Good food, TERRIBLE SERVICE, not welcoming to children. We dined on a Saturday evening with our 15 mo old. We were initially warmly greeted by the host/manager however once we sat our only interaction with our server was 20 min later when he sat down at the table next to us and said "are you ready for me." This server Luis honestly gave off the impression that we were bothering him despite the fact that we were there to eat and spend money, maybe it was because we brought our daughter? I had heard another server offering specials to another table while we waited for service to which I inquired of Luis and was told they were sold out. Interestingly enough, I heard these specials STILL being offered as we were leaving. We ordered and our appetizer and entree were both dropped without us ever seeing our server again. No one checked in to ensure that everything came out appropriately or that we needed anything. I had to wave the host down to get another napkin for our daughter who I have to note dines out with us regularly and is well behaved for a toddler. The food was good, nothing special, fairly priced. We normally love dessert but were honestly so put off from the initial interaction to stay. A different server cleared our plates and dropped our bill. The kicker is that they automatically add 20% gratuity to your bill, even as a two top! I expressed to the manager our disappointing experience which stemmed primarily from Luis' initial foul interaction. I was told that Louis felt we weren't "a good fit" so he stopped taking care of us and the rest of the team stepped in. I'm astounded by some of these other reviews on Louis given how poorly we were treated by him. The only explanation I could come up with is we brought our baby to dinner which is pitiful. With so many amazing places to eat in the city with consistently welcoming and inclusive staff, I would steer clear of Olea and Luis especially if you hope to dine with your children. read more

What a great little neighborhood BYO with a warm and friendly environment and amazing service. The food was excellent too. Highly recommend the artichokes which were maybe the best I've ever had and the mussels with amazing broth. The salmon dish is fantastic as well. read more

See all

as always, an amazing dining experience! great food, super friendly staff, cozy atmosphere. definitely one of our go to places!

Went here last week for dinner, ambiance is awesome such good music and overall good vibes. Our waiter was extremely friendly and made the experience with his bubbly personality! The food was awesome, from the hummus to the pork chop, to the cake. Only dislikes are it's cash only and the cake was still semi frozen (but tasted good). Would definitely go back again! read more

Olea - Pork chop - Mediterranean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

I love this place so much. Has such cozy vibes. The service was amazing. I accidentally made a reservation to a restaurant with the same name in NYC and the owner was super accommodating and was able to seat us at the back table. Everything was delicious and we had an amazing time. It's a BYOB, which I love. It's also cash-only- so be prepared for that. read more

See all

My husband and I came here for our anniversary. The restaurant is an intimate space and the staff were incredibly nice and attentive. We had the octopus, beet salad, artichokes, gnocchi, ravioli and seafood pasta. Everything was amazing! Our daughter could not get enough of the gnocchi. I highly recommend coming here if you are craving delicious, fresh pasta. read more

See all

My table had 4 very hungry food obsessed first time customers. We shared everything and it was an amazingly delicious meal. Everything was really great, but the octopus especially stood out and the pork chop was the star. The desserts (order ALL of them if you can) were delightful and the salted caramel gelato blew our minds! We had a great time and the service was absolutely wonderful. Cant wait to go back; we are all big fans now. read more

Olea - choc hazelnut cake was incredibly light and tasty, the other cake was feather light and beautiful. The salted caramel gelato SLAYED. - Mediterranean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Everything was delicious. Great atmosphere. Service was excellent. We had the beet salad, salmon dinner, fettuccine dinner and cheese cake for dessert. It's a BYOB which is awesome. We'll definitely be returning , 100% recommend!!! read more

Olea - Mediterranean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

This place is a must try! A cozy little byob restaurant with a super friendly staff and rustic/homey decor. The menu was great and we loved everything we tried. We also accidentally lit the menu on fire with the candle and the staff was very kind about it (lol) We tried - -complimentary pita and hummus/olives- this was delicious. The pita was charred and soft and the hummus was delish. I do wish it were slightly smoother but that's just my personal preference. -octopus (5/5)- you have to get this! By far the best octopus I've ever had. It cut like butter and had 0% toughness or chewiness. So tender and paired perfectly with the sauce and crispy potatoes -garganelli (4/5)- this was simple but so fresh and delicious. I do wish it had a bit more eggplant but I loved it -fettuccini (4/5)- this came with a good amount of seafood and tasted fresh as well. -hazelnut chocolate cake (4/5)- can't go wrong with this! Chocolate cake with crunchy pieces and a mild nutty flavor. It was a great way to end the meal I'll be returning soon! Our waiter, Luis was the best :) read more

