We went here on our first night of our vacation in St. Augustine, and we were so glad we did. Our appetizer, soups and both of our entrees were all delicious- we only wished we had room for dessert. The Gorgonzola and Beef Tip Flatbread appetizer was probably my favorite part, though the lobster bisque was a close second. I had the Espresso Rubbed Gorgonzola Crusted Pork Loin, which was tasty, though I actually liked my fiancés stuffed chicken more. The wine and beer selection was nice as well.  The environment was wonderful for a dinner date, with cute candles and decor. Our waiter for very nice, as was the woman I presume to be the owner who was very friendly. I will definitely return here on my next trip to St. Augustine.
Review Source:One of our best dinners in St Augustine, unpretentious strip mall location but very warm and inviting inside. Â We had seafood in pasta (huge portion: the leftover was enough for 2 to have lunch on the beach), salmon in macadamia with mango, flambe dessert and a nice wine. Â Great price value for fresh, perfectly seasoned food.
GO!
We just discovered this place after vacationing in the area for a number of years. How did we miss it? Our food (for a party of four) was all outstanding. The lamb was about as good as I have ever had. The service had nothing to complain about. Â
This is now on our annual must-eat-at list.
Great little place in a indistinguishable strip mall with wing restaurant and seafood place. The Purple Olive is the stand out.
The food was wonderful, the servers were numerous and attentive, and the food was served with good time intervals and served hot. The menu is interesting and varied, with a "build you own" entree with several choices. They also have a good wine list that is reasonably priced. There is an amazing prefix dinner with 3 choices each for appetizer, entree and dessert - a spectacular deal for excellently prepared good portioned food. ( A coupon from "Restaurant Times" - a local brochure available at hotels and tourist haunts gives you an additional 10% off!) This is a gem that sparkles and will see us again.
I guess this is considered to be one of the finer restaurants in St. Augstine Beach. We went on a Friday night with no reservations and had no wait. I had the trigger fish, which I had never seen before, but I found it to be a bland, unmemorable fish. Even the mango salsa that I requested to accompany it (you have a choice of ways to prepare catch of the day, as well as sauces), didn't jazz it up much. My husband got the pork chop with chimichurri sauce, which he ended up scraping off because he didn't like it. His dish came with mango relish (different from my salsa) which made the pork more edible. I got a salad but for the life of me I can't remember what it was. Also got a kale side dish with pine nuts and raisins. I've had a variation of this dish before and this was well-prepared although I realized I don't really like kale -- my bad. My daughter got the filet mignon with pretty tasty mashed potatoes and grilled vegetables. Probably the finest dining on St. Augustine Beach -- but still not up to my city standards. Shows more promise and originality than any other place around, however. Our waiter was Jeff and he was really sweet.
Review Source:Wow! What more can I say. We have driven by this place before but tonight we got into town late and decided to try it. Outstanding on every count! Our server, Andrea, was talented and charming and the food was stellar. Trigger fish? Are you kidding me? I have never see it on a menu outside the Keys and it was cooked perfectly. More impressive was that my vegetarian daughter had the best tofu dish she has ever had, the Sesame Tofu. It was good enough that I had thirds.
We eat out a lot and are at least semi foodies. This place is now in our top 5 meals anywhere. And in a small strip mall on the beach in St. Aug? Crazy!
I heard great things about the Purple Olive from some co-workers, and of course it's #7 out of 262 St Augustine restaurants on Trip Advisor, so I figured it was worth the drive from Jax to check it out. Â Date night!
When we arrived, the main dining room had just filled up. Â It would have only been a 10-15 minute wait but we opted for a table now (to get to the good stuff!). Probably should have waited: the view of the kitchen isn't very pleasing (not a 'chef's table' kind of view). Â So I think by that choice we lost some of the ambiance of the place. Â I hope the owners can improve that side of the house soon.
I do belive Deidre was our waitress (server? Â what's the proper term these days?) . Â The service was good, and maybe she was filling in on a short handed night, but there were a few lapses that I was surprised about. Â The prices at the Purple Olive are very reasonable, and the food tastes great, but I was expecting a high end experience from the reviews I've read. Â The server should know the menu, or at least have notes to answer any questions. Â An easy one like 'what cheeses are on the cheese plate' should not elicit an 'I'll check'.
