I've eaten in hundreds of restaurants over my 70 years and this one had the worst service I have ever had. The waitress was given tables downstairs and upstairs. It made it impossible to provide us with basic service. We waited 30 min to be offered coffee and dessert. Needless to say we passed on it. BTW The food was excellent but I won't be going back. read more

Ste at Olivadis with family last night. Frank was our server and was delightful. Food was tasty. Desserts were delicious. Nice atmosphere. read more

Olivadi - Crème Brûlée - Italian Near Me - Norwood, Massachusetts

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Wonderful, friendly spot. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, and the staff are absolutely lovely. The food was great, and we loved chatting with other guests at the bar. We'll definitely be back! read more

Olivadi - Prosecco - Italian Near Me - Norwood, Massachusetts

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Great Italian dishes, including pizza and a wonderful service experience in a cozy neighborhood setting!

Menu totally different from web site . Second time there .First time great ,second time not so good.

Such an amazing experience every time I go there!! The food is delicious and the staff is very welcoming! There is a variety of great drinks and it's lovely to sit at the bar! read more

The hostess took us to a table, it was not a table. She brought us to a random room and left us there then we came back and then the other girl took us to a real table. Then my dad got pissed after his gnocchi came out raw and he had a bad mood for the rest of the night. Not fun. read more

The ambiance and decor is lovely. A very pretty setting to have dinner! We were seated in the front room of the bar, not the dining room. It looked like the main dining room was not in use this evening, which made for a bustling (and a wee bit noisy) atmosphere. Our waiter was super friendly and helpful! I opted to order the baked Chicken special with brussel sprouts and squash puree which was absolutely DELISH and quite pretty! I had not been to Olivadi in a few years, and to be perfectly honest, the last time I ate there my meal was sub-par. However, last night's experience and dinner were GREAT. I will be back for sure. read more

We had a great evening- food was excellent and service, as always, top notch. Appreciate the beautiful dining room (though I notice the bar is always packed!) So glad this place reopened after the pandemic closure. read more

Fun early dinner with the family. Vivienne, our waitress, was great. Very attentive and was nice and interacted with our kids. We ordered the lobster and shrimp special as I was really in the mood for vodka sauce and rigatoni. My wife ordered the salmon and we also got a kids cheese pizza. All were good. I just wasn't blown away. My pasta had a good flavor but the plate just felt slapped together. The salmon also has good flavor but had some dried out areas. The pizza was good. My black Manhattan was awesome and was my favorite part of the meal. Overall it was pretty pricey for the value but I'm trying to adjust inflation and such into all this as we haven't gone out to restaurants locally very much lately ha. Would we go back? Sure. read more

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Beautiful hydrangea bushes line the sides of this contemporary Italian restaurant serving up delicious food & beautiful ambiance with fast friendly service. Recommend the arancini served with pesto & the wings of Sicily for appetizers. The gnocchi served with fresh basil & margarita pizza are my favorite e tree options. Location currently closed on Sunday & Monday. Street parking available. read more

Olivadi - Olivadi Entrance - Italian Near Me - Norwood, Massachusetts

We had a great time, with service and food and setting all contributing. The reservation system Resy was not easy, but the staff were helpful and responsive. Then our plans changed (more people!), and Olivadi seamlessly changed our reservation to a larger table on a few days' notice. We get there, and ask for a different table (quieter, more light), and once again, Olivadi staff were there to adjust everything for us. Hogan was a super server, the other people who helped at the table were cheerful and friendly, and the food was delicious. This is not a cheap place, and our experience reinforces my idea that you get what you pay for. This was quality, and superb value. We will come back and encourage you to try it, too. read more

Service and Ambiance very nice. I have been here 3 times recently and was disappointed 2/3. I cook so I understand food service. I wonder if they need more help in the kitchen, the place is very busy. Did the chef change? Previous time I had the pork chop and it was perfect and displayed perfectly. The previous Cesar salad was fresh, crunchy romaine with tasty parm. This time my Cesar salad was very! soggy not fresh. The cheese looked liked the end pieces,overall it looked like it had been sitting around. The meatballs were cold! but tasty in hot sauce. Microwaved? This time my pork chop was way undercooked. The squash looked plunked down too fast on the plate with pieces of green Swiss chard in it. The Swiss chard way too crunchy. It needed a few more minutes of sautéing. I really want to like this place, but I need consistency. When it first reopened it was much better. I didn't want to send things back or complain as I was with a group. read more

My friend and I were seated promptly on a Wednesday night in the bar area. We had a lovely mother and son duo take care of us. I believe it was Jose and his mom's name escapes me, however she was wonderful too. I had the MISTA salad and asked for a few items on the side, my salad was delivered to me perfectly and it was delicious!! I then ordered the salmon for my main meal with a side a garlicky broccoli rabe. SO YUMMY!! I ordered roasted fingerling potatoes, thinking I was going to need them with the Salmon. I ordered too much, however am excited to have my leftovers today for lunch! My friend had the Caesar salad, delicious and the gnocchi ...loved it. On another note, my dirty martini was made to perfection! I will definitely recommend Olivadi and will be back again soon. Thank you Jose! read more

