Absolutely loved this class! It was informative, delicious, and beautifully presented. The food spread was incredible--Caprese salad, Manchego and chèvre cheeses, prosciutto, Marcona almonds, fresh Texas peaches, fresh figs, blueberries, raspberries and strawberries. Green apple to cleanse the palate between olive oil tastings. I learned so much about tasting olive oil. Fresh is best. Know your harvest date, and always keep it corked tight, no air. The honey portion was equally fascinating, featuring local Two Hives Honey--raw, unpasteurized, and full of unique flavors like Mesquite and Hot Honey. Learning how color, flavor, and characteristics vary between honeys was so interesting! We also sampled honey comb, which surprisingly didn't taste waxy. It's was very thin and just melted in your mouth. Beautiful food, wonderful presentation, and so much great information. I highly recommend this experience to anyone who loves food, olive oil, and honey! We did have a wonderful surprise of hot honey on ice cream. I never in a million years thought honey on ice cream, let alone HOT honey. Beautifully paired. Loved it. At the end of the night we did get to shop around the Con Olio's store. I bought the mesquite Two Hives Honey. I can't wait to experiment with it at home with my cooking and fun toppings. read more

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I was in the market for some extra virgin olive oil. Con Olio was the winning location. Shannon, store manager, shared key information about the different olive oils as well as balsamic vinegars. I got to sample several olive oils and balsamic vinegars before decided. The store is surprisingly large with many selections to choose from. I was able to leisurely walk around the store. In addition, con olio had cheese, candy, honey, jams and jellies. Cool vibe...looking forward to using my purchases in my dining pursuits. read more

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We've been to the bee caves location for a yelp event and have been meaning to come back for a while. We decided to go to this location instead and it was just as good as we remembered. There's so many options for olive oils and balsamics that it can get really hard to choose, but that's a good thing. We got a lot of helpful assistance and suggestions for what balsamic vinegar we needed and we are throughly satisfied with our purchase. So glad both of these locations are great in quality and service. read more

Amazing store! My mom and I love this place! If you're interested in getting fancier olive oils and vinegars this place is for you. Also a really nice store to buy some nicer gifts for those that love to cook or host. They have a couple other items they sell along with the oil and vinegars (fresh pasta, gourmet cheese and nuts, some kitchen gadgets, etc.) I don't think you can go wrong with anything in the store. I do wish they had bread or something to try the oil and vinegars with as sipping them straight can be kind of overwhelming to the palette sometimes. read more

Con' Olio was highly recommended to me by one of the chefs at a local pizza restaurant. The variety of fresh olive oils and vinegars was impressive. They allow you to sample as many as you'd like. My favorites were the orange infused olive oil and the dark chocolate infused balsamic vinegar. They are a perfect combo and I purchased some for my fiance and I and as gifts for mother's day. I will note that they are a bit pricey but their products are a real treat! The staff was very helpful and knowledgeable. I look forward to coming back and maybe even participating in their tasting classes. read more

Con' Olio Oils & Vinegars - Olive Oil Near Me - Austin, Texas

I was pleasantly surprised to see this spot next to a spice store that I've been dying to visit, so it only made sense to pop in here afterwards and I was so glad I did. It was SO neat! I was solo and wished I could've experienced it with someone else for the first time. I heard a buzz while visiting that the majority of the folks inside were bummed out that the Sicilian Lemon olive oil was sold out, so naturally, I put myself on the list to make sure I'm notified next time it's available. I walked away with a basil olive oil which was so fresh tasting and delicious and a grapefruit white vinegar which was absolutely to die for. I can't wait to share it with my Mom, and bring her here next time she visits! Parking is kind of a nightmare in the area, the spots are super small, but I noticed a parking garage nearby. Luckily I got a spot close to this store. The folks inside were so friendly and based on how they were speaking to other customers, I'd say they probably have some regulars. Can't wait to bring friends to this establishment! read more

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Attended a tasting group event at Arboretum location last night - it was an outstanding evening with owner presentation on EVOO and balsamic vinegars. What a knowledgeable speaker and enthusiastic hostess of her business. Highly recommended you visit her shop in either location for tasting the freshest EVOO and perfectly aged balsamic vinegars in the world! So glad we have access to these delicious products in ATX!! read more

