If Chef Francis Pascal's name sounds vaguely familiar, this is undoubtedly because he and his wife, Nui, are the proprietors of the immensely popular Birchrunville Store Café. Making its debut in 1999, this charmingly intimate BYOB quickly became critically acclaimed for its sophisticated French-Italian fusion cuisine... L'Olivo Trattoria, the couple's most recent venture, opened for business in October 2025, settling ever-so-comfortably into the space previously occupied by Suburban Brewing Company. L'Olivo, which means The Olive Tree, pays homage to Chef Pascal's Italian roots and his mother's heritage, offering patrons a menu inspired by generations of family recipes and a passion for authentic Italian cuisine. Originally from France, Chef Pascal began his culinary journey with classical French training, later broadening his experience in both France and Italy. In 1989, he brought his culinary expertise to America at the Monte Carlo Living Room in Philadelphia... Joining him as the power behind the stove is Executive Chef Jonathan Amann, formerly of the highly regarded Amani's BYOB in Downingtown. Even without perusing the menu, given the background of the proprietors and the culinary credentials of the dynamic duo holding forth in the kitchen, you can be reasonably certain that the food served at L'Olivo is not going to be typical run-of-the-mill Italian fare. But let me clarify... If your primary predilection leans toward items such as spaghetti & meatballs smothered in marinara, trust me, you have definitely come to the wrong address. The cuisine here is both subtle in approach and sophisticated in style. Culinary creativity is very much in evidence; but it is appetizingly understated, making itself known in an enticing whisper rather than a screeching howl... My dining companion and I lunched here recently and were most impressed. The menu - divided into Antipasto, Salads, Paninis, Pasta, Dessert, and Sides - provided just enough interesting choices to arouse the appetite without befuddling the brain. Since my dining partner loves bread in any way, shape or form, it was no surprise that she went straight for the Mozzarella Stuffed Focaccia garnished with olive oil and fresh herbs. For my part, since I thoroughly enjoy pasta in whatever manifestation it may be presented, the Baked Orecchiette (pictured) pressed all the right buttons. The "little ears" were beguilingly blended with nuggets of pork belly; spatters of spinach, tomato, ricotta, provolone, and mozzarella; and finished with a sprinkling of breadcrumbs. The pasta itself was perfectly al dente, the seasonings superb. A rather straightforward dish, but also quite profound in its simplicity... And utterly delicious. I would hasten to add that, although we did not partake, both the Godfather Burger (smash burger, mortadella, provolone, Calabrian chili aioli, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle on brioche) and the Salmon BLT Burger sounded mighty tempting... Ditto the Grilled Eggplant Panini and Primavera Bucatini (sautéed vegetables, tomato herb broth, house-made bucatini, fresh parmesan). Should you be planning to stop in for lunch, they are certainly worthy of your consideration. In the meantime, my dining companion and I were confronted with a little gastronomic conundrum of our own: choosing dessert(s). The possibilities included a number of the usual suspects - Tiramisu, Cheesecake, Blood Orange Panna Cotta - as well as a tempting Chocolate Crostata (toasted hazelnut tart with salted caramel & chocolate ganache)... Decisions. Decisions... We finally decided to take the down-home route, sharing a Butterscotch Bundt Cake crowned with vanilla gelato. Which, I am happy to add, was a most satisfying conclusion to our afternoon at table. We'll be back for dinner... At which time I will post a complete second review of our dining experience. read more

Absolutely FANTASTIC dining experience! This is a newer restaurant and it's an incredible addition to this area. I live in NYC and it truly was at the level of fine dining Italian in New York. I had the L'olivo to drink, which is their version of a dirty martini. It was strong and tasty. Loved the blue cheese olives! To start, we shared the caesar salad and stuffed figs. Both were incredible! The presentation of the caesar salad was so unique. I would order both again. For my entree, I had the pasta zucca which is their butternut squash pasta. It was next level. I will dream about this! Every flavor combined together perfectly to make the perfect dish. If you like butternut squash, you will love this. We didn't have room for dessert, but I definitely want to try the tiramisu next time. Can't recommend this restaurant more! read more

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I would definitely return to L'Olivo. Food was incredible from a fritto misto--perfectly grilled to the unexpected presentation of the Caesar Salad. Service was on point. A definite must try. read more

L'Olivo checks all the boxes. Outstanding food.....check! Thoughtful and prompt service......check! Pleasant relaxing surroundings.....check! Go for the food, stay awhile for the drinks and ambiance. read more

We discovered L'Olivo Trattoria by chance, and after just one visit, completely fell in love with it. The space is small but beautifully cozy and refined, with such a warm and welcoming atmosphere. We ended up going back twice -- once with friends and once with family -- and everyone absolutely loved both the ambiance and the food. We tried quite a few dishes and honestly enjoyed all of them, but the Fritto Misto and the Baked Orecchiette were especially memorable. You can really feel the care and heart behind the cooking here. Such a lovely little gem that's absolutely worth saving and sharing. read more

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Fantastic hidden gem. Very creative menu and cool vibe. Very attentive service. We will be back!!! read more

L'Olivo Trattoria - Italian Near Me - Exton, Pennsylvania

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We went there for lunch with our daughters, the food was amazing, service was great! The decor is really nice I can't wait to go back in the evening! I'd definitely recommend going there! read more

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Great food, awesome service, really cool atmosphere and experience. I had a blast! I would highly recommend for a celebration of some sort.

