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Categories: Turkish, Vegetarian
Neighborhood: Inman SquareMon-Thu. 5:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 5:30 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sun. 5:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
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first thing i wannna say is yummmmmmmmm........i took my best friend to oleana as a surprise, the day he got his job! and man, was he surprised! He loved the oleana experience! As vegeterians , both of us were extremely happy with oleanas veggie offerings!we had whipped feta with sweet and hot peppers, French bread, zucchini pancakes and many flavvours of ice creams. every spoonful in the mouth was a delight!
Also the staff was very attentive and knowledgable! the ambience was also great to enjoy the food!
But the hitch in this deal is the cost.It piches the purse a litlle. apart from that, its a great restraunt to go to. My friend and i decided to go to oleana whenever we have to celebrate something new!
Ana Sortun is a genius. Her restaurant and cookbook, Spice, have changed the way I think about food. It turns out you can teach an old dog new tricks...
The restaurant is not exactly on the beaten path, but it is worth wandering to find. Her subtle and remarkable spin on classic Turkish cuisine is a revelation. She brings a light touch and deep passion to a kitchen filled with love and respect for both her ingredients and her patrons.
The wine list is stimulating and the decor is comfortable, relaxed, and charming. Staff are dedicated and delightful, just like Chef Sortun.
Come here and be amazed.
I LOVE Oleana. Every time I have gone here for dinner I have been met with excellent service from the waitstaff.
The restaurant itself has a romantic ambience and the food is to die for.
I loved the whipped feta as an appetizer. I'm also a huge fan of the ricotta dumplings and the wine list is amazing.
I love that Ana Sortun selects the wine list based on what tastes good with Olive Oil. Genius!!!!
Top your dinner off with the Baked Alaska for dessert. You won't regret it!!!!
I went here on a Friday night for my boyfriend's birthday. We got the vegetarian tasting menu. The food overall was excellent. First course: whipped feta with olives and za'tar served with a focaccia-like bread. Second course: A flatbread pizza Third: Granita of muscat grapes, herbs, cucumber and yogurt. Fourth: Mushrooms, Kale Fifth: ricotta and bread dumplings. One of my absolute favorite restaurants in Cambridge. Really nice space, servers were pleasant. Dessert was not memorable, but the main meal was satisfying enough. The food is really phenomenal. I cannot wait to go back.
Took S.O. on a Sunday night, no reservations. Lucky to find two seats at the bar. The Bar tender was terrific. He was very knowledgeable of both the bar and dinner menus. We followed his suggestions and were very well sated. The feta cheese spread appetizer was fantastic. Loved everything about the place, including the private parking lot across the street. Making plans to return with friends.
This year on Halloween, we treated ourselves to dinner here. I made the reservations several weeks in advance, and very glad I did. Everything was phenomenal, and as a vege / omni couple, my boyfriend and I were both very pleased with our dinners. The waitress was great, attentive but not too chatty. The atmosphere was fine, despite the set up of a long shared bench seat on one side of a row of tables and chairs on the other--I usually don't like that set up, feeling far away from your partner, but in this case the other tables were far enough away that we still had privacy.
The food was so delicious. I had a greens salad which was good, until I found a hidden treasure of some nut crumble topped with cheese, which made it divine. I also had a feta red pepper starter, which was the best trick of my Halloween, since I hate red peppers, which were in this case, delicious!
I can't wait to go back!
It was good but not knock your socks off like I thought.
The Whipped Feta was good but such a small amount.
The Hummas was dry
Good service though.
My entre was good
The texture on the baked alaska was the best part of the meal! Like toasted marshmellow!
Would go there again someday.
An old friend was in town for the weekend and asked me to find a place for us to get dinner. Yelp directed us to Oleana, and I wasn't let down.
We didn't exactly fit in -- in our early twenties, we were easily the youngest patrons, and probably the only who weren't dating each other. We were able to handle the romantic atmosphere though :)
Service wasn't top-notch, our water glasses were empty for longer than they should have been, but this is a classy place overall.
While the food was good, the portions were much too large, so we skipped dessert.
Great if you are looking for non-standard, fresh food, but nothing too exotic.
I guess it's kind of silly to write a review where there are already 248 of them, but I wanted to put in a word for the excellent service I had at Oleana a couple of weeks ago.
First, we were 20 minutes late because my wife was having a hell of a time finding parking (anyone who's tried to have dinner in this area- you know what I'm talking about.) Expecting a problem, because it was a Friday night and the place was pretty packed, I apologized to the hostess- she was so nice and gave some parking suggestions and assured me we'd still have our reservation.
Next, we had made an Open Table reservation because it was my birthday...both the hostess and the server said happy birthday to me, and our server went through some trouble to put a candle in my ice cream (first lighter didn't work, so he went back into the kitchen for another one.) I guess I was expecting impersonal service because Oleana is such a well-known place (i.e. they certainly don't need our business) but instead the excellent service added to a very lovely evening.
ps- the special dessert- heirloom apple and huckleberry crisp with bay leaf ice cream- was OUT OF CONTROL delicious.