I have discovered an intense appreciation for quality balsamic vinegars and olive oils all thanks to this incredible shop! Stop by and ask for the run down of the shop and how everything is organized, I promise you that you'll be fascinated and amazed by the knowledge of the staff here. And definitely ask for their personal recommendations and combinations, because your taste buds will have such a great tasting experience! There are so many incredible options to try out. I never thought I would become such a huge fan of balsamic vinegars, but wow this place has such a hold on me that I have to keep going back. My current favorites are the white summer peach, dark fig, and neopolitan balsamic vinegars. Not only have I stepped up my salad dressing and pasta game, but these balsamic vinegars (especially the summer peach) are also great to mix into cottage cheese, ice cream, and toast! Each olive oil and balsamic vinegar label has recommendations on what food to combine each with, as well as flavor pairings, which is incredibly helpful as you expand your palate. Hands down a fantastic shop that I will gladly return to over and over again! And it's also located right next door to a spice shop which is perfect. read more

Wow what an incredible shop and tasting experience. We found so many favorites among the oils and vinegars at this place. Seriously, favorite store now. Besides the quality of the ingredients, the excellence of our experience was mostly attributable to Shaggy who walked us through the whole tasting experience. Super friendly and knowledgeable guy, and really made the whole store approachable. I knew I'd prefer the quality of "real" olive oil and vinegar but I don't think I was prepared for how much my mind is blown. read more

Olive & Oil Paradise! Glad to have stopped by tonight. The staff on site was so welcoming and helpful...I did not leave empty handed like I expected (as a first timer)Lol. But I am grateful to have stopped in. I enjoyed the herb olive oil and the olives are to Live For.. Def, returning soon to check out their cheeses. read more

Con' Olio Oils & Vinegars - Olives (Garlic stuffed) - Olive Oil Near Me - Austin, Texas

Con' Olio's is by far a must-visit place for all dedicated foodies! My understanding is that this store (and a second in Bee Cave) were the first Extra Virgin Olive Oils (EVOO) and balsamic vinegar tasting locations in Austin, and it certainly deserved the title. The Arboretum location has friendly staff and an excellent selection to choose from. Compared to Bee Cave, this location feels more airy and has space to let you wander between offerings more. The strength of CO is their willingness to let you taste pretty much anything in the store. While the star of the show is the olive oil, their flavored balsamic vinegar is also excellent. They also have an interesting selection of pasta and gourmet condiments worth checking out. A note to the newcomer to the world EVOO: You may find to your surprise that many samples are astringent and peppery! That's because fresh olive oil contains a high level of antioxidants, which provide multiple health benefits. A 5-star place and worth a drive to visit. read more

Con' Olio Oils & Vinegars - Couldn't find my pics of the store - here's some of my bruschetta made with Con' Olio oil, though! Delish! - Olive Oil Near Me - Austin, Texas

I've been a customer of Con' Oilo for five years, but never did I know they sold perishable items until the lockdown. I couldn't get into farmhousedelivery.com because they are booked, but Con Olio offers similar local produce and dairy on a smaller scale. For the lockdown, they are offering free curbside pickup. Unlike HEB, the lead time at Con Olio is about four hours. You can skip one week curbside lead times at HEB and Randall's. They offer gluten free artisan bread and bagels, eggs, green onions, etc... You can place a curbside order online or over the phone with Margo. She even wore gloves for curbside delivery. When lockdown is over, they also offer cooking classes accommodating any food allergies. read more

Great customer service and awesome products. The team there was very attentive and helpful.

For all I know the oils and balsamic vinegars are wonderful. Do I really want to pay $6 for a microbottle of bergamot olive oil? No. Do I want to pay $33 for a usefully sized bottle of bergamot olive oil? No. Do I want a dish with olive oil flavor and a citrus tang? At most HEBs not to mention Central Market, I can buy olive oil made from just about any kind of olive imaginable - and pair it with whatever fruit I like. The same applies for any other flavor they want to trot out - chili, herbs, chocolate, whatever. More artistic control and half the price or cheaper. * * * Their sales technique could also use a little work. Someone who I think is the owner came up to me and said "Oh, this is your first time here? Let's start sampling some olive oils! I let people taste some olive oil. They become customers for life." This is the same as if you were a woman in a bar And the guy sitting next to you were to say: "I tell women my fantastic stories of charity work in India and they are in my bed the same night." I was not in her bed that same night. I was out of her store - For good. read more

