olea

Solid place for an evening out or to have something tasty that’s a bit more refined in New Haven. I’ve been before for their tasting menu and a la carte menu and enjoy their dishes. We tried the tasting menu since I haven’t had this one. Generally very good. I have minor complaints but overall I recommend it. $270 for two with tip not including alcohol.

Fabulous restaurant for dinner. The food is amazing (specially the octopus and cochinillo) and the service is great. The restaurant was a bit noisy at the beginning because there were some office groups but once they left, the space was very comfortable. Nice interior design as well. Olea is great for special occasions.

Got a reservation for 2. I took some from Spain. We both really enjoyed the meal and it reminded him of home. We ordered the gazpacho, shishito peppers, the jamón ibérico, croquetas, cochinillo, and torrija. It was all good. Worth it for a one time experience.

Amazing experience. A really varied menu. All four of us got something different for appetizer, entrée, and dessert, and we all loved what we ordered. The service was great, and the cocktails were very good too. Dress well.

Amazing food and perfect for a nice date night. Service was on point and little touches like a chefs complimentary appetizer taste was very nice. Nothing here I didn’t like.

The ambiance was intimate and inviting. The food was exceptional, with each dish served promptly. While the cochinillo was good, I have had better elsewhere so id say skip out on it; it did take an hour to arrive, which I timed since i read reviews it took long. However, this was not a significant issue. If anything i highly recommend the chipirones; that dish is outstanding!

A great restaurant. Great food, superb hospitality, and lovely atmosphere. Also amazing consistency over years with great balance between fan favorites and new dishes.

My wife and I recently had the pleasure of eating here. Olea fully lived up to its reputation as one of the finest restaurants in New Haven, CT. Not only was it just a very short walk away from our hotel, The Blake, but the Iberian food was fresh, creative and obviously prepared with care. The wait staff was attentive, the wine list impressive and the restaurant was beautiful and relaxing. We enjoyed our evening and our only regret was that it may be a while before we make it back to this lovely city and restaurant.

Truly a great dining experience and a great place for celebrations (such as a graduation from a nearby prestigious university). All of the food was refreshing and clearly high quality. All of the dishes had their own unique take on their traditional recipes/presentation, and were thoroughly enjoyed by all dinner participants. I was pleasantly surprised to get appetizers on top of the pre-determined three course meal. The bread was fine, but nothing stellar or to remember. The potato/chives bite was unique, but combined with the bread, these were just unnecessary carbs. The pear salad was fresh, and the lotus root chips were unique. The charcutería board was a good sample of items, but I personally think it's a lot for an appetizer. The sea bass as my main entree was great, and the browned top with crispy skin was delicious. I just wish I had saved room from earlier in the day to savor it more! Lastly, the pavlova was good, but too sweet for my personal tastes. I liked the additions of the strawberry and other garnishes to make the dish sweeter, but was ultimately its downfall for my palette. Great place with good service and a beautiful dining interior. Would love to come back if I'm ever in the area again.

What an amazing place. The decor was classy with a black and white theme. The food was delicious and well balanced.

Had a great dinner. I ordered the grilled beef tenderloin. Service was good and ambiance was also very good.

Excellent, verging on perfect!!! Look no further for your next special occasion in New Haven. I did the tasting menu with the wine pairing, and it was truly an incredible meal. The gnocchi with duck confit and the dessert (each with a mind-blowing wine pairing) were real standouts, but I enjoyed every course and every wine. Only two notes: the mushroom in the beef cheeks dish was rubbery and had an odd flavor to it, although the rest of the course was great. And I was asked if I wanted coffee or tea with dessert, I asked for tea, but it was never brought. I didn't make a fuss because I needed to head out, and it really wasn't a huge deal, but I mention it just as something to improve. Overall, everything was exceptional and I will definitely be back!!!

We came here for New Haven's restaurant week. Food was credible! In addition to the restaurant week menu, we also ordered octopus which was so good. The restaurant is super nicely decorated but it got a bit loud. The only thing that I didn't like was the service. Everything was very slow. We asked to add another appetizer 2 minutes after we placed the order. The waiter was very unhappy about it initially but still managed to place the order. In the middle of our dinner, he came over to complain to us again that the chef didn't like that we added another thing after we placed the order. What was the big deal???