I had been looking forward to dining at Oleana for quite some time. Overall it was a very pleasant experience with just a few little kinks. We were unable to get reservations on such short notice but were seated outside in the beautiful garden area without them, which may even be a better experience than sitting indoors (weather permitting).
My friend and I started with a delicious whipped feta pret a manger which was served with French bread and za'atar bread. So delicious! Next we tried the appetizer special, which was a fried green tomato parmesan. Again, really great. We both loved it a lot. Onto the entrees, mine was the special, a pan seared scallop dish with a Brussels sprout gratin, while my friend tried the duck gyro. She was left seriously disappointed in her dish, which I'll agree was seriously lacking in flavor. Mine was good, and the service was excellent (I had asked our waitress to write down the specials we had ordered so I could remember exactly what they were for future reference) and I even purchased the Spice cookbook signed by the chef.
I'm sure there are superior menu items that may have saved us from the unpleasant experience of having to tell the waitstaff that a particular dish was unsatisfactory, but I can see myself giving Oleana another shot. We'll just have to avoid those duck gyros!
This place was so good! I took my girlfriend here for her birthday and it couldn't have gone better. I had the scallops and she had the monk fish, and both were delicious. One of the cool things about the restaurant, is they own a farm, so most of the vegetables are seasonal, organic, and don't travel very far. Fresh ingredients, with no pesticides mmm mmm tasty. The desserts were delicious as well, but the highlight was the pure white jasmine flower tea. It was served in a tall wine glass with the actual flower in the bottom and as it steeped the flower emerged and looked incredible (it tasted great too). I told our server how impressed I was with the tea and he said their "tea guy" puts great pride into the teas on the menu. I have never heard of a place with a "tea guy" but I want one at every restaurant I visit in the future. We also bought chef Sortun's cookbook and can't wait to TRYand recreate the Oleana menu at home.
This place has a lot of buzz so we were excited to try it. We went at 6:30 and the place was packed. The outdoor area is lovely, but we ate inside.
Here's what we ordered:
-The hummus appetizer - we found it underwhelming, kinda bland
-Some other appetizer that we don't even remember...
-My sis ordered a veggie pasta and was unhappy with it
-I ordered a moroccan fish stew that was delish, however, it was something that I could easily recreate in my own kitchen for alot less money
- My mother had a salmon dish, I believe. Just OK.
We love trying new restaurants and all kinds of cuisine, but this was a really blah experience. We were all three equally surprised that we didn't like it more, and I'm wondering if we just ordered the wrong items. I've heard great things about their beef. Perhaps we should give them another go.
My mom, sister and I ventured to Oleana this evening I had heard many great things about the establishment, and am a frequent visitor of Sienna Farms ( chef Sortun's husbands farm that provides produce to many Boston restuarants). We started with the warm olives and za'atar, along with the whipped feta with sweet and hot peppers, both were excellent, especially the feta; not to salty and and a great combination with the peppers. Next I had the acorn squash dolma with lamb tahini and brown butter by far my favorite dish out of the entire meal, the softness of the squash with the tangyness (sp?) of the tahini was an unexpected and wonderful treat. For my entree I had the day boat cod with chanterelle migas, chorizo, chick peas and romesco sauce.... Now unfortunately for me this is where the meal fell short, my dinner arrived and was a lukewarm temperature, and for me personally unless I am eating a tartare I prefer my fish hot, our server Shelly with a very genuine attitude had the kitchen reheat my meal. Although the meal was brought to a pleasent temperature something about the combination of ingredients was off for my tastebuds, the romesco sauce was probably the best part of the dish, light and creamy, the combination of the chickpeas and chanterelles seemed a bit muddled and lost overall, the greens were ok and I would have liked a bit more of the chorizo, and the cod was overdone. Moving on to dessert I was excited to see that baked alaska was a featured item, and I was not disappointed! Although a little daunting in size- I highly recommend sharing for 2 people or more! The meringue was nice and crisp on the outside with a beautiful light marshmallow texture on the inside and perfectly smooth ice cream atop a chewy cocconut cookie and the best part was the passion fruit caramel- sweet, citrus and perfection. To finish things off turkish coffee, which is brewed stove top and brought to 3 seperate boils and rather than straining the grinds they settle to the bottom of the tiny espresso cup a great little zing to finish the meal.
All in all it was a delightful evening, the atmosphere was upbeat but quiet enough that you could carry a conversation with everyone at the table, and the live music in the background was a nice surprise. Shelly our server was very knowledgeable about the food and conveyed her knowledge in an interesting and down to earth manner, and prices were reasonable. I would definetly make reservations ahead of time as the dining room fills up quick and it seems that people tend to sit for an extended period of time. I would definetly give Oleana another chance and avoid the cod dish!
Veggie tasting menu awesome. Generally I expected a more distinct farm fresh experience with the food. While sensational I feel the food got managed one or two steps too many beyond the straight from the farm taste and experience.
I also rate the staff a notch below the food. I would have appreciated a more engaging and personal approach.
I DO LIKE OLEANA, but not a definite do again.
