by Nicole M.

Today I went to a Wellness Networking Luncheon at Vlora. I have to say the food was so amazingly fresh and delicious. I had a greek salad with chicken. It came in a deep white bowl and was filled with dark green crunchy lettuce and an array of colors; peppers, onions, feta cheese, and black olives. Yum! Yum!I love ordering salads at restaurants just for the fact that I don't have to cut everything up! I often hestitate to order them though because I find a lot of restaurants either don't put much in or the produce usually has seen better days. A lot of restaurants are also using pre-mixed bagged salads, which in my opinion taste horrible and are full of bacteria. But not at Vlora, everything was FRESH and I heard nothing, but positive comments on the food. The staff was very friendly also!

by Morgan F.

545 Boylston? Where is that? Did we pass it? Oh wait, there is a sign, ahhhh its downstairs!!After seeing ads for this place ALL over I headed here for a "Cage Couture" event throw by Emma March and several fashionable Boston ladies last night. Its an awesome space for an event because they clear out the entire space next to the bar for anything you need to bring in.Once downstairs, the cool white walls, white leather chairs and modern bar decor transport you outside of Boston. Twinkling star lights dazzled above our heads as we looked over the wine list at the bar. I met both of the owners who were ever so nice and helped me pick out a great bottle of Torrontes, a white wine from Argentina. They talked to Tyler B and I about how important it was to have a affordable wine list that helped people get more into wine, and I was happy to hear they really cared about such things! After chatting and loving my new found Torrontes, I sipped my wine as I mingled and looked at clothing. Before I left I checked the menu, and while being a vegetarian will limit my options here, (because the main courses are mostly meat) I was excited at all the veggie friendly pastas and appetizers. When I returned home and looked over the other yelp reviews, I remembered the controversy with this place, BUT it seems like they are working REALLY hard to make-up for a past mistake. Everyone deserves a second chance, right? Well, I am willing to give it to them.

by Jen T.

This review is for brunch! Went on Sunday, not crowded, not too loud. My friend was running a little late, but they offered me something to drink immediately, and kept the coffee coming the whole time. I even asked them for some toast while I waited (I had quite a hangover on this particular morning), and they were prompt. I had, for my main meal, the french toast. It was thick, and there was a ton of it. DELICIOUS! My friend had the pancakes, and they were slightly gourmet somehow, and huge and fluffy. They also served both with a small tub of what seemed to be home made fresh whipped cream of some kind. Also amazing. I love this place every time and no matter what I am doing there! This is by far one of my favorite restaurants in Boston. I just wish it was busier, because I really…

by Tom E.

A one star review is usually a flaming or spelp - this is neither, it's just a true indication of a bad meal at a bad restaurant. This normally doesn't happen to me, because I'm good at using Yelp and the advice of trusted reviewers like Daniel S and MC Slim JB - but this time they totally failed me. Where do I start?Location:The spot under a Wendy's and the Eurotrash-orientated decor make this an undesirable place on the eye. I wouldn't recommend taking someone here to impress them unless they get wowed by LEDs in the ceiling of the bar area that make it look like a night sky and one of those fake waterfalls you can buy at Home Depot.Comfort:The seating was terrible - everyone was rammed in so tight that not even the waiters could get to certain tables without asking for customers to move themselves for a few seconds. Think of the Green Line in the morning.Waiting:We were seated 35 mins after our booking and didn't receive water or any bread for an hour. 1hr 30 for apps, 2hr 30 for the main course. Even when it was 11pm and dead the desserts still took  30 mins to come, even though all were cold dishes. My roomie literally fell asleep between courses.Service:The Maitre D' gave us a free bottle of red wine for the wait and the waiter tried his very best to be charming but the busboys, the bread girl and the water girl were all incompetent and slow and even though there was crisis everywhere, they could often be spotted standing around aimlessly like lost children.Food and drink:Probably two or three dishes were Albanian on a menu of 30 or so. This sucked, it left us with uninspiring mediocre Euro-Med food that was all cooked wrong, half-cold and well-done when rare was specified. Desserts were meh as well, and nothing was cheap or good value. I longed for some good fried sheep cheese, but it was bland and cold on delivery. I'll stick to halloumi from whole foods on my George Forman Grill thank you.Clientele:A table of early 20s guys in matching blue and white-stripe shirts with cockerel-style haircuts, blue jeans and white pointy leather shoes were our neighbors. Off to Felt next no doubt.Management:I'll save the harshest criticism for these guys. Clearly the root of so many of the problems were down to them. It was a packed Saturday night with graduations all over town and they decided to go for maximum bookings without considering how overloaded they could get. Tables were being stuffed into spaces no table could fit. The kitchen was in crisis, the food coming out was FAIL, customers were grumbling, the waiters were hyperventilating and no-one was happy. Where was Gordon Ramsay to save the day and spit and swear at the manager?Vlora - Deplora (..ble)

by Robin S.

