I finally got to try this place out on a quieter late spring Tuesday evening. They had their garage style windows open for a patio like feel which was great. It's super comfy inside with throw pillows and leather bean bag style seats. We ordered a couple drinks and about 6 different tapas plates. Everything was packed with flavor with an eye on detail. I loved the pate with pickled grapes. Our server brought us refills of the crostini 3x without us asking. Their white cheddar grilled cheese panino and tomato bisque was also the best I'd ever had. We'll definitely be back soon. read more

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From a bartender (classic, dive, reinvented, nightclub, sports bar, fine dining) of 35 year's: Really? Tax expressive cocktails? Bartender who "helps" deliver food, but won't look at a ticket with names on it and instead puts on the "I Smell a Baby Diaper" Face and begins barking the food name to anyone who will claim it. A very justified need to hold credit cards for a tab is communicated in a fashion that resembles a rebuke. That same need can be conveyed in a much clearer and smoother fashion. While it's no longer 1960 or even 1990 it certainly isn't 2026 either - a ten dollar cocktail that doesn't even name a brand? (meaning, it's your well). Nah... Clearly, you've been open for 5 years +/- so there must be some douchebags who visit enough to keep your rent paid but I never see enough people here to pay the light bill, let alone the owner exorbitant rent, which explains your product pricing. The music was awesome The walls don't absorb the din Some food was mediocre and some food was strange and frightening - the wine, beer and cocktails were uninspiring. If I never return there will be lots of room I and my friends aren't taking up that the douchebags who love this place can stretch out in. read more

First thing you notice is the great orange logo and the coffee-bar meets winebar vibe: walls crammed with art, black leather booths, open ambience, a long curving bar, and the biggest thickest monogrammed napkins i've ever seen: but don't be fooled, it's not a hoity-toit place--it's just very unique in that it caters to locals and happy hour enthusiasts who are looking for some creativity and pizzaz without the formality. and they deliver! strange and tantalizing cocktails featuring gin and lavender syryup and rosemary, appetizers such as blue-cheesed stuffed dates that would be more expected at a fancy restaurant, and all at reasonable prices. happy hour cocktails are $2 off (reguarly $8) and appetizers run from $6-$8. great to meet up with new friends, try a few drinks, share finger foods and feel fabulous! this is the gastronomic gem of european pubs. and best of all-on our first venture there, a lady at the table next to us placed a $20 bill on our table as she was leaving. "May i contribute to your first round?" she asked our party. "you just have such a good vibe going!" That has NEVER happened before! You can bet i'll be back! :) read more

Oliver's Twist is one of Seattle's best kept secrets. The drinks are always on par and the food is great (the tomato soup and grilled cheese never disappoint and the garlic truffle popcorn is the stuff dreams are made of!) What really makes OT so great is the owner and the bartenders. Karuna and his team are second to none and some of the most genuine people I've had the pleasure to meet. Always friendly, knowledgeable, helpful, and have a true passion for their work. OT is one of my favorite spots in Seattle and you're missing out if you haven't been! read more

I came here yesterday to grab a drink with a friend. The staff was really friendly and was able to bring us drinks very fast. The overall feel of the place was pretty good for my taste. It wasn't some cheap hole in the wall place and it also wasn't some fine dinning place. It was perfect for a causal place to hangout with a friend. The pricing was pretty good to. I didn't end up spending a bunch of money either. I recommend this place for anyone looking for a causal low key place to just hangout with friends or a date. read more

Ladies, thank you for introducing me to this place! Sexy, fun, dark, whimsical, busy and tasty!! We scored a back corner table on the booth benches stacked with throw pillows. Very cozy and out of the way from the SRO bar. Of course, my cocktail of choice was a gin drink with lemon and maraschino liqueur - not too sweet at all, tangy and flowery - and good enough for two (two drinks - not two people). We shared some stellar small plates: Blue Cheese and Bacon Stuffed Dates with Almonds, Truffle Popcorn, Salami/Bread/Celery/Raisin Plate and the Warm Castalvetrano Olives. All were absolutely wonderful, but I do prefer my olives uncooked. That's my only note. And might I say that if you want to bring tears to your eyes at any meal... top it off with the Procopio Chocolate Gelato with Peanut Butter Caramel and Sea Salt. Dear God - it is all of my guilty pleasures in one! Brilliant mix of flavors in a dessert. Oliver's Twist is a bit of novelty, with bona fide substance to back it up. read more

