- my wife's favorite dish. Super tender and extremely flavorful. Lamb Shwarma (special)- so good and I hope they add it to their menu going forward. Mussels- mixed. I enjoyed them but my wife did not like them as much. May have been textural for her, but I enjoyed it. Baked Alaska- a must. From the presentation to the flavors- amazing! Can't wait to come back, they earned their Michelin recognition for sure.

Oh, Oleana! Tucked…read moreaway in Cambridge, Oleana is a cozy Mediterranean restaurant serving small plates. My partner and I managed to snag a last-minute reservation on a Tuesday night, and even at 9 p.m. the restaurant was still lively. Between the beautiful decor and warm atmosphere, it made for a great date night spot, though it was admittedly a bit dim (apologies in advance for the photo quality!) Between the two of us, we ended up ordering quite a few dishes: Whipped Feta (4/5): This was good, though I was hoping for a stronger roasted pepper flavor. Nothing wrong with it, but it didn't quite stand out. Interestingly, we overheard the table next to us mention the same thing, so maybe this one's a bit hit or miss. Spinach Falafel (4/5): Another solid dish. It was bright, colorful, and fresh, though a little messy to eat. Our waiter rather bluntly told us to "just wrap it and bite," which caught us a little off guard, but it was good nonetheless. Fatteh (4.5/5): Our favorite appetizer of the night. The creamy roasted cauliflower paired so well with the crispy pita, and I especially loved the sweetness the onions brought to the dish. Sultan's Delight (5/5): As everyone else says, this is the one to order. The beef was incredibly tender and rich. In hindsight, I almost wish we'd had the potatoes from the Adana Kebab to eat alongside it because they would've been the perfect accompaniment. Vermont Quail Kebab (5/5): Tied with the Sultan's Delight as our favorite entrée. The quail was juicy, well-spiced, and surprisingly easy to eat. I'd absolutely order this again. Adana Kebab (4/5): By this point, I think we were simply getting full. The kebab itself was good, but not nearly as memorable as the other meat dishes. Ironically, the potatoes and peppers that came with it might have been my favorite part--they would've paired perfectly with the Sultan's Delight. Baked Alaska (4.5/5): Delicious. The toasted meringue paired wonderfully with the coconut ice cream, though we were a little mixed on the passionfruit caramel, which came across slightly burnt and more acidic than expected. After a while the meringue did become quite sweet, so we ended up pairing some with the Muhallebi. Dark Chocolate Muhallebi (3.5/5): Yes...we ordered two desserts. I was mostly drawn in by the kaymak ice cream, but the Muhallebi itself was almost completely unsweetened. I'm usually all for desserts that aren't overly sweet, but this one leaned more savory than I expected. We actually ended up adding some leftover meringue from the Baked Alaska to balance it out. Looking back, given both our appetites (and our wallets), I think we would've been perfectly happy just ordering the Baked Alaska. Overall, Oleana was a lovely spot for a date night. While it didn't quite live up to the lofty expectations I'd built up from all the praise, we still had a really enjoyable meal. Our main waiter was kind, and I appreciated that the dishes came out in rounds, giving us plenty of time to eat and chat. The meat dishes were definitely the highlights for us, but overall there's a lot to like here.

2026 Boston. Dinner review. Mediterranean…read more (Highlight - Best) BLACK SEA CORNBREAD jalapeno, feta, honey, sesame 19 DEVILED EGG DIP shakshuka-style, zhug, harissa potato chips 17 HONEY ROASTED FIGS red pepper, tabbouleh, arugula, walnuts 25 ARTICHOKES OREGANATA goat cheese polenta, tomato, orange, chiles 24 (Highlight) CAULIFLOWER ZAALOUK chermoula, dates, preserved lemon yogurt 23 MERGUEZ MANTI grilled corn, yogurt, red pepper butter, poached egg 34 (Highlight) HARISSA BBQ DUCK* carrot brown butter, orange blossom, fried almonds 38 Overall, the black sea cornbread is just incredible. Could eat many of these. "As good as it gets."

Why so salty? Everything on the menu sounded so amazing on paper! I was prepared to love this…read moreplace, especially after trying the cornbread as an appetizer, but my husband and I both left feeling a bit disillusioned. The cornbread was phenomenal!!! Hands down, one of the best things I have tasted, period. It's crunchy, creamy, sweet, salty, savory, amazing in every way. The restaurant is worth a try for the cornbread alone. Unfortunately, everything else we tried was way over-salted, and I usually love salt! It was so salty that none of the other flavors stood out. The duck was cooked well, but a bit challenging to slice with the butter knife provided. The carrot puree was quite tasty, and everything was very beautiful and appetizing based on appearances. Such a shame that the flavors fell short, this place could be truly amazing if they dialed in the seasoning a bit. I will return, but just for drinks and cornbread next time. The cornbread truly is spectacular! Deducting another star for service as our waitress was a bit short with us. She seemed to be spread a bit thin so I understand being in a hurry, but for a meal over $100 (not even including drinks) we are used to more attentive service.