We just have to give a HUGE holiday shout out to Michael from Con' Olio, y'all! Picture the hubby and I rushing around like procrastinating mad people, as we were heading out to meet our Houston family at the between-ish point of a lovely Italian restaurant in College Station, and we had literally not bought anyone a DANG thing for Christmas! I'm increasingly of the opinion that the best and most memorable gifts are experience-based, rather than the rat race of materialism, so, with that in mind, we flew into Con' Olio on the way, because: 1. We love it! and 2. Delicious food and wine are most certainly experience-based! We only had 15 minutes to spare before we had to hit the road, so we were in a panic, but we needn't have been! The incredibly sweet and ridiculously competent Michael quickly took us in hand and not only guided us to the most sublime oil and balsamic vinegar EVER and packed them in a perfect gift arrangement, but he suggested two bottles of gorgeous wine, and we threw in two bottles of stuffed olives, two jars of lovely pasta sauce and two bags of fresh pasta, all hailing from actual Italy, natch. So, we bring our haul to the front, and Michael suggested fabulously rustic gift bags, he removed all price tags, he bagged all of the gifts in their particular bags in ways that made absolute sense for our sudden Italian feast theme, wrapping the wine bottles elegantly before doing so! He then provided us a pen to write our little notes on the tags, he filled the bags with perfectly fluffed tissue, and the cherry on top was that he went to the back to grab a box, and packed all of our stuffed bags safely in it, for easy transport! So, we went from being the most hideous and harried procrastinators to winning this College Station Christmas in fifteen minutes flat, and we have Con' Olio and Michael, their multi-talented sommelier, to thank! You guys are AWESOME! read more

A novel idea for a shop! The abundance and varieties of oils and vinegars call out to you. They have tons of free samples. Not everyone is offering samples during the pandemic, so I love the opportunity to consume samples like we did back in the old days before the pandemic. I tried 3 different samples, and I liked the cayenne olive oil the best. The clerk advised me to dilute it, but since I am a spice addict, I had it undiluted and that rocked. The prices are higher, but the pleasure of cayenne olive oil might justify a purchase. The clerks are friendly too! I didn't have much money today, so I hope to come back when I have more money to support this place. read more

Wow! From the minute we walked in, we felt like we were at home. Very friendly, super educational and helpful. We learned more about olive oil and all things related than days of reading, shopping and researching. Plus! We got to taste and experience the difference in quality, variety and the different flavors. This was a rare experience and one you should not miss if you care about the taste, quality, and freshness of the olive oil you use. Lucky and Anna helped us out and they are experts and full of knowledge. Can't thank them enough for the over the top experience they gave us today. If you've followed my reviews, you know I'm not one to write a review unless I'm really wowed and if I don't have anything good to say, I'm generally keep to myself and preserve my energy. But this guys are worth the time and effort. Thanks so much! We will definitely be coming back and making you our go to spot! These guys are great for special gifts, especially for those you struggle to find something meaningful for. read more

Wow they really know their stuff. Shelves and shelves of olive oil and vinegar. The name was not lying. They have olive oil that tastes like butter (Natural Butter), one that I'm going to start recommending to patients as a more cholesterol-friendly option to butter. I ended up buying an infused olive oil, Wild Mushroom and Sage, that tastes richly like mushrooms and sage. I'm going to dash it into mashed potatoes and noodles. The saleslady touring was very knowledgeable, greeted regulars by name, and was a real pleasure. I spotted the Harissa Hot and thought of one of my friends graduating from college. I asked her to recommended an olive oil to give to someone from Morocco and voila! She picked this one. While the vinegars and oil are sampled in tiny little shots, the Harissa Hot, infused with spices, was to be sampled with a tiny oyster cracker. The vinegars were amazing- espresso, grapefruit... some sweet enough to pour directly onto ice cream and eat; others had a matching olive oil companion. I wish Frank would've came with me so he could've indulged in a mega purchase with me, so he's getting dragged next time. read more

Con' Olio Oils & Vinegars - Olive Oil Near Me - Austin, Texas

This is another store I didn't realize was so close to my house. I went a little crazy here and got sample 60ml sizes of many types of vinegars and I got some interesting oils like butternut squash seed oil. I am also enjoying the cara cara vanilla orange vinegar. They go really well on my salads also. read more

