Olive is such a cute cafe that serves some serious killer food. Eggs Benedict is always a favourite, but the eggs are definitely a make or break for the dish. Luckily, these eggs were done superbly and making the yolk run is always so satisfying! And wilted spinach with eggs, who doesn't love this combo! I'm still relatively new with coffee, so I enjoyed their moccachino but unsure whether it was the best cause I don't have much to compare it to!
Friendly service and great seating arrangements! Had relatively quick turnaround times even though they were operating under social distancing with Covid-19. Will definitely visit again!
Meal: Montreal
Drink: cappucino w/ cinnamon
It was a hearty meal, just as you'd expect good poached eggs with smoked salmon and hollandaise to be, no surprises. The bread was very soft and mildly buttery but not sickening. It was a good portion as well.
The coffee was aromatic and aesthetic.
I really enjoyed the interior, it had a nature sort of vibe. We were seated in an adjoining private room with a curtain to separate us from the rest of the restaurant, so it felt quite VIP.
Little bit pricy though.
Classy decor, friendly staff and beautiful food. One of the best in Wellington for a fine brunch!
Great service, awesome food especially the eggs Benedict and the big breakfast! Mimosas were a great addition to our 9 person breakfast as well! 🤪
I love Olive, the staff were friendly and accommodating. The food is always delicious and the option to sit outside is lovely, a luxury on cuba street.
Absolutely wonderful dining experience, perfect choice for celebrating our special occasion. Divine food, awesome service at an inconspicuous cool spot on Cuba. Great to have vegan choices and clearly labelled. Couldn't fault it
Great service, food, vibe all around - an ideal brunch cafe! The outdoor seating area is lively, one of our favourite spots in Wellington. Highly recommended
Very nice ambience. Not too noisy, spacious and several different areas to sit. Coffee, got chocolates and tea were excellent. Friendly service and delicious food
Lovely cafe with wonderful service. I liked their interior, makes it such a peaceful place to hangout. Just happened to wander by while exploring Cuba street and was not disappointed with our brunch and coffee. Our water kept getting refilled and the staff were friendly.
A delightful cafe located in one of Wellington's most cool streets (Cuba Street), lives up to its reputation. I was told that this cafe serves delightful food and excellent coffee, and I was not disappointed. The food is excellent and is inspired by French/Italian cuisine. The coffee is divine. And the two together served in a very beautiful ambiance completes the package.
Ask to sit outside in the back. It's covered and heated. The staff are wonderful and the food is even better, made all the more tasty in the lush green "back garden/alley" this is a great place for a date or just a nice brunch with friends.
The vegan options are great. The cashew mozzarella was a real treat with the shiitake mushrooms.
The coffee was okay (soy milk can sometimes curdle when the coffee is very bitter or too hot). If you're drinking it black or with milk, it's probably great; not everyone can do a soy latte right- it's fine.
Still, the food was very good. My partner and I had different dishes. I savoured every bite and he enjoyed his too, but wished he'd rather chosen one of the more "exotic" dishes on the menu.
All in all very good; would definitely recommend. Just give them a heads-up about the coffee if you're having it with soy milk or have a juice instead.
Robert Jaime Fernandez
+4
This place is really nice. The interior is very interesting as it is naturally finished cos of its oldness. We had our breakfast here before going back to Auckland. The staffs are friendly, a lady greeted us when we entered and lead us to its nice courtyard sitting. The food is alright. We ordered tuna melt and smoked eel. The tuna melt for me is a typical taste of tuna sandwiches (I guess they are all the same), the smoked eel is so rich but I believe it will be better if it is served warm instead as a cold food.
Over all the experience was good.
They had such a good atmosphere. They have this small little outdoor area filled with potted plants and it just gives the place this brilliant jungle, naturey feel to the place that made the meal even better. Definitely recommend it to everyone.
My partner and I were visiting Wellington and decided to have breakfast here. It looked very busy from the street so we almost thought we might not get a table. We went in and immediately were greeted by friendly staff, giving us the option of inside or out. We chose outside and were shown to a table in a really cool outdoor space through the back.
