Olea — Restaurant in Philadelphia

This is home. Cozy. Comfortable. Family. I could fall asleep in the banquettes—which they built-in themselves and upholstered—but I won’t.

Atmosphere: We arrived on a rainy Thursday evening to celebrate a special occasion—they didn’t know that—but we were welcomed immediately and taken to a table effortlessly decorated with books, fresh flowers, and a jacket as of someone might be joining us. Of course, if you’ve dined at a restaurant with any of this staff before, you know they’ll sit with you to take your order as if you’re the only people in the room, so someone will be joining you. They set the tone from the jump and never let up. They’ll also chat with you from another table as if you’re at a parlor party at grandma’s or something if that’s the kind of thing you want. (I’ve noticed they also have the emotional intelligence to know when it’s not!) I’m not sure I can fully capture the feel, but it’s seamless, never rushed, and feels like home.

Service: In case you haven’t guessed from above, the service is amazing. It’s the service from Noord on East Passyunk (RIP) moved down to N3rd and their choreography is complete teamwork. Jo actually recognized us from South Philly and welcomed us to the new neighborhood. It really seems that they love doing this, and they love doing this together.

It’s attentive without being pushy. It’s honest without being rude. In fact, we were apparently going to order too much and Luis told us it would be too much. Very appreciated so we could have room for all of the desserts. (No pics b/c we couldn’t dig in fast enough!)

Food: please see their Instagram @oleaphilly for much better photos. We had the pita, hummus, and olives. Pita was toasted/charred to my liking. It was just the right amount. Octopus with chorizo, potatoes, Sun-dried tomatoes, romesco sauce was the best-looking and most delicious thing. I wish it didn’t end. Each piece by itself was fine, but when you put all the flavors together-yum! Artichokes (pictured) was also delicious. Nothing unexpected but the presentation and the flavors were on. Beet salad (pictured) was also delicious. The orange vinaigrette was a good cutter for the potential bite of arugula. Ravioli was also really good. The peas were really good and fresh because they popped in my mouth. Love that. And the ravioli was stuffed and tasty in that cream sauce. The pork chop was very tasty. Presented on the bone, it very easily came off the bone. The fat around the edges was crispy and salty for great flavor. The asparagus was charred for a great flavor, and the mustard sauce was very well flavored. Salted caramel gelato affogato was really yummy and a great pairing with the pistachio pie (probably not the...

Our family recently dined with Olea (BYO, cash) and it was such a pleasant experience that we can't wait to go visit again. I don't know about you but we like going to places for the location, ambience, food, and service. The location is in Old City and you are in walking distance of the Constitution Center, Betsy Ross house and much more. Yet, it is set apart enough that you are in a beautiful residential neighborhood. On a nice warm day it is a lovely stroll from wherever you are parked at the numerous garages and on street parking available. You'll find locals from the neighborhood and Philadelphia, visitors looking to get a feel for local establishments, and well...those of us from the suburbs popping in. It's a wonderful mix of people. I'd describe the ambience as warm refined Philadelphia charm. The aesthetic is rustic chic with wood and metal details. Beautiful local artwork for sale hangs on the walls. When you enter, you really feel like you could stay for a while as you listen to a playlist that you know must've been hand selected. The food matched the ambience. From the starters through the desserts, they were meticulous but unpretentious. Our favorites (in no particular order) were the octopus, beet salad, pork chop, fettuccine. Note that the menu isn't traditional for tweens but ours happen to appreciate food (favorites were octopus and tortellini). As for the desserts, we had generous portions of the pistachio ricotta cake (very light and flavorful), chocolate cake, and salted caramel gelato. Some of the members in our family refused to share (I won't tattle) but I can tell you there wasn't a morsel left. The food can be great at a restaurant but what is it without service? Olea is top tier service that you know you will find with a Luis Pedrogo establishment. We'd be thinking, oops, I forgot to mention something or other and before I knew it, there was Jo, with a warm smiling face two steps ahead of us. Luis and Jamie are extremely attentive and personable and we look forward to our return to Olea. Thank you for bringing a fun, tasty Mediterranean place for...

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...