Oliva Steakhouse

Review summary

1. J

   Jeffery

   Cleveland

   70 reviews

   5.0

   70 reviews

   Dined 4 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 2

   Upon visiting this charmingly intimate restaurant, we found the ambiance to be somewhat compromised by its densely populated setting. The limited space, while cozy, unfortunately slowed the service and extended the intervals between courses. The staff, though enthusiastic, appeared to be relatively inexperienced. Despite this, we thoroughly enjoyed our steaks, which were cooked to perfection. The Bronzino was a standout dish, showcasing exceptional culinary skill, and the appetizers were equally impressive. To elevate the dining experience, a greater emphasis on white-glove service and adeptly managing the challenges of a smaller space would be beneficial. Focusing on delivering a refined presentation, rather than merely expediting food service, would greatly enhance the overall experience.
   

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2. M

   Martina

   VIP

   Cleveland

   5 reviews

   5.0

   5 reviews

   Dined on 10 December 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 4

   We absolutely love this restaurant. The food and the service is always top notch.
   

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3. T

   Tony

   Cleveland

   20 reviews

   2.0

   20 reviews

   Dined on 8 December 2024

   1. Overall 2
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 1

   We used to be very frequent diners at restaurants like this; however, we now have two kids under two years old and don't get out as much. This was a special occasion for my wife's birthday and it was disappointing. The two-top table in this restaurant is like the red headed step child. Our table was located right behind the host stand, was no bigger than a TV tray, and wobbled liked a penguin. I will give credit to the food runner that fixed it after seeing me mess around with it. The table was also in very close proximity to the only walking lane through the restaurant, and no less than 15x was someone brushing up against my back while I was eating. When spending over $350 on a dinner, this was not the experience I was looking for. If I wanted to brush up against people all night, I would have channeled myself from a decade earlier and got bottle service at Barley House and fist pumped until my arm fell off. As for the food, we started with the Sachetti pasta as an appetizer and for $20 it was like 3 bites. The pasta appetizer is a go to in our playbook at restaurants like Dante, or even their sister company Luca, and this was disappointing on the price to value ratio versus those. The three bites we did get were very good, so not a total loss. We had the Florentine Steak for our main entree. The filet side of the steak was great, but the strip side was very tough (e.g., hanger steak tough). I like strip steak and don't mind one with a little chew to it, but this was way too tough. The cook was also very inconsistent with half of the strip side over cooked (mid-well versus mid-rare). It wasn't a terrible dinner, but at this price point there are so many better options within a 5 mile radius. I would pick a chain steak house (e.g., Flemings) over this any day of the week. The atmosphere was lively; maybe if we were in a group and not stuck at a small two-top the experienced would've been different.
   

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4. P

   Pat

   VIP

   Cleveland

   26 reviews

   5.0

   26 reviews

   Dined on 7 December 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   This was our second visit and we have another one booked. This time we had friends with us and they enjoyed it. We certainly did, even though it was crowded and noisy, but not raucous. My wife ordered a glass of Patz & Hall Chardonnay - one of her favorites - and I enjoyed a couple of cans of 0.0 Guinness. If you can't drink, that is a pretty good substitute. She had the asparagus soup for dinner along with some of Oliva's delicious warm bread. I went for the guinea fowl. I was expecting something the size of a Cornish game hen but I was served a half of a bird the size of of a biggish chicken. It was beautifully prepared with a delicious wine reduction and a generous amount of brown beech mushrooms on top. Quite delicious and a nice change up from chicken. She enjoyed her bites, too. Maybe next time we'll share it. One of our friends had the same soup and added the Giardino salad, while the other went for a NY Strip Steak, which she thought was excellent. They also got the non-baked cheese cake that disappeared rather quickly. Service was attentive and informed. While it is obviously a great place for special occasions, it also has the feel of a favorite local restaurant. We'll be back!
   

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5. F

   Frank

   Denver

   9 reviews

   5.0

   9 reviews

   Dined on 7 December 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   First class from start to finish! Dawn, our server, was phenomenal. I had the bone in ribeye, while my daughter had the 16th oz lobster tail. Both were cooked to perfection. The sides and appetizers were equally spectacular. This place is a must if you are in Cleveland!
   

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6. I

   Ian

   Cleveland

   3 reviews

   5.0

   3 reviews

   Dined on 7 December 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Fantastic experience and food. We will be back very soon
   

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7. T

   Tony

   VIP

   Columbus

   18 reviews

   5.0

   18 reviews

   Dined on 6 December 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   The florentine steak shared amongst most our group of 4, was one of the finest filets I have ever experienced. The baby sachetti as an appetizer were great. And the desserts were beautiful and unique.
   

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8. R

   Ritter

   Tampa

   8 reviews

   5.0

   8 reviews

   Dined on 5 December 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   I loved the place. I used to go to the restaurant that was located where Oliva is located. This is 100% better. We were immediately greeted at the door and send to our table. The ambience is great and with more lighting and an open kitchen. We had the Shrimp for an appetizer, soup and salad (both very authentic Italian. I had the rabbit ragu with a rabbit leg on top, my husband had the Ribeye with the red wind and butter sauce. I am very impressed and was not expecting the food, service and experience. We will both be back to try some other dishes such as the fennel salad, pasta with veal and blueberries. It is a hidden place but if you like Florentine food I would definitely recommend it
   

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9. K

   K

   VIP

   Cleveland

   58 reviews

   5.0

   58 reviews

   Dined on 1 December 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   We had a nice celebration at Olivia. We enjoyed all of the food and the service was excellent.
   

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10. R

    Rachel

    Cleveland

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on 30 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5

    Amazing service and food. We will definitely return!
    

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