The young man that took our orders was lovely, giving us water straight away and offering coffees. He then gave us menus and gave us a little space to choose. My partner and I both had flat whites which was yum. I had eggs Benedict, and he had their big breakfast. Both of us really enjoyed our food. Eggs were poached perfectly! The waiter kept topping up our water too which was nice.
I have to say, Olive was a real treat. Food and service were fantastic. Would go back next time we are in Welly.
Their desserts are absolutely amazing. They look stunning and taste even better! I recommend the whittakers pannacotta. My friend ordered the banana mousse. Both our plates were empty when we were done. (if it wasn't a faux pas I'd have licked the plate)
Service is wonderful and staff know their menu/drinks. Look forward to trying the Hazelnut bruin by garage project upon my return.
Lovely brunch experience at Olive. The big breakfast was okay overall. I always love a well-poached flowing yolk, Olive's big breakfast had just that. The mushroom was an amazing flavour bomb. But the spinach was way too salty, combined with the already salty sausage and bacon, the meal became a struggle to finish at one point because it was overwhelming with saltiness. The portion was huge; two of us shared the big breakfast and were still left full. The homemade hash for me was okay, a little too thick and soggy. Cheese scone was so delicious and fluffy. We really enjoyed our mochas loaded with cocoa powder on the froth! Service was friendly and the atmosphere was really welcoming, we ended up staying longer than we had originally planned.
First time to Olive. Really good food (eggs cooked perfect) and coffee was good. Service was a little slow to begin with, (wasn't too busy) but serviced picked up towards the end of our meal. Ordered an Americano with hot milk and they brang water, mentioned I had ordered hot milk and they brang cold milk lol. Other than that everything was really good.
Walked into this place and it was very cool. Chilled outside area out back. Great atmosphere and service, wine list was diverse and accessible - good range of wines by the glass. All pretty happy with their food - and tasty variety on the menu. Definitely worth a re-visit.
Awesome little restaurant, menu offers something different and they will change it up to suit dislikes and allergies. The staff are the most accomodating you will come across and the food served is always quality.
Came for brunch with a friend and really enjoyed.
Food was fast and lovely, smoothies are tasty with a lot of flavour.
Peaceful but does get busy through the weekend and a bit noisy.
Foreign foodies looking to eat in Wellington at any time of the day get down to Olive, I can't praise it enough. I had dinner here with a group of eight so the dinner menu was well picked over and everyone was happy. I ordered spanakopita and although I expected it to be deconstructed it barely resembled the Greek favourite but I was over the moon with the flavour smorgasbord on my plate; the merest hint of delicate pastry, pureed peas, dahl, salad and a smooth tasting feta.
We ordered several bottles of white and red from the well-selected wine list, a few desserts and the bill came into around $70 a head, including tip.
The wait staff were very professional and it was an excellent experience all round. I will definitely be coming again.
The fish was cooked to perfection it melted in my mouth. The pickle and yogurt made a really good balance with the richness of the fish, and the serving was not big but just enough. Overall food tastes good and looks good but what made it so memorable was their customer service. I was in a rush and I tried requesting my meal to be cooked faster. I was not expecting much since the table next to me hasn't got their food served. I thought it was still gonna take a while before I get mine but fortunately I was wrong :) my lunch came in faster than I expected and it has made all the difference. That afternoon I left knowing that I got my money's worth and I'm definitely coming back for the backyard garden that I missed!
Love this place. Friendly staff, artistic decor and great food!-all in one place. Been there fore lunch but would love to try their dinner menu soon.
Went here for a breakfast this weekend as many of friends have recommended to this place to me. The food here is amazing! We ordered eggs florentine with spinach on muffins and tiramisu waffles both were dishes were very good. I would definitely reccomend this place and would come back to try their other dishes!
I like Olive as is consistently good. Had a nice meal last night with a juicy and tender Scotch fillet main and partner liked her lamb shoulder. They have some good Syrahs by the glass as well.
