Saloniki Greek — Restaurant in Cambridge

DINNER REVIEW

4 for the food, 2 for the service/experience, which averages out to around a 3.

Walking down Mass Ave. often, I pass Saloniki a lot and have never found a good opportunity to come in (until now). It's in a beautiful, modern building and has tall glass windows which make you feel like you're in a fishbowl while eating there (in a good way).

SERVICE: We order our food and the woman working there warned me that it might take another 5-10 minutes (which was fine) as my meat was cooking. We wait between where you order and the cash register which really gave me the opportunity to watch how things worked...or didn't work. I worked a few years in fast casual and I know about the importance of systems and this place doesn't seem to have a good one. They didn't seem to have an order for things and would have to yell out to people "who has the X" instead of just keeping things in the right order. It started taking a while for our food and there were several people who were behind us receiving their food so we politely asked the woman making food about our specific dishes and she snidely responds "It's coming." When things take longer than they should, a restaurant with good customer service should overcommunicate be extra courteous but I didn't find that here. I rarely comment on the service at restaurants but this was such a negative experience that I felt the need to. We finally got our food and sat down.

FOOD: The food, however, was quite good. My girlfriend had the Nico plate (chicken) and I had the George plate (lamb meatballs) which come with different sauces (yogurt, eggplant, tzatziki) on a bed of greens. It also comes with a large warm pita that is delicious and you can make a wrap of your own. The lamb was well-seasoned and delicious. We also got it with the combo with Greek fries (some of the better fries I've ever had) and the peach lemonade which was sweet and tart at the same time but you could tell it was fresh.

I would come back for the food but I'm not sure I will when I know I can get great food and service at Flour...

Opa!

After trying (and loving) the original Saloniki in Fenway, I was stoked to check out the new Cambridge spot, located conveniently (and dangerously) on my way home from work.

The layout is quite different from Fenway, with the food assembly line and cash register at the far side of the restaurant. This provides a more open area for seating (which was ample during Tuesday dinnertime) and plenty of room for an orderly line to form inside (much appreciated during Boston winter).

The menu isn't too overwhelming, and I'm convinced that you can't go wrong. All of the proteins are unique and flavorful and the toppings tasty and fresh. I was eyeing The George since I'd had such a good time with him previously, but I decided to do things differently and build my own salad. I chose half lamb meatballs/half zucchini feta fritters for my protein, and I regret nothing.

With a leafy green base practically overflowing from the bowl, the staff expertly arranged my desired selections atop the ever-growing mound. Eggplant, feta, cucumbers, tomatoes, and more! There were definitely a few points where I was convinced all of the deliciousness would topple like ancient Greek ruins. But no! The Herculean staff know their stuff, and my salad was certainly a sight to behold.

The salad with lamb is $9, and the one with zucchini fritters is $8, so my Grecian creation came out to an easy $8.50. BUT! When you pay with the LevelUp app for the first time, you get $3 off! SO I got a gargantuan salad (which lasted me 2 meals) for $5 and change. I almost couldn't believe it.

The Greek fries are also so good. My pita-eating dining partner and I shared an order, which was brought to our table piping hot with spices and cheese on top. The perfect, less-healthy accompaniment to a fresh salad.

Saloniki is a fresh, fast, affordable, and flavorful addition to the 'hood. Thanks for bringing a bit of Greece...

We had the absolute best experience at this Saloniki. The food was delicious. We had some fro-yo topped with pistachios and caramel. The presentation was beautiful, the serving size was generous but not excessive, and the toppings paired well with the tart base– flavorful and not too sweet. We also took some chicken souvlaki skewers to go, and at the suggestion of Guy, the manager, reheated them in the air fryer. They were very flavorful, bite size pieces, a good mix of tender dark meat and white meat.

Beyond the food, what really stood out was the service. In particular, Guy went above and beyond. He was super attentive and friendly, came and chatted with us and checked in on how we were doing. It was approaching closing time, and he was bringing in the tables and chairs from outside, but went out of his way to leave one table outside for us to sit and finish enjoying our food. It is clear that he and the rest of the staff care deeply about both serving high quality food, and providing customers with a positive dining experience.

Conveniently located just across the bridge from the esplanade, this is a great spot for anyone looking to cool down and enjoy a treat or a nutritious meal after spending some hours in the sun this summer. Good food, impeccable vibes– highly recommend this Saloniki...