This place is a hidden gem!! Absolutely amazing!! It's locally owned. We had the manicotti, stuffed shells, and cheese ravioli. Everything was home made. The sauce was mouth watering. The bread was warm and delicious. The service was great and prices were reasonable. Definitely added to our list of places to go when we are in Madison. read more

I was last here 14 years ago so it's probably time I write a review! I stopped in for lunch on a weekday and the dining room was quite absent one other table. They do have a lunch menu as well as their typical menu with both mediterranean as well as Italian options. I opted for their "famous" (their words) falafel sandwich. Maybe I was anchored by their use of "famous" in their description but I was not impressed. The falafel was quite dense and lacked the earthy/herby flavor I was looking for. The tahini sauce also lacked any sort of punch. At $15.99, it simply didn't deliver. It wasn't terrible but also not great. Sure, the complimentary bread was a nice throwback to simpler times. Will it be another 14 years before I return? Who knows but I won't be in a rush for a return visit. read more

Oliva - Lunch-Falafel sandwich (no tomato) - Mediterranean Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

We have been happy customers of Oliva for many years and initially after the change in ownership, although the food was not the same, it was good. Our recent carry out experience, however, was very disappointing. The calzone was lacking in flavor and the falafel was down right nasty tasting. and burned. The tahini sauce tasted like pure sugar (?!). We ordered the appetizer combo and it was all bland. The red pepper paste tasted like tomato paste. The dessert was good but looked like it was not made in-house. In addition we paid $92.00 for 2 people and threw most of it out. I am very sad to say this, but we will not be back. read more

Great service. The food is delicious. We started with chicken wings which were lightly breaded and tasty. My husband ordered chicken kebabs and I ordered vegetable stew. Drink selection will satisfy everyone's preference. They have a nice selection of desserts but we were to full to try. We've been coming here for years. The food is consistently delicious, the atmosphere is so relaxing and comforting. Great date place. Oliva is one of our favorite restaurants in Madison read more

Quite possibly the worst dining experience I have ever had in Madison. Weird flavor combos, as if competing sauces were cooked in the same pan. Pizza lowest quality ever experienced. Inedible and left over half of our food untouched. I don't have the history here, so cannot comment on what was usual back in the day. So many better options literally any direction...don't waste your time or money here. read more

Italian dishes lacked flavor. Wine glass was very spotted and bread was served in a wicker basket without a liner/napkin. Gyro was good. Service was fine. read more

Had been wanting to try this restaurant as it sounded a bit interesting with both Italian and Mediterranean cuisine listed in its name. The place is a bit upscale style with a mix of Italian and Mediterranean menu offerings. We were seated without any delay and immediately offered with breads with Italian herbs and olive oil while we scanned through their menu and decided to order a mix of both the cuisines . We zeroed in on the Cigar Borek, Lamb Shish Kebab & Cannelloni. We didn't quite like the Cannelloni compared to the other items we ordered but enjoyed the food overall. The portions are a bit on lower side. Overall a decent date like place to try out. read more

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Yesterday was my first time at Oliva, and I'll definitely be coming back. The food was delicious, the prices were great, and the service was excellent. The food came out faster than I expected, and both the waiters and the new owners were very attentive to everything we needed. They have a new special menu with some really tasty dishes. We tried the Oliva's Special Pizza, and it was absolutely delicious. The homemade Burro sauce was the perfect touch, offering a excellent fusion between Italian and Mediterranean flavors. They also offer a nice selection of wines, beers, and local drinks to go perfectly with your meal. read more

Our waiter, Brandon, was awesome. Very pleasant and attentive. I ordered baked ziti and there were little to no noodles. I asked for ziti noodles, but they said it it was proportioned and they didn't have any but I could have spaghetti or fettuccini. The bread was good though. My meal came with soup or salad. I ordered salad but asked for an upgraded salad, however I was charged $8.99 for that. not an upcharge. I asked why I was charged so much and was told that's what it was. I asked to speak to the manager and a woman came to the table. there was no apology, no offer to make things right. very disappointed and will not be back. read more

we are frequent customers, but on our last visit we were extremely disappointed by the significant decline in the quality of the food. We ordered Falafel, beef kebab, and chicken kebab. None of these orders was satisfactory. It seems that the Falafel was made with lentils instead of garbanz beans. The chicken and beef dishes seem to have been made with Indian spices instead of Mediterranean spices. We will not return to this place. read more

