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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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 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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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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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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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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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 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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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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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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Everything we had was delicious -- can't go wrong, it seems! So glad we were able to come here and enjoy this wonderful restaurant. My only very minor criticism is that, even if you order a few dishes, the servers don't replace your plate so it can get quite messy and filled with the remains of what you've eaten. It might be nice to switch out the plates every few courses (though it would also create extra work for the kitchen, no doubt). 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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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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The line out the door before it even opened plus not having a reservation was a concern, could this by hype? Clearly not hype. 100% service driven was evident when they seated me at the patio vs pushing me towards the bar for a party of 1. The beauty of the outdoor is complimented by the staff as they move like a well orchestrated Broadway play, dancing seamlessly from right stage to left in their staring roles, but also floating into under study roles clearing plates and refilling glasses. The food was phenomenal but the star is the staff. I dare you to try and find any reason to not give them a 5 star. read more

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Me and my friends went there for dinner, we didn't have a reservation, but we were lucky to catch spots on the bar! The food is amazing, small plates more like tapas, but every single one was delicious!!! We got a lot of stuff and we all shared them! I am not a desert person, but I definitely go back for those deserts! Service was great, we really had a great time! I really want to go back! read more

Oleana Restaurant - Turkish Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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The service, food, and drink were unbelievable. My boyfriend will not stop talking about the food, we couldn't recommend this place more. read more

Oleana Restaurant - Potato hummus - Turkish Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Got a 9:30 reservation which was ready earlier. Cozy interior with lots of coat rack space. The food was really good especially the zaatar lemon chicken!! Would pass on the dark leafy greens and the root bravas, but the ricotta dumplings and zaatar bread I'd definitely go back for. Desserts were the star of the show though. We got the baked Alaska and the profiteroles. read more

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Super tasty spot in Cambridge! Came with friends which is definitely the move so you can try more things and do a share plates situation. I can't remember exactly what we got but the bread was incredible as were the vegetable sides. I think the one thing we didn't love was the lamb. Seemed way overpriced for what we got and a bit dry! Definitely save room for dessert too. Really cute interior and friendly staff! read more

Oleana Restaurant - Turkish Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Food was amazing, such cool small plate fusion flavors. Our waiter was able to explain anything from the menu that we had questions about. Only reason why I am giving 4 stars is that I can't get over the fact that my drink was $10 and it was a canned seltzer water. read more

5 Stars for what I can honestly say is in my top 5 restaurants I've ever eaten at. Also- order everything on the vegetable meze section. We had a Sunday 9:30pm reservation as that's all that was available a week out, but we tried our luck and came in early and scored a spot at the bar. Rebecca was the bartender and came highly recommended by the hostess who suggested those seats over others that happened to be available. We fully trusted Rebecca after she suggested the perfect mineral-forward white wine based on my very bad description of flavor preferences. Of all the dishes we ordered, there was not a single one that felt forgettable. Each dish was surprising and had at least one element that completely blew us away. Below are the dishes you MUST order! - Za'atar bread with pistachio muhammara: This was my single favorite bite of the evening and tbh of 2024. The bread was exceptionally seasoned and the pistachio muhammara was a revelation. It was topped with a drizzle of balsamic glaze and olive oil. I'm considering going back tomorrow for this dish. - Spinach falafel with tahini sauce, beet tzatziki, and pickle slices: These falafel were moist and hearty. They balanced the zesty beet tzatziki and pickles perfectly. - Fatteh-- caramelized onions, cauliflower, crispy mushrooms, pine nuts, and yogurt between delicate sheets of filo. Every element of this dish was intentional and necessary to create this simultaneously light and satisfying small dish. Potato and red lentil Kubba featuring Swiss chard, pistachios, eggplant jam, and fried carrots. This is a more robust, filling dish that comes piping hot. It felt like comfort food elevated. Dessert: Do not miss the Turkish style profiteroles or the Milk jam filo rolls. Both are sweet and complex, but also totally decadent. Beyond that, the wine list (many natural wines!) is robust and well curated. And for us newbs, the bartenders and staff are unbelievably helpful and unpretentious. Overall, the service, ambiance, and food stood out and make this restaurant one of my new forever favorites. It truly cannot be missed! read more

