Dolma
“Although the restaurant first opened with a lunch-only menu, they now only serve dinner Tuesdays through Sundays as well as weekend brunch.”
“This Mediterranean restaurant is a cozy gem with beautiful ambience and phenomenal food.”
“Lamb chops – one of the best lamb chops I've ever had, flavorful and cooked to the ideal temperature (medium rare).”
Dolma
Takes Reservations: Yes
Delivery: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Outdoor Seating: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Caters: Yes
PokéStop Nearby: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
8 reviews
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I love this tiny pink house! The outdoor seating is endearing and the indoor space is small yet charming. I tried a variety of small plates and thought they were all quite good. The salads were crisp and fresh, and cut nicely into bite sized portions. The eggplant was nicely grilled and well seasoned too! I wanted to have another! The only disappointment was the trio of spreads – I was able to pick 3/4 and had trouble discerning the flavors of each one. For example, the hummus was super similar to the baba ghanoush. However, overall, this place is cute and the food is very fresh and clean. The plating is nicely done too. I would go back and try some of the other vegetarian options.
Dolma is an amazing new addition to Jersey City's bustling restaurant scene. The restaurant is housed in this tiny pink building on the corner of Bright and Grand. Dolma is small, intimate and totally adorable. They also have an outdoor seating section with umbrellas if you want to enjoy a nice day.
We came to Dolma for dinner with another couple at 7:30 on a Thursday. Reservations aren't necessary on a weeknight, yes the place is tiny tiny, but there were was plenty of room for other diners, both inside the restaurant and in the outdoor section. We decided to sit inside to beat the humidity – but the temperature inside was actually quite warm.
The atmosphere and service was great, but the food at Dolma is what cements it into that 5 star rating. To start, we ordered the Dip Trio (Berbere Hummus, Mohammara, Labneh), the Vegetarian Dolmas and the Grilled Octopus which came with pickled vegetables. The dips were great, definitely unique flavors and the waitress gladly brought us more toasted bread. The Dolmas (you have to get them because of the restaurant's name!) and the octopus with pickled vegetables were also really delicious.
For dinner, I had the Grilled Charmoula Salmon and others at the table had the Crispy Skinned Pan-Roasted Half Chicken, Steamed Mussels and Cockles, and the Grilled Lamb Chops with "Dirty" Pilaf. Everyone loved their meals and the portions were surprisingly HUGE!
For dessert, we ordered both the Creme Brulee and the Baklava. Both were good and the Creme Brulee was surprisingly really good! Quick warning, the white dollop that comes with the Baklava is not sweet whipped cream…. it's plain yogurt or what they call creme fraiche – one of our group learned the hard way with a huge mouthful, ha ha!
Oh and Dolma is BYOB so we obviously drank an entire 3 bottles on a casual Thursday night. Hello hangover!
Drop everything and get to Dolma! This semi-new intimate Greek eatery is probably one of Jersey City's top restaurants. It's been on my must try list for weeks, and after coming in for dinner I'm regretting that I waited so long!
The inside is cozy, aka really small with probably no more then ten tables. Because of that, I'd strongly suggest calling ahead, especially if you are planning on coming in on a Friday or Saturday evening. Once the weather gets warmer, they've got a very large patio space and I'm sure it will be nice to have the extra seating.
Okay so once you've called ahead (which you should probably do, like, now) grab a bottle of wine. Or maybe two bottles. It's BYOB here. I'm sure it won't be for long, so make sure to take advantage while you can!
Our party of five started off with a dip trio and the octopus. The octopus was tender and delicious and came with a medley of pickled veggies. The portions were a bit small, each dip only came with three little pieces of bread. We came close to ordering another app, but once we saw how large the entrees were I was happy that we held back.
For my main, I ordered the steak kabob. The plate was piled high with thick and juicy pieces of perfectly cooked flank steak. The steak was drizzled in a blue cheese sauce and came with a side of pureed parsnips. This dish was extremely rich and decadent so if you aren't looking to eat something as heavy I'd suggest ordering salmon or chicken. A few people at the table ordered the lamb which was also a large and heavy plate overflowing with meat, rice and veggies. The lamb came smothered in a minty green sauce and had four hearty lamb lollies. I'd even suggest sharing the lamb or steak dish with another person and then ordering an appetizer. That is how big the portions were.