I was surprised to see several people consider this a vegetarian restaurant, because much of what I had was actually centered around meat and dairy based on Mediterranean pairings and seasonings. Perhaps it's the difference in the summer and winter menus? In any case, the food is fantastic- a true culinary delight of spices and fresh ingredients.
We were out to splurge and taste as much of the menu as we could. It took me forever to decide because everything looked so delicious. Eventually we decided to start with the Whipped Feta with Sweet & Hot Peppers, and Spicy Carrot Purée & Dukkah as our Pret A Mangers. Both were delicious compliments to the bread offering. We followed with a shared Appetizer of Acorn Squash Dolma with Lamb, Tahini & Brown Butter which was AMAZING. I could have enjoyed this alone as a meal in itself, but the adventure continued with the dinner special of the evening, Leg of Lamb stuffed with Jasmine rice served with a compliment of greens and tzatziki. My husband had the Flattened Lemon Chicken with Za'atar & Turkish Cheese Pancake, which was delicious, but I certainly found my special to be more flavorful and adventurous. ;-) We topped the meal off with a dessert special of Bread Pudding which was accompanied by a caramel pudding and unique berries which I can't remember the name of. A beautiful end to a thoroughly exquisite meal.
To add to our adventure, I wanted to try a bottle of wine which I was unfamiliar with and couldn't decide between the Greek Asirtiko or Italian Trebbiano. Ultimately the server leaned us toward the Trebbiano, and I have to say it was the only thing about my meal that I wasn't completely satisfied with. Well, that and the fact that the tables are too close together to afford any true privacy in conversation. However, since everything else, including the service, was so fabulously extraordinary, it remains a five star experience in flavor adventures. We went on a Sunday evening and were able to schedule an Open Table reservation a few hours earlier.
Delicious. Plain and simple.
What more could be said about the charming and delightful dining experience I just had at Oleana on Friday night? Thanks to my fellow yelpers, my party arrived early in order to get a seat in the ever so cute outdoor courtyard. Intimate, cozy and tranquil are the immediate words that come to mind. It was definitely worth the half hour early arrival time and I can't recommend it more.
The food, as I hoped, was phenomenal. I started with the calamari which was prepared in such a unique, creative way and turned out to be absolutely tender, flavorful and mouthwatering. I ordered the lamb steak as my entree which was brought to me perfectly rare (the only way to enjoy red meat, I think) and delectable. My friend ordered the much talked about vegetarian tasting menu which was all very yummy and fresh. Freshly dug up potatoes that were cooked in the most perfect way? Yes, please!! They also have an extensive wine and decent beer selection to please most palates.
Prices are surprisingly reasonable, especially for the crazy notoriety this place has garnered. Portions were definitely modest in size.
Service was impeccable. Our waitress was extremely attentive, personable and described everything. What more could ya want?
My single gripe is that the parking situation sucks over at Inman Square so it can be a bit of a hassle to find a convenient space, especially during the really busy dinner times.
Oleana definitely ranks up there with the best of Boston, no question. It's so laid back and casual here that I could easily come back here regularly. Eggscellent job, Oleana!
This is really a special restaurant. I took a couple of my directors here for a thank you meal at the suggestion of one of my chefs/professors who knew it would be to my tastes.
Our waitress was a little quiet (the restaurant is a little quiet overall), but was lovely and appropriate. We informed her early on that we would be eating quite a bit as it was a late reservation (I think 9pm on a summer Wednesday) and we did end up closing the place. The atmosphere is incredibly inviting - warm tones all around, definitely feels like some place far away. I'd almost venture to say magical.
There are a few bottles of wine in the $30 range, but the Greek white that we wanted to order was sold out. :( No matter. The bottle we ended up with was lovely. We started with the warm olives (nothing special), spicy carrot puree (incredibly buttery), and the whipped feta with sweet and hot peppers (ah-mazing). I could eat just this pret a manger every day of my life.
The rest of our meal included Fried Mussels (not overcooked), Sultan's Delight (possibly the best thing on the menu), an Everything Green dish (plentiful), and a lamb dish (they do it right). Everything is so flavorful and cooked to the perfect temperature. The entire experience of Oleana is warming, almost indescribably. To be fair, it's just my type of food. I don't like anything too precious or classic so this restaurant is right up my alley.
The dessert was also spectacular. I find that a lot of wonderful restaurants drop the ball on dessert and give you only boring options. Not Oleana. Every dessert includes their homemade ice cream or sorbet. My only complaint is that nougat/nectarine glace was a little on too sweet. The best of the bunch was a raspberry and goat's milk ice cream. To die for.
I actually have dreams about eating here again. It's that good. Definitely in my top 5 and definitely the best non-French restaurant in the Boston area.
It pains me to update this review, as the first time I ate here, I thought I had finally found a Boston area restaurant where I could eat vegetarian fare in a fine dining experience. But after returning last night, I have come to the conclusion that my initial experience on a very slow evening was an atypical one for this restaurant, and that last night's experience was more typical.
