Cynara Restaurant & Lounge

We recently discovered Cynara and love it! They have amazing craft cocktails and a great happy hour burger with the skinny fries for $5 and their bread pudding is so good with NO raisins. The servers are friendly & efficient. We dropped in on Valentine’s Day in a he afternoon for a drink and they were all booked up, but the manager let us sit at the bar to enjoy our drinks. We were not rushed at all and had two amazing cocktails. We love the Athena’s Chalice (vodka) and Nisqually Ghost (rye whiskey).

I truly enjoyed my time at the restaurant. The staff were exceptionally kind and welcoming, which made the experience even better. The food was delicious, though slightly on the pricey side. That said, the drinks were outstanding and absolutely worth what we paid. Overall, it’s a lovely spot for a date! 😊

I heard about Cynara from someone who’s lived in Olympia for 30 years, so I thought it was worth checking out. However, as someone who moved here from Russia, I have pretty high standards when it comes to both food and service. When I heard this place had been recommended by someone local, I thought it must be good enough to give a try. We decided to share two appetizers and one main dish, knowing that American portions can be huge. I believe it’s totally reasonable to order one dish to share when the portions are so large, and we weren’t starving either. We ordered the artichoke hearts, lamb skewers, and duck in pomegranate sauce, which was priced at $48. When I order a dish for $48, I expect it to be excellent. I didn’t want to risk trying the $60 steaks or filet mignon because I wasn’t feeling confident about the place. The cocktail I ordered didn’t impress me much either. I typically enjoy cocktails, but this one didn’t stand out and didn’t make me want another. The food itself was fine—nothing special at all. The dishes looked as plain in photos as they tasted. As for the duck, my husband didn’t like it at all. The texture didn’t appeal to him. Personally, I’ve eaten duck at several upscale restaurants, so I know it was cooked to a good medium-rare, with a nice sear on the skin. However, I believe the sauce should not have been poured directly over the duck—some people might prefer to have it on the side. The pomegranate seeds were probably the best part of the dish, and the sauce wasn’t bad, but overall, it didn’t feel like anything memorable. I’ll give credit where it’s due—the service was great. The staff, especially the hostess who seated us and our server, were friendly, attentive, and made an effort to provide good service. But despite the nice service, I didn’t enjoy the meal, and I don’t feel compelled to return. The overall experience didn’t live up to the hype. If you’re expecting a “high-end” place, I’d say this restaurant doesn’t quite deliver on that front. It’s an okay spot, but not remarkable. One more thing—I love seafood, and I was surprised that the seafood offerings here were limited to a soup, pasta, and salmon. Given that the restaurant is located by the harbor, I expected to see fresh oysters or some other unique seafood dishes, but there was nothing like that. The artichoke hearts were fine, but again, nothing special—just deep-fried artichokes on a plate. If you’re looking for something truly outstanding, Cynara might not be the place. All in all, it was a decent experience, but I won’t be rushing back anytime soon.

We had brunch here and it was delicious. Definitely underrated. This please should be full of brunchers but I don't think everyone knows about this place. We will continue to come.

Cynara was a second choice for valentines day dinner with my husband. We were excited to try a new place, even though the price point was a bit higher than we think was appropriate. The food was good, I had the filet with a lobster tail (totaling over 100 for one entree) and husband had the ribeye, which left something to be desired. The shrimp appetizer was good, but our server was very strange, and very slow, and made us feel pretty awkward. We saw two other tables who were seated after us receive their entrees before us, and it took over an hour to get our entrees after ordering. All in all, probably wont be back. I would consider trying again on a non-holiday, but the price point was pretty high for a meal we could have made at home.

A great spot for food and drink! We had the pleasure of being served by Jamey and Jamey (Jsquared) they were fast friendly and attentive. The food was great and full of flavor. As you walk in the door the aromas make you want to sample everything! If you like bread pudding, inquire within

The lamb stew was surprisingly good, but the artichoke pasta with chicken was watery and underseasoned. The chicken tasted like generic food‑service product—fake char lines and all—and wasn’t worth the $8 upcharge. The atmosphere was uncomfortably cold, and the server mentioned they don’t control the temperature. The dining room was sparsely attended, and it wasn’t hard to understand why. To their credit, the server was solid and knew the menu well. Still, the preset tip starting at 20%, with prompts for even higher amounts, felt out of place given the mediocre food at premium prices.

