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Olivea

3.9 (88 reviews)
PriceyItalian
Closed • 11:30 am - 9:00 pm

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OLIVEA ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Intimate
Classy
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Recommended Reviews - Olivea

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Crème brûlée - the sugar on the top was way too thick just ate around that- custard was perfect
Lin S.

I came here for lunch on a weekend and the service and food was wonderful. I was seated by the window and offered water and was given bread with balsamic and oil until my meal arrived. I ordered a dirty martini (but upset places don't offer or know about blue cheese olives that go wonderfully with dirty martinis) I had the squid for appetizer - absolutely delicious. However, my last bite I had some of the spine/backbone that hadn't been removed/missed from cleaning it - wasn't a big deal. I just mentioned it to my server Nick and moved on - was just happy it was part of the squid anatomy and not a piece of plastic - that would have been horrible. The beef cheek gnocchi was rich and tender with a hint of truffle in the sauce. The dish was most decadent and I ate it slowly so I could savor the flavor. I ordered a small Caesar salad to cut through the richness of the dish. Was divine. I was excited to try the crème brûlée- the caramel topping was way too thick and made the dish overly sweet. I decided to just eat the custard which was creamy and delicious. Overall I still give 4 stars because I had a really great experience but it could have been just a touch better.

Tomato soup
Winnie L.

Found this restaurant on Yelp and decided to try it. It was busy on a Saturday afternoon for lunch but it was not completely full and had open tables during the whole time we were there. We were seated right away for lunch. The food was really good but the service was interesting. Our server was very friendly, provided us with good recommendations and was very efficient but was maybe too efficient. Our main courses were brought out before we were finished our appetizers and we were asked if we wanted dessert while we were still eating our main courses. We felt that we were being rushed out while other tables didn't seem to get the same treatment.

Beef carpaccio
Joan T.

What a great choice for date night!! Servers were so friendly and the restaurant is quiet and spacious. We started off with a carpaccio which was amazing!!! Then he had the penne carbonara while I enjoyed the garganelli with chicken and a garlic cream sauce. This pasta was al dente and sauce was amazing!!! Definitely should try this place if you're in Kingston and looking for some good Italian food!!!

Meatballs
Riley D.

Decided on trying Olivea for date night this week. We booked reservations for 2 at 6, and when we got there the place was already packed. We were sat by a window, with a great view of downtown Kingston. Honestly the windows are so cool, the entire side of the restaurant is glass. Beautiful decor, and an awesome feel. We started with bread and olive oil, with a balsamic reduction. The bread was homemade focaccia. After that, the meatballs and arancini which were fantastic. The marinara sauce was unreal. Possibly some of the best I've had outside of Italy. Meatballs were tender and had great flavour. The arancini was crispy, cheesy and the rice inside was perfect. After that, I had the steak with roast potatoes, arugula and a lemon aioli. The steak was perfect, medium rare. And all the components made for a perfect dish. My girlfriend has the flank steak, and that came with rapini and scalloped potato cake. The steak was good, but topped with cream cheese which isn't my thing. (My girlfriend really liked that though). Finally, we had chocolate raspberry tartufo, and that was a perfect end to our meal. Great meal, great restaurant, 100% recommend.

Gnocchi with beef cheek ragu
Karim H.

Lovely Italian spot in downtown Kingston. They are always busy, and with the live music and menu selection, it's easy to see why. Their staff is always pleasant - our last visit they fit us in within 15 minutes without a reservation. Environment: Inviting, dark, warm. The decor is upscale but unpretentious. It is as comfortable as it is elegant. Drinks: menu is extensive. Not many cocktails, but wines are plentiful here. I had a lovely house red recommended by the bartender. Food: Our table had gnocchi with pesto, gnocchi with beef cheek ragu, and brick chicken with roast vegetables. Beautiful, simplistic plating, relatively small portions. The colors are vibrant - you can tell the pesto is home-made with great ingredients. Gnocchi is cooked perfectly, still with some bite to it. Flavors are all perfectly balanced. Summary: Lovely restaurant with an inviting interior and myriad of menu options for Italian food lovers. Staff are exemplary. Dishes are delicious, but I would recommend an appetizer if you are coming hungry. Great place for a date or celebratory occasion. Environment 5/5, Food 4.5/5, Value 4/5.

Garganelli with Crispy Chicken Leg and Roasted Garlic Rosemary Cream Sauce and the Seafood Linguine (back)
Jessica C.

