The food was very good at Dafina. We had three different fish entrees which were all good. However, the prices were too high and were not worth the value. The atmosphere was too ‘over the top' stuffy for our tastes. Also, outside of one waitress for provided good service the service was underwhelming for this level of restaurant. We went on a Sunday night when there was plenty of open tables. Many times the servers came by to take our plates away when we were just conversing and enjoying our time at the restaurant. The servers were far from cordial. When dining at this level one does not want to be rushed and feel like servers are constantly eyeing the plates at your table. Overall, the service was subpar and the food was not worth the price.
Linda
My experience at Dafina restaurant in Somerville, NJ has been outstanding! Staring from person who greets you with a smile and the entire staff is so friendly and assists with all your needs in a timely manner. The food is exceptional (ie, starters we tried: calamari, Beefteki, octopus, then Dafina salad and mains: Driver scallops, short ribs pappardelle). And the Sunday Brunch is also amazing (Mediterranean Tuna Bowl, Athenian Omelette and Santorini Burger were all enjoyed by our party).While enjoying our meal, one of the owner's Lisa introduced herself and was such a joy to speak to and 2nd visit, we felt like family)! Also, an added treat to this fine restaurant is the DJ, Dean Seda who fills the room with all types of music genres, creating a special ambiance that you don't find at any other restaurant.
Lenny
Cool place, food great and big portions. Service was not great on this Saturday night. Took a while to acknowledge us, hard to understand her, forgot to bring wine and didn't check on us during the meal.
Joe
The food was excellent! The restaurant is pricy but the portions are large. We would definitely go back again.
Tammy
First time at Dafina, we went to celebrate my husband's birthday. The restaurant is beautiful, with a lovely bar area (with TVs but they weren't loud) and the food was excellent. The server for our table was definitely rushing us, which made the experience not as enjoyable. We were seated, handed our menus and the server immediately asked what we wanted to drink - we didn't have a chance to review the wine list yet. In less than 2 minutes she was asking if we knew what we wanted to eat. We barely had time to look at the menu. Appetizers were good, we had the clams, the befteki and tuna tartare. Our entrees (lobster pappardelle, shrimp risotto, rigatoni bolognese) came out (delicious!) and our server asked if we needed anything else, then came back again no less than 3 times in 10 minutes to repeatedly ask again. It was too much. We turned down dessert, she returned in less than a minute with the check. We hadn't finished our drinks and typically in a place like this, I expect to ask for the check. It isn't a diner. It was a bit ridiculous and made us uncomfortable. We will try it again but hopefully we'll have a better server. We expected better from an upscale restaurant.
Cindi
Always good. A great vibe. Great menu selection and good cocktails. A pain to park in town so go early to park. Very popular so make a reservation. Will return and recommend!
John
Quality of food poor. My chicken dish had large pieces of plastic in it. The explanation is the chicken is cooked in plastic which would make me believe this is pre made and packaged. Other than having numerous pieces of plastic in my food sub par for quality
Wendy
We went on Sunday at 2pm. Our food and service was very good. I do think the DJ was a little too loud at times. Clam oreganata was delicious! Drinks were good too! We were a table of 6 and everyone enjoyed their meal.
Opentable Diner
had a great time celebrating my birthday at Dafina. we went for brunch and everything was perfect! the staff was attentive, the food was great, the drinks were amazing, and the dj was awesome. 10/10. I can't wait to dine with them again! 😊
Donna
We had a 9 o'clock reservation and we were not seated until 10:05 pm. When we sat down the server said she was taking our order for appetizers and meals when she came back. It's a little upsetting that we waited over an hour for a reservation and then she seemed like she was rushing us to order. The food was great. But they seem to be over booking the reservations. At 9 o'clock, I don't want to wait another hour to eat. It is a new restaurant, but they do have other restaurants around. I'm sure they know what to expect. 