Moving on, we had heard about their incredible crab bisque, and so had to order that. Â It was very good, with some nice pieces of crab, and not even a hint of a crabby/fishy taste. Nice smooth flavor throughout, with a nice pepper kick also. While we prefer a cream based crab 'bisque' (which is not technically a bisque, I know), the Purple Olive's crab bisque is the best true crab bisque we've had!
For entrees my wife ordered a Chef's Grill filet with the Brandy Peppercorn sauce, medium rare. Â It came out on the well done side of medium, and Deidre handled it well and quickly and we got one done medium rare. Â It was a great filet and didn't need the peppercorn sauce to be excellent. Â The sauce had nice flavors, but was more the consistency of a gravy. Â
I had the duck (I always get the duck where-ever I go, but it has to be compared to the wild duck I grew up on with Mom's cooking, so I have yet to find a resturant duck that is as good as wild duck). Â The duck was nicely roasted, a perfect medium rare, with a good crust on the skin (and it had a nice layer of fat, so the meat was moist and tender) . Â The port wine mushroom sauce was rich and smooth and wonderful. Â Overall it was a great duck, one of the best I've had (outside Mom's kitchen of course)
I can't remember the name of the dessert we had, but it was something chocolate with a crushed nut crust, and was very good. Â I don't think you could go wrong with any of their locally made desserts.
So overall I give it 4 stars: really good food, at really great prices, but not into the Great category overall. Â No twists or interesting combinations. Â They cook traditional food very well. Â If we are in St Augustine again, we would probably eat there if we didn't have another new place picked out to try, but I don't think we'll be driving an hour from Jax just to eat there again. Â If you are in St Augustine, give the Purple Olive a try, and I know you won't be disappointed.
Dined here 12/24/10 with Mother Dingo. She had the Beef Bourguignon and started with a salad. Â I had the Gorgonzola-crusted pork loin, started with a cup of their crab bisque.
Oh. My. Gods.
The bisque was out of this world, as was the pork. Mother Dingo tasted my soup and said her salad, although quite adequate, paled in comparison with the bisque.
The beef was very good, but the pork loin was amazing. Â I felt the beef bourg was out shined by the pork, but Mother Dingo enjoyed them equally. (I'm lucky that the Dingo family has never been shy about sharing food off each others' plates...this way we all get to try a little of everything!)
Service was excellent, prices fair, and ambiance pleasant.
Finally, the Purple Olive is one of the first restaurants I've noticed in St. Aug to *feature* locally-grown products. The chalkboard behind the maitre d' station lists the local producers and what products come from which farm. Coming from a very "eat local" place, I am always happier supporting local restaurants that support their local farmers.
First time I have ever given a 5 star to any restaurant. Â They got 5 stars from me because my overall experience was excellent, This includes the appearance, the food, the taste, service and pricing. You can spend a lot here so you may want to use some restraint when ordering.
The food was awesome. It was not over seasoned or outlandish. Just good fresh food and vegetables cooked right. Everything was prepared perfectly and the bathrooms were nice and clean. This is a great place to try something you don't normally order. I ordered the duck, it was very good. If you get there before 6:30 you can order a choice of very reasonably priced early bird specials.
I would definately go again, it is worth going a bit out of your way to stop by
They do recommend you call ahead for seating.
If possible try to get seated on the left side away from the smoky kitchen.
I highly recommend you save room for dessert!
Holy crap, this place is AMAZING. I mean, we were looking forward to this ever since we read the reviews, but we were still blown away by the deliciousness. My fiancée had the lamb and proclaimed it "Yummer-ific," which is, I'm sure you know, a highly technical terms for well-prepared meat. I had the Blue Corn Crusted Tofu with molé sauce and it was astounding. We also had an awesome baked brie appetizer and this dessert they set on FIRE. Fire, people!
Oh, and the bread n' salad that came with the meal were nice, too.
We had a great meal, and will definitely be coming back. You should do the same.
A friend suggested The Purple Olive for dinner while visiting St. Augustine, and overall I was impressed. It is in a small strip mall and with a bar and two other busy restaurants in the same shopping center, the parking lot was overflowing and we had to park on the grass next to a vacant building. By the time we left, the restaurant itself was also packed. Not that I am complaining, but be advised if you go on a busy night what to expect and perhaps try to arrive earlier in the evening.
