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3771 Mission at Richland Phone: 415.970.0375 Hours: daily from 7AM to 10PM Web: http://www.themenupage.com/olivias/index.html Reviewed: September 2008 By Maxine Chong My husband and I were very surprised to find this hidden gem of a restaurant in our neighborhood. Olivia's Brunch & Fine Dining is located at 3771 Mission Street, just up the hill on Mission, between Richland and Park. Look for it amid several Mexican and Nicaraguan restaurants and bakeries. The bars on the window didn't make the place look very inviting, but nevertheless, we decided to go in and check out the menu. We knew we had found something special when we saw the server taking a beautiful dessert to a customer. It was a slice of cheesecake with whipped cream, topped with a sprig of mint and served on a thin layer of seasoned applesauce with fresh sliced strawberries. I knew then we were going to return and try out this restaurant. We have since returned numerous times and have not been disappointed with any of the dishes we have tried. One of our favorites is the salmon plate: tender and moist salmon with foamed butter, mash potatoes that are firm but fluffy, and vegetables cooked just right and still crispy. The well-seasoned fajitas sizzling plates are also a winner. The food portions are huge – but if you are still hungry, don’t miss dessert. The flan is very light and tasty. The above-mentioned cheesecake is smooth and creamy. Maybe you’ll have better luck getting a taste of the chocolate mousse because it has been sold out whenever we have eaten there. What I have mentioned so far is from the dinner menu. There is also a lunch menu serving pancakes, omelets, waffles and such. The prices are very reasonable and the service is fast and very attentive. I had a chat with the owner/chef/server and discovered that the restaurant has been opened for nearly two years. He has more than 10 years of restaurant experience with a high-end downtown restaurant and he uses high quality ingredients purchased fresh at the local farmer's market. If you haven't been there yet, it a must-try place. |
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