Tuesdays have become my day to try new (to me) roadside eateries. Today was Oliver's. Oliver's definitely had the nicest facility. It offers live music and a "club" vibe. Probably a nice weekend evening experience. As far as my lunch, I had a good-sized burger and opted for the family-size fries. Add the soda, and my meal came to $20 and change. A bit more than comparable options, but delicious and a great place to eat! If you are in the area, I highly recommend it. read more

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Went there for the live entertainment really enjoyed myself. The hamburger was cooked nicely and it tasted pretty good. I would say between that and a drink it was only nine dollars. Which is reasonable. They did have the bear shack open but due to memorial day weekend I didn't want to drink. read more

Classic grill fare, good portions and reasonable prices. They have musicians perform on Saturdays, at least while the weather's warm, and the cozy deck outside the order window is a great environment for that. There's a larger stage in the yard behind the building. Great space to bring kids for a good bite to eat and to run around for a while. read more

I came here with a friend to see a local musician playing on the deck, and to have some food! And it was my first time here. I ordered the seafood platter, and I anticipated high with tepid expectations, and it delivered. I thought the frying and breading were absolutely fresh and spot on. Big scallops. Big shrimp, tasty belly clams, and that fish was spectacular. One slight demerit. One of the scallops was perfectly white as it should be, and the other piece was not, although it tasted fine. Finished off with a small (2 scoop) sundae, and it was also just the perfect thing to have on a lovely day, fun music, and atmosphere. read more

Who weighs ice cream for a cone??? Apparently this place. UGH. My husband and I went. We had two cones. His was moose tracks, mine was maple walnut. His was an okay scoop, rounded on the top. Mine was flat across, with nothing inside the cone, so maybe 1/2" of ice cream? My husband asked why they were so different in size. The girl said that mine weighed more and they scoop by weight. Who knew that maple walnut weighs so much more than moose tracks? Now we all know! It's Gifford's ice cream, which many local places serve, and I've had it in Maine and on Cape Cod as well as in CT. NO WHERE ELSE has scooped Gifford's by weight, that I've been aware of. So I guess when ordering ice cream here, make sure to ask which one is the lightest weight, so you actually get something on the cone. Wish I had taken pics... read more

What a great little roadside fish shack! I drove over from classes at UCONN for a nice dinner on the patio. Service was nice and the fish was fresh! read more

Service is outstanding. Friendly folks able to adjust on the fly to simple menu changes...I like that.

We've been eating here since they opened, living just a few miles away. Don't know what's changed, a new cook, just haven't hit their groove this season, but we're probably not going back. Last night I ordered the fish sandwich which in the past has included a large beautifully flaky piece of fish. Not this time. I found a dark, dry, flavorless square of fish, a sad piece of lettuce, a single slice of tomato, and no sauce whatsoever. Not even tartar sauce on the side. The best part about it was the bun, and that was nothing special. My son ordered a pulled pork quesadilla which was slightly better, but nothing special either. I'll keep an eye on reviews because I hate to lose a great local summer spot. read more

After a refreshing dip in the lake and chasing a wet child on a splash pad and playground lon a 90 degree day at Philip Lauter Park, I was thrilled when I spotted a sign exclaiming "family friendly, beer, grill, and dairy bar" all in one place. I screeched on the brakes and immediately pulled into the lot. After parking, I wiggled the front door and quickly realized that the indoor dining must be closed. We crept around the building in search of food and were greeted by nice outdoor tables on a deck and the sounds of chatter. I was a smidge annoyed that it was an "order at the window" type of place but the promise of a cold beer and a calming the ravenous threenager begging for a hot dog was enough to make me stay. There was only one person in line before me but for some reason I waited for what seemed like an eternity for my turn to order. In any event, I placed an order for a black bean burger, a hot dog, and a Two Roads Two Juicy IPA. $22 was a bit steep, but so is everything these days. I figured hey, maybe they come with fries! We waited long enough for our number to be called that I polished off half my beer, and I almost burst out in laughter when they handed me a tray with a hot dog wrapped in foil rolling around and a bean burger wrapped in foil on a huge tray. It was so sad looking! But I digress. The bean burger was actually hand made, so they score points for that for sure. But everything is "serve yourself" so of course it's mainly just a game of getting up and down and up and down a-la "Ooops! Forgot to grab napkins!" "Oops! Napkins are blowing away....", "forgot the ketchup!" "There goes the tin foil on which my burger was served on, since there was no plate!" It was just a pain. The place looks like it would be fun during entertainment when a band plays with a group of friends, or just even with one other person to help out and not have to "do all the work". I just feel like one shouldn't have to work so hard when paying to dine, but the kid had fun and I enjoyed a cold beer and tasty black bean burger and he enjoyed his hot dog even though it immediately rolled off the table because, ya know, there wasn't a plate. Luckily we adhere to the five-second rule, so no big deal there. It was just funny and he enjoyed playing on their swing set after eating his meal. I likely wouldn't return unless someone else is willing to do the "heavy lifting" for me, but I now understand the vibe they are going for at and it's overall a fun place, if you know what you're getting into as far as the whole SUPER casual do-it-yourself dining thing. read more