I had a takeout for dinner and it was to die for! Everything we ordered came out so perfect and me and my children truly enjoyed the food. Everything was cooked to its perfection and the food brought us so much joy. If you are looking for a fantastic meal, I highly recommend Olivadi! It us so fresh, perfect and loved the basil and olive dip for the bread as well!! read more

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No... just was not good. Calamari tough..served a bunch of shells with my linguini with clams. Awful. Food isn't worthy of the price. Too expensive for what they have to offer. Miss the old Olivadi. read more

I went by here tonight and Olivadi is open for business. I've been here many times before they closed, and always had a great dinner I plan to dine here soon and will give a review. read more

disappointing. we were seated in a small room off the bar area. it was very noisy making it hard to carry a conversation. on a trip to the ladies room I noticed that the main dining room was almost empty. I ordered the clams with linguine. dish had 3 clamsin a shell and the rest were chopped up in the pasta. as I was eating my dish I noticed that there literally no sauce on the linguine. I guess the kitchen forgot to add it. service was slow. read more

Lovely waitress went above and beyond to make up for just a small issue- we were seated but not known about for abit. Delicious breads with a green garlic goddess sauce, a flavorful risotto with shrimp and three mini cannolis completed my meal. My partner had the rib eye which was covered with mushroom au jus- and said it was great & the leftover steak reheated remarkably well read more

Olivadi - Risotto with Shrimp - Italian Near Me - Norwood, Massachusetts

Met a friend here for dinner tonight and was blown away! I am a picky Italian, and the gnocchi was one of the best I've ever had! Extremely light and "fluffy" with a complimentary sauce! We had an incredible Charcuterie board that I was too hungry to take a picture for, and scarfed down. We sat at the bar, and the bartenders were extremely attentive and hospitable. All around, a five star experience! Without a doubt I will be back! read more

Olivadi - Incredible gnocchi- light and "fluffy" with a complimentary sauce - Italian Near Me - Norwood, Massachusetts

Exceptional experience! I had the papardelle as an entree and it was delicious! The d'orato was the best Aperol spritzer I've ever had. Meredith took great care and was attentive without being overbearing. We really enjoyed dinner and will definitely be back! read more

Olivadi - Date night! - Italian Near Me - Norwood, Massachusetts

Nice quiet place to meet up with friends to have good food and wine. We enjoyed the meatballs and wings for appetizers. For entrees we enjoyed the bolognese sauce and the il tonino pizza. Everything was very good and we know this will be the place for our next gathering. read more

On May 5, 2023 I had the opportunity to revisit in Olivadi with some friends. We were seated near the bar on a high top. The atmosphere was exactly what we were looking for. The Celtics were on and it just loud enough to drown out everyone else's convo For appetizers we ordered the scallops on potato pancakes (it has a wonderful fancy name that I cannot think of), and the Arancini. The scallops were the best I've had in at least five years! They were seared to perfection, not sautéed and rubbery. The arancini were perfectly fried balls of rice. Crunchy on the outside, stuffed and flavorful on the inside. For dinner all three of my friends got the chicken Parmesan which they raved about, crunchy and thin, with a sauce that was not too sweet. I got the special, it was a swordfish on the most delicious roasted veggie risotto. The swordfish was also cooked perfectly. I hate dried out fish. So glad we went back! read more

Olivadi - Espresso Martini - Italian Near Me - Norwood, Massachusetts

I haven't been to this restaurant for many years and remember it being exceptional in every way! Visited last night and was really disappointed in the paisano pizza. Hardly any toppings and super dried out. It was similar to breadsticks in it's texture. My friend got the margaritas and it didn't look any better. I was debating on getting the saltimbocca and picked the pizza because it looked amazing in it's description, but was extremely disappointed. It was literally the worst pizza I've ever had. My rating is an average of my past experiences and last night. If it was just last night, would have been a 1. Our server was very good, attentive and accommodating. I will return and avoid the pizzas. read more

I would say the food and the service are very good. We came here for the first time after having a bad experience in another Italian restaurant in Norwood. We can't complain. Food is always fresh, the hostesses are pleasant and make you feel welcomed. Thank you! read more

