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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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

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

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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The food had good moments, but the experience wasn't great. Plates came out with 15-20 minute gaps, our server was basically MIA, and we had to chase another staff member to find out where our food was while tables seated after us were getting served. The lemon chicken was dry and oddly seasoned, and there were rats running around the patio and drinking from the fountain near our table. For a "special" restaurant at this price point, that combination of slow, inattentive service and a gross outdoor setup is a hard no for me. read more

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

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

First time here for me, but third time for the rest of my party. I was very pleased with the service. Portions were small, but tasty. The baked Alaska was excellent. I was seated in the main restaurant and it was exceptionally cold. And I don't mean just chill. I mean, cold. I looked around and saw everyone else in summer dress looking as cold as I was. Ruined the whole evening for my party. Restaurants really need to be responsible to create an inviting ambience. Bring your fleece or a blanket. read more

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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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

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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Great for Mediterranean inspired small dishes to share! Some recommendations: Small Plates: warm buttered hummus: 5/5 lamb chop special: 5/5 eggplant moussaka: 4.5/5 deviled eggs: 4.5/5 vermont quail kebab: 4/5 whipped feta: 4/5 Desserts: Kunefe: 5/5 baked alaska 5/5 macadamia baklava 4/5 Oleana doesn't disappoint. The small shareable plates are very good and I absolutely love their desserts. The Kunefe is very well done with it's crunch and ginger ice cream. It just can't be beat! Their Baked Alaska with passion fruit syrup is also fantastic. In addition to having some unique and creative dishes, their service is also very good. Each time I've been there, our server has been attentive to any requests or questions we've had. They've made sure if the table was uneven to put table leg levelers and also clear the table and wipe it down between waves of plates being served. The restaurant itself has a pleasant atmosphere that isn't too loud. There is patio seating as well for when the weather is nice. No parking lot so you may have to walk a little ways to the restaurant from street parking. Our group of 6 booked our reservation a month in advance. Depending on group size it is hard to get a spot without a reservation. read more

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Make reservations early because this place is often in high demand (for great reason). Our server was amazing and recommended some great dishes for us, as well as proper portion sizing for a small dish/sharing type of place. I truly think you can't go wrong with your dish selection because they just nailed all the ones I had tried. I was blown away by their balance yet complexity in flavors, clean feeling food, and creativity and would recommend this place to anyone! read more

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Oleana was overall quite a good experience!! We started off with the special, which was a peach blossom salad that was delicious and almost reminded me of caramel popcorn. The spinach falafel was probably the best falafel I've had as well! The sultan's delight was delicious, and very rich. The moussaka was also very good and had interesting texture. The fried mussels were also excellent. The trilece was not my favorite, but still good. I'd like to come back to try and sit outside on the patio next time! read more

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Fantastic food! Chef Anna was a delight and a genius! Delicious Turkish fusion! Loved the Sultan's Delight, lamb shish, Bread and goat cheese, Lemon chicken, Fatteh, And we are coming back this week Staff is fantastic Flavor explosion with delicious spices read more

What an incredible experience. The food, the atmosphere, and the service were all amazing. All of the dishes were prepared well and tasted at the very least very good to amazing. Definitely get a reservation here (and come a little early to find street parking) because even on a Tuesday night it was packed to the brim. My favorites were the Za'atar Bread & Cucumber Cacik, Spinach Falafel, Lamb & Eggplant Moussaka, and Sultan's Delight. The only thing that was maybe mildly disappointing was the fried mussels but only because I didn't feel like there was anything special about them - they were still cooked well and flavorful. Their mocktails are delicious as well - I got the seasonal spritz (strawberry black lime) which tasted like an elevated strawberry soda. The rose lemonade was also good, although it is on the lighter side rather than having a strong rose flavor. The baked alaska dessert is visually stunning and delicious, and the almond cremolata had a delicious and complex taste and texture profile that I suspect I could say about any dessert on that menu. Truly a delicious meal, would definitely come again. read more

