Oliva
New York, NY 10002
Phone: (212) 228-4143
- Price:
- $$$
- Cross Street:
- Allen Street
- Directions:
- F, V at 2nd Ave
- Best of Citysearch:
- First Date Spot 2008
- Hours:
- Mon-Fri 5:30pm-11:30pm, Sat-Sun 11am-4pm, 5:30pm-1am
Message from Oliva
Spanish Rest with Live Latin Music & Basque Fare?Take Out & Delivery
- Take Out & Delivery
- Live Latin Music
- Authentic Basque cuisine
Paid advertisement by Oliva.
Editorial Review for Oliva – by Citysearch Editors
In Short
Located on busy corner of Houston Street, this Basque tapas joint attract girls-out crews and double dates, many of whom end up dancing to live tunes in a corner of the tiny space. Lithe servers deftly weave between the olive-colored tables, and retro ceiling fans buzz overhead. Most of well-portioned Basque tapas options clock in under $10, including mushrooms topped with crispy onions and bacalao rellenos, while deeper appetites get satisfied with entrees like paella and skirt steak and desserts like flan with cherries.
Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by Citysearch.
Insider Tips
Live MusicA rotating roster of bands sets a lively, dance-friendly vibe Sunday through Thursday, starting around 8:30pm.
What to DrinkIf sangria's not your thing, an affordable mango margarita ($8) definitely helps one cool down.
BrunchThe brunch menu keeps things Spanish with dishes like chorizo-spiked Basque eggs.
Know Before You GoAlthough the ceiling fans are cute, they don't quite do the job on sultry nights, so dress appropriately for the weather.
The ExtrasAfter the restaurant closes, linger at the bar, which is roughly open two extra hours.
User Reviews for Oliva
07/14/2008 Posted by nolanspice
On the one hand, Oliva has great food. A little pricey , but it IS tapas. The entrees were delicious as they were flavorful and spiced just right. Great tasting wines and sangrias helped move the night along. Why am I torn, you ask? I cannot see how this place won for Citysearch's "Best First Date" place unless you were two deaf people! The music was up ridiculously loud and had you feeling that you were in a Basque club and not a restaurant. The dinner party I was with had to compete with the music to have conversations. We were yelling to the wait staff who only turned the music UP when we asked repeatedly to have it lowered. Some of us just gave up trying to talk and just ate. Also, the small space filled up very quickly. That's not a good thing when there's no AC and rivulets of sweat are running down your back...while you're eating...in a deafening environment. Good thing the food was wonderful.
Pros: Excellent food, Tasty wines/sangria, Worth the price
Cons: Music waaaaaaaaaay too loud, Crowds quickly, no AC
06/11/2008 Posted by susanebachman
I was excited to go back to Oliva -- it's probably been 2 years since I last ate here, but I was very disappointed with everything that has changed. First, despite reservations, we waited (party of 2) for 45 minutes. When were were seated our server never acknowledged us and we kept having to flag her down. The host even walked around to get her. We never got the drinks we ordered (twice!) and the food was very, very salty. When it was time to pay we couldn't find the waitress to get the check! We asked all the servers for a check and it took 45 minutes until we got one! Don't come here, there is nothing redeeming about the experience and so many better places to choose from.
Pros: Good area
Cons: Terrible service. Salty food.
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