Olea

From Los Angeles, in Philly for work all week, I hadn’t left my hotel until Friday night when my wife and I decided to treat ourselves to a special dinner before flying home. We searched high and low online for the perfect spot and came across OLEA—the photos looked beautiful and inviting, and it turned out to be even more magical in person. From the moment we arrived, we were greeted by the owner, Louie, whose warmth and charm set the tone for the evening. The restaurant itself is cozy, elegant, and homey all at once—like stepping into someone’s welcoming living room but with the refinement of a thoughtfully curated dining space. I ordered the salmon with leek and mushroom purée, while my wife had the swordfish, both accompanied by perfectly creamy mashed potatoes. Every bite was outstanding—beautifully balanced flavors, fresh ingredients, and executed with care. What made the night truly unforgettable, though, was Louie himself. He personally waited on us, bringing so much humor, kindness, and hospitality that we felt like cherished guests in his own home. At one point, I watched him water the window box plants above the restaurant’s hand-painted picture window, a simple but telling gesture of the love and detail he pours into his place. OLEA is BYOB, and when we mentioned we hadn’t brought wine, Louie suggested we pop next door. Instead, he surprised us by getting a chilled sparkling bottle for $12—absolutely delicious and the perfect pairing. The entire experience felt personal, warm, and special—the kind of dinner you remember long after. OLEA is truly a diamond in the rough in Philly, the best find of our trip, and we can’t recommend it highly enough. We will definitely be back next time we’re in Philadelphia—and I’ll be telling everyone I know that OLEA is the place to dine.

just amazing!! this may be my boyfriend and I’s new favorite spot in philly. we didn’t realize it was byob but we were quickly told to grab a bottle next door and they even switched it out for a cold one for us! the service was amazing and the rigatoni and swordfish were fantastic. definitely coming back and have already told all my friends about this spot!!

Olea was a warm inviting place to eat. The food was amazing. The octopus was arguably the best we’ve ever tasted. It is cash only and BYOB. We would recommend Olea if you are in Philly.

We had a wonderful time here! Cozy, dimly lit with candles, and good music. Started with complimentary hummus and pita, then ordered the rest of our meal. We had the octopus, truffle lobster rigatoni, and 14oz NY strip steak. Everything tasted amazing, with our highlights being the octopus and pasta (they even split our pasta so that we could share easier!). We ended the meal with pistachio tiramisu with a nice amaretto flavor. Thanks for a great meal Luis and team, we’ll be back! - Claire and Ian

The food was good and reasonably priced , but not quite as impressive as we expected based on the reviews. We ordered the caesar salad, beet salad, the special shrimp appetizer, and the artichoke to start. For mains, we had the NY strip steak and the lobster rigatoni, and for dessert the only option was the olive oil cake. The pasta was our favorite dish of the night — rich and flavorful. The appetizers were a bit underwhelming. The steak was cooked nicely but a bit under-seasoned. The dessert, unfortunately, was too sweet for our taste and not the best olive oil cake we’ve had. Overall, it was a pleasant meal, but given the hype, we expected more from Olea. Perhaps our expectations were simply too high.

My family and I were visiting from out of town and chose Olea for a special dinner – it was absolutely magical! From the moment we walked in, the owner, made us feel like cherished guests in his own home. The atmosphere is cozy, elegant, and incredibly welcoming. We started with the complimentary hummus and olives, which were fantastic. For our mains, the pork chop was declared 'the best ever,' and therigatoni was rich and unforgettable. An incredible meal from start to finish – we will be back every time we're in Philadelphia!

THE. BEST. Hummus & pita. Ravioli. Shrimp. Rigatoni. Pork chop. Lemon olive oil cake. Chocolate cake. Everything was beyond delicious!! The cream sauces are to die for. The service was top notch. 1000% recommend.

3️⃣ of us ate here last night and it was outstanding. The Beet salad was done to perfection as was the grilled salmon. It was served on a bit of puréed parsnips which tasted a lot like mashed potatoes, but it also had sautéed leeks and shiitake mushrooms with it. It was really good! Our waiter was entertaining and engaging without being intrusive in the least. The atmosphere is an adorable,small, classic Old City BYOB. Serving sizes were more than adequate so I enjoyed it all again for lunch today. I will definitely go back and try some of the other appetizers and entrées.