The same dining companion and I returned and again ordered the Vegetarian Tasting Menu. Though we were only the second table seated in the evening service, we were inexplicably seated at the table right by where the waitstaff regularly walks to go to the kitchen and the cash register (and near where they often stand around waiting to go check on tables) and where customers walk to reach the bar. I was so surprised that in a literally nearly empty dining room, we would be given such an undesirable table, that I nearly asked if we could be reseated, and it was for me an uncomfortable enough spot that if I go back, I would not hesitate to ask it.
Our waitress kept talking about stuff "at my house"; for example, the first thing that was served was a salad and she said, "Even though I get my greens from them, it's nothing like the salads at my house!" Uh, that's why the chef is the chef and you're the one waiting on my table. But that first course was about all we saw of her. Most of our mezes were served by someone that it seemed was perhaps an assistant in the kitchen. He had a very thick accent and even though we typically asked him to repeat what he said, we still never heard the complete description of any of the mezes he served, and went into them not knowing everything we were eating (sometimes finishing them still not able to identify a key part of the dish). The waitress would just make snappy comments on her way past our table, not actually serving our food, not checking on us at all - no questions, just brief repartee. It was a third person who kept refilling our water glasses. Who knew it took a minimum of three people to serve a single two-person table?
Unlike our previous experience, we were served the mezes one at a time (which they would typically not do in the Mediterranean regions on which the cuisine is loosely based), and there were usually long wait times between them. The wait time for our last meze was the longest of all, and by then a couple had been seated at the very next table, even though the several two-person tables in the middle of the restaurant (a row of them between the two rows of tables edging the dining room) were still open. When a fourth person showed up with what he alleged was our meze, we stated that we had already had that one in one of our previous courses. He initially disagreed with us - as if we wouldn 't know what we had eaten! Only when we continued to insist that we had in fact eaten that already did he reluctantly turn and return to the kitchen. (This was not an isolated incident; we heard the couple next to us disagreeing over the bottle of wine with the waitress - who was spending much more time on them, probably because they were doing things like buying a bottle of wine - and she also initially disagreed with them, but at least said she would investigate.) After several more minutes passed, a different dish was brought to us by the man who'd been doing most of the actual serving. I imagine it was probably pretty good when it was just made, but it was clear as soon as we bit into it that it had spent some time sitting around waiting to get to our table. The sauce was already cold and the greens had been waiting so long to be eaten that they were chewy. It was the kind of thing that I would be more likely to reheat or toss in my own house than to actually eat.
After yet another very long wait, we were served our dessert (that comes with the four-course meze). Though it was one of the coldest nights yet this autumn, we were served an ice. It had also apparently waited a while to get to us, as the rose petal syrup at the bottom had congealed to the pre-chilled glass and was difficult to scrape off.
These were our courses this time, each served independently (instead of two at a time like our previous visit) with long wait times between them (instead of almost none before): First, a salad of greens with a little mold of feta whipped with Lebanese spices on top of a crust made of almond bits and something else. Second, we got one of the same dishes as before, falafel on lavash with tahini and a beet-based condiment, though this time it was served with two pickled somethings instead of the warm greens it had been served with before, and the lavash itself was smaller than previously, such that we could not fully wrap the falafels. Third, a giant single piece of broccoli on top of something we never identified which was on top of a little puddle of pureed pumpkin. Fourth, the aforementioned chewy greens. Finally, the aforementioned ice.
I went here last week with a friend. We ordered the vegetarian tasting menu to split between us (I… Read more »
Hmm... Before going to Oleana, I read review after review stating how amazing it was. Well, I can't say that my review is going to follow suite. My friend and I started with hummus, which was pretty good. The zucchini pancakes that followed were the highlight of the meal! They were very good. Then I had the steak and my friend had the chicken, neither one was impressive. With baked Alaskan for dessert, I thought redemption was in sight, but nope. Still just ok.
A meal for 2 runs about $70/person, which was not worth the meal I had. My friend, who is a self-proclaimed foodie, agreed. It is my belief that Oleana is highly overrated.
The vegetarian tasting menu is creative and delicious.
All of the desserts are amazing; their pastry chef really deserves the awards she's won.
All I can say is, WOW. Went here to kick off my honeymoon, and it was a fabulous dining experience - the ambiance was fabulous (outdoor patio, on a Tuesday w/ live music), wait staff was the perfect level of attentive, and the food was absolutely fabulous. Clearly not an every day restaurant for most of us, given the price, but what a great place for a special occasion. Food recommendations below.
Apps: Burrata w/ grilled peach and corn relish (was a special), best single plate I have ever had. Fried mussels, also fabulous according to the Mrs.
Entrees: Duck gyro was awesome, cooked perfectly. Tuna was great, but not the best we've ever had (Miami on the beach, hard to beat).
Dessert: Blew us away! The baked alaska was really fabulous, neither of us had ever had before, and it was awesome. We also had the frozen chocolate mint souffle, which was perfection. Great way to finish the meal.
Oleana's fusion of Middle Eastern and Central Asian flavors with French precision is very unique; at least here in Boston. I have never been to a restaurant that blends flavors the way Oleana does.
