Olea - Restaurant & Lounge

Highly recommend Olea Restaurant! Not only was the food amazing but drinks, music, and service were on point!!! Will definitely return!

My boyfriend took me here for my birthday last month and we are already going back for Valentine's day! The service was super quick and the food was fantastic! We had asked our amazing server, Erin, about the Brussels sprouts and she told us that they were next level. Erin did not lie, they were the BEST Brussels sprouts we have ever had (by far), and the pastas were absolutely to die for! After our delicious meal we went and sat at the bar where we received just as great service and conversation by Mike and Steph. Mike made me an espresso martini that I have literally thought about every single day since. Looking forward to our next visit! :)

Great new restaurant in Monmouth County! Love the handmade pastas and steak. The brussel sprouts and Cesar salad were also delicious! The ambiance is perfect for an elevated date night or special occasion. Overall, really enjoyed the restaurant and would go back!

Really great atmosphere and food was amazing!! Definitely recommended trying this place out. The drinks were also delicious! Favorite dishes were the crudo, Caesar salad, cavolo Nero, spicy rig, sprouts, and prime filet.

Amazing! We walked in and we were in luck! Amazing food we’ll be back. Fast service. Great food!!

Delicious food, welcoming staff and a warm atmosphere. Highly recommend!

Staff was amazing, food was delicious, atmosphere was a 10! Highly recommend

We walked in Saturday night not expecting much as this restaurant just opened and everyone is talking about it. The woman at the front desk was so genuinely kind and beautiful, we were immediately super comfortable at what is a large hotel restaurant. The hostess is located in the lobby and there is an interesting lobby bar that faces a large open area in the lobby and a more private secluded "secret bar" that faces Rt 71 and the Spring Lake Golf Course. We were lucky and found 2 seats at the bar to eat dinner. We loved the ambiance and Steph the bartender was fun and knowledgeable. The Lambrusco was outstanding and I was happy to see they offered one. I assume they will be adding more wine choices as they are just open as the list was a little thin. My friend had a local beer and loved it. We split a Caesars salad and it was definitely the best Caesars I've ever had. It's definitely worth trying. We got the 24oz bone-in strip and it was charred to perfection. Whipped potatoes and broccolini was out standing. My friend has the churros and loved them and I got the afogato. I was SO thankful they offered afogato. This restaurant is worth the hype and still has tons of potential to spare. We will be back!

Had such a great experience! The food was amazing ! The hospitality was wonderful! Our table ordered almost everything on the menu and everything was delicious! And the cocktails were awesome!! Definitely will be going back !!!

From the moment we walked through the doors of Olea, the experience was nothing short of exceptional. The atmosphere is elegant yet inviting—warm, refined, and thoughtfully designed, setting the perfect tone for an unforgettable meal. Isabella and Tiffany were truly phenomenal. Their hospitality was genuine, attentive, and effortlessly graceful from start to finish. They made us feel immediately welcomed, anticipating our needs with impeccable timing and care while allowing the experience to feel relaxed and personal. Every detail—from the service to the ambiance—reflected a deep commitment to excellence. Olea isn’t just a restaurant; it’s an experience rooted in warmth, professionalism, and elevated dining. We left already looking forward to our next visit. Highly recommended.

From the moment we walked in, I felt so taken care of. The service was outstanding, the food amazing, and everyone went above and beyond to accommodate our party. Definitely try the Caesar salad, spicy rigatoni, strip steak and voodoo child drink! 11/10

This place is incredible love the music love the ambiance. The hostes Tiffany and Izabella were so nice with a great sense of humor. Our waiter Tayon provided the best experience for our party. Not to mention the food was amazing!!! Definitely will be coming back very soon!!!

I had a reservation this past Sunday at 6:30! Upon arrival we were greeted by the incredibly friendly and warm hostesses at the front. Also, thank you to the valet who helped us! We were seated right on time and placed in the dining room which is absolutely beautiful. We were greeted by Tay and Jocelyn who were also so professional, friendly and patient because we brought my one year old nephew. Tay was super knowledgeable about the menu and after browsing we decided to let him take the wheel. He ordered us the wedge salad and spicy rig.. incredible. I trusted his judgement after that so I asked him to order our meal. We got a medium rare steak cooked to perfection, mashed potatoes, and Brussels. Which was the perfect amount for myself, my mom, and the baby. I have to thank the staff here because they were all so sweet and welcoming to my nephew. This wasn’t his first fine dining experience so I appreciate Tay keeping our food coming to keep little man occupied. Timing was perfect and dinner arrived on time following our apps. We got to the end and we ordered the churros to go. Overall, I would recommend this restaurant to everyone! The vibes are immaculate, the food is to die for, and the staff is exactly what you expect from a fine dining restaurant. Thank you again to everyone at Olea! We had such a great dinner and we can’t wait to come back. I know people are saying they can’t get a reservation or they waited for their table but after the experience I had I can honestly say it’s worth the wait.

