Doretta Taverna & Raw Bar

Terrific meal. Sunday night, was able to move to a nice booth/​couch by the window. For the table dishes were served family style very nice. Crunch Eggplant, lamb meatballs, zucchini chips were excellent. Branzino fillets came out very nice. Service attentive. Quality of this Greek fusion style food excellent addition for Boston. Only negatives, no Greek coffee, raw bar dishes were underwhelming. Definitely nice music, space, location, ambience.

Came to Boston from and out of town and hopes to have a nice meal with my grandparents. My reservation was at 945 and I was not seated until 1045. The service is terrible.

They don’t honor their reservations. They told us they are running 5min late… We’ve been waiting 35 minutes in the lounge with no service… At least bring over a drink menu… Or be honest from the start.

Great spot in Park Plaza! Huge bar in the middle of the dining room, dim lighting… very nice ambiance.
The food was fantastic! Eggplant spread and the village salad are great starters. The menu is then divided into a couple of sections of full size entrees or small plates. We opted for a bunch of small plates. Octopus and shrimp were amazing. I didn’t love the crunchy rice in the braised chicken but other than that it was really good.
Service was just ok but it was really busy…
Definitely will come back!

I came here on a double date on Friday night. We had 8:45 rezzies and were sat a little after 9.
The place was nice, the bar was in the center, giving a lively vibe but not too crazy or loud.
Our server was great. We ordered a ton of small plates and he let us know how much would be a good amount as I always tend to over order. Our drinks were all just okay, the gimlets are way too sweet and they forgot my dates second drink.
Other than this, everything was great. We started with the flat breads and and whipped feta and eggplant one and they were DELISH, our fav part of the meal. The other dishes were good as well. The eggplant was nice, not super flavor but nice, the cauliflower was yummy and the spinach pie was a little greasy but still good. The fries and zucchini chips were good too.

Food was excellent but I will not go back because of the condescending service. Waiters should try to impress patrons — some here seem to think it’s the other way around.

Finally had the chance to check out this new addition with a friend last night and so glad I did! We had to box out a bit to get a spot at the bar, but it was totally worth it, as our bartender recommended some excellent dishes.
We started with the Whipped Feta with jalapeño served with warm pita, which was delicious. The complimentary bread, served with olive oil, salt, and spices was a great way to kick off our meal. We then ordered the Chicken (absolutely incredible– melted in my mouth and, as a lover of cinnamon, appreciated this touch), the crispy eggplant (basically eggplant parm in the best way), and the octopus. As a none octopus lover, I really enjoyed this and my friend loved it.
Looking forward to coming back and trying more of the spreads and meat dishes!

I am giving this place 4 stars when I really want to give it three. However each experience I have had has been different. I have only came in during the week.
The service is great. No complaints there. Love the bartenders, and the one time i sat on the floor with my fiancé we had a wonderful server who was very sweet and knowledgeable. Every time I have come, someone has said hello and goodbye at the front, and the food runners were personable and announced what the dish was so there was no confusion.
I really enjoy the Village salad, it is very very tasty and they give you plenty of feta.
The lamb meatballs were just okay. Seems like they are deep fried? You should never fry lamb. I wish there was soup on the menu. A traditional lemon orzo soup perhaps?
The hummus is good, and the feta dip tastes like sour cream. The lemon potatoes are much to be desired. They were oily and dry. Even though I don’t even know how that combination happens.
Hats off to the steak. It was very tender and juicy.
ONE HUGE thing that was very disappointing the first two times I came in (almost made me never come again), was that the bar holds its own wait? You expect your bartenders to run a wait, service the dining room while giving great service? Why would you hold a wait at the bar? Very aggravating and confusing. As a bartender I could never imagine doing that.

Big fan of the this place.
First off, I LOVE the ambiance. It’s very trendy while still feeling super warm and friendly. The bar is HUGE, and they make it easy to grab a drink while you wait for your reservation. You can also chill in this cute little lounge area by the front.
We did not order any entrees — instead we stuck to a bunch of apps, and I really feel like this is the way to go here (or split entrees). We ordered lamb meatballs, zucchini chips, the eggplant app, the warm shrimp, and the fried calamari. Everything was delicious, and the sauces for each dish were really fantastic.
We ordered a bottle of greek wine, but I also wanted to try out their cocktails so I got a Medusa’s Locks which was super good (although electric green!).
While everything was tasty, what really made me want to go back was the service. The hostesses were unbelievably friendly, and our server was even better. A++ on that level.

Went here for New Year’s Eve while in town on a trip. Service was friendly but slow. Good was awful. Heavy and greasy and uninspired.
My husband and I still feel awful the next morning.
Don’t waste your time or money on this restaurant.

