Orlando's rapidly developing Downtown Arts District—home to the CityArts Factory, Mad Cow Theatre, and the new Plaza Cinema Cafe—has added a high-end dining destination with dedicated event space.
The Black Olive, which opened in April on the ground level of the Plaza Building, hopes to attract the pre- and post-theater crowd, as well as executives and others in search of private dining space downtown.
The Black Olive's 98-seat dining room is outfitted with dark wood floors, Italian leather banquettes, marble tables, and crescent booths, and a Greco-Roman statue towers between onyx panels on the back wall. The dining room can be bought out for private events and, when combined with the bar and outdoor area, seats 150. Also available is the glass-encased wine vault, which is stocked with more than 1,200 bottles and can host private dinners for 10.
Chef Dan Kernan's Mediterranean-inspired Italian menu focuses on fresh herbs, hand-pressed olive oils, infused salts, and handmade European cheeses, along with the restaurant's signature: 165 types of olives brought in throughout the year. Dishes include pistachio-crusted lamb chops, wild mushroom ravioli, and fire-grilled grape leaves; the restaurant also offers banquet menus and off-site catering.
