Review on Olivetto Cafe and Lounge Karachi - The new name in Italian & French Cuisine

Today’s post is all about Olivetto Cafe and Lounge – a restaurant in Clifton, Block 4 offering Italian, French and Mediterranean cuisine. This was my second trip to the eatery and opting for lunch, I was quite surprised to find the place almost deserted. It may not have come as a surprise had the restaurant not been offering its Fall / Winter Lunch Special for Rs. 699 (exclusive of tax) per head.

Divided into two distinct portions, the eatery accommodates a formal dining area as well as a lounge. The lounge, with a seating capacity of around twenty eight (28) people, is an informal, richly furnished but a congested and rather masculine room. Embellished with dark wood paneled walls, brown leather sofas, a bookshelf, mini bar, LCD TV and almost no sunlight, the Lounge is better suited for a casual outing with friends. The menu offers snacks such as burgers, lasagna, chicken strips etc. and a choice of mocktails, specialty coffees and deserts.

On the other hand, the formal dining area which can house around fifty five (55) diners is more spacious and well lighted. Decorated simply with dark brown louvered windows, wooden furniture and numerous paintings on the walls, the interior is furnished in very clean and uncluttered lines. 

Olivetto - Formal Dining Area

The place though lacks a creative touch and a much needed burst of color. The cream colored walls especially look dreary and can do with some brightening up. The flowers too, a pale white gladiolus per table, were wilting and looked at least two days old. But in spite of these shortcomings, the restaurant oozes a calm and comforting warmth mainly due to the sunlight streaming through the gorgeous and classic louvered windows and minimal use of artificial lighting. If you happen to go at night, you won’t be disappointed either with the dimly lit, cozy and inviting interior.   

Since the lunch deal offered a limited selection, we decided to order from the main menu. While rummaging through it, one couldn’t help but notice the spiral bound menu with its pale lemon pages and sketches of olive branches in each corner. Not a conventional color choice for a fine dining restaurant’s menu, but a refreshing change from the overused contemporary browns, blacks and whites preferred by most eateries today. I would have termed it as a great menu had it not been for the several typos in the content.

While we were deciding what to order, the complimentary bread basket arrived. Packed with olive bread, rolls and bread sticks and served with herb garlic butter and a dip of extra virgin olive oil swirled with balsamic vinegar, the bread basket was simply divine. The olive bread and rolls were hot, fresh and soft whereas the bread sticks had just the right amount of crunch. The herb garlic butter made it all the more delicious but the olive oil and balsamic vinegar dip was sour and very oily so it may not be for everyone’s palate. The serving size of the basket is ideal for two people but since it wasn’t enough for our table, we requested a second helping which the staff was more than happy to provide.

Bread Basket

For soup, we ordered the Seafood Chowder priced at Rs. 395 (exclusive of tax). Served piping hot in individual bowls, the Seafood Chowder was a creamy stew rich with prawns, small chopped carrots, butter, parsley and small chunks of potatoes. It was delicious and tasted and smelt like the sea. 

Seafood Chowder

It would have been near perfect if the potato chunks had not been used in overabundance and a shallow and wider bowl been used to serve the soup. This is usually the norm when serving thick and hearty soups as it allows the heat to distribute quickly. Also, a shallower bowl would have given the perception of a fuller serving. If you notice in the picture, the soup bowl looks only half full. This is not because the quantity of the soup is less but that the bowl is too large for one serving. Such disproportionate plating is not only unappealing but also gives the diner the perception of a smaller serving and low value for money.

For the main course, we ordered the Spicy Hamour (priced at Rs. 850 exclusive of tax) and the Steak au Poivre with Pepper Sauce (priced at Rs. 865 exclusive of tax). The pan fried homour (with the skin on), served upon a bed of potato wedges, was moist and cooked to perfection.

Spicy Hamour

The fish itself was bland but its skin was seasoned with a rich spicy sauce of olive oil, garlic and fresh herbs which helped to make up for the lack of spice to some extent. The green capsicum, cherry chilis (cherry tomato), pimento (red cherry pepper) and capers (a pickled green olive-like Mediterranean condiment) served on the side were cooked just right and enlivened the taste of the zesty dish. The plating was creative, very colorful and well thought out. I must have visited at least ten (10) new restaurants this past year and I can easily say that I have yet to see such brilliant and organized plating. The helping along with the potato wedges was generous and good enough for one person.

Cherry Chilis, Green Capsicum, Capers and Pimento

The Steak au Poivre with Pepper Sauce, a pounded tenderloin steak, had a liberal serving with sautéed carrots, shallots and asparagus along with mash pot (mashed potatoes) on the side. Cooked medium well-done, the steak was delectable with every morsel bursting with flavor but was dry and could have been more succulent.

Steak au Poivre with Pepper Sauce

For drinks, we ordered the Shikanjabeen priced at Rs. 175 (exclusive of tax) which was pure ambrosia. Bountiful serving, icy cold and minty fresh with a dash of black pepper, Olivetto’s Shikanjabeen is a must try! 

Shikanjabeen

For dessert, we ordered the Italian Bread Pudding with caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream (priced at Rs. 345). Unfortunately, our choice turned out to be an utter disappointment because the bread pudding was hard and the caramel sauce too sweet – to the point of being bitter. The tuile on top looked disproportionate, awkward and too big for the overall size of the dessert.  Suffice to say that we could not bring ourselves to finish the dish.

Italian Bread Pudding with Caramel Sauce and Vanilla Ice Cream

The service was efficient and quick and though the waiters were attentive and gracious, they seemed a bit inexperienced. I say this because the serving staff during the evenings is very seasoned, confident and well trained. They are also very eager to talk to patrons and know what they think about the food, irrespective of how busy the restaurant maybe at that particular time.

Hit or miss? A hit!

Olivetto Cafe and Lounge is one of those restaurants that always take me to my happy place. The diverse menu, flavorsome dishes, exquisite plating and serene ambiance offers something for everyone. A place worth a visit!  

Go for it if you:

1. Are into Italian and French cuisine
2. Want the choice of sitting in a casual lounge or a formal dining area
3. Prefer restaurants with ample parking space

Don’t go for it if you:

1. Find the per head cost (with tax) of Rs. 1,800 – Rs. 2,200 unreasonable 
2. Prefer restaurants with valet parking

Rating

• Ambiance: 4/5
• Service: 4/5
• Value: 4/5
• Presentation of Dishes: 4.5/5
• Seafood Chowder: 4.5/5
• Spicy Hamour: 3.5/5
• Steak au Poivre: 4/5
• Shikanjabeen: 5/5
• Italian Bread Pudding: 2.5/5

My overall rating for Olivetto Cafe and Lounge Karachi is 4/5.

Have you been there yet? How was your experience?

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