$ CASH ONLY $ Super friend staff. Delicious food. I arrived at the first seating when they opened at 5pm. Was quickly seated, given water, menus, and the day's special. Our appetizers came out quickly hot and delicious. Only complaint was that the gnocchi was quite salty that we couldn't finish. Took it home to dilute. The peach salad from there special of the day was my favorite

Came here with my family to celebrate my birthday. The restaurant itself is very intimate with only about 30 seats, so reservations are a must. We were greeted with a lovely set of olives, hummus, and pita bread, which were heavenly. For appetizers, we ordered the artichokes ($18, Garlic white wine, anchovies, lemon butter) and beets ($17, Arugula, feta, pecans, red onions). The beets were definitely the highlight! For mains, we shared the gnocchi ($28, Bell peppers, sausage, tomato sauce), ravioli ($29, with cream sauce) and salmon ($29, which came with some veggies). Out of these, the gnocchi was probably my favorite. The salmon was cooked very well (crispy on the outside but not dry on the inside). However, I will say that I felt the portions were quite small and we left not feeling entirely full. The service was impeccable, and felt like a very personalized unique experience. Overall, it was a special dining experience, but I felt that the portions were too small to justify the prices. Also, they are cash only, so just be aware!

CASH ONLY Great food, nothing out of this world. Kind server A nice and quaint restaurant located in Old City. This is BYO, so that is a plus. We ordered a whole bunch of things and although all tasted good, i wasn't slapped in the face with their flavors. There is a an option where you can ask for 1/2 gnocchi and 1/2 ravioli if you want to try both and not break the bank. $30 Overall, good establishment.

Oh man, what an awesome spot! Everything was great (from the service, to the vibes, and the food.) I have zero complaints of this place. Octopus appetizer - probably the best I've ever had. I wanted to lick the plate. Ribeye ravioli - again, probably the best raviolis I've eaten. The sauce wasn't too heavy and the ravioli was stuffed perfectly. Fish filet - mmm, I love horseradish and the sauce they made with it for the fish was *chefs kiss* Pork chops - so tender. Didn't realize that pork could be this juicy. My newest date night spot, for sure!!!

What an evening at Olea! Celebrating a graduation with close friends couldn't have been better than at Olea. The salmon was divine--light, buttery, with a perfectly crispy skin. The orange roughy was expertly cooked, harmonizing beautifully with the risotto and vegetables. Portions left us satisfied yet craving more. But the real star? The shrimp and fettuccine Alfredo stole the spotlight, disappearing faster than you can imagine--it wasn't just eaten, it was devoured!

Tried this gem on NYE, it was unbelievable to say the least. Service was impeccable from when we walked in the door to the end, ambience super cute & quaint and food was superior. LOUIS made our night! Tried the following: - JUMBO LUMP CRAB CAKE with dill aioli. - BEEF CARPACCIO arugula salad, shaved parmigiano, truffle vinaigrette - EGGPLANT ROLLATINI asparagus, whipped ricotta, tomato coulis. - PORK CHOP (14 oz.) sautéed mushrooms, scallion mashed potatoes, port wine/truffle reduction - WHOLE BRANZINO lobster, asparagus, caviar, cognac cream sauce - CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE, chocolate ganache, buttered graham cracker crumble - ALMOND BUTTER CAKE with lemon curd, whipped cream #oleaphiladelphia #phillyfood #phillyeats #Philadelphia #phillyfoodie #phillyfoodies #phl #delcopa #delco #impossibletraveler #BRANZINO #crabcake #shrimp #lobster #chocolate #buttercake #BEEFCARPACCIO #almondbuttercake #mediterranean #crab #caviar

AMAZING food, service, and atmosphere!! Luis is awesome and we will definitely be back! Highly recommend the salmon & pastas as well as their delicious desserts!

What a great little neighborhood BYO with a warm and friendly environment and amazing service. The food was excellent too. Highly recommend the artichokes which were maybe the best I've ever had and the mussels with amazing broth. The salmon dish is fantastic as well.

The food here is so delicious. I was also amazed when the waiter went above and beyond. I had asked if I could substitute the barramundi sides with couscous but decided against it. I imagined the original pairing on the menu is probably better anyways. However, the waiter ended up bringing out a couscous side on the house and it just so happens to be the most delicious couscous dish I've ever had. (I promise it's not because it was complimentary). I love the way the pearl couscous was prepped - it has what tasted like chopped almonds and some cranberries and very refreshing seasoning. The barramundi was very delicate and buttery. It reminded me of a fancy tilapia. My friend got the bucatini and it was so delicious she finished it all! I would love to come back again. This place is ideal for dates as well. **This place is BYOB and Cash only.