Finally tried this place after months of walking past-- was pleasantly surpised as my meal was absolutley fantastic!! I got the spicy shrimp couscous ( isreali style couscous) it was so delicious with the right amount of spice. I can't wait to go back and the service was excellent, very friendly and attentive staff. The decor is elegant mod --and a decent crowd for a wednesday night.

by Julie N.

I decided to give this place another shot after all of the great reviews written after my last one.  I was nervous because it was going to be for my birthday dinner with the family, but knew it would be quiet in there at 5:30pm and bringing a 1 year old wouldn't be a problem.Turns out that everything was pretty much perfect.  Since it was quiet, we had 4 people waiting on our table of 7 and the baby.  Apps are half priced until 6pm so we loaded up on all of those and everyone gobbled them up.  Everyone also had great things to say about their dinners.So, I'm glad to say that it was just a bad first experience.  I'm looking forward to eating here again. I wanted to give Vlora one star for the experience we had here, but since it was a private party…

by Elliot J.

We went here because we had a gift certificate and were told this was an Albanian restaurant... which is not really true. It has one Albanian appetizer and some regional food items. Apparently there is not an Albanian food restaurant in the Boston area that the internet can point out, but I am moving away from the point of the review.The ambiance is comfortable but a large noisy bar group took away any romance... what is it about groups of 20-30 something women that they feel they have to screech like three year olds when they get together and drink?  Nothing Vlora could have done, I mean, how to you tell 30-40 girls (I cannot use the word women here) to shut the hell up and act their age? The food was OK; one of the two entrees was not really hot when served but the presentations were attractive and the portions more than ample for the price. The wine list was lame however... we asked for a zinfandel and the only one they carried was lighter than a pinot noir and had no body at all. The cab was no better. The beer list is pedestrian (they claimed they carried some more Med region beers but dropped them). The servers were using a team concept, our servers never stopped smiling and seemed enthralled to be waiting on table guests (you never see that much anymore) so we might give this place another shot at another time.

by Purvi R.

The pan-roasted zucchini with yogurt was soooo good. I sometimes dream about it and have tried to recreate it - no dice. I just love their selection of foods. It's always a great thing when there are so many choices you can't decide. Esp for me since I'm mainly a veggie-saurus.It's definitely out of the way since you have to go downstairs. I missed it a couple of times. The place was kind of empty as well - I tend to get a bit nervous about that (does it mean it sucks since no one is here? who knows!) All in all, I did like the food a lot, and would consider coming back here (but there are so many good places to try!)

by Tracie M.

for an appetizer: The fried octopus was amazing! Very light and not tough like octupus is typically. The waitress recommended it because at first we were going to order fried calamari but she said to try the octopus and if we did not like it, it would be on the house! We ended up loving it! Thank you WAITRESS lady!I ordered Shrimp Marinara--the jumbo shrimp were very good and the pasta was pretty amazing as well. I felt as though the marinara sauce could have had a little more flavor to it but maybe I was just being too picky because I am a stickler for flavor! The wine selection was great, which was completely expected of a mediterrean restaurant.The decor was BEAUTIFUL! I felt like I was tucked away somewhere in Italy or Greece. The candles add a great ambience to the restaurant and the lighting is very dim and intimate. White table cloths, and white chair cloths (very well cushioned) set the tone for the mediterranean feel. The plants were all real and the staff was very friendly and helpful.Very nice place for a date! Or just you and one other person :)

by Anna W.

Went here for brunch with my friends because we wanted to try something "different." We always seem to end up at the same three or four places, so someone suggested this place.If I didn't routinely look down while walking, I probably would have fallen right down the stairs. I swear, I walked right by it at least three times before I realized that the restaurant is actually DOWN the stairs (but the stairs are located right smack in the middle of the sidewalk, so it's a little awkward). Anyway, at the bottom of the stairs, you are greeted by this beautiful and incredibly pristine restaurant. The chairs are padded and comfy. Murals of quaint Italian villages adorn the walls. There are Christmas lights strewn everywhere. It was really nice inside and for a moment, I felt incredibly underdressed.Brunch was good. Menu had a pretty decent selection, and the food was very affordable, considering the decor. Breakfast was lukewarm, but I've come to expect that. When you order eggs and toast, you only have a window of about three minutes before they go from hot to lukewarm congealed stuff. I got my food about two minutes after that.Our waitress was a little bit robotic and stiff. She wasn't particularly warm or friendly, but she checked back with us often and was polite, so I guess I can't really complain. It was a decent place for brunch, and I wouldn't mind going back to try out lunch or dinner.

by John L.

