If Chef Francis Pascal's name sounds vaguely familiar, this is undoubtedly because he and his wife,…read moreNui, are the proprietors of the immensely popular Birchrunville Store Café. Making its debut in 1999, this charmingly intimate BYOB quickly became critically acclaimed for its sophisticated French-Italian fusion cuisine...
L'Olivo Trattoria, the couple's most recent venture, opened for business in October 2025, settling ever-so-comfortably into the space previously occupied by Suburban Brewing Company.
L'Olivo, which means The Olive Tree, pays homage to Chef Pascal's Italian roots and his mother's heritage, offering patrons a menu inspired by generations of family recipes and a passion for authentic Italian cuisine. Originally from France, Chef Pascal began his culinary journey with classical French training, later broadening his experience in both France and Italy. In 1989, he brought his culinary expertise to America at the Monte Carlo Living Room in Philadelphia... Joining him as the power behind the stove is Executive Chef Jonathan Amann, formerly of the highly regarded Amani's BYOB in Downingtown.
Even without perusing the menu, given the background of the proprietors and the culinary credentials of the dynamic duo holding forth in the kitchen, you can be reasonably certain that the food served at L'Olivo is not going to be typical run-of-the-mill Italian fare. But let me clarify... If your primary predilection leans toward items such as spaghetti & meatballs smothered in marinara, trust me, you have definitely come to the wrong address. The cuisine here is both subtle in approach and sophisticated in style. Culinary creativity is very much in evidence; but it is appetizingly understated, making itself known in an enticing whisper rather than a screeching howl...
My dining companion and I lunched here recently and were most impressed. The menu - divided into Antipasto, Salads, Paninis, Pasta, Dessert, and Sides - provided just enough interesting choices to arouse the appetite without befuddling the brain.
Since my dining partner loves bread in any way, shape or form, it was no surprise that she went straight for the Mozzarella Stuffed Focaccia garnished with olive oil and fresh herbs. For my part, since I thoroughly enjoy pasta in whatever manifestation it may be presented, the Baked Orecchiette (pictured) pressed all the right buttons. The "little ears" were beguilingly blended with nuggets of pork belly; spatters of spinach, tomato, ricotta, provolone, and mozzarella; and finished with a sprinkling of breadcrumbs. The pasta itself was perfectly al dente, the seasonings superb. A rather straightforward dish, but also quite profound in its simplicity... And utterly delicious.
I would hasten to add that, although we did not partake, both the Godfather Burger (smash burger, mortadella, provolone, Calabrian chili aioli, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle on brioche) and the Salmon BLT Burger sounded mighty tempting... Ditto the Grilled Eggplant Panini and Primavera Bucatini (sautéed vegetables, tomato herb broth, house-made bucatini, fresh parmesan). Should you be planning to stop in for lunch, they are certainly worthy of your consideration.
In the meantime, my dining companion and I were confronted with a little gastronomic conundrum of our own: choosing dessert(s). The possibilities included a number of the usual suspects - Tiramisu, Cheesecake, Blood Orange Panna Cotta - as well as a tempting Chocolate Crostata (toasted hazelnut tart with salted caramel & chocolate ganache)... Decisions. Decisions... We finally decided to take the down-home route, sharing a Butterscotch Bundt Cake crowned with vanilla gelato. Which, I am happy to add, was a most satisfying conclusion to our afternoon at table.
We'll be back for dinner... At which time I will post a complete second review of our dining experience.