This is a cute small spot with great food, coffee/tea, and baked goods. The staff is patient when…read moreyou can't make up your mind. The portion sizes are a bit tricky; some dishes are the perfect size, while others leave you with enough room to order something else--though the food is definitely packed with flavor. And of course, if you do have that little bit of extra room, try one of their baked goods. It's worth a visit; keep in mind that finding a seat won't be easy.

What a delightful bakery and cafe! We showed up on a holiday 1pm, and it was bumpin'!…read more Lucked out with street-side parking after circling for 5min. Ordered and got a table within 10min, as there was a good flow to the customers. Food tasted fresh and delicious, with an abundance of options! Ambiance is definitely a hustle. No laptops out. Mindful customers, but we definitely felt rushed to give the standing customers a place to sit. Can't wait to return for more quick bites!

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.

A unique find! I got the 24 oz Koshari. The fried onions stole the show flavor-wise, delicious!…read moreTexturally, it was quite dry like other reviewers have said--the spicy tomato and garlic vinegar sauces were definitely necessary. Even they weren't enough to completely counteract the dryness unfortunately. Note that the attached menus are for to-go, not dine-in

I find myself traveling from Boston, just to get a taste of their Persian food…read more Everyone is so kind and hospitable!! I have had a bunch of their dishes and the 2 that stick out to me is the Kabab Koobideh and the Gheymeh Bademjoon! A great 3rd party space to meet other Iranians aswell! Their store front next to the restaurant has everything you could ever want to!!

We had a business lunch at Cafe Vanak in Belmont and were extremely pleased with our overall…read moreexperience. Vanak is small, with only 6 tables, though we noticed a brisk take out trade during our 3 hour visit. Vanak is not fancy and one needs to know that a visit here is entirely about great Persian fare. Be prepared to either wait for a table or to settle for take out. Reservations are strongly recommended. Vanak has an impressive menu covering beef, lamb, chicken, fish, and vegetarian dishes. Everything is authentic and is served with a more than generous portion of rice. The difference in dishes isn't just the protein; there are at least ten different seasoned rice on offer. Our entrees were shared by four people and three dishes were more than enough. The Lamb Shank with Fava Bean and Dill Rice is exceptional. The shank was slow simmered and the ample amount of meat was melt-in-your mouth delicious. The Dill Rice is uniquely seasoned and we highly recommend this dish. Chicken with Barberry and Saffron Rice is another interesting dish. The quarter chicken is also slow cooked and nicely savory. The Barberry adds an interesting taste profile to what would otherwise be a standard Persian dish. No Persian meal would be complete without Koobideh Kababs and Vanak's rendition is very nicely seasoned. The Kababs were served on a bed of Sangak, the rustic Perisan wheat bread. We finished with baklava which was topped with chopped pistachios and Saffron ice cream. The servings here are authentic and generously portioned. Vanak offers a unique change of pace for lunch which we recommend.

Delicious food and great deserts! Very friendly staff and nice outside seating…read more We enjoyed a wonderful evening here with friends.

Pros: - pleasant, light-filled (full length glass on all…read moresides of dining area) ambiance - outdoor seating, albeit on rather noisy intersection - pretty good service - grape leaves were very good - grilled meats were decently prepared, tender not dry/overcooked Cons: - grilled meats were underseasoned/bland, probably in accordance with local palates - parking is a nightmare, as one would expect for Mass Avenue; non-issue if you live nearby and walk or bike instead of driving - they give you GINORMOUS piles of rice with most dishes, literally 2-3 times what most places give you. This is great if you're a famished carb-fiend; for the rest of us, expect to take most of that rice home. - all the rice made me sleepy so I ordered black coffee which turned out to be horrible: just black water with barely any coffee flavor at all...beware! I've had better instant coffee than that. - both rice and meats were sorely lacking in oil and fat, again likely another reflection of local palates It wasn't the worst "mediterranean" food I've ever had, but hardly the best. Doubt I'll be coming back, especially given the horrendous parking situation.

Easy to order, friendly staff, was obsessed with decor and the table design, food was so good and…read morefresh and flavorful!

This place is sooooo yummy!!! Just ordered some food for my co-workers and I, and we loved every…read morebit of it. I can't comment on the ambiance, as a co-worker picked up our food. However, the customer service and the food were 5/5 stars!!! We made some tweaks to our orders, which were correctly done and the food looked amazing and well presented, so service ... highly appreciate. The food tasted so fresh and healthy. The prices were not too bad for the quality and quantity either. The grain bowls come with a lot of substance and flavor, so I highly recommend them. I also got a "pizza"/wrap, and it was very clean and delicious.

