Olea Social in City of London, Westminster

Dinner for 11 may have been too much of a challenge for the staff. Service was the problem, with very little of it. Long waits for attention/food/ water/ wine. Some of us arrived after the 7pm start but even allowing for that it was a long evening, finishing well after 10.30. Food okay-ish when it arrived, but long intervals in between.

Where do I start. Firstly the noise levels in this place are crazy. I guess the acoustics are bad cos we couldn't basically hear one another at the table which was not a relaxing experience. On top of this the tables are placed very close to one another which again doesn't provide the most relaxing experience. The food. We ordered the vegetable moussaka and meat moussaka. Within 5 mins the order arrived. Obviously moussaka even if pre prepared shouldn't take just 5mins cooking. It was luke warm in parts and hot in others which gave the indication it had been microwaved. £25 for a square piece of moussaka with no extras clearly made hours if not the day before, no bechamel sauce used either is a rip off. The bill, optional service charge already added over 10%!!! Obviously we didn't pay this. Service was ok, but the food, price and ambience was rubbish.

Cold Flat white for £8. Wasn’t given a drinks menu so just ordered! Never again! I have to put 100 characters minimum to post this!

Positivos: Buen servicio, sin colas, excelente ubicación, buena comida, servicio rápido, 2 - 4 - 1 cóctel happy hour Ahora vamos a discutir los aspectos negativos... Fuimos a buscar una cena rápida antes de cortinarse en el Teatro Noël Cobarde que está a 5 minutos a pie (supongamos que esto es otro positivo!). Atraídos por el menú pre-teatro de £ 26. Sentado muy rápido en un lugar agradable y acogedor... hasta ahora tan bueno. No nos dieron el menú previo al teatro y tuve que ir a buscarlos, escondidos bajo los menús principales en el mostrador de bienvenida... No hay nada malo en eso, se olvidaron de dárnoslas. Pedido un cóctel de jengibre ácido 2 - 4 - 1 (bien presentado con espuma de yema de huevo de lujo, etc., y 2 pintas de mientras tanto IPA. Llegaron las cervezas equivocadas pero no dijeron nada, todo bien. Entre nosotros pedimos babaganoush, salmón, shish de pollo y moussaka -añadimos un tazón de papas fritas y ensalada pequeña- todo delicioso, un poco salado. Aproximadamente a mitad de camino nos ofrecieron más bebidas y nos pidieron vino tinto por copa... varias opciones se desbobinaron, así que fuimos por 1 pinot noir y 1 casa, y un par de cervezas más. Al darnos cuenta de la hora en que pedimos la factura mientras esperábamos que llegaran las bebidas. La factura llegó y habían incluido todo tipo de extras más una botella entera de pinot y un 14% de servicio llevándolo a 250 € 😂. Enviamos la factura de vuelta, todavía no hay bebidas a la vista, la factura regresó, todavía mal. Les pidió que lo cambiaran de nuevo y cancelaron el pedido de vino todos juntos. Luego llegaron las cervezas y tuvimos una factura correcta, no disputamos el cargo de servicio de £ 22 ya que se estaba poniendo un poco ridículo. Odio ser cínico... pero hubo algunas maniobras sospechosas aquí. No darnos los menús previos al cine de £ 26, ‘accidentalmente’ poner una botella de vino entera de £ 60 en la factura en lugar de una copa, además de otras anomalías, sabiendo que estábamos en un apuro, y un cargo por servicio más alto que la media... todo un poco sospechoso para mí y diseñado para que no lo compruebes y simplemente pagues porque necesitas llegar al teatro a tiempo para el comienzo del espectáculo. REVISA TU FACTURA

Mi marido y yo nos encontramos con Olea Social mientras buscábamos un lugar para cenar antes del teatro. No teníamos una reserva, pero nos pudieron sentar enseguida. Disfrutamos mucho de nuestra cena. La comida era genial. Nuestro servidor, Shifka (? ) era excelente. Él era conocedor del menú y muy agradable. Volveríamos de nuevo la próxima vez que estemos en Londres.

We came here as the restaurant we wanted to visit had a queue down the street. And everywhere was a lot busier than I thought it would be. The service wasn't great and we did have to wait ages until someone took our drinks orders. The food and drink was really expensive. This was a one off family meal but wish we'd went somewhere further down the road and not as expensive. I'd actually go as far as calling it extortionate.

Incredibly expensive for what you receive. It was a bold choice to serve tagine without a hint of spice- I do wonder if the chefs have ever visited the Mediterranean.

We came here because the queue for another restaurant next door was 90 minutes and we were hungry. The fact you can get a big table at 8pm on Saturday should ring warning bells. Without exception all our mesls were tasteless, overpriced and very very small. No vegetable accompaniment as these were extra. Ludicrous price for wine, and then they brought and opened the wrong one!! Forgot to bring one part of a dish completely. Never have I been so disappointed and frankly outraged at the quality and service in a restaurant.

