Oleana Boston

If I were to blindly pick a romantic restaurant in Boston, I would lay my bet on Oleana. I discovered their incredibly flavorful cuisine through Twitter recommendations by absolute strangers who are restaurant buffs. Chef Ana Sortun, the force behind this delicious, creative endeavor is constantly reinventing herself with the range of dishes that she introduces to the table.

At its core, Oleana is a Turkish restaurant with Mediterranean sensibilities. Their small restaurant kitchen is a hotbed of innovative flavors. Expect to find the use of spices like sumac and za'atar. The restaurant's menu is divided into meze, fish, meat and side sections. On the surface, it might appear that there aren't too many options for vegetarians, but that's when Oleana's vegetarian tasting menu trumps the rest.

For an enviable price, two people can share a four or five-course menu. The tasting menu changes constantly, and on my two visits, I got a chance to taste completely different dishes in each course. From the dips and dressings in their appetizers to their entrees and desserts, one can taste good quality ingredients, witness the correct use of indigenous spices and interesting cooking techniques.

Whether you're looking to celebrate or not, each meal at Oleana will turn out to be a celebration of good food and well-balanced flavors. Make sure you have a reservation. Go ahead, treat yourself.