I recently went to Olivas for the first time, and I was quite impressed. The food was very good, my girlfriend and I shared an appetizer and two entrees. We had salmon and a pasta dish. Entrees were between $16-22, very good considering how nice the restaurant was. We were not going to order dessert, but we were brought a free piece of Tiramisu, which we finished. read more

The restaurant was a bit slow--not very crowded. We got out seats immediately and had solid service throughout the dinner. The waiter even gave a good recommendation for the appetizer. The menu includes a few Mediterranean items and a few Italian items; what they serve, they serve well. We got two pasta dishes which were both yummy. Overall, a pleasant experience. read more

My Dad I had a bad experience here with a waiter who clearly didn't care but be rude bring my dad the wrong food and the bread was stale. I wouldn't recommend to my worst enemy. read more

Been there twice in 10 days. Very pleasant restaurant with a broad menu and very good food. Cordial service. My wife had Veggie Stew twice; I enjoyed lamb kebabs and small pizza. Great find. read more

Food is absolutely delicious! The beef shish kebabs are the best I've ever had. Service is friendly and welcoming

The place was nice. Good food, not great. But nice people there for sure. A little spendy for the smaller portions.

Family owed and delicious food at a very reasonable price. The best calzone and lamb kabobs I've ver had!!

Oliva is a gem. I am so glad the rain was moving in and I needed someplace to go. Great food, atmosphere and service. I'll be back!

For many years our family has enjoyed Olivia. I guess that has come to an end. We placed our usual order (pizza and some other entrees) chicken Parm literally had an Asian Indian undertone. My wife was like what the heck did you order? I opened the "deluxe" pizza and was VERY disappointed. Not even close to what it should be as it was missing some toppings. Immediately a light goes off in my head. I said to my wife I bet they sold the restaurant. Quick Google search and sure enough. The restaurant is now under new management starting Oct 1, 2025. I am assuming NOT by anyone who knows anything about Italian or Mediterranean food.. but more like Indian food. If you want to serve Indian food fine. Convert to an Indian restaurant, but don't continue to try to keep the restaurant something you aren't capable of maintaining. What an absolute disappointment. I'm super bummed that we won't be returning. read more

Updating my review for a Thanksgiving thank you to the folks at Oliva. Not sure if it was the excitement over not cooking, the immediate mouth-watering aromas when I walked in to pick up my takeout order, or the friendliness of the staff on hand, but my to-go meal from here hit the spot a hundred times over. I can't say enough about the crispy goodness of the falafel or the perfectly seasoned chicken shish-kabob. Since I reviewed last I've been here a bunch more times and my first impression stands - never disappointed with our meals and sometimes it just hits the spot like nothing else can. Show them some love as we wait out this pandemic!! read more

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Went here for a Sunday, get dressed up, date night. From the atmosphere of the restaurant, most people just wear street clothes, but you don't feel out of place being dressed up. Right away when our waitress sat us, she commented that we both looked very nice. Great way to start off the evening! We had never been here before, so we wanted to try a few different options. For appetizers, we ordered the cigar borek and the acuka. The cigar borek reminded me of a mozzarella stick, but with a wonton like wrapper. Oddly it was best when spread with the acuka. This was a standout! Just spicy enough, but not overpowering. Also it almost tasted like a marinara sauce to meant to be put on the complimentary Turkish bread, which is also quite good. For our entrees, my friend had the stuffed eggplant (karniyarik), which the waitress complimented his pronunciation, and I had the nohutlu ispanak (my pronunciation wasn't as good, but she said I did fine!) We both had the red lentil soup as our side, which had a nice tang to it. I was very impressed with the combination of flavors and textures in my dish. The carrots and celery both still had some crunch to them and the yogurt sauce provided a creamy/acidic balance. My friend also commented that he was a fan of his eggplant. He said it reminded him of a lasagna, but without the pasta. After wanting to try so many options, we had a few doggy bags to take home. It was a nice surprise that they box up the food for you in the kitchen, so you don't have to. The reason for the four stars is that there was a little bit of a language barrier, and the food does come out a little slow, but our waitress and the food was excellent! We will definitely be back and bringing some friends to try it out. read more