We chose Olivadi for our daughter's wedding reception based on three things: 1. Private room, 2. Vegetarian options, and 3. Close to public transportation. Olivadi excelled! The planning process was so helpful and eliminated lots of stress. (I'll spare readers every detail.) The reception was in the Ariana Room, so we had a private room, bar and bathrooms. The staff was beyond amazing! Devin, the manager, was there to oversee the event. The staff were attentive, friendly and made everyone feel welcome. The food was so good! We started with a selection of appetizers and pizzas, all met with raves. As for dinner, one guest was impressed with the amount of meat in the Pappardelle Bolognese. Those who had the Salmon raved about the freshness. The Rigatoni ala Norma had guests practically face-down in their bowls. The Pollo al Limone was perfection. And we are so glad we put the Olivadi Burger on our menu, as those who ordered it loved it. Cannot say enough good things about Olivadi and how they hit on all aspects: food, service, planning, atmosphere, and follow-up. Cannot thank them enough for being part of this special day! read more

Perfect date night restaurant. We loved the service. The arancini for appetizer and the risotto and chicken parm were wonderful And we appreciate getting a nice bread basket with dip; some restaurants cut that out after the pandemic Nice atmosphere and good acoustics on the big enclosed porch--ie not too noisy Shared flan for dessert Highly recommended! read more

I'm going to say this about this restaurant my wife and I go once to twice a month the wait staff and my favorite bartender and the chef always comes out of the kitchen to serve patrons and one of my favorite chef Joe. read more

Host was extremely nice and accommodating. The food was delicious and prompt. we got the Scampi, risotto and chicken parmigiana-everything was a good portion size, hot and had great flavor! Can't wait to return. read more

-calamari app disappointing, extremely rubbery -tagliatelle alla bolognese low on flavor, small portion -pappardelle ai funghi very soupy, sauce did not stick to pasta, low on flavor -overall, a Disappointment read more

I wanted to love it here! Service was fantastic. Ryan the bartender was friendly, knowledgeable and easy to chat with. Everyone we encountered was excellent and friendly. Service was fast and polite. Restaurant is incredibly clean and cute inside. The gnocchi was just too chewy and fully dry all the way through: rest of the meal was ok. I'd certainly give them another try knowing they reopened not too long ago. read more

We stopped in on a weeknight for our first visit and will definitely be back. We had an appetizer, entrees and dessert! The arancini were great. I got the chicken parm, which was very well made, and my date was very happy with the mushroom pasta dish. Cannoli were fresh-filled. The prices were reasonable given other local places of similar caliber. Our server was very friendly as were the people who brought out and cleared the plates. All in all, a good find. read more

My husband and I went in here a few months ago for the first time. We sat at the bar and ordered the scallops, meatballs, chicken Parmesan and Caesar salad they were GREAT! The bartender Dawn was so incredibly accommodating and friendly! Her drinks were delicious. But her service is what brings us back! I highly recommend sitting at the bar with Dawn and having one of her delicious drinks with your dinner. read more

If I could give more stars I would. I had my daughters baby shower there and it was fantastic. We had the whole restaurant to ourselves. AnnMarie did a great job putting ever detail together for us. Marvin , the bar manager was so attentive and pleasant . Best Bloody Mary's and Mimosa's in town. The food was perfect, chicken parm and roast pork was a hit as was the cannoli's for dessert. My husband and I come here for dinner often and I think it's the best Italian food in Norwood. Thank you all for making my daughter's baby shower so special! read more

Olivadi - Baby shower at Olivadi's - Italian Near Me - Norwood, Massachusetts

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Not the restaurant it was before it closed. Completely different menu. Service is not as great. Missing all the greats from the previous menu and smaller menu. Chicken parm was just ok. Salads were good. This used to be our go to Italian Restaurant anywhere near Norwood. read more

Great waitress I enjoyed the food and sangria was out of this world,, comfortable seating lovely space ..The staff was very welcoming will definitely return for summer late nite run .. I say try it the food serving perfect read more