AVOID THIS RIP OFF JOINT! Now we have "unbundled" cocktails? Yesterday I and two of my nieces came to this place for happy hour. We were disappointed to be told that the kitchen was closed and therefore no food was available, and the fact that there was no air conditioning (in fact the windows were open) despite it being 88 outside. We decided to stay, having been forewarned. What we were not forewarned about is that apparently this place, or at least amateur bartender Brian A., has decided that instead of selling a cocktail, in this case a Sea Breeze I ordered, it will bill for the cocktail as a shot of vodka for $7 and then the mixer, grapefruit and cranberry juices in an amount not more than 3 oz, for an additional $4, and then add sales tax on top of this price. When presented with this bill I asked Brian A. if he was serious about charging me an additional $4 for about 2 or 3 oz of juice. He responded that he would take that off. Well, he did take it off, but then he added 50 cents for cranberry juice and $1 for grapefruit juice instead of the $4. That doesn't amount to taking the $4 off as he said, and is ridiculous. I was a bartender for as long as Brian A. has been alive, and in much nicer places, as well as low end neighborhood bars, and NEVER EVER have I ever charged or heard of anyone charging extra for a drink's mixer without which it wouldn't be the drink, but simply a shot of vodka, and $7 for a shot of vodka is absurd on it's face as far as that goes. I stiffed Brian A., which is something I've only done maybe 2 or 3 other times in a long life, and left him a note on the check telling him why. I will be posting this review to my own page, yelp, and any other review pages I find. If this is company policy, they need to rethink it or they won't be in business for long. If it isn't, then Brian A. needs to go and I need a sincere and graceful apology. Meanwhile, AVOID THIS RIP OFF JOINT. read more

This is definitely a place where you come here for cocktails, and their truffle popcorn. I really did enjoy the ambiance of oliver's, and their cocktails that they brewed up for us :) it was pretty cool. As for their "happy hour" it wasn't so happy, and it's only a dollar off drinks.. so I wouldn't go out of my way to hit up their happy hour, but I definitely would come here for a girls night out; well only if you lived in greenwood hahahha read more

If you're on the Ridge and feeling fancier than Sully's or the Kort Haus, check out Oliver's Twist. It is a quirky and cute establishment where you can get some tasty bites. Truffle popcorn was yummy and the tomato cappuccino and grilled cheese was cute and delicious. Yes, food can be cute. Cute and delicious- how can you go wrong? Drinks were pretty good too. read more

