OLEA
Categories: Seafood, Breakfast & Brunch, Greek and Mediterranean, Tapas Bars [Edit]
Neighborhood: Brooklyn/Fort Greene171 Lafayette Ave
(between Adelphi St & Clermont Ave)
Brooklyn, NY 11238 (718) 643-7003
- Nearest Transit:
Clinton-Washington Aves (G)
Lafayette Ave (C)
- Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Good for: Dinner
- Alcohol: Full Bar
42 Reviews for OLEA
Went here for a light dinner of Tapas and loved every bite. The staff is excellent and the service quick. Particularly enjoyed falafel encrusted artichoke hearts and of course the Sangria!
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Moved to the area a few months ago and I'm slowly making my way through the neighborhood restaurants. I'd heard a lot of great things about Olea and wasn't disappointed.
Brought the visiting fam for dinner and it really was a fantastic meal. We got lots of tapas, my favorites were the classic patatas bravas, which are topped with a delicious aioli, a simple grilled zucchini and eggplant that was cooked to perfection, and the goat cheese croquettes! God, I love goat cheese. Two different types of shrimp were great, but on the small side, and the salads were top notch! One came with roasted tomatoes, chickpeas and falafel croutons, which I think is totally genius. The salmon was good, but I don't eat a lot of fish, so I'm not the best judge.
Sangria was meh, but the food was outstanding, I'd be back in an instant.
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I've only been here for brunch and both times I was exceedingly pleased. The tart Greek yogurt is very tasty and can easily be shared as a side because it is so thick and creamy. Be sure to order a pot of tea with it to wash it down!
The French omelet has Brie cheese in it. Seriously? Could you possibly ask for anything more ingenious? The coffee is hot and strong and the waitstaff is very laid back without being inattentive.
This is also a prime spot for people watching because there's tons of foot traffic that comes through this particular intersection, which makes for good morning conversation while waiting for your coffee to kick in and get your brain going.
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Cheeses and hummus. Hummus and cheeses. Tasty tapas, good service and a cozy atmosphere. If I lived in the neighborhood I'd probably become a regular.
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BRUNCH GOODNESS!
I recently went for a friend's birthday brunch. The wait staff is friendly and efficient and the food is delicious and reasonable.
Beyond the fact that the food & cocktails are excellent ... I just love the ambiance here ... It's a chill, laid back, place and brunch here on Sunday is a great way to start the week. :)
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One of the best things about enjoying a night in Fort Greene is to simply relax, ditch your strict schedules and take the night as it comes to you. Olea is a great spot if that's what you have in mind. I made my fifth or sixth trip to Olea last Thursday and had another fantastic experience. We waited about 10 minutes for a table and sat and enjoyed some of their excellent sangria during that time. The service was friendly as always, they have great wine and excellent tapas. The warm pita platter with an incredible tzaziki sauce is highly recommended as are the bacon-wrapped dates and patatas bravas. Entrees are always good too and while you might have to wait a bit for a table (they only take reservations for 6 or more if I remember correctly) the food comes out fast and fresh and delicious.
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This is where I went on my first date with my now-husband, so I have fond memories:)
A creative Mediterranean menu with Italian, Turkish, Greek, Israeli influences will definitely satisfy the palate yearning for something different. Definitely not a fast food joint, you'd want to go here for a long conversational meal with friends, perhaps before or after a film for some of their excellent wine selections (try the Massaya from Lebanon, it's exquisite!!) and some dessert. The decor makes you feel you have entered into a place in the Middle East, with a palm tree right in the center, tiles, mirrors, pillowed-seating on the side...Outside seating available seasonally. Reasonably priced with friendly staff.
Plain great. A wonderful setting--indoor and out--complemented by a smart and electic menu, nestled in a quiet residential strip of a thriving Fort Greene. Permeated by a vibrant community feel.
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As for the portions.. it is because this country is so used to gigantic plates and if the food is good enough, you wouldn't need such a big portion to enjoy the flavors. It's also tapas servings so you go for the great wine and atmosphere too. I also felt the service was a lot warmer than a lot of other restaurants in Fort Greene. I am reminded of my childhood in spain (before my family relocated to the Bronx).. and the easy going mood. thanks, olea, for the good times.
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This is one of my favorite restuarants. Really nice "ambience." Super chill staff. Really good food and affordable. One criticism would be that the menu doesn't change too much. They have specials but the tasting menu stays the same. Still I love Olea.
Fried goat cheese. What's not to love?
