Richmond boasts an impressive array of Italian eateries, and I thought I had found my go-to spot... until tonight. While I had visited Uliveto once during its opening, after tonight, I can confidently say it won't be my last visit! The Uliveto Paloma cocktail was a delightful and refreshing surprise. Every dish, from the bread to the pasta, was simply exquisite. For appetizers, we savored the bruschetta, which featured the freshest, most flavorful tomatoes; the calamari, which was nothing short of fantastic; and the crab fingers, which I didn't sample myself but my friends couldn't stop raving about (as you can see in the photo!). For our main courses, we indulged in the Limone Pasta, the Amatriciana Pasta, and a steak served with mashed potatoes that was absolutely divine. None of us managed to finish our entrees, and we were too full for dessert. However, here's a tip for your next visit: consider ordering 2-3 appetizers, share a main dish, and definitely save room for dessert! read more

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Food is absolutely delicious and deserves 5 stars. However, the tables are so incredibly close together that you have no room to sit comfortably. If you do not like tight spaces, this is NOT the restaurant for you. There isn't even any room to set down your coat. Not to mention the tight space makes it so insanely loud. The atmosphere is far too overwhelming for me, but their food really does make it worth it every now and then. Next time I'll try the bar seats instead. read more

First visit to this restaurant, and it definitely won't be my last. The only real downside is the parking--but if you can Uber, it's not an issue at all. The restaurant is tucked into a neighborhood and has a very cozy, intimate feel. The indoor space is small and quaint, with a patio available, though it was too cold to enjoy during our visit. Our server was excellent--very knowledgeable about both the menu and the available spirits and wines. We started with the mussels as an appetizer, and they were plentiful and flavorful. For my entrée, I chose the pistachio linguine, and the portion size was generous--almost shareable. It was incredibly tasty and very filling; I only made it through about a quarter of the dish and happily took the rest home. So many other menu items caught my eye that I'll definitely be back to try more. This is absolutely a place worth checking out. read more

Uliveto - Pistachio linguine pasta - Mediterranean Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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We had dinner last night at Uliveto and it did not disappoint. Jeffrey at the Boulevard Inn had recommended Uliveto to us almost a year ago-why did we wait so long??? We ordered the blue crab fingers which here scrumptious and we really wanted to lick our plate to finish the garlic butter sauce they were cooked in. For our entrees we had the whole branzino and the linguine with shrimp. Both dishes were delicious, perfectly seasoned, and quite large. I had a Lambrusco spritz from the bar which made me feel like I was young again and back in NY. The service was attentive, warm and professional. It was loud and a bit cramped but we had a small round table in the back by the kitchen and I was quite comfortable. We will definitely be returning read more

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The restaurant was very loud. Food was ok. Server tried his best and was nice but missed bringing wine to the table and we had to ask for bread after we saw it delivered to other tables. Maybe he was new? If you don't like olives, it's hard to find something on the menu. read more

Ok ok ok... after swearing off Uliveto bc of the acoustics... I gave it another shot for brunch and was not disappointed. At all! When we brunch, we brunch and we tried a lot and all of it was good. Let's start with the strawberry and ricotta bruschetta. I wanted to ask if the ricotta was house made bc it was perfect! The balance between the creamy ricotta, fresh strawberries and touch of sweetness from the honey was divine. Let's not forget the extra touch from the mint. Perfect start to brunch. We kept the sweet vibes going with the French toast. The menu said try it as a starter and split it for the table. I mean... why not??? My first thought when seeing the thick cut toast was OMG... the carbs!!!! And even though I'm sure it was still carb overload... the bread was so fluffy and light it doesn't feel as heavy as it looks. The berries, banana and the butter.... I mean that butter!!!! Long story short... don't skip the French toast. It might be life changing. I had the baked eggs with sausage and meatballs. Perfect savory end to my meal. Everything was amazing! The service, the food and the drinks... which I didn't even get into!!! They were all good! Started with the seasonal blueberry tequila cocktail and ended with a Hugo spritz. Best decisions I've made all day. read more