From the quality of the entres to the deserts, Olea is a fantastic experience 5+ stars...

Lovely experience here. Came here on a Saturday with my wife. Sophisticated interior, sleek styling. Started with the thin sliced jamon iberico and it was tender but not overpowering. We then shared the following appetizers which were all prepared exquisitely and delicious: pulpo, chiparones, croquetas de rabo and fois gras. Excellent desserts and coffee. Attentive but not over-bearing service. Will be back.

Wow this place is good. It's tucked away a little bit but still pretty easy to find right downtown. They validate at two local garages which is good because parking can be tricky. The place isn't huge and overall has a modern feel. It's a little noisy when it's crowded but not terrible. Lots of good wine choices though some can get pricey. The menu is fairly limited and very Spanish. One person in our group of 6 is not really an adventurous eater and struggled a little bit with the menu. I can personally say that the tuna tartar and octopus were both excellent and definitely recommend them. A couple of us had the cod special with olives and sundried tomatoes over polenta. It was also excellent. Others had the scallops and they were also reportedly very good. The only downsides to this place are the portions are rather small so you'll definitely want to get apps and dessert. And the prices are on the expensive side, especially when you add drinks, apps and desserts. But it's definitely worth it. Definitely one of the better restaurants in the area. Go there and enjoy!

Celebrating their 10th anniversary. The menu was a mixture of old and new. It was delicious, as always and the service was attentive and friendly. Always a wonderful experience. We ordered from the menu ( as opposed to having the tasting menu) and everything was delicious with well sized portions. We will be returning again next month for our anniversary. Olea never disappoints. Still our favorite restaurant by far.

What a gem of a place. This restaurant is a bit off the beaten path. We had reservations which I suggest you make before coming. The restaurant is a bit small but with plenty of tables. We started with the charcuterie board which was an excellent start. It came with cured meats, cheeses, nuts, pâté and bread. My girlfriend also had the croquettes of rabo which she loved. For my entree I had The solomillo (steak with veggies) cooked perfectly. For dessert we had the torrija which was so creamy and delicious. Definitely, a great meal which we will definitely visit again.

I had a nice dinner at Olea right before the Thanksgiving holiday. I was able to snag a day-of reservation, where I had a quick but enjoyable meal. The decor is modern yet inviting. I had the salmon (super flavorful and cooked just right) along with the chocolate textures. I loved the chocolate textures! They were small desserts with different chocolate variations (ice cream sandwich, mousse, nougat, and a milky drink). The chef also gave me a complimentary cookie. The service was so good! They were kind, welcoming, and gave great recommendations. This is a great little spot in downtown New Haven!

Excellent menu selection. My gazpacho was very delicate in appearance and taste. Also my main dinner selection. Top choices. Service was extremely attentive too. Ambiance was also top notch. They deserve a 5 star plus.

Olea is a reliably impressive Spanish restaurant in New Haven, that has been providing delicious food, cocktails, and wine/sangria, with impeccable service, for years. My sister and brother-in-law had their wedding dinner here, and we've been going back nearly every time I come to visit. Tonight we had oysters, gazpacho, and their seasonal salad to start. Their cod special was perfectly cooked and seasoned, and my sister loved their short ribs. We were too full for dessert, which was a shame-- we will have to come back!

Despite being a New Haven native, I've never been to Olea. I knew at some point I'd make my way here so when I gave my friend the option to pick where she wanted to go for her birthday dinner, she chose Olea. I called ahead to make a reservation and the host let me know it was a pre-fixe menu due to it being Yale's Parents Weekend. It was a 3 course with dessert for $65, which was very reasonable. We got there for our 8:30pm reservation and got seated by the window. The menu had many options to choose from despite it being pre-fixe. For my appetizer, I got the pulpo, the salmon for my entree and the tropical (gave it to my friend) for dessert. The food was really good, as was my drink (white sangria). The reason for the 4 stars, versus 5 is because our waiter was extremely miserable and barely even made eye contact with us. He was visibly irritated and perhaps tired, which I can understand, but that wasn't fair to us. I tried asking questions about the menu but he could have cared less. What made it worse was it was a birthday dinner so at the very least, he could have been a bit more pleasant. Overall, we had a good time and I'll definitely be coming back here again.

