No, not Topless.
Written: Jul 19 '01 (Updated Aug 19 '01)
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Pros: Great atmosphere, fun to try lots of different dishes
Cons: Long, long wait
The Bottom Line: Dali has amazing food in a festive setting, and is my favorite restaurant in the Boston area (among many great restaurants!)
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| lapook76's Full Review: Dali |
The following is a typical conversation that I have had with many people when talking about my favorite restaurant, Dali:
Me: Have you ever been to Dali?
Clueless person who has never been to Dali: No. Where's that?
Me: In Somerville.
C.P.W.H.N.B.T.D.: What kind of restaurant is it?
Me: A tapas restaurant.
C.P.W.H.N.B.T.D: Topless?? It's a Topless restaurant??!
Me:(Sighing deeply and answering condescendingly)Noooooo.....TA-PAS. You know, those Spanish appetizer thingies?
Dali is by far my favorite restaurant in the Boston area, and the place I take friends when I want to eat amazing food and have a great time. Everything about this restaurant is wonderful, except for the long wait, which I will get to later...
The interior of the restaurant is dark and active and noisy, with wild decorations everywhere. There are sparkles and glitter over much of the decor, (including the outfits of the waiters), as well as random objects hanging from the walls and ceilings, such as garlic, peppers, pieces of various animals, and spanish art. There is something to look at at every table. My favorite tables are the ones tucked into little nooks, where you can watch everything from your own little niche.
The waiters are all incredibly charming and friendly. They are more than happy to help you with the menu or to recommend dishes that you might enjoy. Don't be afraid to ask. They are attentive, and bring your food and drinks quickly, even when the place is at its busiest (and it gets BUSY!).
The drink of choice here is sangria. You can order it by the glass or in jugs. A one-liter jug (3-4 glasses) is $14.00, and a two-liter jug is $26.00. They also have an extensive wine and beer list, but I wouldn't know anything about it, because I always have sangria.
The menu is broken up into entrees and tapas, but I don't think that many people order the entrees. The name of the game here is the tapas, which are smaller, appetizer-like portions that you share with the rest of your table. When I go with friends, we each order 2 or 3 tapas, and make sure to get a good variety for the table. The tapas range in price from about $4.00-$8.00.
The tapas menu is split between tapas frias (cold) and tapas calientes (hot). There are also a number of special tapas offered each night. Of the cold tapas, my favorite is the Tortilla Espanola, which is a cold omelette with potatoes and onions. The white asparagus is also very good. Other choices include anchovies, ham, garlic potatoes, green-lipped mussels with avocado, and roasted red peppers.
On the hot tapas menu is my favorite dish of all time: Gambas al Ajillo. This is usually the first dish that they bring to our table (they stagger the tapas, bringing them out a few at a time, allowing you to enjoy each one...), and it comes to the table bubbling and sizzling. It is shrimp in olive oil with an astounding amount of garlic. The shrimp melt in your mouth, and when you finish, you can sop up the garlic-infused olive oil with a piece of bread from the plentiful bread basket (which also comes with a delicious hummus-like spread). Even the pieces of garlic, warm and crispy, are delicious.
Other hot tapas I enjoy: The roast duckling with berry sauce, saffron-battered shrimp with mojo sauce (the mojo sauce is a green, slightly-spicy sauce with, I believe, cilantro), grilled spanish sausage, cricken croquettes, lobster ravioli, and artichokes with saffron batter. Another one of my favorites is the baked goat cheese, which comes on a bed of tomato sauce- the cheese literally melts in your mouth. You will be sopping up every last drop with your bread.
There is only one dish that I have ever ordered that I did not like so much, and that had more to do with aesthetics than the quality of the food. The grilled prawns come with the shells, and the heads, still on the shrimp. I thought that seeing their little beady eyes staring up at me was a little much, and peeling the shrimp was messy and time-consuming. Also, they weren't nearly as flavorful as the garlic shrimp.
There are a number of vegetarian options: Aside from some of the vegetarian choices listed among the other dishes I mentioned, there is garlic soup, sauteed mushrooms, vegetarian crepes, cauliflower and cheese puffs, and marinated olives.
The desserts at Dali are as incredible as everything else. I enjoy the flan, and they also have an incredibly dense, amazing chocolate cake that is to die for. Their coffee is strong and flavorful.
The only downside to this restaurant is the wait. Unless things have changed since the last time I tried, they do not take reservations. If you do not want to wait for at least an hour, plan to get there when the restaurant opens at 5:30. Otherwise, be prepared to wait a long time. The redeeming factor is that waiting in the bar can be pretty fun. Drink plenty of sangria and enjoy the celebratory atmosphere, and be happy knowing that you will be enjoying an amazing meal (relatively) soon.
Dali has a sister restaurant, Tapeo, which is on Newbury Street in Boston. The menu is the same there, and they also have outdoor seating, which is fun. But plan to wait a long time there, too. When I was at Dali a few weeks ago, I saw a sign advertising another restaurant that the owners will be opening soon in Cambridge. I'll have to check it out when it opens...
Dali has a website: www.dalirestaurant.com. Check it out for the latest specials and menu. You can also read professional reviews of the restaurant there.
I cannot stress enough how delicious each of the tapas is. Every one is different, and every one is prepared exquisitely. And it is so much fun to be able to sample so many delicious foods in one sitting. If you are in the Boston area, go there. And if you're not, be sure to go to Dali if you visit. You will not be disappointed.
Recommended:
Yes
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Notes, Tips or Menu Recommendations Get there early if you don't want to wait. Parking is on-street parking.
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Epinions.com ID:
lapook76
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Location: Arlington, MA
Reviews written: 61
Trusted by: 40 members
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