The service was terrible. We were the third group of people that came in at 5:00 for our reservation and waited for our main course for 1/2 an hour. You ask us to order everything all at once so you should have things timed out. We got the appetizers and then the salad but the wait of 1/2 an hour was the main course. A group of 5 sitting across from us got served and the group of 4 got their meals while we waited. Both those groups came in after us. We were a group of 3. read more

Fantastic! This place was much more than a pleasant surprise. What a colorful, flavorful, inventive menu. We shared so many plates. The cocktails are creative and the wine was delish! It was perfect for our girls night out. Our server was super friendly and gave excellent tips on how to make our dining experience even that much more enjoyable. The restaurant also has a vibe! The colors the art the open kitchen the bar.... All flowed so perfectly. Bathrooms super clean and stocked. Highly recommend this gem of a spot whether you are going on a date or out with the gang!! read more

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If you're looking for the best steak and service you can get ANYWHERE, look no further. I tried several different things and loved them ALL. It's a small place but just big enough with an open kitchen and an oven you can see the fire in so I really love that. It makes the steak taste so perfect. I started with their beets and I'll definitely be having that again because the yogurt with them together is -I can't even put it into words. They make their own pasta and it's Heavenly. The chef blends flavors like he should. He really gets it. I had the chocolate cheesecake (which is the best cheesecake south of NYC) and the panna cotta which had date jam and pistachios-seriously other worldly! This is, hands down, the best dining experience I've ever had in Wilmington and I can't wait to go back. read more

We have been wanting to try this place since they opened, but haven't been able to get a reservation on a weekend. Now we see why! Each dish was outstanding and unique. The mix of flavors pop! Mike was our server and was knowledgeable and friendly. Perfect choice for a date night! read more

I came in for dinner on my first day in Wilmington. The inviting, warm and cozy ambiance set the tone on a pleasant meal. My friend and I sat at the bar as we didn't have reservation. The bartender made delicious cocktails, he was very friendly and gave us great recommendations on the menu. The two of us got Mini Baguette w/ Anchovy Hummus Spread (pretty good), Grilled Octopus which was very tasty and tender, the flavorful Baharat Spiced Crispy Cauliflower was my favorite. For protein we got Musdakhan Grilled Chicken and Grilled NC Fish. Food is delicious and in good portion. We probably went a little overboard as we have leftover food and didn't get to try their desserts! read more

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Excellent appetizer & entrees. Good craft cocktails. Attentive service. A well appointed downtown eatery.

There is a reason why this restaurant has Michelin ratings. Service, Food, drinks are phenomenal. Everything is fresh, pasta made in house, different selections of wines, unique cocktails and really service forward team. read more

Absolutely amazing each time I've been. Totally blown away by the care the staff show for you and how completely mouth watering and fresh every dish has ever been. Gorgeous decor and great art! A must!! read more

We had an amazing experience sitting at the kitchen bar. The food, atmosphere and service were top notch. We got in last minute on a Saturday evening in October- not prime season but this place was packed. Do try the simple salad with lemon dressing! We both had pasta dishes- so fresh and tasty. We shared the cheese cake for dessert- might have been the best ever. read more

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Date night Saturday with wife. She liked it better then me. Apps were tasty; dates & Beignet. Ordered Lasagna which I wasn't thrilled with; switched plates and enjoyed her dish more; Bucatini. Service was good; more so of the gentlemen that served us and cleared plates. Not so much for our "regular" server. Mediocre at best. Also, wondered why people can't get in or there is no room available. There were multiple bar seats & booths open for 1-2 hours! Something isn't working in the front of the house. They need a seasoned maî·​tre d' to greet the customers! Turning away people never works in the long run. read more

We went here for a birthday and it was by far our best finding experience in Wilmington. And the servers also are so knowledgeable and helpful. Will be back for sure!!! I got the gazpacho and fish, it was so amazing. read more

This was our second, and probably last, visit. The food was fabulous but other elements not so much. My husband ordered iced tea. The server, who is fabulous, said the restaurant doesn't offer iced tea, but does have lemonade. Huh? We're in the South. My husband pivoted, in the blink of an eye, to a martini. And I bet he's not the first. The food and beverage head dropped by our table to explain O is trying to differentiate itself from other restaurants by not offering iced tea. Yeah, buddy. There's a plethora of mocktail offerings at hefty prices. As we perused our menus, our server told us the restaurant prefers us to order everything - from appetizers through the main course- at one time "to help with flow." We scratched our heads at this one. What if appetizers are hefty, and we don't need much after that? What if appetizers are tiny, and we are famished? All 4 of us took a long pause, calculated our time already invested here, and did order all at once. We shared a green salad as well as sea scallops appetizers, and they were delish. We were sorry the cauliflower appetizer, enjoyed a visit before, rotated off the menu. The entrees were divine- rabbit, pasta, and black drum accompanied by sauces to die for. No bread. When we asked, you guessed it, O is differentiating itself from other restaurants by not offering bread. (We have heard the kitchen has no room to house bread.). Our server, Phoebe, was exemplary, but we will think twice before a return trip. The rest of you, go right ahead. read more

