Sunday Brunch at OLIVIA
- Savannah Taylor
- Jul 11, 2022
- 3 min read
(Photo Credit: @olivia_tampa on Instagram)
There are tons of brunch options in Tampa, but I have a new favorite! OLIVIA, located at 3601 W. Swann Avenue in Tampa, is an Italian restaurant created by Chef Chris Ponte, and everything about it is amazing. Just a quick scroll through their Instagram page (@olivia_tampa) will have your mouth watering and your hands entering your information for a reservation before you even realize it. Plus, they offer complimentary valet parking, which I appreciate because I absolutely hate parking lots- no shame here!
If you enjoy a little alcohol with your brunch, I highly recommend the Indigo and the Sicilian Lemonade! They both have a refreshing fruit flavor that isn’t overly sweet and pairs well with any of their brunch options. Their drinks make cute props for an obligatory Instagram post, too! Don’t drink alcohol? No worries! They have several 0 Proof options like fresh orange or tangerine juice, coffee, etc. The Indigo: Stoli Blueberry, Sipsmith gin, St. Germain and cucumber. Sicilian Lemonade: Stoli, Sicilian lemon, house made Limoncello, and a fun yellow and white striped straw!
We started our brunch with the Truffle Fries as an appetizer and it was the perfect portion to split between three people. They come in a silver cup with a blend of herbs, shaved Parmesan, sea salt and a dipping sauce. For the main course, I ordered the Orange Blossom Pancakes, which are served with ricotta cream (YUM!), orange zest, a blueberry basil compote and smoked bacon. I loved that they had just a hint of orange, it wasn’t overpowering at all and paired wonderfully with the flavors in the blueberry compote and Sicilian Lemonade.
My sister ordered the Chicken and Doughn-affle, which is OLIVIA’s take on chicken and waffles. This dish could easily be split between two people, as it comes with two waffle styled doughnuts each topped with a hefty piece of breaded chicken and a fried egg, along with speck ham, soppressata gravy and a rosemary honey maple syrup. My sister ate one at the restaurant and was able to bring home the other half, which they boxed up for her in the cutest to-go container! Our mom ordered the Biscuit & Gravy, which came with poached eggs, crispy pancetta, spinach, soppressata gravy and fresno. It had a bit of a spicy kick, but was definitely another delicious, filling option!
I placed a to-go order of the Mini Rigatoni and two meatballs to bring back for my husband, and he loved it as well. It kept nicely in the to-go packaging and still held the flavor after being reheated. Side Note: All of the pasta at OLIVIA is made fresh daily, in house, which I’m a huge fan of. They even have a room just to the right of the entrance where you can watch them make the pasta! How cool is that?
I’m already planning our next visit to OLIVIA, this time for a dinner date to try out their Ravioli, and Truffle Mac and Cheese! I might even venture out to try their After Dinner Drinks, specifically the Pistachio Macaroon and The White Witch. If you’re more of a wine person, they have plenty of options for you, too! I haven’t quite acquired the taste for wine yet, but the reviews I saw online speak highly of their wine collection.
The atmosphere at OLIVIA is sophisticated but still somewhat casual. There were a few families with younger children, and although I don’t recall seeing a children’s menu option, I’m sure the Orange Blossom Pancakes would be a hit with kids for brunch. I’m not too sure that it would be a great fit for children at dinner time, though, as I feel it would have more cocktail bar vibes in the evening, but I’ll update this post after my next visit to confirm. This would be the perfect Girls’ Night Out spot, as well! If you’ve been to OLIVIA, tell me your go-to order below!
Visit their website and place your reservation at:
I’m also open to any other restaurant suggestions in the Tampa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg areas.
Happy eating!
-Savannah
IG: @savannah.t.k
Pinterest: @schmidty0212
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