A Denver-based restaurant specializing in handmade pasta, inspired by Italian classics and updated for a fine dining experience.
Insights
ItalianLocal ModernVegetarian Vegan FocusUpscaleDinnerBrunchFine DiningFarm To Table
Last updated: 9/9/2026, 5:36:26 AM
Key Information
Restaurant Olivia is known for its handmade pasta, drawing inspiration from Italian classics and updating them for a fine dining experience. They emphasize organic, local, and ethically-sourced ingredients. The restaurant is located in Denver's Wash Park neighborhood.
Customer Perception
Customers consistently praise Olivia for its impeccable service, describing it as exceptional and attentive. The food is also highly rated, with many calling the pasta spectacular and the tasting menu a creative triumph. Some reviews suggest that while the a la carte experience is good, it may not always match the brilliance of the tasting menu. The intimate atmosphere and excellent wine program are also frequently mentioned.
The restaurant offers a pasta-making class, which is described as a unique and enjoyable experience. They also have a curated wine list featuring Italian and domestic vineyards.
Based on reviews mentioning afternoon pasta making classes and dinner experiences, it appears that both lunch/afternoon and dinner are popular times. Weekends might be busier due to the fine dining nature of the restaurant.
Really nice restaurant and fantastic service. They were very kind and the drinks were great!
The French onion raviolis were outstanding; they were so balanced salty, sweet, acidic aldente. The gemelli and tagliatelle were cooked perfectly but unfortunately they desperately needed a bit of salt.
I had high hopes for Olivia but unfortunately I left a bit disappointed. The restaurant seems to be aiming for a more relaxed tasting menu experience, similar to Hey Kiddo, which is also a cool concept. I ordered the four-course tasting menu, but most dishes didn't quite impress me. The bread service was really good, and the butter had a special new good flavor in it The fouth course beef cheek was a standout until I hit some cold spots in the middle of it, which was a real bummer. That said, the side of crispy pork terrine was great — flavorful, tender, perfectly crispy, and nicely balanced with apricots. Easily the best thing I had all night.
The tasting menu at Restaurant Olivia is a creative triumph and easily a Denver highlight. However, the a la carte experience hasn't quite matched that brilliance; some main menu dishes lack the punch and complexity found in the curated courses. Despite the occasional flat note, the exceptional wine program and intimate atmosphere still earn it a solid 4 stars.
The service here is IMPECCABLE. Seriously. I worked in the service industry for 10+ years, and it’s incredibly rare to experience hospitality like this.
One time I ordered a cocktail that wasn’t my favorite. I didn’t say a word, because I hate sending things back and was fully planning to drink it anyway. Somehow, the maître d’ noticed my face from across the room, came over on his own, and immediately offered to bring me something else I’d enjoy. This is just one of many examples of the kind of service we’ve experienced here.
We’ve also sent multiple friends here and they’ve all come back telling their own stories of exceptional service. The food is 10/10, but it’s the hospitality that makes Restaurant Olivia so special. It’s one of the few restaurants that genuinely feels like it cares about every single guest that walks through their door.
This was by far the best restaurant I have ever been to, I went back in January and forgot to leave a review until now. Everyone I came in contact with was incredibly kind and attentive, we were there for about 2 hours and all of the courses came spaced out perfectly. Our waitress was amazing, she explained each course in detail when it came out, and each wine pairing is brought by a sommelier who were also very friendly and made the telling of the wines story fun. I went out on a limb ordering the tasting menu because there were quite a few things that I don’t typically like but I was feeling adventurous. I ate AND enjoyed foods that I have never liked before and probably will never eat again unless I have them from here. Overall it was a 10000/10 experience and whenever I am in Denver next I will be visiting again.