This is one of if not the best restaurant in New Haven! The food is incredible, surprisingly large portions. Highlights have been the Bacalao, Duck Confit, and the Pulpo appetizer. Perfect for a special occasion or date night, though it is loud (even on a Tuesday at 8, when we visited). They take reservations on OpenTable though we walked in and got one of the last tables. Service is very attentive, it's a bustling environment, much less stuffy and a bit younger than Union League, though definitely dominated by Yale people.

Fantastic dining experience! We were in town for my daughter's college graduation and ate here the night before. The restaurant offered a great dining atmosphere and the service and food matched the same level. Highly recommend if you're celebrating a special event or just looking to have a nice evening out. Enjoy!

Food was exceptional. Staff was attentive and were very polite. Definitely an excellent date experience if you're looking for an intimate setting.

It was my first time dining at olea and I was throughly impressed by the food and the ambiance. Our server was friendly - very knowledgeable about the menu and the space (the restaurant used to be an old garage!). As a party of six, we ordered several appetizers to share. Unfortunately, one of the appetizers we ordered was never brought out. Otherwise service was smooth. The food was fantastic - from the aperitif to the dessert. All the appetizers we tried were delicious but my favorites were the chipirones (silky squid ink sauce that was perfect on rice) and the ceviche (so flavorful and refreshing!). I ordered the scallops as my main course. The dish was beautifully plated and tasted even better! Others in our party ordered the chefs daily fish, duck leg confit, and cochinillo - every dish was stunning. I was impressed by the attention to detail paid to every single plate. You really can't go wrong ordering anything! It's definitely on the pricey side, but so worth it for a special occasion/celebration (or if you want to impress a date!).

My partner and I came here for dinner during New Haven restaurant week and we enjoyed the dining experience! This was the best restaurant in New Haven we've been to so far! We had the short rib ravioli and shrimp for appetizers and the monkfish and lamb shank for entrees. The food was flavorful, light, and cooked to perfection. The service was incredible and we enjoyed the ambience of the restaurant tremendously! We would return!

We went to Olea during Yale's graduation weekend, so they only had the preset menu. That said, the food was absolutely delicious and the service was truly outstanding. We were promptly seated after arriving for our reservation and received all of our courses quickly once we had ordered. The ambience was upscale without being too stuffy, pretty unbeatable for a New Haven restaurant. The food was innovative and delicious. If you get the chance, you should absolutely try the chocolate dessert with four different ways to prepare chocolate--it was one of the most unique desserts I have had in recent memory! Definitely on the pricier side, but would absolutely recommend for special occasions!

The service was perfect, the presentation of each dish was beautiful, the food was delicious, and the wine pairings were on point. All in all the BEST tasting menu experience that I have had anywhere. Just WOW! Appetizer 1 : boqueron fish was a great marinade. Gazpacho was good, but flat. Cod fish ; the cod fish mousse stick was fantastic! The pairing with the White 2019 Rioja was spectacular. The cod would have been a highlight dish because it was amazing, but was overshadowed by the amazing mousse stick Lamb pockets were good, the celery purée had the Lemon come through very well, and the overall grouping of the radish, tomato, and olives was superb. Wine pairing from North of Madrid was less than ideal The duck confit alone was standard fare for a high end restaurant, but the overall dish with all elements combined was just perfect. Kudos to chef Romero! Once the desert came out which was heavily coconut oriented, the waiter came and suggested a change of wine to a Hungarian wine that was very similar to an Italian dessert wine... just perfect. I have never before had a wine pairing where the original wine was substituted because another choice was better for the dish. I was blown away!

Super impressed with Olea. Probably the best gazpacho and one of the best short ribs I have ever had. The wine list, ambience and everything was awesome.