Oliver's Twist is such a whimsical name. There's a lot of fond memories it conjure up, and in a lot of ways it lives up to it. Then there are lots of ways it doesn't. The good things are plenty. The name is so freakin catchy. I saw it once on Yelp and it stuck with me all day. The logo is also pretty darn snazzy. It just fits with the theme. The first 8 feet of the bar is really nice too. I like the small tables and the cozy feeling, just like a name like Oliver's Twist should invoke. I also liked the last 15 feet or so of the bar, which continued to warm and intimate feeling. The food was also good. The fingerling potatoes and the tomato cappuccino and grilled cheese sandwich were pretty awesome. The beer selection was pretty good too, dogfish ipa FTW! The bad things were also pretty obvious. The entire area around the bar stuck out like a sore thumb. It try to mix modern chic with cozy and intimate. It utterly failed. Sadly, I chose to sit in this area. It wasn't until we got our food, I realized the reason why I felt odd was because everyone was sitting in either the front or the back of the bar. People were consciously avoiding sitting by the bar. The price for the food was pretty ridiculous. 8 dollars for potato fries? Sure whatever duck fat, yea, aioli... it was good, but it wasn't 8 dollars good. You can get full blown meals for 8 dollars at other places. It's a freakin recession, what are these guys playing at? Also, 8 dollars for the tomato cappuccino and grilled cheese sandwich? C'mon, I'm no world class chef, but I know a tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwich when I see it, taste it, cringe at it. It tasted good, don't get me wrong, but I remember paying $1.75 for it during school lunch too. Granted, it's not my fault for assuming it would be anything more than what it stated. Finally, the first waitress that came up to us got her feelings hurt way too easily. Being starved, I asked her politely, "are your food items pretty filling?" She replies hurt and slightly pissed, "Why, they're all filling, some more than others." No shit, it's food, it fills your stomach. You answered the literal question, but you didn't have to try your waitress mumbo-jumbo on me. I was wondering how much I would have to order to get full, not if Oliver's Twist's food was way overpriced for the amount of food you get (which it does). The other waiter covered us for the rest of the night. Honestly, did I ask something that out of the ordinary? By the way, the other waiter was great. You might wonder how a place with all this wrong still manages to get 3 stars. It's because the place does have a lot of potential to be great. They can get slapped with reality and readjust their prices. They can redecorate the bar area. They can realize not everyone with questions is attacking the integrity of the bar. Sometimes, even if they are, the bar should take a hard look at itself and wonder if improvements can be made. Like I said before, the beer selection was good, the food tastes really good too, the ambiance in parts of the bar are great, some of the servers are good, some of the art is nice. You hear about hit or miss bars, this one hit and missed in a span of 30 minutes. read more

Oliver's Twist is a little too fancy schmancy for the neighborhood and my tastes, but it definitely has a cool atmosphere. Nice modern design and feel, expensive but great snacks (not full meals by any means, but try the tomato cappuccino and sandwich bite, yum!), and great drinks. The service was painfully slow when I was there, but it was packed. You shouldn't have to wait 20 minutes to put in your first drink order, usually that's when I walk out, but I flagged a waitress instead. Four of us spent over $150 on maybe 8-10 drinks and 4 food items, ouch. The beers and drink prices averaged a dollar or two more than peer bars, the food prices were ridiculous given how tiny the plates were, so you are really paying for atmosphere here. Probably a great place to impress a date, but not exactly in my price range for grabbing cocktails before a night out on the town. read more

My boyfriend and I came to this place on a whim since neither of us had been before and seemed cool from the outside. Inside has a lot of fun decorations and great atmosphere. As for the bar food and martini I had, not so much. We ordered the pulled pork slider and salami dish. Both about 9 dollars each. The pulled pork sliders were on two different slices of toast cut into halves for sandwiches and the pulled pork was so so for the price. I'm pretty sure for the cost of those dishes, the price of them alone could buy you better quality ingredients and better food. As for my martini (it was a dirty vodka olive), this ratio of liquor to vermouth was good but...only one olive?? I'm not into places trying to be swanky through minimalism. There are plenty of fancy higher end bars with dishes and drinks worth the cost. Not this one. read more

phinney ridge is an interesting place...we drove here at i dunno 8 or 9 and the streets were like a ghost town. we walked in the door and there was no place to sit! not one seat! and there were cute people inside! i was wondering where i was... we found two seats at the bar, jason was kind enough to stand, and ordered some wine and apps. i was thoroughly pleased with the fast service...i mean, one hot plate for all that food?? i would kill someone for those blue cheese stuffed dates, and the tomato "cappuccino" with a mini grilled cheese was good. fingerling potatos fried in duck fat? okay! sitting up at the bar made it easy to talk with the people that worked there...who were all very friendly. good wine, and they have duvel! i left surprised and happy. read more

Went in on a beautiful Friday afternoon; around 8:00pm. My wonderful partner Jay recommended the place so off we went. I was joined by a friend of mine; so there the three of us sat. And ... sat... and sat. . . Our table was right in front of the bar, so I was sure we were seen. We sat. A waitress finally came by and set down some water on our table; telling us someone would be there to help us. We sat... 20 minutes went by; yes 20! I decided we should leave. We did. read more

