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All Reader Reviews of...

Todd English's Olives New York

201 Park Ave. South, New York, NY, 10003
at 17th St.
212-353-8345

Avg. Rating

8
Food: 8
Service: 8
Décor: 8
"Recommended"

Average Reader Rating on a Scale of 10.

78% would go back.

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Must shout to be heard

By MMMadison on 10/10/2011

  • Overall Rating: 7
  • Food: 8
  • Service: 4
  • Décor: 7
  • No, I would not go back!

Delicious food (prosciutto and fig flatbread is a must). Never, ever, agree to be seated at the tables directly below the bar -- the ones shown below the wood railing in the photo posted here. The bar was packed; the patrons were among the loudest and most annoying I've encountered in the city. The restaurant must do something to combat the noise pollution from the bar that infiltrates the dining room. You must shout to be heard by your dining companions sitting 18 inches away. I enjoy lingering over dinner but, once seated, it took nearly 45 minutes for our order to be taken and 2.5 hours for one shared app. and three entrees...no dessert or coffee service. I'd go again if I had an entire evening and could sit far, far away from the bar.

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35 out of 63 people found this review helpful.

Good food, fun atmosphere but a little noisy in the lobby.

By FiDo on 12/24/2010

  • Overall Rating: 8
  • Food: 8
  • Service: 8
  • Décor: 9
  • Yes, I would go back!

This tends to be a tourist-and-expense-account restaurant. Locals tend to avoid its "chain restaurant" reputation, which is too bad because the food is actually quite good. Attached to the W Hotel in Union Square, which is the most comfortable of all the unfortunately situated W's in NYC, it's easy to get to (Union Sq. subway) and walkable to all kinds of destinations (SoHo, Village, Grand Central). Flatbread pizzas and fish are highlights, and the red meat selections can be gorgeous. Noise can he high outside the bar in the lounge area of the hotel, so if you plan on hanging around after work, keep that in mind and get there earlier. Best place to sit in the restaurant is at the booths in the back. The chairs have a reputation for being uncomfortable but they aren't that bad.

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39 out of 71 people found this review helpful.

Will never go back to OLIVES in NY.

By peterpan on 10/29/2009

  • Overall Rating: 1
  • Food: 1
  • Service: 1
  • Décor: 1
  • No, I would not go back!

Overall: terrible experience.,LOUD, DARK,STIFF CHAIR. Food:greasy, salty,not even par. Service: slow, cold, arrogant. Decor: cheap, art decor wannna be.. Value: no value whatsoever, there are tons of Italian restaurant in the city ,WHY BOTHER going there to get yourself a headache?

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86 out of 161 people found this review helpful.

DeliCious !

By stephaniecrogers on 9/7/2009

  • Overall Rating: 10
  • Food: 10
  • Service: 10
  • Décor: 8
  • Yes, I would go back!

Recently took a trip to NYC - and this restaurant was on our list along with some other TOP restaurants. This is a very chic hotel and the restaurant is as well EXCEPT for their chairs. No complaints whatsoever with the food, it was actually great but we had to ask for new chairs and the server told us they didn't have any other chairs, instead he brought us "pillows." The server stated that alot of customers complain about the chairs. The only complaint I have, to be such a nice restaurant and the prices aren't exactly cheap, can't they afford a bit more comfy chairs !!!

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71 out of 140 people found this review helpful.

Awesome

By Jstlookather on 6/3/2009

  • Overall Rating: 10
  • Food: 10
  • Service: 10
  • Décor: 6
  • Yes, I would go back!

One of the nights in NY we ate at Olives. Very chic' decor and atmosphere but the upmost uncomfortable chairs we have ever sat in. Waiter brought us pillows to sit in. Had the Chef tasting menu-wonderful and tried items we would not of ever tasted ! Try it and you will love it, just ask for a pillow.

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63 out of 143 people found this review helpful.

Excellent food/service/atmosphere

By PaulaNYC on 9/11/2008

  • Overall Rating: 10
  • Food: 10
  • Service: 10
  • Décor: 10
  • Yes, I would go back!

