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Cynara Restaurant & Lounge offers sophisticated flavors in Olympia’s vibrant Market District. We’re located at 500 Columbia Street NW. Cynara (sī-nara) is the Greek word for artichoke. The restaurant serves elevated Mediterranean and Pacific Rim cuisine in a casual yet refined setting. The menu features regionally sourced seafood, produce and spirits—with a standout wine and cocktail list.
Low-key space offering locally sourced, health conscious, handmade dishes, plus a take-out option.
Address and Contact Information
Address: 500 Columbia St NW, Olympia, WA 98501
Phone: (360) 764-7326
Website: http://cynaraolympia.com/
Menu Photos
Order and Reservations
Reservations: cynaraolympia.com
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Reviews
Deb B.
We recently discovered Cynara and love it! They have amazing craft cocktails and a great happy hour burger with the skinny fries for $5 and their bread pudding is so good with NO raisins. The servers are friendly & efficient. We dropped in on Valentine’s Day in a he afternoon for a drink and they were all booked up, but the manager let us sit at the bar to enjoy our drinks. We were not rushed at all and had two amazing cocktails. We love the Athena’s Chalice (vodka) and Nisqually Ghost (rye whiskey).
… moreSamantha
I truly enjoyed my time at the restaurant. The staff were exceptionally kind and welcoming, which made the experience even better. The food was delicious, though slightly on the pricey side. That said, the drinks were outstanding and absolutely worth what we paid. Overall, it’s a lovely spot for a date!
… moreLes Herrera
I heard about Cynara from someone who’s lived in Olympia for 30 years, so I thought it was worth checking out. However, as someone who moved here from Russia, I have pretty high standards when it comes to both food and service. When I heard this place had been recommended by someone local, I thought it must be good enough to give a try.
We decided to share two appetizers and one main dish, knowing that American portions can be huge. I believe it’s totally reasonable to order one dish to share when the portions are so large, and we weren’t starving either. We ordered the artichoke hearts, lamb skewers, and duck in pomegranate sauce, which was priced at $48. When I order a dish for $48, I expect it to be excellent. I didn’t want to risk trying the $60 steaks or filet mignon because I wasn’t feeling confident about the place.
The cocktail I ordered didn’t impress me much either. I typically enjoy cocktails, but this one didn’t stand out and didn’t make me want another. The food itself was fine—nothing special at all. The dishes looked as plain in photos as they tasted.
As for the duck, my husband didn’t like it at all. The texture didn’t appeal to him. Personally, I’ve eaten duck at several upscale restaurants, so I know it was cooked to a good medium-rare, with a nice sear on the skin. However, I believe the sauce should not have been poured directly over the duck—some people might prefer to have it on the side. The pomegranate seeds were probably the best part of the dish, and the sauce wasn’t bad, but overall, it didn’t feel like anything memorable.
I’ll give credit where it’s due—the service was great. The staff, especially the hostess who seated us and our server, were friendly, attentive, and made an effort to provide good service.
But despite the nice service, I didn’t enjoy the meal, and I don’t feel compelled to return. The overall experience didn’t live up to the hype. If you’re expecting a “high-end” place, I’d say this restaurant doesn’t quite deliver on that front. It’s an okay spot, but not remarkable.
One more thing—I love seafood, and I was surprised that the seafood offerings here were limited to a soup, pasta, and salmon. Given that the restaurant is located by the harbor, I expected to see fresh oysters or some other unique seafood dishes, but there was nothing like that.
The artichoke hearts were fine, but again, nothing special—just deep-fried artichokes on a plate. If you’re looking for something truly outstanding, Cynara might not be the place.
All in all, it was a decent experience, but I won’t be rushing back anytime soon.
… moreWe decided to share two appetizers and one main dish, knowing that American portions can be huge. I believe it’s totally reasonable to order one dish to share when the portions are so large, and we weren’t starving either. We ordered the artichoke hearts, lamb skewers, and duck in pomegranate sauce, which was priced at $48. When I order a dish for $48, I expect it to be excellent. I didn’t want to risk trying the $60 steaks or filet mignon because I wasn’t feeling confident about the place.
The cocktail I ordered didn’t impress me much either. I typically enjoy cocktails, but this one didn’t stand out and didn’t make me want another. The food itself was fine—nothing special at all. The dishes looked as plain in photos as they tasted.
As for the duck, my husband didn’t like it at all. The texture didn’t appeal to him. Personally, I’ve eaten duck at several upscale restaurants, so I know it was cooked to a good medium-rare, with a nice sear on the skin. However, I believe the sauce should not have been poured directly over the duck—some people might prefer to have it on the side. The pomegranate seeds were probably the best part of the dish, and the sauce wasn’t bad, but overall, it didn’t feel like anything memorable.
I’ll give credit where it’s due—the service was great. The staff, especially the hostess who seated us and our server, were friendly, attentive, and made an effort to provide good service.
But despite the nice service, I didn’t enjoy the meal, and I don’t feel compelled to return. The overall experience didn’t live up to the hype. If you’re expecting a “high-end” place, I’d say this restaurant doesn’t quite deliver on that front. It’s an okay spot, but not remarkable.
One more thing—I love seafood, and I was surprised that the seafood offerings here were limited to a soup, pasta, and salmon. Given that the restaurant is located by the harbor, I expected to see fresh oysters or some other unique seafood dishes, but there was nothing like that.
The artichoke hearts were fine, but again, nothing special—just deep-fried artichokes on a plate. If you’re looking for something truly outstanding, Cynara might not be the place.
All in all, it was a decent experience, but I won’t be rushing back anytime soon.
Angie
We had brunch here and it was delicious. Definitely underrated. This please should be full of brunchers but I don’t think everyone knows about this place. We will continue to come.
