"Did I mention the Blue Bottle coffee lattes and French-press."
(in 44 reviews)
"It really might be the best french toast in the city."
(in 89 reviews)
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Olea
Rating Details »
Categories: American (New), Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
Neighborhood: Nob Hill1494 California St
(between Hyde St & Larkin St)
San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 202-8521
- Hours:
Tue-Fri. 6:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Sat. 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Sat. 6:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Sun. 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
- Parking:
- Street, Garage
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good for:
- Brunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
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216 reviews for Olea
Review Highlights
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(See pic)
You got that right, I love this place so much I brought my lovely date here.
Unlike last weekend where it was a long weekend and was not busy. This weekend had a line but it's fast moving for about 30 minutes.
My date and I have something in common, that we sometimes think alike, can you call that chemistry? As he mentioned the craving of BB coffee as we walked to Olea, I smiled, "they serve 3 Africans there." My date already knew it would be a good brunch.
In addition to order an encore of the challah custard toast, we also had the cazuela (casserole) that was made with 2 eggs, tomato sauce, fregula steamed, diced niman ranch applewood smoked ham. The ingredients, as I am described by my date, were very Sicilian but the making of it was very inventive since it did not use beans and with the lighter sauce, it left us with clean and uplifting taste. A super good dish and amazing brunch choice.
Of course as usual, the great BB coffee in a high temperature (most places don't make coffee hot enough) and the superb service.
This place earns every and more stars than I can express.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
11/29/2009
(See pic)
I love brunch, and always seek places that transcend breakfasts to an experience.
This is… Read more »
We just had our brunch today, I would say that this place is good.
Let's start from the menu, first, We got baked eggs with the tomato sauce and the second dish was flat omelet with fresh corn. They were great dishes. I can tell this place use the fresh ingredients. but these two dishes came out in small portion for us( one is Asian size and another is American size) so in the end (Later, we ended up to eat early more.)
For the service, I'd say it was great, started from line until we got the table was great. I was happy with it.
and Yes, i'd come back again to try something else.
Olea is my favorite brunch place in SF. Everything I order here is amazing and the service is great. I recommend this place to all of my friends. I took my friend from LA here once and now everytime he is back in the city, we HAVE to come to Olea.
A few of my favorite things to order for brunch.
French Toast
Pulled Pork
I can't wait to try this place out for dinner.
Alright look I can explain, now, normally I think I would have given this place a higher rating...had I ordered something else. So I ordered a dish that I wasn't sure if I would like but wanted to try because it was so different. It happens right? You order a dish you're not sure about for the experience. Well in my experience that's almost never a good idea. And this was no exception.
I had the eggs baked in a cazuela (a pot) with basque style tomato sauce and spanish chorizo. Now, I can't say for sure what did it but it smelled and tasted like vomit. Sorry, graphic I know, but seriously it was absolutely disgusting. And this seems to be their featured dish. Don't order it. Unless you want to spend the rest of the day apologizing to your mouth.
Also, while their orange juice is freshly squeezed and delicious, I was pretty much mauled by the amount of pulp in my glass. I get it..it's fresh..you win, you don't have to prove it by leaving a shitload of pulp in there. Now, some may not mind pulp, for you guys, YOURE FREAKS, no I'm just kidding, you guys won't mind it. But ladies, so not appealing to the eye when we have pulp slipping off our lips.
Anyways, my friends' french toast looked phenomenal so I think I'm going to try that next time. But for now, this place has left me with bad memories.
Let me tell you why I thought this place was so awkwardly wonderful.
We either had to (a) wait about 45 minutes for a table or (b) get seated in 20 minutes in between two other parties. Below is my diagram, where the three parties are denoted by A, B and C:
_ a _ a _ b _ c _
a_ _ _ _ _ c
a a b c
We were party B. The waiter informed us that we only have 45 minutes to order and finish our meals. It was a rushed brunch in between the discussions of drunken one night stands (group A) and oh-my-god-I-can't-believe-she's-getting-married-sh e's-such-a-slut (group C).
And while the food was organic and natural and all of that bullshit, it still tasted dreadfully average.