I have tasted and bought oils at Con' Olio and recently attended an Olive Oil 101 class. Their oils are high quality and they keep them sealed and dark in their special tasting contraptions. They also have some wonderful balsamic vinegar flavors. The oils and balsamic vinger clearly display if they are organic, gluten free and non GMO. They also share the crush date (it is best to consume/use the oils within a year of the crush date). There is tasting cups at each tasting for customers to sample. They sell in various sizes with most of the small 60 ml bottles running $4.99. Some of my favorite flavors are the Tuscan herb, Meyer lemon, blood orange and truffle. Their website is loaded with recipe ideas for both the olive oil and balsamic vinegars. I don't want to give away to much about the class in case you plan to attend. What I will share is it covers the history of olive oil, the production process, health benefits and you have an opportunity to taste and compare the oils. During our visit we had baguette, almonds, mozzarella, tomato, olives and Amy's Mexican Vanilla ice cream to pair with the olive oils. You can also purchase wines by the glass to enjoy during the olive oil tasting (reds are $5 and whites $4). The classes are $25 and my MIL and I found it well worth it. After experiencing this class it will be hard for me to use grocery store bought olive oils. You can really taste the difference from the feel on your tongue to the amazing flavors. Con' Olio Oils & Vinegars is locally owned so you can feel good about keeping it local when you shop here. read more

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Pssst! Come closer, I want to let you in on a little secret. They let you drink as many shots as you want for FREE!!!! I stopped after 12 shots only because I was so giddy at that point. Okay, so the shots are either olive oil or balsamic vineger. They taste soo good. Oops, sorry, I am getting ahead of myself. We arrived before they were open so a stroll around the arboritium was taken. When they opened their doors at 10AM, we were the first and only one to go in. Sandy introduced herself and asked if we had ever been in before. No, we told her, we were virgins. She explained the process of getting dispensing the oil into the little cup, then sniff and sip. Their oils are infused with the flavors during the press process and not after. She pointed out the different sections. The first row were unflavored oil but from different olives. Next came the flavor savory oil, to be followed by the citrius oils. Turn the corner and the balsamic vineger is the star. If you continue down the row, the flavored Balsamics were lined up. The containers were all stainless steel fusti with spigot. I started at the flavored balsamic and there was only one I didn't care for. I purchased the Raspberry Balsamic, Fig Balsamic, Lemon Olive oil, and the Tuscanny Herb olive oil. They freshly dispense the oils and vineger into dark empty bottles right from the fusti. Labels are put on so you can ID them when you get home. You can get them in two size bottle. I chose the smaller ones because they were having a sale. If you buy 4 small bottles, you get 15% off. BTW on Saturdays they stop at Artisan Bistro and bring back baguettes, croissants, and ciabatta breads. I had a chocolate croissant and this was a REAL french made croissant. As I was walking to my car with my newly acquired treasure, I noticed that my mouth didn't feel oily. The olive oil flavor lingered on my tongue but not the oily aftertaste you get from some olive oils. I hate to say this but I think I will go broke at this store because I will be coming back again and again. read more

Con' Olio has ruined me! I will NEVER EVER be able to enjoy a lesser Olive Oil or Balsamic again EVER. I am already addicted to their crack like Strawberry Balsamic - for the past 7 hours it was all I could think about and could not stop talking about it to all who would listen. I could easily replace my love for sipping good red wine with sipping their sweet tart rich Strawberry Balsamic. Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar tasting is the new wine tasting! And Con' Olio knows how to do it right! Jeff (one of the owners) greeted me and enthusiastically explained how superior their fresh olive oils are to anything on the shelf at a local grocery store - he was talking to the preacher on this because I highly disliked olive oil before I tasted the fresh stuff. I was like an ADD kid in a candy store so overwhelmed by all the options - his explaining how the order in which the Olive Oils and Vinegars are set up, and there is an order, was lost on me. Upon entering, the left wall is lined with stainless steel Fusti containers with Olive Oils ranging from Buttery to Citrus with infused oils ranging from Blood Orange to Garlic and Rosemary. Along the back wall and a portion of the back right are the Balsamic Vinegars with flavors ranging from Strawberry, Blueberry and Tangerine to Fig and Dark Chocolate. Each Fusti has recommendations on how to pair the Olive Oil or Vinegar. The Strawberry my favorite for instance would go great with a Spring Mix with Walnuts and Feta salad or on ice cream and the Tangerine would be great on any white fish and the Dark Chocolate on ice cream as well. I did not read the Blueberry Vinegar suggestions but think it would go great on a Ricotta filled Crepe or straight off my finger after I fist dip it in peanut butter:) Seriously, I have not given much thought to anything else since visiting Con' Olio.... Perhaps the Blood Orange infused Olive Oil with Dark Chocolate Balsamic drizzled on a fine Biscotti? Heck, just give me a glass of their Strawberry Vinegar to sip on and I could not be happier but do not expect me to shut up. If you are a Food Blogger come in and sign up for their Tasting with provided finger foods that Jeff told me about! And if it is not too late you can still purchase a Groupon for 15.00 for 30.00 worth of liquid gold! read more

