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"The food here is absolutely succulent and delicious. I went during restaurant week and was able to sample an appetizer, entree, and dessert…" read more »
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Table for 5 guys celebrating a very good business deal. Two staying in Boston at the Lenox and three of us driving in from the 'burbs. Olives is easy to get to and absolutely has the best valet parking going. Courteous and attentive valets who have been there awhile. Parking is a big issue for me as I don't like garages and dealing with them takes away from the entire dining experience ..especially after the meal.
So in we go for our 6:00 reservations and we are seated at a table I have sat at for more than 15 years. The sectioned off one over by the kitchen that wraps around. Perfect. First let me tell you our waiter was Sean and he was the best server I have ever had wait on me. He was attentive, understood the menu cold, super well-spoken and with a great personlity.
Olives' has made a perfect martini for all of these 15 years I've been going there back when the walls were brick and not glass! The 3 olives are kick ass and really don't overpower the flavor of the vodka with that terrible olive juice taste.
Back to Sean....this guy pours a beer with the pilsner glass and the tray attached via his thumb and forfinger to make the entire pour seem effortless and ....you can't take you eyes off the process.
We asked the chef to cook up some of his favorite appetizers for us. A true treat as the tuna tartar was so well put together so that you enjoyed the larger than normal bites of tuna and the flavor not disguised in some overpowering sauce. The Duxbury Oysters are almost on par with Wellfleets. Actually a larger oyster in a deeper shell makes for easier eating. This comes with 3 different sauces of the typical cocktail, vinegar and pepper and finally a unique shaved ice and what I would describe as a spicy gazpacho (sp) flavor. All just perfect but never put too much on. I could go on about the pasta dishes.
Main courses were swordfish, Nantucket scallops, and a braised lamb shank. From the comments, the meal and the flavors were perfect. I think the chef couldn't have added a few more scallops on the plate as it looked more of an appetizer portion to me. Spinach side was delightful as well as some fries thrown in and damn I forgot the OR's.
Desserts were all nailed and enjoyed! Wines were a chard and Pinot and I have since forgotten the labels but both fairly prices for the quality.
Been here many times..Never ceases to amaze and the atmosphere is once again perfect. It is truly a well run establishment with a interesting menu.
For the past 2 years I have been talking about going to Olives. I'm not sure if its my fascination with Todd English or...well, its really just my fascination with him. Well tonight the boy indulged my creepy fantasy and made a reservation for us!
I started my meal off the tuna tartare. The spice was just right and the fun little shrimp on the bottom were a nice crispy addition. My date had one of the specials, the butternut squash soup with duck confit. I'm guessing by the big goofy grin on his face that it was excellent.
After downing a disgusting amount of bread and olives we moved on to our main meals of Corn & Ricotta Agnolotti for me and Seared Sea Scallops for him.
The ricotta agnolotti w/ brown butter crab? A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. It was a much larger serving than I expected and the corn added just the sweetness this savory dish needed. There were a couple of red hot peppers thrown in there for good measure that really rounded the meal out.
The scallops were delicious too, but it was really hard to compare to my dish. I won the entree round for sure.
After 2 dishes and a yummy Bellini, we couldn't even begin to think about dessert. Just another reason for us to make a return trip!
We ate at Olives in Las Vegas and Charlestown & loved em both
Food - Superb
Service - Flawless
Decor - Fun and Happening
What can I say? This is how a restaurant is supposed to be run.
Polite valet parkers
Friendly accomadating hostess
A menu that impresses in it's conception and execution
Highlights - Asparagus Gruyere Tart and Boneless short rib cannelloni.... dessert tower of cookies and Cupcakes is very impressive and what a finale to a great meal
Bottom line... Todd English speaks my language
so I came back to Olive's after swearing it off 3 years ago. I have to say that after 3 years I'm still equally unimpressed. Other than the beef carpaccio the food is rather bland and unimaginative which is very surprising given the "caliber" of this restaurant and celebrity chef.
My date had the "signature" bass entree and frankly it tasted like it was advertised as "being on the menu for 20 years"... time to revisit the menu. I had the braised short ribs and thought it was overly smoky in flavor as if the smoke was being used to mask any semblance of creativity and flavor. Heck, if I wanted smoked meat I would have gone for BBQ.
We hoped that the dessert would redeem this place but after tasting the "pumpkin cheesecake" it was just another let down. Frankly, I've tasted pumpkin pie out of a can that had better texture and flavor than this excuse for a dessert.
Don't waste your hard earned dollars on a place that has decided to rest on its laurels... there are so much better places to eat in boston that put olives to shame.