Delish! Such a lovely restaurant! Every item was fresh and beautifully prepared. Nice environment. Will absolutely return!

Had dinner at Olea with my YELP friend, Anna last Thursday and had a great time! Our server was incredibly nice and made us feel so welcomed from the moment we stepped into the restaurant. We really felt as if we were treated like family when we were at Olea. To start, Anna and I shared an order of artichokes, which consisted of 4 pieces. The artichokes were delicious. They had a creamy texture and were very tender. For 2 people, this was enough since there was also the complimentary pita bread, hummus and olives for us to share. For our mains, I really wanted to try the pork chop that everyone is raving about, but ended up going with the Bucatini since I was starving and craving carbs. Anna went with the Barramundi that came with its own sides. She considered subbing out one of the sides for Couscous, which our server was happy to accommodate. In the end, Anna decided not to get the Couscous and to just stick with the dish's default sides, which sounded very appealing too. It did not take long for our food to arrive. As our server set our entrees in front of us, he brought over an extra side of Couscous for Anna on the house, which was super sweet and thoughtful of him. We both enjoyed our dishes. The food was delicious, but on a scale of 1-5, I would rate it a 4. Hospitality, on the other hand, was a 6/5. We were too full for desserts this time, but we definitely would love to come back again to Olea soon.

My husband and I made a reservation last night for 9:30 (it was 8:45). Had to run home and grab some wine so we walked in late. It was obvious most of the diners were finishing their meal but no matter to Luis. He greeted enthusiastically! After hearing my comments of how hungry I was, he quickly brought this right to the table. YUMMO! We've been here plenty of times before and it NEVER disappoints. The ambiance. The warmness of the staff. The gal that waited on us (Jane) is the sweetest. The FOOD!! We had the octopus and the artichokes. The shrimp pesto fettuccine and the salmon. We eat out regularly at some amazing restaurants and this one is right up there. Every morsel was AH-MAZING. You MUST go here. Run - don't walk. Louis's husband makes the desserts. Crazy good. Let me end with two words. Apple. Cake.

Well this was the second time my friend and I went for dinner at this amazing restaurant. To say the food was great is an understatement. For starters we shared the octopus and artichokes. I do recommend the octopus. For the meat lovers the pork chop was the best my friend has ever had. He did let me taste it and I agree. Hands down it was great and cooked to perfection. This time I had the rack of lamb. All I can say is that it was finger licking good, cooked to perfection and the presentation was top notch. On my first visit I had the whole fish (Bronzini) which was stuffed with crab. I was impressed with the combination of the whole fish and crab stuffing. One thing I can say is that it did not disappoint. The desert I had was the Baklava cheese cake. You need to treat yourself for this sinful ending to your meal. Now to the exceptional service. Luis, Jane and Mannie treated us like we were royalty. The atmosphere was welcoming and friendly. This made our dining experience one to remember. We enjoyed it so much that before we left I made a reservation to come back for dinner in three weeks. I do recommend making a reservation as the restaurant is on the small intimidate side.

We began our meal at Olea with a plate of hummus, pita, and olives, a classic combination done right. The hummus was smooth, the pita perfectly soft, and the olives a briny contrast. Following that, we enjoyed shrimp, which were plump, juicy, and had that perfect snap-like texture. They arrived in a vibrant white wine butter sauce, with a present yet subtle chili pepper element. Our magnetic server then cleared away the shrimp-less plate but--masterfully--added the remaining butter sauce to our pita dish, allowing us to revisit the excellence of the earlier dish. Next came artichokes in garlic lemon butter--simply exquisite--and octopus paired with romesco, chorizo, and potatoes. The ratio of each ingredient to every bite was spot-on. As we struggled to decide which pasta dishes to share, Luis, our ruggedly handsome yet graceful server, came to the rescue. He recommended a half portion of the ravioli, fettuccine, and trofie--offering a perfect solution that allowed us to try a bit of everything without overindulging. The ravioli, stuffed with velvety ribeye and served in a goat cheese cream sauce with peas and pancetta, was hearty without being heavy, decadent without overwhelming. The fettuccine was perfectly al dente in a fragrant pesto sauce with sun-dried tomatoes, topped with more supple scrimps. As a student of the noodle, I'm always eager to try new pasta, and this was my first introduction to trofie. What sorrow to know how long I've lived in ignorance. A double helix of thin yet dense noodles, the trofie was a perfect vessel for the truffle nage--a delightfully earthy and vegetal sauce. For our next course, we had a delicate, flaky filet of orange roughy served with another new-to-me culinary revelation: prosecco sauce. The light, effervescent quality of the sauce was phenomenal. Perhaps my favorite dish of the evening was the pork chop, moist and flavorful, served in a standout mustard cream sauce. The other server, the effortlessly charming Jane, anticipated our every need, leaving us wanting for nothing throughout the meal. The dashing food runner, whose name I regrettably did not catch, glided each dish onto our table with precision, maximizing our space for what was admittedly a rather excessive feast. The playlist of upbeat, timeless bangers made me feel like I'd been invited to a party far cooler than I had any right to attend. For dessert, we shared a slice of olive oil apple cake, light and airy, dancing with whipped buttercream and subtle baking spices. The chocolate pot de crème? If nutritionally acceptable, I'd happily subsist on it alone for the rest of my days. A perfect cappuccino rounded out the meal. The space itself is gorgeous. Original art adorns the walls, and the restaurant is bathed in warm lighting. It's intimate yet lively, cozy but not cramped, with lively plants giving it a fresh, vibrant energy. The service throughout the evening was a masterclass in navigating a tight space harmoniously. Every movement was attentive but unobtrusive, creating a seamless flow. 5 stars, 4 bells, and two thumbs up.

