Olea

This is our go to neighborhood spot for dinner. We love the food and the small neighborhoody feel of the restaurant. It’s never too crowded for dinner. Great value. The owner is always very friendly. All in all highly recommend for dinner!

Worst Heavos Rancheros I’ve ever had. (I don’t understand other people’s reviews with all this flavor and delicious food, it was bland AF and trust me I enjoy my food and flavors)
Smallest portions I’ve had at a brunch place EVER (Ordered more tortillas, they brought out 1)
Absolute WORST Manager/​Owner/​Host maybe even human being? ever? it’s up for debate — Pretentious, rude, judgmental
I would ABSOLUTELY recommend going to a liquor store to have a better dining experience than going to this unimaginably terrible restaurant.
— Shawn

Really amazing brunch place. I got the Olea’s Custard Toast and it was delicious! It tasted like cinnamon toast and I liked that I could order a half size (one slice of bread rather than 2). My boyfriend got the healthier choice: the omelette. It was very different, had almonds for an extra crunch and lots of veggies. There was a bit of a wait, but worth it.

This restaurant has delicious food and the menu is thoroughly thought out. So many amazing flavors!!!
The service was INCREDIBLE! We were well taken care of and on top of the normal service, my boyfriend got a nose bleed halfway through dinner and the owner of the restaurant came out with a first aid kit to help us. He made us feel so comfortable and helped us in any way he could! It was so nice and went above and beyond great service.
I am happy to know I have a family feel restaurant in my neighborhood that has terrific food too!

Nice service & Sunday brunch. Quaint, cozy brunch corner in the city. Not a ton of seating but its charm is in its small size and cozy feel. We got sat at a communal table which is a charming idea. Corn cakes with veggie hash and fried eggs are a great veggie option. It’s sweet and filling. Came with tasty avocado slices. French press coffee was a nice compliment, and it was fun to share this pot with another.

Edited :
It is a cute spot for a small brunch for 2 or a couple of friends. It is a bit small so I don’t recommend bringing your kids. The host didn’t want us to bring our stroller inside and said to leave it outside. Really? We told him that it can fold itself and wouldn’t take much room. We finally were able to get seated after a 20 minute wait-​with the stroller. Not really kid friendly here, I guess!
The food was just not good for my taste…
I had the corncakes with fried eggs and veggie mash. Sorry but I hardly ate it. Hubby had some beef sandwich. .
Conclusion: we didn’t finish our plates… I personally didn’t like my plate but the people on the next table loved it! It’s all about taste and preferences, I suppose.

I’ve heard about the «rivalry» between Olea and Mymy and finally can say I’ve eaten at both. I wasn’t that impressed with Mymy (though love their other restaurant Griddle Fresh), but still thought it was a little more well rounded than Olea.
Our waiter was friendly but the wait for an order of French Toast and a scramble is just way too long. We got there on Sunday afternoon around 1:10 — 1:15 and they close at 2. No wait for a table luckily. They just didn’t seem to be as efficient in the kitchen, granted I know that the kitchen is small, but one should not have to wait over a half hour for these two fairly simple breakfast dishes. The staff was busy but did not seem very attentive. I ended up switching my husband my migas con huevos for his French Toast. The custard French Toast was amazing with just the right amount of sweetness and apples garnishing the rustic bread. My eggs were pretty much a scramble with some pork tenderloin some salsa and veggies. It was a small portion and was just lacking seasoning. Though hubby thought the scramble was alright.
I heard their dinner is really good, but not sure if they crank it out faster or if it is also just less crowded in general. I think if I were to get Olea again, it would be the French Toast to go. 4 stars for that deliciousness but — 2 stars for slow service and the bland migas con huevos.