We had a large group dinner there. The appetizers were the best part of the meal. The watermelon and feta tidbit was very different but it grew on me. Greek salad was better than average. The chicken kebob was below average. A bit dry. The service was very slow, but we did have a large group. It took about 40 minutes for the entrees to come out after the appetizers were done. Probably would not go there again.

by Tarryn G.

I'll admit, I was once turned off by Vlora's location - tucked away beneath a Wendy's on the most wino-filled block of Boylston Street. However, reports from co-workers who had tried this place and loved it made me rethink my prejudice. A friend and I decided to scope out this subterranean dining adventure for ourselves. We started with a carafe of sangria, perfect for a warm Friday evening. We chose to sit "outside" -which is basically just like sitting in a cement basement with no roof. Still, the sunshine and "fresh" air felt good and being below street level meant no harassment from crazy passersby.  Now, I am the type of person who will go to a restaurant just for the bread (hello, Not Your Average Joe's . . . and Bertucci's, too, for that matter!). The rest of my meal at Vlora could have consisted of cat food served on a stale hot dog bun, and I still probably would have come back for the bread. Fresh, warm, soft . . . with awesome lemony dipping oil. I was in love before I'd even ordered. We split a couple of appetizers, and everything was consistently great. Grilled calamari that was super flavorful, fresh and tender - none of this "fried pieces of rubber band" crap that normally passes for a calamari app. The grilled zucchini with yogurt sauce was delish -- and the rice balls were like little balls of joy. The waitstaff was super friendly and attentive - though they seemed to be tripping over each other a little bit. We were dining early, so I suspect there were more staff than diners. Nothing wrong with that, says I! So -  if you can't afford a trip to the Mediterranean  this summer . . . go to Vlora, close your eyes, and stuff face. It's an authentic (and effing delicious!) alternative!

by Leighann F.

Little know fact:Vlora's appetizers are HALF PRICE before 5:30pm. How did I come across this lovely tidbit of information? I stumbled quite by accident actually, as I met a friend (who's brilliant choice it was to try out Vlora) for dinner and drinks. Beneath the bustle of Boylston, in an elegant subterranean dining room, we munched on watermelon topped with feta and drizzled in balsamic, vegetarian mousaka, arrancini and beat salad. We sipped a carafe of jammy zinfandel and talked some business.Though the bill arrived when I was in the ladies room, I returned to find the waitress at the table conversing with my friend, who wore a look of shock on her face. "Could you repeat that, for my friend?" She asked the waitress. And so the waitress turned to me and said, "Since you ordered before 5pm, all of your appetizers were half price."Cha-Ching! A pleasant surprise that I now pass along for everyone who reads this to take advantage of, immediately. Four appetizers and a half-carafe of deliciously well-priced zinfandel $27 each, with tip!

by Dorise G.

thanks for the free wine,the delicious octopus,and skillful service

by Alyson G.

Went here for dinner and loved the food and decor. Uber cool restaurant with Twinkle lights above the bar, large skylights, and white leather dining chairs. I ordered the caprese, with homemade mozzarella and grilled octopus. Both were delicious. They started us off with a few different appetizers including watermelon with feta and balsamic and roasted red pepper bruchetta. They served warm bread with olive oil and olives, even placing a piece on our plates for us. So fancy! Tried the tiramisu for dessert -delish! They have outstanding service. Our waitress was so nice and offered great selections when asked what she recommended (the octopus was one of them). See you soon, Vlora!

by Jess L.

The outdoor seating for brunch was nice, but I don't recommend sitting here on a windy day, for you'll just feel like you're in a tornado.Service was so-so - not consistent but good when she decided to come over.My omelet - feta and mushroom - was nice and moist. However, the banana pancakes were dry. The scrambled eggs were nothing to write home about.We were served flat bubbly water. Gross.

by Joanne L.