The popup takeout Cambodian menu at Oliver's Twist is incredible. The short ribs are delicious! I also highly recommend the to-go cocktails the Duff and Blathers has been a recent favorite. I'm so glad to have some semblance of normal in these difficult times. read more

All the raves about the garlic truffle popcorn are right on the money. Between that and the amazing drink list, you've got compelling reasons to check out happy hour at Oliver's. The cocktails here are strong, creative, and named after the cast of characters from -- surprise! -- Dickens' Oliver Twist. They seem to rotate seasonally, but from the current crop, I recommend the Artful Dodger (vodka, cynar, orange, peychaud bitters). I generally think vodka drinks are pretty boring, but something about this one just did it for me. The food is also fun, but keep in mind that this place is more for snacking and trying new things than it is for filling you up. Go for happy hour or a late-night snack instead of for dinner. read more

Love this place! Great drinks, yummy bar food...Don't get a night off often, but this is one of the first places I think of when I have time. One suggestion however, sit at the bar if you can...service tends to be much better at the rail. read more

I finally went back and I still like it there. Great selection of booze and craft bartenders. The place looks great for groups of 10 or so. Prices are much better than downtown. Specialty cocktails are $8. read more

This place refused to serve us because they claimed that if anyone had a single drink anywhere else, there was too much liability to serve us. In addition, they claimed that we were "bitches". Highly unprofessional and unacceptable service. Will never go again. read more

I have visited Olivers a handful of times and have always had a great time. Great drinks, good food, and even better service. If you want one of the best drinks north of downtown (Sambar is good too) come by Olivers Twist you will not be disappointed. read more

One of my favorite spots in Phinney Ridge to relax with a cocktail. I'm a fan of their Bobby Burns. Great selection of whiskey as well. Ambiance is nice and service is good read more

I like this place and it's in our 'hood, but we don't eat here often because we find out bill quickly stacks up to $100 or more (though two drinks each explains that). The ambience is dark and cozy and just the right amount of noisy on a busy night (we recently went around 7:30 on a Friday eve and nabbed the only available table, which had just been vacated). The cocktails are solid and from the Eats menu, the cheese-and-soup combo is a standout for me, as is the kale. I was unimpressed with the warm castelvetrano olives, which were so piping hot they tasted cooked through, which I didn't expect at all (we had to let them cool down). The greasy pork sliders were so forgettable that my husband couldn't recall them at all -- until I reminded him of the scant filling in each of the three little servings. I also found the description of the salami plate a bit coy and misleading. The husband was still hungry after sharing the other three dishes mentioned, and neither of the desserts sounded enticing enough, so we ordered what we thought was a charcuterie-ish plate. I was planning on nibbling on the included green olives and grilled bread, which turned out to be small croutons and olive bits as part of an herb-and-date salad on top (yes, technically olives and grilled bread, but huh?). Our cute and friendly server offered to bring something else when I inquired where the bread was, but my husband liked the dish a lot so we stuck with it. All and all, the place makes for an enjoyable date night. It's also a great place for happy hour on weeknights. read more

One place I haven't made it back into but want to again very soon. It's got a belltown feel but with the laid-back, North-end crowd. Prices are reasonable, I love the ambiance and decor, service was super, and the food looked to-die-for, even though it's small portions. read more

