Olive Bistro

The pebbled parking lot and the gate with shades of blue, the stony pathway amidst rocks and flowering trees leading up for a moment and then leading all the way down, and while doing so giving a faint glimmer from the lake beneath. I am not poetic at all, but this place drove me crazy with its ambiance, for it was like a mini Santorini out here in Hyderabad. I asked myself - why did I not come here earlier?

Olive Bistro is located on Rd 46, Jubilee Hills, quite literally sitting atop the hill overlooking Durgam Cheruvu(the Secret Lake). With a breathtaking ambiance and amazing food, this place indeed has won quite a lot of hearts. It was Sunday and it was unexpected news for me that they have a brunch instead of la carte. I still went ahead with my family, and this is where an amazing culinary experience started.

We had a table reserved for us near the window and we settled down, while still admiring the interiors. The staff took our requests for mocktails and cocktails(and for my daughter too!) and we started looking at the food options that were on the display. A good array of salads was what my eyes fell on. They were not only enticing by looks, but tasted equally great. I particularly liked the Mediterranean Crisp Chicken salad for the crunchy veggies in it which was complemented by the crispy chicken bits. A mix of crisp and crunch with a very delicate balance of flavors! 

Recreating Mediterranean dishes, and to do so very consistently does indeed reflect on the skills of the chefs. This was the first time I have tried each and every variety of salad served in a buffet and liked them too! Vegetarian, Chicken, Seafood - there were about eight salads. I have already mentioned how delicious the Mediterranean Crisp Chicken salad was earlier, but I cannot negate the fact that the roast pumpkin and goat cheese and the couscous were one of the best dishes in the vegetarian section. The roasted pumpkin slices pampered in typical Mediterranean spices, and the goat cheese in it gave a mix of sweet and savoury flavours. The Baba Ganoush is defintely the best I have tried so far, made with tender aubergines and I really couldn't find the seeds!

Coronation Chicken Salad

Fennel, Chilli & Fish Salad

Mediterranean Crisp Chicken Salad

Baba Ganoush

The cous cous here is a notch ahead in quality when compared to many places. The last time I have had cous cous was almost 4-5 years back in the US, thanks to a Moroccan friend there. I would say the one I tasted here in Olive Bistro definitely had all the elements of taste in it. Soft, granular, non-sticky - and the capanota added the right amount of sweet-sour flavor to it.

Cous Cous & Caponata

Classic Greek Salad

Roast Pumpkin & Goat Cheese

The tiny rubble of breads was a visual delight, though I only tried the prune danish. I can't say if it was perfectly made, but I would say the sweetness complemented the crisp pastry.

Assorted breads and relishes

Wild Berry Cheese Cake

Drunken Fruit Cake

left to right - Honey Soaked Polenta, Drunken Fruit Cake, Prunes Danish, Wild Berry Cheesecake

left to right - Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Brownie Swirls, Coffee Cake, Pineapple & Rum Upside Down Cake

left - Charmoula Basa, right - Chicken Espatada

The charcoal roasted mushroom was the best thing according to me in the whole brunch! It tasted so wonderful, with the right amount of roast, not too soggy, giving out flavors of olive oil, the chef told me that only about 3-4 ingredients were used to prepare it!

Charcoal roasted Mushroom and Harissa Cottage Cheese

I tasted an apple and leek vichyssoise for the first time. I was told that it is served cold. It had a mild sweet taste and I guess it was garnished with chives, but I am not sure. I may not have liked that cold-sweet(mild) taste on the first sip, but my palate got used to the taste gradually. I have been thinking - why not serve this as a warm soup?

Apple & Leek Vichyssoise

Chicken and Sweet Corn Pizza

We ordered waffles for our daughter but eventually ended up finishing it ourselves. Great taste, accompanied by maple syrup, but I felt it gave out a little of eggy smell. Gave my feedback to the chef who said he would look into it.

Waffles & Maple Syrup

The vegetarian paella was really not up to my expectation. It felt more like an Indian pulao rather. I would say this one dish was kind of odd one out from the b(r)unch!

Vegetarian Paella

The OB Courtyard Grill

Spaghetti Aglio Olio with basil chicken and veggies

The spaghetti aglio olio that we asked for at the live pasta station was something which astonished us with its taste. A simple dish with a handful of ingredients(yes, I had requested a handful of veggies and chicken to be added) and it taste was delicious.The next time I am there, I might try the pasta with alfredo or carbonara or even pomodoro sauce, but I definitely will order an aglio olio as well!

on the plate,clockwise from left - Crockpot Bourbon Chicken with Broccoli, Charmoula Basa, Veg Paella, Mushroom & Pepper Fricassee, with a serving of Sangria(right)

Sangria

The Sangria was heavenly! I was told they used Sula brand of wine for it. The fruits were cut of the right size, which I find many other places make a mistake with. The cut has to be just small enough to nibble on, not a tad larger to consciously chew them - that's my type of Sangria. But frankly speaking, I didn't find much difference in taste for a martini(vodka based) and a vesper(gin based). The pina colada was good, but still second to the sangria.

left to right - Vesper, Pina Colada, Sangria

Olive Bistro is definitely a premium priced Bistro to dine in, but with the fabulous ambiance and the fantastic food, I would definitely recommend it for anybody who loves food and loves to try out cuisines. The price, in my opinion, justifies the great food and the marvelous hilltop setting, not to forget about spotless service. And yes, the next time I will try to have a fresco dining!

Ambiance - 5/5(best in class!)

Food - 4.5/5(the drinks were a tiny wee bit down than the food)

Service - 4/5 (good service!)

Money Matters - 4/5 (that says its pricey, but it justifies the food served!)

Go or  no-Go?   Just GO!!!!