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I'd been looking forward to trying this place out since they opened and finally had an opportunity on a Friday night. For drinks, they have a vermouth and a sherry menu which was kind of interesting. Per our server's suggestion, my husband tried a glass of each. I'm not typically a fan of either, but my he enjoyed mixing it up. I stuck with a cocktail and a glass of wine. As others have noted, the wine list is rather disappointing. For starters, we tried the croquettes and Brussels sprouts. Both were great! Next, the crab pasta and the fennel sausage pasta - again, both were really good. Finally we ended with the basque cheesecake. Huge fan of the cookie butter on there! The ambiance was a little weird - the restaurant gives off a very casual vibe with the decor, servers wearing t shirts, and very casual diners, but then has more formal touches like fully setting and clearing the table for each course, toothpicks and mints in the restrooms, etc. It felt a little disjointed. That said, I'd definitely return! read more

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Pretentious, not deserving of raves... food portions stingy - Octopus Lasagna had ONE Tentacle! Imagin? Bar grossly over priced can't deliver as ordered, mostly ice, and threw in int when I'm allergic! read more

A welcome addition of fine dining to the Castle street district.are a 5pm reservation and was the first to be seated. Was definitely nice to get in before the crowd. Ordered a couple of drink and three apple. We got the Warm dates, Croquets and Beignets. The date have the perfect balance of salty and sweet. All the apps had a good balance and are definitely more than just art in a plates. Dinner I ended going with the Lasagna made with octopus bolognese and chorizo which I really enjoyed. Only think the might have made it better would have need some type of bread but I'm a carb addict. Ended with the blueberry cheese cake was was absolutely perfect. The cracked salt on the plate set it over the edge. Kudos the the chef for really nailing balance in the dishes. read more

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40th Anniversary Ruined by Poor Management and Service Olivero failed us on a milestone occasion. I made a reservation via Resy a month in advance (November 24th) for our 40th wedding anniversary on December 26th. Because it was the holidays, I checked Resy daily to secure this booking the moment the 4-week window opened. When I booked in November, I included a clear note stating we required a table for six. Despite having a month to review this request, the restaurant waited until the afternoon of the reservation to address it. When we arrived promptly for our dinner, the experience was appalling. We were initially shown to a booth for four, then told we could not be accommodated. There were three hostesses - 2 were dismissive; and one seemed completely lost. Instead of offering solutions--such as seating four at the table and two at the bar--they essentially shooed us toward the front door. My husband went back inside to speak with management and met with Roy England. Mr. England claimed they had tried to call me multiple times, yet my phone records show zero incoming calls from the restaurant that day. The number they cited to us was my cell phone number. Most shockingly, Mr. England informed my husband that they do not look at Resy reservation notes until the day of the reservation. This "business model" is baffling for a gestured high-end establishment. If they don't check notes until the 11th hour, the entire advance-booking system is useless. I later found an email the next morning, from Mr. England sent in the afternoon of December 26th, 2025; on the day of the reservation--far too late to make alternative plans for a party of six on a holiday. Our perceptions: The staff was cold and projected their organizational failure onto my family, making us feel dehumanized and unwelcome on our 40th anniversary. While the food and drinks at Olivero may be decent, the customer service is an absolute failure. They showed zero empathy and offered no accommodations. Our celebration evaporated the moment we were shown the door. I have already shared this experience with several others in the Wilmington community: do not trust this establishment with your special occasions and don't trust any reservations made on Resy for this Restaurant. Thank you read more

Olivero is my new fav. So far have gone for dinner twice and both times sat at the bar, which is a little cramped but still a pleasant experience. The menu changes according to what's fresh/seasonal and literally everything I've had here is phenomenal. The first time I had a pasta entree and *chef's kiss* freshly made pasta is delicious, and just chews better and hangs onto the sauce and just get it - thank me later. The last time, we got this heirloom tomato salad and it was so fresh and beautiful. Cocktail menu is full of solid bevvies to enjoy with your meal. All around, this is one of Wilmington's most solid restaurants, hands down. read more