The first time I ventured out of Manhattan was to meet with a close friend in Brooklyn. She had heard about this place from a coworker, so we decided to go there. We had one of the best dinners ever; and we both realized that we are truly "foodies".
First off, I've only been for dinner, and I only get the tapas. We heard that the dinner entrees are okay, but we had such a wonderful tapas experience that we decided that's what we'll always get. And every time we've been back, it's been amazing. So get the tapas. Who cares about brunch anyway. Small plates. Tapas.
We love the atmosphere... it's cozy, perfectly sized, with dim lighting, bench pillows and plants. Frequently there is live Spanish guitar. It always seems to be busy, but we usually get a table quickly. I guess it's worth a reservation if you have 4 or more guests.
So, the tapas are Spanish/Greek. I'll order some of our favorites for you:
. pitcher of sangria
. goat cheese croquets (even if you don't like goat cheese)
. gambas al ajillo (be sure to drag your bread thru the butter)
. bacon wrapped dates
. Turkish cigars
. patatas bravas
. haloumi
. pita bread with tzatziki
. yogurt for dessert (Greek yogurt + toasted walnuts + sour cherries + candied orange rind = amazing)
Definitely one of our favorite places; I'm always happy to leave Manhattan to come to this place.
One star for atmosphere and one star for delicious flavors.
I went with friends (admittedly 6 of us) on a Sunday for brunch. I didn't just arrive in NYC so I know Sunday brunch comes with a wait. Usually, a long wait. I was peeved, however, at the staff's inability to get us settled in the time they said. They told us 30 min...it took an hour. "Your table is finishing, they have the check, they've paid, they're sitting" blah blah blah. I've worked in restaurants and seated tables. It was a poor effort. Frankly, the staff was typically aloof and not great in understanding customer service. (For example, have a drink on us since we can't seat you)
I ordered the Turkish breakfast which was a risk for me (I'm boring, what can I say). It paid off in that the flavors were wonderful! If only I had received the adult portion instead of what I can only assume was a children's portion (insert sarcasm here). The cilantro scrambled eggs were delish as was the eggplant salad and herbed yogurt. But I literally got one serving spoon of each. I don't mean to sound like a pig but maybe I am. I guess after an hour of standing around and not sitting down to eat until 1:00p.m., this girl had worked up an appetite...which was not satiated by such meager portions.
So that was my Olea experience. Certainly not worth the walk from the Slope. Such a shame because I really liked the decor and atmosphere as well as what the menu had to offer flavor-wise.
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I thought the brunch was somewhat tasty but spare. I was still hungry afterwards and it just wasn't great great- fine, but nothing special. And it was quite a wait for a table. Quite.
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One of my favorite restaurants. Above average food and great service. The space is simple yet elegant and has fabulous light. Avoid sunday brunch - it is too crowded.
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I love the ambience of this restaurant. It's really warm, classy and relaxed. My hangar steak with polenta and brussel sprouts was really good. The bacon-wrapped dates were awesome, but that dish is impossible to screw up. My favorite thing was actually a salad with lentils, chickpeas, and little felafel-croutons. I'm always impressed when a dish like that, which is straight-up nutrition, really knocks my socks off. Yum. One star off because the chicken was hella salty.
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The savory french toast at Olea may just make
you want to move in next door. I had a birthday
brunch here and all 15 of us left happy. The fresh
fruit purees they can put into the champagne make
for fun brunch drinks (I recommend the raspberry).
My girlfriends swear by the sangria but to me it looks
like headache in a pitcher so I passed.
For dinner I love how you can order an appetizer or regular size
entree. As someone who always takes home a doggie
bag this option is most appreciated. The orecchiette pasta with
white beans, broccoli rabe, Italian sausage, pine nuts, and
pecorino romano cheese has been recreated many times at
home already.
The tapas menu is not very extensive but the falafal-encrusted
artichoke hearts as well as the goat cheese croquettes are excellent.
Beer is limited but an interesting selection. The wine is where
Olea really shines with affordable and unique selections.
The desserts can be ridiculously amazing! I had a hazelnut gelato drizzled with hot espresso about a year ago that I still talk about.
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Very cozy, good food, good wine. Adorable bathroom, not that this is a deciding factor with a restaurant (but always a plus).
The perfect place for a pre-BAM dinner.
The only thing, and this is extremely persnickety, is that I don't like the way their tapas menu is laid out. Specifically, it's a little fold out of the plastic menu thingamabob. Which causes people to miss it, and ask me after blankly staring at the full menu for a while: "I thought this was a tapas place??" You should have the tapas on a full sized sheet, at least. Maybe even separate from the dinner menu. That's my professional opinion.
