Best Mediterranean Food in Belmont, MA: Top 5 Spots to Know
Belmont might be a small town, but it sits at the intersection of some of Greater Boston's richest culinary neighborhoods — bordered by Watertown, Cambridge, and Arlington. For Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food specifically, Belmont punches well above its size. Here are the top spots worth knowing about, from a beloved Persian institution to a family Greek kitchen — plus the local favorite that's been here for over 30 years.
1. Cafe Vanak — 271 Belmont St
With nearly 1,900 Google reviews and a 4.8 rating, Cafe Vanak is one of the most beloved Persian restaurants in the entire Boston area — and a true anchor of the Belmont dining scene. The menu features classic Iranian dishes done with care: ghormeh sabzi (herb and kidney bean stew), kashk bademjan (roasted eggplant with whey), chicken kebabs, and a lamb shank cooked to fall-off-the-bone perfection. The barberry rice is a consistent standout, fragrant and slightly tart in a way that pairs beautifully with the proteins. Save room for the honey cake. The staff is warm and attentive, and the overall atmosphere is the kind that makes you slow down and actually enjoy your meal. Reservations are strongly recommended on weekends — the dining room is intimate and fills up fast. There's also a Persian grocery market next door, which is worth a browse if you want to bring some of those flavors home.
Order Online: https://www.vanakfood.com/online-ordering
2. My Other Kitchen — 762 Pleasant St
My Other Kitchen is a family-run Greek spot on Route 60 that has built a devoted following through consistently fresh, clean cooking. The grilled chicken is exceptional — juicy, well-seasoned, and a clear standout among regulars. Every dish is made to order, and the menu is intentionally simple: choose your protein and get it as a salad, pita wrap, or plate with rice and grilled vegetables. Nothing is drowning in heavy sauces or over-seasoned, which is either a feature or a drawback depending on your taste — but for people who want honest, ingredient-forward Greek food, it hits the mark. The baklava is homemade by the family patriarch, who is in his nineties — that detail alone says a lot about the commitment to doing things the right way. It's a small space with a brisk takeout business and the staff is consistently friendly. Closed Mondays and Sundays.
3. Sofra Bakery & Cafe — 1 Belmont St (Cambridge/Belmont border)
Technically Cambridge by address, Sofra sits right on the Belmont border and is very much part of the local culinary conversation. Chef Ana Sortun's Middle Eastern bakery and cafe is one of the most acclaimed spots in the greater Boston area, with a menu that draws from Turkish, Lebanese, and Persian traditions. The Turkish-style breakfast is a destination meal on its own — soft-boiled eggs, spiced yogurt, olives, and fresh vegetables all presented with care. On the savory side, the za'atar man'ouche and chicken shawarma are regulars worth ordering, and the Arabic coffee is exactly as good as the reviews suggest. The pastry case alone is worth the trip — Persian-spiced kouign amann, sesame-crusted cookies, and seasonal items that rotate with the kitchen's whims. It's a smaller, cozier space than the Allston location, which only adds to the charm. Open daily 8am–5pm.
4. Savino's — 449 Common St
Savino's leans Italian-Mediterranean rather than Middle Eastern, but it earns its place on this list through the sheer quality of its cooking. The lamb shank is consistently praised as one of the best in the entire area — braised to tenderness with roasted root vegetables and a deeply flavored sauce. The stuffed Swiss chard is the kind of dish you think about after the meal, and the swordfish and scallop preparations reflect a chef who takes Mediterranean seafood seriously. It's an intimate, owner-operated dinner spot on Common Street with a warm, unhurried atmosphere. Monday pasta special nights offer a three-course format that's particularly good value. Closed Mondays for à la carte; lunch service Tuesday through Saturday.
Order Online: https://savinosgrill.com/belmont-savino-s-food-menu
5. ANI Catering & Cafe — 687 Belmont St (That’s Us)
Our recommendation? Try the Chicken & Beef Combo Plate with Rice!
ANI has been a Belmont institution for over 30 years and represents exactly the kind of family-run business that makes a neighborhood feel like a community. This Armenian and Middle Eastern cafe on Belmont Street is known for their chicken shawarma wraps — generously stuffed with tender marinated chicken, garlic sauce, and fresh vegetables in a warm pita — as well as their crispy falafel and hearty plates served with fluffy rice and salad. The hummus is made in-house and regulars often add a drizzle of hot sauce to their wraps for an extra kick. What keeps people coming back, sometimes every single week for years, is the combination of quality, consistency, and genuine warmth. It's not trying to be trendy — it's just doing it right, the same way it has for three decades.
Beyond the cafe, ANI is one of the go-to catering operations for corporate offices, birthday parties, and events across the Boston area. Party platters, customized menus, and large-scale catering are all available, and the team brings the same care to a 200-person office order as they do to a lunch for two.
Open Monday through Saturday, 11am to 8pm. Closed Sundays.
Our favorite? Try the Chicken & Beef Combo Plate with Rice!
👉 Order online or request a catering quote at anicateringandcafe.com
Belmont's Mediterranean food scene is small but genuinely worthwhile. Whether you're in the mood for Persian stews, Greek grilled chicken, Armenian pastries, or a classic shawarma wrap that's been perfected over three decades, the options here reflect a community that takes good food seriously — and a neighborhood that's been home to some of Greater Boston's best-kept culinary secrets.