Business as usual for chef Michael Schlow. Food and experience were both top notch as I came to dine before a Tuesday night theatre show.
I suggest sharing the smaller dishes for the table as well as ordering the lamb shoulder… that was by far the best dish of the night.
Suggestions:
Octopus
Lamb meatballs
Calamari
Swordfish
Lamb shoulder

Dinner at Doretta tavern December 2016 was memorable. Best items by consensus: lamb meatballs, crispy zucchini chips.
When ordering family style I’d suggest a point system: each adult eats 2 points worth. (We had 5 people, ordered 10 «points» worth of food.) Homemade spreads and small plates worth 1 point, main courses (fish & meat) worth 2 points. Makes sure you get enough but not too much!
Make sure that you get at least a few of the homemade spreads with warm flatbread, extra bread is free and definitely tasty!
Drinks menu is creative, wines a little on the pricy side. But a nice selection including some unusual Greek and Macedonian offerings.

Went with another couple for a Saturday dinner. Ambiance very nice and reception very professional. Our waitress was outstanding. Funky but knowledgeable and efficient. She made excellent wine suggestions and made sure everyone was happy as the night progressed.
Appetizers including oysters, feta dip and meatballs were quite good. Main courses were a bit disappointing. 15 hour lamb shoulder was not particularly tasty. The Branzino was fresh and flaky but nothing special. Surprisingly the chicken was excellent. So 5 stars for everything except the main courses. Seems more like a small plates and drinks place which is fine but with such promise and talent they could do better

I wanted to love it. It’s still new so there is plenty of time. The servers are incredibly sweet. I called ahead and requested a romantic cozy table for my boyfriend’s birthday. We got sat next to a plant against the wall, under bright lighting, next to another couple. I was told we would have one next to the window. We then got such a table, so that was fine. The salmon tartar was actually spot on and delish. We are happy to spend a lot money on drinks and food, but the in house made sparkling water was $ 7. And that is beyond ridiculous. Just saying.

I wish I could give my dining experience last night at Doretta more stars … but unfortunately, I was quite sick after our dining experience, so I can’t say I would ever eat there again.
Having high hopes of a new Greek restaurant close to where I live, I went to dinner at Doretta last night with two friends for a girls’ catch-​up night. It had been hard to get a «normal» dinner time reservation, so we ended up going at 6PM.
The check-​in process wasn’t very smooth — not the best first impression. The hostess seemed overwhelmed and sort of acknowledged we had checked in, but then «forgot about us» and after starring her down, I approached her again and she pretty much told us she had forgotten about us. Hmm, strike one.
I will say the atmosphere at the restaurant is very inviting. They did a great job renovating Via Matta. There is a large bar in the middle of the restaurant and the tables are well spaced out so you don’t feel like you are eating on top of the people next to you.
We started with roasted eggplant and chick pea hummus. Both dips were tasty but nothing to rave about. Next we ordered a village salad — which was personally my favorite dish of the night. Great tomatoes and delicious red vinegar dressing.
We ordered the chicken with lemon, garlic and herbs for our main dish. It was a yummy entrée and was easily splittable with the three of us. The waitress accidentally thought we ordered the Tender Braised Chicken instead of the Chicken with Lemon, Garlic and Herbs, so we tasted the Tender Braised Chicken as well. If I have a bet on what made me sick later that evening … it was probably the Tender Braised Chicken. Enough said. Additional sides we tried included the Brussel Sprouts and the Greek French Fries. The French Fries were very good … but not exactly the most authentic Greek dish when you think of Greek dining.
Sorry Doretta … we *might* have gone back again for dinner, but spending the entire night up sick … well, that just sealed the deal that we will not be back again.

Doretta Taverna & Raw Bar is Michael Schlow’s new Greek restaurant in the old Via Matta space. I checked it out for a work dinner and quite enjoyed the food there. While I appreciate Mediterranean cuisine, I can’t say I am sufficiently versed in Greek food to comment on authenticity. My boss, however, grew up in Greece and raved about all of the dishes we ordered. The menu ranges from spreads and flatbreads, small plates, to family-​style fish and meat courses. The grilled octopus served with sweet onions, capers, and drizzles of olive oil was delicious. The octopus was cooked perfectly — the meat was soft and tender while the capers added a welcome bite of salt and acidity. The lamb meatballs were superb. The meatballs had a crispy deep fried exterior without a hint of grease, and the inside of the meatballs was tender and subtly seasoned with cumin. I grew up loving a flavorful Chinese preparation of cumin lamb so I would have welcomed a bolder, heavier hand with the spice here. That said, the dish was served with a nice zesty tomato and yogurt sauce that imbued some personality. I also loved the savory spinach pie, which had a creamy spinach and cheese filling layered between crispy, flakey sheets of phyllo dough. For my entrée, I ordered the red snapper. The fish was simply prepared with olive oil which allowed its natural flavors to speak for themselves. The crispy skin on the fish was executed well, but the cook was unfortunately uneven. The middle part of the snapper was cooked to a medium rare which I found off-​putting. For dessert, we ordered the galaktoboureko, a traditional Greek dessert made with a custard in a crispy phyllo shell. I enjoyed the galaktoboureko even though it was on the sweeter side, but did wish there was more custard to phyllo ratio. We also got the chocolate cake which was very rich and decadent.
The food was all in all wonderful, but I wouldn’t necessarily recommend the restaurant for work dinners. The atmosphere is very energetic and the volume is quite loud. It was extremely difficult to carry on a conversation even though we were only a small table of four.

