Sofra is a wonderful café and restaurant in Allston that specializes in a wide array of delicious Mediterranean dishes. Their menu is extensive, offering everything from vibrant salads and hearty sandwiches to flavorful traditional plates that showcase the best of Mediterranean cuisine. They also have an impressive selection of freshly baked goods, tempting sweets, and light snacks, making it a perfect spot for any time of day. The café itself is clean, thoughtfully designed, and has a warm, inviting atmosphere that encourages you to linger. The staff are always friendly and attentive, adding a personal touch that makes each visit special. Whether you’re stopping by for a leisurely meal or just grabbing a refreshing drink, Sofra has quickly become one of my favorite places in the area.
Jul 14 · Wassim AyassSofra Bakery + Café Allston
210 N Harvard St, Allston, MA 02134, USA
Directory information can change. Confirm current hours, prices, products, dietary needs, and custom-order requirements directly with the bakery.
Essential details
- Address
- 210 N Harvard St, Allston, MA 02134, USA
- Phone
- (617) 870-7915
- Website
- Visit official site
- Rating signal
- 4.0 from 94 recorded reviews
Listed operating hours
- Monday8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Tuesday8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Wednesday8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Thursday8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Friday8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Saturday8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Sunday8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
About and visit notes
Welcome to Sofra Bakery + Café Allston, a truly exceptional culinary destination that brings the rich, vibrant flavors of the Eastern Mediterranean right here to Massachusetts. For locals seeking an immersive and delicious experience that goes beyond the ordinary bakery or cafe, Sofra offers a unique fusion of traditional dishes, innovative pastries, and a warm, inviting atmosphere. This isn't just a place to grab a quick coffee; it's a "wonderful cafe and restaurant" that specializes in a "wide array of delicious Mediterranean dishes," making it a perfect spot for any time of day, from a leisurely breakfast to a satisfying dinner. Born from the success of its original location, the Allston expansion of Sofra underscores its growing popularity and commitment to serving the Massachusetts community with unparalleled quality and hospitality. This comprehensive overview will guide you through what makes Sofra Bakery + Café a cherished part of Boston's diverse food scene, detailing its convenient location, its extensive menu, and the special touches that elevate it to a truly memorable experience for residents across the Bay State.
Sofra Bakery + Café has established itself as a beacon of culinary excellence, lauded by customers for its extensive and flavorful offerings. Reviewers consistently highlight the sheer breadth of their menu, spanning "everything from vibrant salads and hearty sandwiches to flavorful traditional plates that showcase the best of Mediterranean cuisine." Beyond the savory, the "impressive selection of freshly baked goods, tempting sweets, and light snacks" ensures that every visit promises a delightful discovery. Customers are often "impressed by all they had to offer" in the pastry section, noting the tantalizing aroma of "something chocolatey" fresh from the oven. The staff's commitment to creating a positive experience shines through, as they are "always friendly and attentive, adding a personal touch that makes each visit special." This dedication to both product quality and customer service has made Sofra "one of my favorite places in the area," confirming its status as a thriving local business that truly resonates with the Massachusetts community.
Sofra Bakery + Café Allston is conveniently located at 210 N Harvard St, Allston, MA 02134, USA. This address places it in a dynamic and easily accessible part of Allston, a neighborhood known for its lively atmosphere and diverse culinary scene. For Massachusetts residents, particularly those in the Boston metropolitan area, the Allston location offers several accessibility advantages. While parking in Allston can sometimes be challenging, Sofra provides specific guidance:
- They have a small dedicated parking lot right next to the building on North Harvard Street.
- When their lot is full, they recommend parking in the Continuum Building across the street, which houses Trader Joe's and often offers validation if you shop there.
- Harvard Stadium is also a viable option, just a 7-minute walk away, offering additional parking.
- The Honan-Allston branch of the Boston Public Library is another nearby parking alternative.
