Bellaviva Food Club-Olives

“Good Food with Good Friends”

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Contemporary Italian

137 North Market St, Frederick, MD 21701


	Reviewed: August 14, 2011

The four members of Bellaviva Food Club met for dinner at 7 pm on Sunday, August 14, 2011. We were greeted immediately and led to one of the 24 tables in the dining room. The tables are elegantly appointed with white tablecloths, dark red cloth napkins, tea candles, and fresh flowers in colorful vases. The décor is elegant with white walls that feature contemporary hand-painted murals. Soft music playing in the background added to the relaxed, elegant feel of the restaurant. A bar with seating for 12 is located on one side of the room. Our waiter was attentive and polite. He brought our drink orders immediately and took time to read the daily specials.

Olives’ wine menu features several wines organized by category: sparkling wines, light and fruity whites, rich and complex whites, fruity and soft reds, and dessert wines. Wines are available by the glass ($5 - $10) or bottle ($19 - $62). Several beers and a variety of soft drinks are also available. The dinner menu is divided into 6 main categories: antipasti, primi (pasta and seafood dishes), secondi (entrees), salads, hand-tossed pizzas, and paninis. The primi selections range in price from $13 - $18 and the secondi selections range from $16 to $25. There is a separate kids’ menu with dishes such as pasta, grilled cheese, and grilled chicken breast that range from $6 to $8. Rob selected gnochetti con verdure primavera, one of the primi selections, for his dinner. This dish consists of potato dumplings with spring vegetables and parmigiano. Jamie ordered the bisteca alla Lombardia, a grilled beef tenderloin with gorgonzola cheese and chianti reduction. Catey chose the cappesante con le nocciole (sea scallops with hazelnut lemon butter sauce). JJ’s selected the involtini di melanzane (eggplant rolls with ricotta, spinach, parmigiano, and tomato sauce). Jamie, Catey, and JJ selected dishes from the secondi menu and all were served with 2 sides: orzo with peas and roasted baby carrots.

Our server was attentive and polite. However, he neglected to light the candle on our table so we lit it ourselves. It took some time for him to return so that we could order drink refills. Our meals arrived in a timely fashion and he came to check on our satisfaction with the food after a few minutes. After we made a request for bread for the table, he brought fresh bread with rosemary olive oil for dipping. After we finished our entrees, JJ decided to order from the dessert menu. His limoncello cheesecake was beautifully presented with a swirl of strawberry sauce. The portion was sizeable and allowed for sharing. Our visit to Olives was very enjoyable overall and we plan to visit again soon.

Cappesente con le nocciole - Catey

Involtini di melanzane– JJ

Bisteca alla Lombardia- Jamie

Gnochetti con verdure primavera - Rob

	JJ	Rob	Catey	Jamie
Ambience	5	5	4.5	3.5
Ambience	The candles, murals, and square white dishes are modern and classy. The restaurant also has a relaxed and homey feel.	There is a relaxed feeling that invites diners to linger over dinner, wine, or dessert. The room combines elements of the historical building with modern touches.	The restaurant looks contemporary and upscale. It is a great place to gather with one or more friends for a relaxed dinner.	The low lighting and fresh flowers contribute to the pleasant atmosphere. The ceiling in the restaurant detracts from an otherwise elegant room.
Food	4	4.5	4.5	5
Food	The eggplant rolls were rich and cheesy. The dish had a good texture and I liked how the ingredients blended together to complement each other.	The fresh, al dente vegetables were a perfect balance with the gnocchetti. The portion was just right for me.	The scallops were fresh and the sauce and the hazelnuts balanced the dish without overwhelming it. The sauce was very light and did not have much flavor to it.	The meat was perfectly cooked to rare. The flavorful gorgonzola and chianti reduction were great complements to the steak. I enjoyed the side dish of orzo and peas, although I would have liked more peas on my portion.
Total Per Diner	4.5	4.75	4.5	4.25
Overall Avg. Score and Rating	4.5


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