In the land where ‘scabbard fish and banana’ is the repeated offer along streets full of eateries, discovering this partially veggie place was like the restaurant equivalent of spotting a sandy beach among the volcanic shingle.
The building is easy enough to spot, a stunning piece of deco architecture rising from a busy intersection, with Olives sitting on the 3rd floor. Through the shopping centre, past the gym, it’s not exactly an obvious stop off for walk-in trade, but well worth making the diversion.
The small terrace has just a few tables with a fragrant balcony border which doubles as the kitchen’s scenic herb garden.
Choices
There’s a veggie/vegan menu and then there’s a meat/fish/general menu. Or mix and match.
Ahead of the meal we were given warm local bread with a choice of three butters – basil, black olive or plain.
Although it might seem odd to have soup in a hot clime, the pumpkin soup with cheese and walnut was the perfect starter with the slightly gloopy fresh cheese countering the sweetness of the gourd.
For mains I went for the fresh spinach and cheese ravioli in sauce which was full of flavour while he went for the sea bream with poppy seed. Beautifully cooked and with a delicate taste. Served by the chef we enquired about the unusual potato structures standing tall on the plate – ‘Stonehenge’ he informed us with a laugh, ‘I was inspired by Stonehenge to create this.’
Ok, maybe Druid influenced potato erections are slightly out of the ordinary, but so is this place and we both loved it.
A great value for money place taking into account the care and attention to the menu, the service, the standard of cooking and the relaxed style.
foodiesarah 