The Olive Grove - Canterbury

There are some great restaurants in Kent and all tastes and budgets are catered for. For the directory of Kent Restaurants click here. Our current featured restaurant is below.

The Olive Grove - Canterbury

A stylish Italian restaurant set on two floors near the centre of Canterbury. From the front of the first floor dining area you have great views of the Cathedral, particularly impressive after dusk when illuminated. If you're not from the Canterbury area try to reserve a table with a view of the Cathedral if you book in advance.

The tone of the restaurant brings to mind an upmarket French Brassiere, quietly stylish, staff dressed in traditional waiting garb, pleasant table decoration with a huge mirror on the back wall upstairs.

We've been to the Olive Grove twice, one to write the review, a second time for the pleasure of eating there!

Service is generally good, but when the restaurant is full you should expect to wait a little for your food. Book a table in advance if you are going to visit at busy periods (high days and holidays in particular).

No complaints about the food, well presented using quality ingredients, the starters lack a little bit of imagination. It's well worth checking out the 'Specials' board. Prices are above average for the Canterbury area but on our visit you could still get a pizza for under £6 so you don't have to break the bank. We paid about £16 per person for two courses (excluding drinks). If you like ice cream try the strawberry; fantastic.

If you can take advantage of lunchtime specials you'll find salads, sandwiches and light dishes like: Frittata Tricolore (Three egg omelette, filled with ham, mozzarella cheese, mushrooms and tomato, served with chips £6.15 ), Tritato di Bue Campione del Mondo (1/4 lb beefburger, with mozzarella cheese and bacon, served with salad and chips £6.35), or Olive Grove Set Lunch (Tomato, buffalo mozzarella and rocket salad, Followed by spaghetti carbonara served with tea or coffee £8.95).

Highlights from the menu when we last visited included (details subject to change):

Antipasti:

• Pane all' aglio - Plain garlic bread £2.75
• Pane all' aglio con Mozzarella - Garlic bread with melted mozzarella cheese £3.25
• Zuppa Di Legumi - Home-made vegetable soup, served with bread £3.65
• Insalata Mediterranean - Buffalo mozzarella, avocado and tomato salad £4.65
• Prosciutto e Meloni - Parma ham and melon with rocket salad £4.95
• Cozze Provencale - Mussels with garlic, onion and fresh mixed herbs in wine and tomato sauce £5.25
• Antipasti all' Italiana - Traditional Italian antipasti: ciabatta bread with a selection of cold meats £6.95

Pizzas

• Margherita - Mozzarella cheese, tomato and fresh basil £5.95
• Fiorentina - Mozzarella cheese, tomato, baby spinach, egg, sun dried tomato and red onion £7.25
• Prosciutto Funghi - Mozzarella cheese, tomato, Parma ham and mushrooms £7.55
• Rusticana - Mozzarella cheese, tomato, sausages, mushrooms, bacon and peppers £7.55
• Diavola - Mozzarella cheese, tomato, pepperoni and chilli £7.65
• Calzone Clarissa - Mozzarella cheese, tomato, roasted peppers, artichoke hearts, goats cheese and pesto £8.55
• Festa di Carne - Mozzarella cheese, tomato, pepperoni, spiced beef, chicken and bacon £8.65

Pasta

• Penne Arrabbiata - Short cut penne in tomato sauce with chilli, garlic and black olives £6.95
• Ravioli di Magro - Home-made ravioli stuffed with ricotta and porcini mushrooms in a cream sauce £8.95
• Tagliatelle ai Gamberoni - Egg tagliatelle with king prawns, chilli, garlic and fresh basil in creamy tomato sauce £9.95
• Rigatoni della Casa - Rigatoni with peppers, broccoli and chicken in bechamel sauce topped with melted mozzarella cheese and rocket £7.85
• Linguine con Zafferano - Linguine with chicken, garlic and baby spinach in a creamy saffron sauce £7.95
• Risotto con Asparagi - Arborio rice with asparagus, goats cheese, rocket and pesto coulis £8.65

Specialita'

• Pollo alla Parmigiana - Chicken breast topped with Parma ham and buffalo mozzarella in a tomato and mushroom sauce, served with seasonal vegetables and potatoes £9.75
• Pollo all' Inferno - Zesty marinated breast of chicken with rashers of bacon, garlic, onions, chilli and peppers in a spicy tomato sauce served with seasonal vegetables and potatoes £9.95
• Cotolette Al Rosmarino - French trimmed lamb cutlet with bell peppers in a wine and rosemary sauce, served with seasonal vegetables and potatoes £12.95
• Saltimbocca alla Romana - Veal escalope topped with Parma ham and buffalo mozzarella, on a bed of garlic spinach, in fresh basil and tomato sauce, served with seasonal vegetables and potatoes £12.95
• Medaglioni all' Olive Grove - Grilled medallions of beef fillet with wholegrain mustard, Vecchia Romagna and duck pate in a creamy sauce, served with seasonal vegetables £15.95

Dolci

• Coppa Tricolore - Three flavours of ice cream topped with strawberry sauce £3.75
• Sorbetto al Limone - Lemon sorbet served in peel of lemon £3.95
• Pannacotta - Italian baked cream, with raspberry sauce and exotic fruit £3.95
• Tiramisu - Made the Italian way, sponge fingers smothered in coffee and marsala wine £3.95

You'll find the Olive Grove at:nt>