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First time here and pleasantly surprised. I got a very good meatball sub with an excellent marinara sauce and great bread. It was sort of odd that there were no meat balls more like chopped up ones which made it easier to eat. My wife got a gyros without the pita and found there was plenty of correctly seasoned meat and the lettuce and tomatoes fresh. The meals come with a small salad but covered in red onions so if you don't like them like me, have them removed. It was easy to pick them off the top anyway. Our waiter was busy but got the job done and we were happy with the place and would come back to try some of the other stuff. This was a for lunch so as yet can't comment on the dinner service. This restaurant is where there used to be I think an Atlanta Bread. It's at Hight point and Old Sauk road across from the Dean clinic. Plenty of parking. Give it a shot. read more

Oliva - Lunch - Mediterranean Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Olivia is our go to family dinner outings. The food is great. The service is a little slow but it makes up for the good food. The imam fainted and chicken kabobs are a must. The lentil soup and house bread provided are great. The meatball and spaghetti is a must for kids. The pizza and calzones are good too. Great family dining place in the burbs. Make reservations on weekend, it's busy. read more

Good meal for all five of us. A Mediterranean twist, with Italian, Turkish and Greek offerings throughout. Nice atmosphere but the 4 year old did well, too! read more

We have been here several times now for dinner, lunch and take out. Table service is very good and friendly. We have had several large staff dinners here and they are always able to accommodate our group. The meat kabobs, eggplant parmesan and alfredo with shrimp are among my favorites. Their rice pudding and lemon cake are also outstanding. The lentil soup, babaganoush and red pepper dip are also delicious. Whether you go the Mediterranean route or Italian you won't be disappointed. read more

Best lamb ever! Lamb kebob, done to order (med. rare), with delicious lentil soup starter, freshly baked bread...great service, beautiful decor make this a truly memorable dining experience. read more

A few months ago we called in an order to pick up. They left out a dish we ordered and instead included a dish we didn't order. This was frustrating but we went with it (it was Covid, it was winter, restaurants were swamped with take out orders, etc.). We ordered from there again tonight but did delivery through GrubHub, thinking maybe there had been confusion when we ordered on the phone the last time (maybe they didn't understand what I said?) and I thought clicking a button might make things clearer. Our food just arrived--and again, something was missing. We called to have them fix it and they refused to deliver the missing meal. So the two times we have tried to eat from this restaurant we have received terrible service and have not received the food we paid for. There's no way we will ever return. read more

Excellent food. Menu has a nice variety of Mediterranean and Italian entrees, with several vegetarian options, as well as meat and seafood choices. Friendly attentive service. Ambiance is cozy, warm, nice for conversation. Generous portions at reasonable prices. Our party enjoyed the lamb kebabs, Mediterranean shrimp, and a Turkish-style eggplant dish called Imam Fainted. read more

Stopped in last night with my mom, brother and sister-in-law, and we had a great time! The ambiance is relaxing, with low lighting and cozy, intimate tables. The waiter brought out bread to the table, and it was pretty good! Light and airy, not thick like restaurants normally serve. It was a nice change, and didn't fill us up before our meal. We decided on the tomato caprese as a starter, and it was very tasty. We each ordered our own pizza, and I chose the white pizza. It was delicious! I honestly am not entirely sure I ever want any other kind of pizza ever again. I can't wait to return! read more

Great food! Bread is amazing and service is spectacular. The ambiance was nice. Will come again!

Date: a while ago. Before Yelp. At least my awareness of Yelp. The food was something better or beyond my expectations. I'm a freak of the sort that occasionally I'll suddenly flash back and recall some event. Smells trigger this. Sights as well. For years now I've driven past this place and merely recalled that it was memorable. Tonight, well actually earlier, late this afternoon I walked past the doors and the rush of tastes and smells collided into one of those rare occurrences that can happen. Pizza. A large Margherita with pepperoncinis flooded my senses. Later as I was at home it recurred and a scent of something flashed again read more

Our group of four went to dinner last night, were seated quickly and served water. Then we waited a LONG time to have our order taken. Ok, covid, short staffed, yadda yadda...no problem. Then we waited a LONG time to get our food as well. The fettuccine was oily, not creamy. We ordered one pizza without cheese which arrived covered in cheese. No problem, they remade it, except it took a LONG time again and three of us finished eating before our fourth got the remade pizza. No cheese this time, but it came with one ingredient missing and another which wasn't ordered. The bill reflected a random price for the incorrect pizza which was actually MORE than it should have been. Of the other two pizzas, the veggie was pretty good, the margarita pizza was somewhat dry. All in all, unfortunately we will not give them another chance based on this experience read more

