Oliveto

Oliveto is a lovely Italian restaurant just off Concord Road overlooking Parramatta River. 

The beautiful restaurant has a warm atmosphere and is elegantly lit, even at night. 

There's ample parking on site which makes it very convenient to visit. 

Oliveto is a lovely Italian restaurant just off Concord Road overlooking Parramatta River. 

The beautiful restaurant has a warm atmosphere and is elegantly lit, even at night. 

There's ample parking on site which makes it very convenient to visit. 

Calamaretti Fritti - Fried baby calamari, semi dried tomatoes, chilli, garlic

Our entree was a very generous serving of salt and pepper calamari. As my dining companion and I were sharing the entrée, the waiter divided and served the portions to our plates. The addition of the semi-dried tomatoes and basil that were fried with the calamari gave a distinct and unique flavour to the dish.  The squid itself was superbly fresh and didn't have that rubbery consistency that you can often find with squid.  

The batter was light, salty and crispy, and a spritz of lemon juice really rounded everything off. 

It was a great start to the meal.

Pappardelle, Ragu di Agnello, Piselli, Menta, Capralpina (Pappardelle, lamb ragu, peas, mint, capralpina cheese)

The pappardelle was wonderfully fresh, distinguished by an eggy flavour and it was cooked precisely aldente. As beautiful as this dish was, it lacked a little in flavour. The veal was tender but a little bland overall and although the mint and cheese added a bit of taste and texture it was a bit of a boring dish.

Pancia Di Miale, Radicchio, Sedano, Cavolo Rosso E Mela (Pork belly, radicchio, celery, red cabbage, apple salad)

The pork belly was beautifully presented, with a thin piece of crackling balancing between the puree and the apple. 

The pork itself was gorgeously tender but a little dry and bland on the inside. The accompanying sauce was really rich and complemented the dish, i only wished there was a little more. The puree was silky and smooth which went beautifully with the apple and added a bit of change between the crunch of the crackling and silverbeet. Overall the dish was okay, however it was a little bit of a let down when the pork was just that little bit too dry. 

Millefoglie Crema Di Marscapone E Fragoline - (Millefoglie, vanilla mascarpone, marinated strawberries)

The dessert was as pretty as a picture, with the addition of Turkish fairy floss making it look like something from a fantasy.  

I love the combination of strawberries and cream, and as difficult as this dish was to pronounce, it was hard to fault. It was certainly my favourite dish of the night. The strawberies were lovely and sweet combined with the smooth mascarpone. The puff pastry added a contrasting crunchy texture and buttery flavour.  

Oliveto is a great little restaurant and although we were a little disappointed in our mains, the entree and desserts started and finished the night on a high note. The staff were very friendly and continually professional throughout the evening. The restaurant is in a nice location surrounded by parklands and the dining settings are beautifully presented. The acoustics however can make for a noisy atmosphere.. Nevertheless, we enjoyed our evening at Oliveto with the knowledgeable staff and good food. 

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