Eh. The food is what you would expect of a place of this caliber but I wouldn't say that it was… Read more »
W.O.W. is all I can say. Everything was absolutely amazing, from the moment we walked into the restaurant to the moment we left. Yes--it is a bit expensive. But it is absolutely worth it. The portions are huge and everything, and I mean EVERYTHING was PHE-nomenal. The space is a little small so try to ask for a window seat.
We were seated right next to the open kitchen and were able to see a lot of the dishes before they went to the tables. I wanted to try the beef carppacio so bad but it was so big and no one else liked beef carpaccio so I decided not to order that. We did order the side of onion strings. It came in a basket probably a foot hight. It was massive. As for entrees, I went with the braised short-ribs, my fiance went with the pork chop, and our friends went with the wood-grilled swordfish and the wood-grilled chicken. My short ribs were sooo delicious and tender--they literally fell off the bone with one touch of my fork. The pork chop, the fish, and the chicken were also quite delicious.
For dessert, we ordered the warm cookie plate with 3 types of ice cream and the chocolate mousse creme brulee. I have to admit that the warm cookie plate was defintiely my favorite, with an assortment of cookies and ice cream.
Way to go Todd English. I absolutely am in love with this restaurant. I wasn't that big of a fan of Bonfire or Kingfish, but you've won me over with Olives.
I have lived in Charlestown for two years and this was my first trip to Olives. I would go back in a heart beat! The atmosphere was loud, and spaces were tight, but it was well worth the organized chaos!
Don't miss out on the beef carpaccio! Melt-in-your-mouth tender beef over a perfectly cooked potato cake. Amazing. Also the butternut squash soup was perfect for a fall evening. Sweet with a spicy kick at the end...perfection!
As the restaurant filled up, service became a little bit more pushy...I think we got asked three or four times if we were finished with our appetizer. This is the only reason that Olives did not get 5 stars. But, if you are looking for a great meal in a chic atmosphere and don't want to bother going downtown, Olives is the place for you!
DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE!!!
I've lived in Charlestown for 4 years and have always wanted to go to Olive's, having heard how 'wonderful' it was. While I am glad to report that I finally had the chance to go, I have to say, I was NOT impressed and would never recommend them to anyone. Not even as an experience.
The ambiance was horribly dark and loud, and sitting in the corner by the window was nothing close to romantic. I could barely read my lackluster (i.e. not very innovative) menu. The only reason I give them 2 and not 1 star was their carpaccio appetizer. It was huge and very tasty - enough for 4 people for sure.
The entree I had was the bass. We were told this was a signature dish that has been on the menu for 20 years. Well frankly, I think it's time to take it off. We were told it was a hybrid bass combination of sea bass and perch. If I tasted anything, it was the fishyness perch and not the sea bass (which is my favorite fish). The potatoes were the really soft, mushy kind of mash - almost like a grit/porridge - but with way too much salt. The only reason I can think this would be a good dish is if you always had some potato and fish - the saltiness and bland/fishyness cancel each other out. And of course dessert: the pumpkin cheesecake. Talk about dry. And supposedly this was a fresh on the menu item - curious to know what it tastes like after it's been on the menu a few weeks. Like cardboard?
Finally, the service was lackluster. While we were there, we heard some dishes being dropped at the bar, the couple next to us had a whole bottle of wine spilled on the floor next to them, and I had to wave down my waiter across the dining hall to get a water refill. Oh, but he was always happy to pour my $70 wine. Go figure.
On top of everything else, the place is not just over-rated on food, but over-priced. Even if the entrees cost closer to $20 (instead of the $32+), I would not recommend Olive's. You can find way better food at a more reasonable price and better location elsewhere. (And remember, I live in Charlestown so I actually like the location.)
Again, the only reason for rating it 2 stars is the fact you could probably spend $80 on the carpaccio and Malbec and have at least a semblance of something good to eat. IF you want to spend that much. If you want to have a Todd English food experience, try Figs down the street or Kingfish Hall in Faneuil Hall. Much better food and way more reasonably priced.
PS This was my first Yelp review and I thought so badly of the experience that I had to set the public straight.
I. love. Olives.
And, I want to give a particular shout out to Sean, who was our curly-haired, spunky server for the evening. It seems like other Yelpers have had pretty disappointing service here-- I have to admit, after the hostess neglected to seat us (even though we had made a reservation and she sat 4 parties-- of older and more "classy" looking folks-- before even telling us when we could expect a seat), I was gearing up for a shoddy service experience. But Sean is the man. SO friendly, SO accommodating, even almost to the point where you're like, "Ok. Where's the happy juice and when did you drink it, because you can't possibly be THAT nice." But, oh, he was. Todd English, this man deserves a raise and/or golden trophy. Your pick.
