Oliveto Caf??? & Restaurant

11/12/07

Why is this place always hyped up as so wonderful?

by phields at Citysearch

We gave this restaurant another try after 7 years of a boycott because our friends wanted to go there. Boy, was this a regret!

Our waiter was unfriendly and acted like he was bothered to describe the dishes on the menu. But we had to ask because we couldn't understand anything on the menu. They try too hard to try to make the menu sound fancy with pasta names,etc. but it's annoying. It's not like we are hillbillies from another planet - we go out to fancy restaurants all the time and consider ourselves foodies.

When I finally got my fancy-can't say the name pasta, it was horrible. It tasted like dog food! To be sure I was not out of my mind, I had the other 3 people at my table taste it and it agreed. Yuck! I had to send it back and switch it out for the fish which was edible but not that much better. These people are the smartest people on earth! Let's serve crappy, can't say the name pasta and other food because people won't know the difference anyway. Well, only non-foodies or someone without a taste bud!

We will never return to this restaurant again. They can fool other diners but we done with the charade.

• Pros: Location
• Cons: Food, service, menu wording (no descriptions - just fancy pasta names)

07/29/07

Sooooo, is this what is all about?

by nydaniele at Citysearch

Probably the chef would be better off staying in the kitchen (probably) instead of making some bad imitation of salumi.

Disappointing dinner and disappointing his salumi that I have tried several times.

From a native Italian (from Piemonte) point of view, tonight's dinner was merely ok, carne cruda was not anything close to what it should be (why the hard-boiled egg, there should be a raw egg yolk in there, or are you afraid no one is going to order it?). The pasta was overcooked and the bolognese way too spiced up. Sorry but you can't still (and probably never could) call yourself authentic.

Ciao.

• Pros: Nice ambiance
• Cons: poor cooking skills

07/19/07

Oliveto - Past Thier Prime.

by tandmsimmons at Citysearch

Been there before but will not be back again. The service was lean and hurried making you feel somewhat unwelcome, not a smile or suggestion to be found. We were promptly notified that of six entree's on the menu only four were available to us. Well I didn't go there for steak or chicken so now I'm down to two items. The SMALLISH plates were very good leaving you begging for desert which could have salvaged the evening however the desert was simply an enticement for what must have been a cruel joke. Some soupy toppings were poured on a plate and served up ... I was astonished. If you can't make desert just say so at least the time and money would have been spent else where, which is where I will dine next.

• Pros: Near Bart
• Cons: They will not live up to their reputation for food or service.