While the food is excellent and the service was great once we were seated - reservation and front end management is a mess. We had a 6:30 reservation, we arrived at 6:30 and the entrance and bar area was packed with people waiting for a table. The group in front of us had a 6PM reservation and got seated at 7. There were open high top tables at the bar that we were originally told were reserved for walk ins. Finally at 7:15 they allowed us to take one of them. Once we were seated everything was great - the halibut, the sea bass the appys. Our server was excellent. We may go back but never on a week-end
kasia
Waited 45 minutes for a table despite having a reservation for 6.30... It was a total chaos!!!
Michele
Unfortunately, this was my third visit and all 3 times I waited over an hour past my reservation time. No apologies nothing! It took 3 hrs for dinner cause the lack of attentive service. No one even checks if you need a drink. They brought my out my husbands dessert with a candle not lit and dropped it in front of him, the Capp had to be redone and my tea well they gave me hot water I had to wait another 15 min for a tea bag! It's a shame the food is fantastic but the service ruins the experience! It's over crowded they can't handle the reservations cause it's takes way too long to have dinner. Also the valet is a challenge one guy to both get someone's vehicle and park someone's vehicle so give yourself a good 15 min just to park or retrieve your car. I tried to give them the benefit of the doubt but 3 x's bad experience with service it's not worth it. No apologies nothing! At least comp drink while you wait or comp dessert something! My husbands 50th bday dinner with friends wasn't the best experience! Very disappointed! So make sure if you go you will not be seated at your reservation time! Give yourself plenty of extra time and patience. I rarely do these types of reviews but it's mind blowing how they don't care about anyone's opinions. Due to 3 bad experiences I refuse ro go back nor recommend my friends ever again. They need to work on people skills and time management!
Lisa
Food was delicious. Nice to have such a beautiful restaurant as part of the mix in Somerville. Great vibe. Loud but expected.
Laurie
Always a wonderful experience! Love the food and vibe. Went a little early and there were a-lot of children which affected the noise level category for me. The tablet we were seated at seemed a bit cramped so that affected the service for me tonight. Normally I would give 5 stars in all categories! I will probably go later next time!
The food was very good at Dafina. We had three different fish entrees which were all good. However, the prices were too high and were not worth the value. The atmosphere was too ‘over the top' stuffy for our tastes. Also, outside of one waitress for provided good service the service was underwhelming for this level of restaurant. We went on a Sunday night when there was plenty of open tables. Many times the servers came by to take our plates away when we were just conversing and enjoying our time at the restaurant. The servers were far from cordial. When dining at this level one does not want to be rushed and feel like servers are constantly eyeing the plates at your table. Overall, the service was subpar and the food was not worth the price.
My experience at Dafina restaurant in Somerville, NJ has been outstanding! Staring from person who greets you with a smile and the entire staff is so friendly and assists with all your needs in a timely manner. The food is exceptional (ie, starters we tried: calamari, Beefteki, octopus, then Dafina salad and mains: Driver scallops, short ribs pappardelle). And the Sunday Brunch is also amazing (Mediterranean Tuna Bowl, Athenian Omelette and Santorini Burger were all enjoyed by our party).While enjoying our meal, one of the owner's Lisa introduced herself and was such a joy to speak to and 2nd visit, we felt like family)! Also, an added treat to this fine restaurant is the DJ, Dean Seda who fills the room with all types of music genres, creating a special ambiance that you don't find at any other restaurant.
Cool place, food great and big portions. Service was not great on this Saturday night. Took a while to acknowledge us, hard to understand her, forgot to bring wine and didn't check on us during the meal.
The food was excellent! The restaurant is pricy but the portions are large. We would definitely go back again.