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Nice place to go for simple foods and music outside. They had a great Cobb salad and a nice garden salad with a very big piece of grilled chicken. There is a nice playground for the kids and we were able to sit outside in the shade with the dog. Burgers, salads, seafood, sandwiches and a children's menu. They also had ice cream which we did not sample as our salads were enough. Lovely clean spot with friendly people. Definitely worth a stop. read more

We've been passing by this place for a while and decided to give it a try. I wish I would of read the Yelp reviews first. Upon arrival, the place appears clean and organized and by the looks of it, I was expecting a really good experience. There was a musician on the deck, who sounded ok, but the volume on his amp was way to loud. We elected to eat on a table close to the road instead. The menu was plain, typical road side stand menu. Wife ordered the fish and chips, and they said it was cod. I ordered the bacon cheeseburger and a side of onion rings. Food came out in about 10 minutes, and it was hot. First impression: the patty looked like it was hand pressed and not a pre-fab, frozen slab. Burger ranged from medium to well, not medium-well, but medium on one side and well on the other. Unfortunately it was pretty dry, and the ketchup came to the rescue. Bacon was perfect, but the dryness killed it. Onion rings we perfect. Nice fried, crisp outer, and the onion inside didn't come out whole with each bite. Too bad the burger couldn't follow this example of perfect onion rings. The fish came with 2 good size pieces, perfectly fried. My wife made it through almost one piece, and offered the rest to me. What was left of one piece was very good. I then bit into the second piece, and noticed a very strong fishy smell, in which the first one didn't have. Took a second bite to confirm and it was stronger than the first bite. Enough of that. The fries were a mix of crisp, and slightly soggy. We didn't have ice cream, so no report on that. Again, nothing special on the food side that would set this place apart from others. If we go again, we'll try the ice cream, but I can guarantee you we'll pass on the food. read more

The burger was small and dry. My husband had the clam strip po'boy and it was more bread then clams. The fries were hot. Overall I wasn't impressed. read more

Good food very friendly service is very helpful caring people outside dining area and in closed area if needed

We're particularly observant about handicapped accessibility and Oliver's failed as we drove in the driveway. No van accessible parking which we need because one of us is a paraplegic and we have a van with a ramp that needs a wide parking space. All the handicapped spaces are by the steps to a door and there are no signs for a ramp entrance. We parked in the lower lot and before we could get out another car parked with 3 feet. We need 8 feet on the ramp side. We asked if he could move and he said no and walked off. The ambulatory partner finally found the ramp to the outdoor seating, but there was no indication of how to get inside. Looked for someone to get some help and there was no one available. Left hungry and angry. read more

Went here for the first time to catch a local musician (Ashlee Paradis) playing acoustic guitar and singing on the patio. Oliver's Dairy Bar provides a nice homey backyard atmosphere. There is a patio area and tons of picnic table space on the ground level. Small selection of beer and cider and typical American bites. Great ice cream too! Typically there is a petting zoo but because of COVID-19, no animals to be seen! Would go again for music and relaxation! read more

