Olivia restaurant features Mediterranean flavors with seasonal, responsibly and locally sourced ingredients and modern techniques, striking a balance between innovation and tradition.
Offering signature cocktails and a diverse menu of Mediterranean cuisine inspired by Spain, Italy, Portugal, Greece, Morocco, and beyond in a beautiful, welcoming environment Olivia is the revamp of its predecessor,
NoPa.
Olivia features a menu that highlights shared plates, large plates, and a wine list that is priced to welcome exploration of a variety of vintages with special attention to wines of the Mediterranean region. Closest Metro is Gallery Place - Chinatown.
This Friday night, we ate dinner at Olivia before watching a musical at nearby National Theater. The menu was full of enticing items, but we finally settled on a couple small plates to share. To start, we tried the
Savory Chicken Bastilla with green harissa and pistachio wrapped in a flaky phyllo. This humble dish blew my mind how delicious it was. The shredded chicken inside was tender and full of flavor.
Another savory dish was the
Chickpea Ravioli with Mushroom ‘Bolognese’ topped with Pecorino Fonduta. The mushrooms were hearty and full of earthy flavor. Only two small raviolis are in this portion, just enough for each person to taste.
We also ordered the
Galician Style Octopus Carpaccio that was paprika poached and served with pickled potatoes, Peri-Peri aioli, and topped with chicharron for crunch. The octopus had interesting texture and was tangy from the vinegar.
For his main course, Keith ordered the
Braised Short Rib served in a tagine with ancient grains, carrot hummus, rapini, and Medjool dates. The meat was easy to tear apart with a fork, but the carrot hummus was a bit too sweet for his liking.
I ordered the
Whole Roasted Bronzino with fennel-olive salad and orzo with chickpeas. The fish was served de-boned and topped with Bouillabaisse jus. A spicy Sauce Rouille was served on the side. The fish was very fresh and meaty. I was too full to eat the entire thing, but enjoyed it very much.
Overall, the service was friendly and informative. Despite how crowded the dining room was, I did not feel rushed at all, which is a huge plus. The food was amazing - I loved every dish and am looking forward to returning soon to try all the other dishes that caught my eye.
Total Rating:
4.08
Food: 4.5, Price: 3.5, Service: 3.5, Ambience: 3, Accessibility: 5