Its located in a quiet part of Cambridge and serves beer and wine only.
I'm excited to go back to Oleana soon.
I can't believe I haven't reviewed Oleana yet. This place is probably in my top 3 of places to eat in the Boston/Cambridge area. I had my 1st date here with my now wife and it has become our tradition to eat here on our anniversary.
Always amazing service, always amazing food and great wine selection too! Get the white sangria and sit outside. You can't make reservations for the outdoor seating area but it is worth the wait. And If you like lamb, get the lamb.
The only downside is its location to the T but that doesn't stop us from going.
Excellent food
Amazing vegetarian tasting menu
You must come here at least once, it's a little pricey, but so worth it!
It's a little out of the way and hard to find, but is def one of the best restaurants in Boston.
I have no idea how we got here, but the wife and I were completely turned-around and lost in Cambridge or Somerville or both. She had to use a bathroom and I was pretty hungry. I found a parking spot in front of this wonderful restaurant. We were expecting our favorite dining experience in Boston since we moved here in the middle of an exhausting afternoon of errands, but here we were.
We had our first Sangria... I never knew what it was! It's wine and fruit - delicious! Refreshing! And we drank and ate outdoors on a sunny day. (Finally!)
We split calamari and swordfish and we were happy as CLAMS! Hahah. Loved it. I recommend it highly.
OK, being honest. Time for some tough love.
I've been several times over the years, and I am a big fan of this fantastic food and the chef - it's fresh, inventive, just damn good. Those folks at the James Beard Awards know their stuff.
However, I'm taking off points and just not rushing back for the following reasons:
1. hello, pricey?! did they renovate and am I being charged for it? $27 for brick chicken is what they charge at Hammersley's and Scampo - but those establishments have a plush factor, are in the high rent district, adjacent to a bevy of other eats and amusements and have crowds worthy of watching. this section of Cambridge is not so lovely-has anyone noticed? ditto the people watching factor - there's just nothing, no one to look at here. it's also cramped. sorry, but i'm just not seeing value here, comparatively.
2. no valet?! you know, I can park across the street and walk, but sometimes the weather is lousy, etc. at these prices, your car should be "handled" if that's what you prefer.
3. no alcohol - just beer and wine - sometimes you need a cocktail! a james beard fine dining restaurant with no alcohol? no. this doesn't work for me.
4. wine list - I don't dig the layout, it's a little unclear, and they need more rose. we were seated on their patio on a lovely night (loving the fleece and space heaters) that was just screaming for some light libations - but there were just two roses to choose from. maybe 4 would be nice? espec given there is no vodka or tequila to relax and refresh with.
A friend tells me the best take is to sit at the bar and get small plates. Maybe chef will see this and be inspired to do her next place as such!? I'd look forward to that, very much.
One of the best meals I've had in Boston...which says a lot since I love food, am part Lebanese and am obsessed with mediterranean / middle eastern food. Everything is fresh and flavorful...many ingredients come from a local farm. They import special olive oil from Crete and serve it with delicious flatbread seasoned w/ za'atar...yum.
Eaten here twice (once in winter, once in summer). Menu changes seasonally. There's a cool outdoor patio during warm months. Definitely get reservations in advance. Not cheap, but not overpriced...much better bang for your buck than most fancy meals I've had.
Our upbeat waitress quickly greeted us and offered drinks, which was much appreciated given the high humidity of a Cambridge summer. She read off several specials from her notebook, which sounded slightly rehearsed; she made sure to emphasis that Oleana's Green meatballs were "much better than ordinary old Greek meatballs." However, at the end of the spiel, she opened up a bit to simply say, "anything with lamb here is a knockout." That's all I needed to hear.
We ordered a bottle of Rose, which the restaurant cleverly highlighted on a small insert to make it easier for the diner to find. We picked one from the Loire Valley. At first, the wine was startlingly tight and I questioned my choice. Fortunately, after letting the wine breathe, the wine introduced its flavors of fruit and toned down the acid. After 20 minutes, there was a beautiful wine on the table that was cool, refreshing, and tasty.
The menu was frustrating only in the sense that there were so many things to choose. In addition to the standard appetizers and entrees, there was also a category called "Pret a Manger." Basically, pre-appetizers. Small bites meant to be consumed while browsing the menu. My dining companions each chose one as their appetizer, which ended up being a perfect choice because they were well sized, cheap, and came out very quickly. A few minutes after ordering, two carefully crafted deviled eggs and a plate of warm olives doused in Za'atar spice appeared. Za'taar spice, a mixture becoming more popular in modern cuisine, is very tradition Greek and combines ground spices and sesame seeds. They complemented the olives beautifully, and the resulting oil in the dish was the best bread-dipping accompaniment I have had in ages. I can't say much about the deviled eggs because they were gone before I had a chance to even ask to try them! In opposition to my friends, I chose to the do the vegetarian tasting menu. Our waitress was excited to inform us that the tasting was available for a single diner, which many other restaurants are often inflexible on.