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Tucked in a leafy, residential section of Ft. Greene, Olea's the kind of place that you'll happily stumble upon on a Saturday morning stroll.
The menu's refreshing, decor open and airy, and atmosphere laid back. I'm sure it's a great place to read the paper if you got there early.
I'd suggest the green eggs and lamb, but everything's pretty good. I just happen to be obsessed with cilantro and the green eggs are full of it.
It's a little spendy for brunch so I don't think I'd give it a 5, but what isn't spendy in Ft. Greene?
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Olea is my favorite brunch in the neighborhood. I prefer the Turkish Breakfast with the amazingly well-doctored eggs and yogurt or the Greek Scramble. I've only been for dinner once, but it was an equally lovely experience.
Nice ambience. Pricing is reasonable (for nyc) and service is the perfect mix of attentive without being annoying. An equally good place to take your date or your parents--no complaints.
Olea is cute... very cute.
The restaurant has lots of great nooks and crannies and is worth visiting for the atmosphere alone. That being said, there are plenty of other reasons to visit Olea.
The beer selection is small, but it's made up of beers you most likely won't find anywhere else in Fort Greene. The wine selection is more extensive.
Olea has an array of tapas. Goat cheese croquettes, hummus, and paprika crusted chickpeas. They also have a raw bar. My favorite dish by far is the Moroccan Seared Tuna appetizer.
It's difficult to properly plan your meal at Olea. I've left massively stuffed and still hungry. The selection is relatively small on the entree end of the spectrum.
The service is great. The waitstaff and bartenders are welcoming.
I recommend stopping by Olea, but it may take more than one attempt to get it right there.
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I live just a couple of blocks from this restaurant which means I'm really, really lucky. I passed it up about 5 times before I decided to give it a chance and I was pleasantly surprised.
I sat with a friend in a really cozy corner booth for hours drinking good wine and eating great food. The staff is always nice and they never make you feel rushed to leave. It's a great place to take a date or old friends that you have a lot of catching up to do with. Every time I go, I always spend hours there because it's so inviting.
I highly recommend the watercress and endive salad, the serrano ham croquettes, and orecchiette pasta but I've tried nearly everything on the menu and it is all delectable.
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There's a plenty of great restaurants in Fort Greene/Clinton Hill area and this is one of them.
I found the wait staff to be friendly and helpful - even honest (my friend asked for Riesling to go with our appetizers and she raised an eyebrow - "But really, Riesling isn't necessarily a dessert wine!" Idunno) and the food was absolutely delicious.
When I was there last time, there was a guy rocking the accordion, and if I'd had another bottle of wine (by myself) and squinted in the way that make everything look weird, I could have lied and said that I was in Europe or some place where they have guys rocking the accordion on the streets. My friends found the accordion guy to be too loud - I mean, he really started killing it as the night progressed, aided by his glasses of vino, I'm sure - but I really enjoyed it.
Grab a few friends and hop on the C or the G, Lafayette and Fulton, respectively (unless the A is stopping there, too). If you already live in the area, "Well, don't we live in a great neighborhood? After dinner, let's walk over to The 'Post (Habana http://www.yelp.com/bi...) for $2.50 beers. When The 'Post shuts down, we'll hit up Moe's http://www.yelp.com/bi.... Tomorrow: Pequena!" http://www.yelp.com/bi...
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I'm puzzled by the reviews for Olea. I gave up on it after two visits. It's a beautiful room and the staff is friendly enough, but the food is blah. This is difficult to explain, but the food manages to be bland, while simultaneously being overseasoned. There seems to be a "if we throw enough stuff on it, it's bound to be good" mentality here. A pork chop came out mostly gristle and fat, while the tiny edible portion was dry and had a bizarre mix of spices. If I tasted it blindfolded I would never guessed it to be pork. This held true of the other dishes I tried, including a plate of toasted almonds doused (drenched, dredged through, slathered) with way, way, way too much paprika.
It's a shame. I walk by, and the place is so damned inviting, it looks lovely in all seasons and it's convenient. But alas the food, the food stinks.
Good food and wine. The pita dip sampler thing was good, but the hummus had a weird texture. Service was good, atmosphere was great, menu was varied enough to keep things interesting. Would definitely go again.
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On the expensive side for dinner, but just about right for brunch, located on a tree-lined street, the place has inviting decor with wide wooden benches and throw pillows; there and some outside tables. The service is prompt and attentive, but there's definitely a feeling that the staff is eager to turn tables.
