MILO AND OLIVE (SANTA MONICA, CA)

Milo and Olive
2723 Wilshire Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90403
www.miloandolive.com
Tel: 310.453.6776
$$ ($15-$30)
Thurs, 03/26/2015, 7:30pm Walk-in
    (4 Piglets)

What do Milo and Olive, Sweet Rose Creamery and Rustic Canyon all have in common? They are all eateries created by the same owners, Josh Loeb and Zoe Nathan. Nathan and Loeb have managed to bring a rustic pizzeria and neighborhood bakery to the West Side. Milo and Olive delivers everything from pizzas, breads, pastries and salads. Headed by Erin Eastland, the menu consists of a few classic dishes like spaghetti and meatballs as well as eclectic and fresh ones like Heirloom Tomato and Peach Salad.   


Since opening Milo and Olive, the restaurant has recently expanded its footage. The place is no longer cramped, but rather is now airy with an open kitchen. A pastry display case greets you as you walk in through its doors. The alcohol menu is limited to wine and beer, so if you're expecting a massive cocktail list, you're out of luck.

The interior (half of what can be seen)

The pastry case

(From left to right): Apertivo Cappelletti ($12.00) , Vermouth Spritzer ($12.00), and Malbec ($9.00)

Gewurztraminer ($12.00) by the glass

BRAISED SHORT RIB AGNOLOTTI ($12.00): Citrus butter, sunchokes, rosemary. This was my second favorite dish. It was off the special menu. The pasta was perfectly tender while the sweet tomato sauce gave the right amount of acidity. The sunchokes offered a crispiness that was very much needed. Topped with olive oil to thin out the sauce, this dish was a winner. I just wish I had a big bowl of it all to myself. 

BIANCA PIZZA ($20.00): Taleggio dop, 25 yr aged balsamic, farm egg. This was a delicious white pizza and is ideal for those who prefer white over red. The bread was chewy, with crisp edges. It was not too thin, nor was it too thick. With the aged balsamic, the pizza had a sweet, acidic taste mixed with the creaminess from the broken egg yolk. 

MARGHERITA PIZZA ($14.00): Mozzarella, tomato sauce, basil, olive oil, sea salt. A classic Italian pizza; this dish is downright good. Simple ingredients but made well, Milo and Olive managed to do it right. 

MY FAVORITE DISH. GARLIC KNOT ($8.00): Extra virgin olive oil, sea salt. This crispy bread doused in olive oil is basked to the perfect consistency. Full of flavor, the bread contains garlic as a surprise in the middle. Expect a 15-20 minute wait time for the baking process and the magic to happen.

Overall, Milo and Olive is a great neighborhood eatery if you're in the mood for some good bread and pizza. Although it was difficult to flag down our waitress, the other wait staff seemed fairly helpful and attentive to our table. I appreciated the freshness of the dishes and the specials on the board. Word of advice: They don't take reservations so expect a wait (although the wait time has decreased significantly since the expansion).