Booked a table at Oleana a month in advance for our anniversary with my husband and toddler as we were planning to spend that day in Cambridge and it's consistently rated as one of the best restaurants in the area. We got a lovely corner table by the window, and they offered us a high chair even though we ended up not needing it. Our server was knowledgeable and gave us great recommendations, walking us through portion sizes and the drink menu. We totally enjoyed every dish we ordered. My favorites were the Sultan's Delight and the moussaka -flavors were deep and maxed out, and every texture, from the meat to the veggies, was cooked to perfection. The only minor hiccup was the pacing(I expected the mezze to come first and mains after, but the order came out a bit mixed). We also ordered the "mac and cheese" plate for our toddler, and it was surprisingly healthy and delicious - my husband ended up eating it with pleasure too. The atmosphere was lively, even a little noisy at times, but we loved it. A wonderful evening overall, and we'd absolutely come back. read more

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We're regulars at Oleana and it rarely disappoints--the vegetarian mezze selection is genuinely outstanding. On our latest visit, we ordered the Za'atar Bread, Topik, Zucchini Pancake, and two desserts (Muhalabi and Almond Cremolata). The Good: Everything vegetable-forward was exceptional. The Topik's creamy potato hummus with pine nuts and currants is always a winner. The Za'atar Bread with muhammara and tahini labne is the perfect opener. The Zucchini Pancake with charred eggplant and corn & pepper ezme is underrated--complex and satisfying. Both desserts were delicious: the Muhalabi (dark chocolate, kaymak ice cream, rye cocoa shortbread) is sophisticated and rich, while the Almond Cremolata is lighter and coconutty. The Disappointing: We ordered the Sultan's Delight ($23) and got mostly fat with no actual meat. For the price point, it felt underwhelming. read more

One of my favorite dining experiences all year. Service- exceptional. Everyone interacted with was amazing. My server had excellent recommendations and was super knowledgeable about the menu and the popularity of items. Food- we got 5 dinner items and 1 dessert item and that was enough for two. Zaatar Bread- our favorite item. Bread was thick but light. Buttery but not overpowering. And the dip! Wow was the dip so good. Whipped Feta- delicious but could've use 2 more chips as the dip to chip ratio was off. Sultans Delight- my wife's favorite dish. Super tender and extremely flavorful. Lamb Shwarma (special)- so good and I hope they add it to their menu going forward. Mussels- mixed. I enjoyed them but my wife did not like them as much. May have been textural for her, but I enjoyed it. Baked Alaska- a must. From the presentation to the flavors- amazing! Can't wait to come back, they earned their Michelin recognition for sure. read more

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I had a reservation here and when I arrived there would be a short wait for inside or outside (which was kind of cool that night) or immidately at the bar. Okay, for a solo adventure I chose the bar and yes, they took me to a seat there. Looking at the menu I knew it was tapas style going in but before I could really start looking at anything the bar tender said, "or, there's a chef tasting." Okay, stop there, let's just do that and add the meat and fish option. To start was the Strawberry Fattoush - Little Gems, Cucumber, Pomegranate Vinaigrette, Pita Chips, Sumac - amazing. Next was the Warm Buttered Hummus - Basturma, Tomato, Black Olive. Still doing great! Then the Fried Mussels - Hot Peppers, Turkish Almond Tarator Sauce. Can't say I have ever had those before! The Spinach Falafel - Tahini, Beet Tzatziki, Pickles was next. Though you could roll it up, eating it that way was pointless. Back to the knife and fork. After that was the Grilled Asparagus - Sorrel Aioli, Puffed Black Rice, Bergamot Honey. Probably the most familiar looking dish of the night. Then the Sultan's Delight - Tamarind Beef, Smoky Eggplant Purée, Basil. Aamazing! Still going after that was the Swordfish - Nettle Freekah, Red Pepper Tahini, Buttermilk Fried Fiddle Heads. Then finally the Turkish-Style Profiteroles - Brown Butter Crème, Sesame Caramel Cashews, Halva with something else on the side. All of this with a Shepherds Pilsner which I believe is my first brew from Palestine. Who knew that was possible? Needless to say, the meal was quite an adventure. Definitely worth it. All amazing as was the service at the bar! read more