The food was outstanding and it's a charming place with very warm welcoming service. I definitely plan to go back.

We have had several dinners and lunches here. The food is excellent. It is not a typical Italian restaurant that sells just pasta and pizza. This is a high end Italian food with a French influence. The service is excellent from the moment you enter to the time you leave. All waiters and waitresses are very attentive to your needs and especially if you have any food allergies. The design of the restaurant offers not a formal ambiance in the dining room and a more casual ambiance in the bar area. The bar is unique and extremely inviting. The bartenders are true mixologists. read more

Second time's the charm -- and then some. Stopped back in at L'Olivo Trattoria in Exton this Sunday, and wow... they're firing on all cylinders just six weeks in. From the warm, welcoming vibe to the flawless service and unforgettable food, it's clear this place is something special. Had the pleasure of chatting with our stellar waiter Tank (formerly of Amani's), who gave us the inside scoop: while you might expect Chefs Francis and Nui to be behind the magic, the head chef is none other than Jonathan Amman -- yes, that Chef Amman, the multi-time "Best Chef in Chester County" from Amani's. With that trio of culinary talent, it's no wonder the menu sings. And sing it did. Appetizer: Tuna Tartare Spring Roll -- not what I expected, but even better. Entrée: Duck Ragu Pasta topped with a Duck Confit Wing -- still dreaming about it. My wife's pick: Pasta Zucca with brown butter, pumpkin & pancetta -- her words: perfection. Cocktail: "Rinse and Repeat" -- made with milked rum (yes, that's a thing) and easily one of the best cocktails I've had in ages. Oh, and they now have their liquor license -- so the full experience is officially unlocked. Pro tip: Make a reservation now. This spot is destined to be the next Birchrunville-level hot ticket. read more

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The food and drinks were outstanding. Excellent service. Beautiful setting. It was a delicious experience!

First timer. These guys got everything right. No, fantastic. After reading the reviews I dined with great expectations. They were far exceeded in every way. Greeted by a lovely, smiling hostess. Once tableside, our server HUGH ( not Rachel, lol) introduced himself and explained menu items in great depth. I ended up getting ALL of his recommendations. He was excellent. Most professional, pleasant, and helpful server I ever had! Now for the food: Caesar salad is like no other. A wow. Guests had canneloni, lamb, pork chop- all given a 10. Eggplant appy just great. Dessert- had the recommended butterscotch bundt with gelato- we are still talking about it! Very upbeat ambiance. I was reluctant at first to leave such a glowing review. However, they earned every word of it. Happy to return often with my friends and family. WELL DONE. read more

Birchrunville Cafe may be my fave restaurant so I was excited to go here. The food was fabulous. The wine was as well. Not cheap but delicious and the service was great as well. read more

Great service. Started with the Cesar salad which is very similar to Birchrunville only bigger easily split between two people. We also split a focaccia bread special that was very good and also very filling. We got the sirloin special with polenta which was cooked perfect and the seafood crepe which was interesting but very rich with bisque around it and cheese. The crepe was filled with all kinds of seafood including big whole pieces of calamari. It was our anniversary and we forgot they were byob and they brought us complimentary glasses of wine. Overall excellent meal! read more

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Stopped in a second time. New favorite place. Really great service and fantastic food. Will be back. Enjoy! read more

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I've been here multiple times and it never disappoints. The drinks are 10/10 the bartenders always recommend the best drinks. I've only had the fries but they were immaculate. I will definitely be coming back! read more

This new upscale, Italian restaurant is superb. The appetizers, the primi, the secondi and the desserts all rate a ten. The service and atmosphere are equally impeccable and this gem in the Eagleview Town Center in Exton shouldn't be missed. The calamari, the pastas, the lamb, the branzino all were delicious as was the panna cotta AND the coffee, which is a big gauge for me. read more

Food was fabulous, service outstanding and the atmosphere was lively and pleasant. The cocktails were very special. Highly recommend it for a date night. The rack of lamb was my favorite. read more

My wife and I enjoyed a wonderful dinner at L'Olivio to celebrate her birthday. The ambience is upscale. the design provided a relatively quiet space, despite the fact that it was crowded. Usually my ears ring in crowded places, but I didn't experience that at L'Olivio. The bar has an extensive selection of wines and liquors. We enjoyed a fairly priced glass at the bar before transitioning to the dining area. The staff was consistently attentive, from the greeting to bartender to our waiter and bussers, they focused on making sure we were comfortable. We started with focaccia, and a pancetta appetizer that were each very tasty. Our waiter, Hugh, made recommendations from the menu that hit the mark. I had duck breast served over a parsnip puree that was quite tasty. My wife had a bolognese pasta dish that she raved about. We finished with panna cotta and cheesecake desserts that were creative and delicious. It was nice to have a restaurant meal that tasted fresh instead of being reheated or flash cooked. The price was fair for a really great meal. I've certainly paid more for lower quality meals in this area. read more