Food is inventive and the menu choices are plentiful. All in all - a brunch delight.
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With the lines at Maggie Brown being too long, OLEA was a great alternative. While my $5 Greek red wine tasted like mediocre sangria and reinforced that its hard to find a good glass of wine for $5, my entree was wonderful. The savory French toast was a combination of savory toast in an egg batter with two very runny fried eggs and lots of green onions. A really great combination that I'd love to try again if I make it back to Fort Greene. The side of potatoes was better than most of I've had and very soft. Everyone else really enjoyed their different egg and scramble dishes.
I generally really like this place, but it's slightly overpriced for what it is and can be a little inconsistent. My dish the other night was no where near as good as it was in the past. The staff has always been incredibly friendly and knowledgeable.
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I've been hearing great things about Olea for months (a year?) and finally got the opportunity to try it with a giddy group of friends after a nerdy screening of Helvetica. Some in the group wanted sushi but I needed to try Olea.
The atmosphere was extremely welcoming and probably romantic if you were so inclined. Our sommelier/friend Nick steered us to a fantastic Sicilian red and we ordered a few tapas plates. The bacon wrapped dates were probably the highlight but we also attempted the sorreno ham croquettes and another "cigar" type dish wrapped in phillo dough. meh.
I was having a hard time deciding on a dish and after several consultations with the friendly and polite waitress settled on two appetizer sizes of the crab ravioli ($9) and the wild mushroom risotto ($8). The risotto was not really rave worthy. Though filling and a generous portion as an appetizer it was really not as flavorful (or buttery?) as I was hoping. The crab ravioli, however, was right on. I was immediately kicking myself for not getting the entree size and altogether skipping the risotto. Next time! The sauce was a nice delicate tomato and parmeggano reggiano combo and the crab just twinkled in the tang in your mouth. And for dessert: Porto!
3.5 stars. A great brunch spot in wonderful Fort Greene. This cozy restaurant has a chill ambiance and serves healthy, delicious Mediterranean fare. I had a nice time here with my Fort Greene-dwelling friend. OLEA is one of her favorite neighborhood spots and I can definitely understand why.
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Fort Greene rocks! Olea is one of my local favorite brunch places & I agree with the previous review, the preferred brunch favorite is green eggs and lamb. Even better than brunch though is their dinner menu. Mediterrean style tapas... crab ravioli.... mmm getting hungry thinking about it. Dim lighting, country furniture, window seats=great first date atmosphere.
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The atmosphere is awesome. And who can beat their oyster happy hour?
Oh and drink enough beer or wine to use the bathroom. You'll want to tear the walls off your own afterward.
Green eggs and Lamb is probably one of my most favorite breakfasts. The eggs are "green" because of cilantro. Food is based on Turkish cuisine with lots of lamb, fresh spices (like cilantro) and tomatoes and potatoes done creatively with lots of salad to balance out the starch. Plates are large and service is great. Even the decor is wonderful. Turkish tiles and large gilded mirrors hang on the walls giving this high ceiling restaurant a warm and inviting feeling.
We went on a Sunday and made a reservation which helped us to be seated faster. I am surprised there are not more reviews about this Fort Greene wonder as the place was packed and there was a line of folks waiting to get in as well.
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Great ambiance. Delicious, savory, interesting (you must try the dates stuffed with almonds wrapped in bacon. Scrumptious!) menu. The wait staff was a little wacky, but if you want really delicious Mediterranean cuisine, Olea is the place to go.
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We got a primal seat near the front of the restaurant where EC could people watch and I could relax on the cushion filled bench. Is this what a restaurant would look like in Greece? Olea is a quaint and pleasant place for brunch.
I chose the French omelette with Brie Cheese Smoked Salmon, Leeks and Fresh Herbs, which comes with Homefries and some grain bread. The Homefries were the best I've had in ages! The bread was hard as a rock, but the fresh Raspberry jam could've been its own course. All washed down with a large Cappuccino.
Even better than IHOP, get the Fresh Squeezed OJ. EC inhaled his Turkish Breakfast - Eggs scrambled with Fresh Cilantro, Tomato and Onion Fattoush Salad, Eggplant Salad, Herbed Yogurt and Grilled Pita Bread. Each formed a little pile and it looked like a painter's palette. I should've gotten his dish, a lovely tasty selection!
We got two Freshly baked Chocolate Croissants to go, but kicked myself later because I didn't eat it fast enough and they got all soggy.
