Our waiter Sean was great....very attentive and informative. Wedge salad and Spicy Rigatoni to start.... both good, but the Rigatoni was outstanding. I ordered the bone-in rib-eye rare, and hubs ordered the filet medium rare and we ordered the Brussel Sprouts. My rare ribeye was more medium rare....still tasty, but more cooked than I like. Hubs medium rare was cooked medium, but that didn't prevent him from eating the entire thing. We ordered the Black Forest Cake for dessert and it was delicious. The most disappointing things to me were the wine list...trouble finding an enjoyable red wine and at the end of dinner the manager came over to ask about our experience and we told him that the only comment we would make is that our steaks were more well done than we liked. He said I'm sorry that happened, let me get you my business card, and if you ever need anything, let me know and I'll help you. He left and we never saw him again. Don't make the offer if you don't plan to back it up. Not in a rush to go back with the cost of the dinner and the manager's attitude. read more

We snagged an early reservation on a Friday since it's not always easy to get in. The entrance and bar area are tastefully done. The interior is elegant and offers a cool vibe. Service was friendly and on point. Appetizers Crab Rangoon Lobster Francaise Entrees Halibut Black Sea bass special Side dish Crispy potatoes-amazing Dessert Churros Olea offered a complete package of food, service, and ambiance. Worth a visit. read more

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Starting with the positive. The food was outstanding. My wife said it was the best steak she's ever had...not empty praise. The chicken I ordered was well seasoned, tasty and juicy. We ordered brussel sprouts and potatoes as sides and they were a nice compliment to the entrees. The sundae we shared for dessert was delicious and all the small dishes of toppings were fun...made us feel like little kids...Captain Crunch indeed. The waitress, food runners and bus staff were attentive but not hanging over our shoulders. They did an excellent job. So why not a five star review? First, a minor gripe...the music. An upscale restaurant should create an environment that is worthy of the amazing meal that has been prepared and the servers who are working so hard to deliver a superb experience. Maybe some light jazz or even classical but bumping club music that feels like someone is pounding on your chest with every bass heavy beat...no. Totally takes you out of the moment. The big complaint...the hostesses. We had a 5:45pm reservation. I figured at that time we would be seated within a few minutes. I figured wrong. They told us the people at our table were just finishing dessert and it would be a few minutes. A lie. Didn't get seated until 6:20. Have enough respect for your customers to be straight with them. You overbooked...people are eating slow...ok...it happens. Give an honest assessment. There were four couples sitting at the bar who were also in a holding pattern. My wife suggested maybe the restaurant does this to drive up the bar revenue but I thought that would be real low budget, and Olea did not give off that vibe, just really poor management of reservations and seating. The worst part was the team of swarming hostesses who kept stomping back and forth between the entrance and the dining area with their iPads like they were unsuccessfully coordinating a NASA launch. The job of a hostess isn't done when you sit someone at the bar with an unrealistic wait time...it's done when they are sitting at their table excited for a great meal. Don't ignore people...make them feel special and they will come back....with friends. That said, we will come back, and probably with friends, because the food and servers were that good...but I will bring ear plugs and cast an evil eye if a hostess tells me the table will be ready in a few minutes. Olea is so close to greatness. I really hope they get there. read more

Ambiance - the room is absolutely gorgeous. They did an amazing job setting up the dining room. The room gets very loud to the point where you may struggle to carry a conversation if you are at a large table. Service - the waiter and bus person were well-intentioned and attentive. We had an early reservation and were part of the first seating. But upon arrival, we were told the table wasn't ready, and we were welcome to go to the bar while waiting. Over the next 60 seconds, we go to the bar, order drinks, and are told the table is ready. My impression is that, for whatever reason, they were pushing our initial drink order to the bar and a separate check. I ordered the Banarama Old Fashioned. I had seen a review where it was garnished with a sugar coated banana slice. But mine came with a dried grapefruit garnish. Food - We had the Octopus and Crab Rangoon appetizers. We thought they were good, but considering the price, we were hoping for outstanding. Next, we ordered the Spicy Rigatoni and the Spaghetti ALL'ASSASSINA. The sauce on the Rigatoni was very good, but the pasta was rubbery. The Spaghetti was extremely salty. We also had crispy potatoes and roasted squash. The potatoes were fine. The squash was the best thing we ate. It was absolutely delicious, and you should order it as a side regardless of what else you order. read more