Olea - Fettuccini - Mediterranean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

Food was absolutely amazing! Everything was delicious! The pasta dishes were very creamy. The service there is impeccable and they did not miss a beat! It's also BYOB and cash only. Highly recommend. read more

See all

Do yourself a favor and get here immediately! My new husband and I came here for our first post-wedding date. The octopus appetizer was amazing, it all came together so well, I highly recommend. Husband had the fettuccine dish and enjoyed it, he had it more spicy than I can handle but smelled amazing. I had the gnocchi and I would lay down my life for that dish. I was full but wanted to keep eating so I unzipped my dress so I could keep eating. My biggest regret is not being able to try dessert but I'm sure they absolutely nail it. Before we ordered they brought out the complimentary pita, olives, and hummus, which was also fabulous. My husband doesn't like olives but liked these ones? So that's something. The staff were wonderful and the owner was super present. He sat next to us to chat and welcome us and was an absolute delight Please go here, they're amazing and deserve your business. read more

Olea - Gnocchi that I would literally die for - Mediterranean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

The dinner was excellent and the service to match love the complementary pita and hummus they bring out. Had the fish special and pasta both were fantastic. This is a BYOB and cash only read more

Olea is a magical, delightful dining experience. Intimate, elegant, delicious and cozy all rolled into one. Olea is a must-visit when in Philadelphia. Just FYI it is BYOB but if you forget there is a liquor store next door! read more

Gf and I walked up to the look at the menu and were cordially invited in by the staff! We had been wanting to try Olea since it opened and we are so glad we did! The atmosphere of the restaurant in addition to the excellent and friendly staff made the evening one to remember. Every single person that touched us was inviting, vibrant and warm. The ambience seemed to be more of a family gathering rather than many strangers in a restaurant. The music. . .on point. Luther Vandross, never too much greeted us as we sat. I cannot say how impressed I was with the service. At one point in my life I had worked three food/bev/hospitality jobs at once so I know how challenging it can be to accomplish some of these things that the staff had made seem effortless. The drinks? Byo so you know we had something good with us. The food was epic! We got the antipasto to start. Consisted of peppers, burrata and salami(?) not sure what the meat was but that was my first time having burrata and it was totally worth it. I got the branzino for dinner (bro what?!?, it was amazing), gf got the statler chicken which she inhaled. For dinner we got the layered hazelnut chocolate cake. . . I'm not even gonna say anything about the dessert. Like if you don't go here and try the food then you don't deserve their dessert. We will be back again as it is hard to find something that feels like it is part of the family in the neighborhood rather than just another restaurant in a city drowning in great eats. Edit: it is cash only so bring some cash or if there are two of you. One of you can run to mulberry market next door and hit the atm! read more

Olea - Look at this branzino!! - Mediterranean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

AMAZING food, service, and atmosphere!! Luis is awesome and we will definitely be back! Highly recommend the salmon & pastas as well as their delicious desserts! read more

See all

One of the best meal I had in Philly. Every dish was executed to perfection. The flavor profile to each dish was well balanced where and portioned out enough to call it a great meal. All pasta and dessert was all made fresh and in house. The one lady show (host, waitress and house manager) was friendly and very attentive to our party. This place is a true gem and hopefully we can get a other meal sooner rather than later but the waiting list get too long for everyone. read more

