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Mon-Sat. 5:30 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sun. 12:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
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Great place for groups-- fun ambiance, friendly waiters, and tasty food to share.
To ensure a good night, order the cava sangria for the table.
Dali is a Spanish themed restaurant serving authentic tapas. I list below plates I sampled in order of liking.
1.Roast duckling in berry sauce: moist duck with crispy skin in a sweet and slightly tart blueberry sauce. My favorite.
2. Lobster/crab ravioli: al dente pasta. Delicious.
3.Cod croquettes with aioli: cod mixture lightly battered and fried; great creamy texture and crispy on the outside but very salty. Parsley aioli adds a refreshing note.
4.Squid in ink: squid stuffed with crab and cooked in ink. Not bad.
5.Garlic soup: the name does not lie. Creamy, salty, and overwhelmingly garlicky.
Overall, the menu is uneven with some hits and misses. I agree with fellow yelpers that the cava sangria is delicious and recommended over their other cocktails. However, even the warm and friendly service cannot cannot make up for the overly liberal use of salt.
fantastic food, amazing ambiance, delightful attentive waiters, lovely music, DELICIOUS and moderately priced tapas, and just a very romantic place. I had my birthday dinner here and everyone was able to get something and not have to spend a fortune.
love this place!!
I've volvered....and, I like the manchego cheese for the dessert -- or even meal.
I tried a lot of other dishes, but nothing was spectacular. We had a nice server though, but overall, I just was not feeling this place.
Too bad.
Sangria was weak. I am sorry that I changed my mind from the last time I was there -- but I just did not like what we had:
Spanish cheese (it was goat cheese and I freaking hate goat cheese)
Chorizio -- far too smoky. And lots of hard bits of god knows what.
Scallops in saffron -- I didn't try em. I know, I'm a bad reviewer
Gazpacho, not bad, but too salty.
I don't know if I will return....
People thought this was:
SANGRIA ALERT.... AND IT IS MUY BUENO!! Yo me gusta Sangria. And, I don't even speak Espanol.… Read more »
This is totally a date place. You can tell because of the super romantic decor and the overly chivalric wait staff, which, when I was there, was almost entirely men. They fussed over me and pulled out my chair and I swooned a little, because, really, who wouldn't.
The food though was fine. I've had tapas before and honestly it felt like they weren't really trying this hard. The art of tapas is in the sauce, in the butter and the richness, and Dali just was not doing it for me.
But the kicker was really when we got the bill. I know tapas is supposed to be expensive, but this was a little absurd. There are better places to get tapas around here - better food, better prices. Go here for the atmosphere - it's unique and awesome - but not the food.
Got that hidden corner table, dear fellow Yelper, T.K. The trick? Show up around 6:30 on a Sunday night :) I felt like a Spanish seance might be in order, behind the red beaded curtain at our dimly lit table.
The food was delicious... from the garbanzo bean spread to the artichoke hearts, the pheasant to the smoked chorizo, baked goat cheese and mmm... kabobs.
The non-alcoholic Sangria offering was a pleasant surprise! Wish I had read their drink menu before going for my usual celebratory Shirley Temple.
To sum it all up... I love Dali, and while I hope you will too, I don't mind if you don't. More chance of that corner table for me!
I used to live right around the corner from Dali, but have only been a couple of times with no great incentive to come back. While the interior is lovely and looks romantic, I have always found it to be very loud inside.
The tapas are of pretty good quality, but small and overpriced and to satisfy your appetite you will have to shell out quite a bit of money. If that's not a problem for you, go for it.
I went on a very romantic date to Dali's a few years ago, so I was glad to go back a couple of weeks ago with friends. Unfortunately, it was not the Dali's I remembered. The decor is still eclectic and funky but that's really the only memorable part of the restaurant.
There were 12 of us at the table and we got a huge assortment of tapas. Some, like the squid in ink and the scallops, both of which come highly recommended on Yelp, were the only stand-out dishes. The garlic shrimp looks tastes and looks like those mini frozen shrimp in the grocery store. The beef tenderloin was good with the red pepper, but the bread/toast it was on was soggy and flavorless. The chorizo was also overcooked. One of the women sitting next to me has family in Spain, so she was especially disappointed with the food.
