Olive & Angelo — Restaurant in Brisbane City

Absolutely devastating experience. Booked over one month in advance for 12 and was told we would be split across two tables as they didn't have one table big enough. Not a problem. Arrived and was told that they only had room for 6 of us, but they'd set up another table on the other side of the restaurant for the other 6. No reason was provided for this and a table remained empty with room for 6 next to the other table the entire dining experience. When seated at the table in the corner of the restaurant we discovered we had been put on a camping table with rusted old chairs (picture of table and chairs with comparison in the background of the other tables and chairs the guests around us had). The group of 6 across the restaurant tried to cheers us across the room when we had to decline since we had still yet to be given a single opportunity to talk with a server to order. The drinks were terrible - flavour was off, and they are trying too hard to put new things together without trying it for taste (ref to espresso martini and elderflower cocktail). The pizza ordered at this table was very nice, but this was irrelevant to the store bought balsamic vinegar, unripe tomato brushetta on burnt sourdough, followed by $40 ravioli (looked like costco brand and defintiely not fresh) that was undercooked and CRUNCHY with no sauce, cheese or garnish (and only 9 pieces that were no bigger than a corn chip). I wish i had taken a picture when it arrived but we were so embarrassed to have bought two lots of it and have this served. I have the finished plate attached in the pictures when I realised I needed to warn people. Unwashed, uncut cos lettuce with basic ceaser dressing (the best part being the salty anchovies). Completely overpriced and trying far too hard to be something they're not. Whatever has happened since the reviews published previously that I read when we booked this restaurant has completely ruined this venue, and I caution you to spend your money literally anywhere else. The group of six on the other table, even with good service experience and an actual table and chairs, had a mixed experience with the food, and we found none of us would be returning again. TL:DR don't waste your money and time, they don't care about what they're serving and they don't care how long you book in advance or patiently wait for a table to be set even though you had a booking and arrived right on time. Go ANYWHERE else to...

Okay so this is going to be a long one. A while back my friends and I dined here for a birthday, food was okay but the priced were not justified. As I was ordering I was adamant that I am anaphylactic to Pine nuts, I asked the waiter if they served any dishes here that contained pine nuts, he replied yes quite a few actually. I said okay can you make sure there is no cross contamination happening because I am obviously anaphylactic to them. We ordered our food and so on, after my meal my stomach was on fire. I thought it was just a normal reaction to the spicy food I ordered. 20 minutes later as we were walking into the city I started having an anaphylactic reaction. We confirmed this as one of our friend was studying to be a registered nurse. Called an ambulance and they confirmed it was an allergic reaction. If I waited another 10 minutes they said I would have collapsed then who know what would have happened. A couple days later we emailed them about the situation and they straight denied ever having pine nuts affiliated with the restaurant. Although it clearly stated they had pine nuts on the menu and was confirmed by the waiter. The fact that they're denying this and put my life at risk especially after I stated my allergies. I then went to comment on some of their instagram posts and they have since requested my comment deleted, not once, but TWICE! And to top it off, the Olive and Angelo account on instagram has no blocked me so I can't post on their social media anymore. Is that a joke, do you really think you can silence the truth like that? I can not express this enough, if you have an allergy, don't dine here because they DO NOT care about your well being, all they care about is their online presence. Olive and Angelo, you should be utterly ashamed of yourselves for not admitting to your mistake. All you had to do was admit to your mistake and offer compensation. We happily paid at the end and I'm pretty sure the bill was something near $700. It's actually quite scary that your restaurant was so negligent towards this situation. I really hope other people read this as it is a health and safety...

A Disappointment at Olive & Angelo: Not Worth the Wait, the Cost, or the Energy

We visited Olive & Angelo on a Friday evening, hoping to enjoy a calm and cozy dinner after a long week. The menu was promising, but sadly, it was the lack of service that ended up defining most of our experience.

It took over 20 minutes before anyone acknowledged us to take our order, and we waited nearly an hour and a half for the food to arrive, a pizza and a steak with vegetables, not exactly complex dishes. Meanwhile, we watched as guests who arrived long after us were served ahead of us. It felt as though regulars were prioritized, engaged in conversations with the staff, while we were left without attention. It didn’t feel fair. Good service isn’t about doing more for some and less for others, it’s about being present and attentive to all guests. That spirit was missing.

What hurt the most wasn’t the waiting itself, but the clear sense that no one truly cared. No one checked in. No one apologized, at least not until the moment had already passed. And when the food finally did arrive, it was underwhelming at best and certainly not worth the wait or the cost. We came hoping to recharge, but left feeling flat.

Dining out is not just about food. It’s about how you make people feel. That night, we didn’t feel seen. We didn’t feel welcomed. We left with less energy than we came with. The only explanation we were given was that they were “too busy”, and we ended up paying the price for that.

True hospitality must come from care and respect. And not just for a chosen few, but for every guest who walks through the door. Anything less creates an illusion of warmth and charm, and the dining experience ends up feeling like nothing more than a way to empty your pocket, rather than something genuine.

If you’re looking for a genuine, heartfelt dining experience where every guest is treated fairly and with care, this is not the place I’d recommend. Unless you’r a regular or a familiar face, you might find yourself feeling invisible, as we did. It’s just...