What a delight to dine at Olive! The vegan version of 'The Works' is unbelievably amazing, the staff were attentive and endearing, and the ambiance was laid back, but unwaveringly stylish. Will definitely be heading back for more original cocktails.. I'm still dreaming of my Hibiscus Margarita. Olive receives This Week's Roommates seal of approval.
A solid breakfast which friendly staff and reasonable pricing. I had the eggs florentine with a side of avo- it was fresh, well cooked, and delicious.
Went there and the fish was actually really good. Wish we had some more in our plates though or that the chips would be home made but all in all it's good food in a very very nice location and setting. I wouldn't recommend the mimosa. But definitely go for the fish.
Again another place that's been around forever and I've never been to! Went for bunch and ordered the olive breakfast expecting just your typical overpriced big breakfast. Every component of it was cooked to perfection. Well worth it!
The first place I ate at when I visited Wellington for the first time. I was very impressed by the ambiance of Olive, so calm and relaxing. I sat by the window and enjoyed a latte and eggs florentine. It was such an enjoyable experience and set a great impression of Wellington. Very happy with my choice of Olive for a brunch place.
We've been to Olive several times in the past and always enjoyed it. It's been a while and we happened to pop in on the off chance for lunch.
It was busy but we were seated immediately. Since our last visit they have expanded the outdoor area bit. Really nice on a sunny day, although the only table free was indoor, but it was all good.
My partner ordered the Avocado, marinated feta and pomegranate bruschetta. It was large with loads of avo. It was very tasty with possibly too much avo but that's minor.
I ordered the black pudding with caramilised apple, pickled onion, pork crackle and spiced walnut.
It was an interesting dish. The black pudding was not as heavy or salty as it can often be. It was lovely and plenty of it. The additional elements did make it a very rich dish but it worked. Very satisfying. Something to balance the heaviness of the dish would have completed it for me, but again, minor point.
Looking forward to our next visit.
Was very impressed with our dinner here. The staff were friendly and took the time to explain the items in the menu. Wine was a good match and we loved the atmosphere and live music. Perfect spot for a date night and will defiantly be back ! thank you for a wonderful evening!!
Lovely atmosphere! Been here twice. On the first occasion 6 of us went there to get hot chocolates on a Saturday night and they were a good temperature , little bit on the cool side. Second Occassion I got poached eggs on toast and the eggs were perfectly poached. Very good café in my opinion.
Wellington has plenty of good cafes but none better than Olive. With cutesy decorations and friendly staff, it makes for a nice Sunday feed. I had the pan fried fish and it was cooked to perfection. Olive is definitely on my recommendation list to all those visiting Wellington.
Nice place! The breakfast is so good and coffee good too! I like this place! And it open very early. It so nice! On Cuba Street, good for visitors.
Been for dinner here three times came with my husband tonight , the service is the best we sat in the garden area , great atmosphere ,we had chicken bites as a starter very delicious and had fish for main very tasty , highly recommended
The staff here were approachable and friendly when we walked in. Seated us in the back even though it was quite busy. Me and my friends were easily able to spend 2 and half hours their talking and drinking coffee. Prices were reasonable and drinks were nice.
Simply outstanding, top notch meals and quality service.
Wellington has a plethora of quality cafe, however Olive is the leader of the pack, the food is gorgeous and the taste is authentic with a guarantee of a new blend of flavours with each visit.
I had the 63 degree loaded egg with a Belgium sausage brioche, the partner had an eggs Montreal. Stunning meals, so what about the taste? As expected the flavour was wonderful, making eggs taste unique and different shows the effort and skill at Olive .
Honestly My favourite cafe in Wellington.
Showstopper: The eggs were absolutely divine.
Overall grade: A
Myself and two friends with a healthy interest in both food and beer attended the Beerstronomy event at Olive on Tuesday night (8 Sept). The food and beer matching was excellent and the event ran like clockwork. Will definitely look at future similar events.
Really nice place, we went there for Brunch and it was a very good decision. The dish was delicious eggs, toast, bacon, spinach, mashrooms, grilled tomatoes and sausage.