People at the table recommended Tapeo and Toro for better tapas.
The staff was fairly attentive, but they never brought my second glass of wine and were not quick to refill water glasses.
Tapas and the ambience is amazing!!!
Recommended dishes:
Stuffed Squid with black in
Oxtail (special of the day)
Also, get the sangria.
They don't take reservations...so get there early!
I have returned to this restaurant three times in the last four years and the experience was always underwhelming.
Service was always friendly and the ambiance is unbeatable. So is their Sangria!
But the food doesn't hold a candle to Toro in the South End or Taberna de Haro on Commonwealth Ave. Now THOSE are delicious tapas. The food here was mostly bland and didn't send me to my seventh culinary heaven as the food in the other spanish restaurants does. And to top it all, it's quite overpriced. So for a $40 meal I felt tipsy but could have eaten way better at other restaurants.
People thought this was:
After 302 reviews and an average 4.5 stars, there's not much more to say about Dali. The decor is outrageous, but in a delightful way. The restaurant was busy, perhaps even full, but never felt crowded. The pitcher of sangria was enough for about 4-5 glasses, which was more than enough, and was refreshing and delicious.
We ended up ordering the mussels with avocado, stuffed squid in its own ink, a chicken liver pate dish, and of course fried cheese with apricot and honey. Every single tapa was cooked to perfection, tasted wonderful, and was pleasingly presented.
We were allowed to take our time throughout the meal and afterward, sitting and talking, with no hints from the waiters that we should perhaps get going, despite a line outside. Nevertheless, when we asked for the check it came quickly, and we were able to pay and leave when we wanted.
All in all a wonderful experience, and I'm glad I finally came here.
People thought this was:
Guarenteed I may not be the most experienced at tapas bars, but I'd like to think I can rate a restaurant based on your usual factors- decor, service, food, quality, ambience, prices.
Enter Dali's and I have to be honest, there has to be nothing to complain about when it comes to the environment. It's a gorgeous set-up, with areas for private space, parties, romantic dates, friendly get-togethers. How they fit this all into such a space is an astonishment to me.
but the food, service, prices and everything else leaves a LOT to be desired. The waiter was far too smooth, the waitress who actually served us seemed to have her mind on everything else but her customers. the food was....in one word....distasteful. I dont know what the other reviewers are gushing about, but the scallops in saffron cream were strange, the lamb with mint tasted like curry (which frankly should not be priced at 8 dollars for two bites), the grilled prawns were bland, the pheasant was tough and lacking flavor.
I feel bad writing such a poor review, but the place really did nothing for me and I wouldnt go back even if it was free.
On a last note, that was a pretty poor sangria as well. I dont know how a tapas bar can do a sangria poorly, but they did. I say if you're going to use a cultural excuse to charge people outrageous prices for appetizers...at least do it right. Sorry guys, but this is a no-go.
I went to this place a while ago but still want to review it today. my boyfriend and i came here for out 3rd yr anniversary. the decor is amazing! the food is also amazing, as well as the sangria. i definitely recommend making reservations as this is a very busy and popular place. i have yet to try their sister company i forget the name right now but will be trying it and reviewing it soon!
definitely go to Dali for a romantic evening or with a girlfriend
This is the first truly amazing place that I've gone to eat in Cambridge! Since my girlfriend and I moved to Cambridge we've had some good food, some terrible and a lot of okay. Dali's is the kind of place that you write home about!
The decor is intense, but incredibly well chosen, I would say that it's more Gaudi than Dali inspired with a very organic feel. We ate at the bar, because we couldn't wait for a table, it was great. The bar is glazed ceramic tile with fresh roses in the centerpiece, The dried fish and vines hanging above the bar only add to the ambiance.
