Great ambiance. Great staff and great food. Luis is awesome. Restaurant looks like it is always full and cozy. Even during the week

I will start with what is the most unfortunate and unforgiving part: terrible service. My party and I wanted some time to think whether we want an additional main dish or not when we were putting our order in, and the response was, with quite an attitude : "you know, we are fully booked and you are only allowed 2 hours to dine so we need to know at this moment if you want another main or not" How is that a customer's concern? Why should I feel pressured to decide on that very second whether I need another main or not? Is that the spirit of hospitality? We were also getting angry stares throughout our time there, with service stuff that had nothing to do with that conversation barely talking to us, just because we showed our annoyance to what was said. Definitely ruined the mood and the food was mediocre at best. read more

We used to go to the restaurant formerly occupying this spot, Chloe, which we adored. I was so saddened to see them close during the pandemic... And then Noord closed in Passyunk and we're equally saddened... But without either of those things happening we couldn't have had Olea, and I'm happy to say I prefer Olea to both (which is no mean feat!) First, Olea has not been open long, and it usually takes a few months for a new restaurant to work out all the kinks in both their staff and menu, but not so for Olea (at least from what I can see). It's clearly a labor of love. Everything in the decor has been updated beautifully, from the seating to the lighting to the bathrooms downstairs. Second, we ordered... Well, just about everything on the menu. Nothing was a let down. Particular highlights should be paid to the pastas (all surprisingly good), the porkchop was goddamn heavenly, and even the dessert (usually a regret when I order it elsewhere) was fantastic. Can't wait to go back. read more

Great spot, food was wonderful and service even better, highly recommend! Only reason it wasn't 5 stars is because I don't give them often but it's more than 4, thanks olea!! read more

Bring your bottle(s) and appetite. This cash only BYOB is exactly what I needed. The appetizers (octopus, artichokes and mussels) were individually amazing and collectively divine. The Complementary Pita, Hummus and Olives came out warm and set the tone for the dining experience. The pastas were perfectly cooked, and who can turn down a rib eye Ravioli... (not our table or the one next to us- both tables raved over the balance of flavors). With a chocolate hazelnut cake to end the night, which was velvety and perfectly rich. Our server was impeccable!!! He helped us to stagger the dishes to ensure we could pace our meal, checked in about our bottle to ensure that we had what we needed and created the atmosphere. A true professional!! He understood us and anticipated our needs. Special thanks to the server who recommended the extra bread for the Mussels... she came through!!! read more

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We came here a few weeks ago and had Louis as our waiter. The evening started out with hummus, pita and lovely green olives. It was BYOB so we had our wine with the burrata, octopus, chorizo, beet salad and artichokes- pretty much everything off the appetizers. It was all absolutely divine and tasted amazing! Two of us ordered the pork chop that came in a honey mustard- type sauce, the fish and vegetarian pasta. Not only was the food fantastic but better yet Louis's service was top tier! He took the time to recommend something that would wet everyone's palate and was very friendly and personable. Louis had an incredible presence about him and was absolutely delightful! We will most definitely be coming back- just an fyi that they're CASH ONLY. read more

Cozy byob with PERFECT Mediterranean food. Our waiter was a TREAT! He was so attentive, hilarious, and interactive. 10/10 experience. Can't wait to go back read more

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My wife and I went here with my son for an early Sunday dinner. Son had dined at Olea right after it opened and he recommended we go. We started by splitting 2 Beet Salads which had a fantastic orange vinaigrette dressing. For entrees, we ordered the Pork Chop, Branzino and the pasta special - Tortellini stuffed with Veal Osso Buco in a goat cheese cream sauce. All 3 dishes were excellent and the portion sizes were just right! During the meal, I ordered an iced tea and the tea was made in a French Press (never saw this before). Service food and ambiance were great! Luis was wonderful - great host!! Definitely earned a 5 star rating. Note that Olea is BYOB and only takes cash (ATM is close by). Look forward to going the next time we are in Philly!! read more

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First and foremost if you're reading this.., stop!!, JUST GO!!! My boyfriend booked olea for my birthday, it was my first time here and boy oh boy!!! Absolutely. Obsessed. !! From start to finish everything was phenomenal! Honestly no words could truly describe how wonderful this place is. Luis and his crew gave impeccable service, the food literally melted in your mouth, and such a relaxed ambiance that reminds you of being at home ! I literally rave about this place; From the hummus and pita bread with olives, to the mussels, then the pork chop,raviolis, and the halibut !!! Then to top it all off the salted caramel gelato!! TO DIE FOR!! Seriously I'm not kidding just go you won't regret it! 10/10! BYOB btw read more

Olea - Mediterranean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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My husband and I went to Olea to celebrate our wedding anniversary. From start to finish, a wonderful meal. We had the artichokes and octopus to start. I could DRINK that romesco sauce!!! I had seafood pasta and he had the half chicken. Both were outstanding. Perfectly cooked chicken, pasta was beautifully Al dente. We had the pistachio cake and Creme Brulee pie, which were the perfect finishes. Music was great, provided a nice vibe for the evening. Service was lovely. We will definitely be back!! read more

