Oleana had been on my Boston food list forever. And this trip I made it happen. Still jet-lagged from my red-eye, I had kept myself awake on my first day in Boston with a sensory-filled excursion through the South End, and a stellar tapas lunch at Toro. But Oleana was earmarked as my first Boston dinner.
I met C. at South Station, and we jumped on the Red Line to Cambridge. Eating our way across New England was our first adventure since our Ireland exploits, and we were kicking it off right with Oleana. Exiting the T at Central Station, we began our 15-minute trek through the Cambridge streets that became more and more residential as we got closer to our Oleana destination.
Oleana has an unassuming façade that leads to an appealing side entrance. We had reserved well in advance for this deservedly popular spot, where patrons were already queuing. Oleana staff has the checking-in process down to an efficient and friendly system, and we were quickly guided to a pleasant table in the front room. The dining room is compact but in a warm and cozy way, with ambient lighting that made us immediately relax.
Oleana is one of those perfect spots where everything comes together: atmosphere you want to sink into, the right blend of hospitality and knowledgeable service, and distinctive delicious food. Taking in the room I sighed inwardly at the appealing interior, featuring a little stove fireplace that would make this space a perfect haven on a cold winter night.
I was drawn to Oleana for its modern eastern Mediterranean menu with a small plate-sharing sensibility that is vegetarian friendly. The most challenging part of the Oleana experience is choosing which inventive dishes to order. We scoured the menu, munching on a tasty bag full of bread and sipping a perfect summer-day-rose. Ultimately, we were compelled to select a wide variety dishes.
I still dream about the Spicy Fideos with Chickpeas, Swiss Chard, and Orange Aioli — a bowl of complex, creamy toasted vermicelli that I could have eaten entirely myself.
We devoured the perfectly cooked and succulent Scallops with Saffron-Leek Musakhan (a baked flatbread), Sumac, and Almond.
And we couldn’t pass up the Warm Buttered Hummus with Tomatoes – for me, as long as the Baturma (Cured Beef) was on the side. But no worries, C. enjoyed the dish in full.
The roasted Flattened Potatoes with Lemon and Oregano were heavenly.
But my favorite dish was probably the baby greens with fresh, pitted cherries and toasted hazelnuts with a swath of Labne at the edge of the bowl. I can never pass-up Labne, a thick creamy yoghurt cheese. And this combination of tangy Labne and juicy Cherries was just stunning.
I only wish we’d had room for dessert. The pastries sounded amazing. While we opted to sit inside the lovely, ambient dining room featuring Turkish rug art on the walls, Oleana also has an appealing back patio.
Oleana was one of my favorite Boston experiences, and I might have gone twice had it not been for all the other amazing Boston area food competing for my attention. So another Oleana feast will have to wait for my next Boston visit. Till then, I torture myself by following Oleana and its mouthwatering food on Instagram.
