Our group of two couples were astounded by a lemon pizza special shared by the table as an appetizer. The unique idea of lemon on pizza seemed unnatural but was literally astounding. I couldn't believe how delicious it was with an undercurrent of salt punctuating the white pizza. A ceviche special was equally mind numbing in its tastiness. The paella was perfect. We had no room for dessert but will be back
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
David Gee
The food is quite good, albeit pricey. The bartender is on point but they only staff one for the entire restaurant, so plan on ordering two drinks at a time. The hostess could give two cares about anything you say which is a drag. The wait staff were OK, I see what they are trying to do however they execute it rather poorly.
I’ll probably try it one more time, perhaps it was an off night or something.
Make sure you make a reservation
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 1
Eric Duncan
Arrived with my friend at 5:15 and was told no tables for 2 but we could wait at the bar.. we had a drink and 45 minutes later after standing next to 2 empty 4 tops by the bar and at least 25% of restaurant still empty we left .. I let the maître d’ know and she seemed disinterested.. the food is great when I’ve eaten here but after this experience I will chose other quality restaurants in the area..
Stephanie Viapiano
Such good food! And awesome drinks. Will definitely be back
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jean
It seems a reservation matters too much although we were seated about 15 minutes after arriving. Service was spotty although we did get our drinks which are quite pricey we had the beat salad and I had the salmon hubby had a pasta dish the salad was fantastic and so were our dinners. We will return at some time and try it again
GLENN
This establishment has lost nothing in the transition from Piermont to Northvale, nor has it lost anything in the transition from father to son. This is still one of the greatest Tapas and Spanish/Italian style eateries to rival even NYC. Keep the tradition going and keep up the fantastic service. Cheers.
Richard
To quote Seinfeld, “You see, you know how to *take* the reservation, you just don't know how to *hold* the reservation. And that's really the most important part of the reservation.” Quality food and drinks, satisfied a craving for Spanish cuisine ... but my wife and I had to wait 45 minutes past our reservation time for our table for 2 to actually be ready; and another 15 min to get our drinks (one cocktail, one glass of wine) after we ordered them. So over an hour after walking in the door before we had anything in our hands, despite having a reservation. We were not the only ones who had to wait significantly past our reservation times to be seated. We're patient people, would happily have waited the “maybe 10-15 minutes” the hostess originally told us it would be past our reservation time, but think everyone would agree 45 minutes past reservation time is egregious. The staff was not really apologetic about the long wait either; just a “Sorry, I know, we're really busy” when I inquired on the status at the 30 minute mark (plus a similar “It's coming, the bar is really busy” when we checked with the waiter about our drinks after 15 minutes), and a confounding attempt to blame it on OpenTable, which I pushed back on, since it's of course on the restaurant to provide OpenTable with accurate table counts and turnover times. If you're overbooking via OpenTable, that's on the restaurant, not the booking service. There was also no attempt to make things right (maybe offer to comp a drink for bearing with an unusually long wait past reservation time?). Which overall left me with the impression that this is more an accepted norm at Olar Noso than an unusual aberration on a busy night (reading other reviews seems to confirm this). So despite enjoying the food, we won't likely be back.
Steve
We shared tapas and everything was delicious and well presented. Our service was also good. My only complaint relates to the proximity of adjacent tables for two. They were way too close and threby detracted from our experience. That said, we will go back.
Pamela
As she sat us at our table, the hostess asked us how long we were going to be and if we were going to be there longer than two hours. Very rude. Food was great. Waitress was great. Hostess was very rude.
Arc Razal
Love the food and Brenda (usually at the bar) is awesome!
Excellent service, the staff is friendly especially Brenda at the bar. She is very kind, patient, and makes great drinks especially specialty drinks. Since I’m not a big drinker, I have a hard time finding something to enjoy, but Brenda is good at understanding what works for you when you explain your tastes. She figures it out even if she has to create something unique for you. As for the food, overall it is good. The rice used for the paellas and similar dishes though seems to be premade which takes away from authentic flavors. Otherwise, everything is very good. I recommend. It’s best to make reservations or go early. Very busy place
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Jennifer
Olar is one of those places that just gets it—every single time. The food is consistently high-quality and always delicious, the kind you keep thinking about long after the meal is over. The service is truly excellent: warm, attentive, and effortless without ever feeling overbearing. And the bar? Top notch. The drinks are thoughtful, beautifully made, and the bartender clearly knows her craft. Whether you're ordering a classic or something more creative, you're in very good hands. Beyond the food and drink, Olar has such a warm, inviting energy. It's always a good-vibes visit—comfortable, welcoming, and the kind of place you want to linger. What really makes Olar special is that it's family-owned by people who genuinely know the business inside and out. You can feel the care in every detail. It's a true value-add to our community and a place we're lucky to have. Excellent all around.
Bianca
Food was delicious from starters to dessert. Service was prompt and pleasant. The white sangria was delicious, the paella to die for and my son's pizza was also amazing. Highly recommend.
Lauren Kaley
While the food was good, the service significantly detracted from the experience. Our large party spent thousands of dollars on food and bottles of wine, yet we were repeatedly pressured to leave after only two hours. This created a clear sense that we were not valued as customers. There was no visible demand for the table, which made the rushing even more unnecessary and frustrating. Due to this poor and dismissive treatment, we will not be returning.
Michele C
It was my first time there. We were a party of 4; 2 adults and 2 children under 10 years old. We ordered the Polpetti, Iberian Octopus, Bacalao Croquettes and Grilled Skirt Steak. The Skirt Steak entree was HUGE, perfectly cooked and delicious. The tapas items were all very delicious as well. My favorite of the 3 was the Iberian Octopus. Our waitress, Michelle, was wonderful and very attentive. I HIGHLY recommend Olar Noso!