… moreRae
Cynara was a second choice for valentines day dinner with my husband. We were excited to try a new place, even though the price point was a bit higher than we think was appropriate. The food was good, I had the filet with a lobster tail (totaling over 100 for one entree) and husband had the ribeye, which left something to be desired. The shrimp appetizer was good, but our server was very strange, and very slow, and made us feel pretty awkward. We saw two other tables who were seated after us receive their entrees before us, and it took over an hour to get our entrees after ordering. All in all, probably wont be back. I would consider trying again on a non-holiday, but the price point was pretty high for a meal we could have made at home.
… moreAndre D
A great spot for food and drink! We had the pleasure of being served by Jamey and Jamey (Jsquared) they were fast friendly and attentive. The food was great and full of flavor. As you walk in the door the aromas make you want to sample everything! If you like bread pudding, inquire within
… moreDaniel Hess
The lamb stew was surprisingly good, but the artichoke pasta with chicken was watery and underseasoned. The chicken tasted like generic food‑service product—fake char lines and all—and wasn’t worth the $8 upcharge. The atmosphere was uncomfortably cold, and the server mentioned they don’t control the temperature. The dining room was sparsely attended, and it wasn’t hard to understand why.
To their credit, the server was solid and knew the menu well. Still, the preset tip starting at 20%, with prompts for even higher amounts, felt out of place given the mediocre food at premium prices.
… moreTo their credit, the server was solid and knew the menu well. Still, the preset tip starting at 20%, with prompts for even higher amounts, felt out of place given the mediocre food at premium prices.
Caleb Aguilar
Awesome dinner that we have. I had the seafood rose pasta, it was so perfectly good. The employees were very nice and gave us details of what the food and drinks are. Good service there.
… moreJin Jin
I never thought I would be writing a review like this, especially for a restaurant I have genuinely loved and supported for years. Cynara has been a place I frequent regularly—both personally and professionally. I’ve brought family, hosted business meetings, and returned time and time again because of the consistently excellent food, atmosphere, and service. In particular, Christina and Bethany have been outstanding servers over the years. They know my order, know my children, and have always treated our family with kindness and professionalism.
Unfortunately, my most recent visit was one of the most upsetting restaurant experiences I’ve ever had—not because of the food or our server, but due to an interaction that left me shocked and deeply disappointed.
During our meal, a bartender I had never seen before approached our table and told me that my son, who is on the autism spectrum, was not allowed to use the restroom because he kept washing his hands and kept dripping dripping water on the floor. In that moment, I completely lost my appetite. I was stunned that in Olympia, Washington, a child with special needs could be told he was not permitted to use a public restroom.
I am not asking for special treatment. I am simply asking for basic human dignity. My son washes his hands frequently because of sensory needs—typically three to four times when we’re out in public. This behavior is harmless and manageable, and in the past, Cynara staff—including Bethany, Christina, management, and other servers—have always treated us with grace, understanding, and compassion.
I asked to speak with a manager, and when Wade came out, he was extremely understanding and apologetic. He even offered to comp my meal. I declined, paid the bill so I could tip our server, and left shortly after. Wade also generously provided a $40 gift certificate and expressed genuine concern. While I appreciated his professionalism, the damage had already been done.
As much as I care for the majority of the staff, enjoy the atmosphere, and love the food, I cannot overlook the fact that a family was made to feel unwelcome because of a child’s disability. One interaction—one person—was enough to undo years of positive experiences.
If you visit Cynara, you will likely enjoy the food, wine, cocktails, and most of the service staff. However, if you are dining with someone who has special needs, sensory sensitivities, or stimming behaviors, I feel compelled to share that you may not be treated with the same level of acceptance—perhaps not by everyone, but by at least one individual.
And sometimes, that’s all it takes.
… moreUnfortunately, my most recent visit was one of the most upsetting restaurant experiences I’ve ever had—not because of the food or our server, but due to an interaction that left me shocked and deeply disappointed.
During our meal, a bartender I had never seen before approached our table and told me that my son, who is on the autism spectrum, was not allowed to use the restroom because he kept washing his hands and kept dripping dripping water on the floor. In that moment, I completely lost my appetite. I was stunned that in Olympia, Washington, a child with special needs could be told he was not permitted to use a public restroom.
I am not asking for special treatment. I am simply asking for basic human dignity. My son washes his hands frequently because of sensory needs—typically three to four times when we’re out in public. This behavior is harmless and manageable, and in the past, Cynara staff—including Bethany, Christina, management, and other servers—have always treated us with grace, understanding, and compassion.
I asked to speak with a manager, and when Wade came out, he was extremely understanding and apologetic. He even offered to comp my meal. I declined, paid the bill so I could tip our server, and left shortly after. Wade also generously provided a $40 gift certificate and expressed genuine concern. While I appreciated his professionalism, the damage had already been done.
As much as I care for the majority of the staff, enjoy the atmosphere, and love the food, I cannot overlook the fact that a family was made to feel unwelcome because of a child’s disability. One interaction—one person—was enough to undo years of positive experiences.
If you visit Cynara, you will likely enjoy the food, wine, cocktails, and most of the service staff. However, if you are dining with someone who has special needs, sensory sensitivities, or stimming behaviors, I feel compelled to share that you may not be treated with the same level of acceptance—perhaps not by everyone, but by at least one individual.
And sometimes, that’s all it takes.
Valentina Banica
I was impressed with how the food tasted. I’ve tried the lamb stew and my husband had the lamb skewers!
For dessert we had the homemade baklava, with ice cream! Delicious!!!
We will definitely come back here!
… moreFor dessert we had the homemade baklava, with ice cream! Delicious!!!
We will definitely come back here!