So, I’ve been meaning to try out this place called Olivine for a while now. It’s supposed to be a pretty fancy Italian joint with ocean views. Sounds dreamy, right?
First, I tried to see if I could just walk in, especially since it was a weekday and during off-peak hours, figured it wouldn’t be too crowded. Turns out, everyone else had the same idea. The place was packed! They told me it’s always like this and reservations are a must, especially during peak times.
Feeling a bit let down, I decided to call them up. But, no luck. It was right in the middle of dinner rush hour. The phone just rang and rang. Pro tip I learned: don’t call during lunch or dinner service. Makes sense, they’re busy serving people, not answering phones.
Next, I went online. Olivine’s website was easy enough to find. But, here’s the thing, they need quite a bit of notice for online bookings. Like, way more than I had planned. So, that was a no-go.
I even tried some of those third-party reservation apps, hoping they might have some last-minute openings. No dice. They were all booked up too.
At this point, I’m starting to think this place is like the holy grail of restaurants. Then I remembered some random tip about calling at 4 p.m. on the day you want to go. It felt like a long shot, but what did I have to lose?
So, I set a reminder, and at 4 p.m. sharp, I dialed their number. And guess what? Someone actually picked up! I asked as politely as I could if there was any chance of getting a table that evening. I even threw in a request for a window seat, just for kicks.
The person on the other end was super nice, but they couldn’t manage a window table with that much short notice. Still, they did manage to squeeze me in! Score!
Finally, after all that, I got to experience Olivine. And you know what? It was worth the hassle. The lobster pizza and truffle pasta were out of this world. And the view? Just as amazing as I’d imagined.
Here’s what I learned from this whole ordeal:
- Call way ahead of time, like a month in advance, if you can.
- If you’re trying to book the same day, 4 p.m. seems to be the magic hour.
- Be polite on the phone. It goes a long way.
- If you really want that window seat, give them plenty of notice.
Conclusion
Getting a table at Olivine is definitely a challenge, but if you plan or get a little lucky with a last-minute call, it’s totally doable. And trust me, the food and the views are worth the effort.
