Amazing food, vegetarian friendly. City quality dining in Newton.
Colby Weston
Great food and
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Fabiola Washburn
Olivias is superb! We had a truly wonderful server who brought my son a second plate of mac & cheese when he accidentally dropped (and broke) his first plate. Cocktails 10/10 and food 10/10 what a neighborhood gem!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Yuri
From the moment we opened the doors, we were embraced with open arms and a warm welcome that took some of the anxiety from being in a new restaurant.The dim-lighting and contemporary artwork painted a picture of what was to come, and we were actually looking forward to the experience, considering it was an out-of-the-blue evening decision.Service was great!The appetizers were even better, and I definitely recommend the Mussels and Fries to start off with - great, powerful flavors that make the mouth salivate and desire for more.We were also offered bread with olive oil as we decided on what to get, and I do wish the slices of bread had been toasted - just for the extra taste profile, but that didn't deter us.Our entree, the Roasted Chicken, was good also - however, the appetizers were the HIGHLIGHT OF THE NIGHT with their complex flavors while being simple dishes.As for the De Pasquele's Pizza we got - too many toppings which weighed down the pizza, and the thin crust didn't help, which caused the slices unmanageable with one-hand grab.Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and am looking forward to visiting soon enough to try other dishes.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Heidi Duran
As a first time in Newton, not knowing where to go, my Fiancé and I went to Olivia‘s bistro, and we enjoyed the atmosphere, the service and the food. They were very accommodating to our dietary restrictions and would recommend again and would definitely come back.Vegetarian options: Vegetarian options were delicious flavorful and there was quite a variety, and if you wanted to order off the selected vegetarian items, they were happy to accommodate.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Butternut Squash Ravioli
Nick Martin
Great food! Great service! Kid friendly! Mussels are delicious!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Bolognese
Jack Aroush
Smaller restaurant and parking is a challenge but super staff and service. The food is excellent as well, you will not be disappointed.Dietary restrictions: They have many GF options.
A Birthday Bash at Olivia's Bistro: Where Warmth Meets Culinary Wizardry!What a delightful soirée at Olivia's Bistro in Newton! A group of six of us descended upon this culinary haven to celebrate my husband's birthday, and oh boy, did they roll out the red carpet of warmth and flavor.From the get-go, the host showered us with warmth that could melt a snowman's heart. Our table was ready in a jiffy, making me wonder if they had a culinary TARDIS in the kitchen, magically expanding to accommodate hungry celebrators.Now, let's talk about the star of the evening - the food. We kicked off our culinary adventure with the Gnudi; those ricotta dumplings were like a symphony for the taste buds. Flavor explosion, check. Taste bud love, double-check. I might need a moment to reminisce about those little pockets of perfection.The Pork Tenderloin Al Forno? Cooked to perfection, it practically melted in our mouths like butter on a hot biscuit. The Chicken Milanese danced on our palates like a flavorful ballet, and the Squid Ink Pasta with Shrimp and Scallops was a "chef's kiss" moment - or should I say a chef's squid ink smudge?But it wasn't just the food that stole the show; it was the atmosphere. We felt like we stumbled upon a culinary family reunion. The staff didn't just serve us; they embraced us into the Olivia's Bistro family with open arms and genuine smiles.And let's talk about the grand finale - our handcrafted cake. Olivia's Bistro not only allowed us to bring in our masterpiece, but they celebrated it with us, adding the perfect sweet note to an already incredible evening.In summary, Olivia's Bistro isn't just a restaurant; it's a warm, flavorful embrace that turns dining into an experience. From the first hello to the last bite, it's a journey through a culinary wonderland. Consider us smitten and satiated. Bravo, Olivia's Bistro, bravo!
Nonchallant1
Been going here, regularly, for the past several months. The food, the service and the ambience are all first class. Friendly , knowledgeable, and A) they recognize you B) remember you likes, dislikes, and needs. I am generally critical of star reviews and I gave this 5. That is, within this genre of restaurants, is us top notch!
Linda D.
This place is great! We were looking for a nice place to meet family for dinner to catch up and this place did not disappoint! The atmosphere is warm, inviting, modern, and very clean, and the food was excellent! We sat in the dining room but the bar area was just as impressive. There were eight of us and every one of us said they would definitely recommend Olivia's Bistro! For appetizers, we got Gnudi, which are ricotta dumplings, corn passata, pangrattato, and melted leeks. So good!Mussels with garlic butter, parsley, white wine, lemon, and delicious crusty grilled bread. Really good!For the main courses, we got:Orecchiette with broccoli rabe, hot sausage, and pecorino, in a delicious garlic wine sauce. So good!Bolognese rigatoni with veal, beef, and pork. Really yummy!Chicken Milanese with fresh arugula, cherry tomatoes, and grana. So good! Others got the grilled Halibut special with crispy green beans! So good!For dessert, we got:Olivia's Tiramisu with cocoa, coffee, and delicious mascarpone.Coppa Raspberries sponge cake with mascarpone cream, and pistachios Bombolini Italian doughnuts with chocolate and powdered sugar.Chef John Hanlon definitely knows what he's doing making delicious Italian modern food with amazing presentation! Check them out!
