Olives

the service was amazing, the desserts were also delicious. we got 2 crème brûlée and cannoli , both were fresh and tasty. the music inside the area is nice aswell. overall im glad i found this spot for me and my friends for our stay in Mankato.

We went to Olives for the first time and loved it. It's not always easy to find elevated food in Mankato but we really enjoyed the food at Olives. We have recommended out of town guests for our upcoming wedding to stay at the Hilton Garden Inn because of Olives.

If you have not been to Olives lately it is time to go back! First, parking is very easy as they have reserved parking in the Hilton garage specifically for the restaurant and yes parking is free. The modern decor is very inviting when you arrive. The menu is not large, however all their food is made by Chef Matt. The entrees are excellent and his desserts are homemade. You really cannot go wrong whether you want pizza, steak, scallops or duck. There is also a changing wine, beer and bourbon selection if you are looking for some beverages! One of the best in Mankato!

Olives was perfect for a family birthday outing! The place is classy but not pretentious. The food -- wow! Great for teen to foodies to 81-year-old guest in our group, who got an adventurous dish & loved it! Our server, I think Abby, was excellent in being attentive but not hovering. She even put a candle on the complimentary dessert for the 81-year-old bday gal, who is normally a tough crowd but not tonight. Thank you!

I love the menu the new owners have created. Amazing starters. I would recommend the Beef Wellington wontons. We liked everything we tried, steak sandwich, reuben, rocket salad. The service is amazing. All of their staff are happy and they support each other as a good team should! I love hearing their positive interactions! Joe is an amazing bartender!

This restaurant is a fabulous culinary delight, Starting with the dirty martini, including homemade stuffed blue cheese olives!
Side fact:
My granddaughter said the Sherly Temple was also the best she has ever had
appetizers... Best Onion Rings I have eaten besides my recipe.
The Chicken Satay has no equal! It is juicy and has an intense flavor.
Dinner was exceptional, and the homemade desserts were a great finishing touch.
Our server Brooklyn was friendly and highly attentive, along with the other team members.
I appreciate a place that pays attention to the little things where you feel special and welcome.
I would recommend this restaurant and will be revisiting it!

Food was a masterpiece on the plate, steak done perfectly, and taste great. Olive tray to accompany dish was great. Taylor was a fantastic server. I'll eat here again.

Olives is back! Same name, new owners.

This Mankato staple was recently sold from the Massad family to a delightful couple who have taken the reputable name and retooled the Mediterranean menu and freshened it up a bit.

Even though the famed "Shwarma Pizza" is absent from the menu there is much to celebrate. My dining companion and I recently stopped there for lunch and were properly satiated by the updated menu.

My go to for a meal was the delicious beef and chicken kababs. Sadly they are no more but as they say "redemption draweth nigh" and I was easily swayed by the familiar luncheon buffet still in tact but with a plethora of new offerings.

The buffet has a wonderful potato salad and chicken salad, along with a fresh lettuce salad and fresh fruit. The sandwich bar had a great selection of choices including my new personal favorite - a very tasty BLT. Also included on the tiered selections were Cuban sandwiches, an egg salad wrap, a chicken wrap, fish sandwich. I wish I could give a review of the other sandwiches but the siren song of the BLT kept calling my name and who am I to ignore one of my favorite sandwiches.

I also had a brief taste of the Gazpacho which was a zesty tomato broth - perfectly balanced with flavors of fresh tomato and cucumbers. The soup of the day was a ham and lentil which was so delicious that I almost needed a straw to get every last drop.

My dining companion enjoyed the steak sandwich and she chose the potato gratin which was presented with geometric precision in terms of the presentation. I was able to sneak a bite of the sandwich and the potatoes and would have shouted "SOLD!" enthusiastically but did not want to risk embarrassing my companion.

The dessert menu has also been spruced up. Gone are some of the favorites and it appears that the pastry chef has been allowed to do what she does best - give our sweet tooth an explosion of flavor. I chose the Chocolate Mousse and it is one of the best desserts I have eaten in a very long time. Othere selections included cheesecake, passion fruit cheesecake, Creme' Brulee, and a chocolate decadence that looked so deliciouis that I will definitely eat this on a return visit.

I can honestly say that not only have the new proprietors done justice to a Mankato institution but they may have taken a good thing and made it better!

This place should really change its name, because it's way way better now than when the Massad's owned it. They actually have a variety of choices now... and specials... and creativity. They have to distance themselves from the previous owners.
I've had some amazing meals recently. Really good soups too. I had gone there years ago and ordered tomato basil soup. When I asked the server where it came from because it was so bad, they said it's just their marinara sauce!! Thankfully that's no more.
Could use an aesthetic change too, it's a different/ better restaurant now, have a grand reopening and create some buzz.
Only complaint is that the homeless looking bartender was a know it all and pretty short... not really meant for hospitality....

Olives is a real hidden gem. Inside of the Hilton Garden hotel and serving all day, you'd never know this is an inspired chef restaurant with five star menu offerings. I had the walleye and my wife had the top sirloin and both were as good as it gets.

This owner- operated restaurant is "all that" and affordable to boot. Drinks are well made and very tasty as well.

I only wish I had more reason to be in Mankato!