
Oleana
Oleana offers inventive Eastern Mediterranean small plates in a warm atmosphere or a enchanting garden patio. A celebrated culinary gem.

Highlights
Must-see attractions
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Oleana

Highlights
Must-see attractions
Oleana offers inventive Eastern Mediterranean small plates in a warm atmosphere or a enchanting garden patio. A celebrated culinary gem.
Book Ahead
Reservations are essential, especially for weekend nights, as tables at this popular spot book up quickly.
Avoid Late Seatings
Opt for earlier reservations to prevent potential long waits between courses and ensure a smoother dining experience.

Quick Facts
Cuisine
Eastern Mediterranean
Price
$$$
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Inventive Eastern Mediterranean Small Plates
Experience a vibrant array of creative small plates with bold, Middle Eastern-inspired flavors, perfect for sharing and exploring unique tastes.

Magical Garden Patio Dining
Dine al fresco in a romantic, lush garden patio setting, an ideal escape for a special evening under the stars.

Spectacular Desserts
Indulge in unique and memorable sweet creations, with the Baked Alaska being a standout, highly recommended finale.
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Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Book Ahead
Reservations are essential, especially for weekend nights, as tables at this popular spot book up quickly.
Avoid Late Seatings
Opt for earlier reservations to prevent potential long waits between courses and ensure a smoother dining experience.
Share & Explore
Consider ordering multiple small plates to share, allowing everyone to taste a variety of the restaurant's inventive flavors.
Be Aware of Fees
Note that listed prices may have additional fees, such as an administration fee, added at the end.
Tips
from all over the internet
Book Ahead
Reservations are essential, especially for weekend nights, as tables at this popular spot book up quickly.
Avoid Late Seatings
Opt for earlier reservations to prevent potential long waits between courses and ensure a smoother dining experience.
Share & Explore
Consider ordering multiple small plates to share, allowing everyone to taste a variety of the restaurant's inventive flavors.
Be Aware of Fees
Note that listed prices may have additional fees, such as an administration fee, added at the end.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Oleana is celebrated for its inventive Eastern Mediterranean small plates and delightful garden patio. Diners rave about the creative flavors and the unique culinary experience, though some find the pricing to be on the higher side. The service is generally attentive, and the dessert menu, particularly the Baked Alaska, is a memorable highlight for many.
"Oleanna’s menu is incredibly creative and fun, packing flavorful dish after dish in a chill dining space. I came here about 6 months ago and I still regard this meal pretty well and the staff were nice. I found their desserts to be very unique options and most memorable, besides there wonderful half chicken too of course."
Joshua Fields
"Every dish was amazing. We had previously dined at the sister establishment Sarma, and it was one of the best meals I’ve ever had. Oleana did not disappoint either! We dined as a table of four and just shared a bunch of dishes. We left full and satisfied. The service was great, they were very concerned about making sure we knew there were no allergens in the dishes. Great Mediterranean flavours and incredible and affordable wine list."
Catherine LoCicero
"Pretty pricy. Spent $100 for 2 people.
They have a rotating menu but if its there, i would recommend the sultan’s delight. The short rib was super soft but not overcooked and too greasy.
I thought everything else was pretty standard. Not bad, but not mind blowing or worth the price.
The atmosphere and service i would say reflect the high cost."
C민아
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, reservations are highly recommended, especially for weekend nights, as the restaurant is very popular and tables book up quickly.
The Sultan's Delight, Fatteh, and the Baked Alaska are frequently recommended by diners. Exploring the small plates is encouraged.
Yes, Oleana features a beautiful and popular garden patio that offers a lovely al fresco dining experience.
Oleana is considered upscale, with some reviewers noting it can be pricey. Expect to spend around $100 for two people.
Yes, Oleana has a strong focus on vegetable dishes and offers a Chef's Choice of Vegetable Meze. Many small plates are vegetarian-friendly.
While reservations are preferred, it might be possible to get a table by walking in, especially during off-peak times or if you're patient.
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It’s impossible to have a conversation about restaurants in Cambridge without mentioning Oleana: Helmed by James Beard winner Ana Sortun (also of Sofra), Oleana's kitchen has been a mainstay of the Cambridge dining scene since 2001 and has garnered countless accolades for its bold, Middle Eastern fusion small plates. But just as impactful as the food is the role Oleana has played as a launching pad for many of the Boston-area's most acclaimed chefs: Oleana-trained local Cassie Piuma, for example, co-opened Sarma in Somerville alongside Sortun in 2013, and has received six nods from the James Beard Foundation for the casual spot's Turkish-inspired tapas. Reserve a table well ahead of time, and don’t miss the skewers, Black Sea Cornbread, or extensive cocktail list.