My wife and I enjoyed a truly fantastic dinner at Olea last night. This being our first time dining there, we ordered a ton of dishes, and every one of them was exceptional. Here's what we had... - Warm pita served with hummus and olives - Beet salad with feta, arugula, pecans, and red onions with orange vinaigrette - Artichokes with garlic white wine and lemon butter - Gnocchi with sausage, kale, and sun-dried tomatoes in a light blush sauce - Garganelli with basil, eggplant, marinara, and yogurt drizzle - Mussels with limoncello pesto and cherry tomatoes - Salmon with couscous and tzatziki sauce - Pistachio ricotta cake - Affogato with house-made salted caramel gelato Highlights of the meal included...well, everything! Each dish was really well executed--perfectly balanced flavors and textures and beautiful presentation. The space is really warm and cozy with lots of charming decorative touches, interesting artwork, and great lighting. As for the service...just impeccable. Really, I can't say enough about how lovely and welcoming everyone was. But what would you expect with the incredibly charming and amazing Luis Pedrogo at the helm? We can't wait to go back! read more

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Just fabulous from start to finish. The food, the atmosphere, the music, and of course the welcoming and attentive service. You feel as if you're at your good friend's dinner party, and your good friend happens to make absolutely incredible food. Great for dates, great for a group of friends, any occasion. read more

I went back to Olea for my second time last night and it was fabulous! It is a smaller sized restaurant with a cozy, inviting feel. It is perfect to catch up with a friend or for a date night. As other reviews mentioned, they first serve you with complimentary hummus, olives, and warm pita - so good! We started with the octopus which was delicious, it is served over a red pepper type sauce with peppers and potatoes. Next, we had the bucatini topped with burrata (I think the burrata says it all, amazing), for our last course we tried the monkfish wrapped in bacon. At first, I wasn't sure how I was going to like the fish wrapped in bacon, but it really brought out the flavor of the fish and was perfectly salty. I really enjoyed it! We finished with a chocolate mousse type cake and the salted caramel gelato. If you like salted caramel, you cannot skip the gelato! The service is also great, Luis is so friendly and makes you feel super welcome! I was having such a great time, I forgot to take pictures! read more

To be honest, I was not expecting a whole lot from a tiny BYO. But wow was I surprised and delighted. The service was excellent (one server for like 12 tables and he was WONDERFUL, personable, funny, some of the best service I've seen as an industry veteran), and the food was delicious. Would return again and again. 10/10 recommend read more

I just moved to Old City from Chicago and feel so fortunate to have this little slice of paradise right around the corner from my house. If you don't live nearby, I implore to make the trip! I could eat here every single day! I love Olea! Louis, Danielle & Jamie are incredible. Hospitality is all about the way you make people feel and they certainly are so incredibly welcoming. I want to thank the rest of the staff from the front of the house and back as well and especially the Chef! BRAVO to all of you. I love the intimate neighborhood feel right in the middle of Old City! Sorry, not sorry but if you get the pork chop, you're may never want to try anything else on the menu but please do! Also, Olea is more than accommodating when it comes to GF, Dairy Free and substitutions! Thank you Olea! read more

Delightful family dinner in old city! We were so impressed by the service from Louis, who was incredibly personable and also attentive to allergies and modifications. The beet salad was light and a perfect complement to the decadent gnocchi and tender pork chop. The BYOB policy makes it all the more enticing for your next date night or small group dinner! Cannot say enough good things about this restaurant and its team. read more

Luis was absolutely fantastic. I have never left a yelp review for a restaurant but this place absolutely deserves 5 stars hands down. Great food, even better service. Every dish popped off with incredible flavor! Can't wait to go again soon. read more

Great atmosphere and service! Food was delicious. Would recommend to anyone, just slightly sad that it's cash only.

Everything was absolutely wonderful....from the impeccable design, attentive service and flavorful food. Everything we had we would order again....beet salad was the best we've ever had, the branzino was cooked to perfection and the pork chop is a 10/10. Highly recommend & we will be back! read more

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I love this restaurant. The staff always makes you feel welcome and the food is incredible. Such a cozy atmosphere and the rotating menu is worth coming back for again and again. read more

Olea - Mediterranean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

All I have to say is this place hit the spot! Booked this restaurant for my fiancés birthday. Everything was on point. The ambience, the energy, the food. and Luis!. O M G Luis! His energy made this restaurant unforgettable, we absolutely loved him! Ok enough about Luis ()! The restaurant was quaint, dim, sexy, friendly. The food was on point. Everything was fresh, perfectly seasoned, perfectly cooked. I hate leaving a restaurant and feeling underwhelmed and unsatisfied, but not this place. Stand out dishes were the artichoke, octopus, mussels, tortellini (my favorite), Garganelli, fettuccini, pork chop, and the bronzino. Byob CASH only read more

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Great food and wonderful staff. Everyone is friendly, personal and inviting. The dishes change frequently and are always a treat

awesome food. fantastic service (from any server we've ever had) and nice ambiance! (luis is a charmer and not to be missed !) byob keeps the $ down. just remember to bring cash.....no credit cards accepted. read more

Owner is so warm and welcoming. Menu is amazing. Space is intimate. We'll be back many, many times!!!

