Oliva on The Hill now serving lunch

Lisa Slay’s creative take on classic dishes make this a must-try lunch spot.

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There’s nothing quite as luxurious as a long, lingering lunch. Most days, we cram in a salad or a burrito at our desks while we work away, or pick up something at a drive-thru while we’re on the road. So taking the time to eat something thoughtfully prepared, in the company of others, in a beautiful and inspiring setting practically qualifies as self-care.

Oliva on The Hill recently opened its doors for lunch service (Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.) and delivers on all fronts. The tidy menu consists of sandwiches, salads, and daily quiche and flatbread specials with bold-yet-well-balanced flavors—including vegetarian and gluten-free options. The hospitality is top-notch, and the setting is idyllic. Fall is the perfect time to dine in the wine garden. Under a wisteria-laden pergola next to a bubbling fountain, it feels like a slice of Italian al fresco dining.

Chef Lisa Slay’s menu may look familiar, but her interpretation of classic dishes is new and intriguing. The meatball sandwich (lead image above)—a mainstay of The Hill—is topped with a tangy and crunchy giardiniera and melted fontina cheese. The salmon in the BLT is salt-rubbed and the bacon is brown-sugar-cured, and the sandwich is given nice smear of guacamole.

The standard lunchtime grilled chicken salad features pulled rotisserie chicken instead and is paired with succulent grilled peaches, served over a mix of arugula and romaine—the former for peppery spice and the latter for crunch. The quiche changes daily, featuring fresh and plentiful fillings. On our visit, it was packed with Italian sausage, asparagus, onions, and peas, topped with a buttery and salty fontina “crust” and served with a brightly colored salad.

“I’ve worked in restaurants for so long that I enjoyed just doing catering for the past few years,” said Slay. “But it turns out that I missed talking to diners, hearing what they want, and creating things they’ll really enjoy. I grew up in the city, and it’s a treat for me to be on The Hill now and cook for members of the great restaurant families that built this culinary community.”

Lunch service is the newest public offering from Oliva, which is primarily a private event space (lunch moves indoors when the weather turns). Known for its Wine Down Wednesday soirees, the owners wanted to do more to make the space a gathering spot for the community. “More young families are moving to The Hill, and they need a place to get to know each other and be neighborly,” said co-proprietor Carleen Kramer. “We hope we can provide those opportunities to make connections and become part of this great community.”

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