Delicious food, beautifully served. We didn’t have starters as we were short on time as we were heading to a show. For our mains we had Pasta Pappardelle and the Chicken Shish. Both were absolutely delicious and full of flavour. My husband had the Pasta, a little thing to note, he would have liked a slightly larger portion! The service was fine, nothing to complain about but also nothing to rave about. We’d definitely return as there were lots of other options on the menu we want to try.

We started our dinner with the bread plate, which featured some of the tastiest bread we have had in London. We ordered 4 main dishes all of which were delicious. Plenty of outside seating for those who are interested. The only drawback is the high price.

Most expensive restaurant in London! quantity and presentation is equivalent to a snack bar! I ordered octopus as the main there was 12 little slices and rest was wedge cut potatoes. Top of that + VAT and service charge, nearly £30! There are many good restaurant in Covent Garden ! Such as Balthazar: far superior. This restaurant has to improve!

Lovely authentic vibrant flavors, truly capturing the essence of Mediterranean cuisine. I had kofta, shared chargrilled cauliflower, humus and calamari, my partner enjoyed dry-aged rib eye with pardon peppers. For the wine we opted for Chateau Ixsir form Lebanon. The service was top-notch, with friendly and attentive staff who made sure our dining experience was perfect from start to finish. One of the highlights was the terrace with a stunning sunset view. It provided a beautiful and relaxing atmosphere, making our evening even more special. Highly recommend this place for anyone looking to enjoy great food, excellent service, and a picturesque setting in the heart of Covent Garden

Great hospitality! The waiter was very kind to my daughter and wife. The food was 10/10 and the decor can’t be better. Would go there again anytime 😊

Thanks for looking after us so well yesterday when two friends and I celebrated our 60th birthdays. Tasty food and drinks with smiling staff who made a fuss of us equals a lovely lunch for our special occasion.

We arranged a business dinner and Olea were exceptional in being client-friendly and flexible from the planning stage and giving us a wonderful evening. Nisa was serving us and ensured everyone had a terrific time - non-standard requests were accomodated promptly. Food was good, would highly recommend hosting group events here as they have the space and also that increasingly rare quality - first-class customer service.

The first time I went in, was for curiosity and just had a coffee (and I fell in love with the glass cup). Then: for an aperitif with a friend (and I loved the cocktails and the tastings). Then for lunch and I loved their Mediterranean cuisine, so similar to my Italian one. Freshness of the food and ingredients. Excellent service. Spacious, elegant venue and modern. Central area, but in a quiet corner, Olea Social is my stop every time I come to London. Highly recommended.

It was really good quality breakfast that surprised me because I thought it would be like all the other restaurants but it wasn’t

Food was ok, range of food was good and good vegan foods. However gnocci was certainly not homemade and for the price would not have taken much to not be processed. The service certainly let them down. Not too friendly and was very rushed. Starters arrived within 5 mons of ordering an as soon as we have finished started the main course was out. Not time between courses. It has potential but i would not go again.

What an amazing find. Fabulous food, friendly staff and really reasonably priced. Great coffee too! I would thoroughly recommend to anyone!

We enjoyed a great meal with the family; kids loved their kids menu and the adults enjoyed all the food. The octopus and the fish of the day with mussels was amazing! Great service!

Très bon service et cadre agréable. Mais c'est tout.. la cuisine est très banale, et surtout les portions sont ridicules. Les desserts dont clairement a éviter. Pour le prix, ce restaurant pourrait quand même faire un effort. Sentant notre mécontentement le patron nous a proposé un verre de plus. C'est gentil, mais nous nous serions juste contentés de bien manger.

We were wondering where to eat on a busy Sunday in Covent Garden and happened to walk past this place which had a table free. It was exactly what we wanted, excellent Turkish eggs, avocado and egg on toast and coffee. Service was friendly and fast, I would definitely return.

The food is amazing, very authentic and good portions as well. The service is also very tentative and so welcome. But I also truly liked the vibe and atmosphere; it’s such a tranquil place to eat. I will definitely return with friends.

My boyfriend and I went here for his birthday on New Years Eve and we had the best experience! We were seated immediately and received the best service either of us had ever had at a restaurant. All of the staff were quick, friendly and polite. Once they found out that it was my partners birthday they gave us both a free glass of champagne, which was unexpected and greatly appreciated. On top of this they surprised us both by bringing out a dessert with a candle and singing happy birthday to him. They also kindly held onto my bag for me as I had forgotten it at the restaurant, even offering to stay open later so that I could go back and get it. The food and drinks were amazing, best steak he'd ever eaten. Our server was Shefki but, all the staff here are a real credit to this restaurant, thank you so much!

Oh dear, you can do so much better than coming here. Food is so overpriced for the portions. What are supposed to be sharing plates literally come with two or three pieces of bread, and they charge you for asking for more. As for the Lamb Kofte, its more like cheap mutton - literally mutton dressed as lamb. Complaints were ignored, they don't care once the bill comes. Pretty much the worst meal I have had in London. McDonalds is better.

The attention from the staff was just about right tonight - helpful and not too fussy. The food tasted very nice but was expensive for the portion sizes. Also, £5.50 for a bottle of water and £3.50 for a very small scoop of ice cream were too high. We enjoyed our evening, but would think twice about ordering as many optional extras if we visited again.

