Bar Vlaha

Bar Vlaha is a Greek restaurant in Brookline that tells the story of the Vlachs, nomadic shepherds and farmers of Central and Northern Greece whose rustic cooking helped shape Hellenic cuisine. Rather than the familiar island fare, the menu draws on the mountains, lakes and villages of the mainland. Dishes are built for sharing, with plates such as oyster mushrooms and beef cheeks, and the bar pours cocktails and wine.

Cooking leans on fire: charcoal grilling, open-flame roasting and traditional gastra techniques, applied to locally sourced, seasonal ingredients. The restaurant takes its tone from philoxenia, the Vlach tradition of welcoming strangers with food, drink and shelter regardless of status, and handwoven details on the walls nod to that heritage. The room is described as cozy, and the aim is a generous meal, conversation and a sense of belonging.

What to Know

• Boston Magazine named Bar Vlaha the city’s Best New Restaurant.
• The restaurant has been featured in The Infatuation, Eater and The Boston Globe.
• Its house sourdough bread is sold to take home, in person and online.