Olivia Mediterranean Restaurant — Restaurant in Oranjestad (city)

Olivia is a gem, an unforgettable dining experience from start to finish. I was in Arbua with my daughter and we asked a chef for his recommendations, and Olivia was one. He was so right. My daughter's favorite food is Mediterranean, and I still dream about our dinner. Dennis and Glen, the owners, greeted us when we entered, and checked in on us to see how we were enjoying ourselves There is seating inside but the open air outside area is just magical, filled with potted palms with the outside breeze to keep you cool. It's on a side street, so there wasn't any traffic to interfere with the mood. Our server, Suell, was just great, attentive but not overbearing, and very helpful guiding us through the menu. Sean, the bartender, was right on point with his wine selection. The wine list is not extensive, it is specific, and he found a cabernet, Languedoc from France, which I loved, and I am not a fan of cabs which always seem to have too much tannin. This did not, it was smooth and very drinkable. To start, there is an amuse bouche, homemade gazpacho in a cup alongside goat cheese stuffed polenta. The pita is homemade and served with homemade labneh. We decided to share dishes so we are able to enjoy more, as we sometimes do, and this was definitely the way to go at Olivia. We started with Carciofi Olivia, marinated and roasted fresh baby artichokes with parsley, lemon, spinach and pine nuts which were just scrumptious, followed by homemade Tortellini Calabasa, filled with local pumpkin, ricotta cheese, parmesan cheese, with button mushrooms, hazelnuts and arugula that I still dream about, and then without a doubt the very best lamb chops that I've ever eaten, superbly marinated, perfectly cooked, with couscous, gremolata and eggplant. For dessert, we were guided to the Tiramisu, which cannot be missed. It's not like anything you've ever tasted, it's unbelievable - mascarpone, biscotti, red wine figs, orange tuille and expresso caramel sauce. We finished with homemade lemoncello, not the sweet kind found at most Italian restaurant, no, this was the result of fresh lemons infused in vodka for weeks, just amazing. I know I'll never forget that dinner. There are very good restaurants in Aruba, and we'll try more next time, but I'll always come back to Olivia. Do...

Full disclosure - I’ve eaten here many many times and also frequent Wilhelmina.

In my opinion, Olivia represents the best that the Aruba dining scene has to offer. The first aspect that I still find jaw dropping is the ambiance. The owner has a keen eye for details that result in feeling like you’ve stepped into a unique experience. The open roof, breeze through the windows, the background music of downtown, and the lighting all contribute subtly to the senses.

The staff has always been kind, welcoming, attentive, friendly and knowledgeable.The bar’s drink selection has never disappointed, whether you like to imbibe or not. The food is the star of the show.

After a complimentary amuse bouche, whatever you order is prepared and presented in an authentic Mediterranean manner - with the visual and taste going beyond expectations. I can strongly recommend any soup on the menu, but if the bisque is available know that the stock is classically executed. The beef carpaccio is a real treat, sliced thin and well balanced. For the adventurous- try the Baramundi. In terms of mains - the go tos are the Mousaka and Gamberretri Pasta. The Mousaka is Greek soul food, combining protein, veg, and pillowy potato carbs with an insane sauce. The Gamberretti tackles pasta with a light flair, focusing on simplicity and freshness.Both dishes are generous and show stoppers. I recommend eating half or splitting those dishes because you will want to save room for the Tiramisu. Do not deviate from this path - I’m sure the other sweets are good too but you will not want to miss this version. Split it as well and stumble home happy that you made this...

We were excited to try this restaurant after having an amazing experience at Wilhelmina (the sister restaurant) two nights prior. The food, ambience, and service were far above outstanding. Unfortunately, Olivia was a complete miss. We were taken in by the photos of the food and as mentioned the great experience at their sister restaurant. Our family enjoys different cuisines and we’re not a newcomer to Mediterranean flavours. The ambience was nice; however, the food flavour was completely lacking. All the appetizers and the main dishes that we ordered had a strong smoky aftertaste which created a homogeneous experience. Continuing to talk about the flavour profile, there was so much happening on the plate that it was hard to tell what was the prominent ingredient that should be shining through. When we asked to speak to the head chef/owner, he politely told us that maybe it was our choice of dishes that was the issue as they all did indeed have a strong smoky undertone. Thats surprising considering my older son ordered the branzino while my younger one had the tortellini pasta. My husband ordered the vegetarian zucchini main and I had the baramundi. Most fine restaurants would offer to adjust the bill if the customers have left their dishes incomplete; however, here we were just told perhaps this restaurant was not for us. Olivia in our opinion is totally not worth the visit and is completely trying to capitalize on the success of Wihelmina restaurant. Highly...