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Specializing in Eastern Mediterranean small plates with locally-sourced ingredients, Oleana was founded by James Beard Award-winning Chef Ana Sortun in 2001. Known as one of the country’s “ most creative practitioners,” Sortun also co-owns nearby Middle Eastern bakery and cafe Sofra and modern Mediterranean restaurant Sarma. With Oleana as her first business venture, Sortun continues to reinvent the menu with seasonal flavors, even sprinkling in some Turkish dessert specials to complete the feast.How to support: Make a reservation online, order pickup, or purchase a gift card.
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Serving Turkish and Mediterranean food in an outdoor patio set with a fountain, an herb garden, a fig tree, heat lamps, and overhead festival lights, this restaurant promotes an outdoor dining experience close to none other in Boston. Grab a couple of small plate offerings from the vegetarian tasting menu, or opt for one of their many delicious shish plates for a hearty dish to satiate any hungry local or tourist.
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Address: 134 Hampshire Street, Cambridge, MA 02139 Phone: (617) 661-0505 Website. Oleana Restaurant is a signature Cambridge restaurant featuring outstanding Turkish and Middle Eastern cuisine, and an imaginative mix of small plates with bold flavors. A popular place that generally requires reservations, you'll be exposed to a creative use of spice blends, delicious leafy vegetables, and a classic cassoulet.
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Oleana’s backyard garden hideaway might just be the most beloved—and in-demand—outdoor dining spot around. Grab a table on this gorgeous patio (preferably under the shade of the fig tree) and pretend you're on vacation with a spread of meze from Ana Sortun's Eastern Mediterranean menu. We’re not saying the fattoush and warm buttered hummus taste better outdoors...
Need restaurant suggestion Cambridge, MA
Suggested options of Harvest, EVOO, Rendezvous, and Oleana are all excellent, if not cheap eats. Other pricy but good Cambridge options include Salts, Rialto, Casablanca, Sandrine's, Upstairs on the Square, Chez Henri, and Blue Room (this last does a nice Sunday brunch). Rafiki Bistro, Temple Bar, and West Side Lounge are a little cheaper than these.
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Also try the fairly new Oleana, recently named one of the 10 best new restaurants in the country (I think that's right or at least something similar). I can't speak from personal experience but my husband has eaten there and thought it was very good. You can also try Rialto in the Charles Hotel in Harvard Square.
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If you want to get into Oleana on a weekend night, plan accordingly. The relatively few tables in this small but much-loved Mediterranean restaurant on the edge of Inman Square book up quickly. It’s worth the effort, though, and it’s a little easier to get in during the summer when the backyard is open.
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A Greater Boston outdoor dining guide wouldn’t be complete without the beloved Oleana patio, a hideaway that exudes romance and magic thanks to its lush greenery, colorful umbrellas, and garden-like ambiance. It doesn’t hurt that the acclaimed restaurant offers top-notch food with nods to Turkey and the broader Middle East: Baharat-spiced Vermont quail kebabs, sweet-tart tamarind beef with smoky eggplant purée, and the fan-favorite baked Alaska are the perfect equation for a summer evening. Note: Patio seating is available for walk-ins only, so this is best suited for spontaneous date nights.
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Around the corner, Oleana, a longtime Cambridge favorite, provides gourmet Turkish and Middle Eastern food with locally sourced meats and fish, artisanal wines, and produce from the owner’s Siena Farm. The award-winning restaurant, with indoor and outdoor seating, has a moderate-sized menu filled with dishes that draw inspiration from chef/owner Ana Sortun’s travels. Frequent guests especially recommend the “Warm Buttered Hummus” ($6) and moussaka ($15) from the “Hot Meze” section, along with the baked Alaska ($15) with coconut cream and passion-fruit caramel.
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Opened in 2001, Ana Sortun’s first restaurant has become enshrined in the Cambridge dining scene, and for good reason. Oleana combines Turkish-inspired flavors with fresh produce grown on Sortun’s husband’s farm. As of summer 2020, the restaurant is serving takeout and seating guests in its garden-like stunner of a back patio, where you can enjoy house favorites like Whipped Feta with sweet and hot peppers or the Spinach Falafel with beet tzatziki and tahini sauce.
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A favorite among the Inman Square crowd, this Mediterranean restaurant boasts an innovative menu and pleasant wait staff. Chef Ana Sortun has become a legend in the Boston area, known for sourcing many of her vegetables from her husband's farm in Sudbury, MA, ensuring her dishes are made form the freshest ingredients. Reservations are hard to come by, leaving diners, especially those seeking a spot on her romantic patio waiting weeks for availability.