Whoa, look at me, another fancy restaurant! It's a small place and very welcoming. It gets busy at times, so you might want to make a reservation. If you want alcohol, bring your own since they don't have it here. Honestly, I prefer this rather than being limited to an overpriced alcohol selection. The pork chop was recommended to me. Who gets a pork chop at a fancy restaurant? I don't ever eat pork chops! What did I order? Yup, a $32 pork chop... Good god, this was the best pork chop I've ever had! Thick, juicy and delicious. If you don't love this pork chop, I will fly to Philly and finish it for you! Truly awesome. Everything else on the menu looks great, but damn, that pork chop! The crème brûlée pie was a nice way to end the meal, but completely overshadowed by the pork chop!

Amazing little place we happened across while visiting. Had the Ravioli and my wife had the Shrimp Fettuccine. Both were great, with the Ravioli really standing out as one of the best I've had. Highly recommend

Wow, just wow! I am speechless on how delicious everything was. From the moment I walked into the door until I left, I felt like home (but without having to clean up after myself). The staff was beyond spectacular and the food was om nom yum. Everything was so fresh and balanced. Started off with the octopus and artichokes. The roasted pepper sauce for the octopus was delicious. I practically licked the plate. As for the artichokes, the sauce was light and balanced. Next came the ravioli. Oh man, this was probably the best ravioli I've ever had. From the stuffing, to the wrapper, to the sauce. Mmmmm. Perfect al dente, perfectly stuffed. And the sauce was just perfection. I could have eaten the whole thing myself. For the entrees, we had the pork chops and the whole fish (for that evening, it was a snapper). Pork chops were so tender/moist. It was also very flavorful. The fish was fileted and put back together. Hahaha, I was eating it like it still had the bones until I got halfway through and was like, where's the bone?? The sauce had hints of horseradish, which I'm usually not a big fan of, however, whatever they balanced it with worked. Lastly for dessert, we had this pistachio cake and chocolate cake. Both were light, airy, and sooooo delicious. I honestly can't wait to be back.

Third time at Olea and the food and overall experience was just as fantastic as our first! So much depth of flavors to each dish - it really is a special place! The complimentary hummus, olives & pita is a perfect start. Hummus is rich and well seasoned, and the pita still warm. The fresh buratta is so creamy - it melts in your mouth (had it twice - once with the antipasto and again on top of the bucatini) The fresh bucatini pasta was cooked perfectly al dente and the sausage in the fresh tomato sauce was a perfect savory/acidic balance. The lamb chops were cooked medium and also melt in your mouth with a seared crust and beautifully balance glaze that you want to get every drop from the plate! We haven't eaten our way through the menu yet - but we're happy to be back again soon to keep working at it.

