Blue Olive Cafe & Restaurant

We popped into this restaurant unexpectedly on a Sunday after checking out their menu on the board. Chef/owner is Irish and it's a family concern. I loved the seafood chowder they served, it was not your run of the mill chowder. The muscles opened but still in the shell, as tender as the large pieces of seafood in the bowl. The service consistant and friendly. This is a small restaurant with seating inside and out onto the esplanade. It is surrounded by somewhat larger and noisier restaurants, but we are convinced we made the right choice.

Went to lunch ($20 special) for the first time last Friday with my wife. The restaurant was full but the one person on duty manage to handle everything with ease and with a great outgoing personality. It was a pleasure to be at the RestaurantStarters: Calamari with pineapple salsa and pull pork and corn chowder- so tasty YUMMain: Calamari Salad and Grill Barramundi - so tasty and Calamari the best I've ever tasted through out Asia Pacific - gave compliments to the Chef!2 Glasses of Sav Blanc, not bad drop for the price.So impressed, said we would come back and have recommended to othersWent back today 10 AUG Oh DearSame choice as the week before (different chef) BUT1. Not the same lady as last week2. Attitude by senior staff left a lot to be desired very much take it or leave it attitude3. Quality of food very very disappointing, the Calamari cooked in a different type of batter and overwhelming taste of the cooking oil.4. Barramundi fillet had two large bones5. Sav Blanc different from previous week and queried if it was Sav Blanc, the question was not met with a great responseWill give it another go but will check first who's on duty

Ten girls (3 I didn't know) met for lunch, The menu was really good and when served it didn't let us down. I can vouch for the Calamari. We have visited a few times and have always been very happy with the menu and service. The outlook over Paradise Parklands is beautiful. A small walk along the Broadwater finishes a lovely get together.

Having read in the Gold Coast Bulletin that this was one of the top 10 places to have eggs benedict on the Gold Coast, we decided to try it. EEK. How can anyone even begin to be rated when they use bottled hollandaise ? Its more like mayonnaise, totally NOT like real homemade hollandaise. The bacon was blubbery but the eggs were done perfectly.

These guys do a great breakfast special, friendly service, great value. Sit inside or out, large groups would have to book. Always served with a smile :)