Awesome dinner that we have. I had the seafood rose pasta, it was so perfectly good. The employees were very nice and gave us details of what the food and drinks are. Good service there.

Had a very nice happy hour experience this week. It was my first time coming here and was told it had a great happy hour. There are. Handful of small plates available for happy hour with the purchase of a drink. I got the onion burger, shrimp skewer, and asparagus. The burger was juicy and a great size. It also came with a handful of matchstick fries. I really enjoyed the shrimp skewer as well. My friend tried the lobster bisque. The soup was delicious, but it was more of a tomato soup with chunks of lobster. Will definitely go back for dinner some time. They also had a great selection of whiskey. I also really enjoyed the ambiance.

Our first time at this restaurant, and it was a memorable one from the very first sip. I started with a martini--normally stirred, but I requested it shaken--and it arrived in absolute perfection. Crisp, icy, and elegant, with tiny ice crystals shimmering on top. The vodka had just a whisper of brine ("a hint of dirt," exactly how I like it), clean and bracing, beautifully balanced. Once my husband arrived, we ordered the trio of Cynara spreads: romesco, artichoke tapenade, and black garlic chèvre, served with warm, pillowy pita. Every bite was a delight, but the romesco truly stole the show--deep, complex, and subtly spicy, with roasted red pepper richness, topped with sliced carrots, onions, and green beans that added both texture and freshness. The black garlic chèvre, lightly drizzled with honey, was creamy, savory-sweet, and utterly craveable. For my entrée, I chose the Moroccan lamb stew, and it was outstanding. Bold, aromatic, and layered with spice, the stew featured tender, melt-in-your-mouth lamb nestled among tomatoes and carrots in a deeply flavorful broth. Comforting yet vibrant, every spoonful delivered warmth and complexity. My husband ordered the Chicken Véronique, one of their signature dishes, bathed in a Riesling cream sauce. Rich and indulgent, the sauce was silky and luxurious. While slightly on the heavier side, he found it absolutely delicious and well worth it. The staff were attentive, warm, and genuinely kind, making the entire experience feel relaxed and welcoming. We're already looking forward to our next meal here--and dreaming about that romesco and martini all over again.

I thought I shared these pictures a couple of months ago... No matter, Cynara is my favorite restaurant to show friends and family. I believe the bone marrow was taken off the menu though. :( Super cute place!

Definitely one of our favorite spots in Olympia! Alesha is awesome and always makes us feel like locals! Yesterday we had pork skewers and the charcuterie board, both fantastic! Today we split the eggs benedict and baklava crumble, both ridiculously scrumptious! They have fun craft cocktails in a beautiful setting! Great for groups or an intimate date!

What a great experience! While visiting the area for work we were trying to find a place to munch. I found this one Yelp and it was nearby. This place was wonderful from the service (Jamie) to the food, to the drinks, to the vibes! Jamie gave us great recommendations. I had the pumpkin spiced latte martini which was so delicious! We had a seafood pasta dish that was incredible. Neither of are big baklava people, but the baklava crumble had a combination of amazing flavor and texture. Also, want to give an additional shot out to Jamie. She was so warm and attentive. She was helpful and made us feel so welcomed! She provided amazing service. I hope to get a chance to be Olympia, so I can come back here!

A completely average experience. We had been wanting to try this place for awhile, and we're hoping for high end dining. What we got instead was high end prices with service and food that did not match. First, let's discuss the chaotic music selection, pick a lane! It was actually jarring how it swung wildly from one genre to the next. Then the food, we ordered a lamb stew, and it was described as lamb chili. It was so hot, and only had four pieces of lamb. This went back to the kitchen practically untouched with no comment from our server. The same for the souvlaki that we did not finish and was cleared from the table earlier. The desserts were the highlight, and maybe we would be back for just that. We hoped to find a special place and this fell well short of that.

My friends and I had a nice brunch at Cynara and were surprised that we were the only patrons in the restaurant for a while. The shakshuka was delicious. My friends enjoyed their meals and we all ordered hot coffee. Our server checked on us intermittently to make sure we had everything we needed. We also liked that Cynara was within walking distance to the nearby farmer's market, which we checked out after brunch.