We came here based on the Yelp reviews.  We were definitely not disappointed. The service was excellent - always filling water, wiping the table down after eating bread and appetizer, giving us new dishes for the appetizer, attentive, and friendly! They were great, and we never had to wonder where our waitress was.  The food was excellent.  We started with the watermelon and feta tidbit.  Whoever knew that watermelon and feta could taste so good together? The combination of the different textures and tastes were yummy! The watermelon was quite juicy too! We also ordered the Arncini Siciliani for appetizer.  The dish consisted of Italian rice balls, mushroom/feta filling, fresh tomato and mint sauce.  The dish was warm and delish.  For the entree, a couple of us has steak frites, another had the Chilean sea bass, and one had the scallops.  I had the steak frites with yummy fries and a steak that was cooked the way I wanted it to be cooked.  Although I liked my dish very much, I got a chance to try the seafood dishes and liked them more.  So I would stick with the seafood dishes.  The Chilean sea bass was very flavorful while the pasticcio that comes with the scallops was unbelievably scrumptious.  It tasted like a dessert.  For the dessert, we all shared the tiramisu.  At first we were disappointed because it didn't look like the picture that is on yelp since it didn't come out with ice cream. Maybe we had to ask for it?  Anyway, we took the first bite and were in heaven.  It was quite fresh and creamy and it was gone in seconds.  My husband and I shared a carafe of sangria.  Although it was yummy, I've had better sangria before.  Overall, I would definitely come to this restaurant again! :)  So you should check it out!

by DiDi V.

I like my Mediterranean subterranean. SCENE:  Basement restaurant with trendy white leather dinning chairs, sleek black marble, and sparkling, twinkling built in ceiling lights above bar.  Sitting at a long table are 6 guests, all in their twenties and early thirties.  It is one girl's 30th birthday.Act 1:  A warm, sincere, friendly waitress named Karla.  Warm crusty bread is delivered right to our bread plates with simple, light olive oil dip. One bottle of white.  One bottle of red.  Act 2:   The dish is called Saropita?  Something like that.  Fish baked into flaky phyllo with lemon potatoes and couscous pasta.  Also, spicy (!) shrimp.  And dill mashed potatoes... The customers LOVE everything.Act 3:  A cake from Rosie's in Inman Sq.  A check with 15% off food because we mentioned YELP!The End.

by tiffany w.

A group of 7 of us had Sunday brunch here back in early April. We were the only large group eating at this time in the nearly empty restaurant and had excellent service. Everyone enjoyed their meals. Good brunch food and my pancakes were excellent. Reasonable prices for a really nice atmosphere and location. No complaints. I would definitely go back!

by Alexis B.

TERRIBLE SERVICE! I change my thoughts completely! I love their food. But their service is terrible. Went to lunch with co-workers, 6 to be exact. We order apps. They never showed. I asked for them they finally came with the meal... well everyone else's meal. They didn't bring mine. So I went on eating my app. They checked back in if everything is ok... I still don't have my meal. The manager comes over is everything okay? Well no I STILL don't have my meal. Basically I sat there for 52 minutes without food.  My coworkers finally finished- so at that point I told the manager to wrap up my food since I was going to be eating it there. So now I sit at my desk with a cold lunch.The manager DID comp my $9.99 dish (yay?) and gave us two free desserts....But only after he approached me and asked me what happened?What happened? I don't know. I ordered my food. It never came. This is YOUR restaurant- what your waitress and chefs do if YOUR problem.Disappointed Vlora. I sang your praises but no more.In fact I'm pretty sure I get better service at the Finagle a Bagel next store. (Go see Diane there) Work directly upstairs from Vlora. I am ashamed I never tried it until today! I had the Greek salad…

by Jenn S.