YUM. seriously, everything we ate produced yummy food sounds. I went in a large-ish group (they were quite accomodating) so I got to have a small taste of many kinds of deliciousness. server was helpful to the max and even suggested that risotto-orderers choose the app portion since apparently the entree was out-of-control massive. crap, I basically waited too long to write this review, so details are out the window, but trust me, I have fond memories. except for the one where my "friend" later accused me of eating too much off his plate. hmph. use it or lose it, dude.
I think I like the Olea's idea better than what it really amounts to. Because, you see, Olea is the perfect Sunday morning hideaway - perfect with its cozy nooks, steaming cappuccinos, and lazy tempo. But the food is a bit... well, wanting.
Yes. I'm a traditional breakfaster (as a child, breakfast wait-staff actually questioned my ability to consume the quantities that I ordered; fortunately, my parents unflappably confirmed my bountiful orders) but Olea's menu items are a bit befuddling (I suppose I still need to acclimate to yankee sausage) and sometimes not available. The portions are, in deed, large enough to share but sometimes the palate yearns for more than piles of polenta and eggs. And there never is anyone to dispense the pepper! Now, if you're going to have an official pepper-grinder, then take the duty in prideful strides and don't let the customer shrink up to the counter in order to steal the restaurant's only pepper grinder.
I suppose it would be more fair if I were to try the dinner menu (perhaps on Tapas Tuesday? or Spanish Friday? I do love a Spanish acoustic guitar); so I suppose my review is a bit half-hearted. But I tend to leave Olea wanting something other - something more divine and, well, flavorful.
I'll return, without a doubt, at least for a cappuccino & New York Times love-fest.
This was a very nice surprise! Tried to come here one night, hah! St V night i think it was and to no avail. They wouldn't even deliver that night, and it was all booked. So we went some other time. After passing by several times the place has been consistently busy.
Going in it has the feel of an old time tavern with its rustic looks and simple bar next to the entrance. Some dividers hang from chains on the ceiling. Tables and chairs are pretty basic but warm and welcoming. The night my friend and i went there was music playing. Some guy on an accordion. We happen to sit right next to him. Surprisingly enough it was quite pleasant and he was playing popular tunes.
The menu borrows influences from Italy, Greece, Spain and i think turkey as well. Its quite adventurous to some extent but simple at the same time. The salad was very fresh with nicely flavored dressing. Pears and goat cheese on it gave it a nice contrast of sweet and sour. Even the plate of olives was quite a treat as they were spiced. Piquillo peppers with spices and tuna inside. Yumm yumm. Even the chorizo was really nice. To be honest, i owe this place another visit as i do have a very fond memory of the food hitting my palate and leaving me wanting more. My visit there wasn't that far away. But another one is in order. They seemed to have it all in order even though its a fairly new place. I will update with more details but this is a good place to succumb to great flavors!
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One of the top three resteraunts in Forte Green. The food is consistantly good, the service is always extremely friendly, and the place is aways packed with local folks. What I love about Olea is it combines the best of Brooklyn with an authentic European ambience but never borders on kitchy. The Lentil Salad is a stand out item. I tend to think the appetizers are stronger than the entrees but the food has always been great. The drinks are really delicious and it doesn't hurt that the regular night-time bartender is a stone cold fox. It's a great place for a date or to round up the local brood for a laid back night of good wine, tastey food, great live music, and a comfortable never rushed experience.
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awesome place - especially if you like greek/meditteranean fare.
we had a 30 min wait - but it wasn't bad cuz there was a bar area. The bathroom is really clean and homey. I don't usually write about bathrooms - but I dunno, it was just nice. haha.
anyways, the food was yum and portions were huge!! My fellow diners got the porkchop entree - which looked like the huge drumsticks Fred Flintstone eats, the Steak - which had onion rings the size of half my face, pasta, and ravioli. I got the lentil salad w/ falafel ball croutons. which was filled with flavor and these cute little cruncy falafel balls - yumm.
We also got a dip platter - which had tzatski, hummus, and some spicy dip. The Goat Cheese Croquettes and Lamb Meatballs were good too - and tapas style.
Everything was yumm - and they had live music going on too. The acoustics in the restaurant along with it being full of diners, made it hard to hear them play/sing - but live music is always a nice touch.
The decor and the atmosphere is how I would imagine a small restaurant in the outskirts of a european town to feel.
Actually, it reminded me very much so of a tapas bar I went to in madrid.
For my first dining experience in brooklyn - this was fabulous - I'd so go again.
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