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A sister restaurant of Gersi but felt a little bit more upbeat. Definitely need to make reservations. Started off on a high note with our apps - the complimentary bread was good but I'm still thinking about the kale salad and broccolini. Great way to start the meal with some refreshing veggies. The Jalapeno in the kale didn't contribute much but the dressing with mint was super fresh and lite. The broccolini had a spicy chili oil topping which gave it the zing it needed. The pasta unfortunately fell a little flat for me - we got the amatriciana with rigatoni. Didn't have the spicy kick you'd typically expect. The pancetta didn't really stand out. And the most disappointing part was seeing the kitchen use De Cecco pasta boxes. Not that I expect every restaurant to hand make pasta but for a $20 dish hoped they'd be using something nicer than what I have in my pantry. The roasted chicken was unexpectedly good! The chicken had a great sear though I'll admit it was a little dry in the inside. However i can look past all that because of how delicious the pan sauce was and the mashed potatoes were also really good. Last but not least- really happy bartender convinced us to get their version of a tres leches cake. It was a really nice way to end the meal and i would simply come back just to have the cake again. Next time we come - we'll need to try for redemption round and opt for more of their entree dishes!
Great restaurant with very tasty food, excellent cocktails and wine selections, and an amazing service provided by entire team but just naming Dan and Caroline at the bar and David at some tables as well. You definitely need reservations because is always very busy A little noisy but you can talk most of the time. This is 5-6 time going there and always something new and better about this place.
I somehow hadn't heard of this place until my friend suggested it. What a solid little Italian place! This is the kind of place you go to when you can't decide what to eat because you'll be satisfied every time.
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.
The atmosphere was amazing. You can tell they use high grade food products, and there is "personality" in their menu. I got the Flounder Oreganatta and was impressed!
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.
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!
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!
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
1 year ago
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
1 year ago
1 year ago
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
2 years ago
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
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
1 year ago
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
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
4 years ago
I love this place! The food was absolutely amazing and I love that the pasta is homemade. Paired with a Spritz, I felt like I was right back in Florence. It was really busy on a Saturday night and the restaurant is small so I highly recommend making reservations in advance. The staff are all very kind and helpful, explaining menu items that we were unfamiliar with and providing us with drink recommendations. It is street parking only and they also have a small patio when the weather becomes nice. read more
8 months ago
1 year ago
3 years ago
LOVE Uliveto! Went yesterday with my mom for brunch and we had a great time. We got lucky because it was practically empty in there (which never happens, it is always packed). Service was fantastic and our food was amazing as well. The Sicilian salad is one of my favorite salads in RVA and it always comes out perfect. I split that and a PLT (prosciutto, tomato, lettuce) with my mom and it was absolutely delicious. Prosciutto was crispy, bread was toasted but not hard, and we added mozzarella to it. I would highly recommend, definitely one of the best Italian restaurants in Richmond! Same owners as Gersi :) read more
4 years ago
I had such a great experience dining here on Christmas Eve. Just recently over the soft opening phase, Ultiveto is a warm, inviting and intimate addition to the former Secco space. I loved everything about my visit -- from the food to the ambiance to the service -- and can't wait to return. For drinks, I had the ruby margarita, good tidings, and pink lady cocktails. All were top tier. Honestly, I probably couldn't pick a favorite. I will say the good tidings went down the fastest though! It's cool that they have both a regular cocktail list and a specials list. For food, I ordered the kale salad to start. While tasty, the menu didn't mention the additions of massive croutons and tomatoes. I'm not big on either, so I'd love to see transparency on that. Obviously I was fine eating around them though. I also remembered to ask for the olives and bread -- so good, love olives! For my meal, I ordered the whole fish special. I'm not a big fish person but I'm trying to eat more of it, so I asked to have the head cut off. It was a bronzino and quite good. I also ordered a side of broccoli, which I enjoyed but would've loved to have been chopped down further since I am lazy. For dessert, I had the vanilla panna cotta and it was insanely delectable. Really the perfect end to a top tier meal. Service by Alejandro was great throughout, and our waters were never empty. Really everyone who worked there was welcoming and kind. There was no way to tell that they had just opened and were handling a busy holiday seating. Thank you, Ultiveto team, and I wish you all the luck as you put down your roots! read more