I don't even know HOW I found Vlora. I have walked past it so many times and never noticed it, yet I somehow found it during my online search for a restaurant in Boston to hold my rehearsal dinner at.I got a prompt response back from Cindy, the co-owner with her husband, Chef Aldo, and she not only sent me several different menu options, but offered for us to come in for a complimentary tasting.My fiance and I finally went on Sunday for the tasting and I was immediately impressed with the decor. It's exactly what I wanted and is the perfect meld of us: chic creative, yet comfortable friendly.Cindy Aldo treated us to full servings of a sampling of their menu items: the Mediterranean Kebabs (we had chicken), glazed with a BBQ sauce and served with italian rice pilaf, grilled vegetables and mixed greens; the Trio of Pies (Spinach Feta, Yogurt, Tomato Onion), served with a to-die-for Tzatziki sauce; the Watermelon and Feta Tidbit (perfect amount of feta Balsamic to watermelon); and the one I'd been wanting to try the most, the Arancini Siciliani (Italian rice balls with a mushroom feta filling and a fresh tomato mint sauce).Aldo picked a wine for us - I believe it was the Sauvignon Blanc,  Sileni Cellars from New Zealand, and we finished the meal off with their specialty: the Kasata - a frozen parfait with slivered almonds. Oh. My. Gosh. This was just the icing on the cake that made me know we had found the right place!!Vlora is now my new favorite restaurant in Boston and I cannot wait to take all my friends there! Not only do they have Vegan Vegetarian options (which they now note on the menu), but they have a great selection of wine beer (no liquor) and are in a great location - a half a block from the Copley T stop and a half a block from a parking garage.This makes me even more excited for our wedding weekend!Get to Vlora fast!! And say hi to Cindy Aldo for me!

by Megan E.

We went here last night after reading other yelp reviews, and (of course) the 15% off was quite enticing.I had made reservations, but really no need.  The restaurant was fairly empty.  They had a pretty good wine selection with good, reasonable prices.  We started with the saganaki aka flaming cheese....only it wasn't flaming. It was pretty good, but I think the presentation of flaming cheese is kinda what we were going for.  I had the gnocchi, which was ok-could have used some more flavor.  And my bf had the chicken, steak kebabs.  Also, "ok."  I am not sure we will go back.  I mean, like what was mentioned above, it was all just ok.

by Tiffany Z.

Trendy vibe (but not sterile!) and really comfortable chairs.  The service was friendly and professional.  I would highly recommend the watermelon and feta and grilled octopus appetizers -- make sure to ask for bread as it goes very well with the grilled octopus.  In combination with a glass of wine, this makes for a tasty, light lunch.

by Hisham K.

Another evening at Vlora, which was poised to gain a star in my book, but alas, it was not to happen.The interior was beautiful, as always, and service was friendly and the food was incredible. The watermelon cubes with cheese on top was not only delicious but it looked too good to destroy with a fork! I had been craving a burger (fine, call me classless), and it was extremely tasty and served with a side of salad and herbed fries. One of my fellow diners was in beef heaven with his t-bone steak served with a side of boursin sauce.A word on the sangria - it's delicious, but keep a spoon handy because the fruits inside will end up taking half of the glass. :)However, one of my friends did not get what he ordered, and preferred not to return it and wait for his order because the food really took forever to arrive. Also, the wait staff took forever to bring us the check, and took even longer to process it for us. True, we did have 5 different cards, but I've been to places that handled upwards of 10 cards in half the time so it's no excuse.So although I thoroughly enjoyed my meal, I was upset that my friend had to eat something he didn't order, and I was also upset that I was late to my next outing because the check took so long. Sorry Vlora, you stay at 3 stars for now. A few weeks ago, I attended an event hosted here by the Network of Arab-American Professionals…

by Jane says... x.

Vlora is mediterranean food with a twist. Patrons literally walk down the stairs from street level to get to this place. The decor is sharp, clean, and elegant. We went while it was still daylight, but we could see as we were leaving that the place lights up at night and would be a great place for an after work happy hour. Can we bring Vlora back to California with us, please?My friend and I ordered the following:- Spicy Shrimp Couscous - plentiful jumbo shrimp over a bed of what appeared to be Israeli couscous. I imagine recreating this at home. Outstanding.- Hummus and Pita - the hummus was a tad thin but the flavor was superb.  - Arugula Salad - spicy leafy goodness with cherries. What's not to like?- Roasted Half Chicken - great main dish choice. Flavorful and filling.The reason that I'm removing one star is because we went in search of falafel, which Vlora didn't have on the menu. It seemed a bit odd for a Mediterranean restaurant, but no worries. We enjoyed Vlora's offerings.  We didn't get a chance to try any of the wines, but their wine list looked amazing.I highly recommend this restaurant.

by Paul B.

Worst brunch I've ever had.  It took over an hour for the food to arrive.  Over 30 minutes for the coffee to arrive.  The food was cold and a bit bland when it finally arrived.

by Paolo D.

