Olives
Charlestown, MA 02129-3714
Phone: (617) 242-1999
- Price:
- $$$$
- Cross Street:
- Main Street
- Hours:
- Mon 5:30pm-9:30pm, Tue-Fri 5:30pm-10pm, Sat 5pm-10:30pm, Sun 5pm-9pm
Editorial Review for Olives – by Eric Grossman
The Scene
On those rare occasions when Todd English dons his whites to run the bustling open kitchen, out-of-towners and business-types ignore their food for a glimpse of the international culinary celebrity. Thanks to high ceilings and a jam-packed dining room layout, knowledgeable waiters have to shout out the specials most nights. Area professionals fill the chummy bar (better-lit and more upbeat than the dark-hued dining room) to sample the lengthy, pricey wine list.
The Food
English has done an excellent job training his chefs to execute his bold, Mediterranean-tinged creations. The exceptionally lengthy menu features something for everyone. Yellowtail tuna tartare makes a tongue-tingling appetizer. Among the many meat and fish dishes (prepared using a crackling wood grill), hearty swordfish steak comes to life thanks to a pistachio pesto sauce. Don't leave without trying rich desserts like a lemon-mandarin orange tart or gingerbread with pear puree.
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Insider Tips
When to GoContact the restaurant to learn about its wildly creative, monthly dinner series where a particular ingredient is featured in each course of a five-course menu.
ParkingAvoid the restaurant's pricey valet service by dining after 8pm--most area spots are resident-permit parking only from 8am to 8pm.
Where to SitOn a date? Ask for one of the front tables, located away from the roar of the open kitchen and center of the noisy dining room.
User Reviews for Olives
08/20/2008 Posted by cdmnj
We had a memorable dinner at Olives! The food was perfectly prepared and the waitstaff efficient but unobtrusive. From start to finish (we were there for restuarant week), everyone had a perfectly executed meal. We enjoyed the mix of locals/business profs who seemed to frequent the place, making us feel right at home.
Pros: Great food, wonderful service, extensive wine list
01/16/2008 Posted by rar1206
Went out of my way to have dinner at Olive's during a quick trip to Boston from NY. It wasn't worth it. The brick chicken was on the dry side and tasteless. (I specifically ordered it because it was lauded in restaurant reviews.) No one asked why I left 3/4 of it on my plate. Boston lettuce salad was mediocre - certainly not worth $11. For prices this high I expected something better. And especially since my memories of Olives were based on incredibly tasty dishes like polenta with tomato porcini ragout that i had 10 years ago. Needless to say I won't be going back. Not worth it and not likely to try other Olive's.
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