Because we didn't share (whoops) we practically had to roll out of Dolma. It was totally worth every bite though. Next time I'd like to come in over the summer and sit outside for some brunch. The menu is totally different and has some tasty sandwich and egg options that I'd love to try. Plus, with BYOB and a great outdoor patio space you really can't go wrong.
I am so excited to have this restaurant in Jersey City. I absolutely love Mediterranean food and this is such high qaulity food. The service is amazing g and there is outdoor seating. A great perk is its bring your own! When I went we were with a group of 7. They were very accommodating as one of the party arrived very late and they let him order just before the kitchen was about to close. Not rushing us at all. Everything we tried was amazing. We ordered the dip trip, which is an absolute must buy. The dips and toasted bread is AMAZING. I had the quinoa veggie burger and it was so light yet really filling. My boyfriend had the lamb mousakka. It was almost like a lamb lasagne. Different than anything I would usually try and definitely something I will be ordering again. The prices are moderate but everything about Dolma is quality!
I really wanted to like this place but I'm disappointed to say that I will not be going here again. I'd give it a 3.5 star but even that is a little too generous.
I went here around 7:30 on a Wednesday night. It wasn't crowded but the it wasn't empty either.
The Good: Service was timely. It's BYOB. Good baba ganoush. The food really looked good. And the place its self is adorable.
The Bad: I read other reviews that this is a place that could really nail lamb chops. I ordered them medium rare, the way they should be cooked, and they arrived cooked to medium well. That's a huge difference with lamb chops and I know this isn't the worst thing in the world but for this kind of restaurant it's a huge miss. We had muscles that were very sandy, large and mealy. But the rice was good. The hummus was meh.
Bottom line is for the price you pay, for the area, I can get better prepared food for equal or less. Bad value.
The food here is delicious!!! It's super small but authentic Greek food!! My husband and I both ordered the lambchops sooooo good!! Also got the trio hummus as a starter! A must go 🙂 we will def be back can't wait!! The service was top notch too! Rustic ambience and it's BYOB! Winning!!
I've only been to Dolma once, but I thought the food was very fresh and flavorful and dare I say it, healthy.
I sat inside because it was pretty hot outside, but if you so desired, there is an outdoor seating area.
It's small inside, probably only 5 tables or so, but it's quite cozy. They serve casual mediterranean food.
I know it's a good place because I often think about coming back and trying other things on the menu. I will soon.
One of the things I love about Jersey City is the opportunity to discover new gems like Dolma. Situated on Grand Street in a standalone building, it's the newest Mediterranean restaurant in the area, overseen by the same owner as the well-loved Two Aprons. Although the restaurant first opened with a lunch-only menu, they now only serve dinner Tuesdays through Sundays as well as weekend brunch.
The space isn't large by any means, and can probably accommodate 5 or 6 small groups at best. If the weather cooperates, patio seating is also an option, but it's not a place to come with a large party. The interior is cozy and simple, reminiscent of your relative's or neighbor's dining room with wooden tables and chairs against pale curtains. Upon arriving, we were promptly welcomed and offered our choice of seating since we were only one of a few parties present. Upon a quick skim of the mid-day menu, we were sorely tempted to order everything; there's a tempting array of savory and sweet plates.
We started with the Trio of Dips, which lets guests pick three of their four dips, and is served with warm, lightly grilled bread. The Hummus was creamy and had a refreshing addition with the cilantro and we enjoyed the Mohammara, which smartly paired the smokiness of roasted red pepper against the sweetness of the pomegranate molasses. My favorite had to be the Baba Ghanoush, however; somehow, the texture and flavor of the eggplant, red pepper, and yogurt complemented each other beautifully. And yes, we had to ask for an additional serving of bread.
The Carrot and Ginger Soup we had was also tasty; it was creamy with just a hint of sweetness from the carrot, and finished with just the right amount of zest from the ginger. The Flank Steak Sandwich I tried was also expertly composed; the steak was juicy, with just the right amount pink, and I appreciated the addition of caramelized onions and blue cheese. Even the sourdough bread was delicious and had just the right amount of crispness and crustiness to support the sandwich.
Dolma does all the little and small things well, which is why it's almost impossible to go wrong with any on the menu. It's also one of the few places in the neighborhood that offer Eastern Mediterranean cuisine in such an approachable setting, so even if it's your first time trying the food, you'll definitely leave a fan.