See all

What can I say other than we've found our "go-to" in Philly! A conversation with Louis (hope I'm spelling correctly) is worth the trip alone, but then add in the food and ambiance, and you have a spectacular total package! The cons - which honestly aren't cons at all, but you should take note - they are cash only (ATM next door), BYOB (bring the wine, darling), and parking can be a bitch (sorry, but true). Now the pros - the place is absolutely adorable. Decorated in soft greens and tans with beautiful lighting and live greenery, with enough space between tables that you don't feel claustrophobic. The menu is varied with something for every taste. The portion sizes are perfect, not too large, not too small. Every table receives water, hummus, olives, and pita bread to start. This is not your Acme-brand hummus and olives, mind you, this is damn good. We (hubby and I) have found as we get older, we share entrees as we just can't finish our own plates and hate wasting food. We did so here as well. Started with the octopus appetizer, which was grilled to perfection and had a romesco sauce of sorts under it with potatoes. It was honestly the best we'd ever had, and we've been to Spain and Greece, so that's saying something. We then shared the bucatini with burrata...dear LORD this was scrumptious! Bucatini cooked to a perfect al dente and the burrata was creamy and luscious. My husband had a double espresso, and I had the strawberry olive oil cake (I believe that's what it was) with whipped cream sprinkled with black pepper. DON'T snarl at this until you've tried it as it's the perfect combination! We are anxious to return and try everything on the menu! I read somewhere this will be the hardest reservation to get before too long, and now I can see why! read more

See all

Well this was the second time my friend and I went for dinner at this amazing restaurant. To say the food was great is an understatement. For starters we shared the octopus and artichokes. I do recommend the octopus. For the meat lovers the pork chop was the best my friend has ever had. He did let me taste it and I agree. Hands down it was great and cooked to perfection. This time I had the rack of lamb. All I can say is that it was finger licking good, cooked to perfection and the presentation was top notch. On my first visit I had the whole fish (Bronzini) which was stuffed with crab. I was impressed with the combination of the whole fish and crab stuffing. One thing I can say is that it did not disappoint. The desert I had was the Baklava cheese cake. You need to treat yourself for this sinful ending to your meal. Now to the exceptional service. Luis, Jane and Mannie treated us like we were royalty. The atmosphere was welcoming and friendly. This made our dining experience one to remember. We enjoyed it so much that before we left I made a reservation to come back for dinner in three weeks. I do recommend making a reservation as the restaurant is on the small intimidate side. read more

We had an amazing dinner at Olea. From appetizer to dessert, each course was beautifully presented and absolutely delicious. Louis was an amazing host who anticipated our every need. We enjoyed 3 different pasta entrees...bucatini, ribeye ravioli and fettuccini with shrimp and pesto sauce. We shared them all! The star of the dinner was a 14oz pork chop that was moist and flavorful, perfectly done! Dessert and coffee provided a perfect ending. We sat in comfy seating in a warm and charming atmosphere. We can't wait to go back! read more

My friends and I visited Olea yesterday to celebrate an anniversary and a wedding - a detail we noted in our reservation. The food was lacking in several dimensions, but the problem with this establishment is catty and unprofessional service staff and management. We had withdrawn more than $400 in cash for the experience (Olea being cash only) to enjoy the restaurant to the fullest. The experience began with us sorting through which dishes we'd like to try and the waitress pressuring us to put in an order quickly and all at once so that we could leave by the allotted 2 hr limit - a limit that we now see is mentioned on the Resy service, but was not mentioned anywhere on either their website or the Google reservation service. Rather than being polite about this issue, there was a stubborn insistence that we determine everything we wanted at the beginning of the dining experience. Through the rest of experience, the wait staff repeatedly tried to take menus and were repeatedly told not to. Additionally, there were unwelcome touches of shoulders and arms on at least two occasions. We were never given an opportunity to order dessert and did ultimately leave without a fulfilling experience. The issues - amazingly - did not stop there. After posting reviews which reflected our experience, the restaurant's owners, management, or lackeys took time to respond with personal attacks, threats, and more as shown in these screenshots. They wrote that we are "a disgrace to the human race", that "we googled you and spread your information to all of our industry friends [and restaurant owners]", and that "we laughed all night as we spent YOUR money buying drinks". At this point I am unsure what it is they are trying to find via "googling" us, but the behavior seems very close to stalking and harassment. If there are any additional messages along these lines I will be inclined to call the police. EDIT: This same individual "Luis P." has now directly messaged to taunt in a manner identical to the "owner" response to our Google reviews, saying "Lol!". This makes it clear that this is no lackey, but actually the owner himself harassing. read more

