Olive Market

Posted By Michael Stern on April 22, 2005 3:58 PM

When we aren’t traveling around the U.S. eating, we are home in Georgetown, Connecticut, eating; and if we look a little more well-fed than usual these days, it’s thanks to a grocery / bistro / short-order sandwich shop called The Olive Market. This place smelled fantastic from the time we walked in on opening day, August 25, 2001. Co-owner and chef Fernando Pereyra was grilling flatbreads to be used for cheese and ham sandwiches or one-person pizzas; his partner Bill King was cutting big hunks of gorgeous veined blue cheese that customers were taking home by the pound. Near the cheese counter, we spooned out a few containers of exotic olives from the olive bar and picked an assortment of from-scratch muffins and biscotti to have for breakfast the next day.

Although much of the store is devoted to groceries for taking home – cheeses, tapenades, olive oils, relishes, and fancy beverages; and all the grilled pizzas and sandwiches are available to go – there is a good scattering of tables inside and out. Here you can sit down with a cup of café con leche and a frittata square at breakfast (The Olive Market opens every day but Monday at 8am), or a hot grilled sandwich at lunch, or great big weekend suppers.

A must-eat item we discovered on the Olive Market’s opening day is Fernando’s specialty sandwich, the chivito. Fernando is from Uruguay, and this is a Uruguayan hot Dagwood of thin-sliced filet mignon with ham, bacon, a fried egg, lettuce, tomato, and melted provolone cheese all piled into a focaccia bread and toothpicked together with an olive on top. Spectacular!

Although it is a relatively new establishment, there is an old-fashioned feel about The Olive Market. Not a megastore or supermarket with something for everyone, it is small and local, reflecting the food tastes of its owners and of the community in which they live. In other words, it is a Roadfood kind of place!

chivito sandwich

Vegetable Wrap

Gaucho Dinner

Cuban Sandwich

Muffin

Grilled Sandwich

Grilled Provolone

Posted By debb leo on May 28, 2011 2:01 PM

Most delicious food and friendly service. I had a burger and it was amazing. I took home little pizzas and they were delicious. I would say you must try this restaurant if you are in the area, or drive here just for the atmosphere and food.

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