Oliveto Restaurant
(510) 547-5356
5655 College Ave
Oakland,
CA
94618
37.8437
-122.2518
Neighborhood: Rockridge
What People Are Saying About Oliveto Restaurant
The Editor
Contributor
Citysearch
The Scene
Oliveto is actually two restaurants in one: a casual cafe with much-coveted outdoor tables on the ground floor, and a more formal restaurant up a sweeping staircase on the second floor. The restaurant, located in the heart of Rockridge, has a pleasant Tuscan-villa feel, with a crackling fireplace and lush flower arrangements. Service is pleasant and knowledgeable.
The Food
The menu changes daily, but recent highlights have included succulent spit-roasted Niman Ranch beef, toothsome rabbit pâté, fresh mozzarella with baby artichokes and luscious squid-ink pasta with white shrimp and basil. Grass-green spinach ravioli, unadorned but for a dribble of olive oil, sometimes seems like it needs more than plain sheep's milk-ricotta filling. The downstairs cafe's menu is built around the wood-fired brick oven, with cold plates and salds side-by-side with pizzas and baked pastas.
User Reviews
Anonymous
March 21, 2008
I have been wanting to write a review for Oliveto for a while since it's always excellent and finally just had to after eating lunch there yesterday! Amazing! I had their 'ham &cheese', it was with mozzarella, tomato conserva and pancetta...panini style. Then I had their pine needle ice cream with pinenut praline...yum! Their pastas are house made and the flavor combinations are brilliant! Their menu also changes daily, so it's a good idea to check ahead of time and see if you like it. Once you're there, do not be afraid to ask about the menu or 'what's especially good tonight'. Their servers have to come in early to be trained on how to describe each dish on their menu they are serving for the evening. It's the way they describe your food to you that makes it even more delicious!
read full reviewAnonymous
December 19, 2007
I absolutely love this place. I go there as often as I can afford. It's worth every penny though. They have two sections: Upstairs and the cafe. All the hot food from the cafe is prepared in the brick oven next to the bar and is a bit cheaper but still awesome. It's first come first serve. Upstairs is the main event. The dining room is beautiful. The dishes are all very close to authentic country Italian food. This isn't spaghetti and meatballs. Think more salted pork belly with arugula. The menu changes constantly. Desert is always fantastic. Their wine list is superb, extensive, and reasonably priced (it's about a straight double.) I love this place.
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phields
November 12, 2007
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.
read full reviewThe Details on Oliveto Restaurant
The Extras:
A private dining room is available for special occasions.
Category:
Payment Methods:
American Express, Carte Blanche, Diners Club, Visa, MasterCard
Restaurant Special Features:
Quiet, Notable Chef, Online Reservations, Dine At The Bar, Notable Wine List
