L'Olivo

It was a feast of Mediterranean delicacies at L'Olivo for us on a Sunday night. After a fun filled road trip to the Peninsula Hot Springs, we were all ready for a good feeding.

Bowl of Chips

These chips were crunchy and salty in all the right places. Dip, double and triple dip these in teacups of tomato sauce or garlic aoili for a delicious starter. You can never go wrong with hot chips.

Gnocchi

This smelt divine as it was placed in front of me. The gnocchi was cooked perfectly- firm yet cheesy and melty. Absolutely delicious paired with a creamy rich pumpkin sauce, chewy mushrooms and spinach. It was a hearty dish that was enjoyed by all, though it did get quite salty as the night went on.

Risotto Primavera

The Risotto Primavera that followed was quite similar to the Gnocchi. Smooth earthy pumpkin, mushrooms, onion, sun-dried tomatoes and spinach swirled into al dente rice made a comforting dish. 

Cannelloni

Beautiful cannelloni tubes piped to the brim with a smooth spinach and ricotta filling. Topped with rich traditional tomato sauce, roasted pumpkin and a crunchy parmesan crust resulted in layers of texture and much flavour.

Linguine Calamari

Endless twirlings of linguine, calamari, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes and garlic in a rich napoli sauce. A simpler dish of the night, but still equally tasty.

Paella

A dish that was highly recommended by a friend, which did not disappoint. A seabed of prawns, calamari, mussels among chicken and chorizo were infused in a yellow saffron and herb rice. This Spanish classic was wonderfully fluffy, flavoursome, and was lifted to another level with a squeeze of lemon.

Grilled Haloumi Wrapped in Prosciutto

Parcels of firm squeaky haloumi pieces wrapped snuggly in prosciutto. These tapas were a strong savoury bite, which were a touch too salty - even for the salty haloumi dish we all love.

Chilli Calamari Salad

A salad ! What a relief it was when the salad arrived at our table. Following such rich and creamy dishes, the fresh zesty salad of mixed greens, tomato, cucumber, capsicum, red onion and grilled chilli calamari was greatly appreciated. 

Oh, how I L'Olivo'd this small family restaurant. Food was generous, fresh and genuine. The atmosphere was warm and friendly, coupled with service that was attentive throughout the night. After three unsuccessful attempts to dine here, I finally made it. Having said that, learn from my mistakes - call ahead as bookings are essential at L'olivo. Don't say I didn't warn you.

L'Olivo
171 Waverley Rd
Malvern East