Olive & Artichaut Restaurant Review
Delicious Mediterranean cuisine in the heart of Nice
Having lived in Nice for almost 7 years - my husband and I are passionate foodies, always on the lookout for new places to try. Olive et Artichaut, which is located on a tiny little street in the old town, has been on my radar for a while now, mainly because of its unusual name, attractively modern exterior and its open kitchen, looking out over a few select tables up front so diners can enjoy seeing their meal prepared by the chef right in front of them.
Olive et Artichaut is owned and run by a couple who are passionate about local cuisine and regional produce who strive to create dishes with a modern twist. The name was apparently inspired by two of the region's most emblematic products - versatile olives and artichokes!
Since my husband works in a four-star luxury hotel in Monaco, the bar was already set quite high - so kudos to the extremely friendly waiter who greeted us warmly and offered us a choice of either sitting in front of the open kitchen, or a quieter table at the back. We opted for the latter.
The interior is tastefully decorated and relaxing with its tones of black, white, and grey. There is a bookshelf at the back, overflowing with a variety of culinary cookbooks, also displaying some locally bottled jams and preserves as well as some interesting flavours of Zytha - a brand of artisanal craft beer. The restaurant is set up to accommodate couples and small groups. There is just one larger table to accommodate a bigger group of six or so, therefore booking in advance is definitely recommended.
I opted for the set menu which consisted of a cold, creamy zucchini soup with croutons and pistou - excellent paired with the accompanying olive bread, which was then followed by succulently cooked chicken and grilled Provençal vegetables. Dessert was a melt-in-your-mouth moelleux au chocolat accompanied by a scoop of home-made vanilla ice cream.
My husband was at a loss for words to describe his own seasonal Italian risotto which came with parmesan shavings, grilled pancetta, and was drizzled with a lovely meat stock. It was that good!
He followed this up with an amazing red berry tart filled with pistachio whipped cream. Each dish was perfectly crafted with just the right balance of flavours.
The chalkboard menu is ever changing according to what's available at the markets, and a three-course menu will put you back about 32 euros without drinks. It is worth mentioning that even though we were minus our 21-month-old, the table next to ours had a couple of young children who were immediately taken into account by the same attentive waiter who brought out a few toys, books, and colouring pencils to keep them busy. I also overheard him offer the kids alternative meal options. This restaurant is definitely child-friendly. A high chair is available on request.
Other than the impeccable service, the food itself was out of this world, and the price was also affordable for the quality you get. Overall, this place is a must visit and one of my most pleasant restaurant experiences ever.
