Highly recommended by locals, so we gave it a try because the reviews were good and menu looked delicious. We called ahead. Was very busy when we got there, which is a good sign to us, as well as all happy customers coming out! Reasonable prices, especially early bird! We were very pleased with everything: the decor and atmosphere, our waiter Trevor, the house red wine, little neck clam appetizer, our meal and the award winning homemade dessert. Everything was fresh, nicely presented, served at proper temperatures, and delicious!! When we return to St Augustine, we will definitely dine at the Purple Olive! Keep up the great work! We need more gems like this restaurant! read more

Peter and his staff recently catered my daughters wedding at our home. The food was delicious and we were able to offer a dish for every appetite. The stuffed chicken was to die for and the mahi-mahi with salsa was outstanding as well. The staff was very professional and friendly and I thought the cost was quite reasonable. They left the catering area clean and I would highly recommend them for your event! read more

My fiancé and I initially went to the Purple Olive for our first food tasting for our wedding and again today with my mom, and are still raving about the food! The food is impeccable and Peter really knows his craft! Whether it was the Cabernet mushroom semi-glaze beef tenderloin or even the sesame tofu with a ginger soy glaze (which normally I strongly dislike tofu), the food was to die for and well balanced! Highly recommend for your wedding or even to eat there for dinner! It's food I know, no guest will stop talking about after the wedding! read more

We recently moved to the island and when asking for dinner recommendations, many said the Purple Olive. Had dinner tonight and everything was 100%! Our server Jill and the rest of the staff were superb! The Snapper and Scallops were the best! As mentioned in other reviews, this place IS a hidden gem! read more

Might have been interested in eating here but their website is so user UNFRIENDLY that I never could get to the menu page to see what they offered even though I tried for over 20 min. Might need to update that menu page I have eaten at other restaurants in the same.plaza and found them delicious and easy to get to. Too bad this restaurant does not want to make their website more user friendly. read more

The food was mediocre (seasonal veggies tasted frozen, the lobster bisque could've been from a can, and the angel hair pasta was supper oily), which is not what I'm expecting for $30 entrees and the service was sub par. Having a water boy and busser is not an excuse for the waiter to ignore you all night, and having them bus the table and not take the empty bread basket or empty beer bottle or ask if you want another beer is ridiculous. read more

We came in with 7 children and 4 adults at 5 pm and they were very accommodating. Half of the kids had cheese Pizza and half had angel hair with tomato sauce. The pizza was huge and the kids loved it. The angel hair portion was plenty even for our 12 yr old and they said it was yummy. For the adults, we were able to order off the early bird menu and choose some awesome selections like garlic shrimp, pan seared salmon and beef bourguignon. All delicious!! I'd highly recommend this restaurant! read more

Purple Olive Restaurant & Catering - Chocolate pecan gateau - Wine Bars Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

It was ok nothing really to brag about. I ordered the Veal Marsala for dinner. It was tough and chewy. The Flat bread was soggy and lacked real flavor. The staff was very nice and polite. We went with a group of 10 people so 12 total. Everyone ordered at the same time and when the food came out, the chef "forgot" to make my wife's dish. She waited 20 minutes for her food to come out and by that time everyone was done eating. They did take her order off the bill which was nice. I might give it another try. read more

We enjoyed our dinner so much on Thursday that we had to go back on Saturday to try something else. Both nights, the dinners were fantastic. Had the special, braised lamb shank, on Thursday. Fall off the bone delicious. Thai Vegetables with Seafood tonight. Great presentation, tasty and a large serving. I know what I'm having for lunch tomorrow...leftovers! Everyone loved their dinners. read more

Purple Olive Restaurant & Catering - Wine Bars Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

Overpriced and underwhelming! The service was good, but the food was just ok. My husband had the lasagna special and he said he would have preferred most frozen lasagnas from a the grocery to the one he had here. I had the seared ahi tuna and it was good, but the rice and vegetables that came with it were at best tolerable. We probably should have taken a hint from the angry customer that was leaving when we were being seated. I also want to mention this place is not kid friendly, and while they do have a kids menu it is extremely overpriced (as was everything else). read more

Honestly just don't go here. We walked in an the guy was flustered at seeing a party of eight. We sat outside on an inclined sidewalk. The eggplant was not good so stay away from that. The fish was edible. The pasta with butter wasn't even good. Who can mess that up. It's not good at all. The server was the one star. read more

What first I interested me was looking at The Purple Olive's menu online. I was impressed right away that they have all options that are gluten free and vegan marked as such. We (family of 4) went early (5:15) since we didn't have a reservation. They got us right in. It was a good thing, since the tables started filling up shortly after. We ordered the mezze platter snd clams as appetizers. They had no problem keeping the naan bread on the side for my gluten intolerance. Our waiter told us his daughter has Celiac, so he was very knowledgable and accommodating. i had the scallops with potato & onion gratin with spinach, which was absolutely delicious. My husband ordered the short ribs special, and both our boys had the small plate seafood pasta. They even prepared my younger son's dish with just shrimp since he doesn't care for much other seafood. If we had any room leftover, we totally would have ordered dessert, too. Oh, and the sangria was delicious also! Overall, we all highly recommend this lovely family-run restaurant. read more

