There Are No Llamas at This Dali
Written: Jan 08 '04
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Pros: wide variety of both cold and hot tapas, amazing garlic soup
Cons: expensive, long waits with little space to wait in
The Bottom Line: If you're looking for an unusual romantic date restaurant or for a great group tapas experience give Dali a try.
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| quasar's Full Review: Dali |
Dali, located at 415 Washington Street right at the Cambridge-Somerville border, was the very first Tapas bar I ever visited. It's still my favorite.
A smallish restaurant, the tables are closely packed, the lights dim, and the music generally slow and soulful. It's always struck me as one of the most romantic restaurants I've dined in. At the same time, I've always been comfortable there with a group of friends. I've also seen families with small children eating there but personally I don't think it suitable for kids.
When you arrive you're greeted by a friendly hostess who gives you some idea of how long you'll have to wait for a table. Dali does not take reservations and there's always a wait. They have a bench and a small bar area but there isn't a lot of waiting room so you may have to wait outside. Also, be aware they won't seat you until your whole party has arrived.
If you're not familiar with tapas they're essentially appetizers. Spanish in origin, they usually come in fairly small portions, can be hot or cold, and often incorporate a variety of spices and sauces. Dali offers authentic tapas that originate from all over Spain.
Although there's nothing preventing each person in your party from ordering their own food, tapas works best when a group of people order a wide selection of dishes and share. Most of the dishes are sized to give 3-4 people a decent taste. The only thing we don't share is soup.
I recommend starting your meal with a bowl of garlic soup. Both flavorful and aromatic, you'll get a large bowl of garlic flavored broth filled with bits of roasted garlic. It might be a bit overpowering for a date but definitely indulge if you don't have high hopes for later in the evening.
We tend to split our order between old favorites and new dishes we haven't tried yet. In addition to items from the regular menu we like to try one or two dishes from the monthly specials.
My two favorites are, not coincidentally, among the dishes we order every visit. Tortilla Espanola, a cold egg, potato, and onion omelet, comes served quiche style as a slice of pie. It's lighter than a quiche though, and very flavorful. Bunuelos de verduna, broccoli and cauliflower cheese puffs are breaded and fried balls of cheese mixed with little bits of chopped broccoli and cauliflower. They ooze goodness in every bite.
They offer dishes from all of the usual meats as well as some more unusual options like octopus. They have several shrimp and scallop dishes and a wide selection of vegetarian choices. They seem to do particularly well with seafood; both the garlicy shrimp and the scallops with saffron sauce are mouthwatering and, oddly, the seafood portions seem larger than those of other dishes.
Of the dishes I expected to like there's only been one I haven't: the roasted peppers. Served cold and marinated in a heavy overpowering oil, they didn't have much texture or taste.
Dali has a large wine cellar of mostly Spanish varieties and offers a large selection of other alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. I don't generally like any sort of wine or drinks made with wine but I absolutely love their sangria. It's light, sweet, fruity, and just plain delicious.
All of this wonderful food does not come cheaply. At a minimum the experience will cost $30 per person but more likely around $40 even without alcohol. It's a wonderful treat, a splurge, but not a place most of us can visit regularly. If you're looking for an unusual romantic date restaurant or for a great group tapas experience give Dali a try.
Recommended:
Yes
Kid Friendliness: No
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Best Suited For: Romantic Evening
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