Anyway, I have to admit-- never was a huge fan of Todd English. I'm sure he's a nice bloke, but I'm always very skeptical when it comes to "celebrity chefs." Plus, after all the hoopla over breech of health codes a few years back... I was nervous.
However, I stand before you, today, a corrected Yelper. Olives has TOTALLY REDEEMED ITSELF.
Where to begin... we started with Classic Bellinis. Perfect blend of Prosecco and peach. Delicious. Then, since we were feeling a bit adventurous, we started with the Foie Gras Flan. Hold on, PAUSE: I have to note that the bread (foccacia?) and olives (cute) they provide you are ah-may-zing! So tasty. Ok, on to the FGF: interesting. And actually... really good. Texture is a little... hmm. But the taste was great. Not overly game-y. Just really, though oddly, good. And was served on a bed of the most incredibly mushrooms that complimented the earthiness of the foie gras, perfectly.
For my entree, I tried the Tortelli of Butternut Squash. Hand-rolled pasta, packed with squash and served with brown butter, sage, and parmesan. I ate every last bit of it. Barely remembered to offer a bite to my dining companion because that's just how involved I was. So incredible. Perfect balance of savory and sweet. Melt-worthy.
But the crowning accomplishment for me was the dessert. Chocolate Mousse Creme Brulee. I salivate at the thought of it. A light fudgy chocolate cake EXPLODES with creamy, dark chocolate sauce inside. Add to that a raspberry drizzle, homemade Oreo crumble, and some homemade Tahitian vanilla bean ice cream... this was everything I ever wanted chocolate to be. Most incredible dessert. I literally, to the chargrin of my friend and perhaps the entire restaurant and/or institution of fine dining etiquette, I literally licked the plate clean (ok, not tongue to plate... finger to plate. I am not above embarrassing myself over a good meal). And when Sean, the aforementioned awesome waiter, saw this, he not only commended me (he likes a girl that can eat!) but he also brought us a bunch of free cookies (macarons and homemade oreos).
I left filled to the brim and deliriously happy. Definitely one of the best dining experiences I've ever had. And a great first adventure to Charlestown! Completely worth the haul!
We are very excited to have Olives and Todd English cater our wedding. The food at Olives is simply wonderful and unique. The food is so beautiful when it comes out you almost don't want to eat it. You want to take a picture of yourself next to it to show your friends. Anyway this is going to be one of the highlights of our wedding day.
I was prepared not to love Olives because the corporate empire/celeb chef thing sorta depresses me. I was also a bit wary based on what I'd read about spotty service.
So, I was more than pleasantly surprised. The service was not just attentive...they seemed like genuinely nice people.
More importantly, every dish was spot on. We were impressed that they offer a price fixe meal even on a Friday night. It seemed like a bargain that one of several different lobster preparations, one of many apps, and a dessert is $32. My wife went for that but too many other options were calling me.
I went for the grilled octopus/squid app and the duck entree. Both were terrific. They do great things with the grill there. Nice to taste wood smoke on seafood. That app comes in a broth that will inhabit my dreams for some time. The duck is interesting because it's like two dishes in one--some is prepared confit and the rest is a breast cooked to order. The desserts looked amazing but I was too full to partake (fear not carmelized banana tiramisu...I'll be back).
The physical space is warm and inviting with the open kitchen. The olives and bread are, as you would expect, outstanding.
My only complaints are quite minor: it gets very noisy when it's full (going early is an easy way to avoid this) and they play the wrong music for that situation...all you wind up hearing is a sort of fast dance beat that does match relaxing food to be savored. The side dishes seem particularly over priced. Garlicky spinach is my sorta thing but for $8.25, I'd want a pound of spinach. If 4.5 were an option that's what I'd give them but I feel like their overall rating is unfairly low so it's a full 5 stars for this happy camper.
Dear Olives,
I was so excited to meet you. I'd heard how great you were, how beautiful, how tasty, how you were so caring and attentive. i thought Restaurant Week would be the perfect time to introduce myself; however, I was a little taken aback with your snippy message informing me that if I didn't show up for our date within 15 minutes of our said appointment, you'd leave me for someone else. Gasp!
Upon my arrival, I was welcomed by your friend who would be "taking care" of us for the evening. Upon ordering your yummy food, he was quite irritated when I told him I wanted to wait until I was through with my main dish until I ordered my dessert. Your friend with the big glasses was NOT very nice. In fact, he was rude. Borderline mean. He said "Well, please let me know AS SOON AS POSSIBLE when you know what you want". He really put the pressure on, so I decided halfway through my main course. But he was nowhere to be found, until he was flagged down.