This is a much lower rating than I would have given a week ago. We have been going to OLIVER"S since it opened. Overall we have been pleased with the employees and the food. BUT recently they put up a band stage & started having live music some nights. We have been to several performances. The issue I have is that on those nights OLIVER"S does not handle the crowds well. Then order lines are long and slow. The orders are slowly filled. One evening it took almost an hour to place and get poget our order..and we went early!! Two evening ago we and another group gave up waiting to place or orders. All of us finally got ice cream for dinner. At least that line was short. We like the food. We like the people. We like the music. BUT OLIVER"S is not handling the crowds well. Too bad! It is going to hurt them in the long run. read more

Had cheeseburger that was very dry And if it had any taste at all it was like a soy burger all three of us were very disappointed in the results and do not plan on returning soon read more

Tried this place twice before. Years ago. Was very disappointed as all the food at that time tasted/resembled frozen, pre-prepared fare. Today, the burger appeared at least hand formed yet was so overly cooked, it no longer tasted like beef. In fact, it was flavorless. The lady in from of me ordered her food and sat. When she noticed ours was called first, she went to check on hers. She quickly learned the very young girl taking orders never even communicated to those cooking. So the abnormally ling wait was even longer for her. On average, it also appears to take at least 15 min or longer when ordering common, dairy bar type food. So overall, far too long of a wait for type of food, poorly prepared and flavorless burger, dirty picnic tables, and staff taking orders that leave customers guessing if it will ever come to fruition. Back to Main Moose in Willimantic for us!!! read more

Oliver's is an amazing restaurant. The staff (including the owner) are all warm and welcoming and their food is always delicious. The lobster roll is my personal fav. I am a frequent customer here and I have never been let down. Will continue to eat here frequently and support this business. read more

This is the number one spot for clams. Nothing but good food and kind people. I love this place

Supported them all durring covid even though take outs had some problems. Today they were just plain rude. Left without an order. These people are nuts the way they speak to customers. Many times they are not there durring posted hrs., one time at 12:30pm read more

First review of a new establishment, so take that into consideration. Oliver's is brand new (as of this July review), just opened near the Willi airport. It's a great location, situated right near the hiking trail parking lot. Stop in for a cold milk shake or ice cream after a walk down to the dam. The renovation had been going on for months, and they've done an amazing job of converting a dilapidated old Cape Cod style house into a very nice little dairy bar/grill. This place should be a family magnet; petting zoo (so far only a Shetland pony and a donkey), a playscape (nothing major, one of those big backyard sets you can buy at BJ's), lots of space to picnic on tables under the trees or in the yard, plus a big deck with plenty of tables and a smoothie bar in the evenings. There is also an attached covered pavilion area with larger tables -- great for groups or if it's raining. This place is very welcome in an area curiously devoid of any serious sandwich & ice cream joints. It's clean, spacious and inviting. I've visited twice. First time was just for a milk shake -- and it was good! Real hand-scooped ice cream, what we New Englanders call a frappe. Screw McDonalds. We returned recently for dinner out on the deck, which was quite pleasant. The dinner food we ordered was good. Not great, they have a bit of work to do, but for a new restaurant they seem to know what they're doing. I had a whole-belly clam roll (not sure what it cost, it was listed as "market price," but i didn't care). These should have been called FULL belly clams! I've been to clam shacks where they tell you in advance what the day's clams are like -- big bellies, medium bellies, small bellies. Damn...these were some big clams! They were good, served appropriately on a grilled New England style hot dog roll with a side of lemon and tartar sauce. I would have preferred some smaller clams, but that's a matter of preference...they were fried nicely, although they were kind of clumped together en masse, as opposed to individual clams. I ate the clam roll with a knife and fork, as the clams were just too big to pick the thing up. But it was good. We also had the fish and chips. Again, the fries and fish were well prepared. The fish was light and flakey, but didn't have much flavor without adding lots of pepper, lemon and tartar sauce. I'd suggest they use a beer-batter or add some spices or something to the breading. Like the clams, it wasn't bad at all...just could have been better. Bottom line: Excellent place for an evening ice cream cone or Sundae. There is a good-sized menu of sandwiches, fried foods and the usual clam-shack kind of fare. And the kids will love it because of the space to run around, pet the pony, play on the swing set. Parking is plentiful, location is okay (excellent if you're coming off the trail), and the design of the place makes for an overall pleasant experience (did I just use "pleasant" twice in the same review?)...just keep in mind that you're on the side of Route 6 (otherwise known as the ominous-soundling "Grand Army of the Republic Highway") at the end of an airport runway. Occasionally it can get noisy. Give it a shot! Support local business. read more