Our group of two couples were astounded by a lemon pizza special shared by the table as an appetizer. The unique idea of lemon on pizza seemed unnatural but was literally astounding. I couldn't believe how delicious it was with an undercurrent of salt punctuating the white pizza. A ceviche special was equally mind numbing in its tastiness. The paella was perfect. We had no room for dessert but will be back
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food is quite good, albeit pricey. The bartender is on point but they only staff one for the entire restaurant, so plan on ordering two drinks at a time.
The hostess could give two cares about anything you say which is a drag. The wait staff were OK, I see what they are trying to do however they execute it rather poorly.
I’ll probably try it one more time, perhaps it was an off night or something.
Make sure you make a reservation
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 1
Arrived with my friend at 5:15 and was told no tables for 2 but we could wait at the bar.. we had a drink and 45 minutes later after standing next to 2 empty 4 tops by the bar and at least 25% of restaurant still empty we left .. I let the maître d’ know and she seemed disinterested.. the food is great when I’ve eaten here but after this experience I will chose other quality restaurants in the area..
Such good food! And awesome drinks. Will definitely be back
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
It seems a reservation matters too much although we were seated about 15 minutes after arriving. Service was spotty although we did get our drinks which are quite pricey we had the beat salad and I had the salmon hubby had a pasta dish the salad was fantastic and so were our dinners. We will return at some time and try it again
This establishment has lost nothing in the transition from Piermont to Northvale, nor has it lost anything in the transition from father to son. This is still one of the greatest Tapas and Spanish/Italian style eateries to rival even NYC. Keep the tradition going and keep up the fantastic service. Cheers.
To quote Seinfeld, “You see, you know how to *take* the reservation, you just don't know how to *hold* the reservation. And that's really the most important part of the reservation.” Quality food and drinks, satisfied a craving for Spanish cuisine ... but my wife and I had to wait 45 minutes past our reservation time for our table for 2 to actually be ready; and another 15 min to get our drinks (one cocktail, one glass of wine) after we ordered them. So over an hour after walking in the door before we had anything in our hands, despite having a reservation. We were not the only ones who had to wait significantly past our reservation times to be seated. We're patient people, would happily have waited the “maybe 10-15 minutes” the hostess originally told us it would be past our reservation time, but think everyone would agree 45 minutes past reservation time is egregious. The staff was not really apologetic about the long wait either; just a “Sorry, I know, we're really busy” when I inquired on the status at the 30 minute mark (plus a similar “It's coming, the bar is really busy” when we checked with the waiter about our drinks after 15 minutes), and a confounding attempt to blame it on OpenTable, which I pushed back on, since it's of course on the restaurant to provide OpenTable with accurate table counts and turnover times. If you're overbooking via OpenTable, that's on the restaurant, not the booking service. There was also no attempt to make things right (maybe offer to comp a drink for bearing with an unusually long wait past reservation time?). Which overall left me with the impression that this is more an accepted norm at Olar Noso than an unusual aberration on a busy night (reading other reviews seems to confirm this). So despite enjoying the food, we won't likely be back.
We shared tapas and everything was delicious and well presented. Our service was also good. My only complaint relates to the proximity of adjacent tables for two. They were way too close and threby detracted from our experience. That said, we will go back.
As she sat us at our table, the hostess asked us how long we were going to be and if we were going to be there longer than two hours. Very rude. Food was great. Waitress was great. Hostess was very rude.
Love the food and Brenda (usually at the bar) is awesome!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Excellent service, the staff is friendly especially Brenda at the bar. She is very kind, patient, and makes great drinks especially specialty drinks. Since I’m not a big drinker, I have a hard time finding something to enjoy, but Brenda is good at understanding what works for you when you explain your tastes. She figures it out even if she has to create something unique for you.
As for the food, overall it is good. The rice used for the paellas and similar dishes though seems to be premade which takes away from authentic flavors. Otherwise, everything is very good. I recommend. It’s best to make reservations or go early. Very busy place
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Olar is one of those places that just gets it—every single time. The food is consistently high-quality and always delicious, the kind you keep thinking about long after the meal is over. The service is truly excellent: warm, attentive, and effortless without ever feeling overbearing. And the bar? Top notch. The drinks are thoughtful, beautifully made, and the bartender clearly knows her craft. Whether you're ordering a classic or something more creative, you're in very good hands. Beyond the food and drink, Olar has such a warm, inviting energy. It's always a good-vibes visit—comfortable, welcoming, and the kind of place you want to linger. What really makes Olar special is that it's family-owned by people who genuinely know the business inside and out. You can feel the care in every detail. It's a true value-add to our community and a place we're lucky to have. Excellent all around.
Food was delicious from starters to dessert. Service was prompt and pleasant. The white sangria was delicious, the paella to die for and my son's pizza was also amazing. Highly recommend.
While the food was good, the service significantly detracted from the experience. Our large party spent thousands of dollars on food and bottles of wine, yet we were repeatedly pressured to leave after only two hours. This created a clear sense that we were not valued as customers. There was no visible demand for the table, which made the rushing even more unnecessary and frustrating. Due to this poor and dismissive treatment, we will not be returning.
It was my first time there. We were a party of 4; 2 adults and 2 children under 10 years old. We ordered the Polpetti, Iberian Octopus, Bacalao Croquettes and Grilled Skirt Steak. The Skirt Steak entree was HUGE, perfectly cooked and delicious. The tapas items were all very delicious as well. My favorite of the 3 was the Iberian Octopus.
Our waitress, Michelle, was wonderful and very attentive.
I HIGHLY recommend Olar Noso!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
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