This is hands down the highest quality restaurant in New Haven. Very sophisticated yet relaxed ambience , with exquisite and innovative food presentation. The service is impeccable. Really enjoyed their desserts and small nibbles they brought out throughout the meal

Possibly the best meal start to finish that I have had. The tuna tartar was a fantastic start to the meal, follow by an incredibly tender and flavorful short rib. The mix of the rioja and cream sauces was fantastic and the accompanying vegetables added great flavor and texture as well. My wife got the cod and it too was extremely flavorful and perfectly cooked. We ended with one of the best deserts I've had - the vegan chocolate mousse. The mousse was rich and went very well with the lemon cake and the tanginess of the fresh fruit. To top it off, the sesame caramel crisps were a great touch. The music is not too loud and the ambiance is very nice for a fancy dinner. Highly recommend.

My friends and I took advantage of their spectacular New Haven Restaurant Week deal and had a exquisite evening. From the moment you walk in you can tell this is a classy establishment. The waiter was extremely knowledgeable and kind throughout the meal, constantly tending to our needs as well answering any questions we had throughout the meal. Additionally, the sommelier was able to perfectly recommend to bottles of wine based on our requests. I want to point out that they were very accommodating for our vegan guest who was able to enjoy a fully vegan meal and even specially made a vegan chocolate mousse because there were no other vegan options on the menu. We decided to branch out from the pre-set restaurant week menu and share a few appetizers. First we had the oysters served with a spicy frozen garnish and a garlic infused vinaigrette. These were light fresh and delicious! The ceviche was topped with a wonderful foam and the acidity and sweetness were perfectly balanced! Not to mention the colorful display made it even more appetizing. Finally the star of the appetizers, the fois gras served over a delicious sauce exploded with savory flavor! The fois gras was spectacular and I highly recommend it! For the prefix menu I chose to start with Duroc Pork Belly. This colorful dish filled with sweet potato puree, pickle vegetables, red cabbage, and apple gastrique combined with the pork for a harmony of vibrant flavors! I was also able to taste my friend's clam-shrimp soup which I thought was light and refreshing and perfectly seasoned. For the entrée I was treated with the short rib risotto. This was delicious but not the highlight of the meal for me. It was very filling however, and the quail eggs were a nice touch! The berry-natilla tartlet's sparse plating provided a sort of path of wonder as each section of the plate provided a new tasty surprise! It was sweet yet light, and the textures between the custard, the meringues ,and the crumble added sensation to the flavor. Of course we had to finish the meal with a dessert martini! Yum! Overall this evening was filled with exquisite flavors, textures, and presentation. I can't wait to go again! Please see pictured as well some of my guests' choices! The 7-textured chocolate, the sucking pig, and the vegan chocolate mousse.

Squid ink pasta is so great! It is my husband's favorite. Every time we go back to new haven we would come.

We were a party of four. Started with a round of cocktails, which were all excellent. Then I ordered a bottle of Tempranillo. One of the best bottles I've ever had. Instead of ordering entrées, we decided to order a number of appetizers and tapas. We couldn't determine, which was the best. They were all amazing! Our waiter Raul could not have been any better! Atmosphere was very nice. Beautiful room but a little loud. All in all it was an incredible evening. I would highly recommend this restaurant.

I came here for Valentine's Day, so my review is for their Prix Fixe menu for that day For drinks, my husband and I decided to get cocktails. I got a tequila drink, and my husband got the Black Forest (?) which included rosemary that they set on fire in front of you. First course was a mix of 3 little canapés lobster "semolina puff" which was actually like a little pani puri Deviled quail egg - delicious! Goat cheese panna cotta - small but flavorful - was good, and I don't even like goat cheese Second course was a delectable duck confit mushroom pasta. So so good!!! I could eat so much of this. There was sweetness coming from the duck, and savoriness from the duck and mushrooms. The pasta was also beautiful and well made. This was amazing! For the main course I had the beef tenderloin which was cooked to perfection. It also came with various vegetables as well. Hefty portions, and very flavorful! My husband got the halibut, so I tried a few bites of his dish. It was maybe a tad bit over cooked (by maybe a minute), but had good flavor. It also came with clams that were well cooked. I personally am glad that I got the beef though! Dessert was a chocolate cake that had a whole bunch of layers, decorated with a beautiful heart shaped piece, and passion fruit ice cream. I have to say this is one of the best chocolate cakes I've had, and I've had a LOT of chocolate cakes, including having a chocolate cake marathon this past week due to my husband's birthday. Lastly, they gave a single rose as a wonderful last touch to an overall solid meal!