My dear friends that live near Phinney discovered Oliver's Twist in its infancy and invited myself and my husband there shortly after its discovery. We love the place, but we've been avoiding it for the past several months as it has become extremely popular and very crowded. My friends lament that it isn't the same with so many people there now. It's quite a small space, so once it gets packed, it gets a bit on the warm side. Luckily, every time we've gone, we haven't had problems finding a comfy table for four in the back corner. Despite this, the drinks are great! The mixed drinks are amazing--just sweet enough, but not too sweet. They're a little expensive, but always original, named after characters from Charles Dickens stories. I had the Miss Nancy (blood orange syrup, rhubarb-tarragon syrup, bubbly, etc) and the French (lemon juice, bubbly, etc.), both fantastic! I've never quite had anything like the Miss Nancy before. Delicious! When the place isn't packed, the atmosphere is soothing and romantic. Dimmed lights, sexy music (sometimes... but last night, it was a mix of crappy music like rap), candles, and local art on display make this place a great date spot. I'm particularly happy with the fact that, while hip and sexy, the people and vibe at this place do not come off as pretentious. Everyone is very cool and down-to-earth, albeit loud at times. The food is fantastic! I'm in love with their grilled cheese and tomato cappuccino (a cup of frothy tomato bisque). And their chocolate gelatto with peanut butter caramel and sea salt! An odd but amazing combo, yes! And their s'more brioche sandwiches? And their garlic truffle popcorn? All amazing! The staff is friendly enough, and they have accomodated special requests for my friends and I in the past. For example, my lady friend and I weren't in the mood for an entire grilled cheese/tomato cappuccino plate for each of us, but instead wanted to share a plate. The cup of soup is just big enough for the both of us to snack on, but the plate only comes with half of a small grilled cheese sandwich. The waitress offered to give us an entire grilled cheese sandwich for us to split if we preferred, which was perfect! Also, a small bug found my super-sweet cocktail and died in it while it was sitting on my table, and so my waitress offered to get me another one even before I could ask! Unfortunately, in the past, it has not been unusual to see them only twice in one hour, but I prefer 3-4 visits to our table. I am happy to report that last night our waitress was fantastic! She stopped by our table at least four times an hour and was very accomodating without being pushy. Sometimes the parking sucks because it's street parking only. If you don't mind walking from a block away, it shouldn't be a big problem. All this can be a bit pricey, but my friends and I always share a combination of their small plates over a few drinks. If you don't mind a crowd of people in a dark room, I highly recommend this place. read more

I'd like to give Oliver's Twist 5 stars for having an entire night dedicated to raising money for Haitian relief. 100% of the proceeds (including tips, I believe as well) went to a great cause and a tasty one at that! I enjoyed the Salumi salami with Columbia City bread and those fancy almonds I can never remember the name of. mmmm. Very tasty. (See Salumi review for my tangent on how good their meats are). With my tapas, I had a Maylie for a bev and it was very fresh. A hint of the absinthe and a savory flare with the rosemary spring as a garnish. The ambiance is cool here and the cocktail list was creative. We all had different drinks and they were enjoyed by everyone. I support their good works and good food/drinks. read more

A cute, cozy little place where I can see how it's perfect for date night. The stuffed dates is absolutely yummy! We also got the sliders, truffle popcorn, and tomato cappuccino. They were ok to me, not bad but not necessarily mind blowing. If I have to come back again, I would def get the dates. read more

I love this place. Yes. I said it. I LOVE THIS PLACE. I ordered the Corpse Riviver 2 and the Bulls Eye and they went down smoothly. Excellent cocktails. Well done Oliver's Twist! read more

This place just keeps getting better and better. As I've had a chance to try more of their menu items of the liquid and solid variety, I've been more and more impressed with this place. The last few times I've been in the service was particularly impressive as well. I'm happy to be able to give Oliver's Twist my first ever 5 star rating! read more

Their HH are great! Little pricey but it's worthy if you want a nice drink plus a little romantic private space. Whenever I'm here, feel like I'm in a hidden gem ;) love read more

Cool Drinks (Corpse Reviver #2 is my current favorite) & Great snack bites. Nice atmosphere and friendly staff. Haven't tried the desserts yet. read more

A few visits in and this is a top place in Seattle. I love good martinis (check) and interesting, unique and tasty food (check). The mini grilled cheese with tomato cappuccino is super delicious, if you like blue cheese the dates are good and I don't know anywhere else you can get watermelon carpaccio or your own mini bag of truffle oil popcorn. This food is more novelty than filling though so don't come too hungry. You're also better served to go on a weeknight when you'll get better service and atmosphere. read more

I love the drinks here, but if I'm being totally honest, they're too good. I don't remember ever leaving this bar...

