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.

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!

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 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???

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.

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!

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!!!

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!

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.

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.