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Check out some of our favorites like Craigie on Main (French-influenced with rustic spices), Dali (tapas) or Cuchi Cuchi (International), Portugalia (fine Portuguese cuisine at its best), and Oleana (creative Turkish dishes in a relaxed atmosphere). There is an array of choices when it comes to exciting ethnic cuisine from Korean and Indian to Mediterranean and Ethiopian. Both Christina’s and Toscanini’s homemade ice cream are only a few blocks away.
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Oleana Restaurant offers an exquisite dining experience with a menu inspired by Turkish and Middle Eastern cuisines. Helmed by James Beard Award-winning chef Ana Sortun, the restaurant features an inviting atmosphere with options for outdoor dining on a charming porch and a beautiful patio. This lush, garden-like setting provides the perfect backdrop for enjoying the vivid flavors and aromatic spices of their renowned dishes.
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Oleana is a renowned restaurant in Cambridge known for its inventive Eastern Mediterranean cuisine and warm, inviting atmosphere. Helmed by Chef Ana Sortun, Oleana offers a menu that showcases flavors and ingredients inspired by the culinary traditions of Turkey and the Middle East. At Oleana, guests can expect a menu that emphasizes seasonal and locally-sourced ingredients, prepared with a creative and contemporary twist.
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OLEANA is renowned for its vibrant Mediterranean flavors and a beautiful patio that transforms dining into a delightful experience. The restaurant's menu features locally-sourced ingredients, with dishes that include their famous spiced lamb and seasonal vegetable preparations. Quote: "At OLEANA, we believe in cooking with the seasons, bringing the best of what nature has to offer onto your plate." – Chef Ana Sortun
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To experience what farm-to-table really means, come to Oleana during the growing season,” gushes Concierge.com. It’s easy to see why reviewers love the “wonderful and welcoming atmosphere” that makes Oleana “one of the best restaurants in the Boston area,” according to Frommer’s. Chef-owner Ana Sortun, one of the Boston’s culinary treasures according to Fodors, reconciles a host of Mediterranean styles.
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Sarma’s Somerville sibling Oleana is located in Cambridge, and it is another quiet gem in Boston’s bustling restaurant platform. The serving quality and delicious food they offer at Oleana is inspired from the Middle East, and Turkey in particular. Their seasonal rotating menu will always bring something new to taste, but one constant is their baked Alaska dessert, a real treat at the end of any meal.
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Oleana is ideal for a birthday, anniversary, or graduation, but book a seat anyway at this oasis for Mediterranean and Middle Eastern fare even if there's nothing to celebrate. The vibe is warm, relaxed, and quietly elegant — think dinner party at the cozy home of two well-traveled college professors. And the menu is unmatched, from juicy za'atar chicken to a rolled take on a traditional cheese borek.
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Oleana: Ana Sortun is the owner and chef behind this Cambridge restaurant which serves creative Mediterranean-inspired dishes made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. If you’re in the mood for a cozy atmosphere and a delicious blend of Mediterranean cuisine, Oleana is a must-visit restaurant. The menu’s richly flavored and spice-forward dishes are inspired by Turkey, Lebanon, and Greece.
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Consistently lauded as a top establishment in Cambridge's lofty restaurant scene, Oleana features a sublime upscale dining experience, highlighted by its intimate patio. Similar to Harvest's bucolic outdoor dining, Oleana's al fresco offering is akin to a private walled garden tucked away on a posh country estate. Mature landscaping and floral accents thrive beneath a leafy canopy of trees.
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It is more or less impossible to eat at a restaurant in 2019 without encountering something drizzled with tahini, sprinkled with za'atar, or heated up with harissa. For that, Ana Sortun doesn't get enough credit. When she opened the doors to her Cambridge restaurant, Oleana (a year before London's Ottolenghi and seven before Philadelphia's Zahav, but who's counting?), it was a revelation.
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One of Cambridge's most established restaurants, Oleana's wine program has seen a number of talented people at the helm. Currently it's Lauren Friel, who manages a list that features a notable selection of organic, biodynamic and natural wines mixed in with well-priced, traditional wines from Italy, France and Spain, as well as a few notable "new California" selections.
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For something a bit unique, try Oleana, which serves farm fresh dishes with a Mediterranean twist. Upstairs on the Square is also another solid, traditional upscale restaurant overlooking Harvard Square. If you don't mind something a little unconventional, I think Hungry Mother (Southern American/French cuisine) serves some of the best food in Cambridge.
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From the moment you step into this charming restaurant, you're engulfed in an atmosphere of warmth, refinement, and sophistication. Prepare to embark on a remarkable dining journey that will tantalize your taste buds and leave you craving for more. The menu at Oleana is a celebration of interesting flavors and imaginative combinations.