Went here with a business friend. Did the usual, iPhone stumble through the city. This place was nearby and seemed good by the ratings.
The lentil omelet was excellent. I would go back for that alone. But for that and only that.
The server was a douche. We ordered two of the same and only got one. An apology would have been nice, but that didn't seem to be on the menu (or maybe only at extra charge). Since my friend was eating and I had to wait another round for my food I asked if I could get some bread in the meantime. Says the lady who I asked, "I can bring you 5 pieces of bread, but it's $5". To which I exclaim, "I am going hungry here, and it's certainly not my fault. Just bring me some bread". She comes back with two tiny baked paper thin slices of baguette. Seriously - to date I wasn't able to figure out how anyone can cut bread this thinly.
The highly advertised Blue Bottle Coffee was tasty but lukewarm. But it was $5 a cup, so it least my wallet must have thought I had some good coffee.
On the upside though - the location of the place is great and it feels cozy. With better service it should be easy to come up to par.
Three words: CHALLAH FRENCH TOAST. Thick slices of challah bathed in custard cinnamon magic, cooked golden to perfection! The fruit toppings often change (strawberries, pears...) The dishes change frequently so I always like to try something new as well and split the french toast as it is VERY rich.
The place is small and occasionally a line extends up the hill but I have never waited longer than 20 minutes. The wait staff is pleasant and attentive, especially with those free Blue Bottle coffee refills...I stumble out on a bright afternoon heavily caffeinated and with a happy belly.
I went for brunch for the second weekend in a row, it's just fantastic. The french toast is the best i've ever had, and the blue bottle coffee keeps me coming back.
I went to Olea for dinner and really loved it. The restaurant is both comfortable and pretty. The server we had was very attentive with us and knowledgeable about all the menu items. I had the Halibut with new potatoes, which was delicious and my (handsome & charming date) had the Osso Bucco and polenta which was tasty as well. For dessert I (unwillingly) shared the Gateau Breton, with strawberries and figs, do not leave without trying it, the perfect end to a satisfying meal! The one con I would say there is with this restaurant is that for the price we paid, $20-22 per plate, the portions could have been bigger. Otherwise, I would definitely return to Olea and I encourage others to check it out as well.
Can't wait to try the brunch next. The french toast made with challah bread dipped in custard came highly recommended and sounds like heaven.
3.5 stars. very quaint and cozy restaurant with only a couple tables. The staff was very friendly!
When I was looking at other people's food, the pear french toast looked delicious. But I was in the mood for something savory. So I ordered the flat omelet and had total food envy.
I ordered the flat omelet with pesto, potatoes, chicken and asiago cheese. The omelet was bland - the side of toasts was more flavorful than the main dish. .
I want to go back and try the french toast. "Challah custard toast with cinnamon sugar topped with grilled pears"
I have a feeling I will give 5 stars for the french toast!
I've had brunch and dinner at this restaurant and love everything about this place. It's a small cute place that has a large table and several smaller tables.
Breakfast: I can always count on an interesting selection of egg dishes that change weekly and who can pass up their french toast when you're craving for a sweet dish after your savory entree.
Dinner: I love the fish dish and how the combination of ingredients creates flavors that surprised my palate; fish was cooked to near perfection.
The restaurant is very casual with a friendly staff. Give it a try!
Olea is my favorite restaurant in the city. Oh, I know what you're thinking: 'that is such an overused word' or 'she really hasn't eaten many places' or 'she's just lazy' but honestly, my favorite. You could say I even have an infatuation with them. I've been a consistent diner at Olea since they opened-- and I don't know why I've waited so long to review them. I guess because I just felt so close to them and I didn't want to lose the magic by putting down on paper... er.. website... for all of the world to see. Sometimes when you try to put something so fabulous in words, others tend to doubt or judge. And I know that's what yelp is all about, telling others your take on it, but I didn't want to feel judged for my deep held love for Olea... is that wrong?!
First of all, I eat there mostly for dinner and I've always had an amazing dish, every time really. The chef, Gabriel, is so thoughtful about his cooking, so intelligent with his use of ingredients, so subtle the play of flavors that I can't believe he's not more of a big local star. I've had their brunch a few times, and I've loved it too. But I'm a huge fan of the dinner creations. And I know that Olea has reached my favorite status because, as my husband pointed out, I always want to go there. Always. Whenever friends or family come in town, I want to take them there. It's perfectly sized to actually have a conversation and be able to hear the other person. Somehow, the music they play seems to have been taken from my iPod and self-indulgently I love that. Plus, not to mention, they always take care of us in the most caring way. The wait staff is super kind and friendly. And Glen, the manager/co-owner, is a sweetheart. My husband even arranged to have a birthday dinner for me there and they were incredibly accommodating about it. We practically took over the restaurant, and they didn't even blink, while serving unbelievably tasty dishes the whole time, completely unfazed.
I just feel like Olea and I are on the same wavelength, ya know? They just *get* me. Kind of like when you meet someone and have an instant connection, except that this is with a restaurant... didn't know that was even possible... but so glad it is...
Olea is super small, and super cozy. There are likely between six and nine tables throughout the restaraunt. The kitchen is in plain sight and you can see all the delicious food being prepped nearby. It's a proper neighborhood restaraunt, and doesn't try to be something larger and more grand. It's simple, clean, and really well done.
First courses, salad with beets. Simple, light, tasty and very refreshing. Flatbread with ricotta, pears, and spinach/endive. The flatbread was crisp, salty, tasty, and paired well with all of the components above. The ricotta and pears worked really well together, the spinach/endive was less successful in my opinion, but I'm not a big fan of either ingredient to begin with, so that would make sense.
Main course was duck. Nicely seared, thick coated, sitting on top of a pile of couscous, corn, and mushrooms. While I'm not typically a fan of couscous and mushrooms, they played really well together. The duck was surprisingly sweet, and perfectly cooked and tender. Sadly, the chef told me it was the last night he was preparing this item in this fashion (and being the last dish of the night, it was the last preparation of his duck in that format), but I'm sure if he's looking to improve upon this, it will be pretty solid in the future as well.
For a shot of the duck course, see Flickr - http://www.flickr.com/...
Sadly, didn't have time for dessert, but Blue Bottle coffee is served here, so plus one there too. Overall, a great little spot. Their menu is a bit limiting and small, but it also likely means that what they do serve, they cook really well and nail it down solid.
Yelp really needs to implement a half star system. I'd give this place a 3.5, but not quite a 4.
Super cute and cozy little eatery.. I loved that it boasts fresh produce, Blue Bottle Coffee (in a french press!!), and a small menu (I hate when small restaurants try to do EVERYTHING.. I love that the menu is selective but good).
We started with mimosas (made with fresh squeezed oj -- even a little plup!).. then I danced between ordering the sweet French Toast & Flat Omelet, but last minute, chose the latter.. I knew I should have gone with my first instinct!! I had food envy the entire time!
The flat omelet had pesto, potatoes, chicken and asiago cheese. It was a bit uneventful and needed doses of crushed pepper and sea salt..
I'll give this cute place another shot to satisfy my taste buds, since everything else seemed so good & service was friendly.. upon seeing all the other reviews, I think the french toast might give me what I'm looking for.
It was a lucky morning when my SF travel companion and I walked past Olea and saw the crowds waiting outside. "This is a place we should probably try," one of us decided, and so we went back the next day, bright and early. Yes, Olea is tiny and if you don't go first thing there will be a wait. But what do you expect? It's cozy and delicious!
All you need to know is: order the french toast (everyone around us was getting it too) and coffee drinkers get blue bottle in a french press (2 or 4 cup). SO GOOD. The room is simple, full of light (for being a few steps down), and welcoming, with friendly service used to the descending brunching crowds. If I lived in SF I'd be here every weekend.
This place had absolutely delicious brunch. I really love their french press coffee concept. We waited over half an hour for a table on a Sunday Morning and I wouldn't mind waiting again. It is a fairly small restaurant with one communal table and probably 9 tables. I had their omelet with butternut squash, cheese, and pumpkin seeds and am a BIG FAN.The other half had their steams clams which was good as well. Their toast is nice and soft and sweet which goes especially well with their strawberry jam. I would love to come back!
