On its face, it looks like Vlora is trying very hard to keep up. The location is difficult -- while it’s on Copley Square, it’s underneath the street, which makes the restaurant a little less visible to passersby. However, the restaurant has had, on several different occasions, people to pass out menus and samplers. This was the reason that I wanted to try it -- I had a watermelon and feta “tidbit” that was delicious.

The actual experience, however, was a disappointment.

The interior is nice enough—elegant, but very dark. The seats near the windows are at a premium, so you don’t feel like you’re sitting in a cave.

Appetizer: The baked stuffed clams with crabmeat filling was mediocre. It didn’t have a particular flavor or design, and the pink dipping sauce was uninspired. Entree: The “Vlora Special” gnocchi was a shame. The gnocchi itself was mushy, and the overall taste of the dish was an interesting idea (olives, tomato, onion) but executed poorly. Too salty.

Overall, I was looking forward to something really special from this restaurant, but it simply fell flat. To support such a difficult location, they’re going to have to really step it up with the menu.