Oliva Trattoria is an absolute gem of an Italian restaurant! From the moment you step inside, you're transported to Italy with its cozy and inviting atmosphere.The food at Oliva Trattoria is simply divine. Each dish is crafted with care and bursting with authentic Italian flavors. Whether you're craving pasta, pizza, or seafood, you'll find something to delight your taste buds.What sets Oliva Trattoria apart is the attention to detail and commitment to quality. The ingredients are fresh, the portions are generous, and every dish is plated beautifully.The service at Oliva Trattoria is impeccable. The staff is knowledgeable, attentive, and always willing to go the extra mile to ensure a memorable dining experience.Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or simply craving some delicious Italian cuisine, Oliva Trattoria is the perfect choice. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for an unforgettable dining experience!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
LizS
The service was warm and friendly. The food was outstanding. The spaghetti and meatballs were divine. We tried a new dish to us, Battuta Di Pollo, it was fantastic! The waitstaff and runners are outstanding. The are quick to fill glasses, and the turn around time with them clearing and cleaning up tables is really great.
Sergio Campos
Lovely traditional Italian food, the hosts there were amazing, and the food is to die for. My girlfriend and I went there twice, once on Valentines Day and another time recently, and both time we were shown the best service possible and the food made her cry both times (nostalgia and family memories). We are absolutely going again anytime we have a date night. 10/10.Vegetarian options: While it isn't its own section of stuff, there menu does have a good variety of vegetarian options. Highly recommend the Fettuccine Funghi or the Ravioli Aurora.
Good food, good Italian menu, good service. Nicely decorated and spaced out. We went for Saturday night dinner; a 6:30 reservation. Restaurant was full, but seated immediately. It was a bit noisy, seated near the bar, with all the people, but we were still able to have a decent conversation. I would go again without much hesitation.
Moral bankruptcy. Oliva Trattoria grossly overbooked reservations on Valentine's Day, then denied seating multiple people with reservations, and ruined the evening for many couples.My husband and I made the terrible decision of making a reservation here for 8:15 pm on Valentine's Day. We were celebrating our ten year anniversary. An hour after we were supposed to be seated, after 9 PM, the restaurant still had not seated us. During the hour that we were waiting for our imaginary table, we were crammed next to multiple other couples waiting for their own imaginary tables. It was a complete zoo in there. There was no hostess standing by the entrance to greet people or check them in, and in fact they were deliberately avoiding doing so because they realized what a fiasco it was and did not know how to respond to dozens of confused guests. We saw multiple couples give up and leave after realizing they may never actually get seated. There was a complete lack of remorse on behalf of anyone at the restaurant. Zero apologies and zero explanations. Ultimately, my husband and I gave up on being seated and left. We were lucky enough to secure a late night reservation at Panzanella, which is also in Sherman Oaks. We loved the food and experience there (it's a reputable establishment, unlike the circus Oliva is running), but we didn't eat until 10 PM, and we were incredibly agitated. I can't believe Oliva would treat so many people this way on what was supposed to be a special day. Frankly, it's despicable. So whether it's a holiday or not, I wouldn't go anywhere near this restaurant ever again in my entire life.
Atmosphere: 1
Service: 1
Misael Arias
So I went yesterday and place was packed. I honestly was kinda upset that we had to wait an hour after our reservation was made, but I get it was Valentines day, but Jesus the owners gotta do a better job. Way too over booked. Only reason Im giving a good review is cause the dude at the bar Nickolas was super kool or else honestly I was about leave and go elsewhere. He saved you guys. Besides that food and wine was koo.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We went on Valentines evening and they had a pre fixe menu. Everything was fine; the ONLY exception was that we ordered two beverages that never came but they were super busy so we understood. My party enjoyed their meals. It's a cool little place in the valley for Italian. Great date restaurant!