Olivero - Heirloom tomato salad - Italian Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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We arrived at Olivero eager to try the new restaurant that we had heard such great things about. Unfortunately, after checking in at the hostess stand, we were informed that they did not have a reservation for us (apparently RESY user error by us) and that they could not accommodate us for dinner. Disappointed, we returned to our car and began to search on-line for dining alternatives. After sitting in our car for a few minutes, a lady knocked on our car window and informed us that we could be accommodated after all. It turned that the lady was Amy, the restaurant manager, who made the effort to come out to our vehicle parked along the street outside. We quickly accepted her offer and took a seat in the small waiting area. While waiting, Amy even took our drink orders which we enjoyed while waiting for our table. After a short wait we were seated at a table and enjoyed excellent service by Meakin and a fabulous dinner. The restaurant took a situation that was initially a huge disappointment for us and turned it into the best dining experience that we have had in quite a while. Olivero exceeded our expectations and we are now dedicated patrons! We are also quick to tell others of our amazing experience. read more

When I got home I had to have dinner again. It seemed like there was a lot of hype around Olivero and that was confirmed by the challenge of getting a reservation. We finally got one and went with friends and across the board we were like "meh." The "shareables" were hardly shareable. The portions were tiny, but expensive. The meals were ok - nothing crazy. Drenched in olive oil. As a matter of fact basically everything we had was soaked. Cheesecake dessert was very good. Our server was excellent and accommodating to our friends gluten allergy. Deeply appreciated that. Bus boy was very on the spot as well. Great work there. The vibe itself was .. I don't know ... normal? Not very unique or special. Overall this is a one and done unfortunately. It came out to about $60 / person not including the one alcoholic drink which is absolutely insane. For that price - I should never leave hungry or the food should be just so next level that I'm leaving a 5 star review. read more

Visited the much-hyped Olivero in Wilmington last evening. Did it live up to the hype? Unfortunately, no. The service was spot-on. Very well done. Unfortunately, the wine list reminded me of a grocery store. We selected the Granache and it was nothing special. Next, to the food. The menu selection was good, definitely upscale, and the well-described dishes looked interesting. We started with the crab croquettes . Beautifully presented and the pesto was amazing. But they had so little crab in the "sauce" inside, they really shouldn't have been called crab croquettes. For dinner, I ordered the coal-roasted striped bass entree, and my wife, the beef cheek entree. Both dishes were beautifully presented, but barely warm. Obviously, the food had been sitting for a bit prior to serving. My wife loved her dish, but wished it had been hot. My entree was delicious, after I removed the fish skin. I know the skin goes a long way toward flavor, but the fish should be served with the skin down. I had to deconstruct the dish, removing the topping and garnish to remove the skin. Although tasty, the dish lacked luster after the deconstructin. Plus, it was served barely luke-warm. Will we return? Possibly. Every good restaurant deserves a second chance. read more

We've dined at Olivero 6 or 7 times, and given we're a block away, we're delighted to have in the neighborhood what has become our favorite Wilmington restaurant. The room is beautiful, the booths are comfortable, the tables for two that can be pushed together for a table for 10 are a bit small and, for 2-tops all in a row, perhaps a bit too close to tables left and right. The menu changes monthly, the kitchen is imaginative and consistently creates splendid new offerings, the service is impeccable, the bar well stocked, and the menus, from apps to mains and delicious desserts, have been, for us, spectacular. For apps, don't miss the fried cauliflower while it's still on the menu: it's is off-the-charts delicious. And for pasta dishes, it's a home run every time (although I wish they'd reinstate the octopus lasagna, perhaps the best pasta dish I've ever eaten in my many years of dining out). The wines-by-the-glass list is only okay--full bottles range from $100 and up, which is territory we've generally avoided. (Wondering if we can bring a higher-end bottle and pay a corkage fee. We haven't asked about that.) Plan well. It's a popular place. If the tables are all taken and/or reserved, bar seating and the chef's table are available for walk-ins. We've sat everywhere. And we're just happy to have Olivera right around the bend. read more

Amazing! The ambiance, the service, the food, the drinks! All of it was absolutely wonderful! The drinks were made with such precision and truly looked like art! Everything tasted delicious! The lasagna was unbelievably good! read more

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This place is a gem. Super retro decor vibes, every dish was phenomenal and my waiter recommended an excellent wine pairing. read more

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Wonderful service well trained staff. Amazing food. A must go place All good for any event read more

What can't one say about this dining experience? Excellent food, ambiance and service! Try at least one app, entree and dessert. Everything we ate was so delicious! read more

First time, impressed. The atmosphere ambiance is great. I really like the open kitchen concept. Service was spot on. Always around but not intrusive. The food was a breath of fresh air. Innovative (I had the octopus lasagna which sounds strange but the chewy texture of the octopus against the pasta was nice). Definitely will go back read more

To do uniqueness of the food, the atmosphere and the location. Definitely a great place for a special occasion.