How do I even start this review? I was hosting a friend from San Diego (one of the most vibrant food scenes in the country), I wanted to pick a place for dinner in Philly to blow him away. I narrowed it down to Olea, and I couldn't have picked a better spot. To say I was blown away would simply be an understatement. Small and intimate, Olea is fairly new to the Philly food scene opening within the past year. We were greeted by our waiter (I'm regretful I cannot remember his name). He was witty and hilarious, cracking numerous jokes that had us laughing throughout our meal. Attentive without being overwhelming. He made our meal that much better. We started with the antipasto, artichokes, an octopus. The burrata was delicious and creamy. The sauce that accompanied the artichokes and lemony and amazing. The octopus was the most perfectly cooked, tender octopus I ever had. The half chicken was tender with crispy skin. The snapper was perfectly seasoned, tender and flavorful. However, the highlight of the meal for me was the bucatini. I will be dreaming about this pasta dish until I come back and have it again. The texture, flavor, the sauce and the burrata topping - everything was perfect. I ordered a second serving to take home and enjoy the next night. I know this review is lengthy, but I cannot say enough good things about this meal, the service, and the restaurant. Eat at Olea. Now. Reservations will sure to be hard to get once this place inevitably blows up.

Such a cozy neighborhood spot in Old City that offers small plates, mediterranean food, pasta, and BYOB. Atmosphere: This place is certainly cozy - the vibe feels very intimate. There is seating for around ~25 to 30 folks but the room is small, and the tables are quite closely situated next to each other. I found it to be cozy, but it might be hard to have a very private conversation because the tables are so close. Food: The sauces were incredible - we tried the octopus and pasta dishes. Each one came out to be so flavorful! The pasta also tasted very fresh - I only wished the portion sizes were just a bit larger! The appetizer of the hummus, pita bread, and olives was a nice touch in the beginning, and came for free too. Overall: 5/5 - I would definitely come back, though I recommend coming in either a group of 2 or 4 since I think large groups would be hard to manage / hold conversation. The food was incredible and the service was amazing. We'll be back!

We had an amazing dinner at Olea. From appetizer to dessert, each course was beautifully presented and absolutely delicious. Louis was an amazing host who anticipated our every need. We enjoyed 3 different pasta entrees...bucatini, ribeye ravioli and fettuccini with shrimp and pesto sauce. We shared them all! The star of the dinner was a 14oz pork chop that was moist and flavorful, perfectly done! Dessert and coffee provided a perfect ending. We sat in comfy seating in a warm and charming atmosphere. We can't wait to go back!

This was a truly terrible experience. The host was rude when we came in to the restaurant and insisted that we sit at a table that was right in front of the open door when it was 60° out. The next thing that happened was my wife asked about the salmon and then the server went into the kitchen, and we overheard her telling the host that we were entitled. This is a nasty place with staying for their guests.

I love this place so much. Has such cozy vibes. The service was amazing. I accidentally made a reservation to a restaurant with the same name in NYC and the owner was super accommodating and was able to seat us at the back table. Everything was delicious and we had an amazing time. It's a BYOB, which I love. It's also cash-only- so be prepared for that.

Located in the heart of the Old City, Olea seems to be a neighborhood staple full of enthusiastic patrons enjoying the food and ambiance. Service was cheerful and efficient. The food was good in general we uncharacteristically ordered the whole branzino ($60) that was just OK and certainly not worth the steep price since it was bit overcooked and lacked flavor. If you go bring some good alcohol and avoid the high-priced "specials"

The husband and I tried this BYO for the first time last Friday and had a solid first experience. The space is cute, cozy, homey and inviting. They start you of with complimentary hummus, pita, and olives- each subsequent portion is available for order at $10. Food: 4/5 Gnocchi - 4/5 taste was perfectly balanced, simple but well executed. I personally enjoy the soft pillowy gnocchi more, but don't get me wrong. This is a very good gnocchi Fettucini 4/5 all of the seafood was perfectly cooked, al dente pasta, and the sauce was perfection, again well balanced. However I would argue that it was closer to a pappardelle with that width Tuna steak 4/5 the puree was so smooth and well complimented the steak Service was good. At the end of our meal, we were so full especially since we ordered the extra tuna steak on top of our two entrees, we didn't have room for dessert. We were chatting with the server and said that we always enjoy savory over dessert, thus the double entree move. She made a comment "or better yet, a salted dessert" and we replied " oooh yes like a salted caramel, mm". She later brought over our check and complimentary salted caramel ice cream on the side, so sweet! Everything was solid, just nothing that blew me away to be a 5star. But I would absolutely recommend this *CASH ONLY BYOB * restaurant to anyone - and I would surely return in the future.

Food was delicious, though some pasta dishes were a bit rich. Service was amazing. Cute little BYO in a great part of town.