1st time visit for food, second visit for ice cream, our 1st visit was last year. We ordered fish and chips and fried scallop dinner. The seafood was perfectly cooked. The batter was light and flaky with no greasy after taste. Some of the best fried seafood we have had lately. Ice cream just ok...its Giffords which is sold everywhere around here. Last year they had more flavors. Will be back for seafood and possibly a burger. Great onion rings too. read more

Oliver's Dairy Bar & Grill - Fish and chips, but with onion rings. - American Near Me - North Windham, Connecticut

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We stopped by here and got ice cream for the kids after school. This place is counter service with a nice outside patio, playscape, a donkey and Shetland pony. Very kid-friendly. Service was very nice and fast. We will return. (It is new and doesn't show up on the google map app. ) read more

My daughter and I stopped by here for lunch today and it was great I got the cobb salad with grilled chicken and it was delicious, the tomatoes were big and red and juicy like they were just picked from the garden! My daughter loved her cheeseburger she said it was great! We actually plan to go back tomorrow for ice cream with some friends after we go hiking. read more

Oliver's Dairy Bar & Grill - American Near Me - North Windham, Connecticut

Really not that impressed. Decided to try it for the first time. The setting is cute with the picnic tables and farm animals. Besides that it very expensive and the portion size was quite small. There are other places with far better ice cream and much bigger portions that I would rather spend my money at. read more

A replica restaurant of the moose. A little faster on service but nothing special in the food department. They were better when they first open, but everybody loses that fire and concentrates on profits read more

Love this place! The food is yummy and you can bring your own beer, while you enjoy your food you can listen to live entertainment, and when your done you pet the nice little ass and the pony! read more

Oliver's Dairy Bar & Grill - The petting zoo - American Near Me - North Windham, Connecticut

My husband and I stopped by Oliver's last week on a whim. It was our first time and the service was excellent. The staff were incredibly kind (even more than we had thought once we realized we had ordered food "for there" a mere 15 minutes before closing) and invited us to meet their adorable baby goats while our food was prepared. The fish and chips meal was delicious. The fries were wonderfully crispy and the generously portioned fish was clearly fresh. Great coleslaw, lemon wedge, and a side of tartar sauce! Hubby devoured the short rib sandwich​ and was left very happy. We'll definitely be back to try their other offerings​! read more

What a great family business! The staff is always accommodating and welcoming. The food is well priced and delicious! Wish there was some indoor seating and longer hours but overall would recommend to anyone that asks, especially those with kids! They have corn hole, petting zoo, and a playground to keep the little ones busy while the food cooks. Also the meals are perfectly sized and come with free ice cream!! Could it get any better? read more

The five stars are for the cole slaw and especially scallops. That alone is worth the visit. The other seafood is pretty good but doesn't stand out like the scallops. Very family friendly place, and its great to have New England traditional seafood practically in my inland back yard. The fries are hearty, too. But get the scallops!!! read more

What a fun place! I had the squash casserole and corn chowder. The chowder was hot and hearty. Perfect for a misty summer evening. The squash casserole was delicious and a nice change from the typical hot dogs and hamburgers. We will be back!- read more

Oliver's Dairy Bar & Grill - American Near Me - North Windham, Connecticut

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Make sure to go on nice day, all outside seating. Plenty of umbrella tables and picnic tables under big trees. Onion ring and meatball grinder were good. Bacon cheeseburger - bacon excellent, fresh lettuce and tomato, brioche bun, standard burger. Kids meal are good deal, come with kids icecream. I tried the "black bear" small cup icecream. Vanilla icecream with raspberry jam and chocolate pieces. Very good and cup was huge! Outdoor space is great for kids- corn hole games and small play place with a tractor to climb on and donkeys to pet. read more

Oliver's Dairy Bar & Grill - Kids menu includes icecream and caprisun - American Near Me - North Windham, Connecticut

Sucks it's the worst food I've ever had service sucks stay away there's a out door Dairy in Columbia go there it's great