We tried Doretta Tavern a first stop last night. I wasn’t sure if could compete with Via Matta but they have reinvented it into a unique Back Bay experience. There isn’t anything like it around. We had drinks and apps at the bar. The Food was really fresh, simply prepared and delightful.
Lamb Meatballs — small, crisp on the outside, juicy on the inside
Zucchini Chips — yum
Octopus — the best I’ve ever had
Feta Spread — yummo
The bartender was friendly and took great care of us.
The art is amazing. Its cozy and warm. good for groups or a date night.
I will be back for sure!

Doretta Tavern & Raw Bar is an authentic Greek restaurant that opened in late September. This restaurant is unlike any other Greek restaurant in town — it is decorated by Adrienne’s artwork, which gives off an artsy, intimate, warm, and cozy atmosphere. It’s the perfect place to get together with others to enjoy art and food at the time. I love how the restaurant has uniquely shaped geometric lighting. The restaurant had upbeat jazzy music playing in the background.
While waiting for the whole party to arrived, we grabbed drinks at the bar. After the whole party arrived, the hostess brought us to a table with u-​shaped cushion seats in the back by a window. It was kind of private and away from the other tables. We learned that the art on the walls was done using a syringe.
While some of the guests ordered wine and beer, I decided to get an iced tea, which came unsweetened, resembled Lipton tea, and served with sweeteners on the side. Our party of six shared a dish from the raw bar, five small plates and three desserts. My favorites included the Salmon (raw bar), Warm Shrimp (small plates), and the Galaktoboureko (desserts).
For the raw bar, we ordered the Salmon, which was tartare or cerviche style, prepared with diced red onions and lemon juice, served cylinder shaped, topped with capers, yogurt, and bunch of alfalfa sprouts.
For the small plates, we ordered the Grilled Octopus, Spinach Pie, Tender Braised Chicken, Warm Shrimp, and Lamb Meatballs. The Grilled Octopus was tossed in sweet onions, capers, and Greek olive oil. I liked how the Grilled Octopus had a nice charred taste. The Spinach Pie consisted of baked, crispy phyllo dough filled with salty creamed spinach. The Tender Braised Chicken consisted of chicken braised in cinnamon and butter, served in a chunky tomato sauce, and topped with alfalfa sprouts and crispy, rice pilaf. I liked how the chicken was tender but felt like the cinnamon flavor was a bit too strong. The Warm Shrimp was marinated in lemon juice, Greek olive oil, and spices, and tossed with dill and crunchy bread crumbs. The Lamb Meatballs consisted of deep-​fried cumin lamb balls, topped with yogurt, sesame seeds, and lemon zest, and served in a lightly spiced tomato sauce.
For dessert, we ordered Baklava, Toasted Almond Cake, and Galaktoboureko. The Baklava consisted pistachios held together with honey in between sheets of phyllo dough. I felt like this Baklava was too nutty. The Toasted Almond Cake was moist, served with Smoked Apple Gelato, and surrounded by crunchy almond crumbles. The Galaktoboureko consisted of almond infused vanilla custard wrapped in phyllo dough, topped with honey, raisins, and powdered sugar.
I’ll be yearning for my next visit to Doretta Tavern!

The food was good, I would call it Mediterranean– not Greek. No Greek atmosphere, music or food. They did have hummus and lamb, but it could have been anywhere. The lobster cold appetizer was flavorful, but the pieces of shell in it ruined the dish for me. The small plates that we tried were all good, octopus, beans and lamb meatballs. The lamb meatballs were deep fried which I did not like. I would have preferred baked. I had the salmon which was perfectly cooked, but no Greek elements to it. My husband got the lamb, which he really enjoyed but it is no longer on the bone like the picture here on Unilocal.Good, not great. We won’t be back. No valet parking. Parking at the park plaza for 28.00! Rip off

I’m so glad that an authentic greek restaurant has finally come to Boston! You can tell that the owners have really put their hearts and souls into the place — a creative menu with quality ingredients, excellent service, and beautiful art/​décor.
The raw bar is fabulous — awesome oysters, yellowtail, and shrimp. As for entrees, the lamb shoulder is a MUST.
Oh, and the zucchini chips. To. Die. For.
Can’t wait to go back!