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    Oleana Restaurant

    4.3 (2k reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 10:00 PM
    Updated 2 months ago

    Oleana Restaurant Photos

    OLEANA RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Romantic
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Oleana Restaurant

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    Reviews With Photos

    Sultan's Delight
    Ying X.

    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.

    The special
    Natalie C.

    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.

    Olga G.

    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.

    Inside
    Hussain L.

    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.

    Fried Mussels
    Gina L.

    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.

    Dessert special - almond mousse with cocoa sherbet
    Kai M.

    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.

    Tuna Deviled Eggs
    Guli K.

    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.

    Za'atar Bread ($12)
    Wendi K.

    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.

    Baked Alaska
    Phoebe H.

    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.

    Shannon R.

    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

    Quail kabob
    Rebecca D.

    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.

    Shrimp Shish, Dark Leafy Greens with Toum
    Sophie L.

    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!

    Winni Z.

    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

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    Oleana Restaurant Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Oleana Restaurant

    Is the restaurant still tacking on the 6% admin fee on top of the food tax and gratuity? I'm guessing it's going to be a pretty expensive meal when all said and done.

    Yes they do! Just ate there on 12/11/22 - on a bill with a subtotal of $48, there was an Admin Fee (6.00%) added with amounted to $2.88, then tax calculated after that and then you add tip. I've never begrudged them the 6%, they have some of the… Read more

    Does Oleana have a bar and can you eat at it?

    Yes they do.

    Is there a dress code? Do I need a reservation for 2 people on a Friday or possible to just walk in?

    There is no specific dress code, but I would say smart casual a minimum. As to the reservations, I… Read more

    View All 4 Questions

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    Sarma

    Sarma

    4.4
    (1.4k reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$$$

    After seeing this place on social, we were lucky to grab a reservation on a Tues night at 5:30. We…read moregot seated right at our reservation time. All street parking and we had to circle around to find a spot so plan ahead. We got a red wine and the flawless victory cocktail. I got to try a couple wines before committing to a glass. My partner loved his cocktail. Super well balanced and really unique combo of flavors. Both drinks paired well with all our food too. Zucchini pancakes (2/5) - the only miss. The pancakes were not crispy at all and ate very mushy. The carrot curry was delish but all the flavors together with the raita didn't really do it for me. White bean hummus (4/5) - amazing flavor and the little sesame ring it comes with was yummy. The texture of the hummus could have been smoother though. Sugar snaps (5/5) - perfect sweet and salty balance and really great texture from the quinoa. Good creaminess too. Octopus souvlaki (5/5) - well charred octopus and tender. The flavors were rich in flavor. Yellow split pea was a nice creamy base. Revani snack cake (5/5) - we almost didn't get dessert but glad we did! It a citrus pound cake with a pineapple glaze and a spiced macadamia crunchy topping. Served chilled. Very yummy and not too heavy. Overall very happy we tried this place. It's pricey for what you get but nice for a special occasion.

    Wow! flavors like these will make your mouth happy! Every dish was unique, creative, and packed…read morewith flavor. It's easy to see why reservations are so hard to get. The menu changes often, which makes me wish I lived closer so I could visit regularly. We ordered quite a few dishes, and the portions were perfect for sharing. The fresh bread was an amazing start to the meal, and the sugar snap peas were a standout. Since the menu is always evolving, my recommendation is to ask your server what the chef is most excited about and order it. You really can't go wrong. This was a memorable dining experience, and I hope my next visit won't be too far away.

    Photos
    Douggy, our bartender/waiter
    Douggy, our bartender/waiter
    Sugar Snaps
    Sugar Snaps
    Feta Cheese Gnocchi

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    Feta Cheese Gnocchi
    Mood Restaurant & Cafe

    Mood Restaurant & Cafe

    4.8
    (113 reviews)
    2.2 mi
    Women-owned & operated
    Minority-owned & operated

    Very relaxing and chill cafe. We came here for their…read moreMascarpone Pancakes and it did not disappoint! The pancakes were so fluffy yet crispy on the outside. I love pancakes that are more on the sweeter side rather than savory! The pancakes remind of the Japanese fluffy pancakes. This is definitely a must try!!! I also got the smoked salmon eggs benedict breakfast. It was 10/10 my eggs were cooked perfectly and the hollandaise sauce was rich and creamy. It was perfect. I definitely enjoyed the ambiance here for a Saturday morning, it was not too busy and it was very peaceful.

    Overrated. Food was…read moreOK. I got it cold and long after my friend was done eating. The server didn't hear when I ordered and pointed at the item on the menu. I said salmon eggs Benedict and pointed at it. I can't do starch like French fries and she offered a fruit bowl. Then comes back and said there is additional charge for that. I said no thanks. Penny pinching by a restaurant is not classy. The food comes out and I noticed my order was wrong. The manager comes and asked me what I asked for. I said I pointed at the menu and said salmon eggs Benedict. She began arguing with me. Asking, did you ask for eggs Benedict with salmon or salmon eggs Benedict implying I was asking for salmon on the side. Seriously....get a clue. Cold food and poor service, and food coming out at different times is lousy. To top it off, because my food was slow to come out, a couple came in and pointed at our table requesting it even tho I had booked the table. Simply unbelievable to be kicked off the table after receiving the food so late and the wrong order. If the manager hadn't insisted I asked for eggs Benedict with salmon, and not the salmon eggs Benedict I would have let it slide. But nah... really poor service.

    Photos
    Inside of the establishment
    Inside of the establishment
    Eggs Benedict
    Eggs Benedict
    Ambiance

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    Ambiance

    Oleana Restaurant - turkish - Updated July 2026

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