Parking: Street with a few public lots nearby. Decor: posh and stylish...after the reviews and pictures I had to see for myself. Love the up class feeling! Staff: very friendly and going the extra mile to make sure you are happy. Food: for having an executive chef on staff I expected a meal to remember...not the best memory. Had the steak, I took 3 bites after cutting through it with a chainsaw and sent it back. Wherever they buy the meats from needs to be put on notice. I can only describe it as eating a box of rubber bands. The waiter watched me try to cut through the medium rare steak and knew right away something was wrong. Wine selection: very nice options and will got back for drinks...and drinks only. Price: priced appropriately for the type of restaurant. Covid: nicely separated tables for safety with staff also wearing gear. Overall: it is a place to go for drinks but probably would look at trying other places for food.

Easily the best restaurant New Haven. This place could hold its own in larger cities. Wish they were in DC. Menu is a mix of Spanish and Mediterranean cuisine. We started out with the charcutería that comes with lomo ibérico, chorizo ibérico, manchego cheese, house-made pickled vegetables, marcona almonds, toasted bread, chicken liver pâté. Everything was perfect and a great starter to pair with wine. The true stand out for mains is the cochinillo, roasted boneless suckling pig, lemon, thyme, honey port wine, parmesan cheese dauphinois potato, petit mesclun salad. Not it takes extra time for them to make this dish (30+ mins) but its worth it. This is one of the best pork dishes I've had in years! Juicy flavorful meat with crispy skin. The desserts are exceptional not only on taste, but also as artistic creations. Check out the pic of the sweet forest for example. Wine list was strong. Service was great. Atmosphere was energetic without being overpowering. In other words, you can carry on a conversation at your table and actually hear everyone. We will be back for sure when we visit Yale again.

Wow! I will start there. I have been so disappointed with dining out through covid. We were blown away with our dining experience last night. The restaurant was very modern with high ceilings and a classy upscale airy vibe. The tables were spaced a lovely distance apart where we were actually able to have a conversation with the other couple we were dining with without having to hear what our neighbors were talking about too. It was so delightful! They brought out a small amusè bouche of Spanish tortilla which was so divine. I love those sweet little touches. We shared the croquetas and pulpo to start. The croquetas contained a delicious oxtail/mushroom purée and were fried to crunchy perfection. The pulpo was beautifully served and so visually appealing - I couldn't wait to dive in. Aside from needing a sprinkle of salt and fresh ground pepper - it was the perfect mix of creamy and crunchy. The octopus was grilled perfectly and wasn't tough at all. For dinner - one person had the duck. She said it was delicious. The plating was exquisite and added to our dining experience. Who doesn't love beautiful food that tastes great?!? Two people got the braised short rib special that was cooked perfectly and was fall apart tender. I had the porchetta and OH MY!! Super crunchy on the outside with all that succulent juicy tender pork on the inside. It was served over these decadent 'Dauphinais' potatoes over the most delicious au jus that rounded out the dish perfectly. It was served with a small plate of lightly dressed greens which was the perfect addition to the rich pork and potatoes. We shared 2 desserts - torrija and chocolate textures. I didn't taste the torrija. The chocolate textures was actually 4 mini desserts - a tiny scoop of homemade chocolate hazelnut ice cream with a nougatine dust, a mint rosemary white chocolate 'soup', a tiny vanilla mousse and chocolate ice cream sandwich and this little chocolate cup of chocolate covered rice crispies with orange zest. Dessert was good but nothing really knocked our socks off. I would try the almond coconut cake next time. I honestly can't wait to return! It was exactly what I wanted/needed!

Wow! Definitely the spot if you're trying to impress a friend or date. Amazing food. The beet salad is a must! Possibly the best salad I've ever eaten. There were some.geeat surprises through the meal and the service was top notch.

Great restaurant, have been a few times and it's always a treat. Food is always top notch, drinks too, and staff are lovely. My only complaint: we sat at the bar last time and the stools are very uncomfortable. That's ok if you're just having a beer, but less so for a nice dinner that you're trying to savor.