Con' Olio Oils & Vinegars - Olive Oil Near Me - Austin, Texas

If EVOO is your thing, you must check out this gem in the Arboretum. This place is nothing less that the best! A multitude of fine olive oil and balsamic vinegars line the clean, cool space. The staff is friendly and well educated about the product. The product changes with harvest time. Olive oil degrades after a year, hence the oils we get in the US is mostly bland. I am looking forward to the fall harvest in Italy. Taste is subjective so the store is set up so you can take shots of as many oils and vinegars you want. Yes, everything is a bit pricey; however, they have a variety of sizes that you can purchase from $6 (60mL) to 720mL. Last night I made my best capresse salad ever with the picholine olive oil and back cherry balsamic vinegar. I also recommend the white truffle olive oil---you can really elevate a simple food like eggs with a splash of truffle oil. They also hold classes and food pairings here. read more

Con' Olio Oils & Vinegars - Olive oil bar - Olive Oil Near Me - Austin, Texas

Never knew there were a "plethora" of olive oils and balsamic vinegars...amazing stuff. read more

Con' Olio Oils & Vinegars - Olive Oil Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I rarely get out to the NWA too often, so was really happy to find Con Olio! What a lovely little place filled with beautiful oils and aged vinegars. The Owner Jeff was incredibly knowledgeable and helped me pick out a fabulous California oil that was pressed weeks ago. It had a nice peppery, grassy note. Then he showed me their nice Herbed olive oil with goes so well as a marinade or with the 18 year aged balsamic I bought for salads and dipping sauces. What a gem of a place! And they are very gluten free friendly and have some great GF books and products that taste far meter than many pasta brands found at HEB. Wish it were closer, but I will add this to my next NWA adventure. read more

Con' Olio Oils & Vinegars - Olive Oil Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Let me start by saying this place is a bit expensive. With that being said I still love it for it's large selection of oils and vinegars. I love the fact that they allow you to taste each and every one of these products so that you can ensure you get exactly what you want. While tasting the vinegars my mind races with thoughts of how I might us them to enhance the flavor of meals. Of course you can use them for salad, but what about fish, steak and pork? What about combining a flavored oil to an infused vinegar? The options are endless and this is why I enjoy this place so much. They have a few standard sizes and you can get as little or as much as you may want. Every great cook looks for inspiration and Con' Olio Oils & Vinegars is where you will find it. read more

This place is amazing. The staff is so helpful. They are like our family and a quick weekend get away. I seriously would go here everyday if I could because they are so sweet and helpful. read more

Con' Olio Oils & Vinegars - Those for bottles in the front make an awesome blue cheese. Yes I said it!!! Blue cheese made with oils and viniger. - Olive Oil Near Me - Austin, Texas

I feel as if I just discovered Disneyworld. What an amazing place. The tastings are such a great idea. How many times have bought something new at the supermarket, took it home, tasted it, and poured it down the drain. This is such a special outlet for fine oils, vinegar and spices. I cannot wait for dinner. They also have wonderful gift ideas that are truly unique. read more

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I definitely recommend stopping here to amaze your inner foodie. It was a tasting of olive oil, white and dark basalmic vinegars that surprised me and almost overwhelmed my palate. The staff is very knowledgeable and pointed out which oils and vinegars are used by various chefs in town. I did love the chipotle olive oil but got distracted by vinegar and forgot to buy it. I ended up buying the peach white basalmic vinegar and the strawberry dark basalmic. The strawberry one could even go right on ice cream. It is delicious! We originally compared the white and black truffle oils - white one wins. My friend had bought truffle salt next door at the spice shop. This store sells truffle cream, truffle pasta, real truffles, and truffled sauces. So yes, a truffled paradise here! read more