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Oh, Oleana! Tucked away in Cambridge, Oleana is a cozy Mediterranean restaurant serving small plates. My partner and I managed to snag a last-minute reservation on a Tuesday night, and even at 9 p.m. the restaurant was still lively. Between the beautiful decor and warm atmosphere, it made for a great date night spot, though it was admittedly a bit dim (apologies in advance for the photo quality!) Between the two of us, we ended up ordering quite a few dishes: Whipped Feta (4/5): This was good, though I was hoping for a stronger roasted pepper flavor. Nothing wrong with it, but it didn't quite stand out. Interestingly, we overheard the table next to us mention the same thing, so maybe this one's a bit hit or miss. Spinach Falafel (4/5): Another solid dish. It was bright, colorful, and fresh, though a little messy to eat. Our waiter rather bluntly told us to "just wrap it and bite," which caught us a little off guard, but it was good nonetheless. Fatteh (4.5/5): Our favorite appetizer of the night. The creamy roasted cauliflower paired so well with the crispy pita, and I especially loved the sweetness the onions brought to the dish. Sultan's Delight (5/5): As everyone else says, this is the one to order. The beef was incredibly tender and rich. In hindsight, I almost wish we'd had the potatoes from the Adana Kebab to eat alongside it because they would've been the perfect accompaniment. Vermont Quail Kebab (5/5): Tied with the Sultan's Delight as our favorite entrée. The quail was juicy, well-spiced, and surprisingly easy to eat. I'd absolutely order this again. Adana Kebab (4/5): By this point, I think we were simply getting full. The kebab itself was good, but not nearly as memorable as the other meat dishes. Ironically, the potatoes and peppers that came with it might have been my favorite part--they would've paired perfectly with the Sultan's Delight. Baked Alaska (4.5/5): Delicious. The toasted meringue paired wonderfully with the coconut ice cream, though we were a little mixed on the passionfruit caramel, which came across slightly burnt and more acidic than expected. After a while the meringue did become quite sweet, so we ended up pairing some with the Muhallebi. Dark Chocolate Muhallebi (3.5/5): Yes...we ordered two desserts. I was mostly drawn in by the kaymak ice cream, but the Muhallebi itself was almost completely unsweetened. I'm usually all for desserts that aren't overly sweet, but this one leaned more savory than I expected. We actually ended up adding some leftover meringue from the Baked Alaska to balance it out. Looking back, given both our appetites (and our wallets), I think we would've been perfectly happy just ordering the Baked Alaska. Overall, Oleana was a lovely spot for a date night. While it didn't quite live up to the lofty expectations I'd built up from all the praise, we still had a really enjoyable meal. Our main waiter was kind, and I appreciated that the dishes came out in rounds, giving us plenty of time to eat and chat. The meat dishes were definitely the highlights for us, but overall there's a lot to like here. read more

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I really don't understand the hype around this place. We were so excited to try it and actually snag a reservation for a birthday dinner! We come from LA so I think we have a good sense of Mediterranean food! Persian, Israeli, etc. is so abundant there and we were so excited to try a restaurant that focused on this cuisine with small plates. Boy was I disappointed! Every dish that came out after the next was smaller, pricier, and just didn't hit the mark at all. The bread was cold, butter was hard, flavors were interesting but not in a pleasant way. More-so in the "what is in my mouth right now.." way. For the price you're paying I'm not sure that the flavors are there! Maybe we're just spoiled with Bacari in LA. Service was okay! Not anything to write home about but it was nice! The ambiance was also nice. I feel bad writing this review but really! I don't get why it's such a highly recommended place. read more

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I only have good things to say about this place. 100% worth the price tag. I want to go every time I'm in the area for a special occasion.

Went to sit at the bar for a solo dinner. The service was very prompt, and they provided a lot of good recommendations. They were also great about letting me sample things before deciding on a drink! This has been on my list for a really long time, and I had seen Oleana frequently recognized as one of the best restaurants in Boston, so I was pretty excited to finally go. I have to say I wasn't blown away but also not disappointed. The portions were absolutely miniature for the price. The zaatar bread was very fluffy and the spread was flavorful but nothing I would order again. Similarly. The fatteh was one of the most reviewed dishes online. The flavor was unique but ultimately fell a little flat for me (basically tastes like lightly cooked cauliflower with caramelized onions, and a light creamy sauce). I will say the one thing that I felt like really did live up to the hype was the Sultan's delight (short rib)- it was truly so good. I liked the marigold and my glass of wine but the limited liquor license certainly restricts their offerings. Ambiance was nothing too unique. Overall, I would probably give this close to like a 3.9 but rounded up. read more

