Sofra Bakery + Café Allston

I love the savory pastries at the original Sofra, so was excited to try having a meal at the new location. It was popping at 11am on a Sunday -- there are around 10 small tables and a high top bar, and competition for seats was fierce. We ended up eating standing up for a bit before snagging a table. I got the chicken shawarma wrap, and it was delicious! Every part of it was great. The wrap was thin with perfect crisp and chew, the chicken and vegetables were tender and well seasoned, and the garlic sauce was light and flavorful. It was delightful, and I thought $12 was pretty reasonable. We also got the pecan and gruyere scone, which was interesting..I could do without the pecan and sugar, but the scone was otherwise good. The morning bun was good but it would've been even better if it was warmed up. My friend got the egg sandwich with egg and said it was great and the bacon was nice and crispy, and that the coffee was good. Overall Sofra is bustling and lives up to the reputation of the original location! I'll definitely be getting the chicken shawarma again.

Sofra's long awaited second location lives up to the hype... and then some! You will be able to get all of your Sofra Cambridge favorites with more parking available and with expanded seating inside, too. The new decor is fun and the airy, open space makes the line and ordering more comfortable.

I was excited to try out Sofra's second location, since the first is a little out of the way for me. We came on a weekday morning and it was pretty busy. You order at the counter, where you receive a number to bring to your table and they bring your order to you. The ambience got a little too loud for my liking, which is obviously a personal preference. We ordered the shakshuka, a pastry, and two drinks. The food came out pretty quickly, but it seems they forgot about our drinks because someone came to check on what we were still waiting for and I saw them make our drinks and bring them over shortly after. It felt like they were still figuring things out with being newly opened. I probably wouldn't come back to this location, but if I'm ever in the area I'd give their original location a try.

I stopped in for a late afternoon snack. Unfortunately gluten/wheat free options are very sparse. I went with the 5 salad sampler (“Meze Platter”) and crudités: - Giant bean salad was also TOO SALTY with not enough spice; the olives were not necessary in my opinion. - Whipped feta needed more spice and was TOO SALTY (as feta is by itself) - Baba ghanoush was chunky (not puréed) with onions and tomato and was way TOO SWEET. - Hummus had perhaps a tad too much tahini but a nice amount of cumin and was overall tasty and fresh. This is the ONLY ONE I can recommend. - Beet tzatziki was okay. I probably would not eat here again since the menu is lacking a good selection of healthy options. Wheat has allowed populations to grow exponentially but it is not a clean source of energy, at least in its modern day form. Ancient types of wheat may be better when properly prepared, but you can bet that Sofra is not using ancient grains and traditional methods. Also, what’s with the mandatory “kitchen appreciation fee”? They don’t have to earn it anymore?

The pastries are great, but the breakfast/lunch items are way too salty. I've tried 3 dishes, which would have been perfect if it weren't for the uncomfortably large amount of salt (especially the chicken shawarma) -- I hope this could change because I really like the food otherwise!

The worst experience. Food has no taste. Shawarma is minced chicken. Small portions. Super expensive too.

Great spot for a quick bite and a coffee! Sofra’s modern interpretation of classic Mediterranean dishes is fun and delicious. I get the shakshuka often and am never disappointed. Plus, every pastry I’ve tried has been fantastic! The staff is always so friendly and very knowledgeable. I go back regularly and will continue to do so :)

Utterly disappointing. The Turkish tea was tiny and lukewarm, the pastries are mediocre and their artificial flavors are overwhelming. It has nothing to do with Mediterranean food and it’s overpriced for what it offers. The crew couldn’t care less - they are not kind and they ignore basic hygiene standards in the sitting area. You can’t have anyone sweeping the floor right next to customers’ food and drinks. I give one star in the absence of zero.