When researching best restaurants in New Haven (that weren't pizza places), Olea consistently showed up, so we had to check it out. We were very enticed by their tasting menu (nothing makes me happier than the restaurant making my selections for me), but we were disappointed to learn they only offer this menu on Tuesdays and Thursdays and we would be in town over the weekend. Oh well, no big - we made reservations for Saturday night very easily. They have a large enclosed seating area that sits in what looks like their parking lot. This was a great spot - the waiters had most things they needed in the area, and we felt safe in the space while still having a good experience. They did not rush us at all, but the food did come relatively quickly, so that helped expedite the meal itself. In terms of food, Olea has a lot of Spanish influences on their menu, featuring a good number of tapas but also larger dishes. We wanted to focus on the tapas, so we wound up getting 3 tapas to split between the 2 of us, as well as an entree to also split between the 2 of us. This was definitely plenty of food! For starters, our server brought us complimentary taster - I can't remember the name, but it tasted like a combination of egg, cheese, and potato encased in what seemed like a mini muffin tin. It was pretty basic, but still nice and light. For our selected tapas, we opted for the gazpacho, ceviche, and croquetas. The gazpacho was unique in that we were presented with a mixture of veggies in a dish, and then our server poured the "soup" overtop, followed by the bread crisp and almond foam. A unique take, but very nicely done! The ceviche was very fresh and authentic, and the cheesy "air" on top was a great finishing touch. However, the croquetas were the standouts - featuring oxtail beef, mushrooms, carmelized onions, and brussel sprouts, they were excellent. The flavors were so complex yet the dish was so welcoming. We were big fans! For our main dish, we split the suckling pig, which we would highly recommend. The meat was tender and perfectly crispy, and it sat atop a cheesy potato plank that was quite nice. I would never think to order pig at a restaurant, but we were both incredibly happy we did and would certainly get again. For drinks, we both got glasses of tempraniillo wine, which was nicely spicy and hearty to compliment our meal. Lastly, because we were celebrating our anniversary, we got complimentary small pastries to finish our meal - a nice gesture! Overall, we agree that Olea is a great finer dining spot in New Haven. I would definitely recommend getting a number of tapas to share, certainly getting the croquetas. If you want an entree as well, highly recommend the pig for a unique dish. We really enjoyed our meal at Olea to celebrate our anniversary, and we would love to make it back on future visits!

An excellent meal in every possible way! The service was warm and attentive. The food - everything we ordered - was fantastic! * The octopus was perfectly done, tender, and in a mild sauce that does not overpower the central ingredient * the foie gras was the best I've had in years, the last being in Paris. The texture of the warm, pan fried piece of foie gras was just perfect - soft, almost liquify at the center, and charred outside * the oxtail croquetas were brilliant - first time I had these, will certainly go back (we were too greedy, hence no pictures of it :) * the cochinillo was excellent too The best thing about Olea's food is the lightness of touch in the cooking - every sauce is delicate, bringing out the best in the dish. Juan Carlos' wine pairing was the best! Coming from New York City where one does get good food but gets tired paying a premium for it all the time, Olea was so refreshing - so affordable for the finesse and quality of the food they serve, and so warm and relaxed in terms of atmosphere - can't wait to be back!

My wife and I had a great time here. Food and cocktails were amazing and the staff was so professional as to accommodate our very loud and handsy baby. Would highly recommend for anyone looking for a date night near Yale.

Olea is my favorite fancy dine in restaurant in New Haven. Excellent service, well crafted food, and a lovely ambiance. Some of my favorite dishes here are the tapas. I love the oxtail croquetas, which are creamy and flavorful. They are well balanced with a meaty umami. Not too overpowering. The octopus dish was also quite good. The octopus was well cooked. Squid ink dish was fun - literally pieces of squid cooked in its own ink for a delectable and visually appealing sauce. Scallops here are pretty standard, perhaps slightly over cooked but decent. Sangria here is excellent and olea has a large wine selection. I never made it to dessert here, although the complimentary madeleines are always nice. My friends have said good things about the chocolate surprise. This restaurant is perfect for a date night or just a place to get good food and service.

