Oliver's — Restaurant in Shoreview

I've been to Oliver's a dozen times (at least) and have seen a consistent decline in their food quality and portions. This evening I'd have to say I was more disappointed than anything else. I left feeling worse than I came in, and even tried to share my experience with the Manager. Please empower your staff.

Between my wife and I and another couple, we frequent Oliver's. It's convenient for us, the cocktails are spot on, the staff is friendly, the atmosphere welcoming and the food is pretty darn good as well.

This evening, my buddy and I were meeting for a drink and some food (yes, on Valentine's Day) -- we had a lot to catch up on. We ordered our typical first round of Old Fashioned's and then I ordered steak tacos ($16 for 3).

When our waitress put the tacos down my first thought was, "is this a joke?" I chuckled. Pictures included. When I gave the waitress a, "is this for real?" look she indicated the kitchen was going for an "authentic street taco". I've had authentic street tacos before and they're PACKED full of protein.

After wrapping my first taco into a mini burrito and eating it, I asked for the manager because I wanted them to see what I was seeing to see if they had a similar reaction. My first was to get on here and give a poor review right then and there, BUT I thought to myself -- "you know, that's not fair. Don't be passive aggressive. Give the manager the feedback immediately so they can do something about it."

I waited for 5 minutes for the Manager to make her way over to me and I explained that I frequent Oliver's, like their food, want them to succeed as a restaurant, didn't want to just write a poor Google review, and wanted to share with her (and show) her my firsthand experience. She wasn't defensive and shared that she'd provide my feedback in a meeting with the chef tomorrow, and would be happy to comp me a dessert. I declined the dessert because I don't really like dessert, and she thanked me for my feedback and left.

I then consumed the remaining two tacos and was still hungry so ordered a burger and it was fine. I ate half and boxed up the rest.

Full bill at $104 for two people, nothing taken off and I left disappointed, so I'm writing the review I didn't want to write.

I am also the type of person that would have come home and written a review for Oliver's and given them 5 stars if the waitress would have immediately picked them up and come back with some additional steak, OR if the Manager has comp'd something off the bill --- anything in place of me declining a dessert. I would have felt like a valued customer. My buddy and I walked out and decided not to come back to our usual spot next time for dinner and are going to try out Baldamar, where the service continues to be amazing each and...

Our love affair with the patio at Oliver's continues! After our unforgettable last visit, we eagerly returned for another evening of delicious food and great ambiance. This time, our delightful server, Gracie, greeted us with a warm smile and an infectious energy that set the tone for an amazing night. She wasn't just attentive; she was a true gem, sharing light-hearted banter and helpful suggestions that made our dining experience all the more enjoyable.

Deciding to switch things up from our previous feast, we opted for a more casual yet equally indulgent approach, choosing to sip on some fine wine while nibbling on a variety of appetizers. Gracie's enthusiasm for the menu helped us uncover some hidden treasures we hadn't tried last time, and we were excited to dive in.

First up were the loaded tots, a dish that can only be described as a crunchy, golden revelation. The exterior was perfectly crisp, while the inside was a pillowy delight that practically melted in your mouth. The accompanying sauce was nothing short of divine; its rich and zesty flavors elevated each bite, leaving us craving more.

Next, we dug into the empanadas, and what a treat they were! Stuffed generously with gooey cheese, each bite released a delectable flow of melted goodness. It was like experiencing a gourmet version of a hot pocket, taken to the next level of culinary creativity. We couldn't help but rave about them, each one was a bite-sized party of flavors!

As we continued our culinary adventure, we were served beautifully presented shrimp. The plating was so exquisite that we almost hesitated to dive in, though the mouthwatering aroma quickly dispelled any hesitation. The shrimp were cooked to perfection, succulent and bursting with flavor, making each mouthful a reason to smile.

And then there was the artichoke dip; a dish that should absolutely be on everyone’s must-try list. It was a creamy, cheesy wonder, with a richness that lingered on the palate. Every scoop left us yearning for more, and we found ourselves fighting over the last dregs of the dish.

Throughout our meal, Gracie remained a stellar presence, checking in on us regularly to ensure we had everything we desired. Her genuine care and attentiveness transformed the evening into something truly special. Thanks to her, we felt pampered and well-looked-after, making our return to Oliver's an unforgettable experience.

With our hearts and stomachs full, we left the patio, already dreaming of our next visit. Oliver's has firmly cemented itself as a go-to spot for quality dining, and we can't...

We’ve visited twice in one week (we may end up squeezing in a third visit 🤣). Our first visit was on a Tuesday evening, on a whim. We had never been & didn’t know that they took reservations, but luckily they had an opening so we were seated within just a couple minutes. (They do have a very large, heated, waiting area.) The ambiance is wonderful, it’s pet enough that dining feels like an experience, but low key so that it doesn’t feel stuffy & you don’t feel out of place of you’re not dressed up. We brought our 2&5 year old & the staff were wonderfully accommodating. The children’s meal portions are very generous. My hubby & I got the Gouda burger & the Northland burger to supply with each other, they were both PHENOMENAL! Hubby had the Ninja IPA, it was so unique, light, bright, punchy and real surprise. I had the espresso martini, that it one of my favorite drinks to order anywhere, but Oliver’s espresso martini was the best I’ve ever had! Perfectly balanced sweet & coffee flavors & no presence of bitterness - such a treat! Our server was a delight & both our kiddos have asked if we can go back every evening since. We ended the evening with cheesecake w/ macerated berries. The four of us split it & I again, found it a very generous serving size & absolutely delicious. Hubby & I were able to sneak in date night so we decided drinks & apps at Oliver’s. We made reservations this time but got there ahead of time and we were sat about 20 minutes. Server was phenomenal again, very attentive & just generally a very nice person. We ordered the nachos with hosin chicken to share. They were out of this world, the chips were the perfect crunch, well seasoned & sturdy enough to scoop (I detest soggy nacho chips)! The queso was delicious, and it was topped with other delicious ingredients that I can’t remember but it’s another item at Oliver’s that is now on the top of my favorites list. After we finished the nachos we asked our server to surprise us with dessert & she did not disappoint! She brought us the salted caramel chocolate dacquoise & it was delectable! Beyond tasting incredible, the variety of textures present were such a treat, again right to the top of a list for another favorite! I’m looking forward to returning to enjoy something new, while knowing I’ll be treated to wonderful service, atmosphere & and delicious meals. Way to...