A night at Oliver's Twist always meant a hangover in the morning, only because I wanted to try every single drink on the menu. I will stand faithful to Mr. Sowerberry, but I squeal with glee at the special pepper infused vodka served with a chocolate chaser that was available upon special request. Oliver's Twist made me realize that If you work in the food service industry, and like the sauce, I recommend working in a bakery. There isn't a more perfect place to rid yourself of a hangover; no strange smells of garlic, or meat, only the comfort of warm bread, which isn't half bad. read more

Delicious nibbles and cocktails. Cool artsy interior and funky fresh service. Too many of their yummy cocktails and I may smooch someone. I am considering having my birthday there next year. The perfect place for an evening interlude for two or group girls night out. read more

We've frequented this place for bachelorette parties, birthday parties, and for regular nights out on the town. Its WONDERFUL! The Corpse Reviver is certainly worth trying and the food is good, too! Make sure to try the grilled cheese w/tomato cappuccino, beet salad, and chocolate/peanut butter gelato. Also, the waitstaff (especially the blonde with the great tattoos) are really helpful, fun, and make great recommendations. Try it out for sure! read more

My first experience here was not great, but decided to give it another try, glad I did, now a fan. The bacon-Gorgonzola dates are friggin evil and drinks are top shelf. Great to have this in the hood, as walking home is the preferred mode. Friendly crowd but not crowded, service is great and they know their booze. I like never again having to go to CH, Belltown or Ballard for great drink. read more

We came across this adorable little cocktail bar on Saturday night while exploring Phinney Ridge and looking for a new watering hole. Clearly, Luck was on our side, as we did no research and instead just drove down the street, saw this place, pulled over to park, and gave it a shot. As soon as we walked through the doors we were fans. The ambiance is top notch and very cool. Large booth seating with pillows, a collection of assorted mirrors on the wall, and plenty of seating between the front windows, bar stools, and back tables. We ordered a bottle of wine, the garlic truffle popcorn (amazing), and the salumi salami plate. Everything was presented quickly with style and class. We continued perusing the menu while we ate, drank, and relaxed and we noticed 2 very interesting things beyond what we orderd - 1) their spirits selection, especially whiskey and scotch, is extensive, and 2) we should probably try the brioch s'more spin off at some point. Definitely check this place out if you are in the neighborhood. I can't wait to go back for a cocktail - our server recommended we try one of their signature concoctions when we return - and return we will! read more

Brian made some amazing drinks. If you have him just say bartenders choice! (Don't order popcorn or olives). He picked out some great music too! read more

Perfect little neighborhood bar. The atmosphere is cozy, with a comfortable bar, bistro tables or lounge tables by the windows. The drinks are yummy and inspired by characters from the musical. And the bites - delish! My favorite is the cappuccino tomato soup and grilled cheese - the soup is whipped like a cappuccino and the result is a light and flavorful soup and the grilled cheese is the perfect accompaniment. The truffle popcorn is also delicious. I've tried most everything else, but those too are my favorite so I keep ordering them. The best part for me is that this place is walking distance from my house! read more

Expect lighting so dim you can barely read the menu. Expect cocktails that could very well make you woozy in large quantities but that are eminently sippable. Expect explode-in-your-mouth delicious dates bursting with bleu cheese and bacon. Expect finger-licking popcorn drenched in garlic and truffles. Expect a mixture of tending-toward-"yuppie" grown-ups -- a large-for-Phinney-Ridge, at times standing-room-only crowd during Friday happy hour; not so much on other weeknights. Expect that you won't feel out of place if you're a lady and you wear tall boots and a black sweaterdress and magenta tights. Expect a bill that's heftier than you might pay for some happy hours, but expect to leave satisfied that the cocktails and nibbles were tasty, and that you celebrated whatever you came to celebrate (you don't need a reason, but it's always nice to have one, natch) in good company and, dare I say, in style. read more