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I came here with my family for a nice dinner. This was our first time here and we all loved it. I will say it's best to make a reservation; They just opened up a second room for seating so we got lucky just walking in. This place has great food! I had the veal ragu which was so freaking good and the calamari was also delicious! I will say the cocktails were the best but the wine and martinis were good! It's true it is very loud in the restaurant, it's just the structure of the building and the waiter did say they are working on a plan to fix it. Hopefully there will be improvements soon. Other than that I really enjoyed myself the environment was super cute and elegant. Of course I had to finish my meal with dessert I got the hazelnut panda cotta with a madeira wine, it was so good and they do a cute presentation by drizzling the chocolate in front of you. I didn't try a bite of my mom's tres leches cake it was good but not my favorite. Overall I really liked this place so did the family I would 110% be back for the veal ragu! I didn't get to try the blue crab fingers apparently they sell out so grab them if you can but I will be back to try them out! read more

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This place felt special. The patio, music, cocktails, & wine added to what was a wonderful experience. We tried the roasted cherry tomato bruschetta, strawberry bruschetta, blue crab fingers, gnocchi, kale salad, salmon and creamy tomato soup. Both bruschetta versions were absolutely delicious. High quality, fresh ingredients made this so memorable. The strawberry version was so refreshing and tasted like a bite of spring. The crab fingers were a bit overcooked and tough but the wine butter sauce was tasty. The gnocchi felt pretty heavy and was overpowered by the amount of cheese. The soup was flavorful, but the whole pieces of basil made it difficult to eat. The salmon was very well seasoned and moist. Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our experience and talk about the bruschetta daily. read more

Uliveto - Tomato soup - Mediterranean Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Staff was kind, food was yummy, drinks were great, vibe/atmosphere lively! Would come back! read more

Uliveto - Mediterranean Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Just visited Uliveto with my best friend and her husband the Sunday before Christmas. I wanted to note that because our experience could be related to the hecticness before the holidays. They were incredibly kind to us, we didn't have a reservation and seated us in their new dining space next door. Our server was extremely kind and optimistic, but towards the end of our meal felt like he was rushing us out. We were excited to see that written on their specials menu they operate as a family style restaurant, however, they were strict about our dishes coming out all at the same time instead of staggered, which was fine. We waited a long time for the food, which is probably just because they're learning how to operate with the new space. On our visit we tried the blue crab fingers, calamari, roasted cherry tomato bruschetta, and pistachio pesto pasta. I found myself wishing the dishes had a bit more flavor, they were still pretty yummy. I loved the bread. The crushed red pepper of the pasta was cool. We liked the juices from the crab. My friend's husband enjoyed his fireside cocktail. read more

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Always wanting to try new places in the neighborhood, we made reservations for my birthday and were not disappointed! It's a smaller, more intimate setting with tables close together which I prefer. The service from start to finish was fantastic and welcoming without being so obtrusive. The wine and cocktail menu is thoughtfully crafted and I wish I could've enjoyed their cocktails, but I'm pregnant, so all the more reason to come back after! In addition to the dinner menu, their specials were enticing, to which we ordered a few things from that. We don't go out often anymore, so we decided to start with the Peaches and Burrata and Fennel Salad to start. They will always bring their house bread with olive oil as well. After those, I enjoyed the Linguine Vongole (clam and white wine broth) and my husband enjoyed the Pappardelle Veal Ragu. Both excellent choices and everything was priced surprisingly fair for the neighborhood and quality. We were seated on the patio and thoroughly enjoyed our experience, so much we decided to make it our weekly spot from here on out. Next, we'll have to try their sister restaurant, Gersi. read more

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I was with a party of 8 and was sat in "Susannah's room" which is next door to Uliveto. The staff were helpful and decor was a bit lacking in this room. It was very cramped and extremely loud. There were ~25 guests seated in the room and it was difficult to hear the person next to me. This chicken was okay, nothing super special about it in terms of flavor or seasoning. read more

Uliveto - Roasted chicken - Mediterranean Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Our food overall was great! Great gluten-free pasta. Enjoyed our appetizer. The salmon dish was outstanding, but I will say the portion was a bit small considering the other generous portions that this restaurant offer offers. The wine was good, but the espresso martini was lacking. Would not get that again. Small and energetic restaurant. Overall all a good experience and we would go back again. read more