For those relying on public transportation, Allston is generally well-served by MBTA bus routes, and is accessible from the Green Line. The presence of these various parking options, combined with its location in a popular and vibrant neighborhood, makes Sofra Bakery + Café Allston a convenient destination for locals throughout Massachusetts, whether they're driving in or using public transit.
Services Offered:
- Extensive Mediterranean Menu: Serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a wide array of Mediterranean dishes. This includes vibrant salads, hearty sandwiches, traditional plates, and various meze options.
- Freshly Baked Goods & Pastries: An impressive selection of baked goods, including their signature "Sticky Sticky Buns" (though the provided reviews do not mention them directly at this location, they are a hallmark of the parent company Oleana/Sarma/Sofra), Morning Buns, Tahini Brown Butter Donuts, Date Turmeric Rolls, Almond Rose Cake (gluten-free), Bittersweet Chocolate Tahini Tart, various Baklava, and a wide range of cookies (e.g., Earthquake, Chocolate Chunk, Molasses, Sesame Cashew Bites).
- Savory Pies & Flatbreads: Offers a selection of savory options such as Börek (mozzarella, nigella seed), Lamb Moussaka, Turkish Lamb Pide, Onion Feta Quiche, Spanakopita, and stuffed flatbreads like Spinach Gozleme, Black Eyed Pea & Potato Gozleme, Durum (red lentil kofte), Sausage Pita, Chicken Shawarma, and Lamb Shawarma.
- Meze Bar & Cold Meze: A comprehensive selection of cold salads and spreads, including Hot Pepper Labne, Muhammara, Moroccan-Style Carrot Salad, Gigante Beans, Golden Beets & Farro Salad, Bulgur & Chickpea Salad, and Grape Leaf Dolma.
- Breakfast & Brunch Items: Beyond pastries, their breakfast menu includes items like Egg Sandwich with haloumi cheese, Shakshuka (poached eggs in tomato sauce), Breakfast Fatteh, Çilbir (poached egg, garlic yogurt), Turkish-Style Breakfast, and Asure (warm grain cereal).
- Prepared Foods & Retail Section: Sells a variety of unique experiences and specialty items beyond their cafe menu, including house-made preserves, spice blends (like Dukkah), and carefully-sourced pantry staples, allowing customers to bring a taste of Sofra home.
- Coffee & Beverages: Offers a range of coffee drinks (including golden turmeric tea latte, Mediterranean mint tea, Turkish apple tea), house-made iced drinks, and various bottled beverages.
- Catering Services: Provides an extensive catering menu for parties, meetings, and events.
- Cooking Classes: The Allston location also hosts cooking classes, demonstrating their commitment to sharing culinary knowledge.
Features / Highlights:
- Extensive Mediterranean Cuisine: Specializes in a wide array of delicious Mediterranean dishes, offering a broad menu that covers breakfast, lunch, and dinner with unique spice blends and flavors from Turkey, Lebanon, and Greece.
- Impressive Baked Goods Selection: Renowned for its freshly baked goods, ranging from sweet pastries and cakes to savory breads and pies, often with a unique Middle Eastern twist.
- Warm & Inviting Atmosphere: The café is described as "clean, thoughtfully designed, and has a warm, inviting atmosphere that encourages you to linger."
- Friendly & Attentive Staff: Customers consistently praise the staff for being "always friendly and attentive," adding a "personal touch that makes each visit special."
- Retail Section with Unique Products: Offers a distinctive retail area selling house-made preserves, prepared foods, and signature spice blends, providing a unique "experience" for customers.
- High Volume Operation: Described as operating on a "sheer scale," indicating a well-managed and efficient business capable of serving a large customer base.
- Commitment to Quality: Affiliated with the Oleana Restaurant Group (Chef Ana Sortun), known for its commitment to sustainable agriculture and high-quality ingredients sourced from local and international food artisans.
- Variety for All Meals: With offerings for "Breakfast, lunch, and dinner," it's a versatile spot suitable for any time of day, whether for a quick coffee or a full meal.
