Sitting pretty at the Olive

 I have been waiting for an opportunity to try out their fresh lunch menu and last week took the chance to catch up with a busy friend working in the neighbourhood over a spontaneous lunch.
It is a very pretty setting with a soothing garden and a chilled atmosphere behind a high white wall which excludes the constant traffic.
A large table of ladies was winding up coffee and cakes inside, but for a change it wasn’t raining, so I was comfortable on the verandah. The restaurant takes up the front room and verandah of a double story house sheltering a variety of stylish enterprises. The dining area is a mixture of restaurant and shop with much of what is on display for sale. Paintings and antique cabinets of glass, brass and china line the walls creating a feeling of warmth and welcome. Fabric, wall hangings and sumptuous rugs in rich colours are piled onto a sofa at the entrance. Lots of old wood and glass contributes to the feeling of dining in a cosy boutique.
There are a few tables on the verandah, mosaic table tops and surprisingly comfy wrought iron chairs. No-one else was sitting outside and my presence wasn’t acknowledged for a while.
One of the proprietors came out looking harried to direct the traffic director to stay at his post outside the gate. He said hello but didn’t send a waiter out. George arrived very promptly when my friend turned up and once we said that we only had an hour for lunch and needed to be back at our respective work stations before 2pm service was swift, friendly and efficient.
We wanted something quick and light and the menu offers just that. The Olive specialises in ‘spectacular salads’ and mine was an unusual and delicious combination of strawberries and haloumi cheese in a tangy balsamic dressing. (US$10). My friend was tempted by the smoked salmon with avocado, but changed her mind at the last minute and opted for pita bread filled with salami, olive pesto and brie. (US$10) hat arrived meltingly warm accompanied by a substantial fresh salad.
The menu is interesting and imaginative and will call us back to try the other combinations. Other choices include beef lasagne (US$15) and cous cous with roasted vegetables. (US$12.) The special of the day was fillet steak  (US $20. )
The Olive serves different breakfast options including a variety of omelettes and scrambled eggs with smoked salmon (US$10). Scones — with butter and jam and muffins are baked daily. (US$3)
Also on offer are health juices and smoothies and one can choose different combinations from a selection of fruit and vegetables  — including cucumber, carrot, beet, ginger and mint as well as seasonal fruits. My companion chose apple and ginger (US$4) really delicious with the ginger adding a nice zing to the refreshing apple.
We finished with chocolate cheesecake — a substantial slice covered in smooth melted chocolate and served with strawberries. (US$7 ).
After lunch we had a quick look at the other shops — an upmarket clothes boutique, a jewellery shop and upstairs the Attic Library — stretching the full length of the house under the eaves offers a wide array of popular fiction on membership basis.  Wrought iron furniture, candelabra and chandeliers  and antiques are part of the furnishings and are also for sale.
Lunch for two was US$36.
– g.jeke@yahoo.com