Last Friday night we had dinner at Olivea for the first time.  We attended a birthday happy hour on the patio of Hamburger Mary’s first which was really crowded but fun and then just walked across the street - I really love this part of Uptown.  We asked for and got a seat on their patio.  I last posted about our brunch there at the end of May. 

We started with their Charcuterie and chose to do a tasting of three.  Our choices were the “duck liver mousse, fig compote and pickled onions“, “lamb sausage and minted yogurt” and the “boudin blanc with mustard“.  All of the flavors were very bright and played well together.  We had to ask for extra toast for the mousse and even the lamb sausage was very moist and spiced perfectly.  The real surprise for me was the boudin blanc which I had never had before - they make it in house and it really was off the chart moist and delicious.

We also tried their “potato, onions and rosemary” flat bread which was another first for me and just as delicious as the Charcuterie.  For our entrees we chose “grilled skirt steak with onion mermelada and romesco” and “duck meatballs with creamy polenta and shaved pecorino“.  I ordered the steak medium rare and it was cooked perfectly - it practically melted in my mouth - the pool of romesco really was a great accompaniment in both flavor and color.  The duck meatballs were huge - three on a plate - and nestled in the polenta which made for a great visual presentation.

For dessert we had the “warm honey walnut tart with fromage blanc ice cream“.  I am still thinking about not only how great the fromage blanc ice cream tasted but how the tart was sweet and savory at the same time.  Hands down this is the best meal I have had on 17th so far and the service was excellent as well.