Tasty and a super cute spot, but I'm not sure it's worth the hefty price. I got the special ravioli, which was $26 without any protein. It also didn't feel like enough food for meal, they were each like two bites. The waitress was nice, but did totally forgot to put in my friends food and then forgot her drinks as well, so that really delayed our night. If I'm paying the check, I won't be back but if someone else is paying, I'd consider it. I have heard their brunch is amazing and a bit less expensive, might be open to checking that out in the future. read more

Uliveto - Mediterranean Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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Uliveto is a favorite of mine! This is my third time here, and the food has been consistently good. A surprise highlight this time around was the roasted garlic and anchovy bruschetta. My favorite from before was a veal tagliatelle-- it's so savory and tender. The staff is very kind and accommodating. The only thing is that it's important that you schedule a reservation ahead of time, especially on the weekends. read more

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I am always highly impressed by Uliveto! Such a charming place, we had reservations for Valentine's Day and sat in the Susannah room, which I enjoyed because it was more intimate and less noisy. Food was incredible and service was great especially for a busy night. The pistachio pesto linguine with ricotta was amazing and so was the limone pasta. What a nice treat! read more

Uliveto - Pistachio pesto linguine - Mediterranean Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Went here for my birthday dinner and absolutely loved it! The food was amazing. And the staff are so lovely and attentive and thoughtful. They have beautiful decor and a good sized patio with little heaters for colder months (this was back in October). It's very yummy and thoughtfully made Italian cuisine. Beautifully presented. It has an elevated homey, rustic, eclectic feel. Can't remember the name of the pasta that I was crazy over, but it was like ziti noodles and a red sauce with sausage and ricotta. Get it!!! And the tiramisu was perfect!! They surprised me with a free dessert with birthday candles, which was so sweet The restaurant was pretty packed at the time that I went. It appears they are popular, good for them! The patio was more chill, but the inside of the restaurant was pretty bustling and boisterous. Street parking in the fan neighborhood. There's usually parking nearby. At the furthest, you'll have to walk a block to the restaurant. Make reservations if you can! Highly recommend!! read more

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Outdoor seating has a very vibrant atmosphere and the portions are very generous. Make sure to get the homemade pasta, you can substitute it! Pistachio pesto was great with a little kick of spice and the lemon pasta was tangy but balanced. Servers were very attentive and friendly as well. read more

Uliveto - Pesto pistachio pasta lemon pasta calamari - Mediterranean Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Make a reservation. The food is lovely but the place was so packed with folks trying in vain to get a table on a Saturday night that our server could barely get to us. Hope for a table in the back to avoid the chaos. And get the fennel salad. read more

Ordered the lemon pasta and it tasted like pasta with a lemon squeezed on it, no complexity. Also the service was very slow. It took an hour to bring our entrees. read more

We have been here probably ten times and have had a handful of spotty experiences but last night was the worst. My daughter was home from law school and we wanted a special night. Started with having to wait for a table in an absolutely packed bar when we had a reservation. We tried to order an appetizer but were told only full dinner orders accepted. We ordered the roasted garlic bruschetta WITHOUT anchovies. Of course they came with. I had the flounder oregonato which must have been frozen as it was mushy. The bread crumbs were just tossed on top - dry and no flavor. The sautéed green beans rock hard. My daughter had the rigatoni w vodka sauce which was loaded with huge chunks of onions. Will need to take a break from here which hurts since we live just a few blocks away. read more

First time visit, Saturday evening. Sat at the bar and had a great time talking with bar tender and the food was wonderful. Noise level little high but not unexpected. Definitely will return for sure. read more

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3.75 - Food was very good, but like others mentioned, I'm not sure it was $32 for pasta good. I get their deal is homemade pasta, but a box GF pasta surcharge when the alternative is handmade pasta felt a bit odd. Also the first restaurant I've been to in Richmond that doesn't offer free refills on soft drinks. My drink was 60% ice both times I got it, so paying almost $7 for essentially a can of ginger ale cost a star in itself. Service was good, they have someone running around with a water pitcher which was nice. Cute ambiance inside, just a bit packed together. read more