I've been here 3 times in the past 3 months and the pasta is delicious every time! Also, the focaccia bread and local balsamic vinegar is to die for! I would definitely come back to Kingston for the pasta and bread. Olivea is great for lunch (less busy and more casual) and dinner (more romantic and ambient lighting). It's great for both small and large groups. The servers are very helpful and kind with recommendations (which I suggest if you have no idea what you want). It is on the pricier side, but well worth it for the quality and quantity (you will definitely not leave hungry!!!). The real show stopper here is the food - everything I've had here is delicious. The pasta is always cooked to al dente. I've had the Garganelli with Crispy Chicken Leg and Roasted Garlic Rosemary Cream Sauce - the chicken was perfectly crisp and tender and the sauce was rich and creamy. I've also tried the Seafood Linguine, which did not disappoint at all! Each bite was packed with so much flavour. What really kept bringing be back to this restaurant is the focaccia bread they give that's complementary (silly, I know). The bread is the most delicious focaccia bread I've ever had! (hint: dip it in both the olive oil AND lots of balsamic vinegar, you're welcome!) Tip: Make a reso for dinner, especially for the weekend!

Fried seafood appetizers
Jonathan L.

3.5 stars for general standards, 4 stars for Kingston standards: $18 fried Seafood appetizer - shrimps, scallops and squids. Not too crunchy however and a bit soggy but well flavoured. Came with 2 whole scallops which was good. The lemon makes it a bit too sour and the tartar sauce plays down the overall quality of the dish. Wouldn't recommend tbh. I've been here before and the squid was much better, would recommend that over this. $16 spaghetti + $7 sausage The noodles were quite on point with the al dente. Well flavoured but it's a bit overwhelming. It is a bit salty and very oily. CAUTION! Spicy as well (1/5 true spicy level so depends on whether you can handle spicy at all). House made noodles tastes very traditional and well seasoned. I added sausage for the extra protein and it worked well with the overall pasta experience. $23 garganelli with roasted chicken (RECOMMEND) Well flavoured, the sauce is very garlicky and creamy. It's so simple but it's well flavoured. I would recommend this as well if you come here. Chicken was only average but it works well together with the dish. Great ambience to the restaurant, nicely dimmed lighting, ideal for a date. Definitely the best pasta place in Kingston. Gives a nice cozy feeling and having candles really sets the mood. Comes with bread with vinaigrette and olive oil, however they ran out of bread and did not allow any refills (bit disappointing). I SEE THE BREAD, they clearly just didn't want to give it to us. Very rude and disappointing - dropped to 3 stars.

Aixin L.

Overall 3.5/5. Classy decor and ambiance, 4/5 for atmosphere. The restaurant makes for a great date night but can also accommodate a larger group. We were starving walking in and thankfully they started us in some bread, dipped with local balsamic vinegar and olive oil. We had asked for more but the waitress told us they ran out, when CLEARLY there was bread on the serving table. :( and so we started some more before the rest of the food arrived. We started off with the deep fried seafood for $16- 2.5/5. The batter was not very crispy and the taste of it was bland even with the seafood dip. The platter did include a good variety of seafood including scallops, shrimp and calamari in decent amounts. For the main course, I had the Garganelli with crispy chicken leg for $22 - 3.5/5. Overall the dish had an excellent aroma, but was quite heavy. If you're looking for something lighter, I would not recommend this. The pasta was freshly made in house and cooked al dente; the sauce was creamy but not overwhelming. The chicken was grilled to a crispy texture and seasoned minimally which went well with the heavier sauce. Overall, the restaurant's atmosphere definitely trumped its food, which was on the more expensive side. I would still recommend it for a nice evening if you happen to be in town.

Maberry Y.

TL;DR: Understated, delicious Italian food - kinda pricey. Came here for the Sunday pasta special: $24.99 for appetizer, pasta, dessert. ------------ Detailed review: Bread: Amazing olive oil and vinegar wasted on stale focaccia. Quite the tragedy. Last time we came for pasta Sunday, focaccia was beautifully made and fluffy. Appetizer: Arugula Salad, Tomato Soup Arugula salad was fresh, with a peppery bite. Wonderfully refreshing lemon vinaigrette. The tomato soup tasted like pizza sauce - overly sweet, salty, and thicc from soaked bread pieces. Not appetizing at all. Main dish: Spicy spaghetti with shrimp, seafood linguine The seafood linguine was delightful. Pasta was cooked perfectly al dente, and seafood cooked to perfection. The spicy tomato sauce was a great pairing with the sweet seafood. My only complaint was the scallops - clearly frozen, but still pretty tasty! The spicy spaghetti with shrimp was a disappointment. The noodle was soft and over cooked. If you were blindfolded, you wouldn't be able to discern between this spaghetti and soggy instant ramen. Also, it was drenched in oil. Flavours were very garlicky and lacklustre, not to mention not spicy at all. The garlic/arugula/cheese combo did not work, flavour was a tad bitter. However, shrimp was beautifully cooked and very tender. Dessert: Cannoli Thick, crispy shell filled with semisweet cream flavoured with cinnamon and dusted with chocolate. Straight outta Italy. ------------ Highlights: cannoli, seafood linguine, arugula salad Lowlights: spicy spaghetti with shrimp Length of meal: 1 hour 15 minutes Final thoughts: Had a better time in the past at this restaurant. Pricey for Kingston meal, but Pasta Sunday is a great deal. Would we return? Yeee

Shaina C.