Your food tasted great. The scallops were perfectly cooked, and the couscous & spinach pesto was to die for. The clams appetizer was yummy, too. Dessert- YES! The only generously sized portion of the evening. The lemon chiffon cake and passion fruit mouse is a phenomenal flavor combination, and you were so creative incorporating coconut "nougats" (psssss... they were really marshmallows). The passion fruit and papaya sauces were puckeringly sweet/tangy. A little too much, so. Overall, you served a fantastic meal, but $33.03 fantastic? Questionable.
You were nice to me, Olives. But your friend with the glasses was not. If he was a real friend of yours, he would have offered to call me and my dining partner a cab rather than tell us "oh, they come by about every five minutes". Well, it's 20 degrees out, so that doesn't sound too appealing. He also acted like he was working on commission. The pushy upsell on drinks, wine, coffee, etc. Not tasteful and left a sour feeling in my mouth.
If you get new friends (BETTER SERVICE!!!!!!!!!!) I might be back. You looked good, tasted great. But friends say a lot about a person and your friend made a bad impression.
Love,
Sara
A Todd English restaurant. Extremely good food. Very pricey.
They do great on their fish dishes but I know a lot of people who think their steaks are even better.
This place a a great old style bar. Its a limited menu, but a great place to stop for a salad and a glass of wine after work.
Delicious? Yes. Expensive? Yes. Worth it? Maybe. If you love food to the point that you budget for it so that with relative regularity you can dine out at fine restaurants then this is most definitely a place you should try. However, if you are looking to celebrate something and you would like a complete experience that satisfies all your senses for one of the most memorable evenings then this might not be for you. Because really, the place is about food. Yes, very very good food.
We (party of 4) had a great dinner at Olive's on a Saturday night. I was wary of snobby wait staff but our waiter was WONDERFUL. He was very professional and proper, as befits a restaurant like Olive's, but he was also nice and had no attitude. It was possibly the best service I've received in the Boston area.
My husband had the braised short ribs which he raved about. I had the steak frites which was very good. For dessert we split the vanilla souffle which was heavenly.
Once upon a time Olive's did not take reservations, but they do now. The restaurant was busy, but we did not have to wait for our table. Parking in Charlestown is always a challenge, but the restaurant does have valet service for $20. Dining like this doesn't come cheap, but I'd rather go out to eat less frequently and spend more at a place like Olive's than waste my money elsewhere (see my review of P.F. Chang's in Peabody for an example of what I'm talking about...).
I've lived in Boston 9 years and I just made it to Olives. In part because of their New (?) reservations system (they now take them) and in part because I don't get to Charlestown too often. I have to say, everything was AWESOME. From the service to the drinks (our server had us tell her what we wanted our drink to taste like and made it special) to the food, everything was GREAT. I highly recommend the Yellowfin Tuna Tartare (it has rock shrimp under it - YUM), and the Wood GrilledSteak Frites. I shared this with a friend along with the Tortelli of Butternut Squash which was delish but very rich. My husband had the Short Ribs which he loved, but I found VERY heavy and a bit smoky. We had a bunch of desserts as well (it was my bday) and all in all, it was fantastic. Up there with Union in South End.
This was my first stop for restaurant week this round, and I have to say it was the best experience so far. The stars would be more like 3.5, because our server wasn't that great. So 4 stars if we had sat at another table.
Points gained: Veggie options on their menu (even for restaurant week). Casual atmosphere. Love the open kitchen. Delicious food, great portion sizes. Fantastic desserts...
Points lost: Sangria that was made to order (with maraschino cherries - huh?). The boy got the clam appetizer which he said was too salty. It's loud, really hard to carry on a conversation with the people at your table.
Would I be back? Yes. For the prices though it's definitely more of a restaurant week/special occasion choice than just a casual dinner.
Went to restaurant week with my mom and brother.
Food was good, Bro and I had tenderloin mom had the pork chop. For Appetizers, I had lobster, seafoody soup (forget what its called). Mom had some Mediterranean pasta and beans dish and brother had eggplant, feta, lamb. It was about as good as you expect for a highly regarded restaurant. The meat was tender and tasty, but nothing out of this world. Pork chop was more interesting than the tenderloin. For the Appetizers the lamb/eggplant took the cake the other two were fine, but again nothing out of this world.
At this point I would give Olives a 3.5/4. However lets talk about the music. We get there at 7:30 for our reservation, some nice jazz playing in the background, maybe a little loud, but its not annoying. 8 PM hits suddenly i hear "unce unce unce unce" Techno music...what the? Its loud but with some effort I can ignore it. Then 9 PM hits volume up! Now I'm pissed, I can hardly hear my Mom and Brother because of the crap techno music being played, the acoustics or something in the place suck so its noisy anyways. Blah...