I already left a review so I dont know why its asking me to do a new one! I'm in love with the burger & fries here!!! I want another as we speak! So good!

Disappointed with service and attention to customers. Drinks were left empty, so ate dinner with no refills.Waitress spent more time at the bar talking to the female bar tender. We saw our waitress to order drinks when we arrived, when dinner arrived and then at the end when we requested the check. We were not checked upon and unable to get drinks refilled. We typically go to 1889 or Ricardo's but thought we would give Cynara a go, service is vey different here and needs improvement. The food however was good - I had the chicken and my husband had the ribeye). Left feeling like we didn't matter.

We got recommendations to go here, so we went as a group. The seating was super comfortable, pretty art and nice location. The people serving our meal were really nice, hospitable, and so fast! It was almost as if we ordered ahead! But they didn't in any way pressure us to finish. Our cocktails were really good, inventive! The food was delicious, starting with the amazing wild mushroom soup. Delicious entrees, and a beautiful, enjoyable dessert. It was an expensive dinner, but we had a lot of food and drinks.

Hidden gem when we visited Centralia for a volleyball tournament. Menu is limited. However high quality of their steak and fries made up for the lack of choices. Super tender. Sauce was good I should have ordered another dish but we came late past their last call.

Excellent service. Delicious cocktails - Old Fashioned. Ribeye steak and mushroom risotto were both very good.

Had a lovely meal and amazing service at Cynara last night! Very friendly and efficient service from our waitress, Jaimie. She had GREAT recommendations for food and drinks! Romantic ambiance in the restaurant! Strongly recommend for any date night!

Always after the perfect Rib Eye. Went here for wifeys birthday. Was pleased to see Rib Eye on the menu. Others in the group had salmon, filet, and pasta. All in the group were members of the clean plate club. Food was delicious. Service was excellent. Definitely will come again.

While the sit down restaurant dinner menu is incredible, this place also has the best happy hour in town buck for buck. You have to sit in the bar / tall tops but the drinks are delicious, the staff is lovely and the food is really quality. I like the lamb, the artichoke and the burger is always raved about. Definitely one of the better restaurants in Olympia proper for dinner or happy hour with food.

Went there for happy hour, but didn't find anything on the very limited happy hour menu that we wanted. So we just ordered from the main appetizer menu. Pretty expensive. Two appetizers two drinks and a bowl of soup $110. but everything was delicious. We sat in the bar area, but I feel like we got waited on by everyone that worked there. Service was outstanding. Really nice feel to the place. Upscale but not snobby. Would go back, but not for happy hour. There were a few other items that I would like to try that sounded good.

High recommend for breakfast!! You would begin to question due to not very many breakfast pics, but you won't be disappointed. Will be coming again.

Great restaurant. Service was spectacular and so was the food! Great location by the water.

The BLT salad is incredible! Christie recommended it and it was tasty and filling. Add a cocktail and you have a fantastic meal!

Mushroom soup was delicious. Fried artichoke was overdone and the Mac and cheese had very little flavor. Disappointed.

We had heard some great things from our friends about this place, so we thought we'd give it a try! We're so glad we did! We started the evening off with an order of deep fried artichokes! Great spice and a garlic aioli to dip the crispy morsels into! We scarfed those right up! Sooo good! had the wild mushroom risotto and added chicken. It was a creamy, dreamy deliciousness! So rich and decadent! The chicken was cooked perfectly and full of flavor! My husband had the harissa glazed salmon. It was a little dry, but he enjoyed it with the glaze! We also had a bourbon barrel peach cider to wash it all down. To top off the evening, we shared the baklava crumble for dessert. Think vanilla ice cream with slices of baklava layers crumbled on top. It had layers of flavor including cinnamon and honey. Yum! We had such a great evening. Our server Jamie was so sweet and offered suggestions when asked, and came back to check on us multiple times. She made our dinner date night special, and thank you to Wade, our host for the evening!