The French toast will change your life.
Doors will open, traffic lights will turn green, you will get laid IN THE AFTERNOON.
Everything on the menu is simple and good. The menu changes weekly, but there is always something on there that makes me change my mind about cooking dinner that night.
They also update on Twitter on the weekends for brunch about wait times and menus (@oleasf).
I can honestly say I wake up every weekend and crave Olea's custard french toast. I used to live 2 doors down from Olea and didn't visit this restaurant for over a year. Once I tried their brunch, I kicked myself for not stopping by sooner.
Be prepared to wait for a table on the weekends as I've noticed this hidden neighborhood gem is become more and more popular. Really, get the french toast and some blue bottle coffee. It's the perfect way to start a lazy weekend. I promise, you won't regret it.
If you want your taste buds to go absolutely crazy, then go here for brunch and order the Challah French Toast. I did that once and it made my taste buds spin.
Now when we go here (quite regularly, but we try to be there before 10am), I usually get the veggie omelet. It's always, always delicious.
(No, the French Toast did not get less tasty, I just try to avoid white bread when I can)
Blue Bottle coffee in French Presses, but unfortunately no decaf.
Solid but a bit pricey for what it is. I just don't know if I'd go back again. But, the one part that was fun and tasted great was the coffee! Gotta love French press.
damn, lately i've just been hit with disappointments left and right.
the french toast is supposed to be superb, according to prior reviews. custard like and amazing is the claim. the texture, to me, was that of raw dough. it wasn't custardy creamy, it was soggy and not cooked through.
le sigh....another day with my tummy left unsatisfied.
Not sure what the big deal is with this place. I went for brunch because of all the Yelp reviews. Had to wait 30 or 40 minutes only to be underwhelmed. Prices were more than they should be for what is served. My friend got the french toast which is their "signature" dish and it was good, but not life changing. If french toast is the best thing a place can make it's got a long way to go. I think this place is popular because it's a small cozy place and there isn't much competition in the area. Maybe their dinner is better.
We were looking for a great breakfast spot, and this fit the bill perfectly! I loved Olea, in part because in our quest for finding it, I became best friends with the operator of the California line cable car we were in. This guy was the NICEST public transportation worker I have ever encountered!
We took the cable car to get to the top of Nob Hill, which in itself was one of the great highlights of our trip. The California line stops right in front of Olea and we got there just when it opened, along with a few other parties who had the same idea. It's tiny but airy and light-filled and has that same laid back service that we found in most of the restaurants we visited.
The orange juice is fresh squeezed-- everything is better in California, we would later reminisce-- and the breakfast food is wonderful. I had eggs, bacon, and tomato on a rustic roll, which came with a side salad with a light vinaigrette. I feel like a broken record with my SF reviews, but each individual part was amazing, adding up to an egg on roll that would put any other egg on roll to shame!
However! That's not even the best part. My sister had the challah custard toast with cinnamon sugar and fresh berries. We had yet another "I've never tasted anything like this before" moment-- the inside of this french toast is literally SILKEN custard. Silken. I have NO idea how they accomplish this with simple egg and bread. It was a huge serving that she couldn't finish and I am happy to report that this still tasted wonderful cold a few hours later, eaten as a snack while strolling the Golden Gate promenade.
In short: a perfect breakfast in an adorable neighborhood!
maybe i've turned into a french-toast snob (or at least a brunch snob) from living in Boston the last two years... but this place (and san francisco in general) is pretty.. unexciting.
i went with a friend for sunday brunch, we didn't have to wait at all, which was nice, but the menu is pretty limited, and not exactly cheap. there are a few breakfast-type items (eggs, and one french-toast option), a few lunch/dinner-type items (pork chops i think were on there..?), and that's it!
i had the flat omelet, which was boring, and my friend (another boston french-toast-aholic) had the so-called fabulous challah french toast. meh. we both decided it was just ok. I sincerely hope this is NOT what you san-franciscans consider great brunch (any suggestions??).
if you want really good challah french toast-- the super thick, fresh baked chocolate-batter-challah bread kind with more chocolate and some amazing raspberry sauce-- go to Zaftigs (oh boston, sometimes i miss you so much).