Decided to try something new and so glad we did! Had the best food and great service. Originally we were going to go for drinks and appetizers but then we read the menu and decided to get way more! Wanted to get dessert but wow I was so full.... next time! Defiantly a favourite spot!

Great Sunday Pasta special, good value and good food.
Dany M.

Just finished their Sunday Pasta special; very good value for $25. I had the Bolognese and my wife has the seafood linguini. Great selection of deserts included. We always make our way to Olivea when travelling by Kingston. They didn't have my usual, beef cheeks Ragu gnocchi, I won't hold it against them since it allowed me to try another dish.

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2 years ago

The food was excellent. Service was really great. I would absolutely return. Great place to have some excellent pasta.

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3 years ago

Great service and great food. The ambience was very also a good part of the of the restaurant.

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Pasta Genova - They make focaccia, pasta and sandwiches right here at the back of the store.

Pasta Genova

(4 reviews)

$$

Jaw drop. This place is NYC/SF league. Brio Chinotto. Spiced green olives, four flavors, in tubs…read more Italian groceries packed into the tiny place. Fresh figs. That's just the weirds stuff that I like... the FOCACCIA -- they're baking it right there! There's only two sandwiches. This is a GOOD THING... meat or veggie. Apart from amazing -- small detail: romaine, crispy, super fresh... the meats and veggie patty: great recipe. This all before mentioning their namesake dish... pasta... six feet away from the baking, a lady pulling noodles out of a pasta machine, which I'll have to experience next time.

Since moving to Toronto, I miss Pasta Genova deeply…read more They have some of the very best focaccia anywhere, which alone is enough to recommend them. But they also have nearly peerless homemade pastas (of which the smoked paprika linguine is my favourite, though they often only make it by request), spectacular prepared sauces, and regular specials on essentials that will get you things like premium olive oil or balsamic vinegar* at supermarket prices. * Genova is one of the few places I've regularly found a variety of pure, aged balsamic vinegar free from sulphites. AWESOME. So, here's some tips: 1) They ONLY TAKE CASH, no exceptions. I once witnessed a woman curse them out for this fact and declare she'd tell all her friends not to shop there; when she left, everyone in the tiny shop, myself included, burst out laughing, and one of the guys declared "we can barely keep up with the customers we have, we don't need her!". Very jovial, and they took her bitch-fest so perfectly in-stride they could give lessons on how to turn the other cheek. 2) If you need a quick lunch, pick up a focaccia sandwich -- they're about $4 if memory serves, with salami, lettuce, tomato, and mustard, and they're fantastic! If you want to suddenly realize you're hungry, walk down Wellington around 11:00am for the wafting glory of baking focaccia and just try to resist the pull. 3) When ordering pasta instead of ordering by weight, order by serving size. Say things like "I'm having a dinner party for six, four big eaters and two regular", and they'll give you an incredibly accurate amount of what you need, plus a little extra (because people WILL want seconds, believe me!). 4) Their homemade calabrese olives are out of this world good. They use a puree of oil-marinated chilis, oregano, fennel (I think), and oil, and very, very good sun cured olives... and damn, these things are so good I eat them until I hurt. 5) Ask what's on special, or if they have any leftovers. I've scored half servings of pasta, day old (but still delicious) focaccia, and nearly expired but still awesome cheese for cheap. Finally, I'll also mention that the staff here are fabulous -- very nice people who greet with a smile, always bid a good day, and work diligently to help provide you with exactly what you need to hit a homerun with whatever it is you're cooking. Only downside: Toronto Maple Leaf fans. Egads!

Wooden Heads - Dynamo Pizza

Wooden Heads

(243 reviews)

$$

I came here a few years ago on a girls trip and have been thinking about the pizza here ever since!…read moreSpecifically the Nona Mela pizza, which has apple butter, roasted garlic, cheddar, caramelized onions, and blackened chicken. Normally I would never get this type of pizza as I love a red sauce, but this was recommended by one of my friend's friends so we tried it. And I'm so glad we did! This pizza is amazing and the flavours are prefectly balanced. Fast forward to this year, I was on a road trip with my husband and my dog and I just HAD to have this pizza again. We ordered the Nona Mela and the Citta pizza (the Citta has prosciutto and brie), and they were both delicious! The Nona Mela was especially good, and my husband agreed that it was a lot better than what he expected. We couldn't finish the two pizzas between us, so we brought the leftovers home and reheated it two days later. Somehow, the pizza was even better than the day of! We actually ordered an extra Nona Mela to bring home to one of my friends who was on the girls trip a few years ago, as she also has been thinking of this pizza. That's how good it is! The pizza is on the pricier side though, but very worth. We sat on the patio since we had a dog and the waiters/waitresses were very nice and gave my dog a water bowl.

Pizza was great and the servers were really nice. It does get really busy tho and gets very loud…read morewhen the place is full. Only reason why I'm not giving 5 stars is because at the end the staff were trying to rush us out so they can get the next table in.

Olivea - italian - Updated May 2026

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