If I could give 10 stars across the board I would. We had the loveliest servers and the whole staff could not have been more welcoming. Food was absolutely delicious and very generous in size.

Our experience was amazing ! Loved the bus team and servers, can’t wait to come back! They were so hospitable and gave great food recommendations. Thank you to Belen for the food recs, they were delicious!

Had dinner here during their first week. Interior of the restaurant is elegant, like nothing else in this area. The service was great; our waitress Lauren was wonderful. She made suggestions and was spot on. The food was outstanding. Bread that comes with the table was a thick sourdough with a butter/oil spread- to die for. We also loved everything we ordered- the Caesar salad, pork chop, spicy rig and crispy potatoes. And it’s family style so the portions are generous. Highly recommend! Best food in this area that we have found.

Had a great time last night at Olea. The food was outstanding and everything we ordered was perfect. We’ve dined at another restaurant where Chef Bud previously worked, so we were thrilled to learn that he has now taken the lead and is running Olea. It truly shows in the quality and execution of the food. We were also very happy to see Evan working at Olea. His departure left a noticeable void at the previous restaurant. Evan brings an exceptional level of professionalism, respect, and genuine friendliness to the dining experience. Highly recommend Olea.

I celebrated my birthday with my boyfriend here and we loved everything about it. We dined in the cozy lounge area by the fireplace. The food and cocktails were incredible, from start to finish. The bread and olives were delicious. The 8oz prime filet was the best cooked steak I’ve ever had. The lobster mac n cheese did not disappoint, the pork chop had a delicious Demi glaze, the whipped potatoes and the sprouts felt like a total staple. A few extra little things that went a long way for my birthday, a cocktail with a happy birthday message and a sundae with a big sparkler on top and they sang happy birthday. Erin and Henry took such great care of us we are already planning our next visit!

A total WOW! Was finally happy to experience what everyone is talking about! From start to finish…lobster franchise, scallops, churro dessert, delicious cocktails…you will not be disappointed!! Also the service was exceptional (Anna). Can’t wait to visit again😊

We had excellent service from Billy and John! The food was next level. The lobster Mac and Cheese was the best we have ever had. The pork chop, dessert, and appetizers really hit the spot. We will be back again!

This is NOT all 5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ It's only been 4 weeks, and they are getting the kinks out... so, we'll be back. We've tasted what this chef is capable of at other restaurants ...and tonight was not representative of his best. Hopefully this review helps. Below is a breakdown of the five ⭐️ portion of the experience as well as some comments on the areas that need.Some improvement: FOOD: Salt is NOT a flavor. Some of the old school restaurants used to add salt, so people would buy more drinks. Don't worry, people will drink without the added, excessive salt. We heard this same observation from a couple tables, and outside by valet... so it wasn't just us. THIS IS AN EASY FIX. ALCOHOL/DRINKS: - More wine choices. As avid wine drinkers, this was what prevented us from ordering more wine. - Add FRESH BREWED ICED TEA. People will pay upwards of $8.00 for good, fresh iced tea. STAFF Staff is amazing... the hostess at the entrance station was very nice, and professional. However, the person who sat us needs a lot more training. - Back bartender was slow ATMOSPHERE Music = 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Vibe = 5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Parking= 5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Hope this helps. See you again.

A group of 4 of us went last night to try it and it actually exceeded our expectations. The food was phenomenal, and the setting was super cozy and warm with a lot of greenery all around. Our server John went above and beyond, and everyone has exceptional customer service skills. The manager Evan is very well-versed and really knows how to talk to guests to elevate their experience. They have a really good team over there that really knows how to work well with eachother. Their chef is from The Block, so the food is exceptional and flavorful, with some creative and unique touches. Worth noting that they had great options for gluten-free people (celiac) like myself. They even had gluten-free churros (I could've cried) that were out of this world for dessert. They play really good music, and we enjoyed the fact that they have 2 bars that stay open late, in a nice, open, lobby kind of setting, which had a very intimate feel to it. The 4 of us really enjoyed it and we will be back :)

The food and atmosphere are amazing. Always great food. Been here four or five times now. The service is amazing. Steph at the bar always remembers me and knows what I like; she is a great. So friendly and personable, and on top of everything. And Evan, the manager, he’s fantastic. Always makes sure to stop and say hello, and makes you feel comfortable and right at home. I can’t recommend this place enough. Great food, service, and staff. Amazing spot. Definitely worth coming.