One of the best brunches I've had so far in San Francisco. This place is quaint and cozy. It's really small, so there's not a lot of seating and there was a wait. We sat at a communal table which was fine. We were just excited to try a new place for brunch.
I ordered a delicious omelette with yummy veggies and cheese. The side salad had a bit too much dressing, but was still good. The french press coffee hit the spot and was the perfect size for two people. My friend had an egg sandwich that she devoured so quickly and happily.
The staff was funny and friendly - a bit quirky, but hey you're close to Polk St so it is what it is!
The only problem was that the creamer for the coffee had little bits of dust and crap in it. I don't understand why so many places leave their creamer sitting around uncovered...that's just plain nasty. They gave us some fresh creamer right away so it was fine.
Perfect place for brunch - totally check it out!
Very impressed! Recommended.
Though it was our intended destination, it looked closed as we approached and we even stopped at the door to read the hours. Then we tried the door and discovered it open. The exterior is decorated nicely but maybe some lighting indicating 'open' would help Olea remain in the neighbourhood.
A comfortable, welcoming feel to this place. It reminded me of a family dining room. Maybe Sunday dinner with Aunt Molly? Table manners, good people, familiar conversation, hardwood floor, dark wood table and vase of fresh cut flowers. Some tables for two and a larger one for 8 or 10 in case the neighbors show.
Semi-open kitchen that told you the chef knew who he was serving (a warm smile and dark eyes above chef whites had greeted us from above the glass as we arrived), but the functionality of the kitchen didn't intrude on my desire to be served & not in the kitchen tonight. I liked it.
The glass of Argentinian Melbac was to satisfy a craving tonight, not pair with my yet-unknown order. So satisfying. Lush, smooth, big without tannins.
Perfectly done flatbread. Very different presentation with the goat cheese, grilled peaches and greens with oil on the side. A fun share plate. Refined flavors.
Quinoa with mushrooms. My friend ordered. I'm not sure I even looked at the menu. Without discernable oil or sauce it could have been dry....and wasn't. It was a perfect backdrop for the flavorful mushrooms and a slightly bitter green to contrast. Simple, straight forward, nicely done.
We split a french press coffee and pot de creme that was cool and thick and decadent.
We were there for a light meal and between the flatbread, quinoa and dessert we were satisfied. Now it's up to my friend to keep them going (and introduce as many as she can to it!!) until my next visit to San Francisco.
Went back to try their egg dish and had the roasted squash omelet with roasted pumpkin seeds and it was delicious. As usual I had to have a pot of Blue Bottle coffee. It was very crowded on Sunday for some reason so the wait was a bit longer than the last time. Perhaps everyone was thrown off by the change in time. I'm still giving Olea 5 stars for the quality ingredients, tasty food and friendly service.
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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9/20/2009
Finally made it to brunch this weekend and there was hardly any wait. What's waiting 15 mins or so… Read more »
We had brunch at Olea this past Saturday & really enjoyed it.
WAIT: There was none. We ended up getting there before they opened at 9:30 because we were unsure of how crazy the line would be (last week's trip to Brenda scarred us, I guess). Turns out there was no line... in fact, they were still seating people immediately when we left about 10:30.
FOOD: The wife and I shared two dishes. The challah French toast was quite possibly the best French toast I've ever had in my life (wife agreed). It was sweet, but not overly so, and had a delicious custardy inside. I'm salivating thinking about it! The eggs baked in a cazuela were fairly tasty, but needed a bit of salt (better under-salted than over-salted, of course). Also, I wish the "stew" part had been a bit thicker... it was more like chicken soup with poached eggs than what I had imagined. The coffee in a press and fresh-squeezed orange juice were great!
AMBIENCE: It's an adorable little space. It was getting close to full by the time we left, but the noise volume was not at all painful (again I show my scars from Brenda's).
SERVICE: Mostly good, with a few misses. On the plus side, our waitress was friendly, attentive, and efficient. The first miss was that they didn't let us in until about 9:35--we and another couple were waiting outside in the cold, windy morning & it would've been nice if they had opened the doors a tad early (or at least on time!).
The second miss didn't affect us directly, but I'll relate it here in the hopes of encouraging the staff at Olea to be a little more flexible. After they finally opened the door, the wife and I snagged the 2-top farthest from the door, and the other couple went to sit at a 3-top even farther from the door. One of the staff asked them to choose one of the 2-tops, which would be reasonable if they were at all busy, but they weren't. So the other couple somewhat reluctantly sat at one of the remaining 2-tops closer to the *open* front door. Of course, like 15 minutes later, the 2-tops were all full and the host promptly sat two people at that same 3-top. So it was kinda dumb to hassle the couple who showed up early and waited in the frickin' cold.
The last miss was that our waitress helpfully brought us a couple of plates to help split the food, but one had old cheese stuck to it, which was gross (it was stacked under a clean plate, so she didn't see it).
OVERALL: A delicious and (mostly) pleasant experience. With 2 entrees, small coffee press, and small juice, it was $42 with tax and tip. We'll definitely go back sometime to see what other yumminess the chef has whipped up.
My friend returned from a summer in Peru this saturday, so we decided on a "welcome home" brunch here.
Our experience was very much worth the 20-ish minute wait (expected, as it was 11am on a saturday). We each enjoyed the challah french toast, prepared with a remarkable custard batter, cinnamon, fresh raspberries, and fried to just the right texture, and split a press of blue bottle coffee and a delectable mimosa.
The cafe is sunken about half a level on the street corner, and a light breeze through the open door provided the perfect reprieve from the heat. Very friendly and attentive service as well. This is the place to take someone special for a truly delightful meal.
Wow. I was very impressed with my groups meal here last night.
First off, they only have 6 tables so make a reservation. You have to call to reserve a table - no http://opentable.com
The menu changes often and that means its fresh daily and that they run out of items often as well. However, everything we ordered was unique and Delicious. I had the duck breast over cracked wheat with veggies - so amazing. My friend had the quinoa, the others had halibut. We shared the salad with peaches, goat cheese and flatbread.
I would highly recommend dinning here. Service was nice. atmosphere was homey and they also have a nice wine list. In fact, we had one of The best tempernillos I have ever had.
I have no real excuse for not eating here sooner, it's less than a block away. In any case, I had walked by plenty of times and been intrigued. It seemed like a 'special occasion' place for dinner so J and I finally went in tonight to celebrate our anniversary.
Where to begin? The place is rather small, with a cozy feel, not like a big impersonal restaurant. The food changes seasonally, and presumably this is why its just so incredible. Clearly these folks also get an organic box delivered! Everything was incredibly fresh and delightfully yet lightly seasoned.
I had the halibut, J had clams. In-fucking-credible. Seriously, even the chickpeas, radish and cucumber garnishing the fish were delicious. And I don't even like radish! Every element seemed to be perfectly placed, and prepared with such care as to render the meal no less than exquisite. Truly amazing.
I must caution you that I am a grad student and do not usually spend this much on dinner, so perhaps not having been a party to much truly amazing food, my awe is explained. But in awe I was, truly, amazing food.
The dessert was beyond words. A rich chocolate mousse with a sprinkling of sea salt and fresh raspberries. I thought that it was like good German chocolate died and went to heaven to be crowned by wings and a halo, while J argued that it was more akin to the pure and perfect soul of German chocolate unsullied by sin. Whatever it was, it was pure delight.
I love the setup, its very intimate and the magic happens in the little kitchen just beyond the tables. The place is set slightly below the sidewalk, you walk down a set of stairs to enter. In all the effect was one of being transported (or maybe that was the wine?) to another land where flavors perfectly complement each other and each element is urged to share its own subtle and unique being.
Since when did I care what a chick-pea tasted like? Since now that I know of the genius that results when the magic happens.
Came here for brunch today and the restaurant is in a super cute downstairs of a house. The place is super small tho so there's always going to be a wait unless you show up right when they open or after the lunch rush (after 2pm).