I started with what may have been the highlight of the meal: A parfait of tzatziki, a salad of cucumber, garlic, and green grapes, and sorrel granite. Upon tasting the granite, neither of my companions could find words to describe it. It was delicate, sweet, savory, airy, and complimentary of every other element in the dish. The tangy yogurt went beautifully with the sharp garlic and sweet grapes. I only wish that they served it in a salad bowl rather than a shot glass. Next, I was brought a briquette of mild cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, arugula, and a lebneh made with lavender and a minty herb. It was perfectly tasty but not nearly as exciting as the previous course. The situation was not helped when I asked my server to tell me a bit more about the puree, and she simply replied "I'm not sure." Moreover, At the point, there was an awkward period in the dining in which I was eating and my compatriots weren't. I had another course to go before our entrees were presented, and I felt a bit self-conscious. Admittedly, I knew that I was flying solo going into the tasting, but a polite warning would have been appreciated. In the grand scheme of the meal, these things were minor.
The next course picked up the culinary creativity from the first course. A gourmet take on the falafel, this one came with pickled cucumber, beet and feta puree, organic cress, and spinach falafel. The falafel, rather than crispy and dry, was moist and tender. The beet puree, which added a vibrant magenta to the wrap, was incredibly flavorful. Most importantly, I was allowed to roll it up and eat it like a falafel, and eating with your hands always makes things taste better.
The conclusion of my vegetarian tasting menu was ricotta bread dumplings with a savory tomato broth. My companions got lamb steak with fava bean moussaka and grilled swordfish with kohlrabi fritters. The lamb, as promised, was phenomenal. Tender, juicy, slightly gamy, cooked to a perfect medium rare, it was beautiful. The moussaka, though a touch crumbly, was rich and complemented by a smooth, creamy yogurt sauce. The swordfish had beautiful hatch marks and a towering salad of fresh greens; this is a fish for grilled fish aficionados. The fish was delicate but meaty, as good swordfish should be, and the fritters when fantastic. The filling had a unique composition of whole pieces of kohlrabi and a creamy surrounding. Regardless, they were light and complemented the fish beautifully. My dumplings were pillowy, in the best sense of the world. A schmear of dumpling and swab of tomato broth on the fresh bread was a perfect ending to the meal.
My favorite restaurant in cambridge/boston! The appetizers are fantastic -- and their menu changes depending on what is in season. They happen to have a zucchini pancake they are serving right now. It comes on halumi cheese and a tomato salad. Fabulous. Also, they have their own home-made string cheese.
In general, i say the appetizers are better than the main dishes, so we always get two appetizers to split and 1 main dish (for two people).
Their ice creams are home made and delicious!
I never leave here disappointed.
I picked out this restaurant over a year ago as the place I wanted my parents to take me when they came to visit. I have to say, I was not at all disappointed.
I had the vegetarian tasting menu, at the recommendation of several friends (I am not a vegetarian). You have to be willing to be a teensy bit adventurous, since you don't know what dishes the chef will serve up. Several of the dishes were outstanding - interestingly flavored and full of the freshest produce possible. I'm so very glad I came here in the summer when produce is at its peak. The smaller dishes were more creative than the entrees, and really spoke to the skill the chefs have with fresh ingredients. A chilled grape/sorrel/gazpacho-like dish started off my tasting menu, and a vermicelli with chickpeas and a tasty spice mix ended it. These two dishes really stood out as things I could never have thought of in my own kitchen - it's the sort of inventive cuisine that makes you feel like it's worth it to go out to dinner. A tomato corn stew dish was a little less interesting, but overall, I enjoyed every bite.
The restaurant itself is more casual than I expected. If you're going to dine inside, I would recommend requesting a table that isn't in the room with the bar. I wasn't terribly comfortable sitting with my back against a very flat wall.
My white sangria was only alright, but the non-alcoholic mint-and-rose beverage that my dad got was pretty interesting.
I enjoyed my experience overall, and I would definitely recommend it to people who say Boston is not a town for foodies.
As the stars indicate this place is only A-Ok. I was a little underwhelmed. I had very high expectations based on the reviews. I would have MUCH rather gone to Hungry Mother, which is just down the road.
We started with Pret-a-Manger: warm olives (too small), feta (excellent), hummus (amazing). I had the tuna. I wanted the lamb but it seemed they weren't willing to substitute the side it came with (eggplant is not on my list of faves) so I got the tuna. It was very underwhelming for $26. Maybe I'm just used to delicious tuna? Boyfriend got the steak...it was good but again, not better than A-Ok.
I can think of better places to spend my money...no doubt. Sorry.
I don't get what's the big deal with Oleana. I had dinner here with my partner last week, and we both left a little disappointed. Service and ambiance were both excellent. Our server knew lots about the menu, and the dishes we ordered were explained as they were served -- always appreciate that.
The food wasn't vegetable-heavy so much as it was floral-heavy. Our first drink, the "saketini," was spiced so much that it tasted like perfume. Same for the last round of desserts; our ice cream was put in a sauce that really overpowered everything else.