Olea in Spring Lake absolutely delivered an 11/10 experience from start to finish. The service set the tone before the food even hit the table. Manager Billy runs a tight ship and you can feel it the moment you walk in. The staff is dialed in, welcoming, and genuinely cares about the experience. Our server John was phenomenal. High energy, great attitude, incredibly attentive, and he made the entire meal feel like an experience rather than just dinner. He was knowledgeable, personable, and clearly loves what he does. We started with the oysters, the olives with sausage, and Franche’s lobster tail. Every appetizer was outstanding and set the bar high right away. For dinner we had the porterhouse and the pork chop and both were fantastic. Perfectly cooked, full of flavor, and easily some of the best we have had. Dessert took it over the top. The lemon drop, the churros that were out of this world, and the olive oil cake were the perfect finish to an already incredible meal. Between the food and the incredible team, this was a special evening we will not forget. We will absolutely be back.

Amazing food, great atmosphere, highly recommended. First, the food. Everything we had was fantastic. We started with the crispy beef ribs. Wow! They should make these an entree. We got three large, meaty beef ribs, deep fried with a fried chicken style coating. Crunchy, flavorful, tender. This was my favorite item of the night. We then shared a pasta course and meat course. We started with the spicy rig - perfectly al dente rigatoni in a slightly spiced red sauce. Spice is relative. To me this was on the mild end with a detectable bit of heat on the finish. Very enjoyable. Next, we splurged and got the porterhouse. A massive amount of meat (for a massive price, I have to admit). We asked for and got perfect medium rare. We got two of the sauces on the side but honestly, this steak was so flavorful, the crust was perfect, I ended up not using any of the horseradish onion sauce I ordered. The steak was perfect on its own. We finished up with the orange olive oil cake. It was also great. There was a nice crunchy crust on it with mild flavors and not overly sweet. A perfect finish to our meal. If there was anything that wasn't quite up to the rest of the items it was the roasted squash dish. It was ok but it did not wow me like the rest of the meal. It wasn't bad but the rest of the items were so spectacular that "just ok" is a let down. The staff were fantastic. Very friendly and welcoming. Despite the fact this place was super busy we never felt rushed. The server took the time to go over everything on the menu with us and make recommendations. We arrived 10 minutes early for our reservation. Our table wasn't ready so the hostess escorted us to the bar and introduced us to the bartender. When the table was ready she came and found us and waited patiently while we settled the bar tab. The dining area was tight but I somehow still felt private. Despite the fact that there was a couple on either side of us (close enough that I could eat off their tables), it didn't feel cramped or intrusive. We were able to have a normal conversation without shouting and I didn't feel like I was listening in on our neighbors the whole night. I do have to warn you: This place is not cheap. Altogether, including tip and a couple of cocktails, dinner for 2 was well north of $400. But it was worth every penny, this was one of the best meals I've had in quite some time. There are a lot of quality restaurants in this area but this is instantly at the top of the list. I have a feeling this will be our go-to special occasion place for quite some time.

absolutely love this place. evan? the best say no more. tay? if he isn't your waiter... just request him. food 10/10 get the spicy rig or filet. whipped potatoes are a must add, don’t even think twice. LEMON DROP SHOTS five stars. we enjoyed ourselves so much we sat at the bar and had more drinks.... recommend

Enjoyed the experience. A nice night out. Our drinks and service were pretty good. If your coming here hungry, expect to spend some funds. The prime porter house was delicious cooked medium and (correct). Probably meant for 2 but a 32oz is a easy take down for some of us. Presentation of the steak was done by myself to open it up and show if it was cooked correctly. Id like to see them give a lil more bang for your buck to be a top competitor.