JamesD
I was very, very disappointed with my time at Oliva Trattoria. We were called to push the reservation from 7 pm to 7:15 and I gladly accepted. We arrive at 7:10 and got seated around 7:45 due to backup since it was Valentines day....understandable. It took about 20 min for our order to be submitted. Had our salad and waited for another 45 min. My drink order was forgotten and received that after I completed eating my salad. So while waiting to receive our Entree, we notice about 3 couples come in after us , receive salads, entree and dessert....yet we sat. Our server came by a few times saying food was on the way....but nothing. Now we are bugged. She comes by after 45-50 min saying I pushed your order to the front...mind you the menu was a full cover for appetizer, entree, dessert. So they were pretty much cooking the same thing, nothing special, yet we had not received our entrees and told our order was pushed to the front. We politely told the server, we were leaving. What turned from a special Valentines day dinner for my wife and I turned into a full disaster, bad customer service, no attention to those "who had come first"...... In n Out was not what I wanted but having held my appetite to eat a groat dinner turned to , "I'm hungry" let's get burger at about 9:15. Two hours! Really!!! I never saw a manager come by to see how we were doing. No apologies when we left. Nothing. I'm sure the food is great...at least the salad was...maybe I was just hungry by then? Who knows? Unless we get up the nerve to go again and have our minds change, I will not recommend to a friend. Get your reservations in order on special days. Pay more attention to your customers.
SADnightATend
2nd time was the charm! The ONLY ISSUE is its loud here! But, We will be back! The spaghetti made with the pecorino bowl was BEYOND AMAZING! I got a small side of meatballs to go with it. Sauce was sweet and perfect mix of flavors. Had a bottle of Malbec with the meal and it pairs perfectly with the dishes mentioned above. Husband had the branzino very tasty just be careful of the bones! Finish with the chocolate covered spumoni and you walk away happy!
Nice Italian restaurant with great ambience and attentive service in Van Nuys. The online menu has clearly labeled vegetarian and vegan options, but the on-site menu does not.The Penne Arrabiata, Broccoli soup, Asparagus side, and the bread bowl were all delicious.
Two different chicken dishes were extremely dry. And one order came out completely wrong. It took close to 20 mins for the correct dish to come out. The staff was apologetic and removed a few items from the bill. The ambience is nice. Just thought the food was very mediocre.
LlewellynC
Delicious food, good service (just had to wait a little long for the check, and the bottles of olive oil and balsamic vinegar for our bread were removed for other diners). Loved the atmosphere and tables spaced far apart even if a bit noisy. Excellent value. Highly recommend this restaurant.
John Mazur
The food was good, the service was good and the ambiance is perfect for a quiet business meeting. The price was a little bit high for the type of food.
Oliva Trattoria is an absolute gem of an Italian restaurant! From the moment you step inside, you're transported to Italy with its cozy and inviting atmosphere.The food at Oliva Trattoria is simply divine. Each dish is crafted with care and bursting with authentic Italian flavors. Whether you're craving pasta, pizza, or seafood, you'll find something to delight your taste buds.What sets Oliva Trattoria apart is the attention to detail and commitment to quality. The ingredients are fresh, the portions are generous, and every dish is plated beautifully.The service at Oliva Trattoria is impeccable. The staff is knowledgeable, attentive, and always willing to go the extra mile to ensure a memorable dining experience.Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or simply craving some delicious Italian cuisine, Oliva Trattoria is the perfect choice. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for an unforgettable dining experience!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The service was warm and friendly. The food was outstanding. The spaghetti and meatballs were divine. We tried a new dish to us, Battuta Di Pollo, it was fantastic! The waitstaff and runners are outstanding. The are quick to fill glasses, and the turn around time with them clearing and cleaning up tables is really great.
Lovely traditional Italian food, the hosts there were amazing, and the food is to die for. My girlfriend and I went there twice, once on Valentines Day and another time recently, and both time we were shown the best service possible and the food made her cry both times (nostalgia and family memories). We are absolutely going again anytime we have a date night. 10/10.Vegetarian options: While it isn't its own section of stuff, there menu does have a good variety of vegetarian options. Highly recommend the Fettuccine Funghi or the Ravioli Aurora.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tiramisu Cake, Ossobuco, Ravioli Aurora
Good food, good Italian menu, good service. Nicely decorated and spaced out. We went for Saturday night dinner; a 6:30 reservation. Restaurant was full, but seated immediately. It was a bit noisy, seated near the bar, with all the people, but we were still able to have a decent conversation. I would go again without much hesitation.