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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

This place is so hyped and it doesn't fail to meet expectations. We ordered the fatteh, red pepper dumplings, sultan's, and lemon chicken, and profiteroles and they didn't disappoint. Fatteh is a must 10/10! Flavors and textures all mixed extremely well together in a unique way. Would recommend if you're into culinary creativity. 6/5. Sultans was good, but probably least favorite. Nothing stood out, I wouldn't order. 3/5 Dumplings were good as well. Super flavorful and basically wanted to drink the sauce it was in. 4/5. Lemon chicken was really good and filling! Everything else I wish there was more of but the chicken was a great amount. I thought there'd be bones in it but it actually is just a hunk of chicken. Super easy to eat and the crust is crispy in the best way. Cooked to perfection and so moist. Definitely order to round out the rest of the food. 5/5. Everyone else ordered the profiteroles so we got them, but honestly they were okay. They look like Greek donuts and so I didn't expect there to be a creamy filling, wish there wasn't. That's on us though. 3/5. All in all really unique spot and would highly recommend trying out at least once. Staff is incredibly nice as well. Not overhyped! read more

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Came here for my gf's bday. We got a late reservation at like 8:45 pm on Sunday. Given the experience we had, I have no idea why this place is so popular. Food: I'm vegan and was given a very convenient vegan menu. The Turkish coffee was deliciously brewed. Beyond that my food was at best mediocre: the white bean & parsnip puree dish ate extremely sweet, the large fava bean dish tasted like Indian take-away (usually good, but not at an Oleana, and not at Oleana prices). Best vegan dish was the potato kubbah, but this too was pretty under seasoned. My gf's non-vegan moussaka looked like baby food and she confirmed that it also tasted too sweet for a lamb dish. Why would one put sweet potato into a moussaka? The fried mint lacked all flavor; basically burned leaves as garnish. Service: If you are going to rush the last turn, just don't take reservations an hour-and-a-half before kitchen closes. I'm not sure why all our dishes were rushed out and quite literally thrown in front of us, except the moussaka. No explanations. No descriptions: here's your $16 tapa-sized portion of beans. No 'enjoy'. When asked for a wine recommendation, our server looked annoyed and responded that there's a lot of different wine. Yes, and I'd like a recommendation of on from that extensive list. We got an off the cuff 'try this'. The servers have no time to spare to make the guests feel like they're having a culinary experience. Surely, Oleana can afford to right-size the staff? Dirty dishes sat on our table for way longer than they should have. Gf's moussaka was nearly pronounced forgotten just to appear when no one wanted it any longer. Overall: I'd pay double to go to a real restaurant that doesn't do this 'small plate' idiocy in 2025. At least hire enough staff. read more

I highly recommend making reservations although it looks like you can walk-in if it's early in the night. A line of people are at the door as soon as they open doors for dinner. The service was great. Our server was very knowledgeable. The rose lemonade and seasonal sharbat greatly complimented the food we had for dinner. The fatteh was a great way to start our dinner. The sultan's delight was very tender and the flavors were paired very well. Although I'm not typically a fan of eggplant, the eggplant puree was delicious. The special of the night was a lamb dish that was also very tender and very good. The gyros was a little messy to eat but the potatoes in it and the picked onions were delicious. For dessert, we had a macadamia nut baklava with some vanilla ice cream which was a first for me, but just as good as pistachio baklava. We ordered the perfect amount for two people, I would definitely come back! read more