If you've never been to Olive then you're in for a treat! This cafe is a Cuba street must, the outdoor area is like being in a jungle, surrounded by palm plants and ferns. It's so cute!
The coffee here is pretty great too. I had the granola which was very filling, but lacked a bit in flavour and kind of reminded me of rabbit food to be honest! But I love the atmosphere and service here, so would be willing to return to try another dish!
Overall I had a very satisfying experience here :)
Olive might come off as slightly up market, but there's no sign of snobbyness within. Spoilt for choice in that particular part of Cuba street for good food and coffee I'd say olive more than held its own. Looking to venture out of the norm I opted for the smoked chicken and blue cheese mac'n'cheese. This was rich, creamy and tasty and in a good portion, my coffee was very good too, The stigma that their service is slow is sort of true, a couple of faces looking longingly for a waiter including my own for a little while. But it's very pleasant and I think it must be
getting better from the past. I'll be keen to come back for a nice coffee in their outside area on the right day too. Well done team.
Olive is my absolute favourite place for a big breakfast. The homemade hash deserves a big thumbs up. I would highly recommend Olive for your next weekend brunch.
Recently came here at the recommendation of a friend. Upon arrival I felt it to be a small yet well laid out area. It was an intimate setting, perfect for the evening. The food was fantastic, well presented with great flavour combinations. In all, a very good place to go for a nice dinner without the hustle bustle of the super busy restaurants.
I went here for breakfast on the weekend. It was super busy and was lucky enough to get a table for 2. Me and my partner ordered flat whites and the Olive's works with poached eggs, both the coffee and food was delish :). The staff are super friendly and really attentive.
This is a restaurant where you are guaranteed food of fine dining quality without the eye watering price tag. The chef has pulled together a menu that is sublime...the celeriac soup is a must have. Wait staff are able to explain the dishes without being pretentious, which elevates the experience imho.
This is one of my favourite cafe/restaurants, the food, venue (the decor is dreamy and the open courtyard, out of this world), staff and most importantly the chef make this worthy of repeat visits. Olive, she never disappoints.
Brandon Allan John Gloyn
+4.5
User reviews. Amazing food and brilliant staff. Can not recommend this charming cafe enough but also it doesn't get to popular so i can't get a table!
Best coffee in Wellington!!. Everytime I get a flatwhite from here I'm blown away by the quality of it. Perfect every single time! So impressed and I can't wait to get another one! The food was good, a bit expensive for the portion size of the food, and when I went at lunch time there was a very very long wait for the food which I understand but I would have appreciated a warning when I sat down.
A lovely little café with a nice cosy feel. The café also opens for dinner. I had the buttermilk pancakes which were fluffy and had a lovely crunchy exterior which turned them into something amazing.
The food was decent enough, as was the coffee, but the whacky (and irritating) new age organ "music" coming from the speakers was enough to have us shove the food down our throats and get out of there.
Olive use to be one of my local haunting grounds before I went off on my OE. This is perhaps the first time I have visited this place since I have been back, well at least for a meal.
Olive Cafe serves slightly more 'up market' food in terms of better quality, which is both tasty and affordable.
We came for lunch and ordered a couple of dishes. Portion sizes were good, neither to small nor to large. If there is nothing on the menu to your liking, they also serve a small selection of counterfood - scones, muffins, cakes etc.
For a more indepth review, please visit my site
A Wellington institution! Olive have recently extended their outside area and what a treat! There are lots of plants and you kind of feel like you're in the garden of a fancy country house. I had the Bircher muesli and a long macchiato. No complaints whatsoever. My friend had the eggs florentine. Both looked and tasted just how you'd like! Great service with happy and obliging staff to meet your needs and it doesn't cost the earth either. Great!
Great coffee & tea, excellent atmosphere, wonderful staff.
I enjoyed a chai latte & a peppermint tea while reading my book completely undisturbed or hurried by the staff. Lovely.
Dropped by here for breakfast one weekday. I fell in love immediately with the place. They have a gorgeous setting, and it reminded me of those quaint, hip brunch spots in Melbourne. The staff were really friendly, and prompt.