Best cocktails and best food in Oly. we've been here maybe six or seven times and have yet to be disappointed. The food is fantastic and beautifully balanced. I wouldn't normally have tried the lamb stew because lamb isn't my favorite and apricots are certainly not my favorite thing to put with meat but my husband ordered it and I have to say it's just phenomenal. We've had all the salads on the menu and most of the apps and truly-the food is amazing!

I can't say enough positive things about Cynara, their manager Ross, Chef Wade and servers Bobbi and Jessica, not to mention the food. I reserved the Olympic room for a surprise 60th birthday party for my wife. They came up with a fantastic appetizer and drink menu that had variety and tasted amazing. They were amazingly flexible and when the guest list expanded beyond the room's capacity they were able to pivot and include more space at the last minute. The settings were elegant, the food was great and the servers were rock stars! I highly recommend them for your next event. We've eaten there several times and it has been consistently great. Thank you Cynara, Ross, Wade, Bobbi and Jessica!

First visit and intended to order from the regular menu but found out they have happy hour options. Food was heavily discounted, $5 burger and skinny fries. Really good burger. Also ordered the chicken Veronique and happy hour Mac n cheese. Both good dishes. Chicken may was slightly overdone. Food came out so quickly I wonder if it was parcooked. Great gin selection as well as interesting cocktails featuring gin. Solid bar options. Very efficient and pleasant service.

We were in Olympia at the market after a brief stop at the Thurston County Fairgrounds to look at native plants (Boring? Maybe?). We didn't want to eat at the market and found Cynara a quick walk away. We were seated quickly by a friendly hostess. Our server was very busy but quick and friendly. We ordered the serouda dip, lamb pita, and lamb stew. The serouda dip came pretty quickly and was almost like a chickpea mash with seasoning, not like a creamy hummus. But man, it was tasty! The pita chips are clearly made in house and well seasoned. The lunch dishes took a bit longer and our server (who also the bartender) checked in regularly and ensured that drinks were refilled. The lamb stew brought a little heat from the harissa (which our server mentioned when ordered) and was delicious. The lamb in both dishes was perfectly cooked. The lamb in the sandwich was well seasoned. For friendly service and good food I recommend Cynara.

The service and ambiance was great. The happy hour burger was good. No happy hour drinks though, they were full price but still good.

We came here for a glass of wine, but I would love to come back for dinner. Our waitress was very friendly and we loved being able to soak up the sun on their patio. Fun location where you can see the dock too.

We went to Cynara for the first time for our 47th wedding anniversary. It was a fabulous experience from start to finish. The cocktails were amazing (lots of gin to choose from), the food and service was top notch. Thanks to our server Bethany for making us feel special as we celebrated. Don't miss the baklava crumble for dessert! Will definitely be back.

Amazing brunch! The staff was attentive and the space felt luxurious. The French toast had so many different textures and flavors, it was delicious!

Enjoyed everything about my visit. Easy parking, warm atmosphere, deliciously spiced lamb stew and warm bread pudding.

Food was good and portions were perfect. The atmosphere was nice. Our server seemed a bit new, and wasn't super attentive to us and just made a lot of small mistakes / ultimately, one of the drinks was made wrong, and one of our pita bread appetizers came with the wrong dip. We ate it anyway, because we just got in from out of town and were ravenous. I had the mushroom risotto and added prawns. The variety of mushrooms was a delight, and the prawns were grilled nicely and not overcooked. Wish I took a picture, but I was too hungry! Would return here.

We stopped in here for snacks, drinks, and to get a takeaway meal for my mom who was visiting and staying in the nearby hotel. We sat at the bar and they grabbed us cocktails and a charcuterie board while we waited for her meal. The bartender was pleasant and helpful in ordering and I really appreciated them subbing this, subtracting that, and changing this to fit the high standard mum's preferences. I loved the gluten free designations on the menu and thought everything sounded really good, wish we could have eaten here ourselves! The charcuterie was pretty good but in my opinion needed something else fresh like an apple or something to offset the richness of the cheese and meat. The cocktails were great. We appreciated their attention and service while we waited and my oh so picky mother found everything to be acceptable - that's high praise fyi!! Looking forward to trying this place again sometime in the future and enjoying some of the delicious sounding entrees.

