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Welcome to Olea

Olea, a Mediterranean restaurant located in Brooklyn, NY, offers a diverse menu with options for vegans, vegetarians, and meat lovers alike. With a cozy interior and outdoor seating, Olea caters to groups and families looking for a flavorful dining experience. Their generous portions and attentive service make for a delightful brunch or dinner outing. Standout dishes like the pita, Greek Paella, and trio of dips, along with unique offerings like fried halloumi and spicy feta labneh, showcase the restaurant's commitment to quality and taste. Don't miss out on trying the Brussels sprouts and baby octopus for a truly satisfying meal at Olea.

LOCATIONS
  • Olea
    171 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238, United States
    171 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238, United States Hotline: +1 718-643-7003

Welcome to Olea, a charming Mediterranean restaurant located at 171 Lafayette Ave in Brooklyn, NY. Olea offers a diverse range of options for diners, including vegan and vegetarian choices, making it a great spot for groups with varying dietary preferences. The restaurant's casual ambiance, outdoor seating, and friendly waiter service create a welcoming atmosphere for guests.

Customers have praised Olea for its generous portion sizes, flavorful dishes, and attentive staff. The menu features a variety of Mediterranean-inspired dishes, from traditional favorites like hummus and tzatziki to creative specials like Greek Paella and sea scallops with avgolemono-style sauce. The pita bread, described as "fluffy" by one reviewer, is a standout among the appetizers.

One diner specifically mentioned the spicy feta labneh dish as a favorite, highlighting its flavorful combination of ingredients. The brunch menu at Olea has also received rave reviews, with dishes like the "Olea breakfast" and fried halloumi earning high praise for their freshness and unique flavors.

Overall, Olea is a must-visit for Mediterranean food lovers looking for a relaxed dining experience with delicious dishes and attentive service. Whether you're a fan of classic Mediterranean staples or looking to try something new, Olea has something for everyone. So why not make a reservation today and indulge in a flavorful culinary journey at Olea?

START YOUR REVIEW OF Olea
Susie L.
Susie L.

I was really excited for this place! Went with some friends on a rainy Saturday for brunch. Maybe it's because I don't really like brunch food, but I thought the food wasn't bad, but it also wasn't anything out of this world. The pita was really fluffy and I enjoyed that a lot tho! The interior is cute, but I think the service was a little rough, maybe I am just sensitive, but when the food arrived, the experience was a little rough. A cute spot in the neighborhood tho!

Rob W.
Rob W.

Been here a couple of times for some strong, enjoyable meals. Mediterranean is one of my absolute favorites, and their menu offers some intriguing and tasty options. On our last visit for dinner, I enjoyed my Greek Paella, and my girlfriend loved the sea scallops special, which was served with an avgolemono-style sauce. Our party started with a trio of dips--hummus, tzatziki and red pepper dip--that were exceptional, a true highlight. The kid can be picky, but he enjoyed the Shawarma-Spiced Chicken Sliders a lot. On a previous brunch visit we had the lamb Hash, made with a veggie melange and topped with a fried egg,, spicy tomato jam, whipped feta and herbs, which was savory, along with the spicy Eggs in Purgatory. Both were quite flavorful. Almost too much so... In fact I would say that, as much as I enjoy it here, they could perhaps learn something from the old Coco Chanel dictum and leave something out. For example the paella had huge pieces of dill and parsley, seafood and olives... all good things and flavorful, but at times felt like a bit too much going on. Same with the brunch items. I feel like many things could be a smidge more low-key or refined and this place would just be exceptional. Still and all, food here is tasty and flavorful and filling. Drink and cocktail options are particularly on point. I love their Greek Martini (gin, cheese-stuffed olives) and their white sangria is excellent as well. The vibe couldn't be more charming, from the ramshackle yet cozy interior to the outdoor tables on a bucolic Brooklyn corner--I'm sure I'll happily return and enjoy.

Joi B.
Joi B.