The menu was slightly discouraging at first, as it seemed that they lacked a range of choice. But it became clear that Olive was one of the places that specialised in their range of offerings and not offering everything but the kitchen sink but failing to perform.
I decided after much thought to get the French toast. It appeared small when it arrived, but man was it good! It didn't bother me that they did not traditionally serve it with bacon. It was a really good dish that I kept exclaiming to my friends that it was awesome! Their hot chocolate was yum too! I will definitely put this place on my list of spots to come back to the next time I'm in town.
It's always rare to have a big breakfast that's perfect. So many components and not all of them are perfect or complimentary. For Olive, their 'Olive Works' is an exception: everything on that plate was superb, from the eggs, toast and hollandaise to the sausage, hash and bacon. Coupled with friendly service and great coffee. An easy 4.5 from me.
Olive is a favourite of mine when I come down to Wellington. They serve consistently good food with near impeccable service. Great to see such a friendly family eatery.
I ordered the marinated mushrooms served on quinoa with kale chips. The meal was a perfect size, any larger it would have been too much. It was great feeling light, yet completely satisfied.
My mum ordered the cauliflower and bacon fritters with spices sour cream. I sampled a small amount and they were perfect. The menu is quite extensive, and the brunch differs between the weekend and weekdays, which would be a great opportunity to sample more.
The coffee also was exceptional, hot enough and generous servings. The pastries on the counter were also hard to say no to, as we turned up early, they were very fresh and smelt amazing!
Wow! Came here with a group and was blown away by the amazing scrambled eggs! The best I have ever tasted. Will definitely be coming back. This place has really improved under new ownership - the wait staff are great now.
Thoroughly enjoyed dinner here. We sat in the garden next to the fireplace. Very lovely setting with enough lighting. Excellent customer service (I was apprehensive after reading previous reviews) with a knowledgeable waitress.
Entree:
Beef carpaccio with salad, capers and parmesan - delicious, nice balance of flavours. Beef was seared and cut well.
Steamed mussels with chilli and coconut - very enjoyable. Mopped up the chilli coconut sauce.
Main:
Parmesan crusted chicken with roasted potatoes, and wild mushroon and tarragon sauce - yum! Wild mush really came through.
Rack of lamb with grilled herb polenta and minted carrot puree (can't rmb jus flavour) - lamb cooked well and the polenta was tasty and smooth.
Pork fillet with apple and roasted potatoes - pork was good, needed more apple and the sauce was over seasoned.
Overall the food was delicious at a reasonable price ($150 including 2 glasses of wine)
Thoroughly enjoyable night. The company was great, the meal was fantastic, our waiter was pleasant and helpful. To top it off our guest of honour, paid for the meal. What more could one ask for.
All three courses I had were perfect. It is a meal like this which upsets me because I am not allowed to drink wine any more. But thanks for a very enjoyable night out.
Enjoyed a lovely meal here recently. Three different mains ordered at the table and all beautifully flavoured. Service perhaps a little off hand but no complaints. Will be going again
Food is amazing, service is excellent, and they serve the nicest Riesling! Been there twice for dinner now and it's been top service everytime.
Last time we went there and ordered dessert, we were told it was going to take 20 minutes. After waiting 45 minutes, I asked whether our dessert was coming out. When it did come out, they were very apologetic and didn't charge us for it!
Staff are always very friend as well and I've never been disappointed with their mains or dessert.
Went here for tapas and wine with a group of overseas friends. The waiter was very friendly and attentive. Great wine! The only thing was that out Olive tasting plate did not include a lot of things that I would normally expect, ie no dolmades, and not enough bread for all the dips! But the atmosphere was great, very relaxed and chilled out. I would come back to Olive.
Olive has had a bit of a makeover and while it has always been a great coffee and daytime place, it now has a very appealing evening restaurant ambience. Mini candelabra on the tables, quirky lighting and bold wall hangings all contribute to a warm atmosphere and you might be entertained by a live singer/ guitarist. They have a BBQ menu where you can put together lots of tasty tapas as well as a regular menu with a really fresh feel. A great Cuba St spot for an enjoyable and not too expensive night out.