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For my own birthday this year, I chose Oleana, supposedly one of Boston's best Mediterranean restaurants, and reservations are almost a month in advance. Overall, I was satisfied. Fatteh: The presentation was beautiful, with a delightful array of layers. Between two layers of crispy chips laid the chewy texture of fried mushrooms, the sweetness of cauliflower, the nutty aroma of pine nuts, and the refreshing sweet and sour taste of yogurt--a random combination that offered a different experience with every bite. The cauliflower, in particular, was crisp yet not tough, with a naturally gentle sweetness--a first for me. However, towards the end, the crispy chips became very slightly oily. Sultan's Delight: Perfect as a main course. The beef was stewed to perfection, incredibly tender and flavorful, almost falling apart the moment it touched the knife. It required absolutely no effort, reminiscent of a master butcher skillfully carving up an ox in Zhuangzi莊子, who kept his knife like new over nineteen years. The tamarind brought a slightly fermented, tangy aroma, while the smoked eggplant puree, likely babaganoush, was smooth and creamy with a mild, pleasant smokiness. The lemon juice, however, adds a refreshing touch, creating an interesting layering of acidity. It looked small, but it was surprisingly satisfying. The only downsides were the beef was slightly over-salty and the basil leaves, which seem to serve only a decorative purpose. Baked Alaska: A signature dessert, very popular on social media. Frankly, I came specifically for this, but after eating it, all I can say is, "Who's promoting this?"... The presentation was truly stunning, and the first few bites were quite good. The meringue was was torched to create a thin, burnt crust, resulting in a delicate and light texture, while the coconut ice cream blended with the bitter aroma of coffee. However, the base, a nut tart similar to a five-nut mooncake五仁月餅 filling, was too dense and heavy; the passion fruit syrup was excessively sweet and acidic, even a small amount was cloying, making it a torture by the end. The restaurant tables were a bit uneven and hopefully they will be repaired soon. read more

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Cute restaurant in Inman Sq. They have a charming patio and friendly, helpful staff. I had high expectations and unfortunately, I didn't really enjoy it as much as I had hoped. I loved the idea of tapas and the small plates here. But none of the dishes really stood out to me. It was good, but average. The chicken, which apparently was their largest dish, was overhyped. I thought it was a bit flavorless. Our waiter recommended it and said it was his favorite large dish from when they had a large dish section on their menu and could only keep one on the current. Even though it was recommended, it was prob my least favorite dish. My favorite was prob the shrimp. Salad was good, the black bass was okay, beef was like a short rib and was good, salmon crudo was a bit thick and the sauce overpowered the fish, there should have been some citrus. read more

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Lucked out with a Resy opening a couple days before for Thursday @ 5:30pm. Arrived a few minutes early, and there was a line of people ~8-10 ppl standing by for walk-ins (everyone was seated). Veggie Mezze - Fatteh ($16) - really enjoyed this crunchy mezze! Sounded simple on the menu - Chicory + Herb Salad ($17) - refreshing start with a sweet and savory salad, enjoyed this, flavors all paired very nicely - Halloumi Cheese ($17) - we aren't fanatics over halloumi but wanted to try this. We preferred the other mezze, but not bad Fried Mussels ($17) - this was alright, would skip next time. -Sultan's Delight ($20) - this was soooo tasty, literally fell apart when poked with a fork; not the biggest portion -Lamb Shish ($18) - was good, but on the smaller side, probably wouldn't order again We were celebrating my friend's birthday, and they brought out a couple cookies topped with meringue dipped in chocolate with a candle. Very friendly staff, good selection of food, a nice little splurge. read more

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This is my second time at Oleana! I went a few years ago and my BF and I have been wanting to come together. He was able to get a 9pm reservation on a Friday night. We are huge fans of Sarma, so we were looking forward to trying Oleana and we were not disappointed!! We ordered the za'atar bread, the spinach falafel, the fatteh, the potato and red lentil kubba, and the Sultan's Delight. All were SO delicious. They are small plates, but each was seasoned perfectly, unique, and presented beautifully. We felt that these five dishes were plenty for us to feel satiated and satisfied. We also ordered the dessert special of the night, which was an almond mousse with a white chocolate garnish and a cocoa sherbet. Our server assured us everyone loved it and we were impressed by the flavors. The service was very attentive and quick! We were seated by 9:10 (we showed up at 9:05), and we were out of there by 10:15. Several different servers came by to fill water, give us replacement plates, and serve our dishes. The team worked so well together for a seamless guest experience. We will definitely be back! We are local to Cambridge, so we're grateful to live near this truly scrumptious gem. read more