Uliveto - Mediterranean Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

I just want to take a moment and thank Uliveto for their donation to the American Heart Association RVA Heart Ball 2024. The silent auction raised $56,184 which is the largest amount raised ever. It's so great when businesses are willing to donate to a great cause. Definitely one of my fave restaurants to go to for Italian, honestly it's on our rotation as much as Edo's Squid and I think that says a lot. The Gnocchi is the best in the area!and it's on our rotation! Everything is amazing. Thank you read more

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I had dinner reservations for two outside and we literally got placed on the table outside next to the street. We were told that was there "walk in" table. I asked to be moved to the outside patio portion and after 20minutes a table cleared and we got moved. I got the Garlic & Anchovies Bruschetta ($10), Butternut Squash Risotto($20) with shrimp (+$12), and Linguine with gulf Shrimp ($27) . The Bruschetta was very crispy, garlicky , and had a surprising strong anchovy saltines taste to it! I definitely loved it, very savory! The Risotto was really amazing! Creamy, sweet, and super flavorful. The Shrimp was on the side and were grilled perfectly! The shrimps were quite big for the size but there was only 6 of them, nonetheless very delicious! The linguine was very big portion wise, probably about 2 serving which was amazing. However it didn't really amaze me, it was a bit watery with a slight spicy tomato sauce. It's a nice restaurant but definitely very packed between tables. Overall a good experience here. Food(50%): 8.2 Staff/service(25%): 6.5 Value(25%): 6.5 Overall: 7.4/10 read more

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Went here on a Friday night, there were three of us. Perfect cosmos to start! We got two seafood apps the crab and mussels.. both absolutely delicious and the sauce of the dishes were amazing. Forgot to take a pic of the pasta because I was having such a great experience. Service was good, our food did come out all at once but there was a large party they didn't want our food to get delayed. Lovely little patio and the inside was also adorable. Would definitely recommend and I hope to be back. read more

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Incredible food and service. I was able to make a Saturday reservation for 5pm the morning of via the Resy app. By 530pm, it was PACKED. Outdoor patio, bar, and dining room seating available. The dining room/bar gets VERY cramped and loud - they could definitely do with a few less tables to make their guests more comfortable. We had to adjust our plates/tables every time someone had to get out. I'm honestly surprised it's not a safety hazard/violation. Our waitress Emma was amazing - her recs and modifications were 10/10. She checked in on us frequently and was very attentive throughout our visit. The leek and pancetta bruschetta was truly outstanding. So simple yet such a unique pairing with the rabiola cheese + leek veggie. I got the pistachio pesto pasta as my entree - it was SO creamy, saucy, fresh, and even a bit spicy. Emma suggested adding feta crumbles which made it even more savory. The $11 add-on chicken was okay - it had a lemon pepper taste but was a bit dry. I would have been happy with just the pasta. I got the fig sour and signora rosa cocktails - both light and fresh and delicious. For dessert, my friend and I split their version of the tres lèche - SO good. read more

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Great Italian Cuisine. Corner Bistro with a great vibe & ambience. They have a wonderful special menu to go along with their everyday fare. The service was excellent and the food delicious. read more

Uliveto - Grilled Shrimp with artichokes, Kalamata olives, Cherry Tomatoes in a marinara sauce - Mediterranean Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Probably a smidge better than their sister restaurant, Gersi, because the space is much nicer. Food is great, every item. Can get overwhelming because they have such a large menu, but everything is a hit. read more

Excellent service and every dish we had was delicious except the calamari which was a bit overcooked. The mussels and linguine, sautéed wild mushrooms and papperdelle veal ragu were our favorites. Cozy and lively inside. It's a bit noisy so not a great spot if you want to have conversation without speaking loudly or trying to hear above the noise. read more

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So happy we tried this place. We dubbed it "the meal we'll remember for the rest of our lives". We also got the blue crab fingers with the most perfect butter broth. They gave us extra bread to dip in it. Our friends got the whole branzino & salmon with mashed potatoes. Everything was incredible! Our server was very helpful and friendly. read more