I would have given 2.5 stars, but unfortunately it was not an option....Since two stars were a bit too harsh, it gets three.  Summary of the experience:Interior: The interior is beautiful, modern and very chic.  It is an inviting space that makes you want to spend time there.  Extremely well finished space.  Hostess was friendly and accommodating.Food:  Ranged from disappointing to very good.  Inconsistent.  The saganaki appetizer was average, at best.  The eggplant was ok.  The octopus appetizer was good, but unfortunately there was hardly any octopus there.  The dish was 90% tomatoes and onion with very few pieces of octopus......Which kind of sucked.  My main course, the psaropita, or fish pies, was the highlight of the evening.  It was very very good.  Tasty and, along with the decor, maybe the only reason I would go back.Service:  This is what was completely unacceptable.  I went during a a weeknight and maybe there were 6-8 other people in the restaurant.  Service was beyond slow, inexcusably slow.  The waitress would disappear for 20 minutes at a time (no exaggeration).  I don't know if she was playing Keno at the convenience store next door or what.  After ordering a second round of drinks and waiting 20 minutes for them, we told her to forget about it.  She tried to come back with the drinks, but had screwed that up too by bringing the wrong wine.  No thanks.  I actually waited so long for the check I had forgotten that the waitress didn't take it to swipe the credit card.  Would I go back?  Maybe.  In 4 months.  But there are other places to spend money in the meantime...

by Keith O.

I have walked by Vlora at least 100 times in the past year and I have never been down to see what it was like. I finally decided to stop in for a lunch with my wife and Wow - the place is really nice - The decor is cool, there is a cool bar are, and it is about 5 times as large as I would have expected by looking at it from the outside.We had two appetizers and split a lunch entree. For apps - The grilled octopus and the Feta and watermelon. The octopus was perfect - grilled to be tender and not chewy - perfectly done. The feta and watermelon were a great balance - I think the watermelon should be half as large as they serve to better match the flavor of the feta. We actually cut ours in half and it was great. The watermelon alone was also great - lord knows where they get tasty watermelon  at this time of year.For the lunch dish we split the beef kabobs (we also had them bring a side of the gyro sauce) The beef was good but could have been a little more tender if they had cooked it less. The vegetables were perfect and the rice could use a little more seasoning.All in all we will be coming back - I want to see what the bar scene is since I expect that it will be busy but not extremely crowded - A rare commodity in Boston.They also have a huge back room that you can use for private events.

by Thomas A.

I am going for four for Vlora because the food delivered taste with good fresh ingredients, although service wasn't perfect. We went on Thanksgiving on the recommendation of our concierge with an expectation of turkey/salmon only because of the holiday. We were very pleased to find the full menu available as well as a prix fixe Thanksgiving. Arancini were tasty but heavy. The flat iron steak was excellent but the fries were over-salted. Others have mentioned - and I agree - Vlora suffers from no street presence, but the space itself is lovely.

by Chris O.

Vlora gets 5/5 for it's great food and excellent service.  I had a friend in town and decided to go to Vlora for dinner.  The host was very nice and friendly.  Similarly, our waitress was excellent and she did not miss a single detail.  We took advantage of the $5 appetizer deal and ordered a few appetizers; each one was more tasty than the other.  We shared the 16oz steak, which was also very delicious.  I would recommend Vlora to anybody who is interested in a wonderful dining experience.

by Matt G.

I've met the co-owner Cindy through a friend and was there 3 times in 2 weeks. Its fantastic.The hummus app is unbelievable! I know... its hummus... but day-yum! its good! What I really like about this place is that its totally honest. What they do is good food, clean food. And I mean clean not in the 'not dirty' sort of way, but not overly sauced, or overly dressed. Its food for the food's sake! Cindy likened how they do food to the difference between getting Chinese food here in the US vs getting Chinese food in China. Its not the same. What they try to do is bring REAL Mediterranean food to Back Bay. Not overly done. Not americanized. Fresh - real food!I'm a huge fan. The Kabobs are very good and a 'safety' for me. I tried the Octopus and it was so tender! The Chilean Seabass was perfect!I regularly dine here for lunch now. Love it love it love it.

by Milee S.

I tihnk what hurts Vlora the most is the location; it's underneath the street so it's not obvious if you walk by it.I had a birthday dinner here and had a marvelous time! No wait for the table but that could be because there was really no one there, sadly.  We started with a half carafe of Riesling, Max-E, which was really good.  For a starter we had the saganaki, which was smothered in sauce.  I wasn't crazy about it.For dinner, my friends had the burger and the shrimp kebabs; I went for the salmon.  Again, issues with the sauce; my salmon didn't really need it.  But the green beans and lemon potatoes were really great! I also had some of my friend's fries, and those were phenomenal. Since it was my birthday, and I had mentioned it on the reservation, they brought out a complimentary tiramisu.  It was really creamy and I enjoyed it a lot.  I finished off the evening with a steaming cup of cappucino. I would like to try this place again; for both dinner and brunch.  Our service was perfectly fine and I liked the atmosphere.  Great place to celebrate an occasion.

by Stephanie Elena G.