On top of all this the waiter was slow and weird. When we finally finished desert, the dude disappeared for about 15 minutes before we had to ask ANOTHER server to find him. At a restaurant this hyped this should not be case.
Sorry the food was fine, but I expect more out of a place of this caliber. I will not be going back
We went for the Open Table Appetite Stimulus Plan - a three course meal for $35, and tried:
Wood Grilled Country Ham, Frise salad, walnut croutons, shallot vinaigrette - served with a single long crouton. The salad was nice and light. The ham was served in large slices.
Ricotta Gnocchi, olives, mozzarella, capers - actually served in a fresh tomato sauce, tangy with the soft pillows. Nice, but I'd probably try something else next time.
***
Winter Flounder, Lobster macaroni & cheese, wilted spinach, lobster sauce - small portion of plain tasting fish, only found a few little bits of lobster.
Petite Fillet Mignon, free form mushroom lasagna, rosemary & percerino - the thin slice of beef was very tender and tasty. The free form mushroom lasagna was actually more like free form ravioli, with chopped up mushrooms wrapped between two sheets of pasta.
The dessert course was the highlight for me:
Peach & Coconut Bread Pudding, toasted coconut, sweetened cream & butterscotch sauce - moist and yummy. I enjoyed the dairy flavor of the whipped cream which initally fooled me into thinking it was a scoop of ice cream.
Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta, Mango & blueberry melba - mmmm... creamy!
Solid four stars for Olives! Went in last night with my best friend and my boyfriend before heading to the Navy Yard to watch the fireworks from his parents boat. We grabbed the end spot at the bar and ordered drinks and asked for menus. The bartender was super friendly and brought the drinks and menus right away. We only had about a half an hour to eat so we ordered their version of a greek salad, the chicken wings in habaneros sauce with cucumber and icicle radish, and the calamari. The greek salad was very well done. It had a feta cream that pretty much tasted like heaven, and the lettuce was perfectly dressed with a good amount of feta and red onion. The chicken wings were so cute and delicious. The portion could be a little bigger, but it IS on the appetizer menu... I just wanted more : ). The calamari was yummy and tender but the sauce was a bit overwhelming... Next time I will get it on the side. The service was great, and we joked around with the bartender all the way out the door. Solid experience. Cant wait to go back for the full dinner. Thanks Olives... We really enjoyed our quick stop in. Kudos to the bartender for his great service.
Todd English comes across as a bit of a dink on TV, but his restaurant is great.
Went to Olives for restaurant week this year, and it was the first restaurant week meal I have had where I stuck to the menu and left full. Asparagus tart, beef tenderloin, and an actual pastry chef prepared dessert (not the usual restaurant week pudding).
Olives is a great space, that is intimate and open all at the same time. Dark colors, open kitchen, and big wrap around windows that provide a neat view of the Zakim bridge and the city from your table.
My only real complaint was the tv's at the bar. I am a big fan of tvs at bars that are...bars. At restaurants, especially smaller, more intimate, good food places like this, ditch the tvs. The bar area was cozy and cool, and would be a great place for some drinks with friends, but we don't need ESPN on in the background at Olives, really.
Tales of August 2008 Restaurant Week:
First Stop: Olive's!!!
With anticipation of greatness, I booked my Restaurant Week reservation for Olive's way in advance because it's impossible to get in here otherwise. And now, I understand why!
I love the atmosphere! The upscale, Soho-feel interior of Olives blends well with the charm of trendy brick elegance of City Sq. I loved being able to glance outside and see the Bunker Hill monument. The tables were all quite close together, which did make it a bit noisy and less private. I personally feel that the bar area would've been better dedicated to more seating but then again I didn't have to wait for a table.
Then the food and service: Mm-mm good all around! Thank you attentive staff for clearing my dishes promptly and taking the time to sweep away the table crumbs just in time for the next dish to arrive! These folks get five stars by themselves!
Honestly all the food looked great, but I highly recommend the flounder dish to anyone...the combination with the lobster macaroni and spinach is just awesome. I was pretty full by the time it got around to dessert but the strawberry rhubarb did not disappoint! I suspect that the tasty bread and olives (the place lives up to its name) and appetizer are to blame for my later lack of appetite...just a thought.
Olives was definitely well worth booking in advance! I would go back on a regular night for a special occasion, but need to deduct a star for the interior noise.
Vindicated!
