The Stuffed Olive - Iowa City — Restaurant in Iowa City

Busy on a Saturday afternoon. Sat immediately and very friendly staff. The atmosphere was very unique and comfortable. We spent a few minutes figuring out menu. Very interesting martini choices and alot of them. We settled on a Margarita variation and an expresso martini. The staff was very helpful explaining the drink and food menu. We ordered seared ahi tuna and kamakazi tuna. The food arrived quickly. The plates were as expected on the smaller side. The presentation was perfect and visually appetizing. The seared tuna prepared perfectly. We could cut the tuna with a fork. The side accompanying the tuna was a rich flavor filled sticky rice. The kamakazi tuna was over the top. The flavors rich with just the right amount of heat and spice. Tuna flaked apart with a fork. The washbi added the right amount of kick. The sticky rice had a similar spiciness and rounded out the over all quality of the dish. Both choices where exceptional and prepared perfectly. We added to our meal the bacon wrapped stuffed jalapeños. The bacon could have been cooked alittle more. The stuffed jalapeños where very rich with flavor and had a very fresh taste with balanced spicy kick. The Stuffed Olive is more then we expected. At first glance you expect a franchise experience but much better quality and definitely unique. The staff needed a few more help that particular day, the 2 girls that helped us were very good at their job and makes the dining experience worth some waiting time. Definitely experience the Stuffed Olive. Quality was over the top...

I’ve been here several times and love love love the stuffed olive. The GM is literally the most innovative mixologist I’ve ever seen and he and his other bar/wait staff are always so welcoming. I wanted to share some feedback regarding our most recent experience (last Monday), everything was great except the lady who I think was the assistant manager seemed to aimlessly walk around while her team struggled. I’m almost certain she was intoxicated. Overall pleasant experience from the team perspective but I feel things would have been so much smoother had she directed her efforts towards helping the team rather than walking back and forth from the kitchen to the bar, looking around, and then walking to the kitchen again. This isn’t the first time she’s been visibly intoxicated. She may need to slow down on the product samples in order to help her efficiency. When my wife and our friends would come on Thursdays it is always like that which is why we now come on Tuesdays because we know we’re going to get great service, drinks, and experience. Ryan and Nathan are fantastic and make our date nights very fun and surprisingly educational. I hope the young lady takes this as constructive feedback, but judging by the way days where she is absent are ran, she certainly has a lot of learning to do. Again, we love the stuffed olive and I will say I have gotten the best old fashioned I’ve ever had, even better than the bourbon trail, but you may need to help the assistant manager improve her ability to run...

Very underwhelmed. $70 got 2 martinis and 3 appetizers. We left there hungry, and very unsatisfied. We went a block over and had 2 sushi rolls and 2 martinis for $35... way better choice and satisfied the 'rich flavor' we were seeking.

Chocolate sugary martinis? Hard to say anything negative about that :)

We wanted the stuffed mushrooms. It wasn't clear if they were out, or no longer carry that, but, whatever, move on.

The $5 sampler platter lists 10 different olives, we got 9. Ok, whatever, not worth mentioning... at the time.

We ordered the creamy crab dip. As I was writing this review, and looking at the menu, and my pictures, its possible we were served the spinach artichoke dip,(i don't keep receipts) which does slightly lower my expectations. Regardless of what dip we got, it was very bland. Also, a person shouldn't have to spit out fibrous globs of artichoke hearts.

I think the $12 bacon wrapped stuffed jalapeños is what pushed us to write this review. It was 2 small jalapeños, cut in half, with a piping of what seemed to be plain cream cheese. Also very bland and unfulfilling.

I don't like writing bad reviews, but the food prices and quality do not align with the decor,...