See all

We began our meal at Olea with a plate of hummus, pita, and olives, a classic combination done right. The hummus was smooth, the pita perfectly soft, and the olives a briny contrast. Following that, we enjoyed shrimp, which were plump, juicy, and had that perfect snap-like texture. They arrived in a vibrant white wine butter sauce, with a present yet subtle chili pepper element. Our magnetic server then cleared away the shrimp-less plate but--masterfully--added the remaining butter sauce to our pita dish, allowing us to revisit the excellence of the earlier dish. Next came artichokes in garlic lemon butter--simply exquisite--and octopus paired with romesco, chorizo, and potatoes. The ratio of each ingredient to every bite was spot-on. As we struggled to decide which pasta dishes to share, Luis, our ruggedly handsome yet graceful server, came to the rescue. He recommended a half portion of the ravioli, fettuccine, and trofie--offering a perfect solution that allowed us to try a bit of everything without overindulging. The ravioli, stuffed with velvety ribeye and served in a goat cheese cream sauce with peas and pancetta, was hearty without being heavy, decadent without overwhelming. The fettuccine was perfectly al dente in a fragrant pesto sauce with sun-dried tomatoes, topped with more supple scrimps. As a student of the noodle, I'm always eager to try new pasta, and this was my first introduction to trofie. What sorrow to know how long I've lived in ignorance. A double helix of thin yet dense noodles, the trofie was a perfect vessel for the truffle nage--a delightfully earthy and vegetal sauce. For our next course, we had a delicate, flaky filet of orange roughy served with another new-to-me culinary revelation: prosecco sauce. The light, effervescent quality of the sauce was phenomenal. Perhaps my favorite dish of the evening was the pork chop, moist and flavorful, served in a standout mustard cream sauce. The other server, the effortlessly charming Jane, anticipated our every need, leaving us wanting for nothing throughout the meal. The dashing food runner, whose name I regrettably did not catch, glided each dish onto our table with precision, maximizing our space for what was admittedly a rather excessive feast. The playlist of upbeat, timeless bangers made me feel like I'd been invited to a party far cooler than I had any right to attend. For dessert, we shared a slice of olive oil apple cake, light and airy, dancing with whipped buttercream and subtle baking spices. The chocolate pot de crème? If nutritionally acceptable, I'd happily subsist on it alone for the rest of my days. A perfect cappuccino rounded out the meal. The space itself is gorgeous. Original art adorns the walls, and the restaurant is bathed in warm lighting. It's intimate yet lively, cozy but not cramped, with lively plants giving it a fresh, vibrant energy. The service throughout the evening was a masterclass in navigating a tight space harmoniously. Every movement was attentive but unobtrusive, creating a seamless flow. 5 stars, 4 bells, and two thumbs up. read more

That's my second BYOB and I am not excited to say the least. I like their primi more than their pastas. The octopus app was small for it's price, although tender, the mussels needed salt and acidity and the pesto didn't really work well there. The dish sounds better than it actually tastes and mussels require more balance in flavors. The pastas were flat, underseasoned and simplistic, averaging at $26. If you have had pastas at Osteria, Fiorella, Ventri's, Fiore's, you would find the offerings here to be below average. The lamb chops came well-done and they are market price and I usually laugh when restaurants do that for red meat dishes. Apparently we were charged $54 for 4 of those. Last but not least, the quality of service is the lowest of the low. These people shouldn't be in this industry. I mean l, they should dine at Vetris or Vernick or Barclay prime etc to experience that level of hospitality. With the level of competition that restaurants have in Philadelphia, I don't expect this to survive v long. Train your staff, restaurant dining is an experience, it's not just food. Probably the only thing that saves them is the lack of a liquor license. read more

Olea - Mediterranean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Delish! Such a lovely restaurant! Every item was fresh and beautifully prepared. Nice environment. Will absolutely return!