Tucked away in a smallish strip mall next door to a Peruvian restaurant (the picture of the restaurant here is actually its former location, where the Peruvian place now is), Oliva's mix of Italian and Turkish cuisine is somewhat unexpected, but it's a good place for groups because almost everyone can find something. When you sit down, you get a small basket of Turkish bread, which isn't like pita bread but more like squares of puffy, light foccaccia. We ordered the appetizer combo ($14), which included hummus, olive tapenade, Carrot Delight, and a slightly spicy red pepper dip. For entrees, our group was evenly split between Turkish and Mediterranean. I loved my beef shish kebab, especially the flavorful rice, which sort of reminded me of dim sum sticky rice. The yogurt sauce was envied by my calzone-ordering tablemates, although they were very happy with their giant calzones. The house salad comes with a tangy lemony vinaigrette that's really good and worth trying. We came in fairly late, an hour before closing, when there was only one other table. Soon we were the only table, and from then on we were kind of obsessively stalked by our server, who was popping in every two minutes to refill the bread, ask if we needed anything else at all, and generally hurry us out the door. I didn't care for that part so much - if you're open till 9, you're open till 9. Quit bugging us about the damn bread. In addition to the shish kebab and some veggie Turkish dishes, there's also a sprinkling of traditional pasta dishes, a few salads, and individual pizzas. Prices ranged from $12-16 for dinner entrees, and it looked like they also did some pizza delivery or takeout at the counter. The vibe is casual and friendly and overall I enjoyed it... that server just needs to chill out a little. read more

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It was interesting to see both Mediterranean and Italian offerings at Oliva. I'm not sure if specializing in two ethnic foods was necessarily a good idea because both sides were just average. The deluxe pizza was good as it's hard to mess up pizza in my eyes (I'm a pizza lover). The gyro platter was okay, but I've definitely had better and definitely for cheaper as well. I probably liked the stuffed eggplant the most. As for dessert, the baklava wasn't bad. I've only been here once because like I mentioned, you can get both better Mediterranean and better Italian food elsewhere. Nonetheless, if you and a friend want to get dinner together and can't decide on one or the other, then that would be a call for Oliva. read more

I am constantly switching between a 3 and 4 star rating for this place. This is one of those times where I wish I could provide half a star. Oliva is a cozy and casual restaurant on the west side of Madison catering to those who have a taste for Mediterranean or Italian food. When walking into this place, you are welcomed to an open atmosphere with decor and colors that would be traditionally thought of as traditionally from the Mediterranean or Italy. A feature that I took particular liking to was the fireplace which was turned on, leading to a welcoming, home-loke environment. Once seated we were greeted by a courteous wait staff who immediately brought water and fresh, warm Turkish bread. Our waitress was very attentive and had good timing. She also provided some insight with regards to what is popular on the menu. Overall the service was just fine, I have never come here and felt unwelcomed. We decided on the shrimp artichoke, chicken kebabs, and gyros. All dishes came with a perfect serving of rice. We actually really liked this as often restaurants will just pile on the carbs and it can be tough to press on the brakes! All of the dishes, including meats, were perfectly cooked and well seasoned. The shrimp were large and was served in a rich, garlic cream sauce. The chicken was moist and tender. The gyro meat was not as rich as traditional gyro because it was a beef only recipe - big bummer in my opinion. I think while everything was satisfactory, one thing that took away was the variety of food. They do it all well, but, as often said, the jack of all trades is king of none. Overall, reasonable prices, good service, good food, good date spot. read more

I like the food. It's a good price point for what you get. The salads are good and the Mediterranean calzone is delicious. It's a great value for the price point for the good. read more

I loved the food it was SO GOOD. I especially recommend baklava! The food was delivered very quickly and the service was AWESOME!! Very nice place beautifully decorated!! It was incredible. I LOVE THIS PLACE SO MUCH!!!!!!! read more

This is our go to family dinner spot. The food is always on point. I like eggplant and get "the Imam fainted". It's by far the best eggplant dish I've ever had in a restaurant. Servers are attentive and the decor is upscale. Locally owned and just a great gem of a restaurant. read more

Went to this place because a neighboring restaurant was closed for dine in and was pleasantly surprised by the food and ambience. We had the chaman, breaded ravioli, chicken marsala and rice pudding. Loved the flavors, especially loved the appetizers. Service was amazing too, prompt and communicative. read more

Messed up my orders both times we tried there. First time when I called. Second time when we ordered delivery through Grub Hub. Couldn't figure out how to remedy it. Made me drive out there. Over priced mediocre food. Wouldn't recommend and won't go back read more