Contact Information:
Address: 210 N Harvard St, Allston, MA 02134, USA
Phone: (617) 870-7915
In conclusion, Sofra Bakery + Café Allston stands as a significant culinary asset for Massachusetts residents, offering a rich and diverse taste of Eastern Mediterranean cuisine. Its extensive menu, ranging from "vibrant salads and hearty sandwiches" to an "impressive selection of freshly baked goods," ensures that there's something to delight every palate at any time of day. The consistent praise for their "friendly and attentive" staff and the "warm, inviting atmosphere" further enhance the dining experience, making it a place where locals truly feel welcomed and encouraged to linger.
For Massachusetts locals, particularly those in the Allston area and beyond, Sofra's commitment to quality, combined with its unique retail offerings and even cooking classes, makes it more than just a place to eat; it's a hub for culinary exploration. Despite Boston's typical urban parking challenges, Sofra offers helpful guidance with its own small lot and recommendations for nearby alternatives, making it more accessible. Whether you're seeking a quick coffee, a delicious meal, or unique ingredients to elevate your home cooking, Sofra Bakery + Café Allston is a highly suitable and recommended destination, perfectly positioned to serve the diverse culinary interests of the Massachusetts community.
Services and accessibility
These attributes come from the directory record and should be confirmed when essential.
Service options
- In-store pick-up
- Takeaway
- Dine-in
Accessibility
- Wheelchair-accessible car park
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Offerings
- Coffee
Dining options
- Breakfast
Planning
- Quick visit
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
Parking
- Free of charge street parking
- Free parking lot
See the bakery
Reviews and recurring themes
Read individual comments as personal experiences, not verified guarantees.
Sofra Bakery + Café is one of the many successful small businesses that have been able to grow into more than one store. Their Allston location supports this by the sheer scale of the operation.Walking into the store, I could tell that to experience all there is to offer, I would have to come back. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are all served here. And the retail section of their cafe sells some unique experiences apart from their fine menu.I went to get a coffee, and take a look at their pastry selection. I was impressed by all they had to offer. Their to-go section had lots of variety, and I will make it a point to go there for a quick meal.While all I had was a coffee, I was impressed by my experience there. At one point, I could smell in the air something chocolatey. Some baked good was going to come out of the oven fresh and ready to eat.Stop by this place! While some sporadic parking was available, I recommend walking there if you can.
May 3 · Timothy KillileaSofra is one of my favorites in Boston. I’d always go to the one in Cambridge but when I heard they were opening one in Lower Allston. It genuinely made my week.The energy in this location is great. It’s bigger, open layout with more seating.Sofra is going to do it every time for me. Consistent, fresh and delicious food and drinks.I’d go everyday if I could.
Apr 1 · Hope PettengillIn short: the pastries are good (portions and flavor). Online ordering leaves some to be desired but quick turnaround (but can't order drinks). Insultingly small breakfast portions. Coffee is fine but I'm no connoisseur.We generally have to wait in a crazy line every time we go in so we tried to get around it by ordering online (10-15 minute wait) but you can't order drinks online??? Pretty silly. Food was ready upon arrival but we still had to wait to put drink orders in. Sat to wait for our drinks and after a while a woman came over (I assume the manager?) and tried to take our table number flag assuming we had our order already. She seemed outwardly annoyed when we told her we were waiting for our drinks (two iced coffees, nothing complicated). It's possible they forgot about us, we got our drinks immediately after she came over.Got the food home and were disappointed to see the portions on the breakfast items. Conveniently there are no pictures online so you have no idea you're getting a 2008 Weight Watchers-mom sized portion. For context I ordered the Çilbir and it came in a tin approximately 3in x 5in with one poached egg literally TWO fingerling potatoes. Thankfully I had also ordered the Borekfast which is a pretty large and dense pastry so I didn't have to cook a second breakfast.For the price, you'd really hope to get more.
Jul 12 · Hannah LI 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.
Feb 2 · Gloria HaCompare another bakery nearby
Sorted by geographic proximity from this bakery.
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