The past 2-3 times I went to Olives (I live in Charlestown.....I am a creature of habit) I was dissapointed. Disappointed with the food. Disappointed with the prices. Disappointed with the service. Disappointed in general....kind of like we all are with Todd English, his NY City address, overslicked hair-do and "local guy gone commercial" persona. But I went back with my girlfriend on Friday night, and we were not disappointed at all. The fried oysters wrapped in beef carpaccio sitting snugly on top of warm mashed potatos..yum! The double thick pork chop...double thick yum! The service....well, we had a male waiter so I won't say "yum" but he was excellent (the hostess was yum!) The prices are still Boston but, heck, we live here right? Go ahead, try it again!
We love Figs so we figured we'd give Olives a try. We also had a $50 AMEX gift card to burn and figured what better way to put a present to use than a great dinner?
Well the dinner was great. The special of the night was Chatham Bay Sea Scallops, which were easily the best pan-seared scallops I have ever tasted. They were perfection. My boyfriend, on the other hand, ordered the steak frites, which was delicious but lacking anything that made it really stand out. Errr, except maybe the french fries- those were pretty damn awesome. Maybe it was more that the steak was pricier than we thought it should have been.
We also enjoyed beers and the olives and bread that the servers bring to the table. Didn't even need to order an appetizer because after three slices of delicious focaccia I was ready to roll out the door before my meal even came.
They denied us when we tried to use the gift card though. FAIL. Some reason like they'd been burned by people stealing gift cards and using them?
The atmosphere was a little dressier than most places but still casual. The location in Charlestown also gave us the opportunity to skip dessert and walk over the bridge into the North End for cannolis.
Todd English, FTW! Again.
I liked Olives, but I certainly didn't love it. My friends and I went for Restaurant Week. We showed up and were seated promptly. Apparently, etiquette says that we should place our napkins on our laps before the hostess gives us the menus. Since we don't really eat in classy places that much, we didn't know that. Instead of placing the napkin on our lap for us, or telling us that we needed to move our napkins, the hostess stared us down one by one until we figured it out. It was really rude and made me kind of uncomfortable and like I didn't belong here.
After that, the service was great. Our waiter was friendly and knowledgeable. I started the meal with a chilled golden tomato soup with crab meat, pesto and olive oil. It was a little bland, but still fairly good.
My second course was the lamb k bab. I have to say, I was a little unimpressed. The lamb was tough and not seasoned very well. The vegetables and eggplant cous cous were very good though.
The star of the meal was definitely the chocolate bread pudding. It was one of the better desserts I've had in a long time.
Portions were great considering it was three courses. I didn't feel stuffed when I left. The ambiance was beautiful also. I would probably come back during Restaurant Week, but certainly not under any other circumstances.
Been here many times over the last 8 years or so. It was phenomenal to start. Then it went way downhill for a few years. Presently it's actually quite good and worth checking out again if you happened to go to it during one of its lulls. I've been there twice in the last 3 months or so and have been pleased both times. Though the second time the mussels appetizer wasn't nearly as good as the first time (they changed to some other preparation).
So I guess i'm going to say that I've had very good experiences here overall and would give them a 23-24 on Zagats regarding food quality. My only concern is that they might be inconsistent over larger spans of time. Give them a try as I've been very pleased with their food recently.
I came here because of Restaurant Week but as it turns out both desserts on the menu had dairy in them, which i am allergic to. No big deal I tell you. I ordered off the regular menu and I'm glad I did. Everything was delicious. I am a sucker for open kitchens.
Our waiter Garry was perfect and the bus boys were on top of things. The restaurant is located right next to a very well maintained park which made for a great stroll, talk and great makeout session after dinner.
My one qualm is the parking. I refuse to valet my car as I don't exactly trust perfect strangers. I circled the block twice and couldn't find parking where a sign actually told me I could. The signage was ridiculously confusing but hey, that's not really Olive's fault now.
Nice place. Went there for a family dinner and they were kind about the fact that a member of our party showed up pretty late. I got the idea that they didn't think we belonged there, though, which was mildly annoying.
To begin we got an order of the onion rings for the table, and we were unable to finish the entire bowl. The thing is huge, and extremely oil heavy. We didn't want to fill up just on that.
I got the Chestnut Ravioli and it was bomb. My sister got the pasta sampler and we both agreed that the Chestnut Ravioli was the better choice of the three pastas on their menu. Everyone else seemed to enjoy what they got.
The server failed to present to us what our dishes were when he served them. Yes we knew what we ordered on the menu but generally at a place that serves such delicious and eclectic dishes, they add to the intrigue by at least telling you what exactly you're eating.
When I was finished eating my main course, I literally felt a bit sick to my stomach from the amount of oil I had just consumed. Every single dish seemed to be bathed in the stuff. I know its called olives but damn! I like rich food but I can't handle feeling under the weather after finishing a small pasta dish and some onion rings.
