Olivia is St. Pete’s New Modern Italian Gem

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Olivia is St. Pete’s New Modern Italian Gem

Since its debut just over two months ago, Olivia, a modern Italian restaurant by chef Chris Ponte, has quickly become a local sensation. This restaurant is Olivia’s second location. The original Olivia on Swann Ave. in Tampa has upheld an outstanding reputation for over five years now.

The outside signage at Olivia
The outside signage at Olivia

Olivia, named after Ponte’s daughter, is located on the ground floor of Ascent’s 36 story apartment and hotel tower at the corner of 1st Ave N. and 2nd St. right in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg. Valet parking is available off of 2nd St. N. Street parking is available in the surrounding area, if you are fortunate enough to find a spot. There are two parking garages available, as well, within a couple of blocks. The restaurant boasts a spacious and open layout with seating for up to 140 guests inside. Outside, another 40 seats are available. Tables within the dining room can be reserved through Resy, while the patio and bar seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis. We dined at Olivia at 6:00PM on a Friday night and the dining room was full and the wait list to dine at the bar was already stacking up.

Outdoor dining area at Olivia
Outdoor dining area at Olivia
Olivia's bar area
Olivia’s bar area

The space features carefully curated design elements with modern accents that create a stylish ambiance. As you enter through the front door, the first area to grab your attention is the working dough room where all of the pasta dough and fresh mozzarella are crafted. This can be observed during service.

The dough room, where all of the doughs and fresh mozzarella are crafted
The dough room, where all of the pasta dough and fresh mozzarella are crafted

Sleek art and large mirrors adorn the walls of the restaurant. The mirrors give off the illusion that the dining room is even larger than it actually is – this is an interior effect that I admire. We were seated promptly upon arrival at a two top table with banquette seating on one side and a large armchair on the other.

Sleek details inside Olivia
Sleek details inside Olivia
Modern art on the walls at Olivia
Modern art on the walls at Olivia

In addition to the standard dinner menu on the table, there was also a tablet with a wine list. Some may not like this format for choosing a wine, but I can assume that it probably makes the process a bit more simplistic. The regular menu has cocktails and wines by the glass on one side and the dinner menu located on the other. One important detail on the menu to pay attention to is the paragraph about the 15% service charge that will automatically be included on the final bill. This is not a straight gratuity that goes only to your server. It is distributed to staff throughout the restaurant.

The dinner menu at Olivia
The dinner menu at Olivia
Olivia's cocktail, wines by the glass and dessert menu
Olivia’s cocktail, wines by the glass and dessert menu

The cuisine at Olivia is deemed as modern Italian with dishes that range from antipasto plates and pastas to intriguing pizzas and an array of secondi options. The cocktail menu has a healthy mix of familiar and inventive libations. To start, I decided on the Bianco Negroni with Sipsmith lemon gin, Italicus and Lillet blanc. This cocktail was very well-balanced and smooth. My husband Mike was a bit more adventurous with his drink selection and ordered the Serenata. A very unique list of ingredients make up this drink: clarified sauvignon blanc, Papas Pilar, lime cordial, saffron liqueur, Galliano and pineapple. I would describe this as a pineapple-forward tiki drink with a soft texture due to clarification.

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Our first round of cocktails - the Bianco Negroni and the Serenata
Our first round of cocktails – the Bianco Negroni and the Serenata

After the first drink, I switched over to wine with a super tuscan from the by the glass section. Mike continued through the cocktail list and decided that the ‘O’ Fashion would be his final drink. Old Grand Dad, Foro amaro, Faretti biscotti and Nocello make up this play on an old fashion. Chocolate notes are very prominent here, but welcomed, and the drink is garnished with a dark chocolate stick.

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The 'O' Fashion cocktail
The ‘O’ Fashion cocktail

Because we knew that we would be ordering a large number of dishes, we decided to order two items at a time. We began our journey through Olivia’s menu with the garlic bread and meatballs. The garlic bread presentation was very unique and turned out to be the initial selling point. Before deciding on it, we watched a few orders float through the dining room. Slices of a half loaf of bread are lightly toasted and topped with salmoriglio (a flavorful southern Italian condiment typically made with olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, parsley, oregano and salt) and parmesan cheese. Each slice is meticulously stacked and the tower of delectable bread is secured with a toothpick.

Olivia's garlic bread
Olivia’s garlic bread

We were informed ahead of time from a few different sources that the meatballs shouldn’t be overlooked. Three ultra-tender meatballs are served in a shallow pool of pomodoro and topped with fontina fonduta foam and basil. A toasted slice of bread also accompanies the meatballs. Because we had the garlic bread, we didn’t need the extra slice. I recommend ordering these two items together as the garlic bread dipped in the pomodoro makes for a very enjoyable bite.