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It's a Shame to Call This Turkish -- A Deeply Disappointing Experience at Oleana We went to Oleana for dinner as a family of four, and I left genuinely disappointed. For a restaurant that presents itself as Turkish or even Turkish-inspired, the flavors, textures, and overall palette had almost nothing to do with Turkish cuisine. And at around $80 per person, you would expect either the food, the service, or the ambiance to stand out -- unfortunately, none did. Ambiance: The atmosphere felt more like a very modest mom-and-pop restaurant than a fine-dining experience. There's nothing authentic or thoughtfully put together about the space -- it completely lacks the warmth or character you'd expect from a restaurant at this price point. Service: From the moment we arrived, no one smiled or offered a warm welcome. The staff seemed disengaged and unhappy to be there. At one point, we even found a small ant in my son's glass of water, and rather than apologizing, the staff acted inconvenienced. Service throughout the evening was slow and inattentive -- we had to wave multiple times just to get attention. It's clear the team lacks proper training or awareness of basic hospitality standards. Food: The food was mediocre at best, and some dishes were so off that we couldn't finish them. Classics like moussaka and sarma had neither the authentic flavors nor the presentation that defines Turkish cuisine. Portions were tiny and the prices unreasonably high. Most small plates come with just two portions, so for a family of four, you'd have to order two plates just to get one small bite each -- often costing $30 for a single bite per person. Desserts and Coffee: The desserts were another major disappointment. We tried three different options, and all were overwhelmingly sweet and unbalanced -- none had any real Turkish identity. Even the Turkish coffee was mishandled. In Turkey, you're always asked your sweetness preference; here, they simply brought a sugary version without asking. While the coffee itself was decent, it's clear they don't understand the culture or the details that make Turkish coffee special. Overall, Oleana felt confused in its concept, careless in its execution, and overpriced for what it offers. If they rebranded as a Middle Eastern-Mediterranean fusion restaurant, they might get away with the inconsistencies -- but calling this "Turkish" is misleading. The restaurant desperately needs a real Turkish chef to recalibrate the flavors and restore authenticity. This was, without question, one of the most disappointing dining experiences I've had in years. I would not recommend Oleana if you're looking for genuine Turkish food or value for your money. read more

A little pretentious for me. Food is rather precious. Sometimes the people describing their experience there sounds like a SNL skit.

My spouse and I took our two boys, and they were definitely the only children in the restaurant. They were overwhelmed with the menu at first as was I, but we encouraged them to pick something out to sample and both gave rave reviews afterward (hey, if you can please a 9 year old, you can please anyone, right?). We ordered a large sampling of items: Whipped Feta - 10/10 nice Feta Kataifi - 6/10 Za'tar bread - 6/10 wish it would have arrived hot, but they did refill it, which is probably not typically the case. Perhaps they saw the kids and anticipated that is all they would eat Topik - stuffed potato hummus. Interesting textures, sweet, light. 8/10 Fried mussels - 3/10 there were maybe 4 tiny mussels in the mix, the rest was oily peppers. Felt cheated with this dish Lemon sole - 4/10 Again felt cheated with this dish. Anticipated a light vibrant fish and it was breaded, oily and no indication of lemon as far as flavor. Very bland Sultan's Delight - 10/10 this dish alone will keep us coming back for more. Incredible! Lamb and Bucatini Pasticio - this was like a rich heavy bolognese in a sweet marina. I absolutely adored it, but by the time it arrived, we were so stuffed so I enjoyed it for lunch the next day. :) Lamb shish - wasn't tender to cut, but I didn't sample it as I don't eat lamb. My son, however, devoured it. Desserts: Turkish-style profiteroles - nice flavor combos, but dry unfortunately 5/10 Ekmek Kataifi - my husband and I fought over this dish. Incredible bursts of fresh fig and a pomegranate syrup and clotted cream. Decadent, rich, delicious. 10/10 Filo ice cream cones - two large sahlep and rhubarb cones dipped in white chocolate. My sons each devoured one and refused to share even a bite. I'm told they were a 10/10. Baked alaska - 5/10 - the sea salt finish was too salty to balance out the dish. Was an interesting take on the classic dessert, but not our favorite. Oh, and I nearly forgot -- the beverages!! Highly recommend the Marigold cocktail - a beautiful little floral number with orange oil, ouzo and dry vermouth. Selection of hefeweizen was stellar as well. Note: With over 3 dishes for each of us, we were there a full 2 hours. Embarrassing moment saved for the end: At the end of the meal, the check arrived with what I thought was a piece of candy. I tried to eat it. WRONG! It was an eye-shaped bead used as a little paperweight for the check. Ooops! Thank goodness my kids are a bit brighter than I am and didn't attempt to sample it. Well, I guess I'll know the next time around. Let's hope that faux pas didn't give me 50 years of bad luck. read more

The menu blends Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flavors in a tapas-style format, which makes it fun to try a variety of dishes. Everything felt fresh, well balanced, and thoughtfully prepared. Great spot if you enjoy sharing plates and bold flavors. read more

This charming little restaurant serves incredible food! The spinach falafel is a must-try, and the baked Alaska makes for a fun and delicious dessert to share. read more

Oleana Restaurant - Spinach Falafel - Turkish Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Despite Oleana being just a few steps away, we hadn't been there in years. We thought we could get a seat at the bar, and were pleasantly surprised to be seated on the patio on a warm autumn evening. Oleana has a superb and well-deserved reputation. The food, presentation, and service are all A+. We had the Za'atar Bread (Whipped Yellow Lentils & Pumpkin, Almonds, Brown Butter, Sage) which was unexpectedly the star of the evening. We also had the Sultan's Delight (Tamarind Beef, Smoky Eggplant Purée, Basil) which was also superb, and lastly, the Squash & Manouri Dumplings (Shaved Brussels Sprouts, Brown Butter, Ginger Chips, Nigella) which we both felt was underwhelming. We differed in our opinions of the service; I felt that the service was way too attentive, but my partner felt that it was fine. We both agreed that our waiter was oddly low key, considering that the rest of the service staff was so attentive. In any case, we had a wonderful evening. But why 4 stars? I feel that restaurants that add a misc service fee - instead of raising prices - are trying to hide something. I also felt that the waiter was oddly low key, almost like he was bored in his job and wanted us to know it. read more