My first time at Purple Olive last night with a couple of locals. We were greeted warmly and I watched the owner/hostess clean off menus before taking someone to their table. I was immediately impressed! The lobster bisque was served quickly and was excellent. My sesame scallops were large, fresh and SO delicious. The service was efficient, friendly but never intrusive. Decor in this sparsely furnished restaurant is colorful and done by local artists; all for sale. Will definitely be back! read more

Purple Olive is simply the very best! My daughter just got married and Peter and his crew were simply the most professional, easy going and helpful people to work with among all the vendors involved in putting this event together. Most importantly, the food he prepared was absolutely amazing! From the entree's we offered which included beef tenderloin, a mahi -mahi fish or stuffed eggplant, no one was disappointed! The incredible unique appetizers that preceded dinner were elegantly presented, served butler style and all guests were extremely satisfied with the several choices offered. Peter was on site to see personally that everything was flowing smoothly, and to make certain everything was being presented with perfection. The wedding was a total success and I cannot express how happy we are to have made the decision of choosing the Purple Olive. We were told by a recommendation that Peter was the very best the area had to offer and I know now, that statement was a hundred percent accurate. We had to cancel the event 6 months earlier due to Covid only three days prior to it's originally scheduled date, a total devastation to my daughter, but Peter was incredibly understanding and worked with us to put the wedding back together. He was so compassionate and assured us that it would come together again at a later date and be just as successful, he was completely right, it all turned out to be fantastic! Do yourself a favor and don't waste time, come right to the Purple Olive and treat yourself and your guests to the very best! You will not be disappointed I guarantee, and your taste buds will love you too. Be sure to check out Peter's restaurant too, a great way to explore his talent and enjoy a fantastic meal, the Purple Olive on A1A in St Augustine. read more

Absolute perfection .... A must go to if your in St Augustine. My Mahi was cooked perfectly .... A garlic butter that was exquisite ...... I go back every time I am here. read more

So disappointed! We have eaten here many times pre-COVID. We actually had our wedding reception in the North side of the restaurant. Everything was excepional. Recently when it was my husband's 60th birthday we chose to come here again. The food was so bad we couldn't eat it. The risotto was not fully cooked and was a mushy mess that had no taste. The pasta was cold and hard, like is was precooked and not heated up properly. The lamb chops were not lamb chops at all, but some odd cut that was all bone, no meat to speak of, but the cost was what you would pay for lamb chops, of course. Flavorless food, no care given to preparation at all, and no one's tasting anything before it goes out. It's like they don't care. The soups were bland. No cream in the lobster bisque or the butternut squash to be detected. We noticed many plates being picked up that were half eaten at other tables. When we complained about the substitute of the lamb, the supply chain crisis was the excuse. Even if that is the case, the available food served should be prepared properly, with care and taste good. Hard to understand how a restaurant's food can go from a 10 to a 1, but this is certainly the case. Something drastic has happened to the Chef, it's actually alarming. Don't waist your money. We had to eat when we got home, still hungry. :( read more

Read my other review. I didn't realize I was not logged into the yelp hat I have been using for a while. This place is awesome! Don't even think about it twice! Customer service is outstanding as well! read more

We had dinner here for the first time after coming up here for four years. Garlic Shrimp, Pork tenderloin, Beef Boleniense was out standing! Crab bisque pretty tasty as well. I don't see how anyone can give this place a poor rating at all. Great service and great food. Can't wait to back again! read more

Amazing food. Amazing service. My favorite restaurant in St. Augustine. Hands down. I love that I can pick and choose sides, sauces and cooking styles OR choose chefs recommended entrees. The staff is warm and friendly and extremely knowledgeable about the menu and specials. I've never had a dish I didn't absolutely love. read more

Amazing! We are visitors from PA and we're looking for a place close to the condo we were staying. They decor is fun and funky! We got pasta, meat, and fish and they made everything incredible with big portions. Every one of our 5 dinners was fantastic and our servers were great (Jeff was our wonderful server)! We also have severe and strange allergies (peppers, cucumbers, shellfish) and they accommodated us seamlessly. Thanks for a great experience! read more

Dined here 12/24/10 with Mother Dingo. She had the Beef Bourguignon and started with a salad. I had the Gorgonzola-crusted pork loin, started with a cup of their crab bisque. Oh. My. Gods. The bisque was out of this world, as was the pork. Mother Dingo tasted my soup and said her salad, although quite adequate, paled in comparison with the bisque. The beef was very good, but the pork loin was amazing. I felt the beef bourg was out shined by the pork, but Mother Dingo enjoyed them equally. (I'm lucky that the Dingo family has never been shy about sharing food off each others' plates...this way we all get to try a little of everything!) Service was excellent, prices fair, and ambiance pleasant. Finally, the Purple Olive is one of the first restaurants I've noticed in St. Aug to *feature* locally-grown products. The chalkboard behind the maitre d' station lists the local producers and what products come from which farm. Coming from a very "eat local" place, I am always happier supporting local restaurants that support their local farmers. read more

