Dali Restaurant & Tapas Bar

Recommends

ragazzamilanese

Joined 5 years ago

Great food, spotty service. This is a great restaurant to dine at - but only when Mario, the proprietor is there. He makes the experience exquisite and special. I made the mistake of dining there last night (my 5th visit in 2 months) , when he was absent . We had the most unbelievably rude welcome from the one of the hostesses at the door. I was extremely embarrassed, as I had talked up Dali to everyone I was bringing and they were shocked. So before you go, make sure Mario is there!!

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jzilby

Joined 3 years ago

BEST TAPAS IN BOSTON. food was delicious and prices were fair. i would definitely recommend Dali to anyone looking for great tapas!

Doesn't Recommend

porter1950

Joined 3 years ago

Not The Place for True Tapas Lovers. Total Tapas lovers we were very excited to try Dali again. However , once we tasted the food we remembered why we stopped coming.

First I have to say we dine out often and don't mind large price tags ....if the food is fantastic... the food at Dalis is not

. Dali is more like a Spanish TGI Fridays from the 90's then the atmosphere they are trying to create. It is LOUD LOUD LOUD(to the point of it being deafening) with loads of screaming children surrouding you. Have never been to a restaurant of its supposed caliber and had this complaint ...ever. The food well... over salted, underflavored, overpriced.

Paella was very poor- the fish too fishy with spongey textures, oversalted - had two bites and left it. The short ribs and pork with manchego were very good. The other dishes we tried 10 of them unsatisfying.

We have had tapas world wide and I have to sadly say this is my least favorite place. Don't bother ... not worth the long wait(they take reservations but expect a long wait still) or the atmosphere. If anyone can recommend great tapas Im listening!!!

Doesn't Recommend

vinny p

Joined 3 years ago

too over priced. i am a chef and the food was ok the drinks are over priced and watered downd the tapas are so small you better eat before you go there and drop over a hundred

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DavisSqVillen

Joined 3 years ago

Great Tapas. Had a great time at Dali, really enjoyed the experience!

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ricefrog

Joined 3 years ago

Roll Deep. As an omnivore, I jump on any opportunity to eat rabbit, duck, lamb, pheasant, venison, lobster, and fried cheese all in the same meal. Especially when it's all delicious, and making a parade of flesh and bone and sauce and grease around a table with ten happy friends.

Now, it can be hard to get ten of my friends to all go out at once. And I have seen plenty of couples sharing at Dali at tables for two. So it can be done. But personally I would be afraid - this menu does strange things to me. With only two people to order, would I spend the meal dreaming of that one dish that didn't quite make the cut, while shaking my head at my date's clearly inferior choice? "No!! Don't order THAT! What about the quail?!"

No, I think it's best to roll deep to Dali, cover the table with tapas and pitchers of sangria, and summon the metal frog and bubbles to celebrate a birthday.

Beside the food good enough to turn you bad, there's the wildly relaxing decor and the welcoming staff. Last time I went, on our way out we were chatted up by an older gentleman I believe was the owner. He knew a few of our party, and melted one girl's heart by telling her, "I don't remember you... but I remember your eyes."

One fashion tip though: don't wear a tie. The owner told me he'd burn it off if I ever wore one there again.

Doesn't Recommend

ytube

Joined 4 years ago

Octopus incident!!. I was not quite sure if I should write this review since I see EVERYONE in City Search loves this restaurant. But, I decided to let people know about my recent dinner experience in Dali.

My fiance and I went there last month. We ordered Octopus Vinagrette, and several other dishes. When I put a octopus piece in my month, I knew immediately that it was from a can or a jar. They were extremely spongy soft chunks and had a texture of Styrofoam.

Since I grew up in a small fishing village in Japan, I know how fresh octopus tastes like. I know the difference between fresh and can octopus.

For the first time in my life, I asked the waiter to send the dish back to the kitchen. The waiter got very agitated and argued that fresh octopus was supposed to be soft when it was cooked well. I know, from bottom of my heart, octopus never gets SPONGY it if it were fresh.

He reluctantly took the dish away, but we felt really bad.

Later the restaurant manager came to our table and explained the octopus was frozen. I am doubtful about his explanation because, again, I know the difference between frozen and octopus from a can.

The manager took the dish out of our bill, so we were thankful.

Other dishes we ordered were OK. Stuffed squid (yes. it was fresh!) was acceptable, though it was extremely salty.

The dinning room was very pretty and romantic. For this point, I gave one star.

Once again, please do not order Octopus Vinagrette unless you like octopus from a can (or.. a jar.. I am not still sure as of today.)

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pavtwo0575

Joined 4 years ago

Don't Miss Out on the Experience!. Whether eating at the bar or one of the dining rooms, Dali is always a wonderful experience. From the moment you walk in the door the authentic Spanish music and decor will captivate your eyes, while the succulent aroma tantalizes your senses. Highly recommended: the stuffed squid in its own ink, Lobster/Crab ravioli, broiled herb and garlic quail, and of course.... the Sangria! Plan to wait for a table on a Friday or Saturday night but be assured the wait is worth it! The atmosphere is very comfortable and the staff is always friendly and comedic. So don't be shy, go alone and start up a conversation with the staff or enjoy the eclectic experience with a group of friends!

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vmpitcher

Joined 5 years ago

Authentic Tapas. If you want to experience authentic Spanish cuisine in a quaint, unpretenscious setting, Dali is the setting for you. The trick is you need a reservation. We showed up when they opened, reservation in hand, and there was a line already forming 20 deep. Some of my favorites include:

- Queso de Cabra Montañes | Baked Goat Cheese w/Tomato & Basil

- Lomito al Cabrales | Pork Tenderloin w/Blue Goat Cheese & Mushrooms

- Costillas de Vaca | Beef Short Ribs in Rioja Wine Sauce

The paella is fantastic and they offer an all seafood version, as well as traditional.

The best thing about Dali is that you can't wait to go back. And, if I had to pick a drawback, I would say that the food came out a little too fast. Afterall, tapas are built around conversation and I would have liked a few more pauses in between the delicious meal to have a longer one.

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bellowello

Joined 5 years ago

Awesome Atmosphere, but too loud to enjoy dinner and $$$$. I really enjoyed the romantic atmosphere, it is def. a place to go to if you are looking for a different place than the same old restaurants you always find yourself going to. My only problem with it was that we were put in the back room, which wasn't as romantic and it was where they put all the large parties...........even though we were only two people. It was loud, too loud to hold a conversation. So if you have a large party maybe you would like it. However I'm sure you could request a different table. As for the food, it was good, not great. For the money I would have hoped that it would have been a little better. The drinks were not my style, and the selection was a bit limited. With all that being said, I would possibly go again to get something small and a beer.........but not dinner. And on a last note, the service was exceptional, it was one of the best parts of the experience.