We went for a Sunday morning post run breakfast. The food (poached eggs, tomatoes, spinach and mushrooms). Decor was nice and the service from the guy behind the counter was great (he worked out the cheapest way to handle our non-menu breakfast requests). There was another waitress walking around but she didn't attend to us (admittedly we walked in, seated ourselves, got our own menus and went to the counter to order, which may not have been the right process). The only bad thing was the coffee, it was a bit milky.
Went for dinner on Saturday night, this is a beautiful restaurant and the staff were amazing. The head waiter (didn't get his name) was so great, told us what was best to order then made me a brewed cup of Tokyo Lime tea which he served to me in a gorgeous tiny flowered tea cup & saucer. We tipped them big time because the service was the best and so was the food.
Had a great brunch here on a Saturday morning. Got the little private dining room which had its own heater. Staff were friendly. The meat & eggs was awesome -- the hash brown is crunchy, but hot and creamy on the inside. Tomato relish goes well with the sausages. Very tasty. The vegan works is also nice, with lovely hommous accompanying the mushrooms, tomatoes, spinach and toast. A very relaxed morning.
Our group of seven enjoyed dinner in Olive's cosy back room last night, and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, as we did when we celebrated at Olive shortly before Christmas 2011.
My immediate neighbours at the table were delighted with their mains of lamb and chargrilled squid, and I had a delicious potato gnocchi with mushrooms and blue cheese. I can't remember what everyone else had, but there were cries of joy all over the place. The chocolate budino with raspberry sorbet was the best dessert I've tasted in a long time. The dishes are generous and well-priced.
We were given understated and attentive service, and were under no pressure to leave when we were the last table ordering and eating. Olive deserves to be much busier on a Saturday night.
My partner and I went into Olive for dinner last night.. The waitress (Danielle) was exceptional and explained the specials perfectly. The wine list was very fair and we actually ended up drinking 2 bottles.. Pork WOW... !!!! A truely wonderful nite. Thank you. We will remember it forever....
Went to Olive cafe for dinner two of us.
The service was great - a chatty friendly young woman who was very knowlegdeable and recommended what wine to have.
The food quality was exceptional, the surroundings so interesting with some fantastic art installations not your generic cafe restaurant fit-out.
We will definitely be back- highly recommended.
Delicious! Super friendly staff, great food and pretty well priced.
Go to Olive quite a lot, love their casual lunch and tapas menu. had the fish main recently and it was superb, with every other diner at our table also loving their meal. service was great too.
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Walking in to the courtyard at Olive is like walking into a luscious jungle dream. Palms and other foliage sit around in pots while tables with irons chairs are popped around. It makes for a space that feels deliciously intimate and almost secret (despite being in the middle of Wellington's Cuba St).
I headed there for brunch with a friend and as per my standard cafe test ordered the big breakfast; sausages, hashcakes, mushrooms, bacon, tomatoes, wilted spinach and poached eggs with a ramekin of hollandaise. The food was divine, the company fantastic and the staff lovely. We had to move tables as a big group had booked the one we had plonked ourselves on but the staff managed the situation in such a way that it was no trouble, none at all.
Long after our food was gone we sat around to catch up over coffees and tea and I believe my friends who are locals often use the space as a tap tap haunt - a perfect place to spend an afternoon writing blog posts!
I would really recommend Olive, it was delightful.
We enjoyed the interior design and there was a nice ambiance. The waitress was lovely. There was a small, seasonal menu but it had good options. The food was well presented. Meals were tasty and well portioned. Really enjoyed the seasoned yams. Would recommend this cool little cafe for dinner.
An absolute must visit for anyone who’s in the Capital! Great atmosphere with lovely staff and they even have a garden courtyard (basically unheard of in town!). Really like the eclectic, vintage.
I had the most perfect poached eggs on a thick piece of buttery sourdough and fresh avocado.
