Olivia Restaurant — Restaurant in Riga

TIP: this is not a Greek place, as some (possibly all?) of you might have thought. They themselves call the concept "creative Mediterranean with some Scandinavian influences". So calibrate your expectations accordingly and don't get your hopes up too high for that nice juicy lamb chops or sizzling meatballs you've already pictured in your head :) NOTE: three stars in this case doesn't imply that this place "almost sucks", I just find it to not quite live up to the standards set by some other restaurants in the area. So a rating scale is a rating scale; if everyone got 4-5s it would become meaningless. Here's some specifics though: the food is (mostly) well-prepared, but sometimes a tad too creative, for my taste. Of everything we've had at Ikos, only a single fillet of fish was overcooked and surprisingly hard to chew, which would not be a big deal if not for the pricing. About that.. Prices are quite high for Riga, even considering the location. I felt it's easily possible to get higher value for money in more than one cool place in the same neighbourhood (and yes, I've reviewed many of them). The interior is freshly renovated and not tasteless, but it lacks a certain "modern" feel, as if this place has been open here not since 2018 but for at least 10 years. Not a big minus, but just something to know in advance. Service is polite and precise, no comments on this point so far. Overall, a decent place to have lunch or dinner, but lacking a clear idea of what it wants to be (some more "soul" would not hurt). I'd personally enjoy it much, MUCH better if it was a Greek place with juicy lamb chops and...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at a Mediterranean restaurant, and the experience exceeded all expectations. The atmosphere was bright, airy, and full of charm, with subtle touches of coastal décor that instantly transported me to the seaside. The service was warm, attentive, and genuine, making the evening even more enjoyable.

The true highlight, however, was the seafood. Every dish celebrated the freshness and diversity of the Mediterranean Sea, prepared with care and respect for authentic flavors. We began with a seafood platter that included oysters, mussels, and prawns—each bite was wonderfully fresh, carrying the pure taste of the ocean. The grilled octopus was another standout: tender, smoky, and beautifully complemented by olive oil and a hint of lemon.

For the main course, I ordered a seafood linguine generously filled with clams, shrimp, and calamari. The pasta was cooked perfectly al dente, while the seafood was succulent and bursting with natural flavor. My companion chose the whole grilled sea bream, which arrived golden and aromatic, its delicate flesh infused with herbs and citrus.

The restaurant also offered an excellent wine list with Mediterranean selections that paired harmoniously with the dishes. Overall, the combination of fresh seafood, vibrant Mediterranean flavors, and warm hospitality made this dining experience truly unforgettable. I would highly recommend this place to anyone who appreciates the rich culinary traditions of the...

The food was delicious. I really liked it. But the service needs to improve. The service was very slow. When we came, the table was dirty, the waiter said he will clean it and we can sit down. He did clean but never told us to go to the table, we took the menus ourselves and went to sit down. Ordered drinks even we didn't have a drink menu on the table, waited for simple not complicated drinks for about 15min. The waiting staff already brought us the bread with no drinks. After he forgot one of our food order but likely we reminded him. He wasn't really sure what bread do we have in the busket either. When finally the drinks arrived, he spilled one of the drinks on me. It's totally fine, I know those things happen, I work in the restaurant myself. I asked to bring napkins. He never brought them. My friend asked for a vinegar, had to wait for ages and ask another 2 times for it from a different waiter. Same with the salt and pepper, we didn't have it on the table. The management team needs to train the staff a bit more. In general as I said I did enjoy the food. Was very tasty. To the Kitchen team Im giving 5 starts but the front of house...