This coming Wednesday is Valentine's Day and newcomer Olea – offering "Wine Country/American Bistro Cuisine" – has something for everyone.
If you're celebrating "Single Awareness Day", the central bar and main dining room is loud, lively, and bustling.
If you're celebrating with your loved one, then the covered and heated patio is the only place to be.
The menu is chock full of so many intriguing dishes that deciding what to order may be your toughest conversation of the evening. There's Pumpkin Agnolotti, Jumbo Lump Crab & Beet Salad, Signature Meyer Lemon & Honey Duck Wings, Fried Green Tomatoes with Burrata, Blue Crab Bakes Oysters, Terrine of Duck Liver Bacon & Bourbon, Wild Sea Bass, Jidori Chicken Schnitzel, Osso Bucco, Prime Beef Cheek Stroganoff, Wagyu Burger, Filet Mignon...shall I keep going?
Here's what the hand model and I decided on.
The Grubdown:
- delicate, nutty, sweet 'n well balanced, Sugar Pumpkin Agnolotti with Truffle Goat Cheese, Crispy Sage, Hazelnut Brown Butter Sauce & Toasted Pepitas $13.50
- crunchy and peppy, Fried Green Tomatoes with Fresh Burrata Alla Panna, Crispy Serrano Ham Chicharrones & Hazelnut Romesco $13
- tender, hearty and full of comfort, Duroc Pork Osso Bucco with Toasted Farro, Winter Vegetable Succotash, Wild Mushrooms, Preserved Tomato-Herb Jus & Mint Gremolata $27
- chocolate peanut butter crunchy dream, Belgian Chocolate Chunk & Fromage Blanc Cookies with Peanut Butter Cup Gelato & Spanish Peanut Crumble $10
- herbal citrus yet smooth, See Ya Two Maro Cocktail with Jasmine infused Maestro Dobel Blanco Tequila, Amaro, Campari, Lemon & Mint $12.25
- toasty thick 'n chargrilled, Complimentary Bread with Salted Butter
Because they felt like a comforting embrace, Must-orders of the night include the Osso Bucco and Chocolate Cookies. The ingredients are seasonal, fresh, and well balanced with a hint of surprise in every dish.
If you live in Laguna Hills or San Clemente, you'll find a similar menu at Olea's sister restaurants, Vine and Ironwood, all brought to you by restaurateur Russ Bendel.
Happy Valentine's Day!
2001 Westcliff Drive, Suite 100, Newport Beach, CA, 92660. 949-287-6807.
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