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I was In the Boston area to celebrate my mom's birthday so I wanted a place that would be unique, elegant, and delivering tasty food. Based on reviews and the line outside the place right when they opened, I was pretty optimistic I would get all three. I was grateful that they reserve a few tables to allow for walk-ins as it was too late to make reservations. I was also happy that they had a lot across the street with free parking (it can fit about 8-10 cars). I obviously did not do enough research because I did not realize that it was tapa style, but tapa style makes me happy since it allows me to explore different options and flavors. For drinks we tried the rose lemonade and the pear cardamon drink. Both were very subtle in flavor with the rose lemonade being a bit tart and the pear cardamon drink being fizzy. We tried a couple items from each section--vegetable, fish, and meat. The dishes were: potato & red lentil kubba, fatteh, fried mussels, flattened potatoes, sultan's delight, and shrimp, and this is the order of my favorite to least favorite. The potato & red lentil kubba was my favorite because it was the most flavorful and reminded me of a deconstructed samosa without the outer shell. The fatteh was the most creative looking and it was fun having to mix it all up (per our waitress' recommendation). The fried mussels were good, they were not chewy, and I liked the fried peppers it came with because it was a good spicy. The flattened potatoes were a little bland but I liked the texture. The sultan's delight was tender, but I don't think I was too much of a fan of the tamarind sauce, it was sweet but did not have a strong tamarind flavor. The shrimp was really expensive for what it brings since there were only three shrimp. The service was good and the food would come out one plate at a time, with the perfect amount of time between each. Overall, I think my rating is a mix of flavor, portions, and price, and ultimately, I think it was expensive for the portion and flavor. read more

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At the forefront of my mind during my first visit to Oleana was "How does this place compare to Sarma?" Unfortunately, I must report that Sarma blows Oleana out of the water. Out of the 6 dishes we ordered, there were a lot of bright spots, but also a lot of room for improvement. The fatteh was a bright spot, but as for everything else, even the good dishes Sarma can do better. Whipped Feta (4/5): The feta was delicious. It had a really nice blend of peppers and cheese, finely balancing the spiciness and the strong cheese aroma. This was my 3rd favorite dish. Za'atar Bread & Whipped Yellow Lentils (5/5): The bread was deliciously seasoned and soft. It didn't come out that warm, though. The whipped lentils were SO smooth and creamy. Really incredible. This was my 2nd favorite dish. Fatteh (FAVORITE): This was my favorite dish. The cauliflower was so perfectly roasted and yet so tender. It was charred to perfection. The crispy pita bread was awesome. The yogurt sauce brought it all together. Broccoli, Kale, Kohlrabi Borek (3/5): This was very average. Nothing bad, but the vegetables tasted like they could have been frozen. The sauce was also uninspired. Sultan's Delight (4/5): The first bite I had of this was great. The meat was so, so tender. As I ate more, the sauce become overwhelming. The sauce overpowers the meat and the smoky eggplant puree. We could have used more eggplant puree to balance out the sauce (the puree was delicious, by the way) Baked Alaska (3/5): Tasty, but definitely not a must-order like everyone else says. WAY too sweet. Even if it weren't too sweet, I don't think it's anything special. It also costs $16... for that much, you could get another hot mezze dish! Overpriced and not worth. Service was great. Seating is also very cozy. We were near a nice little fireplace. read more

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Over the past few years, I've been obsessed with Mediterranean food. This place is *chef's kiss*. I've been wanting to come here and finally got a reservation. Highly recommend you book it a month in advance--crazy, I know. For food I highly recommend ordering from the Meze list on the menu. Everything was so good and honestly cannot go wrong. If you order from the Meze which are the small plates, order 2-3 dishes per person, depending on how hungry you are. 2-3 small plates is also equal to one of their large plate dishes. Devils egg: If you are a tuna fish person you would love this. I was not sure if I liked it with my devils egg but surprisingly, it was delicious. Spinach Falafels: It comes with 3 (but can be upgraded to 4 falafels) wrapped in a pita bread with creamy tahini and beet tzatziki. Highly recommend this dish. Fried mussels: Another must order if you are a seafood lover. I've had fried oysters and clams but never fried mussels. This was delicious. The menu says "hot peppers" but trust me, there was no heat in this. Fatteh: I'm not a huge fan of cauliflower (or even broccoli) but this dish changed my mind. This is another must order, also recommended my my waiter. It comes with this crispy top where you smash it with a spoon and mix it with the creamy yogurt. Swordfish Parm Involtini: This reminds me of stuffed chicken breast. Flavor was decent but it was dry. Lamb: This was a special for the night. It was cooked perfectly and not gamey at all. Paired with the yogurt. It didn't stand out to me unfortunately, next time I would have to try another lamb dish that is actually on their menu. Lemon Chicken: This was the only large plate that I ordered. The chicken was okay but you have to eat it with the Turkish cheese pancake that it comes with. The cheese pancake was salty and gave the chicken flavor. Overall was not my favorite. Final thoughts: I loved the atmosphere of the place and our waiter was amazing and honestly all the servers there. I would definitely come here again soon. read more