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Mix up the typical date night with a flavor explosion at Cambridge’s Oleana. This romantic restaurant in Boston offers a Middle Eastern menu full of exciting dishes crafted from the freshest ingredients. Depending on the mood you’re going for, you’ll have the option of ordering several shareable plates or choosing individual entrees.
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For an intimate Boston wedding of 15-20 guests, there is no place more magical than Oleana Restaurant in Cambridge. Known for their small plates, locally sourced meats and fish, and home-grown produce from chef Ana Sortun’s farm, Oleana serves up a chance for your family and friends to enjoy a family-style meal and cozy conversation.
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Head to Inman Square for an intimate Valentine's Day dinner at Puritan & Co. Chef Will Gilson's OG spot will be celebrating with a four-course prix fixe on Friday night so you can sit down to goodies like scallop crudo, lobster arancini, Maine mussels and chocolate cremeux from pastry chef Brian Mercury. Availability: 5:00-10:00pm
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When you take a classic dish and morph it into a dining adventure, you have truly captured something unique and memorable. Oleana serves up a masterful menu of reinvented dishes enticing you to try every meze on the menu. Sample the Kohlrabi Pancake with Haloumi, Vermont Quail Kebab, Topik, and so many other tempting delights.
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At Oleana you can enjoy a menu full of options from Turkey, Greece, Armenia, Morocco, Egypt, and Sicily. The owners enjoy showcasing their cooking talents inside this unexpectedly romantic restaurant in Boston, MA that has two dining rooms and a garden patio to enjoy outdoor dining. Planning a special evening out isn’t easy.
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As a CSCA student, we encourage you to make the most of our proximity to industry leaders and notable institutions such as Formaggio Kitchen, Alden & Harlow, Oleana, and Flour Bakery. Our graduates have enjoyed accessibility to jobs on Cape Cod, ski resorts in Vermont and New Hampshire, and inns in Western Massachusetts.
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The Baked Alaska is the must-try at Oleana with its coconut ice cream and passion fruit caramel wrapped up in a delicious meringue. This is a late night dessert Boston loves too!. Where:134 Hampshire St, Cambridge, MA 02139 Operating Hours: Sunday – Thursday 5:30 pm – 10:00 pm | Friday – Saturday 5:30 pm – 10:30 pm
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Emphatic Middle Eastern flavors, seasonal ingredients, and a cozy atmosphere give longtime Oleana its deserved status as a top Cambridge go-to. In cold weather its moussaka—made with smoky eggplant puree, crispy cauliflower, and mint—is a shot of summer, as is its lemon chicken with…
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- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (764 reviews)- Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.0/5), Atmosphere (4.5/5)- Type of cuisine: Mediterranean, Turkish- Price: $$$$- Address: 134 Hampshire St, Cambridge, MA 02139-1421- Read more on Tripadvisor
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Baked Alaska is basically an ice cream pie topped with meringue. I first tried this one at Oleana in February 2011, and I remember being completely blown away by it. I really loved it, with the sweet coconut ice cream and passion fruit sauce.
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Both Oleana and Sarma, restaurants run by the same chef (Ana Sortun) and pastry chef (Maura Kilpatrick) as Sofra, are really wonderful, both serving food based in Turkish cuisine and great for vegetarians (which I mostly am).
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Photo courtesy of @myfoodthoughts / Brian Samuels on Instagram. Oleana is dubbed one of the best Middle Eastern restaurants in Boston. It’s more upscale than their sister bakery, Sofra, but the desserts are just as good.
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Oleana is serving Eastern Mediterranean food, so if you like lamb kebabs, gyro, or Mango Sorbet, make a reservation at this Cambridge eatery. You can sit at the table near the woodstove or outside in the garden.
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At Oleana, vivid flavors, aromatic spices and a commitment to the freshest ingredients compose a menu that celebrates the cuisine of Turkey and the Middle East. Oleana’s dining room and patio are a unique
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134 Hampshire StCambridge, MA 02139(617) 661-0505 Visit Website See Menu Open in Google Maps. Oleana is a family-owned and operated restaurant offering Turkish and Mediterranean flavors in a warm setting.
This Cambridge cafe is the only Mass. eatery to make The New York Times’ 2021 Restaurant List
Sofra is the brainchild of Sortun and Kilpatrick, who helm the Oleana Restaurant Group. The celebrated Oleana Restaurant, near Inman Square in Cambridge, opened in 2001, and Sofra followed in 2008.
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134 Hampshire St, Cambridge, MA 02139Phone: 617-661-0505 Visit Website. View this post on Instagram. A post shared by Oleana Restaurant (@oleanabuzz)
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from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit