Dalí Restaurant & Tapas Bar

Because of the holidays my free time for dinning has been limited. This week Big D and I decided to stick more local and go where we would be sure of a good thing. This of course meant feasting at Dali’s.

Dalí Restaurant & Tapas Bar
415 Washington Street
Somerville, MA 02143
Phone: 617-661-3254
Fax: 617-661-2813

Dali’s is a standard of excellence in this town. The atmosphere is eccentrically charming, the staff beyond accommodating and the lighting dark enough to bring the romance back into anyone’s heart. The only down fall that can happen in this place is not getting reservations (must be in by 5pm) and not getting one of the best seats. As Big D and I are experienced reservation makers, neither of these problems applied to us. I will admit the host attempted to sit is in one of the basic good seats. Then the look on my face told him he could do better and he parked us in their BEST seat instead, the one featured on their web site no less.

Diner breakdown:

Drinks: Sangria all round, when in Rome and all that. It also doesn’t hurt that Dali’s sangria is worth the trip alone.

Tapas: We started with the Queso Rebozado con Miel (Fried Spanish Cheese w/Honey & Sweet Onion), Butifarras Con Brevas (Pork Sausage w/Figs), Solomillo en Tostada (Beef Tenderloin w/Pimento on Toast), Vieiras al Azafrán (Scallops in Saffron Cream), A Beef Ribs in Wine sauce dish, and the Ravioles de Mariscos (Lobster/Crabmeat Ravioli w/Langostino Sauce)


What was left of our first round.


The Fried cheese blew us both away. Big D even went as far as to order it again later just so I’d let him have a 2nd piece. It was so soft and so light on the tongue, I would be perfectly happy eating it everyday.

Big D was also delighted by the beef tenderloin. I was worried when I first brought him to Dali that there would not be enough for a steak man, but this dish is enough to keep him coming back.

As for me, the scallops in cream are a central part of the dinner spread in my dreams. My only complaint is there is too much sauce and not enough bread for me to soak it all up in.

With all this tantalizing food in front of us, we oddly enough ordered more. Must have been the sangria!

Tapas part 2: Gambas con Gabardina (Saffron-Batter Fried Shrimp w/Mojo Sauce), Caldereta Genoveva (Braised Lamb w/Almonds & Mint Essence) and of course another Queso Rebozado con Miel.


At this point I’ll admit I had bigger eyes then my stomach. We never even got to taste the lamb even though it smelled worth a nibble.

I like Dali. I will always come back. It is the hidden restaurant you tell your friends about because the lines are already long. The secret is out so you might as well go in early and enjoy. If you are trying to impress your parents, your new sweetie or just someone who has doubted your good taste, take them hear and they will sing your praise for years to come.