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Oleana serves modern Mediterranean dishes with an innovative menu. I have been coming for years, and most dishes are excellent, but there is always one or two dishes that miss the mark. On my latest visit, I really enjoyed the Topik (stuffed potato hummus, pine nuts, currants, tahini, and radish) and the Fatteh (caramelized onions, cauliflower, crispy mushrooms, pine nuts, and yogurt). Both of those dishes made me go "Wow! How did they come up with this delicious composition!" On the other hand, the Crispy Cheese Borek (with beef sujuk, salsa verde, and creamed feta) was flavorful, but the cheese was not crispy. The major miss was the Lamb Moussaka, which I have loved in past visits. Rather than a layered moussaka, it was a medley of ground lamb, potato, zucchini, peas, Mornay sauce, and lettuce. Lettuce...? It was more like an odd salad than a moussaka (1 star off). I enjoyed my meal overall, but Oleana consistently have had a few mishaps for some reason. read more

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I was very happy to score a reservation at Oleana, as it's one of top restaurants on Resy. (#2 to be exact). I honestly don't understand the hype. The service was fantastic! The food was good, not "amazing" or great. The wine list was underwhelming. The ambiance is basic. Out of l everything we tried, baked Alaska dessert was delicious. read more

Oleana Restaurant - Turkish Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Oleana lives up to the hype and is a special 5-star experience you must try! Reservations often book our 1-month in advance. Each tapas/mezze style meal we had was delicious, artistically plated, with fresh and interesting ingredients. The Quail Kebab, Haloumi Cheese, and Asparagus were some of my favorites! The Sultan Delight is an original from day#1, tender meat, but I did not like the seasoning. For drinks, try the beet sumac soda, it is refreshing and smooth. Finally, the baked Alaska is a MUST try for desert! Filled with coconut cream, ice cream, passion fruit, easy to share and filling. Leave some space! Service was excellent, I really appreciated my water being filled constantly without my ever noticing it was low. read more

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Years later the service and quality and creativity of the food continues to be exceptional. Food is served tapas style and there is quite the variety of options to choose from and is vegetarian friendly. Highlights from this meal were the fried perch, fatteh, sultans delight, moussaka and scallops. Smallish restaurant that also offers limited seating at the bar and when weather is nice outdoor seatong. Reservations highly recommended. They do welcome walk ins but unless you are in line when doors open, expect a wait. Service at Oleana has always been friendly and attentive and we never feel rushed. read more

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4.5 Stars Elevated Mediterranean cuisine. I took my work friends here for dinner and let me tell you - almost NOTHING fails to surprise / impress. We had a reservation on a Wednesday evening. It's on the pricey side for sure, but the quality makes up for it. It's fun to split dishes and in my mind, paying under $300 for what is basically an 8 course gourmet meal with drinks for 4 isn't bad. The drinks were great too, we all got one :) We split a variety of dishes. Apps: -Za'atar Bread ($12) - The bread is so sponge-y and soft and the date butter and labneh spreads are so decadent. WIN. -Spinach Falafel ($15) - GET THIS. The presentation is SO unique, the falafel is super fresh, and the hummus is the creamiest you will try -Ricotta & Corn Dumplings ($14) - flavorful, buttery, luxurious. WIN. -Broccolini ($14) - Fine to skip. We ordered this because someone wanted a veg. Meats: -Quail Kebab ($17) - So unique, amazing! -Sultan's Delight ($20) - FORK TENDER. The eggplant puree is also heavenly. -Lemon Chicken ($28) - This was a sleeper! You think chicken, boring right? They de-bone an entire half chicken, make into a brick for easy slicing, and serve it on top of a delicious feta-filo base. How creative! -Lamb Shish ($18) - We enjoyed this but it's also fine to skip. The inside has a nice ambience but they do PACK the tables together. The staff are all super nice. read more