First time at Dafina, we went to celebrate my husband's birthday. The restaurant is beautiful, with a lovely bar area (with TVs but they weren't loud) and the food was excellent. The server for our table was definitely rushing us, which made the experience not as enjoyable. We were seated, handed our menus and the server immediately asked what we wanted to drink - we didn't have a chance to review the wine list yet. In less than 2 minutes she was asking if we knew what we wanted to eat. We barely had time to look at the menu. Appetizers were good, we had the clams, the befteki and tuna tartare. Our entrees (lobster pappardelle, shrimp risotto, rigatoni bolognese) came out (delicious!) and our server asked if we needed anything else, then came back again no less than 3 times in 10 minutes to repeatedly ask again. It was too much. We turned down dessert, she returned in less than a minute with the check. We hadn't finished our drinks and typically in a place like this, I expect to ask for the check. It isn't a diner. It was a bit ridiculous and made us uncomfortable. We will try it again but hopefully we'll have a better server. We expected better from an upscale restaurant.
Always good. A great vibe. Great menu selection and good cocktails. A pain to park in town so go early to park. Very popular so make a reservation. Will return and recommend!
Quality of food poor. My chicken dish had large pieces of plastic in it. The explanation is the chicken is cooked in plastic which would make me believe this is pre made and packaged. Other than having numerous pieces of plastic in my food sub par for quality
We went on Sunday at 2pm. Our food and service was very good. I do think the DJ was a little too loud at times. Clam oreganata was delicious! Drinks were good too! We were a table of 6 and everyone enjoyed their meal.
had a great time celebrating my birthday at Dafina. we went for brunch and everything was perfect! the staff was attentive, the food was great, the drinks were amazing, and the dj was awesome. 10/10. I can't wait to dine with them again! 😊
We had a 9 o'clock reservation and we were not seated until 10:05 pm. When we sat down the server said she was taking our order for appetizers and meals when she came back. It's a little upsetting that we waited over an hour for a reservation and then she seemed like she was rushing us to order. The food was great. But they seem to be over booking the reservations. At 9 o'clock, I don't want to wait another hour to eat. It is a new restaurant, but they do have other restaurants around. I'm sure they know what to expect. 
Restaurantji Recommends
While the food is excellent and the service was great once we were seated - reservation and front end management is a mess. We had a 6:30 reservation, we arrived at 6:30 and the entrance and bar area was packed with people waiting for a table. The group in front of us had a 6PM reservation and got seated at 7. There were open high top tables at the bar that we were originally told were reserved for walk ins. Finally at 7:15 they allowed us to take one of them. Once we were seated everything was great - the halibut, the sea bass the appys. Our server was excellent. We may go back but never on a week-end
Waited 45 minutes for a table despite having a reservation for 6.30... It was a total chaos!!!
Unfortunately, this was my third visit and all 3 times I waited over an hour past my reservation time. No apologies nothing! It took 3 hrs for dinner cause the lack of attentive service. No one even checks if you need a drink. They brought my out my husbands dessert with a candle not lit and dropped it in front of him, the Capp had to be redone and my tea well they gave me hot water I had to wait another 15 min for a tea bag! It's a shame the food is fantastic but the service ruins the experience! It's over crowded they can't handle the reservations cause it's takes way too long to have dinner. Also the valet is a challenge one guy to both get someone's vehicle and park someone's vehicle so give yourself a good 15 min just to park or retrieve your car. I tried to give them the benefit of the doubt but 3 x's bad experience with service it's not worth it. No apologies nothing! At least comp drink while you wait or comp dessert something! My husbands 50th bday dinner with friends wasn't the best experience! Very disappointed! So make sure if you go you will not be seated at your reservation time! Give yourself plenty of extra time and patience. I rarely do these types of reviews but it's mind blowing how they don't care about anyone's opinions. Due to 3 bad experiences I refuse ro go back nor recommend my friends ever again. They need to work on people skills and time management!
Food was delicious. Nice to have such a beautiful restaurant as part of the mix in Somerville. Great vibe. Loud but expected.
Always a wonderful experience! Love the food and vibe. Went a little early and there were a-lot of children which affected the noise level category for me. The tablet we were seated at seemed a bit cramped so that affected the service for me tonight. Normally I would give 5 stars in all categories! I will probably go later next time!
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