But let me get to the food: We ordered pheasant with mushrooms and bacon, scallops in saffron sauce, artichoke in pine nut sauce and potatoes in two different sauces (I forget the names). This place does amazing sauces! I found myself scooping up forks of sauce after we finished the tapas themselves. We usually prefer simpler spicing and preparation for food (way too many places over- or mis-spice food), but this was perfectly combined. I never would have thought of artichoke and pine nut, but it was an amazing combination. The scallops in saffron sauce were to die for. The potatoes were an incredible mix of spicy, sweet and sour. My girlfriend couldn't stop going on about the pheasant.
I only wish we had come with a group so that we could have tried more tapas.
If you're a foodie, go here.
This is one of my all-time favorite places in the Boston area. It is a little pricey, but that is not too unusual for fine dining in any city.
First off, the atmosphere is incredible. It is so beautifully decorated, and there is usually a large number of customers enjoying themselves at the bar when you walk in. The food is also delicious, of course. I always go with tapas because I can't drag myself away from them. I highly recommend the solomillo en tostada and the duck with blackberry sauce... and the sopa de ajo for anyone not on a first date!
To drink, the sangria is simply a must.
Make sure to call ahead for reservations if you go on the weekends, and if you are there for a romantic occassion, tell them- there is a little table set aside in a corner that couldn't be more perfect.
Planned on going to Dali with some friends so of course I had to Yelp it...and check out the menu too. It sounded super cute and I love tapas so I was really excited to try this place out!
Cheese and garlic are two of my faves so I knew I had to try the Queso, garlic shrimp and the blue cheese pork tenderloin. Everyone started by ordering a few things, some people more creative than me, ordering venison sausage, squid, duck and rabbit. Once it arrived, I did try little bites of everything, even though i wasn't sure how I felt about the more adventurous dishes. As for the Queso, we ordered another...it was served with honey and was AMAZING!!
We were super excited for the churros dessert, but our waiter said that for some reason they were not cooking right that evening so we couldn't have them after all. Even though that made us a little sad, we were pretty full from all the tapas. Such a fun place to go for dinner! Everyone was celebrating their birthday that night so there was lots of singing and bubbles. Loved the bubbles! I did wake up the next morning a little sketched by all the weird things I ate, so next time I may eat more queso, and less meat. But I will be back for sure!
People thought this was:
I've been here a few times, but I'm just not a huge fan.
It's unique. Your experience here will be different than any other restaurant you've been to.
Odd decor. It's like eating inside a witch-doctor's bedroom.
I am not impressed with the food. I've had most of the menu at one time or another and nothing stands out as being worth the trip. Mixed drinks were not impressive either.
Loud, crowded, reallllly dark lighting. I don't plan on going back. You might like it, but I don't.
Get the quail, you'll thank me later.
My bf and I came here for my birthday and that night he said I love you for the first time, so that sangria must have been pretty strong.
We made reservations, something that is definitely a necessity to eat here on the weekend. We ended up staying for close to 3 hours, wining and dining at a steady but relaxed pace. I felt very at comfortable and while it was small it was less cramped than similar restaurants (like Tasca).
Was the meal expensive? Yes. Are most tapas places expensive? Yes. For two of us our bill was about $120 (with tip and lots of sangria). However, it wasn't much more expensive than other area Tapas places and the food was phenomenal. While it is definitely more of a special occasion place (personally speaking) it is a great place for any date you're looking to make special and romantic.
I was looking on yelp for a new tapas restaurant to eat at. Thank you Yelpers!
As soon as I walked in, I knew that I would have a great experience here. I noticed the fresh rose petals on the bar .. so romantic!
We were brought to our table and the waitor asked if we've been here before and I said "no", he said "where have you been?!". Seriously! Where have I been!
The service was great, the tapas we ordered were yummy! (garlic shrimp, garlic chicken, short beef ribs & fried spanish cheese w/ honey & sweet onions), and the sangria was delicious! One of the best sangrias I've ever had. My bf & I were both able to get 3 glasses each out of our pitcher.
I cannot wait to go back! The waitor told us that he hopes we won't wait too long of a time to return back to Dali.
Trust me, we won't :)
People thought this was:
I'm tired of all you hipsters calling this nonsense food. They're all in the kitchen laughing at you for eating their trash at $100 a visit.