Coffee is also fantastic, and they even offer coconut milk.
10/10
The toasted chili cheese spinach scone was very delicious. Nice ambiance. But the cafe was very busy during breakfast so we feel that we have to leave very soon once done eating.
The coffee is great. The breakfast is amazing ( my favorite are the olive works and waffle of the day). However, 1 star off for the lunch menu as there is not much options, mostly salad dish and a bit overprice. Service is ok. Might have to wait for 15-20 mins for a table especially late morning on the weekend.
Went to Olive on a Tuesday and they have their special TUESDAY NIGHT TRIO. Three unique courses for $55 pp. really enjoyed everything, the service was really good, food was warm and servings were just right, ambiance at the back area made it better.
Definitely having more dinners at Olive 😊
Pumpkin & tofu gnocchi was incredible! Unfortunately chicken thigh disappointing - slaw was soggy in dressing and chicken was over fried. We asked for some hot water to drink and we were pleasantly surprised when they also gave us some thick juicy slices of lemon (for free) to go with it. On a cold Wellington day the covered outdoor area didn’t feel as cosy/enjoyable as the tables inside. Service very attentive & friendly. Rated four stars as gnocchi was a five, but chicken was only a three.
We had a fantastic breakfast in the stunnng courtyard. Couldn’t fault the food, the scotch eggs and salad were fantastic. Great service and good coffee. Best Bloody Mary I’ve tasted too. We’ll definitely come back when next in Wellington.
Our first meal In Wellington and it set a high bar. An attractive and interesting set of spaces. But we were happy to be in the window - one seeing the world going by on Cuba Street, the other enjoying the dining scene.
Delicious food with charming service.
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A culinary bastion of contemporary New Zealand cuisine, Olive restaurant has been serving French, Italian, and Kiwi inspired dishes for well over 20 years.
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With the Poached Fillet Of Salmon (NZD $29) here, a thick and luxurious cut of ora king salmon fish is poached to release its natural meaty sweet savoury fatty flavour, resulting in a tender and moist texture with beautiful pink flakes.
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It's coated with a spring onion crust for vegetal sweet herbal flavour.
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Served with crunchy broccolini florets with vegetal sweet herbal flavour, juicy brined kalamata olives with vegetal earthy sour flavour, tender fingerling potatoes with starchy sweet salty flavour, and crunchy walnuts with nutty earthy flavour.
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Completed with a unique anchovy fish mayonnaise, creamy with salty savoury milky notes. I like that staff asked for my choice of doneness; and it turned out a perfect medium-well.
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The Rhubarb And Pear Mousse, Candied Walnut Crumble (NZD $16) is a rich dessert, with a thick smooth creamy mousse of rhubarb and raspberry, holding vegetal fruity sour sweet flavour.
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Chunks of juicy caramelised pear sit on the surface, lending bright fruity sweet flavour.
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The dessert is completed with a generous shortbread biscuit and walnut crumble, grainy with buttery sweet nutty flavour, contrasting nicely with the richness of the mousse.
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The Seared Venison Carpaccio Salad With Truffle Mayo (NZD $20) is an Italian Kiwi style appetizer salad, featuring crisp rocket leaves / arugula, firm capers, and thin tender venison carpaccio, with flaky puff pastry on the side, and garnished with grated parmesan cheese and creamy tuffle oil mayonnaise.
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Combined, each mouthful of the salad has bright vegetal bitter sweet meaty savoury earthy salty cheesy milky flavour. Wholesome and healthy, with an interesting contrast that awakens the palate.
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The Braised Lamb Shoulder Ragu, Pappardelle Pasta (NZD $34) features a base of thick ribbon-like strips of al-dente pappardelle pasta noodles, chewy firm in texture and grainy savoury sweet in flavour.
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Garnished with a thick luscious ragu gravy with generous strips of chewy shredded braised lamb shoulder and crisp baby spinach leaves, combining robust meaty savoury salty vegetal sweet flavour.
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Finished with a creamy dollop of sour cream for added milky sour notes. The pasta is filling, but feels so comforting and homely.