Wow what a pleasant surprise. The wife and I took a day trip to Providence RI and we were looking for a quick bit to eat. The wife spotted this place from the road and I am very glad she did. Everything was very clean and well kept. There is a petting zoo, and an outside area to eat. I'm not sure if they actually have an inside area but I saw a few people with their own pets which is cool. In the front they had 2 cornhole sets which I thought was a nice touch. It was a very nice day and there were a few people there but not crowded. You order at a window, then they give you a number. Service was a little slow but not horrible. We ordered 2 black raspberry milkshakes and a fisherman's platter to split. It was a little pricy but the platter came with a good amount of fish. It had large sea scallops, shrimp, fried sole, and whole belly claims. Everything was really good. The whole bellys were on point and exceeded my expectations. The coleslaw was also really tasty. It was finely diced, you could tell it was house made and very good. The milkshakes could have used a little more flavor. Not sure if it was a soft serve or real ice cream milkshake but it was a little bland. Tasted more like vanilla with a hint of black raspberry to us. All in all a solid place to go for a quick bit or a nice place to bring the kids. read more

Oliver's Dairy Bar & Grill - Fishermen platter.. - American Near Me - North Windham, Connecticut

Passing through this place looks like the perfect spot to stop for a bite to eat or a refreshment. Don't be fooled! Very cute setup, welcoming signs.........all for show. My friend and I stopped there to grab a drink and possibly some food. We approach the window and order a beer. The young man at the counter did a great job and asked for our ID because we were ordering beer (obviously). After we received our drinks, an older woman behind the counter started making comments to another coworker loudly enough for us to hear asking if he carded us. Made us feel very uncomfortable since we are 29 years old and are young professionals just trying to enjoy a nice evening at a potential "nice spot". She proceeded to roll her eyes like she didn't believe we were of age. Would have loved to have experienced a different outcome here, but the snootiness and rudeness from some of the very, very, very, older workers are unacceptable. The table next to us is also complaining about the attitude and food. Will never recommenced this place off of Route 6. Save your time and energy, unless you enjoy being embarrassed and made feel unwelcome. read more

The food was pretty good, not exceptional, though. Long, long, long wait but worth it IF you have the time. We stopped here after a day at the Mansfield Hollow to recharge. We enjoyed the live music, the kids enjoyed the petting zoo, and playground. I would stop here again but wouldn't necessarily go out of my way to. read more

Terrible. Rude, slow and appealingly not caring to serve me or my girls. I've gone there 3 times -- the last was this summer where I was served inedible clam fritters -- which were so salty and served with the most rude of attitudes. I will never go there again - nor will I recommend anyone I know to go there -- it is a great concept but poorly executed. It was a rather unfriendly experience. read more

We were traveling through CT with the dogs and searching for a place with outdoor seating. The photos looked good so we gave it a try. The place was cute and had a good atmosphere, seems like a nice family friendly location but we were disappointed in our food and experience. We ordered a chicken sandwich and chicken finger dinner to share. The portions were extremely small (chicken breast didn't even fill the bun and only a handful of fries) the food seemed good quality and was cooked well but for $18 (no drinks) it was EXTREMELY not worth it- note you have to pay for EVERYTHING they put on your sandwich (lettuce, tomato, cheese, onions, etc each have a fee). Glad we didn't order drinks since the person next to us went up to ask for ice since she received a soda that was room temp and had no ice in it, the girl behind the counter said they had no ice, no apology or asked to give her her money back, the lady left her drink at the counter because she said she couldn't drink it- I feel they should have made her aware of the lack of ice when the woman ordered, I never heard them tell anyone they were out of ice when they were ordering. Won't be back if we are ever in the area- 2 stars only because the place was clean and the food was cooked well. read more

Not impressed. The building and setting is cute, with plenty of places to dine outside and a petting zoo for the kids, that was all very good. However, it went downhill from there. I got a clam strip dinner that we waited 25 minutes for and it was COLD. And they werent decent clam strips either...more like something you get out of the freezer isle at Walmart. My girlfriend ordered a BLT with fries and those came five minutes later...also cold. I gave them one more shot and ordered a milkshake, which I waited 15 minutes for (it was not that busy mind you), and that was pretty good. Overall, prices are somewhat high, food was subpart, but the ice cream was good. read more