One of the best meals in Wilmington. The service at the bar was amazing, everyone was well versed with the menu and knowledge of the cocktail and wine list. Will be back. read more

Everything about this restaurant is spot on. The service, ambiance, food, drinks, etc. they have a parking lot beside the restaurant and it's alittle hard to find. But, once you get in you are transformed into an Italian oasis. Our server was great! Absolutely great! I could tell that she loves working there. We started with a few signature drinks and they were excellent. We also had the beignets and I was surprised how much I loved them. I had the spaghetti and she had the malfadine. Both had flavors that just ended so well together. We were so full that we only ate half of the meal. I highly recommend this place for a date or for a fun girls night. I think this is the best Italian in town. read more

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Wonderful experience. Creative and thoughtful dishes. Perfect execution. Highly recommend. What a joy! read more

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Super groovy little spot in Wilmington! Service, atmosphere and food quality were exceptional! Wilmington needs more spots like this! Well done Olivero! read more

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Walking in on a Friday night at 6:00 and almost every table was full. This was a good sign to see Wilmington supporting a new place so I was excited to taste the food. I sat at the bar waiting for my date and ordered a cocktail. the service was fast and friendly. The cocktail was delicious, I love a bar that has egg white drinks on the menu. The music was enthusiastic yet romantic. Once I got seated my new waiter was just as friendly as the last one. They recommended more of the pasta dishes but seeing it's made fresh in house I understand why. A few of the appetizers were small and fast to eat but they were full of flavor. The ingredients were all so savory. The pasta dishes we tried were buttery and tasted like "home". I'm looking forward to trying meat dishes next time. While we ate, the staff filled our drinks anticipated new drinks before we got close to finishing ours, which is great service. I enjoyed the cheesecake and panna cotta for dessert. Can't wait to come back! read more

Olivero - Smooth and bold cocktail. - Italian Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

ILM is tough; you get 2/3 w/ most places (food/service/atmosphere). This place is 3/3- one of the better meal/experiences here. Think OC or Roku, up 2 notches! Tapas/salads/pastas/mains format. We split 2 tapas (croquets- beignets) grilled squash (fabulous, smoky...) and got a pasta each (malfaldine w/ pork ragu & duck agnolotti). All good w/ generous servings given the care & quality (not Olive Garden!?). Service was impeccable, especially for a beach town. A little loud on a Sat. Night, but no worse than other places here. Will def.be returning!!! read more

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Excellent cuisine and service. The menu offers flavorful and interesting dishes. Accompanied by a great selection of wines that again are different from the typical. It is no longer a secret, so make your plans well in advance. read more

Amazing food and service. Run to get a table before they get booked. Pork shoulder & polenta were outstanding. 5-star.

EXCELLENT dinner at Olivero. Went on a Saturday and it was packed. We had a Reservation and were seated immediately. For our meal, we had small plate (beignets), salads (beet salad and the Brussels), entrees (pork shoulder and the spaghetti with zucchini, basil and burrata) and dessert (cookie butter caramel cheesecake). Everything was a 10/10 for me (I'm seriously going to dream about the beignets and the spaghetti!). Service was great and they timed every course perfectly. Cocktails were good (asked for a specific drink not on the menu- they gave me something similarish). Highly recommend!! read more

Food was amazing, service was very good and the atmosphere was amazing sitting at the kitchen bar!

Thoughtfully conceived menu items and excellently executed meal. Plate-ing was on point and we loved every item we ordered. Our favorites were the warmed dates, beet salad, Octopus lasagna and the most perfect bowl of spaghetti you've ever eaten. Loved the cocktail selection ( the Olivera martini was fabulous!!) along with the wine selection. Service was great, present enough without being overbearing. The food runner was just as great. We loved watching the cooks make the magic happen in the open kitchen. Parking was the only challenge but the parking lot is well lit and just as beautiful as the interior of the restaurant. We will go back and share what a special meal we had!! read more

Great service, fresh and creative menu. Food was fabulous. Nice clean dining room. It's a shame the location is on 3rd Street, very noisy and distracted from the experience. read more

True gourmet experience with amazing perfection in the blend of spices and flavors! The dinners were so delicious with a WOW at the end with dessert!! Sleek table setting with romantic lighting with nice music! read more

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