Excellent caesar salad. Bolognese was the best I ever had. Chicken Parmesan was very good! Disappointed with the service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Chicken Parmigiana, Bolognese
Sebastian DiFelice
A hopping local establishment. We sit at the bar (where else would you expect to find us?). The bartenders are friendly and pour a healthy drink. The wine list is not large but covers all the bases and is reasonably priced, our favorite is the Masi "baby Amarone" for under $50 a bottle. The menu consist of chicken, pork and beef dishes as well as several pasta dishes - our favorite is the pasta a la chitarra with a light marinara that has a little kick to it. Also on the menu are an array of pizzas which are all delicious. The Olivia's Board is a must try for a sharable app or as a small bite with your bottle of wine.Desi (the owner) and his team do a bang up job. The staff is attentive and on the ball.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Roasted Beets, Margherita
James
Fire grilled pizza fresh made pasta
Ryan Bonner
Really love this place. Excellent drinks and apps. The main dishes are really good as well. Their pizza is incredible. Nice people too.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Parm
Paul S
My wife believes I’m a deep pessimist, but to prove to her that I’m actually a huge optimist, I explain that each and every time we go to a new Italian restaurant in Metro Boston, I believe that this will be “it”. I will have found The One; the Italian place I will return to weekly for the rest of my life. I entered Olivia’s in this spirit, having heard some raves around town. Well, it was very mediocre. Pizza with 3x the amount of cheese over and above what you would call “a lot”, pesto pasta drowned in a soup of (olive?) oil, and friendly but slow service. The bolognaise was decent enough, but there was 3x too much sauce. Dinner for 3, with drinks, $160. Too much for something I didn’t come close to loving.The bar for Italian places is set so low in Boston, I have come to believe, if all the mediocrity is receiving 5 stars. It’s a difficult cuisine to mess up, but here we excel at that.
Amazing food, vegetarian friendly. City quality dining in Newton.
Great food and
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Olivias is superb! We had a truly wonderful server who brought my son a second plate of mac & cheese when he accidentally dropped (and broke) his first plate. Cocktails 10/10 and food 10/10 what a neighborhood gem!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
From the moment we opened the doors, we were embraced with open arms and a warm welcome that took some of the anxiety from being in a new restaurant.The dim-lighting and contemporary artwork painted a picture of what was to come, and we were actually looking forward to the experience, considering it was an out-of-the-blue evening decision.Service was great!The appetizers were even better, and I definitely recommend the Mussels and Fries to start off with - great, powerful flavors that make the mouth salivate and desire for more.We were also offered bread with olive oil as we decided on what to get, and I do wish the slices of bread had been toasted - just for the extra taste profile, but that didn't deter us.Our entree, the Roasted Chicken, was good also - however, the appetizers were the HIGHLIGHT OF THE NIGHT with their complex flavors while being simple dishes.As for the De Pasquele's Pizza we got - too many toppings which weighed down the pizza, and the thin crust didn't help, which caused the slices unmanageable with one-hand grab.Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and am looking forward to visiting soon enough to try other dishes.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
As a first time in Newton, not knowing where to go, my Fiancé and I went to Olivia‘s bistro, and we enjoyed the atmosphere, the service and the food. They were very accommodating to our dietary restrictions and would recommend again and would definitely come back.Vegetarian options: Vegetarian options were delicious flavorful and there was quite a variety, and if you wanted to order off the selected vegetarian items, they were happy to accommodate.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Butternut Squash Ravioli
Great food! Great service! Kid friendly! Mussels are delicious!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Bolognese
Smaller restaurant and parking is a challenge but super staff and service. The food is excellent as well, you will not be disappointed.Dietary restrictions: They have many GF options.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Parmigiana, Chicken Parm
A Birthday Bash at Olivia's Bistro: Where Warmth Meets Culinary Wizardry!What a delightful soirée at Olivia's Bistro in Newton! A group of six of us descended upon this culinary haven to celebrate my husband's birthday, and oh boy, did they roll out the red carpet of warmth and flavor.From the get-go, the host showered us with warmth that could melt a snowman's heart. Our table was ready in a jiffy, making me wonder if they had a culinary TARDIS in the kitchen, magically expanding to accommodate hungry celebrators.Now, let's talk about the star of the evening - the food. We kicked off our culinary adventure with the Gnudi; those ricotta dumplings were like a symphony for the taste buds. Flavor explosion, check. Taste bud love, double-check. I might need a moment to reminisce about those little pockets of perfection.The Pork Tenderloin Al Forno? Cooked to perfection, it practically melted in our mouths like butter on a hot biscuit. The Chicken Milanese danced on our palates like a flavorful ballet, and the Squid Ink Pasta with Shrimp and Scallops was a "chef's kiss" moment - or should I say a chef's squid ink smudge?But it wasn't just the food that stole the show; it was the atmosphere. We felt like we stumbled upon a culinary family reunion. The staff didn't just serve us; they embraced us into the Olivia's Bistro family with open arms and genuine smiles.And let's talk about the grand finale - our handcrafted cake. Olivia's Bistro not only allowed us to bring in our masterpiece, but they celebrated it with us, adding the perfect sweet note to an already incredible evening.In summary, Olivia's Bistro isn't just a restaurant; it's a warm, flavorful embrace that turns dining into an experience. From the first hello to the last bite, it's a journey through a culinary wonderland. Consider us smitten and satiated. Bravo, Olivia's Bistro, bravo!