Oleana is absolutely worthy of the hype it receives. From the attentive and knowledgeable servers to the incredibly flavors to the cozy ambiance, it continues to be one of the best restaurants in the Cambridge/Boston area. Specific dish reviews below, but wanted to call out how great the staff and kitchen were at accommodating one of our party's gluten / dairy allergy while maintaining most of the menu items! Food: 1. Za'atar bread with whipped yellow lentil and pumpkin purée (5/5) -- this was one of our first bites and was truly heavenly between the pillowy bread and mindblowing puree 2. Pear and chicory salad (4/5) 3. Gigante bean salad (4.5/5) 4. Flattened potatoes (3.5/5) 5. Fatteh (5/5) -- an incredibly flavorful and textured dish that I found super unique 6. Feta kataifi (3.5/5) 7. Spinach falafel (4/5) 8. Scallops (4.5/5) 9. Sultan's Delight (5/5) -- what more could you want than tender beef exploding with tamarind flavor plus a delightful eggplant puree 10. Lemon chicken (5/5) -- who knew chicken could be simultaneously so tender and rich with flavor with a perfectly crispy skin?! Dessert: 1. Baked Alaska (5/5) -- Oleana's classic dessert has been on the menu for a million years for a reason 2. Apple Persian love cake (4.5/5) 3. Walnut cake (4/5) -- was still very good but just a tad sweet for my taste 4. Turkish style profiteroles (3.5/5) 5. Almond cremolata (3.5/5) Drinks: 1. Rose lemonade (5/5) 2. Beer-sumac soda (4/5) 3. Rooibos tea (5/5) read more

Oleana Restaurant - Menu - Turkish Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

This is my fourth time at Oleana and the food never disappoints. The selection of vegetable meze is large and delicious. This time, my guest and I opted for the vegetable chef's tasting menu. This included topik, fatteh, falafel, red pepper dumplings, flattened potatoes, leafy greens, warm buttered hummus, and another hummus dish I couldn't identify on the menu. It also came with an almond sorbet and the profiteroles for dessert. My favorite meze here is the topik, a potato hummus topped with a sort of sweet molasses. I try to get it every time I'm here! For dessert, the almond sorbet was a bit bland for my tastes, but the profiteroles remain my favorite dessert in all of Camberville/Boston. The cream inside is incredibly smooth and delicious, and the candied cashews add a wonderful nutty flavor. My guest had a cocktail and I had the non-alcoholic spritzer; we also had Turkish apple tea with dessert. The tea was my favorite! When ordering the chef's tasting menu, you have to order one per person. Unfortunately, my guest and I found this to be an overwhelming amount of food, and had to box the last 2 dishes in addition to leaving some food behind on many of the other plates. In the future I would go back to just ordering 2-3 meze per person as opposed to the 4 that you get with the tasting menu. My guest and I also found the service a bit lacking this last visit. Part of the charm of Oleana is the unique flavors, and on previous visits, the waiter would come to our table and explain how to eat each dish and why it is unique. This time, our waiter was absent starting after our first course, and the person serving our table was essentially just dropping off plates without telling us anything. The other problem with this was, it was our first time trying the tasting menu, and we had no idea how many dishes were coming since this wasn't clarified. This is part of why we ended up having to box the last 2 meze--it is difficult to pace yourself when you have no idea where you are in the course(s). The atmosphere of Oleana is cozy. Unfortunately this visit we were seated near a screaming child, and with the fact that this is a tight space, that did affect our experience. I personally would not recommend this place for very young children since there is no kids menu and the ambiance is very adult. It's a small restaurant in a residential area, so be sure to make reservations far in advance, especially if you have a larger group! Oleana is popular and for good reason--a great place to bring visitors or just come sit on the patio during the summer. read more

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The ambiance was modern with a Turkish touch in the decor. I didn't have to wait as I got to the restaurant 5 minutes before the opening and there was no line. I sat in the bar area and was the first to enter. I ordered Fatteh, Spinach Falafel, Lamb & honeynut squash moussaka, and Baked Alaska. Fatteh - wow! This is a must! All the veggies combined with the crispy outer shell and yogurt dressing were so delightful in my mouth! And the pine nuts added a nutty flavor and more crunch to every bite. Spinach Falafel - yum! Each 3 pieces of falafel was sitting on top of beet tzatziki and had tahini as a hat. Each falafel had a pita(?) bread along with a pickle and a small salad. The falafel had a crunch outer layer and warm inside. I was told to wrap the falafel and eat it with my hands but I chose to use my forks and knives. It was a bit messy to eat but it was delicious. Lamb moussaka - this dish was heavy. I don't usually like lamb so this was my least favorite. The brussels sprouts were good additions to the dish. Baked Alaska - great presentation! I've had my fair share of baked Alaska but this was my least favorite. The caramel was way too overwhelming. I would definitely come back to try more fish and veggie dishes!! read more

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