A Delicious Dinner Out!

A Pleasant Discovery at Olea in Philadelphia While wandering around near our Philadelphia hotel looking for a restaurant, I stumbled upon Olea by chance—it was like a hidden gem around the corner, bringing a nice surprise! 👀 The menu sounded absolutely mouthwatering, and the cash-only and BYOB (bring your own bottle) policy didn’t deter us at all. (I thought to myself, compared to the sky-high wine prices at most restaurants, bringing our own wine would save us a good chunk of money—total win! 💰) Reservations are required for Sunday dinners, though the tiny restaurant wasn’t packed—only about 10-12 people were there. It felt cozy instead of cramped, which was perfect! ✨ Right after we sat down, the server brought over complimentary pita, hummus, and olives. The pita was warm with a toasty wheat aroma, and dipping it into the smooth hummus plus a salty olive? It totally woke up my taste buds—so addictive! 🫓🫒 We originally thought the free appetizers might be enough and debated skipping an extra starter… but we couldn’t resist the artichoke on the menu. Turns out it was the best call ever! The artichoke was cooked to perfection—tender with a fresh, earthy flavor, and we finished every last bite. 🥬 The main courses were even better! The ribeye ravioli with goat cheese had a silky wrapper, and the filling blended rich goat cheese with savory ribeye—each bite was a burst of deliciousness. 🥟 The shrimp linguine with pesto was also a hit: the pasta was al dente, coated in fragrant pesto, and the shrimp were plump and sweet. I couldn’t stop eating! 🍝🦐 The staff were super friendly the whole time—warm smiles, patient when explaining dishes, and made us feel like we were dining at a friend’s place. 😊 By the way, the location is awesome too—it’s right across from the Betsy Ross House! After dinner, you can pop over to explore the historic spot—double the fun. 🏛️ Also, a quick heads-up: the restrooms are one floor down, so you don’t have to wander around the first floor looking like I did at first! 😂 #PhiladelphiaFood #OleaRestaurant #SurpriseFoodFind #BYOBRestaurant #ItalianCuisine #NearHistoricSites #HiddenGemEatery