top 10

Olive's

Claim
marker

10 City Sq
Charlestown, MA 02129

marker
(617) 242-1999
Incorrect info? Correct your listing
Photos
Olive's - Charlestown, MA
Reviews
( 11 )
( 8 )
( 5 )
( 5 )
( 3 )

Best

Here we go again Todd English. More restaurant drama as he's kicked out of his premier restaurant for a year or more of not paying the rent. Much more to this story, but we miss...

Worst

The atmosphere at Olives is great - good location, good view of the new bridge. Unfortunately, the food did not live up to my expectations (or to their hefty prices). The d...

Not recommended 1/19/2005

I was at Olives for the first time with a friend on Jan. 9, 2005. I felt that the entrees offered on the menu were attempts at being so ""interesting,"" that I could barely find one to cater to the intense hunger I was feeling. I finally settled upon the roast duck. It was a disappointment, in not being ""crisp,"" as purported to be; and not appetizingly served (a roasted leg on a mashed potato mound, and several tiny grizzly slices lined up beside it.) Some people go to a restaurant to eat, and not to view and pick. I will say that the fallen chocolate cake was good. Pros: desserts, location, ambience Cons: , entrees, presentation more
Reply | Report abuse |

disappointing 12/11/2004

Olives used to be one of our favorite places. Unfortunately, our recent dining experience was very disappointing. The appetizers were fair to poor in taste. The bibb salad had too many onions and not enough dressing. The risotto appetizer with duck was runny and the duck was very dry. The pasta with bolognese came out lukewarm. Our fellow diner got the skate and could not even eat it, it was so fishy. The only positive elements were the atmosphere, the drinks and the desserts. Overall, not worth the price tag. We will not be returning. Pros: atmosphere, deserts Cons: , appetizers, salads more
Reply | Report abuse |

So Totally Over-Rated 6/3/2004

The decor is tired, the service is rude and rushed and the food is okay- NOT GREAT- just okay. Heavy-handed on the ingredients and spices, and the food is very hearty- too hearty especailly for summer dining. The prices are high. As the landmark""Olives"" to what has now become a huge chain, it should be treated as such, instead of a long forgotten memory. Cons: , ambience more
Reply | Report abuse |

Nice dining experience 3/18/2004

A friend and I went to Olives on a Saturday night relatively ""early"" ...around 6:30p. We were able to grab two seats at the bar, which had a nice ambiance. When you first enter the restaurant, it can get a little congested, what with the hostess station, the bar, and bar tables all together in a small area. The wine we got was very good and the breads were excellent. I was not impressed with either of our salads: one was a greek salad and the other I can't recall. Entrees were both excellent: gnocchi and a double-thick pork chop, although the potato that came with the chop was somewhat bland. For dessert, we got the special: a chocolate mousse with crumbled biscotti, which was excellent. Service at the bar was good. Pros: food more
Reply | Report abuse |

Loved it! 2/23/2004

My client and I were very pleased with the level of service (knowledgeable and patient waitstaff), the quality and consistency of the flavorful food, and the ambience (classy, but not pretentious).. and thoroughly enjoyed our experience at one of Boston's ""must dine"" restaurants.... HUGE bonus: chance sighting of hunky Todd English! more
Reply | Report abuse |

Disappointed 9/10/2003

The atmosphere at Olives is great - good location, good view of the new bridge. Unfortunately, the food did not live up to my expectations (or to their hefty prices). The duck came out super-dry, the pasta came out mushy... Hopefully, if the hype is lived down, they will get their act together and start cooking good food again. Pros: Good atmosphere Cons: Expensive, Not great good more
Reply | Report abuse |

Sadly Dissapointed 7/7/2003

First off the Air conditioning was broken in the restaurant, which I can forgive, it happens. Our waiter seemed to exemplify the word 'wait' in his title, for it was 15 minutes before we had placed a drink order. My steak had some sort of 'grill incident' as relayed by the floor manager (who did, kudos, buy me a drink), so we sat for nearly 30 minutes waiting for our entree. When it came it was nothing more than a piece of fat. My wife ate two of her ravioli's and could not bare to finish. The seating is HORRIBLE, it is as if I'm in a cafeteria sitting on top of other people. Everyone around us complained about this situation. I could go on, but just getting that off my chest made me feel better. Hopefully they will go under soon and some deserving restauranteur can relight the flame. Pros: Appetizer choices, Wine Selection, Hostess Cons: Wait Staff, Kitchen, environment more
Reply | Report abuse |

on/off 9/27/2002

It seems to me, that when this once amazing restauraunt pulls it all together, it still puts out some of the best food around...the problem is the consistency or lack there of...this falling star needs to re-focus, get Todd back in the kitchen, offer more interesting/value wines by the glass.. (Mondavi, Madfish;... Plumbjack @ 25.00 a glass!!??), they might still have a shot..if not, ciao baby thanks fot the memories.. Pros: Good bar scene/food, at last gracious host, experienced staff Cons: inconsistent food more
Reply | Report abuse |

wonderful 7/26/2002

this restaurant is my absolute favorite in boston. it is the perfect place for any night. they are also now taking reservations ... for any size which is great. a must hit for anyone in the area. more
Reply | Report abuse |
< Previous 1 2 Next >
Menu for Olive's


Summer SALE!!!:
15% OFF all yearly plans
Use year15 at checkout. Expires 1/1/2021
Editorial

  • The Scene
    On those rare occasions when Todd English dons his whites to run the bustling open kitchen, out-of-towners and business-types ignore their food for a glimpse of the...

  • 7/17/2007 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Mon. CLOSED;Tue. - Fri. 5:30pm - 10pm;Sat. 5:30pm - 10:30pm;Sun. 5pm - 9pm
  • Payments: American Express, Diner's Club, Discover, Master Card, Visa
  • Neighborhoods: Charlestown, Thompson Square / Bunker Hill
badge