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Ratings and reviews

RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere

Details

CUISINES
Italian, Mediterranean, European, Turkish, Middle Eastern
Special Diets
Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner
View all details
meals, features, about
Reviews (110)
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110 results
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LanguageEnglish
Traveller rating
61
31
8
7
3
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All reviews red lentil soup kebab bread baked eggplant salad chicken most recent visit entrees
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Reviewed 6 August 2023

We stumbled into this lovely restaurant on our travels through Wisconsin. We wanted locally owned and good food. We we were not disappointed! The stuffed eggplant and rice was delightful! So glad we found this place, would highly recommend!! Great price too!

Date of visit: August 2023
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Reviewed 25 April 2023

After a relatively quick appetiser there was a considerable wait for the entrées, a diner and cannelloni. Both plates arrived completely cold, which I assume had been sitting somewhere for 20 minutes or so. Will not be returning.

Date of visit: April 2023
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Reviewed 12 September 2022

This place is a bit peculiar however I always have to rate it excellent. They are challenged by lack of staffing, however the staff they do have is very hard working and I do appreciate them. The bread is always served warm and extra bread...can be requested at no additional charge. I highly recommend eating it with the red lentil soup. Very unique. I had the grilled chicken kabob and it was amazing. Chicken grilled to perfection. Served with some grilled vegetables and some nice fresh salad with basmati rice. It seems like the restrauant is family owned with a unique touch that you can only describe by the actual experience. Whatever they are doing, it always makes me comeback and I always leave with a smile. Enjoy!More

Date of visit: September 2022
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Reviewed 21 March 2022

We hadn't been to Oliva since before the pandemic, but our most recent visit this week had us saying that this needs to be one of our "go-to" places. First, they give you a huge glass of wine. That's a good start. Second, and most...important, the food is really good. For starters, the soup was excellent, as was the bread. The salad was only average and dull; they can do better. Our entrees -- the Salmon a la Turk and the Baked Eggplant -- were full of flavor and very satisfying. The portions aren't huge, and the dishes could use a side of vegetables to go with the rice. But the main dishes tasted so good. And the prices are quite reasonable.More

Date of visit: March 2022
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Reviewed 12 March 2020

Went for a very early dinner. There were only about 4 tables in the place and our poor waiter seemed to be literally running around. The bread is brought warm to the table and was delicious, soup was great, the baba ganoush was also very...tasty (so many carbs made us full but...) our food was great! The chicken kabobs were delicious from the grill and my husbands gyro was good but did not come with a pita or anything. the gyro was beef instead of lamb which disappointed him but I thought it was great since I do not care for lamb. They also had Prosecco on their menu which many places do not carry or have a cheap Brut that they offer so this was a seller for me!!More

Date of visit: March 2020
Helpful?2  
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Reviewed 6 March 2020

Oliva used to be our favorite neighborhood restaurant. The food was always fresh and well prepared. Up until about a year ago, that is. The last three visits have gone from bad to worse. This time we were served pasta that tasted like it had...been defrosted and microwaved. The previous visit we ordered the lamb sautéed special, little chips of flavorless dry meat swimming in a sea of tomato sauce with undercooked chunks of onion and peppers. Ugh! I gave 2 stars only because the small bowl of lentil soup is still decent.More

Date of visit: March 2020
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Reviewed 20 February 2020

We did not enjoy the food. It was bland. As title says, otherwise, it was nice. We each chose vegetarian dishes without cheese. they were boring. I wish they had used spices and herbs expertly. It was a special day to us, minor level celebration....We spent too much for what we got.More

Date of visit: February 2020
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Reviewed 23 January 2020 via mobile

Stopped here for lunch with friends. Good food and great service. The pricing is really reasonable and the serving size was large. The only complaint I have is the water from the noodles was pooling in the bottom the sauce making it runny. It will...be a place I go back to.More

Date of visit: January 2020
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Reviewed 30 June 2019