A fun hip spot for brunch. Great atmosphere, particularly in the back courtyard. Food was quite good (had the Olive Works) and their coffee was solid (had a flat white). Service was a bit on the slow side but they were busy so not a huge deal.
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Initial FOH person who took me to the seat was not the most hospitable, the order taking person was great – friendly and professional.
The service was very attentive, plates & cutlery were took down once I was done eating. Took away salt & pepper on the table once the main dishes are finished. Set up new napkin & cutlery for dessert.
Food serves pretty fast ~10 minutes.
Menu seemed very seasonal, the dinner menu on their website isn't up to date. Items on the menu all look quite tempting, most items seem to have lots of flavor profiles.
Crispy chicken w salad:
The presentation is rather earthy.
Chicken bits are well fried – very crispy outside and juicy inside, the salad combination seems rather Japanese inspired. Coleslaws vege+ Japanese pickled ginger + green apple.
Aioli dressing is well made with a hint of spiciness,
chicken bits include skin only pieces.
-3.5/5 Ginger seemed like a standard package from the market. Salad base is so-so with 90% of its content being coleslaw vege. Chicken bits themselves are very well done. I'm not sure if I liked the combination of the fried chicken & chosen salad.
Eggplant meatballs:
Presentation is good, still more on the earthy side.
Tomato smells amazing, caper dressing on top added another flavor profile that’s even more powerful than the sauteed tomato.Tomato sauce is quite balanced though a bit sour for my taste.
Vegetarian meatball but it's one that isn't trying to pretend that it's one. Although it's a rather mushy meatball with beans (chickpeas?), the eggplant skin adds a nice surprise to the texture of it. Couscous pancakes as base layer provides good carbs & adds to the presentation. Simple stewed zucchini on top is great.
4/5 A very well balanced dish, very earthy ingredients & the dish definitely gives out a hearty feeling, healthy & balanced, very good dinner dish.
Parfait & fig:
Cute presentation, very creative with the burnt top figs & the candy floss.
Parfait is very creamy, delicious, the hint of prosecco really adds to this one. The parfait seems a bit hard to cut with the dessert spoon. There's a thin spread of sweetened butter which is quite interesting & certainly adds another layer when consumed together with the parfait. Not sure what's the best way to consume this dessert, but maybe that's part of the fun of it as well as the warm fig & cold parfait contrast. Fig is nicely toasted, very soft, nice fruity sweetness. Although it’s a bit much after a few bites as it’s a bit too meaty & solid, it's still a worthy part of the dish.
4/5 The fruit proportion was a bit too big for me, but both the cold sweetened butter & the solid tasting parfait held the experience right up, as well as the fun candyfloss that gets mixed in with each spoon.
I had the crispy skin pan fried fish of the day and it was outstanding. Glass of hawkes bay rose and antipodes sparkling water. Loved the entire experience. Really charming interior you. And friendly and accommodating staff.
Cute place for a quiet drink and meal if you go in the afternoon. Lovely food and excellent service.
Best hash brown ever.
And not your fault it's everywhere - sourdough gets really crunchy when toasted - a bit too crunchy to enjoy. Everything else was great.
Walk-in this popular restaurant located at the popular Cuba Street. Lucky we got the seats at the lush backyard. The fish of the day - John Dory is perfectly cooked with crispy skin, fresh and tender inside. The spaghetti is nice despite somehow too salty. Desserts are awesome.
My partner had the market fish (forgot to take a photo before she started eating!!) for lunch and I had a cocktail, both were delicious and the service was quick and friendly. They have a beautiful courtyard out the back that makes you feel like you’re in the middle of the forest! Highly recommend
Beautiful fresh food and super lovely staff.
What a find!
The gr8 food, delicious coffee, and friendly staff made our day. I had the 'Today's cured fish', which was a taste sensation. I 'm now salivating, remembering how delicious it was! Cured Tuna, Coconut gazpacho, Avocado, Pickled cucumber and Fennel salad (df, gf, nf)
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