Desfina
202 Third Street, Cambridge, MA 02141
(617) 868-9098
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--- Winner, Best Greek Restaurant in Boston Area, 2011 ---
When we first started Boston's Hidden Restaurants, we soon came to realize that some restaurants are, well, just a bit MORE hidden than others. A few that come to mind include Apsara on the west side of Providence (I have been there several times now and have gotten lost almost every time), Winthrop Arms in Winthrop, and Taqueria El Amigo in Waltham. And you can probably add one more to the list of Boston's "Very Hidden" Restaurants: Desfina Restaurant in East Cambridge.
Desfina, a quiet little Greek restaurant, is in a mostly residential working-class neighborhood more or less between Kendall Square, Inman Square, and the Lechmere area. It is a true neighborhood dining spot, populated mostly by Cambridge locals, many of whom seem to know the owner and waitstaff. Tourists and businesspeople do not seem to know about Desfina, which makes it appealing to those looking for a good restaurant in East Cambridge that does not have lines out the door or a complete lack of parking anywhere nearby.
The atmosphere inside Desfina is simple and plain, with a light blue ceiling, a tile floor, exposed brick, and Greek artwork along the walls. There are a handful of tables in the main dining area to the left, and a few more by the tiny bar to the right. The Spartan surroundings contrast quite a bit to the rich, hearty meals served here. Indeed, while the food at Desfina is a bit more simple and basic than what is found at more formal Greek and Mediterranean restaurants in the Boston area, it is mostly very good, and much less expensive than the food at the aforementioned places. A few standouts include a thick and rich avgolemono, or egg lemon soup; horta, or steamed dandelions in olive oil and lemon; saganaki (a dense kefalograviera cheese) that is floured and pan-fried, then set on fire right at diners' tables; a solid Greek salad with lots of sharp-tasting feta cheese on top; a heaping helping of pastichio, which is baked macaroni with ground meat, cheese, bechemal sauce, and spices such as nutmeg; a hearty mousaka that has layers of ground meat, potatoes, and sauteed eggplant all topped with bechemal sauce and mixed with spices; warm and tender dolmades, or stuffed grape leaves, that are filled with meat and rice; and for those who have room for dessert, a great version of baklava, complete with a good amount of honey syrup. Drinks include a decent selection of beers, a number of wine options, and several special mixed drinks, including some that use flavored vodka. Though Desfina is a rather sedate, laid back place, they do have entertainment on Friday nights in the form of live Greek music.
Several longtime Cambridge residents have mentioned that they have never heard of Desfina Restaurant. This is not surprising; The section of Third Street where the dining spot resides is perhaps the last place in which you would find a restaurant. But one is indeed here, and really not that far from some of the busier sections of Cambridge when you come down to it. The next time you are shopping at the Cambridgeside Galleria or visiting the Museum of Science, head in the direction of the courthouse (the only tall building in the area) and grab a table at this friendly little Greek restaurant. It may be more hidden than even the most obscure restaurants in the Boston area, but it is well worth seeking out.
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