Doesn't Recommend

bretito

Joined 3 years ago

skip olea. On Sunday 4/July I made my way over to Olea. I noticed a couple sitting on a bench on the Alelphi side of the restaurate as I approched. I assumed that they were clients. I plunked myself at the bar (no greeting) and waited twenty minutes for service. One of the two people I noticed sitting on the bench before entering turned out to be the bartender.



She appeared after the aforementioned twenty minutes and advised me that "someone was technically sitting in the area." Weird. Someone had a book on the bar and a half-filled drink in the place, but I wasn't sitting there. Then she asked me (literally) "what are you hoping to do?" I replied that I "was hoping to get something to eat and drink." She thereby gave me a menu and a glass of water and disappeard for another 20 minutes. I left. No sale. Bizarre vibes.

Recommends

Yasmine Deetjen

Joined 3 years ago

Fashionable Brunch. OLEA is a great place to go to to catch up with a friend in a trendy spot, yet unpretentious environment almost feeling like you're in your own home kitchen. The staff is so pleasant and attentive which is becoming a lost are in dining in the New York Metropolitan area. The Fort Greene neighborhood has been going through and still is under the longest gentrification periods, however, I believe OLEA with its Mediterranean influenced cuisine and stellar delish omelettes will stay on the scene no matter how much "change" occurs.

Must have: Freshly made chocolate croissants----yum yum yum YUM!

Caution: will have to do an extra mile on the treadmill as food is very rich :) enjoy bon appetite,

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BKDO

Joined 4 years ago

Best meal in ages. I was looking for a nice local place to take some friends on a Saturday night, casual but a bit off the beaten path menu-wise. This place overdelivered! We got a table immediately, had attentive service, and the food....drooling. Sorry.

The food was excellent. It was so good that after we'd all finished the entrees (which came after multiple tapas), we wanted MORE tapas (b/c everything else was so delicious, not due to small portions or anything). The atmosphere is eclectic, which I appreciate. It didn't really feel like New York, which was a nice change of pace from all the Smith Street staples.

Olea is worth checking out. I'll be back.

Recommends

SMALLO1

Joined 5 years ago

great restaurant.... Yippee!

What a great restaurant! It is very refreshing to eat food that is different yet meets all the expectations of Turkish cuisine.

The service was terrific: we were under time constraints to get to a show. I had told them at the time of reservation. The waiter was fully aware and guiding us through the meal selection and timing very gracefully. We were on time.

We had the Mediterranean salad (excellent and refreshing, no surprise), the Grilled Sirloin Steak Roasted (that was special), the Rigatoni (i still have the flavor in my mouth), and the lLamb Keftedes Meatballs .

It was only our second time. We definitely need to go more often.

Recommends

stanhopesmith

Joined 5 years ago

First time's a charm.... This is my first time writing on here, but I'm impressed so I thought I'd give it a shot. Last night I organized a large birthday dinner for a friend at this joint in my new Brooklyn nabe (landlord recommended). Nobody in my party had been before, but everyone had a great time. The service was friendly and accommodating. Our waitress recommended that we all split tapas and small plates, which worked out great for our group. Three words: bacon wrapped dates. How can you go wrong with those? The kitchen had no problem with a few special requests, which is refreshing in light of the current trend of "no substitutions" and plate sharing fees. It gets hectic in there! The bar was mobbed and there was an acordian player that makes it sound like Paris. Good wine list, and much better pours than the city for sure... though the cocktails were really different also. My friend raved about the special margarita on the list.

Doesn't Recommend

biglarr20

Joined 5 years ago

Simply the worst. Last Friday night we went to Olea's for dinner, as we did tons of times before. But it wasn't the same, the 30 minute wait for a table, followed by some of the worst food, just wasn't wasn't a good night.

After the 30 minute waiting a table, we placed our order, "Paella for 2." I asked about our order 2 times, it took about 25 minute to come.

Paella was just the worst. The arborio rice wasn't cooked correctly it soupy, not creamy. To add to the nightmare of a meal, there were 2 dead clam in this soupy mess. The cook, or the staff should have notice the 2 dead clam floating in this dish.

Finally, there has been some major changes at Olea and not for the better. We will NEVER eat there again.

Recommends

quasiitaliana

Joined 6 years ago

great food, pleasant servers, tiny portions and long wait for food. I love the atmosphere here: the crowd is nice, the servers are sweet. the food is really fresh and tasty with interesting combos. I just wish the portions weren't so chincy (and i'm not a "pile it high" kind of gal) and that you didnt have to wait such a long time time to get your food.

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thels

Joined 6 years ago

It used to be a 5-star. After one birthday celebration, two anniversaries and many trips with guests, my wife and I were quite disappointed on our last trip to Olea. When our salmon appetizer arrived, it was half the size it was before and the sauce was quite different. We asked our server what had changed and we learned that there was a new chef. The main course was all servicably done, but it lacked the real "wow" that Olea used to serve consistently.

I hope that the new chef finds his/her legs and brings the quality of food up to what it was. We'll give it another shot and I hope that I will be able to update this review and bring it back up to 5 stars where it once was.

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gabbyswinegirl

Joined 6 years ago

Cozy neighborhood eatery. I love the idea of brunch all day during the week. It gives those of us who work the weekend or who loathe the impatient, badly behaved children weilding weekend brunch crowd as much as I do. The staff is always friendly, prompt to seat, greet and take your order, the manager Dan, leading the way. I've never been dissapointed by a single aspect of the food. From the granola and yogurt, to the seafood ravioli, the green eggs and lamb, all wonderfully prepared. The wine list is expertly selected and fairly priced also. If you go to this restaurant and don't order desert, you're doing yourself a sever diservice.

Mediterranean food is pricey anywhere you go and the cost is reasonable here. I can't understand how, especially neighborhood people, can justify paying Manhattan rents in Brooklyn then turning around and complaining about the prices at a restaurant in the same 'hood. What do you think their overhead is like?

Don't miss this place. It's amazing!

Recommends

thevinguy

Joined 6 years ago

really good food. I've had the breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner menus and I love this place!! Its really good to come hangout with some friends or a date and you'll really enjoy the food, its incredible. I highly recommend this place!