Do yourself a favor and get here immediately! My new husband and I came here for our first post-wedding date. The octopus appetizer was amazing, it all came together so well, I highly recommend. Husband had the fettuccine dish and enjoyed it, he had it more spicy than I can handle but smelled amazing. I had the gnocchi and I would lay down my life for that dish. I was full but wanted to keep eating so I unzipped my dress so I could keep eating. My biggest regret is not being able to try dessert but I'm sure they absolutely nail it. Before we ordered they brought out the complimentary pita, olives, and hummus, which was also fabulous. My husband doesn't like olives but liked these ones? So that's something. The staff were wonderful and the owner was super present. He sat next to us to chat and welcome us and was an absolute delight Please go here, they're amazing and deserve your business.

Olea is a magical, delightful dining experience. Intimate, elegant, delicious and cozy all rolled into one. Olea is a must-visit when in Philadelphia. Just FYI it is BYOB but if you forget there is a liquor store next door!

Food was absolutely amazing! Everything was delicious! The pasta dishes were very creamy. The service there is impeccable and they did not miss a beat! It's also BYOB and cash only. Highly recommend.

The dinner was excellent and the service to match love the complementary pita and hummus they bring out. Had the fish special and pasta both were fantastic. This is a BYOB and cash only

What can I say other than we've found our "go-to" in Philly! A conversation with Louis (hope I'm spelling correctly) is worth the trip alone, but then add in the food and ambiance, and you have a spectacular total package! The cons - which honestly aren't cons at all, but you should take note - they are cash only (ATM next door), BYOB (bring the wine, darling), and parking can be a bitch (sorry, but true). Now the pros - the place is absolutely adorable. Decorated in soft greens and tans with beautiful lighting and live greenery, with enough space between tables that you don't feel claustrophobic. The menu is varied with something for every taste. The portion sizes are perfect, not too large, not too small. Every table receives water, hummus, olives, and pita bread to start. This is not your Acme-brand hummus and olives, mind you, this is damn good. We (hubby and I) have found as we get older, we share entrees as we just can't finish our own plates and hate wasting food. We did so here as well. Started with the octopus appetizer, which was grilled to perfection and had a romesco sauce of sorts under it with potatoes. It was honestly the best we'd ever had, and we've been to Spain and Greece, so that's saying something. We then shared the bucatini with burrata...dear LORD this was scrumptious! Bucatini cooked to a perfect al dente and the burrata was creamy and luscious. My husband had a double espresso, and I had the strawberry olive oil cake (I believe that's what it was) with whipped cream sprinkled with black pepper. DON'T snarl at this until you've tried it as it's the perfect combination! We are anxious to return and try everything on the menu! I read somewhere this will be the hardest reservation to get before too long, and now I can see why!

Long overdue visit. Husband and I ventured out on a sunny spring day in our new neighborhood. We knew Luis had opened Olea yet we had never been. What a gem of a place. So sweet and quaint. Decor ambience and food were all fabulous. Was great seeing Luis and catching up. I think we found our neighborhood go to. We both had fish. Salmon and the stuffed branzino were so delish. Excited to go back.

You would think the management would have the consideration to state that they have a private party on Monday the 29th of January before people drive into town and find out after they have driven into town and paid for parking. These are the things good management do! Very annoyed! Ben

Went here last week for dinner, ambiance is awesome such good music and overall good vibes. Our waiter was extremely friendly and made the experience with his bubbly personality! The food was awesome, from the hummus to the pork chop, to the cake. Only dislikes are it's cash only and the cake was still semi frozen (but tasted good). Would definitely go back again!

Wow, just Wow. From super personable service from the adorable Luis to the authentic and superb Cesar, Bucatani, Branzino and surprise hit: Olive Oil Apple Cake with Maple Crema - Yummo! Don't miss this cash only BYOB.

