Joining the line of after-dark restaurants in place of Gelare along Holland Village is Olio’s new outlet. In addition to a spanking new menu, they have also spruced up their carte du jour with several new items.

Black vinyl seats and sturdy white tables outfit the place and lend it a sense of elegance. You would expect to pay high prices for this level of comfort and be served with minimal grub, but you’ll be in for a surprise. A main course with a drink will set you back about $18.40 which is considered reasonable when Mexican restaurant Cha Cha Cha and N.Y.D.C. are opposite and Coffee Club is further down the stretch of diners.

Food is served in huge portions on specially made plates shaped in the signature Olio logo. ‘Olio’ which refers to any dish that is made up of many ingredients applies strongly to the drinks that Olio offer. It is clear that effort has been spent coming up with new drinks that not only looked, but also tasted good.

For starters, you would want to consider the mixed mushroom truffle salad ($5.90). Made up of arugula leaves and three different types of mushrooms, which include the likes of, seared shiitake, button and oyster mushrooms; the salad had a bitter aftertaste that might not settle well with detractors. If not, it would provide a nice balance to the highly recommended beverages.

Marrying champagne grape, raspberry and soda water with juicy bits of aloe vera (champagne grape and raspberry whizz with aloe vera – $5.50) resulted in a match made in heaven with the beverage’s sweet and lingering taste reminiscent of summer while floats like lychee and mango ($6.00) came with chunky bite-sized bits of the respective fruits and ice cream, giving a variety of textures to the ubiquitous drink.

As you peruse the menu, noticing the effort the chef spent on infusing the local influences into western delights is not difficult as dishes like teriyaki pizza ($13.90) and Olio laksa (a rice noodle dish served with chili oil, coconut milk and prawns topped with dried Vietnamese coriander) spaghetti ($12.90) stands out, piquing your interest.

Generously peppered with tau pok (fried beancurd), sliced eggs circled the main mix of spaghetti, prawns and coconut milk with chili oil. The 1st bite is as good as gold but after a while, finishing the massive portion begins to seem like a gradually insurmountable task.

Dessert is also a surprise at Olio. The restaurant’s trademark Olio style brownie ($7.50) is served on a sizzling hot plate. Chocolate sauce and nuts are lavishly poured after the brownie is served. While it might not look too delectable, the brownie remains spongy soft soaking in the rich liquid chocolate with a slab of ice cream in the middle, bringing a balance to the otherwise scalding dessert.

Dining at the new Olio at Holland Village is quite an experience for those who have not tried the food at any of the other outlets. Especially in the Holland Village vicinity where eating can be quite a pricey indulgence, Olio subtly fills in the gap between by offering good ambience and reasonable food at affordable prices.

UrbanWire rates Olio (Holland Village) 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Olio (Holland Village) is located at 29 Lorong Mambong and can be reached at 6219 7668.