248Shares

Dear Olivia Delivers: Parkland’s Freshest Dining Destination Raises the Bar on Elevated Comfort Food 3

Chicken wings. {photos by Han Okcuoglu}

Dear Olivia Bar and Kitchen might be Parkland’s best restaurant. It’s already a huge upgrade over the now-defunct Deja Blue that occupied the space, and everything from the menu to the decor feels refreshed and vibrant.

The location has always been superb. Overlooking a small lake with a fountain, it always had a beautiful deck area for those wanting outside seating. The inside has been revamped with pleasing sea blues and Mediterranean upholstery, while keeping it spacious and inviting with exposed ductwork on the ceiling, nice polished wood tables, and a great marble indoor/outdoor bar area.

Their website advertised Dear Olivia ” as “Elevated comfort food”. The Executive Chef at Dear Olivia in Parkland, FL, is Patrick Broadhead, with renowned chef Jeff Tunks providing overall culinary direction as Culinary Director. The parent group P Hospitality oversees two other favorites of ours, Corvina in Boca and Eddie and Vinny’s Coastal Italian in Coral Springs.

Our server, Emily, was great, having clearly tried many of the menu items herself and being very decisive with her answers to our questions, choosing which options were better.

We decided to start with the Crab Rangoon pizzette from the seasonal menu ($18). The menu description was spot on. “Golden crisp flatbread with a velvety cream cheese and scallion spread, topped with lump crab, shredded mozarella, and finished with a drizzle of mango sweet and sour.”

Dear Olivia Delivers: Parkland’s Freshest Dining Destination Raises the Bar on Elevated Comfort Food 4

Crab Rangoon Pizette

Our small gripe was that we would have preferred a bit more crab meat since what was there got a bit lost in the abundant cream cheese spread. But this dish worked surprisingly well with mango sauce, so it was fun to stumble upon such a unique dish right away.

The Asian smoked and grilled chicken wings ($18) were messy in a very good way. It was slathered in Hoison Ginger BBQ sauce and rolled in sesame seeds and scallions. I’ve been running into more and more places cooking wings two different ways. The tangy sweetness of the sauce was balanced by the smoky flavor and extra char on the grill lines.

As a lover of vodka sauce, I had to try the Vodka Margherita Flatbread ($14). The vodka sauce was rich and full of cooked garlic. The homemade pesto smoothed out the saltiness. Sometimes with pizzas and flatbreads, the sauce-to-cheese ratio is off in one direction or the other, but this one they nailed.

Dear Olivia Delivers: Parkland’s Freshest Dining Destination Raises the Bar on Elevated Comfort Food 5

Vodka Margherita Flatbread

Another standout from the seasonal menu was the Herb-Marinated and Grilled Swordfish ($28). The swordfish was moist and flaky and had a perfect sear. On top was a satisfying crunch of breading and almond gremolata, adding a salty and creamy depth. It was well thought out with some needed acidity and sweetness from the veggies. The gnocchi has a crisp to it and the whole dish stayed true to the mantra…elevated comfort food. Summer meets fall. If you want something hot for fall but fresh like summer this fits the bill.

Dear Olivia Delivers: Parkland’s Freshest Dining Destination Raises the Bar on Elevated Comfort Food 6

Swordfish.

From Eddie and Vinny’s, they brought over, in my opinion, the best dessert from their vast portfolio of restaurants: the Butter Cake ($14). Thankfully, this portion was a much more manageable quarter than the giant one from Eddie and Vinnys. The cake recipe itself was the same, and it is unbelievably decadent and buttery. I enjoyed the change of adding raspberries and Chantilly cream to the caramel sauce. This dessert is a must-have anytime you go.

Butter Cake.

Dear Olivia

7805 N University Dr #100, Parkland, FL 33076

Mon – Tues 11:30 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Wed – Thurs 11:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Fri – Sat 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 a.m.

Sun 10:30 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Send your news to Parkland’s #1 Award-Winning News Source, Parkland Talk. Don’t Miss Tamarac Talk, Coral Springs Talk, Coconut Creek Talk, Margate Talk, and Sunrise FL Talk.

Author Profile

Han Okcuoglu

Han Okcuoglu is a curious foodie, Turkish-American and resident of South Florida for over 35 years. He graduated from FAU with a degree in Information Systems Management. He also writes food reviews on various websites and social media groups. He loves to see new restaurants and mom and pop shops Fleet the attention they deserve and flourish.