Oli's Room — Restaurant in Santiago de los Caballeros

Experience: We are visiting Santiago and looking for good dinning experiences. This place was suggested to me by someone who lives in Santiago. My google search confirmed that many people like it. We went on a Saturday night at 9:00pm, so of course it was crowded.

Facility: It feels a little small, but there are 3 areas to sit. One “outside” in the front when you first enter (by the way, the waiting area for seating, is very small and congested right at the front with just two seats). There is an inside area with just 3 seats at the bar. And lastly a outside garden type area. We sat on the outside. It is nicely decorated with lots of plant life.

Service: The hostess was very friendly and trying hard to accommodate everyone coming and waiting for a table. We waited 20 minutes for a table. Our server was decent… pretty quiet demeanor but seemed pleasant and he brought things when we asked.

Food: we really enjoyed the food. We ordered: Poke bowl with Pulpo (octopus) and black rice… the octopus was delicious and my friend ate every drop Salmon… also cooked perfectly and delicious Shrimp carbonara… it was very tasty, but not carbonara and only a few small shrimp. It was more of a yummy Alfredo sauce, and the pasta was cooked perfect. It was accompanied by 3 small pieces of toasted buttery bread. We had a few beers too… President light (they don’t carry “normal”) and Blue Moon.

Overall: We really liked it. Nice atmosphere, good service and great food. It is a little on the pricey side but not too expensive. We...

So I will start with the good and the bad…

Good- place is really nice! Good place to enjoy some food.

I got the ceviche which I thought was good and the sushi- spicy salmon which was ok! The gusabi I had to ask for.

I got 4 cocktails- mezcal was my favorites. Paloma (if you ever lived in Mexico or lived in a Mexican native place doesn’t live up to the hype)

Bad- so I came solo…they are attentive I won’t say they weren’t…but I did have to ask for a waiter twice.

Basically if your solo good luck getting the right attention, food was 8/10. Good enough to come 2nd time but it also it just a another good spot but not a spot to die for…not like spot you dream About going again.

Improvements: I was given a cocktail menu but the said none of it was avaliable- just the regular ones (watever that means). Waiter will give their attention to bigger tables first.

I asked for recommendations- waiter had to defer to another waiter for more advice (maybe she was new?) I guess maybe I’m assuming all waiters have that knowledge to know what’s most bought and what people truly love.

Out of 10 it’s an 8. You won’t be mad when you come and food was good.

Foods: I got the sushi and the ceviche (ceviche was worth it) sushi okay. Dessert...

I have visited this place twice already and although it's been a good experience overall, it seems there are things that prevent me from giving them a five stars. My first visit was ok until someone decided to start smoking next to me. I immediately moved to another table and it was just ok from there, nothing memorable. My most recent visit was going just fine until the music (very bad and boring music) started to get too loud. Then I realized there was a speaker right above my table. I asked if the volume could be lowered just a bit, and was told that... "the guy who knows how to do it" stepped out for a bit... sure!! 😒 The food was good, the place is very clean and the server was very attentive. I just wish they had lowered that awful music or at least play something that doesn't want to make you order poison from the...