Olivadi (named after a town in the Calabria region of Italy---near the bottom of the "boot") is at least as much an experience as a restaurant. Its unique quality revolves around the special way we have been made to feel, every time we visit (even if we have been away for an extended period of time), in addition to the excellent food, extensive wine list, and impeccable service. In the two or more years since we discovered this place, hidden on a side street in the middle of Norwood, the atmosphere welcoming us "home" has warmed our hearts as it has excited our taste buds, and filled our stomachs. Olivadi is the epitome of "Enlightened Hospitality," as espoused by the well-known New York restauranteur, Danny Meyer. We have been privileged to spend time talking with many of the staff, including the most gracious manager, Anne-Marie, our friend and preferred server (and budding wine expert) extraordinaire, Gabriella (ask to be seated at her station---she's a treasure), and now, the new Executive Chef, Jose Cardoza, a native of El Salvador, who has previously cooked in various high-end Boston area restaurants. We are blessed to have him heading up the kitchen at Olivadi, because everything that was good about the food before has been elevated to its best, and Chef Cardoza's innovative and playful spirit pervades the new menu items. Every third Wednesday evening of the month features a three-course regional wine-tasting dinner (reservations necessary), specially crafted to complement the wines chosen. Last month, we were treated to Piemontese wines of Northwestern Italy, along with carefully curated flavors, some of which actually incorporated the wines themselves into the recipes. A three-course dinner was perfect to highlight the wines themselves, chosen by Chef Cardoza and Anne-Marie, and supplied by the genial and knowledgeable (but never pretentious) Rich Ricci, of the Vineyard Road Distributors in Framingham. Unlike other tasting dinners, which often turn into palate-numbing affairs, because of too many wines, this one, equally about showcasing the talents of Chef Cardoza was a blissful marriage of very accessible wines with soul-satisfying food. The first course, a seafood ravioli---generously stuffed with lobster, scallop and shrimp, was bathed in a saffron cream, with tomatoes to balance the richness, and asparagus tips for texture. The very interesting unfiltered Roero Arneis from Negro Angelo & Figli (vinified strictly from the indigenous Arneis grape, unlike typical Roeros, which use 95% Nebbiolo) was scented with pear, and the delightful "bready" aroma of the remaining yeast compared with a Loire Muscadet sur Lies, and set off the unctuous sauce elegantly. The second course, perfectly cooked filet steak medallions (medium rare---there is no other way to respect a beautiful cut of meat), over a creamy spinach risotto, presented on a crisped slice of baked potato (instead of the more pedestrian crouton), was topped with a light, flavorful demiglace, and some baby greens. With this, Chef chose a gutsy, though lightly tannic Barbera d'Alba, from the reliable winery of Paolo Scavino. The toasted oak in which the wine was aged set off the Maillard reaction of the seared meat perfectly, and the plum/cherry nose on the wine paired well with the rich demiglace and risotto. The final course brought a special glow to Chef Cardoza's eyes as he described it: A fig tart, the figs having been macerated, and then cooked down in the wine served with the dish---but this was no ordinary tart: The wine also having been incorporated into the delicate whipped mascarpone/ricotta/polenta(!) base, piped elegantly into a substantial shortbread crust, topping a vibrant raspberry garnish, with very lightly sweetened whipped cream, demonstrated Chef Cardoza's wizardry in combining seemingly heavy elements into an ethereal and late-summer inspired masterpiece. The wine, a Langhe Nebbiolo (yes, a light brownish colored, but richly aromatic cherry/leather red wine with dessert) brought this dessert to exactly the level it deserved. read more

This was only my second time here. It was an amazing experience. We sat at the bar for about 2 and half hours, and felt right at home. The best part of the menu is that you can get half order entrees. My wife and I got 2 plates and the amazing wings. The Gnocchi are filled with ricotta and chicken pasta with prosciutto was great. Service at the bar was excellent. I would totally come back again. Joe read more

Recently we visited Olivadi in Norwood on a friend's recommendation. After a short wait in the bar enjoying a cocktail among the lively suburban clientele, we were seated in the restaurant. White tablecloth tables with candles and a roaring fireplace off to the side set the mood for a fine evening. To start, the calamari with lemon-garlic aioli and tomato dipping sauces was crispy and not greasy. The squash soup was also a perfect way to warm up before the main course. The chicken parmigiana was classically prepared and delicious, and just as good the next day warmed up at home. Meanwhile, the chicken picatta with asparagus risotto was also very good. The lemon-caper white wine sauce was well balanced and not overshadowed by the capers and the risotto had a nice consistency on the fork and complimented the chicken nicely. We ordered dessert of Tortino Al Cioccolato; 2 warm chocolate cupcakes with berry sauce and crème anglaise. I wish we saved more room to enjoy them more. The staff was friendly and attentive which are big plusses in the highly competitive restaurant game. Knowledge of the menu, a clean, inviting atmosphere and great food will keep Olivadi on my regular rotation when looking for quality Italian without the need to go to the north end. read more

This restaurant just refused to accept a $100 gift certificate that THEY ISSUED! At the time that my brother-in-law purchased the gift certificate, they told him that they were out of gift cards and could mail out a gift certificate instead. This is what they did, only now they refuse to honor it. Obviously I would no longer recommend this restaurant to anyone, and I certainly would never trust them with a credit card number again, because they're thieves! In addition, during the meal, I had to send a plate of pancetta risotto back to the kitchen because it was at least 8-10 minutes undercooked. Risotto should be creamy, but the rice should be just a little bit al dente at the same time, so that the dish has the property texture and consistency. The rice the gave me was literally still crunchy! I sent the server back with it with an explanation of exactly what was wrong with it and how to fix it. But instead of fixing in the right way, they took 15 minutes and sent me back a plate of mushy gruel with the consistency of wallpaper paste that tasted of nothing but the extra white wine they added and didn't cook out. If an Italian restaurant can't get risotto right, then they are seriously in trouble! And the general manager of the restaurant is completely inept, very rude and not very bright at all. read more