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If you need a great local spot for Mediterranean food... this is the place. You need to score a reservation or you can be there by 5:30pm to grab a table. Be prepared for a line of people already waiting by 5pm. The outside patio is very charming so I highly recommend sitting there in the warm months. All the food is excellent so no need to recommend anything. Portions are tapas style for sharing and none of them are huge. This is great so you can try a lot of the menu. Everything was very flavorful and fresh. They have wine and beer options only. Save room for dessert since they have fabulous choices. Hope to be back my next trip to Cambridge! read more

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love this place. Such a cozy restaurant with a kind of bohemian vibe. Bartender there was very friendly and knowledgeable and responded some amazing dishes, which are small meddetrrian tapas style. The food was outstanding  1) Bluefish Conserva- light and flavorful with good acidity. Bluefish was fresh and tender 4/5 2) Fatteh- so good. Very savory and light. Greta textures with different vegetables and the crunchy flatbread. The yugat sauce added a nice light tartness too 5/5  3)Sultan's Delight- beef was so tender  and great umami flavor. Eggplant pair great with it 5/5  4) red peper dumplings- the only heavy dish I  had. Was very interesting and tasty with a rich tomato yogurt sauce.  5/5 5) Vermont Quail Kebab- Tasty dish with thick tender quail atop crispy rice. Very mild kick to the dish with pistachios to add a little nuttiness and sweetness  4/5 6) Turkish Style Profiteroles- a little salty a little sweet, a little savory. Great dessert. Halva added the sweetness and the cooked cashews added a nice saltiness and good texture. 5/5 Will be coming here many more times for the food, ambiance, and kind staff read more

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Three friends all say that this is their fav restaurant in the area. We are lucky to grab bar seats at 6:30pm on Tuesday. I heard that reservations are really hard to make. But we don't mind sitting at the bar at all! The ambience is casual and homey. Servers are very friendly. We ordder 6 dishes plus 1 dessert. Very full!! Will probably just do 5 dishes next time. $85pp. Food: #1 - Fatteh: our fav dish of the night! Soooooo good. Would come back again for this Also #1 - Baked Alaska: super good dessert. #2 - Sultan's delight: very flavorful beef and basil. This feels like something we would get at other restaurants too though. #2 - Fish Tagine: I love it!!! Flavorful but not too rich. Fish is very crispy but not too deep fried. # 3 - lemon chicken, lamb eggplant masoukka, topki are all good but 4/5 probably. Lemon Chicken looks really good but is a bit underwhelming. read more

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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

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

What We Ate: Za'atar bread with whipped lentils, Red Pepper Dumplings, Feta Katafi, Fatteh, Dark Leafy Greens, Sultan's Delight, Almond Cremolata Would Recommend? Sure, but not to the same extent that many reviews would make it seem to believe. Solid, but shockingly over-hyped farm-to-table mediterranean. Our favorite was the Fatteh, for textures and flavor. Fine: Za'atar bread was fluffy but lentil-pumpkin dip leaned sweet. Bread is not served warm. Red pepper dumplings were flavorful but dense. Sultan's delight, which is a heavier braised beef dish, could use some relief. Tahini on the almond cremolata was off-putting but tasty once we got past it. Disappointing: Dark leafy greens, ran salty and poor value for what it was. Feta katafi, not enough katafi and ran very sweet. read more