Got the carrot cheesecake and that was a great dessert to share.
All in all I thought it was a great meal, but the servers and overuse of oil really turned me off to returning often.
wow and yum!
thought the shared tables were odd, but I luckily wasn't at one of them.
Really good food. Amazing desert. nice staff. creative menu. fun atmosphere. The only reason it's not 5 stars is the location and it's expensive, but worth it!
Todd English is GOD.
Olives never disappoints. The service was super attentive, each dish perfectly executed and overall very memorable.
House smoked salmon is a must. The Halibut, seared perfectly was divine. The pea tendril pasta was very delicate (possibly a bit bland). The duck in scallion pancake was...gone before I knew it!
We typically visit Olives once a year for our son's birthday (now in college) and every time we wonder, why don't we come here more often.
Olives is a very solid restaurant year after year.
This place is GREAT for a date.
The ambiance is cozy and the lighting is low and appropriately romantic.
You can request to eat overlooking the chefs as they prepare their food. When my boyfriend and I did this, we were served extra tidbits by the head chef as he experimented.
I highly recommend the tuna tar tar.
restaurant week, mommy's treat.
fancy place. why is the music so loud? Most of these people look pretentious. whatever. todd english is dumb.
this waiter is weird. why is he smiling so creepily.
ok he is slow.. wtf i dont want to wait all day. i can deal its ok.
yum. eggplant, whipped feta, ground lamb. this is good. real good. i loveee feta.
ok im waiting again... this is getting old. pick up the pace man!
beef tenderloin. yum. this is definitely beef tenderloin... nothing too special but not bad either. shoulda got the flat bread. eh oh well
ok dessert. yum. this tastes like banana bread. which is good. but bad cause it tastes just like the banana bread me and my roommates made like 2 days ago and that cost us less than this dessert would have.
im waiting again. we have been waiting like 30 minutes for our check. get your head out of your ass waiter. are you on drugs? are you doing drugs? i dont care bring me my bill im tired and its sunday night.
in conclusion the food was in between good and very good but the service was god awful
Came here on the night that the Celtics played game 5 of the 2008 Eastern Conference Finals (they defeated the Pistons at the Garden). A friend had come into town, which made it as good of an occasion as any to check out Olives. This was my first time, though said friend had dined here before, but we were both surprised by the $15 valet parking fee. Perhaps there was public parking but we were told that all the curbside spaces were reserved.
The service was accommodating and courteous. We were able to switch tables after my companion found our initial location to be too cold. It did have a nice view though, thanks to the large-paned glass windows wrapping around much of the restaurant.
To start off, we tried out the artichoke heart on a pancake with goat cheese. The artichoke was great, although we hadn't expected an actual pancake to go along with it. I followed her lead in ordering the braised short ribs for a main course. It came on a bed of what looked like mashed potatoes (although perhaps it was "whipped turnips"?) and baby pea tendrils. The portion was well-sized and everything tasted delicious. For dessert my friend insisted on the souffle, which apparently should be ordered in advance of everything else to allow for ample prep time. It was served with vanilla ice cream and fresh cream. Needless to say, it was delicious as well.
All in all, it was well worth the visit and I look forward to going back and trying some of the other items on the menu.
I had the lamb sandwich, which was presented very well as an open-faced sandwich, though I had to admit that the lamb was a little overcooked. Someone else in my party had the spare ribs, and those were so good, falling right off the bone.
The service was excellent, and very friendly. They even took the time to make the dessert special by writing "Congratulations" on there, since we were there for a special event.
I went here 1 year ago and am still fuming!
We were seated on a midweek night at 7pm. I ordered ravioli. Our dinners were placed on our table at 9:30pm!!! Had I not bent over backwards to track down the waiter (who appeared to be intentionally avoiding us all night) after 90 minutes with NO UPDATE AS TO WHERE OUR FOOD WAS, we would have NEVER been served.
F*ck Todd English. He is an arrogant SOB.
I went here for restaurant week last night with some friends. I've always wanted to try Olives, as I've been to Kingfisher and Figs. We were given the option of either the regular menu or the restaurant week menu.
I started with a glass of Riesling, which was really good. For my appetizer, I had the la la rosa salad, which was a bunch of lettuce with a nice dressing. And some sort of biscuit underneath. It was pretty good, small, but good. I personally liked the bread served on the table; it was so so good. We were also given some green and black olives, as well as green and red tapenade, which tasted divine with the bread.
For my entree, I had the choice of the beef, pork chop, seared scallops, and roasted vegetables. I chose the scallops and I guess I was expecting more of them, than just 3. However, those 3 filled me up! They were pretty large. It also came with some rice, like a risotto. My friend had the beef and even though they didn't ask how she wanted it cooked (weird), it turned out to be perfect for her.