Very noisy, overpriced. The food was ok. The dessert was the best part

I visited Olea last night with some friends and wanted to share a genuine, balanced first impression. Overall, I’d rate the experience a 6 out of 10. The food itself was solid. The steak I had wasn’t bad at all, and there are some unique menu items that show creativity and ambition. I ordered the porterhouse, both of our girlfriends had the filet, and my friend ordered the wagyu. Flavor-wise, everything was decent and showed real potential. That said, the night felt a bit inconsistent from a service and timing standpoint. We had an 8:45 PM reservation but weren’t seated until about 9:30 PM. Once seated, it took roughly 35 minutes for bread to arrive, and our steaks came out immediately after—clearly because they had been forgotten initially. There was also a mix-up with steak temperatures, where the server accidentally swapped our girlfriends’ steaks, resulting in one being over and the other under the requested temperature. - this shouldn’t happen when spending +$500 on a dinner ($1,000 for 4 people) None of this felt intentional or careless—more like a restaurant still working through opening-phase growing pains. The experience overall felt a bit sloppy, but not irredeemable. The total bill was around $515 for one couple, which places Olea firmly in the high-end dining category. With that price point, consistency and execution will matter greatly. That being said, I can easily see Olea becoming one of the best spots in Monmouth County. The foundation is there. The food is genuinely good, and with tighter service, better pacing, and a bit more refinement from the staff, this place has a lot of upside. I’ll absolutely be back in about six months and plan to update this review then. I’m hopeful that with time, Olea will fully hit its stride and earn a higher score.

We decided to wing it before 5 on a Thursday night to get a table because I didn't want to leave a credit card for a reservation. The hostess didn't seem sure if there was a table for two, walked away and came back and said no. Weird, figured she'd have that info in front of her, so we sat at the bar instead. The service at the bar was excellent, the filet mignon, crispy potatoes and bolognese were all very good, bread service, excellent. The bartender said the $32 lobster appetizer was being replaced with lobster franchise instead of what the menu had listed. Assuming the price was the same, was surprised when we got the bill, it was increased to $46. While it was pretty good overall, it was very expensive and left me missing the old Doolans.

The place looks amazing, and the food we had was absolutely spot on. It’s clear that after five weeks, the kitchen is really firing on all cylinders. The only feedback I’d offer is on the service—it felt a little off. We noticed the same server for the table to the left and different one to the right of us, and they also mentioned loving the food but feeling the service was just okay. You’re executing the food perfectly; tightening up the service is what will take this place over the top and make it a destination where people truly enjoy the experience from start to finish.

Ate at the back bar on a busy Saturday night. Service was good considering how busy they were. Food was better than I expected but expensive. My only complaint Is the acoustics, at one point I had to plug my ears because I thought I was going insane at how loud it was. There's absolutely no sound absorption, brick walls and floors and glass windows. This definitely took away from the experience and I would think twice about sitting there again on a busy night.

The build up of excitement for this place was shattered when we arrived for a 8:30 reservation but didn’t get seated until about 9:45. The management if you could call it that did not bother coming over to apologize or give us any kind explanation. When our food came it was incorrect and missing part of our order. Our dinner was good but nothing super special for the prices. Hopefully they work out their list of issues they have going on here and start to run a better restaurant. You’re paying for a vibe but not for service or a quality dining experience.

Arrived 7:45pm for an 8pm resy. Was told to grab a drink. Had to check on our resy twice at hostess stand. We did not sit till after 9pm. Super loud in main dining room, can’t hear the person talking across from you. Was told the system crashed and they are “running it old school,” whatever that meant? Food took a long Time to get after the dog and pony show of the menu. Was told at the bar by another padron, stay away from the steaks. Of course we didn’t. They were OK. No flavor. Over cooked. Pastas were very good when we got them. 1 was wrong, waiting 20 more minutes for the other. Couldn’t enjoy dessert as it was 11pm when we finished dinner. Honestly, it’s a one and done for us. Very very expensive for not so great service and the food is JUST OK. Don’t run to come here unless you rob a bank first. Very disappointed for a $100+ a person.

The food and cocktails were a hit but the service was lacking. We arrived a few min early for our reservation and were told it would be a few minutes. We waited about a half hour. No offer of a drink on the house or anything while we waited. No one checked on us or gave us any updates. I finally got up to the front and asked for an update and was told a text was just sent to me. Well, I’ve still never received that text and today is the next day. While the food was amazing and I enjoyed the Lambrusco spritz, I don’t think it’s worth the aggravation of waiting. The attitude of the staff was just that they expected we just sit around and wait

The food, especially steak, is obviously their expertise. Drinks and service is where we were seriously underwhelmed. The restaurant allowed influencers to take endless photos and videos, ruining the ambiance and overall experience. We sat waiting to pay our checks for over 30 minutes. Do better, especially for a price like that.