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Oleana is perfect for sharing plates. Communal style, my personal favorite. The dumplings were pleasant but lacked the spark found in other dishes. Yet the falafel, the fatteh, and the velvety warm hummus easily stole the spotlight. We ended with a shared baked Alaska, a fun, glowing finale. If you can get a reservation I highly recommend as this is one of the better places to dine in Cambridge. read more

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Excellent food and ambiance! A bit pricey, but worth the splurge for a special occasion. Everything we had was prepared expertly, and the service was impeccable. We ordered the Halloumi, Gigante beans, Hummus basturma, Hake croquettes, and the Sultans delight, with the last two being our favorites. The croquettes had such an amazing flavor and the beef was perfectly tender. My husband really enjoyed his Birthday dinner here; the complimentary desert was a thoughtful addition! Would definitely recommend this place to a friend read more

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Oleana very much lived up to the hype. Everything we tried was delicious, the ambiance was beautiful, and service was attentive and friendly. We came right at opening and there was already a line. We had reservations and the line moved quickly as soon as they opened the door. We opted to sit outside - the back patio is beautiful, well lit and with lots of plants. Our waitress recommended we order 2-3 dishes per person, and we ended up ordering a total of 8 dishes between the three of us, including a dessert. The wine list is extensive and we split a bottle of white that was lovely. On to the food - we followed the waitress's recommendation to order all our dishes at once and have them spaced out by the chef. We had our 8 dishes over the course of about two hours, and the timing was perfect - whenever we finished one plate, the next one or two would be out shortly. We ordered the whipped feta, za'atar bread, mushroom kofte, fatteh, corn and ricotta dumplings, quail, and halloumi, plus the cremolata for dessert. Literally everything we had was delicious, but what stood out as particularly scrumptious to me was the za'atar bread (perfectly moist and pillowy, with added flavor from the date butter and labneh) and the fatteh (super flavorful cauliflower with a delicious yogurt sauce and nice crunch from the sheets of phyllo). Our total came out to a little over $200 - pricey but SO worth it. read more

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You have to expect that this is a tapas style place . Each dish is small and shareable . I especially liked the chicken skewers .. the sauce was really good! It was also fun to have the baked Alaska w a birthday candle .. keep in mind it's easily enough for two and the ice cream in it is like a toasted coconut.. and not too sweet . Yeah it's a little bit of a challenge to cut into the base but that was tasty and it's all for fun! We indulged and had the chocolate dessert too.. yum! We sat at the bar and the bartender who served us was very pleasant to us . read more

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Came here for dinner for my boyfriend's birthday. We had a 9:15 reservation and were sat very quickly. We didn't really know what to get so asked the waitress for some recommendations. She was very knowledgeable about the menu and provided some great suggestions. We ended getting the Za'atar bread, fatteh, dark leafy greens, mushroom kofte, shrimp shish, and lamb moussaka. I liked most of what we got! The fatteh, shrimp shish, and mushroom kofte were my favorite. I definitely would recommend those. The one thing that threw me off a tiny bit was the temperature of the dishes. A couple of the dishes were room temp / luke warm but that totally could have been the intention!! I'm really glad I tried Oleana and would happily come back if I got a reservation! read more

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Bold flavors, inventive dishes, middle eastern and Turkish cuisine shines at Oleana. The Mezze style menu is perfect for sampling a wide range of what the chef has to offer. But be sure to save room for dessert and maybe a Turkish coffee. Reserve a spot on the patio if the weather is nice, or relax in the cozy dinning room. Any way you choose it, you won't be disappointed. read more

One of my favorite restaurant dining experience in Boston. The vibes were immaculate outdoors, the food was thoughtfully prepared and fun, the service was friendly and attentive. Let's talk about the food: - za'atar bread: fluffy and the date butter is unmatched - spinach falafel: you must get it. I loved the whole experience of eating it - sultan's delight: delicious. I can see why this is a guest favorite - swordfish: it was a bit too dry. I'd skip this and try something else on the menu - topik: such a unique flavor profile. super nutty, creamy, and rich - lemon chicken: it was good but not life changing, which is okay. I would get something different if I go back - baked alaska: just get it. It's so worth it read more

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I went as a solo diner and got seated within 20 mins (I went around 9:00 pm -- it was pretty full). The hostess was very attentive and even let me choose from a bar seat or special small table in the corner. I chose the table. The somm immediately offered me to taste between 2 wines - I chose the wine I wouldn't have chosen otherwise. I had 5 veggie dishes - the top stars were falafel and the green tomato special. The others were good and on their own would be great, just in comparison to my favorites they are a little behind. I got the artichoke and pea dish -- artichokes were firm (I prefer tender) but the spring peas were so crisp and refreshing. Asparagus was a star dish, too! That was my third favorite. Truly innovative veggies here. I'm doing some research on fiber in food, so I came here. I don't feel like I missed out on meat and fish by sticking to veggies. read more

Oleana Restaurant - The special - Turkish Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Oleana had been on my list of restaurants to try for YEARS. My fiance just took me for my birthday on sunday and we had a wonderful experience. We were sat in the back room which was lovely because we had a view of the trees outside and it made for great ambiance. Our server was very sweet and helpful and gave us great input when we asked for help. Here is everything we ordered: Za'atar Bread- Baharat Date Butter, Goat's Milk Labne, Almonds 10/10. The texture of the bread along with the flavors of the butter and labne was absolutely excellent. I would order this every single time. Feta Kataifi-Black Eyed Pea Ezme, Hot Honey 9/10. Excellent flavor and texture, just wished that it came with something to scoop or dip! Vermont Quail Kebab-Baharat Spice, Barberries, Pistachio 10/10. As a Persian, I was immediately drawn in by the barberries and pistachio which are common themes in many of our dishes. I had never tried quail before so I wasn't sure what to expect, but it was fantastic. The spice profile was delicious and it was perfectly tender. I loved the complete bite with the rice and quail together. Sultan's Delight-Tamarind Beef, Smoky Eggplant Purée, Basil 10/10. Absolutely loved the complexity of flavor in this dish. You could really taste the tamarind. It was sweet, tangy, smoky perfection! Lamb & Bucatini Pastitsio-Zucchini, Golden Raisins, Green Garlic, Mint 8/10. This dish was not what I was expecting. It tasted like a bolognese. It is described as pastitio which is a greek lasagna so I should have expected the tomato sauce flavor, but the addition of golden raisins and mint (neither of which I tasted) almost led me to believe it would have more of a middle eastern flavor profile. Regardless, it was still delicious Baked Alaska Coconut Ice Cream, Passion Fruit Caramel 8/10. I loved this! It was so unique and unlike anything I've ever tasted. My one critique was that the coconut ice cream had no flavor or sweetness at all, it was almost savory. Ekmek Kataifi Fenugreek Pudding, Kaymak & Fig Jam Ice Cream, Pomegranate Sauce 9/10. Absolutely delightful marriage of flavors! I only wished it was bigger! Overall we had a totally lovely experience with delicious food and wonderful service. 5 dishes and two desserts was just the right amount of food without putting us over the edge. I will note that the kitchen fee added a little over 10 dollars to our bill which was unexpected. However I now see that it is noted on their website. I would definitely recommend Oleana! read more

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Been working my way across the Mediterranean and finally landed in Inman Square. The place is intimate. The deep red walls, wood chairs and green and yellow tonal on the seat backs adorning the walls made me feel as if I had stepped into a forest for a nomadic meal. Rustic with a wink. If you've come here thinking tapas or light -- you might be right about the first but not the second. Each dish had a depth of flavor that kept us ordering and sampling the menu with only brief breaks to pause and remark about how delicious the food was. We played the cute little game of are you going to finish that -- when really we both wanted to. To describe the flavors as just Turkish or just Armenian (either would be fine on their own) would be misrepresenting this place The combination of heat, creaminess and crunch was a textural delight. The dishes were pretty too! I don't think I've salivated with my eyes before, but I came close this night. Add to that first level service -- we were never found waiting, wanting or rushed -- which is a strong feat, particularly for a place that has been operating for over 20 years. Hats off to Chef Sortun and her team. Next time we try the patio and the Baked Alaska -- both of which we've heard described as can't misses (and we managed to do that). read more

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I've heard the name Oleana numerous times over the years. heard it was fetching and provided a level of quality and excellence unparalleled. and yet was never intrigued enough to go. Something seemed off, in-authentic, shallow. just read a few reviews many of which seem to validate this burnished image and reputation. finally last Saturday night it was no longer an option to avoid an experience. There was an event to celebrate and I was invited. the propitious moment was hoisted upon me. would it measure up or be a mirage in the desert? Having never dined there I had no real experience to compare it with but for a Turkish-Mediterranean place it felt like all sizzle, no steak. While there are too many things to take issue with the most obvious is the wide discrepancy between the quality and quantity of portions relative to price. Under any circumstances the food was uniformly entirely unexceptional outside the fact it was consistently mediocre to poor. Tasteless, unimaginative, inappropriate cooked, greasy, ,lacking authentic spicing, and decidedly NOT presented for purposes of sharing. It is a deceptive approach to call it Tapas like and the predominant theme from our "primary waiter" was spend more money. The commercialization based on its reputation was frankly embarrassing and reason to cross it off a "must visit" list. Reminded me of a visit to Eastern Standard a few years ago. I have to imagine refined diners must have a wistful "used to be good attitude". My one and only trip made me feel like I was swindled at a Casablanca bazzar. read more

I enjoyed my dinner at Oleana. It is very different to what I expected. I was looking for dinner at an authentic Middle Eastern restaurant, but this place is more of an interesting fusion place. Each dish was very unique and unlike anything I've ever tried before - I liked the twists like a spinach falafel and cauliflower fatteh. The food was good, but my favorite dish was definitely the lemon chicken - it was delicious. The place has such a beautiful interior - it's so elegant, with beautiful and aesthetically pleasing decor. The dim and warm lighting also adds to the elegance and warmth of the place. The service here is excellent - our server was so lovely and she felt like a friend by the end of the night. I enjoyed Oleana - it was very unique! read more

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We went there for dinner after reading great reviews. Luckily we got seats quickly, we asked for patio seats as inside seemed little congested. Patio is beautiful, decorated with lights and plants and it was heated. We had falafal, fateh , zartara bread and sultan. We had sharbat and season drink as well. Food came one by one and presentation was top notch. We were little underwhelmed by taste as we had very high hopes. Everything tasted good but missing wow factor I guess. Shout out to staff, they were quick, considerate and very helpful. Free street Parking is available outside and there is a parking lot on opposite side of the road as well. read more

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I've heard great things about this spot and was super excited to try it out - Oleana definitely didn't disappoint! We made reservations and few weeks early which was super necessary - it was so busy and packed! Ambiance felt very warm and homey which made the meal overall feel intimate. Their menu has a good selection of apps and entrees which were mainly meant to be shared in a tapas style. We ended up getting five things to split between two people and honestly it was a bit much given we got the half chicken which was large, but we were super glad we got to try it. Service was pretty quick - our orders were taken pretty fast and dishes came out in a reasonable time as well since they seemed to come out as soon as they were ready. The only thing that took a bit was the lemon chicken, but the wait was definitely worth it. Drinks were solid as well, not too strong or weak. Highlights were honestly the bread, chicken, and fried mussels. Everything was great though and I would just say try whatever you think you'd like, it'll probably be really good. Overall, I would gladly come back - prices are closer to needing a special occasion though rather than a casual meal so I will probably wait for a reason to return. Regardless, we had a wonderful time - thanks, Oleana! read more

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Step 1: bring your favorite foodie friend, step 2: arrive on the earlier side close to opening to grab a pair of seats at the bar, step 3: order 5-6 dishes of your choosing to share! My friend and I had a blast chatting with one another and catching up while enjoying our spaced out dishes. Even though you're relatively close in proximity with others, we felt like we had our own private dining experience. I can't remember exactly what we ordered but we opted for a mix of veggie, seafood, and meat-based dishes. The baked gigante beans were particularly memorable along with the baked alaska! read more

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Went for my mom's birthday! We had an amazing time and were very impressed. We sat in a back room with large windows, it would have been chilly if not for the ample amount of heaters. What we were really impressed with was the food. We ordered many small plates, mainly by ask in what the staff recommended. The sauces were all cooked to perfection, the different doughs (for dumplings or boreks or anything) were all crisped to perfection. As a whole, I was impressed by the continuity of flavors. Every dish seemed to go with every other dish. Vegetarians will eat very well here. The merengues dessert with ice cream was also a star. I greatly appreciate that many of their desserts had ice cream! I will be back and greatly look forward to it. read more