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First time diner last night on the recommendation of some colleagues. We had a friendly and knowledgeable server...she knew the menu cold and her knowledge of the eclectic wine list was really solid. We started with a Hungarian red blend we'd never heard of (let alone tried before) that was recommended by our server. We both thought it was a great choice. We had the Gigante Beans, Plum & Cucumber Salad, Grilled Broccolini, Hake Croquettes, and Warm Buttered Hummus, and finished with the Ekmek Kataifi for desert. Each dish was a unique take on middle eastern cuisine. Picking a favorite would be like picking a favorite child. Delicious. We'll be back. read more

Awesome food and unmatched dining experience. Fan favorite ... hummus potato! This should be a must stop for any trip to Boston but reserve early because they book up very far in advance. read more

Oleana Restaurant - Hummus potato - Turkish Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Wonderful evening, as always, at Oleana. We made our reservation about a month in advance which I recommend. The vibes at this place are always immaculate and they manage to fit a lot of people in the dining room while maintaining a feeling of intimacy. We absolutely loved everything we got: Sultan's delight (eggplant purée was Smokey and to die for and the beef melted in your mouth), spinach falafel (I always get these here!! Love the beet hummus), Zaatar bread and dip (I was eating the dip with a spoon once we ran out of bread it was so good), and Fattoush (delicious flavors that all come together when you break and mix it up as instructed). Amazing touch at the end with a complimentary sweet treat and candle wishing us a happy anniversary. Unsure if this was on behalf of the restaurant or my bank (through which we made the reservation) but it made a perfect end to a lovely evening. read more

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A perfect evening Oleana makes. Seductive setting. Lively atmosphere. Amazing service. Delicious food. Tantalizing Turkish & Middle East flavors. Shining ISKENDER KEBAB and BAKED ALASKA this evening. Awakening and enhancing my memory bank of unique tastes, this is a favorite restaurant of mine. CHEERS! read more

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Yup. Really great. Some of the best bites had in Boston, highlighted by the mushroom borek, topik, and a lamb and eggplant moussaka! I wanna go back. Just delicious, great cocktails, great desserts and a warm and fun ambiance. Service on point too! read more

Oleana Restaurant - Mushroom Borek - Turkish Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

The only reason I'm giving this two stars instead of one is because I've been here before and had a much better experience. I came in one evening with a friend who was visiting from out of town, excited to share the great food I'd had before. We were seated right away. It was about an hour before closing and not very busy--less so than on my previous visit. Our server took our drink order, and the drinks arrived quickly. He wasn't particularly warm, but not rude either--just neutral. We ordered a few mezzes (including falafel), plus our mains. The dips came out fast, but the falafel never did. We waited over 30 minutes, and during that time, we saw at least three other tables (who had arrived after us) receive their falafel orders. We tried to get our server's attention, but he was engaged in a long conversation at another table and walked past us without checking in. The only time he returned was to tell us the kitchen was closing. When we told him we hadn't received our falafel, he claimed we were only missing one item, and then casually mentioned, "It probably went to another table." He didn't apologize, nor did he follow up. Instead, he returned to the same table to chat some more. In the end, the falafel arrived after our mains--over an hour after we ordered it. I was really disappointed. I had hoped to give my friend a memorable meal before she left town, but the poor service completely soured the experience. The food here is good, but the service needs serious improvement. A great restaurant should care about consistency and hospitality--not just the quality of the food. read more

This is the best food we've had in our 3-4 years living here! We were blown away at how amazing the flavors were. The service was fabulous, very attentive and helpful. I almost don't want to hype it up too much so I can keep getting reservations (better than Sarma in my opinion)! read more