Went here recently for Valentine's Day and had a really enjoyable dinner. Service was spot on, drinks were delicious (michters black manhattan and nisqually ghost are highly recommended) and the food was good. The atmosphere is nice, darkly lit which I prefer and warm enough. Lots of parking options even though it was packed. My only critique is that dollar for dollar, it's a bit on the high side for the value. Thanks for a great meal!

Had a wonderful experience at Cynara! The food was delicious and our server, Jamie was top notch! She was attentive, knowledgeable about entrees and drinks, and just had a wonderful personality. Will definitely go back for the pumpkin martini and the terrific service! Thanks Jamie!

What went well!? Everything! The food, service and ambience was incredible. I was in the restaurant with a large group of 10 people. Not only were we enchanted by the ambiance, Shazam worthy playlist but we also thought the cocktails and food was spectacular. When out I tend to order an old fashioned. This is the benchmark for me. If the old fashioned is off, then I should lower my expectations. Let me just say the old fashioned was perfect, and I mean perfect. So compliments to the bar tender. In addition, I am Impressed that the chef stopped by to see if we were all enjoying our food. I love it when the chef takes a moment to connect with his diners. In our party we enjoyed the artichoke pasta, the cauliflower, the Moroccan stew, and assorted appetizers. I should have paused to take pictures before we all started eating. But I didn't. So let's imagine perfectly toasted bread, minimalist and casual platings, perfectly seasoned saffron rice with je ne sais quoi.... Allspice? I will wrap it up. But I will just conclude if you are looking for a perfect spot for a proper meal where you can enjoy a slow meal with special people, this is a great choice.

I've eaten here a few time, different dishes for lunch and dinner and even tried their happy hour burger. The cocktails are good. Each visit was pleasant with good food and nice service. The place is clean and modern, I like the little outside patio during warmer/dryer weather. One of the restaurants in Olympia we like to go to. I hope it will pick up a few more guests because at times it was empty and, even so I don't like large crowds, neither do I want to sit in a mostly empty place.

The food here? Don't know sadly, we just came here for drinks. But the drinks were prepared with high end liquor and the service was remarkable! Not only would I come back for their happy hour, I would want to make this a go to relaxing bar!

Food was not bad but not great. Just didn't meet the mark...service was good. Ambiance is just ok...the bar seems better than the restaurant... restaurant feels more like a nursing home cafe... dark colors... 90s decor

Stopped by here for a team dinner (approx 10-12 of us) on Tuesday evening and this place did have some crowd for a rainy day in Olympia. At first the ambience was nice and upscale. We were promptly seated and ordered the following: 1. Lamb Skewers - This was tasty but the lamb was chewy. Flavors were good but the rubbery texture vs melt in your mouth feel ruined this for us. 2. Cynara Toast - This was delicious and we all enjoyed this platter 3. Prawns Romesco - This was again delicious and we enjoyed the prawns. Wish they served more per plate but we devoured this one. 4. Cauliflower Entree - This dish lacked flavors and seasoning and did not seem well cooked either. My colleagues who had been to Cynara in the past remember this dish being way better and were disappointed with how it tasted on the day we went together. 5. Wild Salmon - The salmon was charred and dry. Once again overcooked and ruined the taste for us 6. Mushroom Risotto - This was delicious and I thoroughly enjoyed the risotto Apart from this we ordered a couple of bottles of wine and they had a good selection which we all enjoyed. We also ordered their old fashioned and it was too sugar syrupy for us. We skipped desserts this time. Service was great, staff was polite and the dishes did come out pretty fast. Unfortunately, since their dishes are a hit or miss I am not a fan.

The price wine high for the quality .lamb was good good service good ambience place very comfortable

The food was quite good but the service was mindless. The paella wasn't paella but it was a pretty good jambalaya. The grilled romaine and the pita with chevre were also good. We order the grilled romaine and chevre as a first course. Within a few minutes another waiter came out and plopped the paella down. He brought us a second plate to split the dish but no spoon to do it with. So much for courses. We asked the waitress to clear our plates while we looked at the dessert menu. She did and left us to sit at a very dirty table. We skipped dessert and left.

Amazing food and huge gin menu. Cynara serves Greek food with a modern twist. Everything we ordered was fresh, artfully prepared and delicious.