The food was very good. I ordered a chicken Thai curry which wasn't true to actual Thai curries but was Thai-inspired and pretty good for what it was--my main complaint was that when I asked the waiter how spicy it would be, he said "mild" and I asked them to make it very hot and they really didn't. That said, it was fresh and tasty though lacking in some of the aspects that would mark it as "Thai", such as galangal and kaffir lime peel, plus the chicken was slightly overdone. Most of the other dishes on the menu were more complex and more expensive: duck, lamb, steak, and a variety of seafood. My friend ordered their macadamia-encrusted salmon which seems very popular and loved it. I would give the food five stars based on his salmon and how other items looked when I saw them being served to other customers. Obviously, the chef is aiming for a fine-dining experience in a casual setting, which is really cool. That approach reminds me of the Bistro Savannah (in Savannah, Georgia) which, oddly enough, also has a Thai chicken dish alongside its seafood fare. For The Purple Olive, my only suggestion is that the chef may wish to go to a couple first-rate Thai restaurants and study up on Thai curries so that he can better his own recipe. I have the feeling the curry is not up to par with the rest of the menu, honestly.
We didn't have dessert, though my friend has been there before and ordered dessert and claims the desserts are also exceptional.
The service was alright, but not as attentive as you'd expect for this type of restaurant, though as busy as it became in the course of the evening, I am unsurprised the waitstaff was not able to be as personal and attentive as perhaps one would expect. (In example, when I told the waiter I wanted the curry very spicy he offered to get some extra hot sauce which I could add to it, but he only showed up with this sauce about half-way through my eating the curry so it was pretty much a moot point then.)
Overall, St. Augustine is very fortunate to have this caliber of restaurant located near the beaches and presenting such an innovative menu. I would recommend it to anyone, though I do think the curry (and perhaps other menu items I have not tried, who knows) could use improvement. The irony is, once you bring your game to this high a level, even small issues will stand out, but props out to The Purple Olive for having such a high level in the first place.
Strip Mall Gem brings you to CHOW - Gasm!!
Unexpected taste explosion in this dark lavendar den of dining delights!
I met dear old friends to experience what was to be Chef Kenney's most lively entree-offering that evening. Rob, the headwaiter (who bears a striking resemblance to Office Space's Ron Livingston), spoke knowledgeably on each dish and could simultaneously steer those with severe nut allergies through the menu. Â The appetizer olives & cheese are the signature app - the olives are UNgodly flavorful and meaty. Baked brie in a flaky golden crust was a heavenly mellow follow-up.
The three of us shared the sesame seared scallops on a heavenly bed of jasmine rice. The crusted pork loin with accompanying mashed potatoes was a wonderful hearty pairing, and the salmon had a tangy wonderful mango rum butter served atop vegetables and the jasmine rice. Owner and Dining Manager Deidre Kinney points out that Purple Olive's menu reflects the values of local-grown produce and the slow food movement gaining momentum in eco-gastronomic circles.
Our wine of choice was the Red Guitar from Navarro Spain.Full bodied and bright and flavorful - I loved this red which went with the flow of the food from fish to pork to pizza effortlessly.
The conversation, company and culinary delights made for an extraordinary evening all the way around. An exceptional dining
experience that stands out in my mind as thoughtful, complex and well-executed. Bring good friends or dates here; they will leave  impressed with your taste in good food.
I actually work at another popular restaurant on the beach and I always offer Purple Olive as a suggestion as another restaurant that would really show how good St. Augustine cuisine is. Â We ARE a tourist run economy and by showing them to where the locals favorites are will encourage people to come back, hence my recommendations to this great place. Â The seafood is amazing, the steaks are truly the best in town, and they always have perfectly awesome specials. Â I once worked my restaurants booth next to purple olive's booth at the Greater Chowder Debate and they had an awesome gator chowder, which placed in the top three, maybe even winning, and I don't think they even have it on their menu regularly. Â If they have award winning recipes not even making it on there nightly menu they are doing something right. Â I know this sounds too good to be true, but I take my guests here to impress before any other restaurant in saint augustine, hands down!
Review Source:This was the shiny bright culinary delight on my trip to St. Augustine. Â I read about this place via Yelp and Urban Spoon and was really looking forward to it. Â
We weren't staying nearby, so it was a bit of a drive, but definitely worth the trip. Â At first read, the menu seemed a little chaotic, sort of a 'choose your own adventure' on one side with proteins, sauces and sides. Â The other half were chef specials that really covered the gamut from locally caught seafood to lamb shank.
