Olivo - Surbiton

Olivo Surbiton, formerly Il Palio, is in Brighton Road, only a short distance from the railway station, and under its experienced restaurant manager Roberto provides a high class Italian presence in this thriving Surrey town

Like the other restaurants in the group it focuses on traditional Italian cuisine, prepared with the freshest possible ingredients available in the market. Their chefs are proud to prepare recipes, many of which have been passed down from generation to generation, and then present them in a more modern style.

As you would expect, in the normal warm-hearted Italian way, children are always especially welcomed, a real fuss is made of them and they don't get referred to as 'kids'.

Hardly surprising that tapas have a Mediterranean origin when they make such a good job of antipasti, starting at Olivo with a selection of parma ham, mixed Italian salami, wild mushrooms, olives, artichokes, sun dried tomatoes and mixed leaf salad, or a salad of Atlantic prawns and avocado in a delicate, tangy cocktail sauce, and that perpetual Italian favourite homemade minestrone soup, served with crostini bread.

Their pizza is made in the traditional Italian way and baked in a "stone based" oven to maintain the authentic Neapolitan taste, or you can indulge yourself and savour their hand-made pansotti, individually handmade ravioli filled with spinach, mixed herbs and ricotta cheese in a warmed walnut sauce; trofiette, famous pasta from Recco tossed with new potatoes, garlic, walnuts, green beans and their authentic pesto sauce or bruschettona, traditional Italian bruschetta bread, topped with garlic, fresh tomato, extra virgin olive oil, rocket salad and parmesan. For the more adventurous there is always the broad scope of chef's suggestions.

Italians love fish, so watch out for the pan-fried swordfish cooked in a mussels, black olives, cherry tomatoes mixed aromatic herbs, white wine and garlic sauce; fresh mussels cooked in a tomato, white wine, garlic and chilli sauce, or better still a selection of calamari, langoustine, tiger prawns and scampi delicately coated and deep fried.

Meat dishes offer pan fried chicken cooked with mushrooms, sweet peppers, courgettes and olives in a tomato, garlic and white wine sauce, or grilled sirloin steak served with a rosemary, cheery tomatoes, onion and Barolo wine sauce, accompanied with vegetables of the day.

Do leave room for their desserts such as tiramisu, pannacotta or the delicious sounding tortino alle albicocche, a light pastry case filled with apricot and topped with caramelised cream.

Italian wine at its best is a real delight and the list at Olivo starts with decent house wine by the glass or bottle, finishing with, amongst many others a notable style of Moscadello, made from the local grape and slowly fermented in new oak to produce a straw coloured yellow wine with golden reflections.

For further information on their events, and their ability to deal with yours, getting married at Olivo, gift vouchers and many other things including their history and philosophy, click on their Website and become absorbed.