My friends and I visited Olea yesterday to celebrate an anniversary and a wedding - a detail we noted in our reservation. The food was lacking in several dimensions, but the problem with this establishment is catty and unprofessional service staff and management. We had withdrawn more than $400 in cash for the experience (Olea being cash only) to enjoy the restaurant to the fullest. The experience began with us sorting through which dishes we'd like to try and the waitress pressuring us to put in an order quickly and all at once so that we could leave by the allotted 2 hr limit - a limit that we now see is mentioned on the Resy service, but was not mentioned anywhere on either their website or the Google reservation service. Rather than being polite about this issue, there was a stubborn insistence that we determine everything we wanted at the beginning of the dining experience. Through the rest of experience, the wait staff repeatedly tried to take menus and were repeatedly told not to. Additionally, there were unwelcome touches of shoulders and arms on at least two occasions. We were never given an opportunity to order dessert and did ultimately leave without a fulfilling experience. The issues - amazingly - did not stop there. After posting reviews which reflected our experience, the restaurant's owners, management, or lackeys took time to respond with personal attacks, threats, and more as shown in these screenshots. They wrote that we are "a disgrace to the human race", that "we googled you and spread your information to all of our industry friends [and restaurant owners]", and that "we laughed all night as we spent YOUR money buying drinks". At this point I am unsure what it is they are trying to find via "googling" us, but the behavior seems very close to stalking and harassment. If there are any additional messages along these lines I will be inclined to call the police. EDIT: This same individual "Luis P." has now directly messaged to taunt in a manner identical to the "owner" response to our Google reviews, saying "Lol!". This makes it clear that this is no lackey, but actually the owner himself harassing.

My husband and I came here for our anniversary. The restaurant is an intimate space and the staff were incredibly nice and attentive. We had the octopus, beet salad, artichokes, gnocchi, ravioli and seafood pasta. Everything was amazing! Our daughter could not get enough of the gnocchi. I highly recommend coming here if you are craving delicious, fresh pasta.

That's my second BYOB and I am not excited to say the least. I like their primi more than their pastas. The octopus app was small for it's price, although tender, the mussels needed salt and acidity and the pesto didn't really work well there. The dish sounds better than it actually tastes and mussels require more balance in flavors. The pastas were flat, underseasoned and simplistic, averaging at $26. If you have had pastas at Osteria, Fiorella, Ventri's, Fiore's, you would find the offerings here to be below average. The lamb chops came well-done and they are market price and I usually laugh when restaurants do that for red meat dishes. Apparently we were charged $54 for 4 of those. Last but not least, the quality of service is the lowest of the low. These people shouldn't be in this industry. I mean l, they should dine at Vetris or Vernick or Barclay prime etc to experience that level of hospitality. With the level of competition that restaurants have in Philadelphia, I don't expect this to survive v long. Train your staff, restaurant dining is an experience, it's not just food. Probably the only thing that saves them is the lack of a liquor license.

My table had 4 very hungry food obsessed first time customers. We shared everything and it was an amazingly delicious meal. Everything was really great, but the octopus especially stood out and the pork chop was the star. The desserts (order ALL of them if you can) were delightful and the salted caramel gelato blew our minds! We had a great time and the service was absolutely wonderful. Cant wait to go back; we are all big fans now.

The service was fantastic! From the time we were greeted till the time we left, we felt like family. The space is small and intimate. Great for someone social who loves great food. If you're looking for more of a private experience, I would not recommend the space. Food was excellent quality! It's BYOB and we brought a nice bottle of wine to compliment the dinner. I can't wait to go back!

I rarely give 5 stars because I'm a harsh critic. There were a number of things that make this restaurant stand out to me. It's such a special place. We were lucky. After leaving a show at The Arden, we stumbled upon Olea. They are BYOB so bring your favorite wine! If you forget it, there is a reasonable wine shop right next door. So we were incredibly lucky to get a table for 2 at this small and cozy little place. The factors I absolutely loved: 1. It's small, quaint, and intimate. Even the dishes are adorable, like someone's old cute grandmom is cooking for you on a fancy occasion. 2. The service was fabulous. We were attended to appropriately. We didn't get a bottle on the way so the servers gave us suggestions for what to get next door. Their suggestion was spot on. Our New Zealand white was refreshing and smooth. The servers were knowledgable, helpful, and fun. 3. Honey, when I tell you the music playlist was fire. They had every type of music playing and it wasn't loud or overwhelming, you could barely hear it but from what I heard, I was singing and doing a little bounce in my seat. This was a unique feature I didn't expect but definitely appreciated. 4. Finally, and of course, the food was incredible. FRIENDSSSSSSS It was so good. Memorably good. From the pita bread to the hummus to the olive oil to the olives to the pasta to the... whew. Just 100% tasty, delicious, hot, flavorful, authentic food. I can't imagine a better experience. I will absolutely be back soon!