When we sat down we were treated to a small bowl of deliciously marinated olives and some bread. Â Hoping to have more we started with the olive and cheese tray, which was HUGE. Â Definitely could have split that between 4 people (vs 2). Â Unfortunately though, those preview olives weren't on the plate, and some were so salty I downed a pint of water before trying another. Â Just a few minor tweaks and that app would be spectacular!
Dinner was just fantastic. Â I had the catch of the day, trigger fish, blackened and served with some wok fried veggies and kale with raisins and pine nuts. Â It was just incredible. Â Unfortunately I couldn't finish it, but man... I tried. Â I also sampled the lamb shank and the meat was so good, just falling right off the bone. Â Not real fatty, perfectly cooked.
The other stand out was the sesame cilantro vinaigrette. Â I wish that was bottled, because I would have taken it home. Â Just delicious!!!
Our server was nice, but he forgot I changed my order from soup to salad, which I can understand. Â It was busy and he didn't write our order down (no shame in doing that btw). Â
I would definitely be a regular here if I lived closer.
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Went to Purple Olive for the first time the day before Valentine's, 2010.
As stated in the previous reviews, this place is wonderful. The food, which is admittedly put out by a young Chef will no "formal" training is amazing, particularly when compaired to other Chefs in the area WITH formal training. He doesn't give them a run for the money. He walks all over the vast majority of them. In fact, the restaurant was recommended by Chef and owner of Cafe Atlantico; IMHO, one of the most tallented Chefs in St. Augustine.
If Purple Olive has a weekness, it is the decor. It isn't bad, but it doesn't match the food or pricing.
That said, Purple Olive is HIGHLY recommended. Â I was very impressed.
We went to the Purple Olive after asking around about a good place for dinner, but not "touristy". The Purple Olive came through in magnificent fashion.
In a strip mall, we would never have gone in without the recommendations. Seriously, there needs to be a little face lifting done to make the place look a little more inviting - or maybe that is the plan.
When we arrived we were only the third table but there was a steady stream of people in and out while we enjoyed our dinners. Most people seemed to be regulars and that is what we were looking for in a restaurant.
My wife and I both had scallops - Sesame Scallops for her and Broiled Scallops for me, with 2 different dipping sauces. These were Diver Scallops and the were huge and broiled to perfection. Their large wine list presented many different options and we chose a Carmenet Merlot along with a St Francis.
We will definitely return the next time we are in the area.
I came here with my boyfriend last weekend and enjoyed a wonderful and relaxed dinner. He ordered the macadamia encrusted salmon with diced mango on top, while I ordered the Hearts of Palm salad with a side order of grilled veggies. Both meals were perfectly portioned and were very filling. I loved the herbed goat cheese on my salad; it added the perfect amount of flavor. The inside of the restaurant is decorated very nicely with bright and colorful paintings and various objects of art. The theme of purple runs throughout.
It was a cute and friendly restaurant which I would not hesitate to try again. The osso bucco special was calling my name, and had I been more decisive I would have ordered that. No regrets with my own salad, however. The chocolate ganache flambe was fun and exciting and tasted lovely.
Nice romantic dining experience- a nice change of pace from the rushed and gimmicky dining options for tourists in the old downtown.
We really like this place. Very unpretentious but delivers a great range of creative dishes. I had the eggplant parmesian and would order it again after I try everything else. Chef Peter has a flair using plantains and black beans, as I found by tasting my wife's dish. The dishes are not the normal tried and true that you see everywhere. Â
Wine list is very good. Nice range in varieties as well as price.
Diedre runs the front. The service is spot on and smiling.
We'll go back.
After reading the reviews and planning a special anniversary here more than 3 months ago making sure every detail was exactly right even planning a menu and flowers for the table. The closer it got to the visit the more of a tourist I became for Purple Olive.
I communicated several times with the owners so as to insure that this would be a great evening. And like I said the closer it came to the date the more of a tourist we became. I understand that many tourist pass their doors as do many in the area but, yet do they have to be treated as a second class citizen?
Sorry Purple Olive your not going to treat this tourist that grew up in the area like a customer at a Walmart some one will always come threw the door.
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