Best of Boston

2009 Best Romantic Restaurant

Oleana

Lovebirds find a year-round habitat in Oleana, which beckons with a lush hidden garden in summer months and a cozy fireplace when the snow flies, as well as a menu of eastern Mediterranean sumptuousness that sets the mood no matter what the season. Chef Ana Sortun does contemporary riffs on moussaka, kibbeh, bisteeya, and other exotica that beg to be shared (bonus for vegetarian couples: a tasting menu that marries sophisticated spice with produce from Sortun’s family farm). Should the evening’s canoodling lead to something more permanent, Oleana’s private-party setup and Sortun’s inventive menu planning make for a truly unforgettable wedding feast.

134 Hampshire St., Cambridge, 617-661-0505, oleanarestaurant.com