Our server, Trevor was outstanding and was only outdone by the food! This was our first time at Purple Olive and we will be back again. We had the baked brie for an appetizer (it was ok) followed by a Salad for my wife and Crab bisque for me. For the main entree, my wife had a rib eye and I had the scallops. OMG ... everything was so tasty and hot!! We finished the night off by sharing a piece of Gateau (home made). Overall, great service and outstanding food in a warm and relaxing atmosphere. We thoroughly enjoyed the meal and will definitely recommend this place to others! read more

This restaurant is AMAZING! Don't let the strip mall fool you. He just put all his capital into the food, not the setting and furnishings. The chef has an intelligent, delicate touch with the food. Not a restaurant for the chicken strip crowd. I had a trigger fish that was perfect. The gnocchi need work, but they were passable. The short ribs were light and savory, just lovely. I can't wait to return. Just returned, 6 months later. Food is still excellent! read more

The place has great food . Seriously enjoyed everything we had . Well I wasn't that blown over by the Caesar salad but other than that everything was great. Chef knows his business! read more

My family gathered in St. Augustine to celebrate our parents' 50th wedding anniversary. We chose the Purple Olive for our low-key dinner celebration and it was perfect. I was able to reserve a table for 10 through Pete (even though they take most reservations the day of), the Chef. The food was excellent, the service was excellent (thank you, Billy), and the price was right. I highly recommend this restaurant for those looking for great food in a touristy town where it can be hard to find. read more

Exceptional!! Had the lamb chops and my husband had the ribeye with Gorgonzola cheese along with asparagus and lobster bisque soup

We just discovered this place after vacationing in the area for a number of years. How did we miss it? Our food (for a party of four) was all outstanding. The lamb was about as good as I have ever had. The service had nothing to complain about. This is now on our annual must-eat-at list. read more

One of our best dinners in St Augustine, unpretentious strip mall location but very warm and inviting inside. We had seafood in pasta (huge portion: the leftover was enough for 2 to have lunch on the beach), salmon in macadamia with mango, flambe dessert and a nice wine. Great price value for fresh, perfectly seasoned food. GO! read more

Great place. Good menu selection. The food is delicious, service friendly and efficient. Willing to bet this is the best restaurant in the area. Will definitely return next time we are in the area. read more

Found the purple olive and I must say it was incredible! The service was top notch and the food was unique and delicious! We tried a few apps and everybody out of a party of 8 had zero complaints! I would highly recommend this place and will def return when back in the area! read more

When I am in Saint Augustine I go out of my way to eat here. The atmosphere and food are excellent and prepared the way you like it. the house red wine is geat read more

Filet excellent, good wine selection. Husbands beef bourguignonne was tough.

We tried a bunch of stuff at the Purple Olive and loved the food. For appetizers we had wonderful seared tuna, salad, and a great bruschetta. For entrees we had a tasty grouper, shrimp w/ pasta, and mashed potatoes, all really good. The service was timely and friendly. We highly recommend the place. read more

Ordered the blackened ahi tuna and the plate was perfect and the food was as good as it looked. My husband ordered the scallops and both of us ate in awe for the flavors. We will be back! A couple of criticisms: the bread. It was fresh but I prefer a crusty European style. The bread was just bread. And the decor/atmosphere. Nice but could use an upgrade to match the food. read more

We liked everything about this restaurant. The grilled eggplant and the sesame tofu - 2 of several options - for vegetarians were excellent. The yummy chocolate gateau cake was enough to serve three. The presentation and service were good. read more

This is a hidden gem of St Augustine! We have eaten at many places and look for something new all the time. How have we missed this place?! Food is absolutely delicious. Atmosphere wonderful. Waitstaff knowledge and patient! Loved this place! Everyone should try it! read more

Great dining experience. Always eat here when in st.augustine. Always have the special never had a disappointing meal.

My all-time favorite restaurant....so much like a small French restaurant...an unexpected find in an otherwise strip shopping center. Wish that Gordon Ramsey could do a show about the Purple Olive, but, of course, he won't because there are no problems with it. The open kitchen is delightful. A great place for a small birthday celebration with a birthday cake that could be right out of a starred Michelin restaurant. Try it--you'll love it. read more

One of the best kept local secrets! Great food all fresh prepared with local fare! Every time I go, they have something new I want to try....and it's delicious. Food is cooked to perfection and the staff is super friendly. Family owned and operated. Casual dress....it is Florida after all! You won't be disappointed!!! read more

Nice place. I got the Garlic Shrimp Pasta, which was pretty good, but had a little too much liquid in the dish. My dad got the blackened salmon, but he thought it was overcooked and dry. Otherwise, the ambiance was kinda lame but I liked the overall experience. But don't take this comment negatively. I really did enjoy it. (Note, I had a little piece of balking in my water) read more