After coming home from 10 days in Greece, I was dying for a real Mediterranean-inspired meal, and well.. HORAY! I found it at Vlora. The decor is incredible. It's starry ceiling is cooly complimented by the windows above that look out onto Copley Square forging a lovely ambiance for meeting with friends after work or a nice dinner out. Our larger group had a mix of appetizers, entrees and desserts as well as coffees for desert and all were delicious. The flavors were divine, fresh and actually... Mediterranean! There were incredible veggie dishes as well as meats and fish. There's  something for everyone on this menu. The Sangria is fantastic as well and the bar service is fast and friendly. I will certainly go back for drinks/ apps and dinner again, and hopefully soon!

by Sara S.

This place is so good that I've been twice in the past two days. I love the decor. It's so slick, clean, and a cross between trying to look Meditteranian with an NYC vibe. It's so nice and refreshing, especially compared to the creepy Korean/Japenese place I used to go to when I was 17 in college. Many a nights were spent in the back singing kareoke and getting stuck in the elevator (which I didn't remember until I went to use the bathroom at Vlora and had an intense flashback). I'm Albanian and have never had Alabanian food, so I was really looking forward to this. In actuality, anyone who likes Italian or Greek food will find something they like here. Both times, we started with freshly baked, warm bread, served with a side of lemoney olive oil and olives. SO GOOD. My mom and I split the Albanian Tava, which is a mix of different roasted vegetables put into a dish, covered with cheese, and baked. Sounds strange and pretty generic, but it is AWESOME. Both times as a main course I had the Fresh Bay Scallops with Creamed Corn and Pasticcio. I hate with scallops are undercooked, but these were fully cooked and slightly firm without the squishiness that frequenty freaks me out. I LOVE corn, so being surrounded by a bed or (lightly) creamed corn was awesome. Pasticcio is a very thin noodle that is often put into a mold and baked with three cheeses. This was in the center of the plate. I suppose it looks like a quiche. Honestly, this was one of the best entrees I've had in Boston in a LONG time. I also ordered a side of the Blue Cheese spinach... basically spinach creamed in Blue Cheese. YUM. Mom had the Filet of Sole which was great. The Italian Rice Pilaf it was served with was out of control!!Fast forward to lunch this afternoon. As I said before, I got the Scallops. Mom got the Beef Kabob which looked great. Served with rice and a side salad. Our friends got the Octopus Salad and Gyro, which they said was the best they ever had. I REALLY hope this place stays in business. It's a great addition to the Boston food scene!!!

by Sara S.

This place is so good that I've been twice in the past two days. I love the decor. It's so slick, clean, and a cross between trying to look Meditteranian with an NYC vibe. It's so nice and refreshing, especially compared to the creepy Korean/Japenese place I used to go to when I was 17 in college. Many a nights were spent in the back singing kareoke and getting stuck in the elevator (which I didn't remember until I went to use the bathroom at Vlora and had an intense flashback). I'm Albanian and have never had Alabanian food, so I was really looking forward to this. In actuality, anyone who likes Italian or Greek food will find something they like here. Both times, we started with freshly baked, warm bread, served with a side of lemoney olive oil and olives. SO GOOD. My mom and I split the Albanian Tava, which is a mix of different roasted vegetables put into a dish, covered with cheese, and baked. Sounds strange and pretty generic, but it is AWESOME. Both times as a main course I had the Fresh Bay Scallops with Creamed Corn and Pasticcio. I hate with scallops are undercooked, but these were fully cooked and slightly firm without the squishiness that frequenty freaks me out. I LOVE corn, so being surrounded by a bed or (lightly) creamed corn was awesome. Pasticcio is a very thin noodle that is often put into a mold and baked with three cheeses. This was in the center of the plate. I suppose it looks like a quiche. Honestly, this was one of the best entrees I've had in Boston in a LONG time. I also ordered a side of the Blue Cheese spinach... basically spinach creamed in Blue Cheese. YUM. Mom had the Filet of Sole which was great. The Italian Rice Pilaf it was served with was out of control!!Fast forward to lunch this afternoon. As I said before, I got the Scallops. Mom got the Beef Kabob which looked great. Served with rice and a side salad. Our friends got the Octopus Salad and Gyro, which they said was the best they ever had. I REALLY hope this place stays in business. It's a great addition to the Boston food scene!!!

by Sara S.Stephanie Elena G.Milee S.Matt G.