4 years ago
The ambiance was nice and pretty lighting. Our food was ok. We got "fruit and prosciutto", asked the waiter what was the fruit hoping it was cantaloupe (the norm in Italy), and he said yes. It comes to the table with super salty almost like Virginia ham thick with small slices of fig and Parmesan slices on top. It was not good, the ham was just not good and the fig just didn't go well with it, especially because it wasn't sweet. Was very disappointed, plus the staff was not knowledgeable about a lot of the menu. Then our meals came and everyone seemed to enjoy most of them. My friend got the pesto gnocchi, which had added potatoes in it. Gnocchi is made from potatoes so it was double dosage and very garlicky with a little too much pesto. Texture wasn't bad. The cacio pepe was good and pasta was Al dente but so much sauce and salt...it overpowered a bit. The last pasta dish with the salty pork was good! Cooked perfect and we didn't have anything bad to say about that dish!! The dessert was a pana cotta and it was ok, not as traditional as I'm use to. read more
2 years ago
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
1 year ago
Phenomenal from start to finish. Came here for a late post-dinner bite one time and sat at the bar, this time made a reservation for a full meal. Service is excellent. It's a bit loud and cramped in there but the servers/hosts/bartenders do a great job and are very friendly. Drinks are solid but the food is the real standout here. Even the bread is delicious, I think it's focaccia? Beets and gorgonzola app was delectable, perfectly balanced in flavors, the perfect bite. Pistachio pesto pasta was solid, didn't wow me as much as I had hoped but had a very nice earthy and nutty flavor. Linguine with wild gulf shrimp was so delicious, wonderful blend of Mediterranean flavors and wonderfully spicy! Homemade gnocchi was more traditional in flavor and a comforting meal, it tasted even better when I added crushed chili flakes. Hazelnut panna cotta - drizzled with chocolate sauce and served with berries - heavenly. Tiramisu - slightly more whipped cream forward and less ladyfinger forward but still good. read more
1 year ago
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
1 year ago
My family made a trip to Uliveto for brunch the other week. It was absolutely wonderful. The service made us feel right at home and the food was delicious. If you're looking for a restaurant with a little fast paced but personal ambiance i would definitely stop by. read more
1 year ago
Remember Secco? Me neither. Located on the corner of Robinson and Stuart, this small restaurant is your answer to a carb craving. Their pasta is so fresh, flavorful, and filling! You will leave happy if you enjoy true and authentic Mediterranean/Italian cuisine. Everyone was so pleasant and friendly! Our server, Alan, was awesome. He checked on our table often but not so much that it was overbearing; Alan was very kind and efficient. Various servers made sure our water glasses stayed full, too. It was greatly appreciated on such a hot day. On to the goods: -- Paper Plane: cocktail consisting of Bourbon, Aperol, Lemon, and Amaro Montenegro. I'm a bourbon girl and wasn't expecting this drink to be so light, citrusy, and adorable. I really loved the glass and presentation. Delicious. -- Cetriolo Gimlet: Gin, Parsley, Cucumber, Lime, and Black Pepper. My friend ordered this drink. We thought it would taste savory and spicy but it was surprisingly mild and refreshing as you would expect a cucumber drink to taste. It was quite unusual for a cocktail but in the best way possible. So unique. -- Complimentary bread: I didn't taste this because I could tell it was full of olives (I don't like olives). It looked good, though. -- Grilled Polenta: An appetizer special. The gorgonzola covering the polenta was overpowering but it was still really tasty. I love polenta and I didn't want anything to overshadow the taste, so I scraped the gorgonzola off (of course I ate it; didn't discard) and ate the polenta separately. -- Brushetta (roasted garlic and anchovies): Amazing! Big thanks to my friend because I wouldn't have otherwise ordered this type of bruschetta, but I'm always down to try something different. It was delicious! Perfectly salty and balanced by the cheese covering the anchovy paste. -- Gnocchi Genovese: A pasta special. served with pesto Genovese and green beans. The pesto itself and the pasta were so fresh, bright, and full of multidimensional flavor. -- Pistachio Pesto Linguini: A pasta special. Again - fresh, bright, and extremely flavorful. Just perfect and unique. I love the added kick of pepper. Can pasta be sexy? This pasta was sexy. -- Trilece: basically the Mediterranean version of tres leches cake. It stands apart by the salted caramel covering the top. We had the pleasure of sitting near the kitchen and had the privilege of seeing so many delectable-looking plates come out. I can't wait to return and try something new! read more
Amazing food and service. The space was small but intimate. Would recommend making a reservation ahead of time. There's a wide variety of flavors across the appetizers, main dishes, and specials. We really enjoyed the blue crab gingers, linguine vongole, and corn risotto! read more
2 years ago
