The Spirit of Italy

A peek inside the world of Olivio Italian Cuisine.

Olivio Italian Cuisine is the top of many a restaurant wish-list when it comes to great tasting Italian fare. Here you’ll find a deeply authentic menu, rather than just a crowd-pleasing nod towards the home country; the food at Olivio channels Italy so well that you might equally be in some seaside ristorante there, savouring all the goodness of local fare.

Guests love the casual feel of the restaurant itself. The whole experience of being here is an incredibly relaxing one, and that starts the moment you walk through the little garden and approach Olivio. It is set in the very north of Chaweng, with tranquil views out over the bay. There’s both an air-con dining room, then a dream of a terrace, with breezes coming off the sea. You’ll love the al fresco dining, with all the laid-back feel of eating right by the water. As this is the quieter end of town, you can enjoy the excellent surrounds in relative peace.

If the setting is wonderful, then the food definitely matches it. Over the years, Olivio has become a very popular port of call, and a lot of that is down to the savoir-faire of the chef here. Chef Jakkarin Huaysan, more usually known as Chef Chay, heads a dedicated kitchen team and creates the best of Italian dishes, always beautifully presented and filled with freshness. He’s an approachable figure, and in all probability you’ll glimpse him while you’re at Olivio. He speaks excellent English and, like the rest of the staff, is always ready to help.

Everything at Olivio is made from scratch. That’s part of the success story here. Staff are endlessly involved with making sauces and reductions; home-made translates directly into deliciousness.

The chef and his team even make their own gnocchi, ravioli, angel hair pasta, and fettuccini. Olivio is also one of very few resorts to have its own bakery – so even the bread is totally fresh. Come and taste it in the mornings when they put on an amazing breakfast – good enough for people from other resorts to drop in to eat. A whole range of croissants, rolls and cakes comes out of the bakery and is an integral part of a breakfast that is gourmet to the core, with a range of fare from international to Asian. The rest of the day is given over to Italian food (an extremely good Thai menu also awaits) and Olivio welcomes everyone not just to lunch and dinner, but for any kind of in-between grazing you’d care to think of.

Olivio has been going strong since it was established in 2003, and has an excellent reputation. It’s always kept its appeal, and prides itself making favourite dishes to perfection, with many guests coming back again and again. Good things don’t always stay the same, of course, and Chef Chay has just updated his recommendations. There are some very moreish newcomers, all definitely worth trying. Start off your meal with a black truffle soup or some roasted Japanese pumpkin with toasted almonds, rocket and a balsamic reduction. Then there’s a beautiful dish with Hokkaido scallops, accompanied by a mixed salad and Japanese pumpkin. It’s underpinned by three sauces that together give it amazingly good tastes. In the mood for something very traditional? Homemade angel hair pasta goes well with Samui’s own rock lobsters and is then enhanced with cream and zucchini. This is definitely a dish that pleases, with delicate tastes and textures throughout. For sumptuous mains, Chef Chay recommends the King Mackerel Chorizo Confit with Seasonal Clam White Sauce – it’s packed with flavour and is a bright burst of Mediterranean goodness. And for something a little more traditional, how about a steak? Think Australian Wagyu beef, the best kind, then cooked just the way you’d like it.

These are just a few examples of what’s on offer, but you’ll find plenty more on the well-considered menu, including pizzas, sandwiches and burgers. Everything tends to come in generous portions and is great value when it comes to maintaining your budget.

There are plenty of drinks available of all kinds, including a range of wines. Take advantage of the very generous happy hour from 12 noon until 6:00 pm when you can indulge in cocktails, beers and non-alcoholic drinks on a two-for-one basis.

Olivio Italian Cuisine is one of the island’s leaders when it comes to food and drink, and dining experiences here are made even better thanks to the scenic settings. Visit once and you’ll be drawn to come back and try more delights at this likeable and chic restaurant.

Dimitri Waring