We had the challah custard toast with korintji cinnamon sugar topped with fresh mc ginnis farms berries and the wild manila clams, penn cove mussels and califonia halibut, steamed with pink wine and shallots. I've never had french toast that was soooo soft and tender that it melts in your mouth. It's absolutely delicious. The clams were good too with the sauce. We also had a side of french fries that was yummy!
The only downside is that you have to wait and if you choose to sit at the communal table you might get shafted and have to sit across from each other and not be able to hear what the other person is saying. :) That's why this is 4 stars and not a 5 stars. Food is definitely 5 stars though!
Yummy spot. It's tiny, so be prepared to wait, especially for brunch.
I ordered the omelet with tomato, spinach, and feta. Mmm. I also liked that the "side of toast" I ordered came with three different varieties of bread.
French press Blue Bottle is a nice touch.
Hamburgers should always be made with a fried egg.
Olea will gladly accommodate if you request a fried egg over your burger. It's cooked perfectly so it's still slightly runny. Mmm.... The server was great.
The menu is limited but solid. My only complaint is that they don't have pancakes because I'm not a big fan of french toast. Also I love eggs and the menu was limited to a small frittata and one omelette that I wasn't a big fan of.
For some reason, I really like this place. I'm not sure if it's their location on a corner, their comfy small space, or the great service. I would raise my rating in a heartbeat if I come back on a day when they have a different menu.
My first review was for brunch, which I have been to many times- every experience pretty solid. We've taken to sharing the french toast as an app each time so that we don't have to be torn about what to order for entrees.
Recently went there for dinner and the experience was very nice. We went on a weeknight and had no trouble getting in- though I did call first and would definitely recommend doing so based on the size. It's like a lot of our higher quality food, dress up or down your good, somewhat casual yet highly knowledgeable staff, California cuisine places. Flatbread app was so-so, duck was great, pork was great, chocolate dessert with sea salt was great, wine recommendations were accurate. I'll definitely be back.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/7/2008
Just wanted to add another 5 stars for brunch. The atmosphere is cute and cozy like a B&B. The… Read more »
It's true, their french toast is some of the most fantastic in all the land. Add a french press of Blue Bottle to the mix, along with the perfect companion and a sunny Sunday morning with a modest wait, and you have yerself the start to a right-fine day.
Having done this twice now, I can confirm its positive effects.
Might I suggest you continue it as we did by hopping the California St. Streetcar down to the ferry building, where you can equip yourself with wine, cheese, chocolate, bread and fruit and make your way up to golden gate park for an amazing picnic, then down to Sutro's for a cocktail with a view.
Good day.
I had the most horrible breakfast in my life thanks to this restaurant. There was no parking to speak of, the service was nonexistent, and the food, oh the food. Don't even get me started!
It was expensive, tasted so bland it was unbelievable. We walked out halfway through the meal and just plain gave up.
"olèa celebrates the real flavors of food.
we use organic produce from local farms whenever possible and procure our meat and fish from humane purveyors. we only use all natural meats and sustainable, wild caught seafood.
our menu changes weekly depending on seasonal availability."
LOVE IT! Chez Panisse without the price tag and with more love and soul.
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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11/22/2008
The french toast is the best in town. The challah bread is creamy and the cinnamon amount is… Read more »
what a great place to start off a sunday! got there pretty early as there were only two large parties seated. very quaint corner entry that challenges you as soon as you approach it - must stoop down a bit as the door and the handle are a bit shorter than usual. not a very kid friendly place as i almost swept one little boy away while opening the door to walk inside.....there just isn't that much room for a kid or kids to "roam" around and explore. the french press coffee (blue bottle) was tasty and warming. the ambiance was cozy and the staff was extremely friendly and attentive. my omelet with neiman ranch ham was delicious as was my date's french toast - very hearty and creamy.
as always, yelp came through again! thanks all!
very cute neighborhood restaurant. this review is for brunch only:
On a cloudy morning, my friend visited me. I want to show her what she missed out for moving out of the city, i took her to Olea, which is down the street from me. Hey, what a pleasant surprise, they serve blue bottle coffee here! We had french toast and baked egg in a casuela, and boy, they are excellent!!! Olea, i will come back for dinner very soon!
