Unsure if the Critic had posted a previous review of Enoteca/Oliva (which fell into the ‘meh’ category), he is putting this latest visit up for your perusal.
Everyone knows Oliva and Enoteca so there’s not much to add to the general knowledge base. Located on the corner of 47 and 54, Enoteca/Oliva is a slightly larger version of the original Oliva everyone raves about. Great Italian food, extensive wine list and, on this occasion the service by Maria was outstanding. She was so pleasant that the Critic forgot about the previous visit some time ago where the server was snooty and somewhat presumptuous in his handling of the Critics’ party.
Hopefully Maria will stay (and get a raise) and whoever the other waiter was will remain where he was on this occasion – happily absent.
Here are a few photos of the food, which was not only excellent but also beautifully presented.
Homemade breadsticks
Merlot
Wine rack overhead
Tuna tartare
Burrata with grilled asparagus
Grilled ‘escolar’ fish from northern Mexico
The always unphotogenic but delicious gnocchi
A stupendous carbonara
It is not easy to take good pictures of food. Hard to get the colors and suble textures quite right (mine end up looking like something my dog would not eat) But you Sir, must be using the “good” camera – not the cell phone like me.
We enjoy Oliva a lot and your photos did the food justice – especially the gnocchi – all the white on white. Excellent.
Maybe you’ll let us know when you go on another food foray. It would be nice for the four of us to get together.It has been a while.
Thank you Joanna!
I tried with the iphone and get only mixed results so now I just whip out the ‘good’ camera, most times with the restaurants permission of course. Some people are sensitive about people photographing their art.
Love to go on a food foray. There are so many good new options in Merida these days!
Para mí oliva es un volado 2 veces me pareció meh y una vez delicioso pero ya no le seguiré dando vueltas a si me gusta o no por qué la última vez estaba lleno y el gerente (un huach de bigote) aclaro no el dueño nos dijo “está muy lleno el restaurante así que les TENDRÉ que dar la mesa vip NORMALMENTE no se las daría, se acaba de quitar Aleks syntek de ahí.” Yo como buena gorda que había estado esperando 35 min ni pensé lo que me dijo solo dije mesa ya dame jaja fue cuando me senté todos en la mesa nos dimos cuenta de l idiotez que nos dijo el tipo pensamos en irnos pero teníamos mucha hambre por eso jamás volveré. jaja has ido a rafaellos? Una pizzería del centro ir ahí parecía un episodio de seinfeld el de “no soup for you” era una pareja totalmente neurótica, gracias a Dios me enteré que rafaelo se había divorciado y suavizado de carácter. le di otra oportunidad y ya la pude disfrutar.
Siii… Rafaelos tiene una excelente pizza!! Y tu descripcion del ambiente es totally accurate. No te sentiste halagada poderte sentar en la misma mesa que Aleks?