Always consistent and delicious.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lasagna, Tiramisu Cake, Cesare Insalata
Moral bankruptcy. Oliva Trattoria grossly overbooked reservations on Valentine's Day, then denied seating multiple people with reservations, and ruined the evening for many couples.My husband and I made the terrible decision of making a reservation here for 8:15 pm on Valentine's Day. We were celebrating our ten year anniversary. An hour after we were supposed to be seated, after 9 PM, the restaurant still had not seated us. During the hour that we were waiting for our imaginary table, we were crammed next to multiple other couples waiting for their own imaginary tables. It was a complete zoo in there. There was no hostess standing by the entrance to greet people or check them in, and in fact they were deliberately avoiding doing so because they realized what a fiasco it was and did not know how to respond to dozens of confused guests. We saw multiple couples give up and leave after realizing they may never actually get seated. There was a complete lack of remorse on behalf of anyone at the restaurant. Zero apologies and zero explanations. Ultimately, my husband and I gave up on being seated and left. We were lucky enough to secure a late night reservation at Panzanella, which is also in Sherman Oaks. We loved the food and experience there (it's a reputable establishment, unlike the circus Oliva is running), but we didn't eat until 10 PM, and we were incredibly agitated. I can't believe Oliva would treat so many people this way on what was supposed to be a special day. Frankly, it's despicable. So whether it's a holiday or not, I wouldn't go anywhere near this restaurant ever again in my entire life.
Atmosphere: 1
Service: 1
So I went yesterday and place was packed. I honestly was kinda upset that we had to wait an hour after our reservation was made, but I get it was Valentines day, but Jesus the owners gotta do a better job. Way too over booked. Only reason Im giving a good review is cause the dude at the bar Nickolas was super kool or else honestly I was about leave and go elsewhere. He saved you guys. Besides that food and wine was koo.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We went on Valentines evening and they had a pre fixe menu. Everything was fine; the ONLY exception was that we ordered two beverages that never came but they were super busy so we understood. My party enjoyed their meals. It's a cool little place in the valley for Italian. Great date restaurant!
I was very, very disappointed with my time at Oliva Trattoria. We were called to push the reservation from 7 pm to 7:15 and I gladly accepted. We arrive at 7:10 and got seated around 7:45 due to backup since it was Valentines day....understandable. It took about 20 min for our order to be submitted. Had our salad and waited for another 45 min. My drink order was forgotten and received that after I completed eating my salad. So while waiting to receive our Entree, we notice about 3 couples come in after us , receive salads, entree and dessert....yet we sat. Our server came by a few times saying food was on the way....but nothing. Now we are bugged. She comes by after 45-50 min saying I pushed your order to the front...mind you the menu was a full cover for appetizer, entree, dessert. So they were pretty much cooking the same thing, nothing special, yet we had not received our entrees and told our order was pushed to the front. We politely told the server, we were leaving. What turned from a special Valentines day dinner for my wife and I turned into a full disaster, bad customer service, no attention to those "who had come first"...... In n Out was not what I wanted but having held my appetite to eat a groat dinner turned to , "I'm hungry" let's get burger at about 9:15. Two hours! Really!!! I never saw a manager come by to see how we were doing. No apologies when we left. Nothing. I'm sure the food is great...at least the salad was...maybe I was just hungry by then? Who knows? Unless we get up the nerve to go again and have our minds change, I will not recommend to a friend. Get your reservations in order on special days. Pay more attention to your customers.
2nd time was the charm! The ONLY ISSUE is its loud here! But, We will be back! The spaghetti made with the pecorino bowl was BEYOND AMAZING! I got a small side of meatballs to go with it. Sauce was sweet and perfect mix of flavors. Had a bottle of Malbec with the meal and it pairs perfectly with the dishes mentioned above. Husband had the branzino very tasty just be careful of the bones! Finish with the chocolate covered spumoni and you walk away happy!
Restaurantji Recommends
Nice Italian restaurant with great ambience and attentive service in Van Nuys. The online menu has clearly labeled vegetarian and vegan options, but the on-site menu does not.The Penne Arrabiata, Broccoli soup, Asparagus side, and the bread bowl were all delicious.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Penne Arrabbiata Hot, Bread Basket
Food is always
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Two different chicken dishes were extremely dry. And one order came out completely wrong. It took close to 20 mins for the correct dish to come out. The staff was apologetic and removed a few items from the bill. The ambience is nice. Just thought the food was very mediocre.
Delicious food, good service (just had to wait a little long for the check, and the bottles of olive oil and balsamic vinegar for our bread were removed for other diners). Loved the atmosphere and tables spaced far apart even if a bit noisy. Excellent value. Highly recommend this restaurant.
The food was good, the service was good and the ambiance is perfect for a quiet business meeting. The price was a little bit high for the type of food.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4