I received a $200 gift certificate to use here, and have been a convert to its balsamic vinegars. In addition, they have tastings every weekend. The coffee and the aged balsamic are simply the best. For a while they had delicious Johnson's Backyard heirloom tomatoes, but they discontinued it. I made a fantastic paella for friends this July evening and it was amazing with the seafood. read more

Con' Olio Oils & Vinegars - They sell the paella pan, calasparra bomba rice, olive oil -- I think you need to get the other two dozen ingredients elsewhere. - Olive Oil Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Alysa and Rachell were absolutely fabulous! They were so bright, cheery and helpful in introducing me to the variety of vinegars and recipes for same. They truly made shopping at Con Olio a delightful experience. Love your products! read more

As I lovingly carried our ripe and ready to use 18 year old Balsamic vinegar to the car, I realized the year it was bottled our son was one year old and still in diapers. It should be no secret to you that it takes much, much longer for boys to mature. A few things that are a mature 18 years old this year: The Colorado Rockies baseball team My mother's Buick Glenfiddich Ancient Reserve Scotch The Mountain Laurel tree in the yard at our first home Enough of the walk down memory lane. I'm here to tell you about a wonderful new food shop in the Arboretum. My inner Italian goddess felt right at home with the rich and flavored olive oils and the luscious and sweet Balsamic vinegars offered to patrons for tasting. Ciao y Grazie! How ideal to taste a product before taking it home. Didn't you, uh, "taste" your significant other before bringing SO home? Tabatha and Jeff Conarko, the owners of Con' Olio, greet you and escort you to the oils and vinegars. You immediately sense the couple's enthusiasm and love for what they have created. They are extremely knowledgeable about the products they sell and there is no pressure to purchase anything. Strolling through the shop I noted several gluten free pastas and (drum roll please) gluten free gnocchi!! Can I get an Amen?! Other goodies line the walls in small groupings such as balsamic strawberry jam, orange balsamic glaze for meat, body cream and soap produced from olive oil. Decorating the space are beautiful framed photographs of vegetables, foods, wine bottles and Italian scenes by Nancy E. Krueger for sale. Arrivederci, Bella! read more

Picture this: It's raining out and you are trying to take cover in this yuppie shopping center, without making the grave mistake of walking into Cheesecake Factory and engorging yourself until the rain stops. You decide that sniffing and drinking the finest of oils is a safe bet. You are ignored by all staff because you look like a wet rat, but you still manage to taste every liquid available without being noticed, aka invisible. Your face is overly expressive with every sip of the golden and brown liquids, yet you manage to decide on three selections of their smallest sized oils and one balsamic. Just get the wild mushroom & sage. It will make your house smell glorious with even the smallest amount used. read more

We are at a loss. The products are exceptional but the rude and condescending treatment you have to endure to spend your money here is horrific. This is the first business we have experienced in seven months of living here that does not embody Texas Southern hospitality or politeness. We have been in numerous times and average $75 in purchases each time. With the exception of the first time, the staff has not been friendly or welcoming. One person was so rude to us that I asked to speak to the owner or manager. I was shocked when she told me she was the owner! The spirit of the owner permeates down through the staff. As much as we desire to shop locally, we have decided to have our oils and vinegars shipped in from the store where we used to live. They treat us kindly and are grateful for our patronage. read more

This place has a great selection of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. They also carry nut oils. I love the hatch chili infused olive oil it is great as part of a ton on pork shoulder before it is smoked. The espresso infused vinegar makes a great marinade for steak. The first balsamic is great with Melon and prosciutto. The service is great and the personnel is very knowledgeable. read more

Um, can I live here? I am absolutely infatuated with this place. I am never, ever buying olive oil or balsamic vinegar from the grocery store again. They have every flavor of olive oil or balsamic vinegar that you could ever want. Ever. AND they offer classes on both. I recently had the pleasure of taking their balsamic vinegar class. Mind = blown. I never knew there was so much to know about balsamic vinegar. And it was awesome. The owner told us all about how the store came to be, the history of balsamic vinegar, the different types, and we compared the real/good stuff to the crap you buy in the store and WOW what a difference. Seriously, I can't even explain how much fun I had. We were served a salad (with balsamic vinaigrette of course), a cheese plate (with corresponding balsamic vinegars), and a dessert-- with NO SUGAR-- with balsamic vinegar (vanilla and chocolate to be exact) and it was delicious! I never knew balsamic vinegar had so many uses! The class was such an eye opener. And the cost of the ticket not only included the food, tasters, and awesome mini-seminar, but also wine! If you're looking for a new date activity, I would highly, highly recommend this. And even if you don't take the class, you can go and taste all the different flavors of olive oil and vinegar. Really, when can I move in? read more