I have to say beginning to end this place was exceptional! The atmosphere was great quiet great decor perfect for a date night or special occasion. The layout is nice it's intimate but you are not on top of other people . Plenty of space separating the tables . The service was top notch waiter was very attentive my water was refilled before I even finished . We had the braised short rib special and the catch of the day (black sea bass) the short rib was so tender and flavorful . The sea bass was cooked to perfection. For drink we went with red sangria that was good and refreshing. For appetizer we got the octopus and desert we had to Try the honey cold bon bon over all I would rate this place a 9.2 /10 taking into consideration atmosphere, Service,price,food quality. We will definitely be coming back

This is the best restaurant I've been to in New Haven. My wife and I had the chef's tasting menu, and each dish was fantastic. I could tell the chef put a lot of thought into how to build up the flavors and experience. We also had sangrias along with our meal, and thought the white wine sangria was more to our tastes (we like sweeter ones).

Had an absolutely incredible meal here to celebrate my dad's birthday. Creative, delicious dishes and cocktails.

** 3.5 stars ** For my upcoming birthday, I knew I wanted to go to Olea. We made reservations for a weeknight way in advance, which wasn't really necessary but still nice because my husband notified them that it was my birthday. The decor is modern and classy. I really liked the feel of the place. Ultimately, our food was very good - though the meat dishes were a little better than the seafood - and our waiters were a bit impersonal. The presentation was all very nice. The octopus appetizer was very pretty, but the taste was a little less nuanced than I was hoping for. My husband's oxtail croquettes were very nicely plated and melted in my mouth. (Yup, I snagged a piece!) My branzino was ok - again, had a lot going on so hard to appreciate all the textures and flavors. My husband got the crab ravioli special. The sauce was bright yellow (a corn sauce), which surprised me, but the taste was really delicious and on point. As mentioned earlier, our waiters were pretty impersonal and abrupt when they took our plates away. Glad we tried Olea, but there were so many things that were a little off, that I don't necessarily plan to come back very soon. It's a nice spot for a more-than-average night out, though.

This was our third visit and I thought it was about time I sat down and wrote a review. Olea has got to be one of the best if not the best Fine Dining restaurant in New Haven, it's just that simple. The look and finish of the restaurant is most refined yet incredibly comfortable. The service was responsive and professional with food to match.

Thank you to Raul and the whole staff at Olea for a phenomenal dining experience! From the drinks to the dessert we enjoyed every second of our dinner here. We wanted to try so many things but we started off with the charcutería and beef croquettes. WOW. While sipping our cocktails we enjoyed the music, and our bread with oil. Our dinner came and my husband enjoyed the mushrooms with fettuccine and I, the beef cheek. Never had I enjoyed such a tender piece of beef. Alongside came a parsnip purée, cauliflower and mini potato chips. We ended our meal with the chocolate textures dessert. You name the texture, it was there! We left feeling satisfied and so happy we decided to come here. We enjoyed some complimentary items from the chef and pastry chef as well. We were the last ones to leave but there was no rushing us ever. Please, if you're in New Haven, try Olea. We will be back!

Hands down one of the best dining experiences I have had. I went with friends, one of whom is a chef, and we are in agreement about the experience. From the appetizers, to the cocktails, to the entrees, to the wine, to the dessert, to the dessert wine. Yes, it's that good. We got the charcutería as part of our appetizer. The assortment on the board was great. The chicken liver was the port wine reduction was awesome. Adding the jamón ibérico was a great compliment. The meat literally melts in your mouth. The croquetas de rabo were very tasty. The "shell" was nice and crisp, while the oxtail was tender. The ceviche mixto was crazy good. You want to drink the "sauce" that is part of the dish. For our entrees, two of us got the suckling pig. The third person in our group got pato or seared duck breast. I can only speak to the pig, but wow, it was good. The fat is perfectly rendered leaving a super crispy skin. The sound of your knife crunching through the skin adds to the experience. I understand that the duck was good also, but cannot speak from personal experience. The desserts were superb and a great way to finish the meal. I have a huge sweet tooth and loved all of them. The only was I can describe the torija is a piece of brioche that is perfectly caramelized on the outside with an inside that is like warm marshmallow. The honeycomb is a chocolate shell with a mousse filling that is quite satisfying. The chocolate textures are a perfect combination of little bites that comes with a white chocolate soup that has to be indulged in last. The staff were very welcoming and hospitable. I wish I knew the owner's name. He helped us with our wine selection and even brought us an off the menu wine to enjoy with dessert. Dennis our waiter was great and made sure that each course was perfectly timed. I highly recommend Olea. We will be back.