For dessert, I had the chocolate cake which was awesome. I didn't care for the spiked cherries (tasted very bitter), but the cake was so good, with a little caramel sauce on the plate.
Over all, I liked the food but wouldn't go back unless it was Restaurant Week. Personally, I enjoy Figs much more.
We went here for dinner on New Year's Eve. We were sat right on time for our reservation. Nice atmosphere and our table in the front window had a spectacular view- we even saw the fireworks that were going off at the Boston Common at 7pm.
We started off with bread and olives... not bad, but the olive tapenade was very salty. We then had one of the specials as an app- the Prince Edward island mussels. Very tasty.
For dinner I had the Steak Diane- was delicious except for the fact that the meat was slightly overcooked for my taste. My boyfriend had the veal osso bucco- also very good but I liked mine better. :-)
For dessert we had the falling chocolate cake for two- it was good- nothing extraordinary. Definitely small for a 2 person portion.
The service was good except for the fact that we were overcharged $53 for a bottle of wine the table next to us ordered. Good thing we checked.
All in all- a very nice place to dine.
Olive's is one of my top three destinations for great food.
I have been to Olive's over a dozen times and I can't find major flaws with the Todd English' creation and the service. You can practically pick any items in the menu and won't go wrong with your decision.
Yellowfin tuna tartare with rock shrimp is a definite crowd pleaser. Olives tart, which is made with anchovies, basil, goat cheese, and caramelized onion, can even turn a carnivore like me into a herbivore for a night. The short ribs simmered in red wine sauce is very tender and is at the top of my list along with the wood grilled steak frites that came with superb shallot jam. The crispy duck's presentation is amazing and I recommend you requested for dark meat as this will complement well with the ginger orange glaze.
The atmosphere is not Ritz carlton-like... so this will disappoint those who want to wear their suits for dinner or expecting gold-based dining table. The service is magnificent nevertheless.
Olive's is consistent, which I want in a restaurant that I like. I went here a couple years ago and then again a few weeks ago. Some of the menu items were the same as years ago (the Olive's classics). For a busy Friday night, we were seated pretty quickly. To our surprise, we were offered a couple options for tables - a table by the front windows or the "chef's table". It sounded great so we went with that.
The Chef's Table is like sitting at a bar, except the bar is the kitchen and instead of pouring drinks there are a dozen or so chefs, sous-chef and cooks preparing many amazing dishes. We watched them unwrap the carpaccio's thin layers, fry the pommes frites, prepare and then cook the ravioli, and more. The kitchen is loud and busy, so if you want quiet and romantic this isn't the spot for you. But if you like boisterous, busy, stressed-out-swearing-and-shouting this is your place. We were mesmerized by how fast the kitchen moved yet how consistent the dishes prepared were.
Perhaps the best part of the chef's table is that you can talk to the chef's, get their opinions on best dishes (ours suggested the grilled calamari (yum) and the seafood 'stew'), as well as taste test some other dishes. Our chefs were great - they entertained us food lovers and we stayed til the kitchen was closed.
So... it's kind of bad that I actually don't remember what it is I ate here, however, I do remember that I loved it here and thought the food was delicious and have been wanting to return ever since. So for now, it gets four stars until I can go back and try it again. Restaurant decor and service were fab.
I was probably unimpressed with this place to a one-star degree, but I can't help but think my own bad choices played at least some part in my dissatisfaction so... I had mercy on the place and gave it a second star.
I went to Olives for Restaurant Week. I had pored over the preview menu enough that my mind was totally made up about what I'd be ordering weeks before we actually sat down to dinner. My diet-guilt took over, however, when I voiced my selections to the waiter (who, by the way, didn't come to see us until we'd be seated for a good 15 minutes). Instead of ordering the cod cake appetizer, my mouth said "chilled tomato soup", and I immediately regretted my decision. Yes, it was a lovely soup, but, who orders the soup during Restaurant Week? Really -- soup? *sigh*.
I stuck to my convictions when ordering the entree and selected the pork chop with brown sugar peaches. This should have been a great choice, but I found the pork to be somewhat tough and dry (possibly because the chop is not my favorite cut of meat?), the peaches were delicious but far too few, and the jasmine rice was overpowering.
Dessert was yummy (i'm easy to please in this department) but unimaginative and pretty unmemorable. Warm and chocolate and gooey is not hard to do.
So -- a totally unimpressive meal for me (my boyfriend was pretty pleased with his choice of la la rosa salad and beef tenderloin), mitigated only by the fact that it was partially my fault. Only partially, though. And I'm not really inspired to go back and give it another shot.
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