First, check my Unilocal distribution… I’m not a consistently annoyed customer, in fact I think I generally give 4−5* reviews. Now, take this review as a warning to avoid OLEA.
My Sunday morning at Olea was really the worst. Doing my best to keep this brief, here’s a few reasons why you should also steer clear of Olea:
— manager/​HOST/​owner incredibly rude, treats customers as though they’re not paying to be there (ex: YELLING at people in line, PATRONIZING me when i asked about usual wait)
— the host is so RUDE that he’s worth AVOIDING the entire restaurant for but it gets worse…
— food was really BLAND and sub-​par for what you’re paying (boyfriend’s meal was boiling when he received it, so he couldn’t eat it for 20 minutes)
— wait staff is really INATTENTIVE: never refilled glasses, didn’t look in our direction after 20 minutes of trying to get the check
Not only am I Unilocaling about this, but I shared this experience with several of my friends and neighbors because of how disappointed I was with Olea. It was really a bummer to spend $ 50 on a brunch that put me in a bad mood!
*AVOID Olea, VISIT MyMy Instead*

World’s most pretentious waitstaff; good food.
We waited a half hour outside in the cold to be seated here. The couple behind us did not want to be seated at a «communal table», but the manager of the restaurant informed them that it would be an additional half-​hour wait.
Five minutes after sitting down, two tables opened up.
We had observed that the table we were seated at was adjacent to an open window, and it was cold. We hadn’t yet warmed up from standing outside.
When we requested that the window be closed, the waitress and the host came by together as a team to inform us that they could not close the window more than an additional half-​inch, since they need to keep the room ventilated.
We asked the waitstaff if we could move to one of the tables that opened up.
The host said that he first had to see who else was waiting outside for a table. He returned and said that he could not move us, because there was a larger party waiting.
The party that was waiting to be seated was five people — the exact capacity of the table that this other couple and we were seated at.
The manager informed us that we would need to ask the couple that we were sitting with if they were also willing to move. They said yes. In front of him. The host then repeated to us in a condescending tone that he does not move seated guests, and that we would have to ask the couple next to us if they were willing to move. Again, we asked them in front of him, and again, they said yes.
When the food finally came, we asked for a single slice of bread to help mop up the sauce. The waitress said she could not bring us a slice of bread. We would have to order four slices of toast from the menu.
The staff never came by to check how we were doing during the course of the meal.
The food here is good. It’s overpriced, but it’s good. It’s prepared nicely.
The manager should not be in his role as a manager. Nobody wants to visit a restaurant where they’re given a hard time for making a reasonable request to feel comfortable.
And now I’m getting harassed by the manager for this review. Classy way to handle your business.

I am not sure whether that was me or Olea, who was having a bad day but I really did not enjoy my experience there.
First flag came when they said they do not have decaf coffee so did not order coffee. Sorry, I am not going to trigger a panic attack so that I can have coffee here. Then I ordered a mimosa, which was served in a plastic water cup (uploaded its photo). Maybe it will sound snobby but if you are going to serve your mimosa like that, I think you should let your customer know about this when they give the order.
Although, food was decent, I will probably stick to Mymy next door.

My friend and I picked this place to have a quick dinner before going to the Haunted House at the nearby Haas Lilienthal house. It was really charming and cozy! I was warmly greeted by a man who appeared to be the owner and we were allowed to sit at a comfortable 4-​top in the corner, even though we were only a party of two. The place was surprisingly slow at 7:30 p.m. but picked up in the next hour. I had made reservations through Open Table, but wouldn’t have needed them. Apparently, this place is crowded for brunch, but remains a hidden secret for dinner.
We had a nice glass of wine and yummy bread with dipping oil to start. It’s a limited menu (no appetizers), but the dishes they have are inviting. My friend had the scallops and I had the pappardelle pasta w/​lamb meatballs. Both were amazing with great presentation! Portions were decent, service was excellent. Olea’s menu uses Niman Ranch meats and wild caught seafood, and fresh organic produce from local farms whenever possible. Everything tasted fresh and healthy, with wonderful flavors.
Olea was a pleasant surprise and I would recommend highly for a dinner restaurant in Nob Hill. I’m sure their brunch is wonderful too, and I’ll have to try it the next time I’m in the city on a weekend morning.