For starters, the ambiance is EVERYTHING. I love a good aesthetic restaurant and this just checks all of the boxes. The entrance, the lobby, the dining room are all just beautiful. Even the tables and chairs are unique to what I see at other restaurants. The food itself is so delicious. The free bread you get in the beginning with olive oil is SO GOOD and I can't explain why. Maybe the added Parmesan on top completes it? I don't know but I find myself wanting more. My friend and I shared an appetizer and it was so good and cooked to perfection. We both got pasta for our mains and then the dessert knocked it out of the park. I highly recommend trying the churro cruller. The service was great, I love when servers check on me just enough times to where I need them and they're not actually annoying me. Very well timed. Very kind people. read more

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Great new spot. Sat in the lounge, which is more intimate and has the full dining menu. Large waiting area with a bar before entering the lounge. Trendy ambiance, loungey vibe. Cocktails are on point. Particularly liked the Young Urban Professional and the Crimson and Clover. For food we enjoyed the crab cake rangoon and the squid ink tonnarelli. The crab cake rangoon was a unique twist on a traditional crab rangoon, nice flavors. Side dishes are substantial. We had the squash side as an appetizer, it's enough to share. Definitely plan to come back and try a few other things on the menu and maybe make it to dessert next time. Food tips: crab cake rangoon. Squid ink tonnarelli Drink tips: Young Urban Professional. Crimson and Clover read more

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Beautiful, upscale atmosphere. Lots of trees and cozy decor with a Mediterranean touch. Menu was more American/Italian style overall. High prices but large plates for sharing. Loved the bread service with melted butter inside and the freshest olives sprinkled with parsley and olive oil to dip. Excellent Caesar salad, nice touch with the fried capers. Crudo was prepared almost like a ceviche--very fresh and thinly sliced raw tuna. Crab Rangoon came with 4, a bit fishy in flavor, but filled well. Spicy rigatoni sauce was excellent; the pasta was cooked just right. Nice kick to it, but not overbearing. Steak was tender and cooked perfectly. Recommend the crispy potatoes (fried in duck fat) and Brussel sprouts (charred and drizzled with hot honey, so yummy). Can't speak for the other sides. Olive oil cake was extremely light and delightful with an orange twist and berry compote. Chocolate cake came more like mousse in a martini glass, pretty good. Was not blown away by any cocktails per-se, but inventive selections. Service was very friendly but very slow. They don't leave water for the table and provide the tiniest cups so I was constantly flagging down for refills. Hopefully they get the hang of things... best of luck! read more

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Ambiance- pretty, cozy, smells like a hotel which I love, only small complaint, the chairs have very low backs service- Ana was great. She was attentive and helpful Food- overall it was very good. It is very expensive and so I may have expected a little more for the price. For example, the $80 filet comes completely alone on a plate. It was a good cut of steak and cooked nice but boring. The creamed kale tastes like eggnog which had mixed feelings at my table. The halibut was delicious. Best thing we ate was the churro crueler dessert. read more

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They have a very strict reservation policy If you cancel less than 48 hours they will fine you $50 a person This is Spring Lake not Manhattan and they are not a five star Michelin restaurant read more

Went to this restaurant for a birthday celebration. Was looking for something special and given the buzz that this restaurant is receiving, thought it would fill the bill. Coming in we were greeted by the hostess who immediately recognized and flagged the birthday. She and the rest of the staff are friendly, professional, knowledgeable about their jobs and only to be complimented. We started with two of their signature cocktails which were creative and tasty. We moved onto the meal. The appetizers we chose, the octopus and the ribs, were both tasty but nothing special. We moved onto the 32 oz prime porterhouse. This is supposedly known for its steaks but in the preparation of this class piece of meal was disappointing to me. Though ordered medium, the meat appeared tough, did not have a great sear, and was over salted for my taste. It certainly does not hold a candle to the steaks you get at the famed steakhouses. The sides and sauces also disappointed as again they were too salty and the horseradish sauce was bland. We finished with desserts and coffee which were prettily presented and probably would better received if the main course had been better. Especially considering the high prices for items on the menu; ie a king crab appetizer is $120, I would expect higher quality from the kitchen. Please also be advised that each table is especially small, and you are right on top of your neighbor which can be a plus or minus based on the conversations that ensue. read more

https://www.olearestaurantnj.com/ Wow, from the walk into the restaurant to the ambiance within. It is spectacular. But what really stands out is the service, drinks and the outstanding quality and deliciousness of the food served. Definitely added to our rotation list. Get decked out, and get here to enjoy the amazing @olearestaurantnj read more

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We had an amazing anniversary at Olea! We had a special little nook reserved for us with welcome Prosecco waiting for us at the table. We ordered cocktails and tried the pickle martini. The herbs in the cocktails were too strong for me, but my husband loved it. The tuna crudo was absolutely delicious! The beef and bone marrow tartare melted in your mouth. Next time I would ask the chef to leave the chipotle mayo off the tartare. The scallops were perfectly seared. We will definitely return! read more

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Beautiful New Addition to Spring Lake Olea is one of the newest restaurants to open in Spring Lake Heights, NJ located inside The Shore Club Hotel, and it's definitely a welcome addition to the area. The space alone is worth talking about -- the dining room is stunning, with soaring 15-foot olive trees that instantly set the tone for an elevated but still comfortable dinner. It's a great spot for celebrations, date nights, or anyone who loves a beautifully designed atmosphere. There are three distinct areas: the dining room, the more intimate lounge, and the bar, which has a vibrant energy and really solid cocktails. I love that all rooms are open until 2 AM, with the last dinner seating at 10:30 PM -- rare for this area and perfect if you like a later night out. The menu features Chef Bud Carter's signature steak, seafood, and pasta dishes, plus rotating weekly specials. Everything we tried was genuinely very good and well-executed. Highlights for me were the seafood dishes and the pasta -- flavorful, fresh, and thoughtfully prepared. A heads-up: reservations only release one month out and they go quickly, so book early if you have a specific date in mind. They do hold limited walk-in and bar seating, which is nice if you're feeling spontaneous. Overall, Olea is a gorgeous space with good food, a solid vibe, and a team clearly putting care into the experience. Definitely worth trying, and I'm excited to go back and explore more of the menu. IG reel @foodaholicnj read more

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Was really looking forward to this place but the night was ruined by our waitress. Poorly trained or just didn't care. Knew nothing about the beer and cocktail list. Served me a beer I didn't ask for and the second was warm. I told her it was warm she took it to the bar and swapped glasses. So beer still warm. The food : lobster Mac and cheese was bland . My steak was good although little small for a strip steak. Over all not as good as the similar menu in long branch at BB. read more

We were greeted by the sweetest hostesses and absolutely loved the beautiful dining room with olive trees and gorgeous lighting. Great music and great energy all night! The bread was delicious, the rib appetizer was so tasty and our main entrees, the halibut and scallops along with our sides, glazed brussel sprouts and whipped potatoes were flavored to perfection. The General Manager, Billy, stopped by our table to see how we were doing and he did not rush, he made sure we were totally enjoying our experience. Our waitress, Kelly was so nice and gave us some great food tips! Our drinks were a special mix for the night and they were excellent! To top off the great meal, we selected the homemade zeppolis with ice cream and we definitely made the right choice! Thank you to our table server, Michael as well for keeping our plates moving and our water constantly filled. i guess you can tell we had a superb dining experience all around. Highly recommend! Laurie Esposito read more

We had a wonderful dining experience at Olea, from the welcoming staff & attentive waiter to a delicious meal & desserts! The cocktails were epic, too. We had the board with the king crab legs & steak for the four of us, along with a bunch of other appetizers. Honestly, the board was enough, and worth the price! This is definitely our new favorite spot! read more

Olea - The Olea Board - Steakhouses Near Me - Spring Lake, New Jersey

The atmosphere was beautiful. We sat off to the bar area. There was a large olive tree and fireplace. Not a big mocktail section, but the one I had was good. Hopefully they will work on that. My husband enjoyed his cocktail. We ordered the Short Ribs as an appetizer and they were beyond amazing and then had the ribeye. It was cooked to perfection along with the garlic chive mashed potatoes. ( wish they were plain) everything is family style. Then we had two teas and the churros for dessert. That did not disappoint either. It's the new hotspot so I guess you need to check it out. I highly suggest to the restaurant when they seat people against the window to turn up the heat. I had to switch seats with my husband because it was so cold in that room. In fact, the couple sitting right next to us the gentleman left his scarf on . Upon arriving greeted by the hostess, I recommend that they should take your coats . The outside heaters for the valet parking attendance didn't throw off any heat. Maybe they can get the ones that actually work. It was a fun vibe. read more

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My husband and I dined at Olea Restaurant for Valentine's Day and unfortunately had a very disappointing experience. As we were being seated in a dimly lit, tightly spaced dining area, my husband tripped over a low side table with a lit candle that was placed in the walkway and not easily noticeable. Hot wax spilled all over his pants and shirt. Thankfully he was not burned, but his high-end designer pants are completely ruined. No manager came to check on him or acknowledge what happened. At the end of the night, when I asked to speak to a manager, the gentleman we spoke with implied my husband "kicked" the table, spoke over us, smirked, made mocking facial expressions, and said, "What do you want me to do about it?" He then told us to call the general manager the next day. Accidents can happen, but the lack of accountability, apology, or professionalism is what truly ruined the evening. The restaurant's cameras, hostess, and bussing staff would confirm what occurred. If the owner or general manager would like to contact us to properly resolve this matter, we are open to hearing from them read more

We went there thinking it was just a steak house... We were wrong! We did share a couple steaks; which were delicious!! But.. we also shared Fried Lobster & the Crab Cake Appetizer and Halibut and the Scallops for dinner. None of us could figure out what was The Best since they were ALL unbelievably delicious! We were all very pleasantly surprised... And will definitely be back soon! read more

Excellent menu and kitchen. Upscale but comfortable setting. It's become popular very quickly, parking might be a problem at some point.