The vegetarian tasting menu was hit and miss. We were served a sorrel parfait, which sounded interesting but tasted really, really sharp -- like eating-grass sharp. Meanwhile, the falafel dish was delicious, with a nice soft ball of falafel and some of the best tahini I've eaten.
Maybe the meat dishes are better -- we also ordered the lamb and eggplant dish, which was our favorite.
In any event, we didn't receive the dining experience that we expected given the (very) high prices and the overwhelming positive feedback from friends and Yelp.
We came on a mild April day, about twenty minutes before opening, and staked out at the door and managed to get the second-to-last patio table. The garden is immaculate, but we could not figure out what that oddly sculpted tree represents.
The falafel was very good, served piping hot with a measure of watercress with yogurt on a lavash. It's lighter in flavor and more packed with whole herbs than my lunch staple of going to Falafel King every so often. The crabcakes that were a special of the day had a very rustic and homespun appearance in keeping the herbs whole, like the falafel. Also very good in flavor, the crab and herbs complementing each other rather than one taking over.
For entrees, we did our usual routine of dish-swapping. My friend ordered the rabbit bisteya and I ordered the duck buried under vermicelli. The duck, I did not enjoy that much. The 'vermicelli'... seemed like it was Chinese 'ha zi mein', a noodle made with bits of shrimp that has an aftertaste that just does not work for me. The duck seemed a little overdone to me and the sauce very light and delicate, but it was hard to find a flavor that was not overwhelmed by the noodles. The rabbit in appearance was inpressive, two cones of phyllo filled with a 'stew'. It was 'good' but it was hard to define the dish as rabbit. In flavor, it could have been any meat, only the texture indicating that it was rabbit. It tasted like... well... 'stew'.
However, we were much more impressed by dessert. The baked Alaska was amazing, done just long enough for the meringue to be visibly hot, the chilled almond ice cream inside preserved in its chilled state, a wonderful contrast. The pomegranate syrup that accompanies the dish was delicious, really bringing out the flavor of the fruit. We ordered their dessert special, which was a dish of ice cream and cake, but I fear the baked Alaska has overwhelmed my memory to finer details. I want to come back just for the baked Alaska.
Overall, I was a bit underwhelmed by the entrees, but the dessert was indeed impressive. The service was excellent, the staff working as a tag-team to make sure our experience was alright. We'll be back.
Dishes to try: Falafel, Baked Alaska.
Great service. Great food. Great decor. Priced accordingly. Get reservations.
Dissapointing desserts if you are looking for more cuinary classic dishes. Why does everything have to have ice cream in it???
Hands down my favorite restaurant in Cambridge! This place is not cheap by any means but totally worth it. I have never had anything I didn't like here. The executive chef, Ana Sortun, is simply amazing!!!!! Plus the ingredients are all fresh from the Sortun farm and every bite is delicious.
If you've never been, I highly recommend trying the fried mussels, spicy carrot puree and the ricotta and bread dumplings for appetizers. You won't go wrong with any of the entrees. My particular favorite is the Halibut (but the menu changes seasonally and they also have a daily special addition). On top of that, Oleana has an excellent wine list and the service is top-notch. Our waitress was very knowledgeable and attentive.
The only thing I wouldn't get there is dessert, just because Christina's is so close by and it's too good to pass up.
I just wish Oleana was also open for lunch! But fortunately they just opened a cafe (Sofra) down the street with just as good food for less :) Or if you want to check it out, but it's a little too pricey right now, make a reservation for restaurant week early. It will fill up fast!
This place is expensive, But it's priced around what you'd expect from a restaurant of this caliber in the Boston area.
I went with my mother and sister for their birthday. (Yes, same day-convenient considering that I'm uber-forgetful) I'm vegan, they're not, and the menu seemed to have an option or two for me, so we checked it out. On a Sunday, with no reservation, we got a table immediately, which was nice. We started with the falafel, which had to be the best falafel I've ever had. The carrot spread was very good as well. My mother had the salt cod special that was apparently insanely good, a well-balanced dish. My sibling had the tuna entree that apparently was overcooked. I had the veganized chickpea dish, which I liked a lot. It was spicy and filling, but I think it needed something- probably the aioli which I omitted.
The desserts were very good as well. The server was nice enough to point out that the almond sorbet was vegan, which I appreciated. It was pretty good, though I have to admit I've had better no-moo from Herrell's. The desserts my company ordered were apparently very good as well.f Either way, I'd visit again. Quiet, upscale and pleasant atmosphere, with attentive service.
After wanting to try Oleana for a long time, I finally got my wish! My boyfriend and I were lucky enough to score a table on the patio for a terrific spring evening meal!
Because we both wanted to try a little of everything, we decided to split the Vegetarian Tasting Menu plus a couple of appetizers. At our waitress's recommendation, we ordered the Lamb & Eggplant Dumpling with Garlic Yogurt & Everything Green and the Spinach Falafel with Tahini, Yogurt, Beets & Cress. Both were absolutely delicious!
Our tasting menu started off with a Cucumber Spoon Salad with Sorrel Ice, which was one of the most unique and refreshing dishes I've ever had--perfect for a warm spring evening! After that they brought grilled asparagus with a honeydew melon salsa and goat cheese. This was hands down my favorite course! Next came a dish of fried zucchini in a creamy tomato sauce. Scrumptious! And then Spicy Fideos & Chick Peas with Green Chard & Orange Aioli. This dish was very complex and almost overpowering. It was actually my least favorite of the tasting, but at that point I was so full I could barely eat another bite--that was, of course, until our dessert came! Sesame Ice Cream, Sesame Cashew Bar & Roasted Pineapple with Pineapple Granité --Oh my god, was I in heaven? I almost swiped the entire plate and at the entire thing myself, it was that good!
For all that, two glasses of wine and two bottles of sparkling water, our bill only came to just over $100! I thought it was a very reasonable price for everything we ate! I would absolutely recommend this restaurant to everyone!
I went to Oleana for the first time this week, and it was fantastic. We sat in the back of the restaurant, in the little sun room overlooking the outdoor seating area (which isn't open until May). The waitstaff was knowledgeable, fast and friendly. The food was to die for. I've never seen so many delicious vegetarian dishes on one menu! Some highlights from my family's dinner:
1) Fried Mussels, Hot Peppers & Turkish Tarator Sauce
The mussels and hot peppers were perfectly deep fried -- just enough batter to coat, and just long enough in hot oil to get crispy. The flavor/texture combination was incredible; the mussels practically melted in your mouth.
2) Ricotta & Bread Dumplings with Red Wine, Porcini & Black Kale
Mmm, ricotta, These dumplings were surprisingly light, and the red wine was unexpectedly broth-like (rather than syrupy)
3) Moroccan Fish Stew--Cod, Potato & Cabbage with Crêpe Top
The cod was perfectly cooked. Absolutely perfectly.
4) Flattened Lemon Chicken with Za'atar & Turkish Cheese Pancake
The "Turkish Cheese Pancake" is a bit like a crispy blintz. There are definitely multiple cheeses involved in "Turkish Cheese", and one of them is definitely goat. Sigh.
Summary: I hope I have an excuse to return to Oleana soon!
I am on a roll with 5-star places, but I guess I just ate well in April. Anyways, another date night with the man, this time we ventured to the other side of the river. I scored a 7:30pm reservation at the hot hot hot Oleana, so we did it up.
The restaurants is nesteld on an unassuming strip near Inman Square, near a lot of residential side streets. [Note, it is a further walk from H Sq than you'd think - the man was late.] We were seated promptly, in a center table (not my preference, but there wasn't much else open.
I had read up before coming in, so I knew immediately that I'd be getting the vegetarian tasting menu. Man, was I delighted!! Everything that came out was absolutely delicious, creative, and best of all - it came out in a timely manner, spaced out enough for us to enjoy it, and in cadence with the food that the bf ordered (an app, Sultan's Delight, and lamb entree - all of which he thoroughly enjoyed and ate every bite). The service involved in managing a tasting menu is not easy, let alone trying to match it up with all the other demands that table might have, so for that I am very impressed.
Of note: whipped feta. OMG.
They also have a lovely patio, which to our chargrin, we only learned after the fact that it had heat lamps (the evening weather wasn't quiiiite warm enough yet). But a definite repeat for the summertime. Can't wait to go again.
I can see why this is one of the "most booked" on Opentable!!
Food + ambiance + great service = Oleana!
The night after we got hitched, my husband and I wanted to celebrate by going out to dinner. He had actually made reservations for another place, but after driving around for 15 minutes with no luck finding a parking spot, we gave up and decided to go elsewhere. On the way to "elsewhere," we happened to pass Oleana. We recognized the name because our former landlord had told us he played the oud (it's like a lute) there once a week. We spotted a small parking lot across the street with no tow away warnings in sight - jackpot! So we parked, entered the restaurant, and thus the happiness began....
We started with the deviled eggs with tuna and black olives (pictured in one of Kara S.'s restaurant photos). Since their menu is seasonal, I can't use the website menu to look up the exact names of the main dishes we ate... but I'll give you the gist of it. I had some wonderfully crispy duck with a delicate yet flavorful pumpkin pastry thing (another reviewer called it a terrine?). My husband had lamb, and I can't remember the side... but I do remember that it was good! For dessert I got something with chocolate, and my husband had the Baked Alaska. Both were divine, but the Baked Alaska was my favorite (and coming from someone who thinks dessert isn't really dessert unless it's chocolate, that's saying something!).
Oh, and it just so happened that the night we went was the night our former landlord was playing his oud. It was just him and one other guy with a drum. I thought it added the perfect touch to Oleana's atmosphere. They play on Tuesday evenings; I don't know if they have live music any other night.
I can't wait to go back during outdoor seating season!
Neighborhood: Kendall Square/MIT
Category: Vegetarian
Neighborhood: Kendall Square/MIT
Category: French
Neighborhood: Kendall Square/MIT
Category: Afghan
Neighborhood: Kendall Square/MIT
Category: Southern
Neighborhood: Inman Square
Category: Latin American
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