I rarely give 5 stars because I'm a harsh critic. There were a number of things that make this restaurant stand out to me. It's such a special place. We were lucky. After leaving a show at The Arden, we stumbled upon Olea. They are BYOB so bring your favorite wine! If you forget it, there is a reasonable wine shop right next door. So we were incredibly lucky to get a table for 2 at this small and cozy little place. The factors I absolutely loved: 1. It's small, quaint, and intimate. Even the dishes are adorable, like someone's old cute grandmom is cooking for you on a fancy occasion. 2. The service was fabulous. We were attended to appropriately. We didn't get a bottle on the way so the servers gave us suggestions for what to get next door. Their suggestion was spot on. Our New Zealand white was refreshing and smooth. The servers were knowledgable, helpful, and fun. 3. Honey, when I tell you the music playlist was fire. They had every type of music playing and it wasn't loud or overwhelming, you could barely hear it but from what I heard, I was singing and doing a little bounce in my seat. This was a unique feature I didn't expect but definitely appreciated. 4. Finally, and of course, the food was incredible. FRIENDSSSSSSS It was so good. Memorably good. From the pita bread to the hummus to the olive oil to the olives to the pasta to the... whew. Just 100% tasty, delicious, hot, flavorful, authentic food. I can't imagine a better experience. I will absolutely be back soon! read more

amazing food, amazing service, amazing location. i can't rave about this place enough! it's so cute inside with a very cozy intimate vibe. the ravioli was the best i've ever had! it's BYOB so we brought 2 bottles of wine and it's cash only with an ATM right next door. cannot wait to return, one of my favorite restaurants i've been to in philly. Luis is amazing, looking forward to seeing him again! read more

See all

This is a wonderful restaurant! The food was excellent- we had beet salad, octopus and the gnocchi. It was great! Octopus was quite tender and gnocchi was delicious. The owner is a great guy! Then we had desert... the gelato my wife had was good, but the chocolate & hazelnut desert was amazing!! They even had a good cappuccino - and the service was phenomenal!! You owe it to yourself to come here! read more

Olea - table shot - Mediterranean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

Food was delicious, though some pasta dishes were a bit rich. Service was amazing. Cute little BYO in a great part of town.

Came here last night with some girlfriends and we had a blast! Our waiter (who i think is the owner) was so fun, attentive and hilarious! We shared the octopus and artichokes - we LOVED them both. We each got a pasta dish, ravioli, bucatini and cavatelli and we all were impressed. Very cute spot for a girls dinner, date night or even a solo dinner - will definitely be back! read more

You would think the management would have the consideration to state that they have a private party on Monday the 29th of January before people drive into town and find out after they have driven into town and paid for parking. These are the things good management do! Very annoyed! Ben read more

Follow up to my earlier review in response to Luis P's comment on why we ate our entire portions of pasta and chicken even the pasta was slightly over cooked and the chicken slightly undercooked and didn't inform our server, with Luis P saying "shame on you" for not sending the food back or telling our server. We are not fussy people and it wasn't a big enough deal to send back entrées that we did actually enjoy. I ate around the small portions of the chicken that was undercooked, and the slightly over cooked pasta was not so bad that it had to go back, and it was flavorful, so my wife finished that. Plus, by the time I got to the undercooked portions of the chicken, it was practically done, so I left the undercooked portions uneaten. If our server paid closer attention, he would have seen the uneaten portions of the chicken was pink and reddish. Despite the small faux pas in food prep, we nonetheless left an adequate 22% tip, so I don't know why Luis P is all bent out of shape with our honest review. And I also said the pistachio ricotta cake was superb. If a restaurant cannot take constructive feedback, it's destined to fail. My wife had slight diarrhea the next day, which we didn't mention in our earlier review, because it could have been from anything, but since we are following up on this matter, we are now mentioning it. read more

Olea - Pistachio ricotta cake - Mediterranean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

Cute small byob! Great service and delicious food. They were very accommodating to kids.

Amazing little place we happened across while visiting. Had the Ravioli and my wife had the Shrimp Fettuccine. Both were great, with the Ravioli really standing out as one of the best I've had. Highly recommend read more

The service was fantastic! From the time we were greeted till the time we left, we felt like family. The space is small and intimate. Great for someone social who loves great food. If you're looking for more of a private experience, I would not recommend the space. Food was excellent quality! It's BYOB and we brought a nice bottle of wine to compliment the dinner. I can't wait to go back! read more

