Olé Spanish Cuisine is a small, intimate Petone restaurant built around the sociable rhythms of Spanish dining. Its Jackson Street room is designed for a meal that unfolds rather than rushes: begin with tapas, move to a paella or grilled main, then stay for dessert and a drink. The restaurant also handles takeaway, catering and private functions, but the ability to reserve a table makes the compact dining room the clearest way to experience the menu.
The tapas section supplies plenty of contrast for sharing. Pan con tomate puts tomato, garlic and olive oil on grilled house-baked bread, while patatas bravas pairs roasted potatoes with spicy sauce and aioli. Mushrooms are sautéed with garlic and herbs before meeting a creamy sauce and crisp bread. Empanadas change their savoury filling, calamari comes with spicy sofrito and lemon aioli, and grilled chorizo is matched with peppers, onion, tomato and spinach.
Paella is the centrepiece and is cooked and served in the traditional pan for two. The mixed version folds king prawns, calamari, mussels, Spanish chorizo and free-range chicken through seasoned yellow rice; a vegan version replaces the meat and seafood with abundant vegetables. Other mains offer different paths through the kitchen, including marinated steak over spicy roasted potatoes, North African-spiced chicken skewers with rice, and creamy chicken-and-mushroom pasta alongside a vegetable pasta option.
Dessert continues the generous style with chocolate and caramel fudge torte, a cool lemon tart with passionfruit compote, or Canary Island-style caramel flan. Drinks can keep the meal Spanish with wine, cocktails and sangria, while house lemonade, freshly brewed iced tea and fruit-topped pomegranate tizana cover alcohol-free choices. Vegan versions of paella, empanadas and pasta give mixed groups meaningful options rather than a single improvised plate.
Address: 203 Jackson Street, Petone, Lower Hutt 5012, New Zealand
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