Uliveto - espresso - strong and the perfect end - Mediterranean Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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The best Mediterranean food I've had in Richmond. So flavorful and delicious. Service was good, really busy during brunch as expected. Patio area is small but still a nice vibe for eating outdoors. Food itself felt like you were transported to the Mediterranean and like a mini vacation. The bruschetta was my absolute favorite! Looking forward to going back and trying new things. read more

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Wowww, what a gem of a restaurant -- great service, great food, and great ambiance. My friend and I came here because she wanted to try, but I had never heard of this place. Pasta is one of my favorites things to eat and I don't get to eat a lot anymore bc I try to watch my carbs lol. As soon as we walked in, we were warmly greeted and sat (and to mention, the place was busy and packed! So I'm grateful they were able to seat us without a reservation). Our host and waiter were so polite and very attentive. My friend ordered the Pappardalle pasta that came with veal and I ordered the Limone with Shrimp -- both were sooooo good! I also got a side of string beans and they were very fresh and light, I loved them. I definitely recommend eating here and I can't wait to come back and try something new! read more

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The evening started out with the chipper hostess relocating our table to the back of the restaurant next to the bathroom door, kitchen and staff holding area in a basically empty restaurant at 5 pm. Maybe because we aren't 30 any more?? Our server was good and helpful. We had the anchovy appetizer and the toast was cold and hard. I had the fish, sea bass, which was pretty boney and a little dry. Everyone else had a variety of pasta dishes which were quite good according to my wife and friends. Lesson, stick to the pasta here. I see you hostess, don't be a snob. read more

Great food. Crowded but friendly neighborhood vibe. Excellent menu and drinks are well measured.

I was honestly really bummed with my experience. I had high hopes based on what I had heard from family. The good: The mozzarella bufala was yummy. The bad: The service was pretty poor. Never cleared our plates. Super slow to refill our waters. The keftedes was super dry and my Chilean sea bass was burnt and incredibly dry. read more

Uliveto - Chilean sea bass - Mediterranean Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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Awesome food, hope they bring back the grilled octopus . Service is great as always, very cozy and friendly, good for date night. Suggestions to make reservations. Waitress Skylar is awesome read more

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I would rate my experience at Uliveto at 3.5 stars. The pasta was amazing and I liked the furnishings and offerings on the menu but a few things were left to be desired. The night I dined it was very crowded. Cheers to them for being busy but the place is very cramped with your elbows knocking into the guests next to you and I had to shout to hear my partner. Our server was friendly but we did not see her often. The pasta, however, was incredible! Definitely recommend the linguine vongole. The beet salad and calamari were just alright and the mussels were disappointing. We loved our cocktails and plan to return perhaps for a lunch or sit outside and it might be more romantic and less chaotic. read more

Uliveto is the sister restaurant to Gersi and we really like Gersi so we were pretty sure they would compare. Fresh homemade Italian food! Homemade pasta, which is the real deal Excellent flavors, seasonal ingredients and generous portions. They have a core menu and then seasonal specials. Nice wine list and seasonal cocktails Service is good and relatively fast but it's more like a diner service vs upscale restaurant service. Uliveto is in the old Secco Wine Bar location so if you dined there, you know it's SMALL and LOUD inside. The tables were ridiculously close together. While the food is great, I doubt I will be a regular due to the seating and volume. Logistics: Patio seating with umbrellas. Street parking. Gender neutral bathroom. Reservations recommended......we were there on a Saturday and it was packed. +1 Service +1 Food~Taste/flavor/quality +1 Presentation Atmosphere/vibe +1 Value read more

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We LOVED Uliveto! We came in a group of 5 people with a reservation, and the staff were super friendly and quick with drink orders. We did have to wait a little over an hour for our food, but everything came out delicious. We got the veal ragu and amatriciana for dinner. We tried out the old fashioned, a couple of wines, and a limoncello drink and all were delicious! We had a great time and we will absolutely be back for a date night! Would recommend! read more

Uliveto - Amatriciana - Mediterranean Near Me - Richmond, Virginia