The Naked Olive Lounge in Berkeley Springs has a lot of character, which already puts it ahead of…read moremany places trying very hard to have character and mostly achieving exposed brick.
The space has a cozy, slightly speakeasy feel, with plenty of seating at the bar and tables for dinner. The music area is separate from the bar and dining area where we sat, which makes the layout feel lively without having the music sit directly on top of your entrée. There is also a related shop next door, The Naked Olive, where you can buy olive oils, balsamics, tapenades, and other dangerous things you convince yourself are "for later." By the time we were leaving early Saturday evening, they were getting ready for live music, which added to the local, come-stay-awhile feel.
We started with a classic martini, and it was excellent. Perfectly balanced, cold, briny, slightly sweet, and served with blue cheese olives. A proper martini is not just a drink, it is a small personality test. We also tried the monthly special, the Dirty Devil, which I believe had bourbon, Coke, and salted caramel. It was good, but the classic martini was the clear winner for me.
Service was friendly and helpful. I believe our server was James, and he helped us work through the menu without making us feel like we were preparing for a graduate seminar in small plates. They also honored us with a military discount, which I sincerely appreciated.
Food wise, we ordered the Truffled Mushroom Pizza, which was genuinely good, with mushrooms, onions, peppers, and mozzarella. My only note is that the truffle was very subtle, maybe attending more in spirit than in full costume, but the pizza itself worked and I enjoyed it.
We also had the Chicken Chesapeake, a sous vide chicken breast topped with crab and Chesapeake sauce. It came with a house salad and house vinaigrette, which was standard but good. As chicken breast goes, the entrée was well cooked, tender, and nicely finished. The crab and seasoning gave it some personality, which chicken breast often desperately needs. The mashed potatoes were hearty and solid. The vegetable du jour was the one underwhelming part of the meal; I am still not entirely sure what it was, and I do not think it was sure either.
Overall, I enjoyed The Naked Olive Lounge. It may not be in my top three Berkeley Springs restaurants thus far, but it is definitely a solid entry in the local rotation. The ambiance is warm, the layout is comfortable, the service is friendly, the martinis are legitimately excellent, and the food is good, even if a few details could be stronger. The price point was reasonable, and I would happily come back, especially for a classic martini and live music.