This place is a must try! A cozy little byob restaurant with a super friendly staff and rustic/homey decor. The menu was great and we loved everything we tried. We also accidentally lit the menu on fire with the candle and the staff was very kind about it (lol) We tried - -complimentary pita and hummus/olives- this was delicious. The pita was charred and soft and the hummus was delish. I do wish it were slightly smoother but that's just my personal preference. -octopus (5/5)- you have to get this! By far the best octopus I've ever had. It cut like butter and had 0% toughness or chewiness. So tender and paired perfectly with the sauce and crispy potatoes -garganelli (4/5)- this was simple but so fresh and delicious. I do wish it had a bit more eggplant but I loved it -fettuccini (4/5)- this came with a good amount of seafood and tasted fresh as well. -hazelnut chocolate cake (4/5)- can't go wrong with this! Chocolate cake with crunchy pieces and a mild nutty flavor. It was a great way to end the meal I'll be returning soon! Our waiter, Luis was the best :)

Cute small byob! Great service and delicious food. They were very accommodating to kids.

Olea is small and special. You feel captivated by the space and intimacy: from the philadelphia reclaimed wood lining the walls to the comforting personalities of the owner and staff. AND OMG THE FOOD. we had the beet salad and artichokes in white wine garlic buttery sauce. take a bath in that sauce. I had the ribeye ravioli in goat cheese sauce, but also managed to taste the pork chop and gnocchi. the ravioli was ... velvety smooth salty tangy sauce with the ribeye and salty fatty pancetta bits was the best dishes of the night. The pork chop was cooked perfectly and the gnocchi were little pillows. Jane and Luis were the icing on the restaurant cake. you just don't get kindness and genuine enthusiasm and love, let alone get to meet the owner of the restaurant... but the care taken by Luis was beyond anything I've experienced. a lovely night with friends

Gf and I walked up to the look at the menu and were cordially invited in by the staff! We had been wanting to try Olea since it opened and we are so glad we did! The atmosphere of the restaurant in addition to the excellent and friendly staff made the evening one to remember. Every single person that touched us was inviting, vibrant and warm. The ambience seemed to be more of a family gathering rather than many strangers in a restaurant. The music. . .on point. Luther Vandross, never too much greeted us as we sat. I cannot say how impressed I was with the service. At one point in my life I had worked three food/bev/hospitality jobs at once so I know how challenging it can be to accomplish some of these things that the staff had made seem effortless. The drinks? Byo so you know we had something good with us. The food was epic! We got the antipasto to start. Consisted of peppers, burrata and salami(?) not sure what the meat was but that was my first time having burrata and it was totally worth it. I got the branzino for dinner (bro what?!?, it was amazing), gf got the statler chicken which she inhaled. For dinner we got the layered hazelnut chocolate cake. . . I'm not even gonna say anything about the dessert. Like if you don't go here and try the food then you don't deserve their dessert. We will be back again as it is hard to find something that feels like it is part of the family in the neighborhood rather than just another restaurant in a city drowning in great eats. Edit: it is cash only so bring some cash or if there are two of you. One of you can run to mulberry market next door and hit the atm!

One of the best meal I had in Philly. Every dish was executed to perfection. The flavor profile to each dish was well balanced where and portioned out enough to call it a great meal. All pasta and dessert was all made fresh and in house. The one lady show (host, waitress and house manager) was friendly and very attentive to our party. This place is a true gem and hopefully we can get a other meal sooner rather than later but the waiting list get too long for everyone.

Awesome. Amazing. Delicious. Exceptional service. Perfect ambiance. Overall, one of the best experiences we have had in a while. We couldn't wait to go once we heard that Olea would soon be coming to occupy the former Chloe space. We kept a pulse on their progress and once they opened, we knew we had to go (it's only a 10 min walk away after all). Upon arrival, we were very happy to be asked for our vaccine cards/info (after all, this is still Covid times and we like any safety measure possible) and were seated immediately in a spot that we loved (the window). It was cozy, well lit, and comfortable. Now onto the drinks and food. We love that it's BYOB. Love, love, love it. And the food... nothing disappointed. We had a few small plates - octopus and beet salad, two pastas - the bucatini and the dish of my dreams the tortellini, and the lamb kebabs. Everything was amazing. And for dessert, the gelato du jour which was salted caramel and we had it with the pistachio ricotta cake. The owners and staff made the meal even better... attentive, outgoing and energizing. We are so happy to have this so close!

This is a wonderful restaurant! The food was excellent- we had beet salad, octopus and the gnocchi. It was great! Octopus was quite tender and gnocchi was delicious. The owner is a great guy! Then we had desert... the gelato my wife had was good, but the chocolate & hazelnut desert was amazing!! They even had a good cappuccino - and the service was phenomenal!! You owe it to yourself to come here!

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