TL;DR: Food was average; service was terrible. — My boyfriend and I arrived at Olea at about 7:45 for our 8:15 reservation. We told the hostess we’d grab a drink at the bar and she was very sweet and accommodating. The bartender was fabulous and attentive, and the drinks were delicious. Once we were sat at our table, the experience immediately went downhill. It took about 20 minutes for us to even be greeted by our server, which I understand sometimes—of course things can happen—but this is not where the issues stopped. At this point because it took so long we were ready to order our entire meal top to bottom, which we did. Appetizers (buffalo octopus and beef ribs) came out quickly, but they were average at best. We did not have our server check on us for about 30 minutes until she came over to say they were experiencing internet issues and our entrees (a $60 pasta and a $155 steak) never sent to the kitchen until now. The steak finally came out and was cooked wrong, and the sauce we ordered with it never came out. The pasta was essentially flavorless, though cooked nicely. Our server did not check on us once while eating, so we were unable to tell her the sauce was missing and the temp was wrong. It wasn’t until she was at the table next to us and we were done eating that she checked on us and we had to ask if we could order other drinks. We ordered and 15 minutes later she returned to the table to ask me how to make my drink (which was an extremely common order). By the time we got our drinks 20 minutes later, we didn’t even want them. When we got the bill, the missing sauce was on it, but it was so impossible to get attention from our server that we simply paid for it in attempt to get out of there. It took us another 20 minutes for her to even come get our card off the table. We spoke to the two tables next to us, and they said they unfortunately experienced similar issues with lacking service. For a $400+ tab, the food and service were far less than subpar. If you have the luxury to afford somewhere like this, your money would be better spent elsewhere.

Truly one of the worst restaurant experiences I’ve had. We had a 9:15 PM reservation and checked in at 9:00, only to be met with immediate rudeness from the hostess. We were told to wait at the bar. After 30 minutes, I politely asked for an update and was assured it would be “15 more minutes — max.” That was completely false. We then waited another 30 minutes with no updates, no apology, and no effort whatsoever to seat us. By the time we gave up and left, it was nearly 10:30 PM, at which point the restaurant had effectively ensured we had no chance of getting dinner anywhere else. So instead of a meal, we got a wasted night, unnecessary bar charges, and staff who couldn’t have cared less. No accountability. No communication. No hospitality. Just indifference and incompetence. A reservation here clearly means nothing. If you value your time or expect basic respect as a paying customer, avoid this place entirely.

Unfortunately, my visit to Olea was far from enjoyable. From the start, the pork was cold, and the texture was off—it didn’t taste fresh. The pasta was bland and lacked any real flavor, making it hard to get into the meal. Service was slow. Our waiter didn’t check on us until we were nearly finished, and even when the manager came over to check on us, he seemed completely unaware of the issues. He said he would take care of us, but nothing changed on the bill. To top it off, a glass broke at our table, and despite the manager promising someone would come clean it, no one ever did. We had hired a babysitter to enjoy a night out, and instead, we ended up with an unsatisfying experience. Overall, this was not worth the time or money, and I can’t recommend it based on this visit.

After letting my thoughts sit overnight I must come back and share how displeased I was with this whole experience. Yesterday we had a 9:30 reservation. As a pretty big foodie, I was very excited to come to Olea for MY BIRTHDAY of all days. Similar to most of these reviews, the 9:30 reservation seemed just to be a recommendation rather than an actual reservation. We were told we’d be 15 mins behind, and truthfully we totally understood things like this happen. Come 35 mins later we ventured back to the hostess stand to see how it was looking, and we were met with a very very short and rude attitude by one of the hostesses. The other hostess told us we would be sitting in a minute and they would make it up to us. “A minute” turned into another 30 mins and not one visit from any manager to help correct these feelings of disappointment. We’re just continuously just told “one minute” with clear attitude as if we weren’t the ones an hour past our reservation (with it clear there’d be more of a wait/ and we’d probably have an hour only before the kitchen closes leading to no chance of a nice paced meal) . Ultimately, after a hour of waiting and a birthday night pretty much ruined we decided to cut our losses and leave. Once again not one effort was made to fix any problems. It would take a lot to make this right and make me feel valued as a customer and I’d still have a hard time justifying picking this place for a second chance. The true definition of a restaurant that overbooks and then is comfortable making customers feel as their time commitment isn’t value able in the slightest. You only get one birthday a year and Olea made me regret wasting mine on it.