We went there because the Phantom Gourmet told us the fried cheese was great. Fried cheese is great anywhere. Except here, where they mistakenly gave us cheese-flavored jelly instead. There was a nice span of 5 seconds where we thought they were giving us a free shot, but then we realized that was one of our tapas. Even the ones that were OK were only enough for one bite. I am not exaggerating when I say that we ran out of there and got a pizza from Mama Ginas on the way home.
People thought this was:
No deductions, not one. The best tapas I have ever had and I was in Spain for two weeks last year. The trick I think is to order the most exciting things you see and try things you don't usually go for. My friend and I ordered:
Squid stuffed and baked in its own ink
Saffron butter scallops
Stewed lamb with mint (Moroccan influence sneaking in?)
And saffron-fried shrimp with garlic tapanade
I literally cannot say one bad word about the food. I think we chose the most amazing flavors and they all worked wonderfully together. Four tapas for two people for dinner was the perfect amount.
We also got a glass of red each and though I unfortunately don't remember the names of them, they were both excellent. (It was the house red and the second one on the by the glass reds menu, if that helps).
We popped over to Christina's down the street in Inman for dessert and had pumpkin ice cream.
All in all the perfect dinner and dessert. Sooo delicious, and the fact that I still smell like garlic does not bother me because it helps me remember the AWESOMENESS of the food.
Auuuuuuuuuuugh!! I know a lot of people love Dali's but this restaurant bugs the heck out of me. All my friends love it. They like the food and you the reader might like it as well.
But I hate it. It's difficult to find parking if you are out of town and it twists around one way streets which quickly gets annoying. It seems like everyone goes to birthday parties here which gets on your nerves if you are having a conversation with someone. I am not a cranky person but after the 6th time within an hour of people clapping for someone's party I feel like I am at an adult Chucky Cheese place)
It gets super crowded on weekend nights which takes as long as an hour to get a table.
Tapas is a Spanish food which is actually provided free at bars in Spain. It's generally a little saltier to have the patron order more beer or wine. The food here, while it's decently made, is small in quantity. So to fill yourself up you will have to spend nearly $30-$40 a person. I had one meal for two that was close to $88 with no drinks (and I don't eat a lot either for dinners). Which I don't have a problem spending that amount but I generally like to have a higher class of restaurant (dressy/formal) once I start hitting the $80 and up range.
Don't believe the hype.
I always drove by Dali, but never made it in until this weekend. Four of us went at an odd time of Sunday for dinner and it was empty (which apparently is not the norm at all according to my brother-in-law and his wife). The waitstaff were very, very friendly without being obnoxious - it was actually really nice!
The menu is small, but I liked 99% out of everything we got (wasn't a fan of the garlicky chicken). There are some unusual tapas selections for those that aren't afraid to try things. My husband is not one of these people but I was happy that he was able to find things that he liked as well. The beef tenderloin on bread with pimento was amazing as well as the fried Spanish cheese. The sangria was SO good and you can choose different size pitchers. It had a slightly more orange flavor than other sangrias I've had and I liked it!
The dessert was really good as well. The rice pudding surprised me the most because it was fantastic and originally did not seem that appealing to me (another person at the table ordered it and I couldn't not stop stealing bites!) It has a crunchy, creme brulee type of topping with a scoop of dulche de leche ice cream. I got the chocolate tort with raspberry sauce, it was rich and delicious.
A great meal for something different!
If you've heard anything about Dali, it's all true.
Romantic? Check. Off the hook busy? Check. Expensive? Check. Worth every penny? Check checkity check check check.
I'd definitely say it's the best tapas experience I've had since the northeastern coast of Spain. The Queso Rebozado con Miel (fried spanish cheese with honey and sweet onion) is one of the most orgasmic things I've eaten in my life.
Enjoy!
People thought this was:
Still have mad love for Dali. Came here Saturday night and was happy to find that the bar had many available seats. You may feel like you can't get in on a weekend night, but most of the people hanging out outside are waiting for friends and are going to sit at a table. So make sure you check to see how crowded the bar is, because it's a fun place to share a meal with a friend or two.
Also, I have a new addiction here. The lamb dish is tender tender deliciousness. I still would take the cheese and honey dish over it, but the lamb is a close second. And I don't usually even like lamb.
ps: You will encounter 7+ birthdays here on any given night! It's kind of silly, but keeps the place festive.
People thought this was:
Ohh Dali Dali Dali! Thank you for being a five minute walk from my house; thank you for the ample… Read more »
Now we come to my favorite restaurant in Boston (even though it's in Somerville).
Everything is fantastic here, but my personal favorites: sangria, duck in berry sauce, garlic shrimp, short ribs, tomato/basil/goat cheese, and the churros (ask for both chocolate and caramel sauce).
You won't be disappointed.
This is my favorite place in Boston to get tapas. The atmosphere is very romantic - in fact, my fiance and I came here for our 6 month anniversary and then the night he proposed.
They have great goat cheese tapas, garlic shrimp, etc. I also love their paella, as it is doesn't tend to get too salty as some others do. We also really enjoy the cava in the communal drinking vessel. If you go, you should have them demonstrate first before you try it. As the night wears on, it gets a bit harder to aim.
Overall, this place is a great date night. Delicious food, cozy tables, dim lighting...what more could you ask for?
When I came back to the U.S from living in Madrid for a year, you can imagine I was seriously fiending for some good Spanish food. I had tried a few other tapas bars in the city, but this is the only one I truly enjoyed. The only down side is that the tapas are really expensive, and if we're honest...tapas in Spain are supposed to be cheap little snacks you get with your drink. Nevertheless, the sopa de ajo, tortilla espanola, croquetas, patatas bravas, etc., are amazing. Not to mention the super cool atmosphere!
After the fantastic reviews of Dali I decided to give it a shot and was completely underwhelmed. 2.5 stars, I round up.
There's no bar. Well there is, but not one you can just wander over to before dinner. The bar is used as a seating area and thus unavailable to patrons waiting for a table. Get comfy on the Somerville streets as no other area for waiting inside the restaurant exists.
I ordered the chorizo and some fried shrimp. While the chorizo was pretty good the shrimp was completely uninspired. The battering reminded me of chinese chicken fingers and left the dish less than delicious. I had hoped that the sauce would redeem the dish with some zing, but it fell flat. I tried my girlfriend's shrimp/garlic dish and it was good, but nothing special.
The positives:
The sangria was good.
All in all I'll have to stick to Tasca for tapas.
Absolutely amazing. I guarantee you that you will be blown back by the atmosphere and decor. Amazingly authetic. The people who work there are absolutely nice and funny too! The food is a little bit expensive, but they definitely deliver on the quality. The sangria is also quite delicious.
It can get REALLY packed during special occasions (mostly Valentines day), but otherwise, it's not too bad. Great date place! Probably the best I can think of actually.
I've tried couple other tapas restaurants, and the food was generally good. I think what makes this restaurant a lot better is the atmosphere combined with the good food. It's just a great experience.
Dali is awesome. My wife and I went here for a nice Saturday night date and had the following:
Drinks:
Liter of Sangria - amazing and tasty...quite nice (with the meal)
Port - Madalena for me, delicious (with dessert)
Port - Ferreira white port for the wife, she loved it (with dessert)
Tapas:
Serrano ham
Potatoes brava
Fried Spanish cheese with honey and sweet onions
Swordfish skewers
Gorditas - prunes stuffed with Feta cheese, wrapped in bacon
Barcelona style chicken breast
Stuffed squid in its own ink
Quail stuffed with Bacon - served with roasted garlic
Dessert:
Churros with chocolate sauce
Everything listed was great. The service was friendly and quick to bring things out. The fried cheese and Serrano ham came out within about 2 minutes of ordering. The churros were great and a great way to end the meal. The port helped as well.
The place is a bit small so expect a wait. We were told the wait would be 45 minutes and were sitting at our table in about 35. Go here. It's worth it. I am already planning our return trip. Fantastic.
People thought this was:
I love this restaurant! We had a fabulous time, and the food, drinks, and service were good. All of the staff were very friendly. It is bigger than it looks, and they do not take reservations, but we put our name on the preferred seating list, and did not have a problem on a Friday night. We sat in the first section, near the bar - seating is tight, but I think it is less tight in that area than the back. There is plenty of street parking.
Four of us went through 4 liters of sangria, and the following tapas: garlic shrimp, saffron battered shrimp, braised rabbit, lamb, chicken croquettes, beef tenderloin, pork tenderloin, pheasant (or quail, can't remember), artichokes, and maybe one other tapa, plus lemon sorbet & cava and churros for dessert. The only plate that did not go over too well was the pork. I did not try it though. Everything else was great. My favorite was the saffron battered shrimp, rabbit, and the churros. The chocolate dipping sauce for the churros was fabulous. And of course, the sangria was great. I did not think the bread was that great - it was not bad, but could have been better.
The only reason for 4 stars? They charged my bf's card not only for our meal, but for someone else's as well. They apologized and corrected it, but still, be very careful when you go there. I always feel like it is sketchy when things like that happen, even though it could just be an honest mistake.
People thought this was:
The decor/ambiance alone is worth 5 stars! When you step into Dali you'll feel like you've been transported to a surreal dream-like version of Spain (hence the name, I suppose). Pretty much the perfect date restaurant.
Other reviews have covered just about all there is to say, so here are a few tips from someone who use to walk by the place every night on my way home:
-Parking in the area sucks. Much of it is resident-only. I regularly saw people getting towed. The parking lot across the street does not belong to Dali, and I believe they do tow people who park there. If at all possible, take a cab or bus or walk.
-It gets very busy, especially on weekends or around graduation time. Definitely call ahead, or consider going at an off-peak time.
-Also, the patrons can get somewhat drunk/obnoxious at times... lots of birthday parties, Harvard students celebrating something or other, you get the picture... most people are fine and just having a good time, but just be aware if you're expecting a quiet, low-key evening.
-If you're not coming with a large group, consider just sitting at the bar... that is the authentic tapas experience, after all. They've got a good Spanish wine selection, great Sangria, and plenty of stuff to nibble while you sip.
Went here with my grandparents and my girlfriend. Really swank interior design (bubble machine + stuffed birds) and nice/interesting food. The lobster/crab ravioli was unreal.
People thought this was:
Fabulous place! We had:
1.Pork Tenderloin with Blue sheep cheese and mushrooms
2. Roast duckling with berry sauce
3. Garlic Shrimp
4. Fried Spanish cheese with honey and sweet onion
5. Lobster/crabmeat ravioli w/ Langostino Sauce
and it was all amazing! The flavors were distinct and well crafted - it was really the most flavorful meal I have had in a long time. I do wish the sangria had more fruit in it, and I was not a huge fan of the one dessert I tried- but I will try a different one the next time I go! The service was friendly and extremely helpful, the decor is unique and interesting - this is a great place to go for a fun romantic evening or a night out with friends. I recommend going on a weekday night to avoid the crowds and really enjoy your time :)
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Three words: Lomito al Cabrales. Let me say again: LOMITO AL CABRALES.
This pork dish, cooked to perfection, is covered in a cream sauce with blue cheese that screams EAT ME and then tells you to SCOOP ME UP WITH BREAD, finishing with LICK THE PLATE CLEAN.
Seriously, this is the dish I could eat forever. Let's not forget that it also comes with divine mushrooms as well. Its like, perfection.
We also had the queso rebozado - little poppers of cheese in a sweet fruit sauce and onions - like flavor explosions that scream OMG!
Top that of with a great Valenciana Paella (mix of chicken, pork, clams, squid, and just overall goodness) cooked perfectly and with the right amount of spices....and you've got a perfect night at Dali.
The service was excellent - my only complaint was I ordered a bottle of Paso a Paso, which turned out had both a white and red version, and the server didn't even ask which one I was ordering (we wanted the white but got red). All good though, the wine was decently priced, the sangria (a tad expensive) was sweet and strong...just an overall great experience.