After my friends helped me move I brought them here for brunch! They don’t take reservations but luckily the wait wasn’t very long. The inside was small and very cute.
I had the challah bread french toast (13.75) and fresh squeezed orange juice (3.75), and both were good. If you like this French toast I highly recommend checking out The Front Porch in bernal heights — they have similar French toast sticks that are crispy on the outside!
This place is fancier than Mymy across the street, so it would be nicer for a first date. Half the menu is Latin-​inspired breakfast, which isn’t what I go usually go for, so I had trouble picking what to eat. But if that’s your jam, this place is great!

Leisurely ambiance. Fresh, flavorful plates worth the starving wait between the line out the door and the slow-​food service. Really friendly service. Recommend the Avo toast and the scrambled egg sandwich. The eggs are perfect, and I will be returning with friends.
Also, was impressed by their assorted selection of nice breads. Challah for French toast, a levain for the avocado toast and a crunchy baguette for the scrambled egg sandwich.
The mixed greens that accompany many of the plates were to die for. Great for brunch if you feel like waiting. The noise is a little overwhelming, but there are seating options both in and outside.

As you approach the intersection of California and Larkin street, you are greeted by quite a scene — hoards of people gathered around two restaurants across the street. Of course it’s a Sunday morning, and San Francisco brunch beckons. The question is, which line to pick?
Since I’ve been to Mymy (which asks you to put your name down), my friend and I decide to check out Olea. Do not be deterred by the long line, it moves pretty quickly! We waited for about 20 minutes for a table for 2.
The menu had tons of choices, which were appealing, but my friend and I both decided we wanted the Migas con Huevos. Scrambled eggs with tortilla chips, with a side of salsa, that sounded like just what we wanted to fill our eager stomachs. While the eggs were well scrambled, the whole dish lacked flavor and left me wanting more. The two small pieces of bread, while perfectly sized to scoop the eggs on, were slightly too hard. I was disappointed, especially since I had my expectations pegged high upon seeing the line and the other Unilocal reviews. Perhaps I will come back to try something else — but perhaps not, seeing how there are many other places in the city left to explore.

I came here with a friend on a windy Saturday morning. When we arrived, it was packed!
And sure enough… the food is AMAZING and lived up to the hype!
I’m vegan and this is what I ordered:
Avocado & toast, with mixed greens, extra virgin olive oil & sea salt, pimento flakes.
SO simple, yet SO good. I was very happy with this dish, and I loved how generous they were with the avocado!
I’m definitely coming back here just to eat this!!!

Very cute brunch place in Nob Hill. The coffee is very good. I’m not sure I’m a fan of the Bloody Mary. They were really thick, a bit warm and not served over ice.
However, saved by the delicious custard toast, better than French toast and one of the best meals I’ve had lately.
The avocado toast was excellent. Artisan olive oil, red pepper flakes and thinly sliced avocado.
Will definitely eat here again

The best brunch I’ve had in SF to date.
And there was no wait with a ton of open tables inside and out on the Saturday we went, which never hurts.
I got the avocado toast, roomie got the corn cakes, and we split challah custard french toast, despite my hatred for custard.
My avocado toast was a real panty melter. I’d def order that again in a heartbeat. I tried a bite of the corn cakes my roomie got and while they were good, they just didn’t hold a candle to my avocado toast.
The challah custard French toast was outstanding. We only got a half order but had we gotten a full, it wouldn’t have been a stretch for me to eat finish since I ate pretty much the entire half order on my own anyway.
Service was great– they kept referring to items that were on the table as being, ‘by the gentleman’, and I kept getting really confused since we were the end table and the only person sitting by me was a 20-​something girl at the next table over. Legit took 3 turns of our server referencing ‘the gentleman’ before it dawned on me that he was talking about my roommate. LOL. Hardly. Like, farthest thing from that, but what a thoughtful gesture on their part to assume.

Great spot for brunch! We came here with a group of 6 and waited about 45 minutes in line. They do let you know that they might split bigger parties into 2 tables.
The juice at Olea is super fresh, but the michelada and Bloody Mary were okay and a bit too spicy. The coffee was good not great. I didn’t order the French press of Blue Bottle because it looked like too much coffee.
I ordered the huevos rancheros, which were really good! The plate had a lot of food, with homemade tortillas and great chicken sausage on the side. The plate was a little too drippy for me, there wasn’t enough tortilla or something to pick everything up. I did love the flavor overall.
I would come here again but definitely have some better places to go. We waited a long time for our food but the service was great.