The meatballs
The meatballs

Like the meatballs, the Tuscan Kale salad was also a suggested plate. This colorful salad’s lineup includes salami, peppers, mozzarella, olives, onion, cucumber, green beans and crispy chickpeas.

Tuscan kale salad
Tuscan Kale salad

The second dish ordered with the salad was the Coccoli Fritto. The name refers to smaller pieces of bread that are fried. Olivia’s rendition is presented with prosciutto, stracchino (a soft cheese), fig jam and truffle honey. The bread was just a touch more chewy than we would have liked and I didn’t find the truffle honey to be necessary, but overall, it’s a crowd-pleasing appetizer.

Coccoli Fritto
Coccoli Fritto

Ordering a pasta dish was a non-negotiable. Deciding on a dish proved to be very difficult as all of the pastas listed sound enticing. I had heard whispers of possible off-menu lasagna prior to our visit to Olivia so inquiring about this was on the forefront of my mind. The lasagna was confirmed as a special that they have been running (with no end in sight – this could land a spot on the menu some day) so we decided to give it a go. Moments after ordering, no less than three orders of this impressive dish were carefully escorted to other tables around us – we knew that we had just made a fabulous decision. When I say that this dish is large and shareable, you must take my word for it. We could have split this lasagna without ordering anything else and still wouldn’t have been able to put a dent in it. The presentation was like that of lasagna rollatini – which simply means lasagna filled with cheese, sauce, etc. that is rolled up and baked.

Oliva's lasagna
Oliva’s lasagna

The Chicken Milanese also arrived to the table with the lasagna. Two crisp and well-prepared fried chicken cutlets are served with goat cheese, lemon butter and a salad of arugula, fennel, peppers, radish, capers and tomatoes. The contrast of the fried chicken with the cool and crisp salad made for a lovely marriage of both rich and zesty flavors.

Chicken Milanese
Chicken Milanese

A large number of pizzas were ordered throughout the duration of our visit, so we decided that we needed to give one a try, even though we were already filling up. Our waitress informed us that each pizza option had lots to be desired, but she recommended the Funghi, Soppressata or the Sausage & Pesto. The Sausage & Pesto was one of our top options, so that was our final answer. Overall, the size of the pizza was manageable but the slices were quite large. The flavors of this pie were very robust with burnt onion creme, spinach, fontina cheese, onions and garlic. We took the majority of it home and it heated up just as good the next day. We are looking forward to trying some other pizzas from their menu, like the Mini Pepperoni and the Soppressata with mozzarella, spicy honey and chili.

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Sausage and pesto pizza at Olivia
Sausage & Pesto pizza at Olivia

Desserts are made in-house, but we simply had no room for them. Enjoying one (or a few) next time is a must. The Tiramisu and the Olive Oil Cake are at the top of my list.

From what I have been told, brunch will soon be offered at Olivia as well starting on April 26th at 10:00AM.

Olivia St. Pete is chef Chris Ponte’s fifth restaurant in the Tampa Bay area. Other locations from him include On Swann, Ponte, Bare Naked Kitchen and of course the original Olivia. I have no doubt in my mind that this newest endeavor will thrive just as the others have – it’s been a difficult reservation to land since day one. Because of this, I recommend reserving a table as soon as possible – you can do this up to 60 days ahead of time. After one meal at Olivia, you will understand why it is already so beloved by the community. A beautiful and tastefully designed restaurant with kind and prompt service, superb food, an extensive wine list, compelling cocktails and atmosphere with relaxed yet uplifting energy – what more does one need?

Olivia
  • Readers Rating
  • Rated 4.5 stars
    4.5 / 5 (12 )
$$$
  • Your Rating


  • Olivia
  • 727-746-9240
  • Italian, Pizza, Modern Italian
    • Mon - Thu 5:00pm - 9:00pm
    • Fri - 5:00pm - 10:00pm
    • Sat - 4:00pm - 10:00pm
    • Sun - 4:00pm - 9:00pm
  • View menu
  • Take Reservations: Yes!
  • 211 1st Ave N., St. Petersburg, Florida 33701, United States

A new restaurant concept bringing traditional Italian cuisine with a modern flare to St. Petersburg.

DISCLAIMER: Kevin, Lori, Abby, Haley, Lindsey & Mahika do not dine anonymously (this would be impossible) and we sometimes get free food (though never expected). However, we dine with the locals and we support our own. You will always get honesty in a respectful manner. We do not include any large national or regional chains in our ratings and reviews. We focus on independent locally owned eateries exclusively.

PLEASE NOTE: Reviews reflect a certain moment in time. Some restaurants stay extremely consistent over many years, and some change for the better or worse. Some things that may change are: chefs, recipes, food suppliers, ingredients, philosophies, ownership, etc. We always hope that you have the same good, or great experience we had.
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