Looks 10, Service 2. The restaurant is BEAUTIFUL, overflowing with greenery, marble topped tables and modern gold chandeliers. They did an amazing job with this! (It does clash a bit with the stuck-in-the-80's lobby of the Shore Club but we got over that the moment we waked into the stunning room.) We waited over 30 minutes for our reserved table with barely a care from the hostess.... I actually think she forgot about us which is why it took so long. Our server was lovely but very hard to hear in the extremely loud room. The food was interesting and well cooked but not well seasoned. The tuna crudo and steak tartar were almost tasteless as was my halibut. The scallops were amazing and the crabcake rangoon was also delicious. The bread service was by far the best bite. Nothing on the dessert menu tempted anyone at my table. But the part that will keep me from coming back was the service. So rushed! Every 5 minutes someone tried to clear a plate that still had food on it. We were trying to have a relaxed dinner but really felt like we were trying to be pushed out so they could turn our table. Glad to have tried it and would certainly suggest others give it a try for a nice occassion but it wont be a repeat for me! read more

We were a bit surprised at the great ambience and relax atmosphere of this beautifully appointed restaurant. Our octopus was perfectly grilled, as were the oysters. Our steak was a prime, cut ribeye, well seasoned and perfectly cooked. They do have more expensive tomahawk steaks available sometimes weighing in at over 3 pounds. Our waiter, Peter, was a tremendous help, and the staff was always attentive without being overbearing. Definitely going back. read more

Drinks were great, loved the extensive drink menu! Steph the bartender was so accommodating and explained the menu perfectly. Definitely will be back! read more

This place is fantastic -- great staff, attentive service, and we tried about 10 dishes that were all excellent. Definitely coming back and highly recommend. read more

My husband and I have been in the bar resturant business for 45 plus years. The atmosphere is big and open while romantic. I'm sure it's purely design. The same goes for service, while relaxed with white tee shirts and bistro aprons, every person greats and smiles/offers help. At the bar and later during dinner Lauren G. steered us through the menu. I haven't even gotten to the food that was superb, taste and presentation. Lastly I think we talked with all the management on hand in a very helpful positive way. We dine out as much as we can and very rarely we are left feeling so welcome, valued and impressed. read more

Moved us from our initial table 3 times and then put us in the hotel lobby bar after we ordered dessert because they overbooked. Poor management, was looking forward to going back but would never recommend to anyone esp given the price. Inconsiderate will never go back. read more

This place was a $500 joke for 2 people that rushed you through like it was a McDonalds SO NOT WORTH IT

waited 20 minutes past our reservation time. forced to get drinks at the bar which were good. food was mediocre. very overpriced. too loud 71 dollars for a paltry steak. overall somewhat pretentious and overpriced for the quality. one and done restaurant. read more

Delicious food that surpassed my expectations, however the gold was in the server, Erin. Her level of knowledge, professionalism, and ability to define the menu to the most minute detail, along with personal service was exceptional. Erin's presence and seamless execution was perfectly timed. She exhibited menu mastery and great guidance on sharing and choosing appetizers, entrees and dessert. It is refreshing to find the rare combination of a beautiful venue with a polished server, Erin. read more

The food was very good and our server Erin was outstanding. The draw back was the lack of ambiance. We were in the dining room and it is very noisy. We were a table of 6 and we could not hear each other. There were no signs of the holidays in the dining room although the foyer was decorated. I personally thought it was very expensive, but not everyone may feel that way. read more

What an amazing experience from the second you walk into the restaurant, the establishment was sensory overload in an amazing way. Our server Tay was out of this world, what an amazing young man who has such amazing control over the menu and anticipated our every need and truly made it a great night. Everything on the table was better than the next. We did the crudo, ceasar salad, split a 32oz ribeye with the crispy potatoes and the brussel sprouts (utterly amazing). Desert was the olive oil cake and the churro's.... not to mention how amazing the cocktails were, super creative and delicious.... wouldn't expect any less from the butcher block folks. read more