This place is so good that I've been twice in the past two days. I love the decor. It's so slick, clean, and a cross between trying to look Meditteranian with an NYC vibe. It's so nice and refreshing, especially compared to the creepy Korean/Japenese place I used to go to when I was 17 in college. Many a nights were spent in the back singing kareoke and getting stuck in the elevator (which I didn't remember until I went to use the bathroom at Vlora and had an intense flashback). I'm Albanian and have never had Alabanian food, so I was really looking forward to this. In actuality, anyone who likes Italian or Greek food will find something they like here. Both times, we started with freshly baked, warm bread, served with a side of lemoney olive oil and olives. SO GOOD. My mom and I split the Albanian Tava, which is a mix of different roasted vegetables put into a dish, covered with cheese, and baked. Sounds strange and pretty generic, but it is AWESOME. Both times as a main course I had the Fresh Bay Scallops with Creamed Corn and Pasticcio. I hate with scallops are undercooked, but these were fully cooked and slightly firm without the squishiness that frequenty freaks me out. I LOVE corn, so being surrounded by a bed or (lightly) creamed corn was awesome. Pasticcio is a very thin noodle that is often put into a mold and baked with three cheeses. This was in the center of the plate. I suppose it looks like a quiche. Honestly, this was one of the best entrees I've had in Boston in a LONG time. I also ordered a side of the Blue Cheese spinach... basically spinach creamed in Blue Cheese. YUM. Mom had the Filet of Sole which was great. The Italian Rice Pilaf it was served with was out of control!!Fast forward to lunch this afternoon. As I said before, I got the Scallops. Mom got the Beef Kabob which looked great. Served with rice and a side salad. Our friends got the Octopus Salad and Gyro, which they said was the best they ever had. I REALLY hope this place stays in business. It's a great addition to the Boston food scene!!!After coming home from 10 days in Greece, I was dying for a real Mediterranean-inspired meal, and well.. HORAY! I found it at Vlora. The decor is incredible. It's starry ceiling is cooly complimented by the windows above that look out onto Copley Square forging a lovely ambiance for meeting with friends after work or a nice dinner out. Our larger group had a mix of appetizers, entrees and desserts as well as coffees for desert and all were delicious. The flavors were divine, fresh and actually... Mediterranean! There were incredible veggie dishes as well as meats and fish. There's  something for everyone on this menu. The Sangria is fantastic as well and the bar service is fast and friendly. I will certainly go back for drinks/ apps and dinner again, and hopefully soon!I tihnk what hurts Vlora the most is the location; it's underneath the street so it's not obvious if you walk by it.I had a birthday dinner here and had a marvelous time! No wait for the table but that could be because there was really no one there, sadly.  We started with a half carafe of Riesling, Max-E, which was really good.  For a starter we had the saganaki, which was smothered in sauce.  I wasn't crazy about it.For dinner, my friends had the burger and the shrimp kebabs; I went for the salmon.  Again, issues with the sauce; my salmon didn't really need it.  But the green beans and lemon potatoes were really great! I also had some of my friend's fries, and those were phenomenal. Since it was my birthday, and I had mentioned it on the reservation, they brought out a complimentary tiramisu.  It was really creamy and I enjoyed it a lot.  I finished off the evening with a steaming cup of cappucino. I would like to try this place again; for both dinner and brunch.  Our service was perfectly fine and I liked the atmosphere.  Great place to celebrate an occasion.I've met the co-owner Cindy through a friend and was there 3 times in 2 weeks. Its fantastic.The hummus app is unbelievable! I know... its hummus... but day-yum! its good! What I really like about this place is that its totally honest. What they do is good food, clean food. And I mean clean not in the 'not dirty' sort of way, but not overly sauced, or overly dressed. Its food for the food's sake! Cindy likened how they do food to the difference between getting Chinese food here in the US vs getting Chinese food in China. Its not the same. What they try to do is bring REAL Mediterranean food to Back Bay. Not overly done. Not americanized. Fresh - real food!I'm a huge fan. The Kabobs are very good and a 'safety' for me. I tried the Octopus and it was so tender! The Chilean Seabass was perfect!I regularly dine here for lunch now. Love it love it love it.