I just attended a business dinner at Olives, and was pleasantly surprised by the delicious meal that was served. My salmon entree was excellent, and the tiramasu was light and full of flavor. My collegues raved about the delicate texture of the pasta as well. Highly recommended!!

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76 out of 152 people found this review helpful.

5 star restaurant

By billyyao on 6/3/2007

  • Overall Rating: 10
  • Food: 10
  • Service: 10
  • Décor: 10
  • Yes, I would go back!

i hv been to many of todd english's restaurant both in boston and new york.this one,which i visit at least once or twice a month, i hv to say, yummy too. the bar is good and comfortable, big portion of drinks everytime . the waiters are polite, always curteous and let u take ur time to order,not pushy or make u feel u better hurry up to order or like some other restaurants the waiter always says " everything is good today,sir" and push u to order the most expansive dish. i understand english always write his own menu, hv it test and test many times before put it out for the customer. their bread and dessert is also top quality and delicious. as for the price? just average, anyone complain about the charges? simply been CHEAP!!!!!!!! all in all, this is the kind of restaurant u can always take a date or a business friend to enjoy a good meal. go todd.

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278 out of 641 people found this review helpful.

Ripped Off

By debrastjean on 3/16/2007

  • Overall Rating: 4
  • Food: 5
  • Service: 1
  • Décor: 5
  • No, I would not go back!

We have eaten several times at this restaurant - always with mixed feelings, but as guests at the W Hotel Union Square it's convenient. The greeting is almost always aloof. Today we had lunch... another ho hum checkin and a so-so table. Ordered off the market menu which is a pre-fixe at 24.95 giving you a choice of appetizers, a main and desert. I ordered two appetizers instead of a main and no desert. We were charged 26.00 for the two items, which is MORE expensive than had I ordered the pre-fixe! When we asked our waiter to discuss this with the manager she refused to budge - even though it was on principal with us for just 2.00!!!! How foolish. We're finally tired of the attitude. It's completely senseless to not see the logic in making the two items which were on the pre-fixe total less than 24.95!!! Very BAD management I'm afraid.

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329 out of 743 people found this review helpful.

Terrible experience

By otime on 10/6/2006

  • Overall Rating: 3
  • Food: 3
  • Service: 1
  • Décor: 8
  • No, I would not go back!

judging by the positive rating I tried this restaurant. Nobody attended our party upon arrival even though we had made a reservation. Once seated, we didn't know who our waiter was until I asked several times for some attention. The food was below par for a restaurant such as this. The music is trying to make the atmosphere hip but only managed to make it obnoxious resulting in a headache. Last but not least, we were charged 18% service charge for a party of 4. I am assuming they want to make sure of a certain tip because I surely would not have given our waiter 15% - if that! They don't deserve the rating they are presently getting. What a lousy standard and what a lousy restaurant.

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348 out of 737 people found this review helpful.

The Olive"s N.Y. experience

By jaymay on 6/3/2005

  • Overall Rating: 10
  • Food: 10
  • Service: 10
  • Décor: 10
  • Yes, I would go back!

My dining experience at Olive's was outstanding! From the warm greeting at the door upon arrival, to the sincere wish for a "good-night" on my way out, I truly felt like a welcome guest. The staff was not only knowledgable and professional, but friendly ( without being cloying or intrusive ) and so instinctive. I never had to ask for a thing, my needs were always anticipated. The food was, in a word, AMAZING! So beautifully executed not only in flavor, but also in presentation, sheer perfection. I highly recomend the tasting menu option. It will of course vary from day to day, season to season, but such a unique way to sample in one evening all that the chefs have to offer! ( and a fantastic value for the money spent ) Tortelli of butternut squash, tuna tartar, and the duck entree, are stellar as well! ( I sampled these on subsequent visits! ) My only word of caution to any futrure diners; DON'T GO NUTS ON THE BREAD !! It is so-o-o delicious, that it is tempting to order more, but control yourself, or you won't have any room for the stupendous food! RUN DON'T WALK to this establishment!

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331 out of 693 people found this review helpful.

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