The Olive café and bar opened its doors for the city beautiful Chandigarh in August 2022 at sector 26, Chandigarh and I recently got to try some of the dishes of this white walled wonderland. A gourmet café menu by chef Jyotika Malik, freshly brewed coffee, bespoke drinks, hand-crafted cocktails and a robust wine list are some of its everyday elements.

As soon as you enter the place, you are in awe of the signature Olive whites and blues which’ll pull you into a mirage of being by the Mediterranean Sea. The naturally lit white pebbled courtyard with cozy arm chairs, lush greenery and bougainvillea blooms, make Olive a warm, inviting and toasty space.

Things I tried:

Cappuccino (4.5/5): Amazing coffee, subtle on the palate, with the right amount of creamer. I loved that they served cookies and plenty of sweeteners to choose from along with their coffee. Nothing’s better than a warm cup of coffee on a sunny day in winters.

Tomato & Basil Soup (4.75/5): A contemporary take on the classic tomato basil soup, they’ve elevated the taste a notch by coupling the heart tomato and basil broth with candied tomatoes, freshly roasted cherry tomatoes and pesto oil along with a sour dough melba toast on the side. The layers of textures combined with subtle and fresh flavors create a perfect symphony to start your meal with.

Salads (4.75/5): I tried their Slow-roasted root vegetable salad and Fresh fig & chevre salad. The earthiness of slow-roasted carrots, beets, sweet potato and pumpkin contrasted well with the tart sumac dressing and fresh arugula in root vegetable salad. While I loved the earthiness of the root vegetable salad, the subtly vibrant fig & chevre salad was a hit. The fruity sweetness of figs and grapes contrasted well with the creaminess of goat cheese mouse, richness of caramelized onions and tartness of apple cider vinegar. The salads at olive are distinctly well balanced with tart and fresh flavors combined to tingle your taste buds without being overly heavy or rich on the palate.

Pasta & Pizza (4.5/5): I their Gnocchi pasta and Sicilian Pizza for the mains. The gnocchi was cooked perfectly soft and was served tossed in a rich tomato bell pepper sauce with some wilted kale and parmesan. Olive serves cracker thin wood fired pizzas which I’m not totally a fan of, however you’d love them in case that’s your go to. I did love the fresh artichokes, sun dried tomatoes, olives, eggplant and feta topped on the pizza which was again perfectly baked inside out.

Desserts (4.75/5): The deserts at olive are totally an indulgent affair sans the guilt of being heavy on the palate. I tried their Sticky date & toffee pudding and Caramelized apple tart. The richness of sticky date sponge combined well with the caramelly flavor of the toffee sauce and was served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream to cut through the richness. The apple tart was surprisingly flaky and light with poached thin slices of cinnamon scented apples and was served with a boozy scoop of rum and raisin ice cream.

• Taste: 4.75/5
• Portion: 4.5/5
• Service: 4.75/5
• Ambiance: 4.75/5
• Price: 4.25/5

Price: INR 3,000 for a meal for 2 (w/o alcohol)

The signature Olive whites and blues and the alfresco courtyard transcended me into a mirage of being by the Mediterranean Sea. Their was an eye to detail with the textures and flavors of the dishes I tried, all of which created a robust and memorable dining experience. Though the prices are on the higher end, the gourmet ingredients used and satisfactory service by the staff won’t leave you disappointed. Do visit Olive for a leisurely lunch in the sun-dappled alfresco courtyard, a romantic dinner for two with live grills under the stars, or a raucous evening with friends at the bar.