Pardon the half eaten plate pictures, we were mid bite when we decided this place deserved a great…read morereview! Just moved and picky about middle eastern food and this hit all the right spots. - chicken dinner plate came with an excellent (already eaten) salad, fresh fries, and very good baba ganoush. Salad had lots of fresh veggies including peppers and cucumber and tomato along with plenty of whole fresh mint leaves- loved it. Chicken was super fresh and crispy yet not overcooked. - wrap was HUGE! Excellent value for $14- for a normal person could def be 2 meals or a very hungry 1 meal Staff was kind and cool, music was great, and super clean. Would recommend!

Had a lunch catered by them and the food was incredible. Had to get a second and third plate. The…read moremeats were perfectly seasoned and cooked, and everything that accompanied them was incredible as well. They arrived on time and were easy to work with. Can't wait to actually go into the store to experience the Mediterranean vibe and awesome food again.

Very competitive prices, excellent food and solid service. Inside was fairly nice, and we…read moreappreciated the robust AC on a hot summer afternoon. Only small disappointment was the bread: for some reason they didn't have the lavash they're named after, nor the fluffy white bread in the photos, just some standard pita bread which they did warm up on the grill before serving so it was decent and went well with their excellent baba ghanoush, hummus, etc. (their meze sampler has 5 different kinds) We also had their grill sampler which was also very good and all the meats were cooked tender including the lamb which was rare as requested---a lot of Mediterranean places overcook their meat, so we were very grateful for that! Even the chicken came out tender and moist, not dry and tasteless like at 90% of restaurants. Tried "Aryan" their yogurt drink, which is interestingly equal parts salty and sour, and quite filling---removed any desire for baklava on my part! Regretfully, they do not have the Turkish national drink, "Raki"---but they are probably keeping halal so no alcohol in the vicinity, alas. Parking was easy, a rarity in Cambridge. Wish they'd have some advertising or signage on the main roads because we never would've found out about this place if it weren't for a friend of mine mentioning that he once worked here. It's literally BEHIND the Whole Foods by Fresh Pond and around the corner from the Apple Cinema next door, so it will become a regular post-movie eating destination for us from now on!

Lavash Grille - Cambridge, MA Total Score: 9/10…read more Lavash Grille in Cambridge delivers a Turkish and Mediterranean dining experience that feels both vibrant and deeply comforting. This is the kind of place that works beautifully for group outings, thanks to the big, long tables that make it easy to settle in, share plates, and actually enjoy the social side of dining. The sampler platters and mixed grill dishes are absolutely the way to go. Portions are generous, the variety is excellent, and everything we tried tasted fresh and well balanced. The hummus and baba ganoush were both standouts, packed with flavor and a great start to the meal. One of the biggest highlights was the manti. These delicate, bite sized dumplings with yogurt sauce were pure comfort food and easily one of the most memorable dishes of the night. The haydari (similar to Tzatziki) was another favorite. Rich, creamy, and incredibly flavorful, it's the kind of dip you keep reaching for long after you're full. For something a little different, the traditional Turkish coffee made with hot sand is such a fun experience and well worth ordering. Ending the meal with coffee and rice pudding felt like the perfect, cozy finish. On a practical note, I was genuinely happy there is some parking here, which is always a welcome bonus in Cambridge. Overall, Lavash Grille is a place I'd gladly return to. Great food, perfect for group settings, and an all around enjoyable dining experience.

I never expected to find something like this in Boston…read more Bab Al Yemen offers a flavor profile that's genuinely unique and unlike anything you'll find at most restaurants, not just in Boston, but honestly in many places around the world. Through extensive travel across the U.S. and internationally, I had never come across a Yemeni restaurant before. What made this experience even more special was how authentic it felt from start to finish. Everything, from the food to the atmosphere and even the diverse mix of diners enjoying their meals at tables and on traditional floor seating, made for a truly immersive experience. I ordered a dish built around falafel and rice, something I've eaten countless times at Mediterranean and Middle Eastern restaurants over the years. Yet somehow, Bab Al Yemen transformed familiar ingredients into something entirely their own. The execution was flawless, and the seasoning and flavor profile were unlike any version I've had before. If there's such a thing as an elevated falafel-and-rice dish, this is it. For anyone looking to explore a cuisine that's difficult to find and experience something authentically different, Bab Al Yemen is absolutely worth a visit. It was one of the most memorable meals of my trip to Boston.

We had an awesome meal at Bab Al-Yemen Boston. Everything we ordered was tasty and hearty. The…read moregrilled chicken with yellow basmati rice was tender, fragrant, and nicely spiced up. Meat stew was yummy and delicious and went well with Yemeni bread. The bread was big, fresh, and crunchy but soft from the inside. Vegetables and sauce added to the meal. What I liked most about the place is the fact that this cuisine was an authentic representation of Yemeni food, not just any Middle Eastern restaurant. Portion sizes are big and you can definitely share something. Come hungry! 5/5 -- Definitely coming back.