L'Oliva 62 High Road, Beeston, Nottingham NG9 2JP

"I was walking along Beeston High Street with my wife, looking for a new restaurant for date night when we came across L'Oliva. Stepping through the door into a warm, inviting atmosphere, I was impressed by the ambiance of the place. The music was just right - European, instrumental, at the right volume, - the furnishings and decor well chosen, and the Italian gentleman who greeted and seated us was excellent. But none of that matters if the food isn't good, and I'm picky. Thankfully, the food was even better than the front of house atmosphere - authentic, Italian food made from just a few ingredients, perfectly cooked and beautifully seasoned. I decided to risk a seafood pasta dish, to really take the measure of the place. I usually avoid ordering seafood because many chefs get it horribly wrong, serving bouncy-ball-hard scallops and chewy, past their best muscles, but the chef cooked them perfectly. The squid rings were soft with a little bite, the mini-scallops were the perfect texture, the muscles fresh and delicious. Best of all was the oil-based, authentic sauce that reminded me of trips to Rome. I couldn't recommend L'Oliva more highly and will be returning to work my way through the menu. Thanks for the delicious meal!"

"We had an absolutely fantastic meal here. The staff were brilliant, the food was fab, and the wine was excellent! The only downside was that the toilet is accessed from outside and it was a cold evening! Fortunately the wine helped with the cold. I would highly recommend a visit here. We will certainly be going again."

"Our first time at the L'Oliva with our son and wife to celebrate his birthday. We all greatly enjoyed our food. Proper Italian fare! Very polite and helpful server. Thank you."

"The host was attentive, professional, friendly and welcoming. The decor and the atmosphere was warming and authentic looking. Although the food was well cooked, it clearly consisted of ingredients from the local chain supermarket therefore was very overpriced and we wouldn’t go back. We had an enjoyable evening though."

"This was our second visit to l'Oliva - the first was pre-covid, and we've been looking forward to coming back. We booked a table for early evening on a Saturday, and were impressed with everything. The food was absolutely fantastic, and while it's not cheap (as others have pointed out), it's no more expensive than a standard restaurant meal, and the quality of the ingredients is outstanding. Portions are generous, and the food is clearly prepared with a lot of care. Service was quick, and we had maybe ten minutes between our starters and our mains, which was perfect. Our waitress was excellent - very knowledgeable about the menu, friendly and attentive, and very patient and professional with some awkward customers who arrived not long before we left! The atmosphere in the restaurant is lovely - cosy without being cramped, with decor that feels authentically Italian without being over the top. Definitely worth a visit, and if you book through their website you can choose a date and time at your convenience."