We went for the first time the other day and started with one of their specials: blue crab fingers. The appetizer was delicious, I would go back just for that. They provided fresh bread which we dunked into the broth. Their drinks were great as well. When it came to the mains I got their ravioli which was a bit lack luster compared to the rest of the food. It might've been an off-night because they make their ravioli in house and this one was a bit uncooked/hard on the edges, which made me think they either let the ravioli dry out too much or it was undercooked. Regardless, as a whole this meal was great, I loved the ambiance, and the staff were very kind. I would definitely go back again. read more
1 year ago
3 years ago
Came with a friend for dinner and really enjoyed it. My glass of orange wine was lovely. We split a roasted zucchini starter, the pesto pistachio pasta (added chicken) and the veal ragu tagliatelle. Everything was yummy. Same great quality as Gersi but easier to get a reservation. read more
My friend took me here for brunch and it was an excellent experience. It was hard to decide between the breakfast dishes and fresh pasta but I ended up deciding on breakfast. I chose the eggs polenta which has fennel and prosciutto. So so delicious! I also ordered a fresh pasta to go to have later. This was truly an exceptional meal read more
4 years ago
Same owners as Gersi Richmond and Gersi Brooklyn NY, so the same high quality homemade Italian \ Mediterranean dishes. All the pasta is tasty and made from scratch fresh everyday. You should expect quick attentive service but don't expect to be pampered as they are usually crowded and this is a high pace food experience. There's a very good custom cocktail list along with nice wine selections. The tables are very close together so when very crowded this may not be ideal for conversations. There's outdoor patio seating with a giant umbrella which seems very pleasant when the weather permits. I believe there is only one bathroom so you may have to wait to use the restroom. read more
2 years ago
4 years ago
I'm a big fan of Gersi so wanted to try this new spot. Hands down some of the best service I've had at a brand new restaurant. If you don't like busy and loud, this probably isn't the place for you, but the food was amazing with tons of flavor. My only wish is that they served the beans and bread like Gersi does but it looked like bread was given to others dining, we just didn't receive any. Will definitely be back! read more
Cool space. Friendly staff. Delicious pasta. We enjoyed our seats at the copper coated bar taking in the mechanics of a new spot. All aspects of the meal were delicious. The flavor achieved in the calamari was fantastic. The bolognese sauce meaty and deliciously sauced, the tagliatelle just right. I love the option for your pasta to be topped with a dollop of ricotta. Do that and you'll love yourself. read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
Uliveto was AMAZING! The service is phenomenal and the food is even better. We sat outside and it was so lovely. They have umbrellas and fans but it was breezy and relatively cool tonight and very pleasant. We were never left wanting the entire meal and were not rushed out to leave once paying - we eat European style and stay around to chat as long as no one is waiting and they let us stay until we were ready to leave. It's truly a spectacular experience and there is not a single thing we would change about any of the dishes. Every portion is quite big and can be shared between 2-3 people depending on how hungry you are and how much is ordered. We will absolutely be back! read more
2 years ago
Cute date spot with good Italian food and decent ambiance ~ I've been wanting to try Uliveto for a while, so I was really excited that I was able to go this past weekend. We made a reservation at 7PM and were able to be seated at a table (initially they were going to seat us at the bar). We ordered calamari for appetizer. I do have to say that we were expecting the calamari to be fried, but it wasn't. Though, the sauce with the calamari was pretty good, not too overpowering. The highlight was my entree dish which was butternut squash ravioli. It was really decadent, and I really enjoyed the squash flavor in the sauce and inside the ravioli. One thing is that the tables are super close together, so I did feel a bit claustrophobic when there were many waiters around us and people trying to move in and out of their tables. On the other hand, the place is well decorated and has a rustic homey Italian ambiance. I would recommend to go a bit off-hours so the place is not as crowded and crammed. read more
1 year ago
3 years ago
Ive heard so many good things about Uliveto I could not wait to give it a try. My friend and I came on Saturday night, we did not have a reservation but got lucky since they had a cancellation and we were seated right away. I do advise making a reservation because the restaurant was completely packed. It is a small space and you will be seated fairly close to the table beside you, but I actually liked that aspect it made the restaurant feel cozy. We started out with drinks, I ordered a cocktail and my friend got red wine. To start we ordered the classic bruschetta, in which I was a little disappointed it was just a piece of bread with cut up tomatoes however was blown away with my entree. We both ordered the spaghetti limone and added shrimp a very simple dish with lemon, butter, and parmesano and it's delicious. Overall we had a great experience, if your looking for an Italian dinner Uliveto should be on your list. read more
2 years ago
So good!! Pasta was perfectly cooked and just wonderful. Highly recommend this! The wine was great too read more
1 year ago
3 years ago
Cute small restaurant with great service. Our waiter Alan was very attentive and knowledgeable of the menu. Definitely come with an appetite because the plates are quite filling! read more
