#PeachysPicks #WashingtonDC #Olivia by #AshokBajaj @ashokbajajdc #KnightsbridgeRestaurantGroup
We show you the street view so you can find it if you don't live in Washington D.C. either!
It's not who you know. It never has been. IT'S WHOM YOU KNOW. And now we know Olivia, the hot new girl of a restaurant in town, to the south of Manhattan. Olivia started in January 2019.
The Ashok Bajaj hit parade continues on Whom You Know.
It is the latest and greatest brainchild of our pal Ashok Bajaj, master of Washington DC restaurants. There he is with Peachy! We love Ashok and all of his fabulous business endeavors, all of which you can eat. We really do feel like we are playing Monopoly, which we love, each time we add a property to Peachy's Picks. We have known Ashok for so long he did not have a Twitter when we met him! 701 was the second restaurant we reviewed ever in Washington DC and sadly, it has closed. But there are many other Ashok options, including this, his latest and greatest.
You will remember we once reviewed NOPA:
Olivia is now in the NOPA space and it has replaced it.
The interior is absolutely gorgeous and Ashok himself designed it.
Ashok personally goes to all of his restaurants every day. He is an omnipresent like no other restaurant owner we have ever met, and we've met a lot. He does about ten times the work because he owns around ten restaurants. However, he cannot do everything himself and hires a spectacular staff. As you might imagine, Peachy Deegan in no way travels light. This was her first stop and she was graciously greeted with everything!
General Manager and Wine Director Tim Hays was outstanding! His recommendations were spot-on and after talking to him, we realized we had worked with him once before!
Talent that works with Ashok advances and excels.
You do not see this everywhere.
Eric Rodriguez, Event Coordinator, was also extremely gracious and did a fantastic job! He has some Notre Dame blood in him via his Dad and Peachy was able to expand on her personal goal of befriending Notre Dame people (her favorite obviously is still Regis.) If you have not read us before, you should know that Peachy went to Boston College and is an extremely avid Boston College athletics supporter. She wrote professionally on all BC sports before she ever wrote on food. Though BC has had some tough years recently v. ND, we still remember that God is Good and so was Gordon's Kick.
Olivia is a hybrid of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine, and is highly original and trendy in its culinary endeavors. We began with the Tzaziki Labne, which was super lemony. With a greek yogurt base, it incorporates cucumber, basil, dill (we love) and is garnished with some sensational trout roe. They make housemade Lavash which is a cracker of Moroccan unleavened bread. If you ask for French Bread (Peachy is a French Bread monster akin to the Cookie Monster) that is also fabulous to vault into this wonder.
Peachy has a close relationship with Burrata, and to that end, she was thrilled to see it on the menu. We have never seen it like this: Warm Burrata Terracotta. It is enveloped by Zhug, which is a Middle Eastern spice with parsley, cilantro and oregano and though Burrata in our experience is usually fresh and warm, here it was hot and emanated these spices, making it stand out.
Chioggia Beet Salad has got the Beat! We applaud their extensive vegetable section and think Dr. Oz would like it too. Tertilla cheese, red beets and local greens are enhanced with creative pistachio vinaigrette (on the side for Ms. Pretty Picky, of course they listen here) and what you might think is a Hershey's kiss is date molasses here.
Littleneck clam glamour shots
Definitely the Littleneck Clams were our favorite dish we tried. In this case, of course they are not coming from Long Island like the ones in Manhattan because that would be utterly ridiculous. They are sourced from Assateague Island in Maryland and arrive in style directly to Olivia every other day. The Littleneck Clams are in a Vinho Verde broth of artichoke, fennel, cilantro, onion and oregano. P.S. if you are in Manhattan, obviously you should have Gerard's Littleneck Clams...you know, the Marvelous Mr. Meagher
(Maisel films at Chez Gerard, Old Town)
The presentation at Olivia is top-notch, and this is how our entree arrived.
Under the big top!
Under fish, meet Whole Grilled Mediterranean Dorade. Every fish entree in our opinion should be a whole fish, like the sensational Lavraki at Ammos.
This Dorade at Olivia is deboned and is beautifully embellished by a Saffron Rouille. Pea Shoot Salad, Orzo, Tzatziki and a fabulous Chorzio Shrimp Escabeche make this plate a total party.
We were also impressed with the quality and depth of the wine selection.
You absolutely must save room for dessert: you will love to indulge in both the Hazelnut Profiterole of Milk Chocolate and Milk Jam with of course Hazelnut, and also the classic Baklava.
Go to Washington to eat with Ashok!!!
Olivia is Recommended by Whom You Know!
Olivia
800 F Street, NW
Washington, DC 20004
(202) 347-4667