Been going here, regularly, for the past several months. The food, the service and the ambience are all first class. Friendly , knowledgeable, and A) they recognize you B) remember you likes, dislikes, and needs. I am generally critical of star reviews and I gave this 5. That is, within this genre of restaurants, is us top notch!
This place is great! We were looking for a nice place to meet family for dinner to catch up and this place did not disappoint! The atmosphere is warm, inviting, modern, and very clean, and the food was excellent! We sat in the dining room but the bar area was just as impressive. There were eight of us and every one of us said they would definitely recommend Olivia's Bistro! For appetizers, we got Gnudi, which are ricotta dumplings, corn passata, pangrattato, and melted leeks. So good!Mussels with garlic butter, parsley, white wine, lemon, and delicious crusty grilled bread. Really good!For the main courses, we got:Orecchiette with broccoli rabe, hot sausage, and pecorino, in a delicious garlic wine sauce. So good!Bolognese rigatoni with veal, beef, and pork. Really yummy!Chicken Milanese with fresh arugula, cherry tomatoes, and grana. So good! Others got the grilled Halibut special with crispy green beans! So good!For dessert, we got:Olivia's Tiramisu with cocoa, coffee, and delicious mascarpone.Coppa Raspberries sponge cake with mascarpone cream, and pistachios Bombolini Italian doughnuts with chocolate and powdered sugar.Chef John Hanlon definitely knows what he's doing making delicious Italian modern food with amazing presentation! Check them out!
Restaurantji Recommends
Excellent caesar salad. Bolognese was the best I ever had. Chicken Parmesan was very good! Disappointed with the service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Chicken Parmigiana, Bolognese
A hopping local establishment. We sit at the bar (where else would you expect to find us?). The bartenders are friendly and pour a healthy drink. The wine list is not large but covers all the bases and is reasonably priced, our favorite is the Masi "baby Amarone" for under $50 a bottle. The menu consist of chicken, pork and beef dishes as well as several pasta dishes - our favorite is the pasta a la chitarra with a light marinara that has a little kick to it. Also on the menu are an array of pizzas which are all delicious. The Olivia's Board is a must try for a sharable app or as a small bite with your bottle of wine.Desi (the owner) and his team do a bang up job. The staff is attentive and on the ball.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Roasted Beets, Margherita
Fire grilled pizza fresh made pasta
Really love this place. Excellent drinks and apps. The main dishes are really good as well. Their pizza is incredible. Nice people too.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Parm
My wife believes I’m a deep pessimist, but to prove to her that I’m actually a huge optimist, I explain that each and every time we go to a new Italian restaurant in Metro Boston, I believe that this will be “it”. I will have found The One; the Italian place I will return to weekly for the rest of my life. I entered Olivia’s in this spirit, having heard some raves around town. Well, it was very mediocre. Pizza with 3x the amount of cheese over and above what you would call “a lot”, pesto pasta drowned in a soup of (olive?) oil, and friendly but slow service. The bolognaise was decent enough, but there was 3x too much sauce. Dinner for 3, with drinks, $160. Too much for something I didn’t come close to loving.The bar for Italian places is set so low in Boston, I have come to believe, if all the mediocrity is receiving 5 stars. It’s a difficult cuisine to mess up, but here we excel at that.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 3