The food here is fantastic, as are the cocktails. It's a warm, classy yet casual vibe, with great service and is the kind of place you can always count on for friendly, impeccable service and delicious food. The kitchen knows what it's doing! Same for the bartenders. Cynara always impresses. It's perfect for special occasions, and a no-brainer for taking friends from out of town, yet also fine to come as you are for a quick meal and drink. They have an excellent happy hour, and comfortable outdoor seating, too. And did I mention their desserts? You'll definitely want to leave room for that!

Food was great and service was nice. Good ambiance, in a good location. Street parking was easy to get on a Friday night and the window seating was nice.

We did a bar hop in Olympia and this was hands done the best!! Try the Horbor Royal We did a bar hop in Olympia and this was hands done the best!! Try the Horbor Royal

Date night, on a Wednesday early evening. Plenty of open seating, well appointed and great lighting. This is a great looking place. The bar is well appointed and pleasing to the eye. Drinks were great as was the service. I just wasn't wow'd by the menu. Great choices but missing something. House salad and the tomato bisque were great. With a salad each we opted to split appetizers with Lamb skewers and artichoke hearts. The lamb was tender and very flavorful. Artichoke was the star of the show. We also tried the Bananas Foster mixed drink that was GREAT! I had an Amber beer from Headless Mumby - local Olympia brew (give this a try). It's really a nice place on a great location.

Cynara opened in September but had to close due to Covid and has recently re-opened. I had dinner here tonight (14 March 2021) and had a very pleasant experience. I chose to sit at one of the three high-top tables in the bar area. The atmosphere was very easy-going and quiet. There were 4 other customer groups dining while I was there. For my appetizer I chose to order the charcuterie (meat only) plate that featured pancetta, capicola, and genoa with 3 slices of nicely charred toast, a handful of dried apricots and a small tub of mustard. All of this appetizer was new to me and I enjoyed every bite!! The pancetta was delicious. I was saddened to see only one slice was served. The capicola was a spicy variety and had a pleasant spicy bite to it. The genoa was a great counterpoint to the capicola. My entrée was the Filet Mignon with a cream sauce served with charred asparagus and Greek smashed potatoes. I ordered my Filet Mignon medium-rare and it was cooked perfectly. The Filet Mignon practically melted in my mouth. The asparagus was incredible. The char intensified the flavor of the asparagus, I loved it! For dessert I chose the Baklava Crumble served over vanilla ice cream. I have recently returned from Iraq and the baklava from Cynara was very close to the baklava I enjoyed in Iraq. The vanilla ice cream was the perfect accompaniment for the baklava. Then, as an after dinner aperitif, I ordered a shot of Pappy Van Winkle 10 year old Bourbon. I have never had Pappy Van Winkle and always wanted to try it. When I saw that listed on the menu, I knew I had to take this opportunity to taste some. I was not disappointed. Cynara is rather expensive, but I believe it to be worth every cent. My bill was over $100 for my meal, this included a double-shot of Maker's Mark that I drank with my meal. If I lived in Olympia I would definitely visit regularly. I am very happy I had the chance to dine in Cynara tonight.

Even though the room is surrounded by windows, sure felt dark inside. We were quickly seated and given menus. Order taken timely and drinks delivered quickly. All good so far. We're there for lunch and several items on the menu looked interesting but were put off by the prices. Maybe it's the area and they feel they need to be an expensive place. Wife and I both ordered a chicken sandwich. I thought the taste was fine but wife said the dressing they used was gross. She didn't eat hers. I was also put off by the serving size. The sandwich was on a bun that was a little bigger than a slider with shoestring fries. So if you like small servings at a high price, this place is for you. I however won't be back.

I took my husband here for dinner to celebrate his 50th birthday, and it did not disappoint. We had reservations for 6:30, and were seated immediately. We started with two amazing gin cocktails and the lamb skewer appetizer, which had a wonderful red pepper sauce with a little kick. For entrees, we had the lamb stew, and the pork belly and shrimp. The dishes came out perfectly, and both were very good. The pork belly was perfectly crisp and seasoned, and the lamb had a rich, complex flavor. For dessert we shared the peach bread pudding. Service was attentive and kind. A perfect meal to quietly ring in a milestone birthday!