Olivia
Berkeley, CA 94702
Phone: (510) 548-2322
- Cross Street:
- Sacramento Street
- Hours:
- Tue-Sat 5:30pm-10pm
Editorial Review for Olivia – by Gina Goff
In Short
Chef Nathan Peterson, a Bay Wolf alum, prepares a short but diverse menu of upscale bistro fare in this tiny west Berkeley space. Dishes within each course--appetizers, entrees and desserts--are priced uniformly. Offerings typically include Dungeness crab cake appetizers, entrees such as Half Moon Bay halibut and desserts like wild blackberry ice cream. The all-French wine list offers several sparkling, red, white and rosé options; four are available by the glass.
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User Reviews for Olivia
10/06/2006 Posted by coyotl
We got there on a week night and the restaurant had only one other set of customers. Nonetheless, the atmosphere was cozy, with a fireplace and a stone Buddha in a wall niche. Appetizers were OK, the food was good, if sparse. The swordfish (excellent marinade, sauce!) was accompanied by a couple of (well done) carrots... Creme brulee was excellent, one of the best i've had in the Bay Area. The wines (per glass) were nothing to write home about, we tried a Sancerre and a Cote du Rhone, both simple table wines without much character. Anyway. This is a cozy, intimate space. Prices are good, service OK.
Pros: ambience
Cons: wine
07/29/2005 Posted by haloevans
As a former regular customer of A La Carte at the same location, my husband and I finally visited Olivia 3 months after their opening with a high expectation. We both were pleasantly surprise and delighted to have such a great eatery in our neighborhood. In order to get a taste of this new restaurant's style, we shared several appetizers and one main course and one dessert. The corneal with smoke trout was absolutely amazing, great balance of flavors. I was worried the sauce might be too heavy for my taste, but boy we cleaned up the plate by asking for more bread to dip in to each dish and wiped them clean! Wonderful ambience, I was a bit disppointed that they took out the built-in booths from the old establishedment which I was very fond of. But I came to enjoy the brightness and openess and will return soon!
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