My wife and I along with another couple went to Oliva last evening for dinner. We ordered calamari and stuffed grape leaves as appetizers. In the opinion of the other couple, the stuffed grape leaves were very small. I've never had them and I thought...they looked like nickle cigars. They liked them however. My wife and I thought our calamari appeared like something you might get with fried frozen bar food. Clearly this calamari was not freshly made. Many of the little round pieces were rubbery. I ordered a stuffed eggplant with meat. This was a very thin piece of eggplant smothered in a tasty hamburger tomato sauce, accompanied by a ball formed scoop of rice. $16. THIS DISH NEEDED EGGPLANT. The other gentleman ordered a shrimp dish, $15, that he said was ok, but nothing he'd order again. His wife had a lasagna $15, that she said she enjoyed. My wife had the stuffed eggplant, and had a nice piece eggplant. She said she enjoyed her order. We all agreed that we would skip the appetizer if we revisited Oliva. Frankly, there are so many places in Madison that I probably won't suggest a return visit. I expected more in the way of service and food consistency. The bread served as we sat down was very good. We would have appreciated more. Getting our water glasses refilled was an issue.More

Date of visit: June 2019
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Reviewed 29 May 2019

I found Oliva while searching for Turkish restaurants in Madison. I went there to break my fast during Ramadan a couple of weeks ago. The waitress took my order and promptly brought me bread, Diet Pepsi, salad and appetizer. She made sure to check on...me for drink refills. I ordered the cigar borek and have to admit they were delicious. The main entree came a while later. I was not in a hurry since I had ordered the appetizer and salad. The dinner was delicious. I had an excellent visit and have returned twice.More

Date of visit: May 2019
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Reviewed 21 April 2019

Started with the Calamari, horrible, batter reminded me of frozen fish sticks and calamari was tasteless. One staff person said many do not care for this type of Calamari, she went on to say we should have told us what to expect. Our waitress had...not done so. They did take it off the bill. Thank you Has the Mediterranean Pizza thin crust, dough was soft and doughy in the center, very little taste. Funny, when we arrived arrived the hostess asked if we had reservations, we did not, she advised int he future to do so. but were seated right away. 6:00 Saturday night, when we left the place was almost empty. Felt the place was definitely it was more Greek/Turkish than Italian. Not sure I would go backMore

Date of visit: April 2019
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Reviewed 4 March 2019

My spouse and I had an early dinner here on a Saturday night. Service was excellent. Lentil soup is a bit spicy but yummy. Chicken Marsala was pretty good. (I'm still searching for best chicken marsala in Madison area. La Brioche is best so far.)...Spouse had the lamb special and loved it. It was very tasty and tender.More

Date of visit: February 2019
Helpful?1  
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Reviewed 2 March 2019

The two cuisines are Italian and Turkish. You have lots of options of both. We arrived at 4 pm on a Friday and were seated immediately. Our drink and food choices were quickly taken. As we waited for our appetizer (toasted cheese ravioli), we munched...on Turkish bread which was warm and tasty. Our appetizer was promptly served, which we enjoyed. Just as we finished the ravioli, our red lentil soup arrived. It was spicey and pureed and quite good. Next came our entrees ( lamb shish kebab for me and Nohutlu Ispanak for my wife. Both were very good. Service was also very good. This was our first visit and we will return.More

Date of visit: March 2019
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Reviewed 23 February 2019

Was traveling on business and my colleague wanted Italian, but I'm not a fan so I found Oliva where I could get something Mediterranean instead. The menu has a great selection, something for everyone. The service was great. Neither of us had ever had Turkish...wine and the waitress let us try a taste of the red and the white. The white was excellent, and we each had a glass. We had falafel and babganouj appetizers and both were great. The red lentil soup, as others have said, was excellent. My gyros was just good and could have been hotter, but overall, I liked the restaurant and would go back.More

Date of visit: February 2019
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Reviewed 22 February 2019

horrible service. Ordered a salad, to go on my lunch said it would be ready in 10 min 30 min later as i sit waiting nothing no sorry or apology. I used to come here frequently and will not be coming back again. A sorry...for the wait and now you have no time for lunch would have been appreciated. Also if you want a $15.00 salad with just tomatoes and cucumbers this is the place!!More

Date of visit: February 2019
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OLIVA ITALIAN MEDITERRANEAN CUISINE, Madison - Restaurant Reviews, Phone Number & Photos - Tripadvisor

Frequently Asked Questions about OLIVA Italian Mediterranean Cuisine

Yes, OLIVA Italian Mediterranean Cuisine offers takeaway services.

OLIVA Italian Mediterranean Cuisine is rated accordingly in the following categories by Tripadvisor travellers:
  • Food: 4.5
  • Service: 4.5
  • Value: 4
  • Atmosphere: 4.5