A great corner spot in Nob Hill. We had a party of 4 and came about noon on Sunday to find a line on the corner. Typical for small places like this that I’ve been to in the city. Our wait wasn’t too bad, but it did seem like they were a little understaffed, between tending to the tables inside and keeping the line moving outside.
We sat outside and it was really nice. Our server was friendly and attentive and quick, which I really appreciated.
I ordered the corn cake & egg entrée, which was served with fried plantains, avocado tomatillo salsa, and a veggie hash. Everything was amazing! The flavors were terrific and the corn cakes were perfectly cooked. But the veggie hash was to die for! I’d actually call it diced veggies, because there was no hash, but whatever it was amazing. Acorn squash, potatoes, peppers, onions — perfectly cooked and flavored. So, so good.
My husband had the challah custard french toast (the only sweet brunch item) and he thought it was fantastic. I had a couple bites and really enjoyed it — thick bread, crunchy exterior, soft on the inside.
Fresh OJ was tart and sweet and pulpy and amazing.

Popped in for a Saturday brunch with 2 pals a little after 10:15 am. The wait was very mild and the host was more than accommodating. Like most busy brunch places, Olea will not seat your table until the entire party has arrived.
We ordered a Bloody Mary, OJ, and a cappuccino. Regular drip coffee is not available. Coffee comes as either a form of an espresso drink or via French press.
Our table ordered the famous French toast as a starter. Wow! It was excellent. The brioche base had an inner creamy inside that I’ve never experienced with French toast before. The sliced strawberries that covered the dish were a nice finishing touch.
For my main meal I feasted on the corn cakes with eggs and squash. This dish was excellent except the blackened squash was slightly burnt.
I will certainly be back to enjoy another brunch and perhaps lunch or dinner here!

Ein absolutes muss in San Francisco zum Frühstück als auch zum Dinner immer wieder gerne. Klein aber fein Reservierung wird dringend empfohlen. Haben beides probiert und waren hellauf begeistert. Abseits von fishermens wharf typischer San Francisco style auf eine sehr angenehme Art und Weise.

Mit Sicherheit eines der besten Frühstück der Stadt gibt’s hier — zumindest würde das die lange Warteschlange erklären. Abgesehen davon, dass es ganz normal ist in Amerika eine Stunde in der Schlange zu stehen und auf seinen Tisch zu warten, zahlt sich ein sonntäglich morgendlicher Besuch hier echt aus.
Das Lokal ist klein und entzückend eingerichtet, wird geführt von einem sehr netten und sympathischen San Franciscaner (sagt man as so?!) und steht auf der Geheimtippliste hier ganz oben. Ich teilte mir ein ausgezeichnetes Frühstückssandwich mit Eiern, Speck und Käse — ein Klassiker — das mit reichlich grünem Salat und spitzenmäßigen Dressing daher kam mit einem Kollegen. Das wäre ja an und für sich schon genug gewesen, denn die Portion war schon anständig groß. Auf das Signature Gericht — also das, wofür hier alle so lange in der Schlange stehen — der Frenchtoast mit Erdbeeren, konnt ich dann nicht verzichten. Wow, was für ein Genuss! Alleine dafür zahlt sich das alles aus. Ich war allerdings danach soooo randvoll, dass ich den ganzen Tag nichts mehr brauchte. Meine Sitznachbarn waren da schon gescheiter, die ließen sich die Reste nämlich einpacken und zerren sicherlich heute noch davon.
Der Service ist nett und aufmerksam, wie fast überall in San Francisco, die Preise eher gehoben wie auch fast überall in San Francisco. Zum Glück steht der Euro zum Dollar für Europäer gerade recht gut. Da kann man sich ja mal verwöhnen, was im Olea richtig gut gelungen ist.