I almost cannot bear how adorable this place is! We were looking for a restaurant on Saturday night for the three of us who have different dietary preferences and restrictions. I figured Mediterranean would fit the bill and Olea's array of tapas, many of which are vegan, convinced me that it would be just the right place for us (my husband likes meat, my friend is dairy- and gluten-free pescatarian). Originally I had tried to get a reso for Miss Ada but that wasn't happening. Olea encourages walk-ins but takes a few reservations (they had a 9pm available but we had 10pm bar plans). We were able to get a table outside right when we arrived around 7pm and the place filled up soon thereafter. The outside seating area is quaintly-appointed with cushioned folding chairs. We felt so comfortable and the pacing of service is leisurely which was exactly what we wanted on a late summer Saturday night. They have heating lamps as well, so I am sure late into fall is OK out there. We started with drinks (they have a nice Lambrusco-yay!) and za'atar-spiced olives, then my friend and I split the Impossible meatballs which are delicious, perfectly cooked with an excellent tomato sauce and the creamiest vegan feta that I've ever had. This is a must-order and I don't always love meatballs. I also had the split pea soup which is excellent and hummus and endive leaves. I've had better hummus, this one is a little bland for my liking, but not really an issue for me. Let's just say these plates may be called "small plates" but small, they are not. I also tasted my friend's shishito peppers which is an enormous portion and perfectly crispy and salty. Get this to share if you can as it compliments a lot of the other dishes so well. Prices are so impressively fair, as I mentioned the plates aren't tiny but medium sized, priced as though they are small plates. Pretty cool in this day and age of walking out of a place hungry after dropping a small fortune. It is what it is and I like to eat out so I take it in stride (unless it's truly a rip-off), so Olea is a nice departure from that type of situation. Olea is literally the perfect place to have a long dinner with friends and good conversation. One of my favorite pursuits.

Angela K.
Angela K.

Came here for breakfast with a girlfriend and we were both surprised by how generous they are with their portions! Our meals were quite large and flavorful, and our server was exceptional. We had requested to sit outside, but there were so many bees (not necessarily at the restaurant, but bees just seemed to be everywhere that weekend). Our server was so attentive every time a bee flew over to us and kindly shoo'd them away. Their bloody was also very delicious. 5 stars for overall experience.

Chandni D.
Chandni D.

LOVE this brunch spot! I've been here twice in the last month and I will definitely be back. I always get the Olea breakfast and it's amazing! You can taste the freshness in everything you get. I also got the fried halloumi and it was amazing! Such a unique flavor! You can't go wrong with anything on this menu! Literally 10/10 this place is soooo good and has something for everyone's preferences. I can't wait to go back :)

Dipali G.
Dipali G.

Loved everything about olea! Food: we ordered three apps and 2 mains for 4 people and it was a great amount of food for us! My favorite was the spicy feta labneh dish - which was just so flavorful and had this honey crunchy bites in the center, which were incredible! The brussel sprouts were also so well made! The halloumi is another winner and thankfully they gave enough to share! The Greek paella was perfect for a warm day - I liked the mix of the dips with the lamb! The braised garlic chicken was well made but not my favorite. I'd come back and just order the apps next time! Ambience: lovely indoor and outdoor area! It got loud by 8pm on Friday night inside, but still very pleasant Service: great service! Price: good prices for portion sizes and quality

Julia K.
Julia K.

Olea has been a long-time summer favorite of ours with their lovely outdoor seating and great service. It does pay off to come early, as the outdoors is walk-ins only and reservations are also limited inside. The menu retains some delicious staples like the mushrooms and Brussels, while also offering fabulous specials to switch things up. Highly recommend the baby octopus!

Giselle S.
Giselle S.

A friend took me here to celebrate my belated birthday for a nice brunch today. I initially checked out the menu the day before like I usually always do and it made me want to order the entire menu. I have always been a fan of Mediterranean food as I believe it is a nice balance between hearty and healthy. I am a big fan of Brussel sprouts and theirs def hit the spot. Must order if you love Brussel sprouts. The drinks were also tasty and mixed pretty well with just the right amount of alcohol that I felt pretty nice after 2 drinks. We were seated in the corner booth near the bathroom and felt pretty cozy. Seats had a nice portable cushion for your tushy! 9/10 I do recommend

Chris P. B.
Chris P. B.

Say! I like Green Eggs and Lamb! I do! I like them, Chris-i-am! And I would eat them in a boat. And I would eat them with a goat. And I will eat them, in the rain. And in the dark. And on a train. And in a car. And in a tree. They are so good, so good, you see! So I will eat them in a box. And I will eat them with a fox. And I will eat them in a house. And I will eat them with a mouse. And I will eat them here and there. Say! I will eat them anywhere! I do so like Green Eggs and Lamb! Thank you! Thank you, Chris I am. In all seriousness, once you get over the weirdness of trying scrambled eggs that frankly look like guacamole, the green eggs and lamb is pretty good here, so long as you're someone who likes cilantro. If not, this definitely is not a dish for you. The coffee isn't great. More like diner coffee. But that's not really what you're coming here for anyway, so I can't dock a star for that. Food comes out quickly and service was fast also, which makes sense given the place is fairly small inside. I would recommend coming on the earlier side for weekend brunch, as it fills up pretty quick. Our party was the first to come in when it opened and there were no inside tables available within 20 minutes (on a saturday). If driving, only street parking really.