Total bill? A pitcher of sangria, bottle of wine, the food - a tad over one benjamin for four people - not bad at all!
When I lived in Somerville, one of the selling points my realtor made about the apartment was that it was a short walk from Dali. So I was intrigued by Dali from the start, not to mention the fact that I always saw people milling about in front of its distinctly purple building every evening.
While the number of non-vegetarian dishes greatly outnumber the vegetarian selections, I was still really pleased by the vegetarian tapas I'd ordered. Wasn't a big fan of the tortilla espanola, but really enjoyed the patatas bravas (potatoes in a spicy aioili), the bunuelos (vegetable and cheese puffs), and the fried spanish cheese with honey and onion (it sounds weird, but it works). For garlic lovers, there's also the sopa de ajo (garlic soup).
The service is friendly here, but sometimes I think they ham it up a bit too much. On one visit, the host led us to a corner table, declaring it a "romantic spot." I was with my brother, however, so that was a little awkward--but we did appreciate the table.
I think this is a better place to meet a few friends than a date spot. The restaurant is beautiful inside and romantically dim-lit, but I just prefer dates in a quieter atmosphere.
This is really one of the best restaurants in the Boston/Cambridge area...
Atmosphere is really wonderfully exotic and relaxing with low lighting, and seductive little window tables for two...
The food is delicious and such fun to eat slowly tasting a variety of dishes, the spanish fried cheese with honey was my absolute favorite...
The service was friendly and pleasant... even on Mother's Day!
The sangria is amazing!
Dali was.. a tease, a disappointment, a trick foisted upon me by well-meaning Yelpers.
It's not that I hate lines. I mean, no one loves lines, but I'm fine with waiting at Giacomo's, even in the cold.
But I can not deal with crowds. I was stuck inside crammed with like 20 other people. The staff was great, but I agree with others in that they should take reservations and not only pretend ones (preferred seating). Even though we called ahead, days ahead, we had to wait 45 minutes to be seated. So then we had to order, eat, and leave within an hour, which fractured our birthday dinner party.
Even when we were still waiting and I was sipping a sangria, I said that I didn't think I ever needed to come back to Dali again. All the tacky kitsch on the wall, the crazy crowded room, the boisterous singing for birthdays etc, it was just too much. It was a Spanish romp-a-room.
The food, after all that, and my first exposure to tapas, was disappointing. It was not good and it was salty. It wasn't so much that it was expensive, but the reasonable-ish price did not match the unreasonable-ish and unremarkable food.
The fact that this place has been so hyped by friends and Yelp for so long and the fact that I just plain old did not like it was very sad for me. I thought Dali was situated in this magical happy tapas-land that I've never been to. But it turns out it was the same old place I'd driven past for 5 years and never thought was interesting enough to pay attention to.
What blows my mind is that people come back here again and again and again. And that they think it is the place to have a birthday. Being a sardine in a can is not how I prefer to spend my birthday. I need some breathing room and less salinity.
I'll give it a while and maybe try tapas again somewhere else.
This is one of the best dining experiences I have EVER had. The atmosphere is great, the waiters are all very friendly (and helpful), and the food is AMAZING. I lived in Spain for several months, and can say this food is certainly on par. (the croquetas were better than any I have had!)
A++++
*** One note: One big complaint seems to be the price- If people look at the menu before sitting down, they'll know it's not going to be a cheap meal- but it's well worth it!
Now offering $5 Tapas @the bar
Neighborhood: Back Bay
$5 Wine & Sangria Special…
Brighton, MA
Brighton, MA
Category: Spanish
Neighborhood: Beacon Hill
Category: Restaurants
Brighton, MA
Category: Mediterranean
Neighborhood: Kendall Square/MIT
Category: Restaurants
Neighborhood: South End
Category: Tapas Bars
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
Tapas and "small plate" restaurants in and around…
The best is sometimes where you least expect to…
After living in Inman Square for a summer, and…
So you wanna impress someone? Let this Boston gal…
The list is long, but so is the winter. When it's…
My local dry cleaner, watering hole, deli, cafe,…
Looking at this list, I realize that I am truly a…