You want to start the paleo diet? Kiss all your happiness goodbye, saving it for a day when alcohol and cupcakes have been scientifically modified to be nutritious food sources. Con'Olio is like a frozen margarita glittering in the Solemn Desert of Deepest Sorrow that is paleo. For on paleo, you are allowed to use healthy oils in food accompaniment. Which still wouldn't justify it if I, say, drank lavender vinegar straight from the huge vats at CO. Or guzzled pure, delicious buttery olive oil from their fancy bottles. That is not part of the diet, but moderation of these luscious ingredients is. Sean is awesome. He let me sample the walnut oil I had called in about, then vinegars that would also go well with the arugula-raspberry-walnut salad I had envisioned. He saw the Go Local card on my keychain and guess what? 10% off. Like magic. Kids, you don't know real oil until you have the real deal. Our meals are forever changed thanks to these flavorful enhancements. Yum to infinity. read more

If you haven't read "Extra Virginity", I can sum it up for you in one line: stop buying your "olive oil" from HEB and start shopping at Con Olio instead. Most of the oil you're buying at the grocery store is either rotten (then stripped of its odor and healthful properties with detergents) or not olive oil at all. That's why it is so cheap - because it is garbage. We did not shop at Con Olio until they opened up their store downtown (across from the W), but we will definitely be regular customers now. Their oil is so fresh and delicious you will find yourself drinking your olive oil in little shots every day to experience the taste again. And you will never go back to the grocery store swill. On our first visit, we bought some of the more robust, unflavored olive oil and we've been using it as a finishing oil (we use some of our Texas Olive Ranch oil to cook with), drowning our salads and fish in copious quantities of oil. We also bought a 12-year balsamic and a lemongrass/mint vinegar. I've been drinking the 12-year as a digestif, and we plan to use the flavored vinegar on salads but have not enjoyed it yet. It surprised us that you can taste everything they sell. We met the owner, Jeff, who stayed open late to chat with us about his store and his passion for good oils and vinegars. We will be telling everyone we know to drop by and try some of the oil. It would surprise me if you don't walk out with at least one bottle. Jeff is full of great information and his enthusiasm is infectious. We will also likely try one of his classes at Whole Foods if we can. If you enjoy olive oil, have an interest in it as a healthy food, or are just considering a fun, interesting place to visit in downtown - put Con Olio at the top of your list. A great date spot! read more

Have you ever taken a shot of Olive Oil? You can here! Loved the process of learning about oils and vinegars. The employee that helped us was knowledgable and inspired in us the desire to start using quality oils and vinegars. One thing - the guy who helped us smelled smoky, so when he handed us a sample to try, we got the smoke whiff from his hands before we sampled each oil. It was unappetizing but not a huge deal. I just think if you're serving food or in such a precise culinary industry, you try not to smell like smoke when talking to customers. Other than that, it was great. We'll be back for sure. read more

I'd heard of this place but didn't really think much of it at first. I like balsamic vinegar so finally got around to going earlier this year. Wish I would've ventured into here sooner! I was lucky. The day I went, it was before noon, and I was the only patron in the store. I had a warm welcome from the owner, I think his name was Jeff, and he introduced me to the concept of his store and how it worked. They have fascinating selection of different infused balsamic vinegars and olive oils. I was a little overwhelmed at first, but the owner was incredibly helpful and educating. Not only did he let me taste a number of vinegars and oils, he explained the flavors, what defines a true balsamic, and how you can tell if olive oil is fresh. I was completely enlightened about these ingredients. Many thanks to the owner and his patience. What I ended up buying: - Black truffle EVOO - Hojiblanca EVOO - Mushroom & sage EVOO - 18 year traditional balsamic vinegar (absolutely amazing) - Dark chocolate balsamic vinegar - Sicilian lemon balsamic vinegar Think that's a lot? Yeah, it probably was, BUT they offer different bottle sizes so half of my orders were the little sample-size looking bottles, which by the way are great sizes for gifts if you wanted to buy a few. The reason I list what I got is to show a glimmer into the wonderful selection they have. Loved this place! read more