Sarma covers the breadth of the Mediterranean, and is well worth the journey just north of Boston. What’s the real-real on why we’re coming here? For a smorgasboard of incredibly flavorful and hearty meze dishes that will wow even the most small-plate-averse. There's a seasonal vegetable plate (or two) to perfectly compliment every main, and you'd be remiss not to save some space for a flaky pastry dessert, like the pumpkin baklava.Īnd how did the front-of-house folks treat you? Insightful, unfussy, and always equipped with friendly recommendations that will help you navigate the sizable menu and perfectly pair a cocktail, wine, or craft beer. And then there are the harder-to-pin-down creations like octopus skewers, harissa-dotted squash cakes, and a shish kebab menu that includes monkfish and salmon as well as heartier options like duck. Accordingly, the plates are a mingling of many Mediterranean crowd favorites, from Greek spanakopita and saganaki to Arab-style kofte sliders and labneh-smeared shawarma. Best Dining in Somerville, Massachusetts: See 9,440 Tripadvisor traveler reviews of 316 Somerville restaurants and search by cuisine, price, location, and more.

Cassandra (Cassie) Piuma is a native of Duxbury, Massachusetts. Chef Cassie Piuma is a Boston-area local who trained at Oleana, of next-door Cambridge's Inman Square. Sarma is a restaurant located in Somerville, Massachusetts at 249 Pearl Street. Give us the lowdown-especially what not to miss. The wine list is as eclectic as the food, with options ranging from French to Lebanese. The 20-seat bar takes its beer list seriously, too, sourcing plenty of local New England IPAs from nearby breweries that are perfect for a second round.

What should we be drinking? One of the inventive cocktails, whether a grilled-grapefruit Greyhound, the hazelnut- and sherry-punctuated Findik Smash, or a mezcal-fennel concoction for something stronger. Sarma offers seasonal Mediterranean cuisine, serving small plates complemented by food-friendly cocktails. What’s the crowd like? Seasoned experts in food and beverage (this is Somerville, after all), solo-dining college professors, in-the-know couples on first dates, and local hipsters-all of whom likely made a reservation well in advance this place fills up on weekends (and especially when seating is limited due to COVID). What were your first impressions when you arrived? An unassuming metal door off of a busy Winter Hill thoroughfare near Somerville's Union Square gives way to the buzzing, lived-in dining room and cocktail bar of Sarma, a cozy-hip Middle Eastern meze spot with dishes as colorful as the Istanbul-sourced ceramic plates and mosaic lanterns adorning the walls.

Sarma somerville