Bar Vlaha — Restaurant in Brookline

We came here on a Wednesday with a 6:30 dinner reservation for a party of 2 and were promptly seated. The interior has lovely photographs of Greek rural life and there is an open view of the kitchen and bar which I always enjoy, we put in our food and drink orders just after being seated and everything started coming out shortly thereafter. For appetizers, we got the dolmades (grape leaves stuffed with rice, pork, and beef) which were pretty good, but the standout was the various spreads and their delicious sourdough bread. We got the tzatziki, kopanisti (whipped feta with roasted red pepper), and melitzanosalata (roasted eggplant) dips. They were all so incredibly flavorful and their psomi sourdough bread was thickly sliced, dense, and a great vessel for the spreads. For entrees, we got the kontosouvli (Greek yogurt marinated chicken) and the melitzana yiahni (seasoned eggplant, potato, and feta in a tomato sauce). I got the chicken which was two drumsticks and two smaller chicken thighs that are cooked on a rotating horizontal spit which you can see in the kitchen (I always appreciate seeing how the food is made just because I'm a cooking nerd). The chicken was so well-seasoned and had a great taste even though it had a deceivingly simple appearance. For dessert, we got an espresso and the bougatsa (custard and phyllo dough with sorbet). This rounded out the dinner very nicely.

My only qualm which knocked it down a star for me was the price of the soda (which feels like a ludicrous thing for me to say as I write this). It pains me to say this given that the meal was amazing and I don't think I've ever once critiqued an establishment for the price of a commodity/very low overhead item such as this. When we got the bill, I was surprised to see that the two diet cokes I got were $5 each for an 8 fluid ounce glass bottle. For reference, a can of soda is 12 fl oz and a typical plastic bottle is 20 fl oz. I tried to find this listed on the menu anywhere, but I can't quite seem to find it anywhere. I just can't wrap my head around the price of this given that it's such low overhead (whereas cocktails which require a lot of time and ingredients to produce would be a high overhead item). It really was jarring and unexpected and I hope that they can either correct the price or help me understand the justification of it or just straight up not sell soda if the price isn't reduced.

Overall, the food was amazing and worthy of a trip and I highly recommend this place for dinner! I would just avoid the expensive soda. Also, I unfortunately didn't enjoy their brunch anywhere near this much, so I can't say my dinner recommendation holds the...

You don’t come to Bar Vlaha for clichés. There are no postcard sunsets, no Santorini-blue chairs. No plate-breaking antics or hummus-for-the-masses. This place digs deeper. Past the islands, into the hills, the forests, the fireside corners of Central and Northern Greece, where Vlach shepherds wrote the first chapters of what we now call hospitality. When you walk in, the place hums. Not loud, not showy, just alive. The art on the walls isn’t trying to impress anyone. It simply belongs. It feels like a place where someone’s grandmother might appear from the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. The air smells of charcoal, lemon, and old-world generosity. We started with drinks. The Karpouzi 2.0 is part cocktail, part fever dream. Tequila, watermelon shrub, sunchoke, bitter aperitivo, lemon, mint, and a feta and boukovo foam that makes no sense until it makes perfect sense. The Opuntia Swizzle was a trip in a glass, spiked with prickly pear and bergamot and just enough mischief to get you talking secrets before the food arrived. The appetizers set the tone. The manitaria—crispy oyster mushrooms with maidanosalata—was clean, crunchy, and green in all the right ways. The smoked eel, served with pickled peppers and sourdough toast, brought salt, smoke, and swagger. This was no gimmick. It was bold, sharp, and grounded. Then came the conversation between land and sea. The karavides—crayfish bathed in ouzo-tomato broth with fennel and orzo—was light and elegant. It didn’t demand attention. It earned it. The agriogourouno, wild boar braised in red wine with warm spices and hilopites, was pure comfort. Rich but not heavy, the kind of dish that makes you want to sit back, sip slowly, and listen to someone tell a story. The service had soul. They explained the specials from memory, checked in without hovering, and brought over a birthday shot from the place where chewing gum was invented. It was strange and sweet and just the kind of touch that makes you feel seen. They did forget the bread, which meant we missed out on some proper sauce-mopping, but no one’s perfect. I sat in a middle seat, facing the wall. My dining partner had the better view, soaking in the room and the warmth. I left feeling like I had only scratched the surface. This was just a taste, a hint of something deeper. I’ll be back, not for a repeat, but for the rest...

A Brunch Adventure at Bar Vlaha. Once upon a weekend, my friends and I embarked on a brunch escapade, and our compass led us straight to the captivating realm of Bar Vlaha. Nestled in the heart of the city, this hidden gem beckoned us with promises of delectable delights and an ambiance worthy of a thousand Instagram likes.Stepping inside, we were transported to a world where aesthetics met functionality. The interior design was a masterpiece in itself, boasting chic aesthetics that whispered of modern elegance. Every corner seemed crafted for the perfect photo op, making us feel like protagonists in our own brunch saga.As we settled into our seats, the real magic unfolded with the arrival of the service personnel. Their warmth and professionalism were like a gentle breeze on a sunny day, effortlessly enhancing our dining experience. From recommendations to refills, they orchestrated our brunch symphony with finesse and flair.Now, let's talk about the pièce de résistance: the food. Each dish that graced our table was a culinary masterpiece, meticulously crafted to tantalize our taste buds. From fluffy scrambled eggs to savory omelets, every bite was a journey through flavor paradise. I can’t really recommend the greek coffee though!! Admittedly, the prices leaned towards the higher end of the spectrum, but the quality and taste more than justified the indulgence.As our brunch adventure drew to a close, we couldn't help but marvel at the enchantment of Bar Vlaha. With its mesmerizing ambiance, impeccable service, and mouthwatering cuisine, it had woven itself into the fabric of our fondest memories. So, if you're seeking a brunch spot that transcends the ordinary and embraces the extraordinary, look no further than Bar Vlaha. Trust me; it's a tale...