Amazing food and amazing service! The hummus and pita they give as the free bread is super tasty. Octopus appetizer came with an absolutely amazing sauce, and the octopus itself was super tender and buttery. The gnocchi was absolutely the highlight of the meal though, highly recommended to anyone who comes here! The garganelli was okay, I probably wouldn't order it again but I definitely enjoyed it. The ricotta pistachio cake was absolutely amazing, strong pistachio flavor and not too sweet. Other notes: food came very quickly which was great. Cash only. Also, this place seems more Italian than Mediterranean, other than the pita and hummus. read more

See all

Wow, just Wow. From super personable service from the adorable Luis to the authentic and superb Cesar, Bucatani, Branzino and surprise hit: Olive Oil Apple Cake with Maple Crema - Yummo! Don't miss this cash only BYOB. read more

Long overdue visit. Husband and I ventured out on a sunny spring day in our new neighborhood. We knew Luis had opened Olea yet we had never been. What a gem of a place. So sweet and quaint. Decor ambience and food were all fabulous. Was great seeing Luis and catching up. I think we found our neighborhood go to. We both had fish. Salmon and the stuffed branzino were so delish. Excited to go back. read more

Olea - Branzino and salmon - Mediterranean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

Awesome. Amazing. Delicious. Exceptional service. Perfect ambiance. Overall, one of the best experiences we have had in a while. We couldn't wait to go once we heard that Olea would soon be coming to occupy the former Chloe space. We kept a pulse on their progress and once they opened, we knew we had to go (it's only a 10 min walk away after all). Upon arrival, we were very happy to be asked for our vaccine cards/info (after all, this is still Covid times and we like any safety measure possible) and were seated immediately in a spot that we loved (the window). It was cozy, well lit, and comfortable. Now onto the drinks and food. We love that it's BYOB. Love, love, love it. And the food... nothing disappointed. We had a few small plates - octopus and beet salad, two pastas - the bucatini and the dish of my dreams the tortellini, and the lamb kebabs. Everything was amazing. And for dessert, the gelato du jour which was salted caramel and we had it with the pistachio ricotta cake. The owners and staff made the meal even better... attentive, outgoing and energizing. We are so happy to have this so close! read more

This was a truly terrible experience. The host was rude when we came in to the restaurant and insisted that we sit at a table that was right in front of the open door when it was 60° out. The next thing that happened was my wife asked about the salmon and then the server went into the kitchen, and we overheard her telling the host that we were entitled. This is a nasty place with staying for their guests. read more

As long time patrons of Chloe (20 Years,) although saddened it closed, we were super excited to learn that Olea would be opening in its spot. My gals and I set out for dinner at Olea on a Thursday evening. Upon arrival we were blown away by how chic and warm the dining room is. The three of us were instantly greeted by the "team" and shown to our table. This "team" runs the restaurant like a boss! Everything....the table setting, the service, the timing of the food, the food!!!! Perfection. The warm pita, hummus, olives, artichoke, mussels were wonderful but the star of the appetizer round was the Octopus. Perfectly cooked, tender, well seasoned and beautifully plated. I had the Branzino for dinner and it was light and cooked spot on. Loved the Israeli couscous side as well. My friend had the gnocchi which she loved and this girl orders gnocchi everywhere we go! My other friend had the tortellini. Of course we all tasted each others dishes and are still texting each other this morning about how scrumptious the tortellini was! Three of us and three desserts on the menu....how could we not??? Salted Caramel Gelato is the way to go, don't forget the espresso pour over! So fabulous. Loved everything about the place! Love the fact that it is a BYOB. Adored the overall vibe. Great music! It was fun! We are already scheduling our next visit! Thank you, Olea! read more

Olea is small and special. You feel captivated by the space and intimacy: from the philadelphia reclaimed wood lining the walls to the comforting personalities of the owner and staff. AND OMG THE FOOD. we had the beet salad and artichokes in white wine garlic buttery sauce. take a bath in that sauce. I had the ribeye ravioli in goat cheese sauce, but also managed to taste the pork chop and gnocchi. the ravioli was ... velvety smooth salty tangy sauce with the ribeye and salty fatty pancetta bits was the best dishes of the night. The pork chop was cooked perfectly and the gnocchi were little pillows. Jane and Luis were the icing on the restaurant cake. you just don't get kindness and genuine enthusiasm and love, let alone get to meet the owner of the restaurant... but the care taken by Luis was beyond anything I've experienced. a lovely night with friends read more