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Last night we went to Oleana for dinner and I can't say enough good things about it! Every dish was flavorful and amazing. It seems so simple, but then when you taste it, you can taste the complex flavors and all the love that goes into it. Between the two of us, we had nine different things to taste... And then we added dessert too. Yummy and delicious. The couple squeezed in next to us, were raving about each dish they tasted too. At one point, he said he would've paid $50 for one of the dishes that was $20. It was that good. He said he wants it over and over again and I agree! And one of the delights about the place is that it's not overpriced. Some of the dishes were only $10 or $20 and we got a lot for our money considering the kitchen works so hard to make it as tasty as it is. Yes, every time I come back to Boston, I want to put this at the top of my list to visit. My daughter agrees! We will be back! read more

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Sooooooo delicious. We enjoyed the za'atar bread, spinach falafel, salmon crudo, quail, and a beef dish. Of course we saved a little room for dessert and had the baked Alaska and baklava. Everything was so fresh and perfectly seasoned. I would go back for the desserts alone. So many more to try. read more

They have their own parking lots across the street available after 5 pm. The space is on the small side and the tables are spaced close together. There seemed to be available seating at the bar when we went on a Saturday night at 8. The gigante beans, broccolini. Spinach falafel, shrimp shish, sultan's delight and the lemon chicken were all delightful. The baked Alaska looked impressive and was very good, but not too sweet. There was a tree nut allergy in our group and any dish having nuts were served with nuts on the side. read more

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I had a great dinner here. I had a 5:30pm reservation for the inside of the restaurant but asked to be seated outside, and they kindly accommodated the request! The patio is so cute and charming. We tried a bunch of different small plates but the standouts were: lemon chicken, crab puff pastry (special of the day), and the baked Alaska dessert. Everything was good but those three were excellent. I got a mocktail to drink and it was tasty, but it just came in a plain glass with no garnish- I felt they could have put more effort into presentation there. However, every food and dessert dish was very thoughtfully plated and presented so I really loved that. Worth the visit overall. read more

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Oleana serves food that excites your taste buds. We highly recommend it to anyone who likes, or wants to try, middle eastern cuisine. We truly enjoyed the: Fetakopitta, Lamb Moussaka, Adana Kebabi and a tomato salad that our server brought to us by mistake, that we thoroughly enjoyed. read more

Since moving to Boston, I have continuously heard about Oleana since it's my roommate's favorite restaurant and we finally had the chance to go together a few weeks back in December! Reservations are highly recommended - with more than a week out, we were only able to snag a 8:30 spot for 2 on a Sunday! Our server recommended us to order about 4-5 items to share between 2 people - we ended up getting 4 (to save room for dessert lol). One of the highlights from dining here was how they had a celiac-safe menu; as someone with strict dietary restrictions, this was so welcome and felt like such a relief to be able to order freely. It was my first time here so I had asked our server for any specific dishes that she recommended. We ended up getting the: -topik (gluten-free): this was probably my favorite dish of the entire night! it was basically a stuffed potato with hummus lathered on top of it and what tasted like caramelized onions in between but based on the menu, it was most likely the currants and pine nuts. -potato & lentil kubba (gluten-free): tasty but didn't really stand out - they brought over the fried carrot bits in a separate plate for my roommate. I wish the outside was a little bit crispier and the carrot jam on top wasn't as flavorful as I'd hoped -lamb pastilla: this wasn't gluten-free so I didn't taste it, but my roommate seemed to love it! -sultan's delight (gluten-free): our server said this was something that everyone had to get at Oleana - the meat was incredibly tender and the puree underneath was quite flavorful! however I think I had very high expectations and the actual tamarind flavor of the beef wasn't as strong as I expected. at this point I was also getting a bit hangry because for some reason, this dish took a *very* long time to come out (a table who were sat down fairly at the same time as us literally finished their meal before my dish came out)! all in all, my roommate and I very much enjoyed this meal - we were most impressed with how unique these flavor combinations were in each dish and how artfully everything was presented! i only wish the lighting in the restaurant was a bit brighter... we finished by getting the almond cremolata for dessert, which was the only guten-free item on the menu. I really enjoyed the almond milk sorbet which was super light and refreshing, but the syrup was pretty heavy and a bit too sweet for my liking. I also really liked the spiced flavor of the candied pumpkin, but wasn't too big of a fan of their texture - the pieces were harder than I expected! read more

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5+! So good. All but entrees are small plates but each done to perfection. I got the lemon chicken and it was moist and tender. Large so I took half home. We also had 3 smaller plates. I got tea at it came with large pot which was nice. Baked Alaska was amazing. Service was perfect and so knowledgeable. Can not wait to go back!!! read more

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