Oliveto Restaurant

I have been wanting to write a review for Oliveto for a while since it's always excellent and finally just had to after eating lunch there yesterday! Amazing! I had their 'ham &cheese', it was with mozzarella, tomato conserva and pancetta...panini style. Then I had their pine needle ice cream with pinenut praline...yum! Their pastas are house made and the flavor combinations are brilliant! Their menu also changes daily, so it's a good idea to check ahead of time and see if you like it. Once you're there, do not be afraid to ask about the menu or 'what's especially good tonight'. Their servers have to come in early to be trained on how to describe each dish on their menu they are serving for the evening. It's the way they describe your food to you that makes it even more delicious!

I absolutely love this place. I go there as often as I can afford. It's worth every penny though.

They have two sections: Upstairs and the cafe. All the hot food from the cafe is prepared in the brick oven next to the bar and is a bit cheaper but still awesome. It's first come first serve.

Upstairs is the main event. The dining room is beautiful. The dishes are all very close to authentic country Italian food. This isn't spaghetti and meatballs. Think more salted pork belly with arugula. The menu changes constantly.

Desert is always fantastic.

Their wine list is superb, extensive, and reasonably priced (it's about a straight double.)

I love this place.

You know a place is good when people from San Francisco will drive across the Bay Bridge to go out for dinner. You'll get the freshest ingredients and lovely, unusual food combinations.

The place is pricey ($$$$$), but it's worth it. I had a spectacular dessert once, so good I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming. The staff was nice enough to get the recipe from the chef for me. Now that's service!