What a meal! We are not from the area and were looking for a place for dinner and decided to try Olea- what a great choice! From the chefs bite size tortilla española to the chocolate soup in a chocolate chip cup - it was all delicious. We had the oxtail croquettes that were sooooo good- perfection! The pulpo was just so right and the piece de resistance was the cochinillo- what a great piece of meat- crispy skin and then tender meat- exquisite. We ordered the Torrijas and changed the ice cream that came with it to the crime brûlée ice cream and it was just sooo good! Service was excellent and professional and the outdoor tables are safely spaced. I cannot wait to return!

I ordered curbside pickup for my boyfriends birthday last week and everything was perfect! We ordered the short rib and lamb shank and the creamy rice and beans and mushrooms along with the shrimp appetizer. The portions were huge and the meal was perfect for a quarantine birthday! Curbside pickup was flawless and so easy! You do need to order before noon for same day pickup. Will definitely order from here again and hope to dine in soon when they reopen.

had heard amazing things about this place from a friend and finally went last week for my birthday. when i walked in i was a bit thrown off as the interior of the place felt a bit stale and resembled a hotel lobby. the appetizer tartar we ordered was fine. i wouldnt say it was anything special. the sauce was too sweet and the tuna was mixed with tomatoes which made the texture mealy. however, the main courses were truly delicious. the cornish hen was so juicy and flavorful, and the salmon rested atop a potato salad and was drizzled in a tart citrus sauce!

OK so I really wanted 4.5 stars just because I have only been once and I like to go to a place more often before I do a full 5 but they were so close I went with 5 anyway! My boyfriend and I went to Olea this past weekend for an early dinner and it was wonderful. Here is the full review (INCLUDED GLUTEN ALLERGY INFO): Service: I like to start with service because I feel the servers don't get shout outs enough during COVID and for me, it's almost as important as the food when I go out! Our server was FANTASTIC I believe his name was David but I don't have the receipt anymore! He was attentive, kind and enthusiastic. He didn't hang around the table too much despite it being before the rush, but he was always close by the time we needed anything. He helped us select our wine and meals, and was so patient with my overly-enthusiastic rambling (I don't get out much lately). Another big thing is HE WAS SUPER KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT MY GLUTEN ALLERGY. I was so pleased. He deserves some major recognition. He was the perfect fine dining server. Friendly but not over the top and made it feel like fine dining without making it stuffy. 10/10 Drinks: We had a bottle of Spanish wine which is my favorite! I like wine with lots of tannis, my boyfriend prefers them fruit forward. Our server was able to find a wine in the middle for a reasonable price. I did take a look at the cocktail menu though and the drinks look great. A couple flips (drinks with egg white) so I am very excited to try cocktails my next visit. Food: The food was delicious!!! I was very pleased with the options I had despite the small menu and my allergy. I felt that I was accommodated in a way that prevented me on "missing out" Many people with a gluten allergy have been somewhere that promised to take care of you and then serve you plain chicken on rice, that is NOT the case at Olea!! First I had a special appetizer of boquerones on an avocado mousse. They were marinated in a traditional manner with white vinegar and oil, fileted and served over the mousse in little spoons. They even brought out gluten free crackers since the app is usually served on bread, so I dipped them in the mousse I had left over. It was light, flavorful and well presented. For an entrée I had a beef tenderloin with carrot, sunchoke and asparagus in a port-wine chimichurri. It was perfectly cooked, insanely tender and well flavored. The sauce was so impressive and tasted great on the vegetables and meat. I was full but not overly so, which is ideal when you have a heavy dish like that! We ended up skipping dessert as I was pretty full and we wanted to get home but there were some great options and the server even brought out mini lemon meringue for us to munch while we paid the bill that made us regret that choice. Because of the service, food and care with my allergy we will definitely be back and I will update this review but I think if you haven't been it's well worth the visit!

Simply the best New Haven has to offer. The tasting menu is a real treat.