We had a great experience and the owner was super personable. The ambience was perfect for a date night. Octopus was very well done. The gnocchi was solid too. They even had olives that I actually liked which is almost a miracle. read more

I visited this place first with a group of friends and had a great time. I came back because of the great night and found that the food was not just guys night out good but one of the best in Old City and beyond. Awesome. We'll be back a fifth and sixth time this month. read more

Loved my birthday dinner at Olea. The goodness started with Luis accommodating what was supposed to be 7 of us on short notice. He is the perfect greeter, server, owner of this BYO. We had a few appetizers - loved the artichoke and octopus. The beet salad was the best beet salad I've ever had in a restaurant- ingredients, dressing, preparation. The whole fish was delicious snapper and easily shared by two, given all the apps we had. Everyone enjoyed their meal immensely. read more

Great food with friendly staff! Very reasonably priced and the BYOB helps. If we lived here this would be a stand by.

The BEST experience I ever had at a restaurant. I've been to many, with great food and service, Olea Philadelphia has simply set the bar HIGHER. Once experienced, you will have a new gold standard for how restaurants should be. I've never had a restaurant and server go that far beyond the expectation of great service. The attention to detail was exceptional, so was the presentation and thoughtfulness. They make it clear when you arrive that every effort will be made to ensure you have a great dining experience. Every table and every person I saw was having a great time. Come through and ask for Luis! BTW, I was there celebrating a birthday w/family, the restaurant put "Happy Birthday" with my name on a custom menu. I wanted to save it, and forgot to take it... they mailed me a copy so I could have it to remember. Like I said, above and beyond. read more

What a find! Opened February 2022, cash only and byob. The nicest people own and run this cozy neighborhood restaurant with indoor and outdoor dining. The friendliest restaurant greeting ever when we arrived. The food was amazing, highly recommend the ravioli, branzino and salted caramel ice cream! If you forget your alcoholic beverage, there is a little convenience store next door (very convenient) that has a limited selection of wine and plenty of beer, so they have you covered. Definitely give this a try; we will be back!! read more

This place is destined to become one of Philly's most impressive BYOB's. From the moment you enter the beautiful designed space, to the moment you have to say goodbye, you will not be disappointed. The food is incredible. You leave feeling like you found this amazing neighborhood secret spot. Not to mention the staff is the warmest bunch of people you will find. BYOB and cash only! Do not miss this place. read more

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Read about this restaurant on yelp. Did not disappoint . I had the mussel appetizer followed by pasta with eggplant. The mussels were not over cooked and perfectly seasoned. I would highly recommend this dish. Pasta was also delicious. Followed dinner with pistachio cake. It was moist and yummy! The owner Lewis, was friendly and charming. I hope he will continue to do well as I will be making this a go to choice of restaurant in the future. read more

fabulous! I came in with no reservation and was treated so wonderfully by the staff. thank you Olea!

Delicious food! Friendly staff! Great service! Branzino was perfectly prepared! The mussels are amazing! Perfect BYOB! read more

What an amazing experience. We stumbled upon this place while visiting and we're truly blown away. The food was amazing, ambiance was second to none, and the staff made you feel as though you were family. The music was also on point. Such a smooth operation for day 4 - with many more days to come Come, bring your own bottle and enjoy the delicious food. Everything from the pita/hummus to the beets to the bucatini and dessert was amazing. read more

FUN Place!! Neighborhood low key small cozy restaurant with great appetizers and we tried all the pasta dishes that night. All were great Octopus appetizer was killer and goat cheese cream raviolis best rav I have ever had. Super fun waiter and waitress. Seems like a locals place but incredibly warm and welcoming. My son lives near there. Will be back!! read more

Food and service were incredible. Had mussels in pesto limoncello that were incredible. Pork chop and gelato were the best I ever had. Party of four and everyone loved their meals. Is cash only and BYOB. Highly recommend! read more

One of the best Italian dining experiences ever, and we are old! If you go here and do not get the mussels you are missing out on something very special. The wait staff here is among the best in Philly. You forget how important service and personality can be until you experience the best. They made our anniversary celebration extra fun and extra special. read more

We loved this place. The owner was warm and inviting and makes you feel special. The food was delish and the menu diverse. We had the artichokes and mussels to start followed by the veal tortellini and the gnocchi. Everything was on pointe. Great ambiance with twinkling candles. My only fear is that the word will get out and reservations will be hard to get but honestly they deserve it read more

Best kept secret in Philly! Service and food are amazing! The type of place you don't want to give too good of a review so that it doesn't get too crowded. read more