Spanish Olive
If you’re in the mood for a cozy dining experience that brings a bit of Spain right to New Jersey, look no further than Spanish Olive. Nestled at 399 Mantoloking Rd in Brick, NJ, this charming spot is the perfect blend of intimate and casual vibes, making it ideal for any occasion. Whether you’re dining with family, catching up with friends, or simply enjoying a quiet meal, the atmosphere is warm, welcoming, and just the right amount of lively.
When you step inside Spanish Olive, you'll immediately feel at home. It’s the kind of place where the noise level is just enough to keep things interesting, but still comfortable enough to have a conversation. The restaurant is definitely good for groups—whether it's a celebration or just a casual get-together, you’ll find plenty of space to enjoy a meal with loved ones. And if you’ve got little ones with you, Spanish Olive has you covered. It’s a great choice for families with kids, offering an environment that’s both relaxed and accommodating for everyone.
What really sets Spanish Olive apart is its menu, which features the very best of Mediterranean flavors, all crafted with fresh, high-quality ingredients. Whether you’re craving seafood, tapas, or hearty meat dishes, there’s something for everyone. And with a well-curated wine list to complement the food, each meal becomes an experience of its own.
If you’re looking for a place to unwind after a long day or want a spot that can cater to a lively group dinner, Spanish Olive provides the perfect setting. With an inviting ambiance that’s both intimate and laid-back, it offers the perfect escape without feeling too formal.
Make your way to Spanish Olive and let the flavors of Spain come to life right at your table.
Reviews
I've been stewing on this one for over a week, let's say 4.5 until further visits raise it to 5. My dilemma is not with the food or our experience here, just that neither of us tried what we came here for. But I'm getting ahead of myself again... I was meeting co taster in Brick and I pulled up my trusty Yelp app, my long bookmarked Point Pleasant restaurants popped up, but they were all booked for this Sat night. What's this? A 4.5 star Spanish/ Cuban byob, and in our intended area. Sold! Easy reservation on Open Table and then to bring a wine suitable for Sangria- ization. This is a small place, maybe 15 tables if you include the few outside. Our waitress was very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. But we already knew what we wanted( Paella and Mariscada ) or we thought we did until hearing the specials and talking to her. I had to change my pick to the Halibut special, co taster choose the Caribbean shrimp. For sangria we went with the watermelon, and had the empanadas as an app. Before those items came out we were given their complimentary soup, a bean and potato with Spanish sausage in it. This was a great soup, worthy of even the soup Nazi. Add the crusty bread and we are off to a great start.... The sangria was made table side, our server muddled strawberries, melon and mint in a mason jar, added ginger ale, ice and mango juice and combined with our local wine. Very tasty and not too sweet. Next out were the empanadas, we both agreed that these were probably the best we've had. Each had a different filling( beef, pork, chicken) but spices and potato filling were similar. It didn't matter, each was delicious and the crust was not oily or too thick. My halibut was a simple preparation in a mango butter, fish was pristine and cooked perfectly, this was served with NJ asparagus and the other sides that come with all meals( rice, black beans, and salty and sweet plantains) all of which were good as well. Co taster loved her shrimp, and I agree, very good specimens that arrived in a little casserole dish swimming in a coconut gingery sauce. Almost reminded me of Thai food, but with a Caribbean influence. So with one great meal here, and none of it their Spanish or Cuban specialties, I'll need at least one more visit to fully experience what this place has to offer. Worth noting is that they have a punch card promotion, after so many visits you get 25% off, we also got a card for free app or dessert( we had to skip on this visit due to ice cream plans) but that menu looked great too. Solid Yelp find, and rating seems to be warranted!
I had a most enjoyable night here at the Spanish Olive. Mostly everything fell in place. Everything except perhaps the food; at least what I ordered. They had a gentleman playing acoustic guitar right next to our table. He was excellent in his ability and in that he played requests, and didn't blast us out with loud music. Service was very good the whole evening. We started with complimentary soup with potatoes, beans, & chorizo in a thick base. It was good but I like really hot soup. This wasn't. I ordered the pernil which is a shredded pork marinated with salt and spices. It came with white rice, black beans, and either sweet or salty plantains. I opted for yellow rice, a slight up-charge. My pernil was pretty good and there was plenty of it. All the sides were just warmer than room temperature. I feel they should find a way to keep their food warmer. So if that means putting out sides ahead of time, keep the heat on. The whole experience was very good; BYOB, live music, great service!
Giovanna and I were down the Jersey Shore for a few days and we found this gem... We walked inside and I literally was stopped in my tracks as I walked past a table with 2 guys having soup... It was the house special... The scent stopped me dead! It was Restaurant Week and the soup was on the house for every meal so I had it and it tasted even better than it smelled! Garlic, sausage... and some other stuff... Wow! Gio got Ropa Viaha. Totally Awesome! She used to get it in a great little place in Queens before we met and she told me that she had not tasted anything so good since then... I had Pork Chops with a Sweet Habernero sauce that i asked the Chef to kick up a notch! Wow Again!!! It was amazing! Had a great desert too... Maduras with Coconut Ice Cream and home made Whipped Cream... That and an authentic Cuban Coffee did the trick! This is a real Gem... don't skip it if you're down the Shore...
Delicious food and a great cute location Mom and pop restaurant Husband and wife seem to be doing all the work Cooking and waitress, hostess The food is great Sangria BYOB is legit You bring the wine and they'll make sangria Plantains and Maduros were off the hook Try the drunken clams (I got mussels in the same sauce) even better The coconut milk shrimp and was amazing The shredded steak was perfect Black beans were great I didn't like the rice (not the flavor) but they used the wrong grain of rice for Spanish rice I'm not going to even go there cause no one but a Cuban person would know that Service was amazing The look of the place was so cute for the area A must go to Olives when you sit down were so Good And the bathroom was clean with real soap
I finally had a chance at dining at Spanish Olive after reading the great reviews. They start you with warm, fresh bread that's very good. For appetizer I chose the trio of empanadas two beef and one chicken. Unfortunately, those were disappointing! They barely had any meat in them, and you couldn't even tell which one was chicken and which one was beef! They tasted like ones you would buy in the supermarket in the frozen food section and heat up in your microwave. I was skeptical how dinner was going to be at this point, but it ended up being DELICIOUS! I ordered the ropa vieja which came with maduros and rice and beans. The ropa vieja was tender and packed with authentic Cuban flavor. The rice and beans and maduros were very good as well. My waitress Cindy was warm and welcoming. I recommend dining at Spanish Olive in Brick, but skip the empanadas!