So very disappointing… it took over 2 hours to be served a starter, main and some drinks for my husband and I. A cocktail spilt which happens but no offer of a fresh one and at £13 a drink £4 of it was on the table! Chewy cold bland calamari but we were so desperately hungry we just ate it! Luke warm main which was lamb kebab and when we made our order they had no chicken left so my husband had to have the steak as he doesn’t like lamb! This was at 530pm! Terrible waitress service with no personality or anything to make our meal special! A whopping £135 bill with a service charge that was undeserved ! Table water that was asked for 3 times and still didn’t arrive. 530-730pm and the best thing was just being out of the cold! Don’t bother wasting time your money!

Food was ordinary and ok , both had the kebabs one chicken one lamb a side of chips and some flat bread, Bottle of rose , Bill was an eye watering £107 yes £107 , nearly fell off my chair .

Amazing food, so fresh and delicious. Great cocktails and service was brilliant too. Highly recommend.

I was disappointed with my visit to Olea Social. My friend had been telling me how good the restaurant was but when we went service was very slow and the quality of the food was poor. The restaurant was very busy so I think the kitchen was overstretched but the front of house didn’t manage the situation very well. I also didn’t like the server continually pouring our wine - we finished the bottle before the main course came and she was trying to get us to buy another bottle.

Today we had a great lunch at Olea Social served by the excellent staff particularly Shefki who made us feel really welcome. Highly recommended on the menu are the Charred grilled Cauliflower and the Aubergine with tomato and Mozarella, also the grilled wild mushrooms with egg was perfect. A fresh Mediterranean menu served in a relaxed and airy environment. The staff certainly know how to look after you. Really worth a visit or two.

Arrived at around 6pm. Ordered within 5 minutes of sitting down. Sitting here at 19.15pm still waiting for our food while tables around us who arrived after us have received their food, paid and left. Let’s hope the food is worth the ridiculous wait. I definitely will not recommend this restaurant to anyone.

I've given a four because the food was great. Very tasty and fast service. However I'd like to offer a tip about the waiting service, the waitress literally hovered by our table the whole time, at times we had two people attempting to serve us, constantly topping up water, taking away plates, replacing spoons, asking if we were ok, it was really off-putting. Please, serve and then leave us alone, we felt like we weren't ever having a private conversation! Suffocating. As I said, the food was great. Step back from the table and you've got a lovely place!

We came on Saturday night just before the theatre. The food was amazing I had chicken shis my partner had beef short ribs. The service was very welcoming with a big smile from the little waitress. Since we were seated at the back by the...

We visited on Saturday, 28th October. It was our first visit and we’ll definitely be visiting again soon. Olea Social is a fabulous restaurant for many reasons, great location, stylish, a relaxing ambience, fantastic service and exquisite food. Highly recommended.

The food was excellent. And I mean EXCELLENT. Their terra cota will blow your mind. I would absolutely recommend. With that said, a big shout out to Ellie, Approachable, convivial, natural and guest focussed she actually made the whole experience memorable.

Three diners (two elderly and one not so!), walk-ins, were delighted with their spur-of-the-moment choice of restaurant and received a warm welcome. The space is large enough that there is some atmosphere but not so loud that 85 year old ears struggle and the seating...

My wife and I came across this by chance (address is actually now 10 Upper St Martins Lane WC2H 9FB). We took the pre-theatre menu. Food was outstanding and excellent value. Staff could not have been more courteous or obliging. Ambience is great. Facilities are...

This place is a little gem.. we first visited in June then had another visit when we were back in London in August. It was that good that we visited 2 days in a row for lunch. Shefki and his staff are most attentive and...

Nice and trendy decoration for this restaurant. The selection of dishes could be increased but overall the food was very well presented and excellent. Staff was friendly and attentive.

We came across this restaurant by chance, and wanted outdoor seating in the shade. We had 2 dogs with us and the owner set up a table specially for us. The menu was interesting and the ethos of the restaurant is to encourage sharing of...

Excellent service from Shefki, very reasonably priced food, will absolutely visit time and again, many thanks!!

This place is first rate. Food was utterly delicious, the manchego croquettes and the salmon small plates being a highlight of the small places. Delicious flatbreads you’ll want to order again and again. Had the sublime short rib with a light as a feather cauli...

Amazing all 'in house' created, unique Mediterranean food served by the friendliest staff. We had delicious salmon and manchego croquetas followed by melt in the mouth short rib alongside zesty cauliflower cous cous. A couple of flatbreads and a chocolate mousse sent us off into...

Made a quick visit for something to eat before the theatre, welcomed by friendly staff who turned our food order around in good time. We ordered cauliflower couscous, raisins and pine nuts, humus and a bread basket , all were very tasty , the bread...

This new restaurant is a great addition to the London scene. Quite one of the best meals my wife and I have had in London for some time. An extremely imaginative and creative menu of Mediterranean dishes ... from France to Turkey. It has been...

This was a great place. Food was excellent. Service was excellent. Could use a few more selections in mains & sides but all we had was superb!