Restaurant Ricky+Olivia

As East Enders, we’re always on the lookout for great spots close to home to celebrate special occasions, and Restaurant Ricky + Olivia absolutely is that. We love not having to trek to the West End for interesting dining, and this place proves the East End food scene is thriving. The restaurant was packed and buzzing, but not overly dark (a big plus, you can actually see your food). Even though they were busy, Olivia took the time to walk us through the menu and chat with us. The service was warm, genuine, and completely unpretentious — it feels like having dinner at your cool friend’s house. You truly get the sense they appreciate you choosing to dine with them. The food matches the hospitality. Creative and playful without being fussy. Standouts were the Chicken Liver Mousse with mini bundt cakes, the Fish with leek, scallion, and ginger sauce, and especially the Carrots+Ice Cream, a giant carrot with bay leaf ice cream and fried chickpeas. It sounds wild, but it works beautifully. Each element is great on its own and even better together. That dish perfectly captures the restaurant: inventive, exciting, but still approachable. We ordered five dishes plus dessert (three medium, two large) and honestly could have ordered one less. The portions are generous and the value is very good. I also love how they shout out other neighbourhood spots in Gerrard Chinatown and Greektown. You can tell they genuinely live in and love the East End. We’ll definitely be back. I hope this place thrives, they deserve it.

My partner and I came here for dinner (2 adults), and from the moment we walked in, we knew we were in for something special. The space is quirky with effortlessly cool vibes, a long hallway layout with different sections as you move through, each styled with a mix of tables, couches, and high-top seating. We were lucky enough to sit in the very back by the kitchen, which ended up being such a treat because you can actually see the cooking in action. The menu is simple but absolutely packed with punch. We decided to order everything to share: steak tartar, carrot and ice cream, fries, burger, fish, chocolate mousse, and banana bread pudding — plus a bottle of wine for the table. Every single dish was incredible. The flavours were bold yet balanced, creative yet comforting. You can truly taste the thought, care, and love that went into each plate. I genuinely can’t pick a favourite because they were all extremely delicious in their own way. The portions are on the smaller side, but by the end of the meal, we were completely satisfied and full. What made the experience even more special was how each dish was presented, either the owner or the server would bring it out and describe it with such detail and pride. It added a personal, intimate touch that you don’t often find. The owner came by multiple times to check on us and was so warm and pleasant, just like the servers. Her husband is the chef, and if you’re seated near the kitchen, you can watch him at work, which adds to the charm and authenticity of the experience. The bathrooms were clean. I would highly recommend this restaurant for date nights, dinners with friends, or even a cozy family outing. Amazing food, genuine hospitality, and effortlessly cool vibes, we’ll definitely be back.

I made a reservation at this place. Found it on a website recommended by Michelin, to be honest one restaurant was a miss but this place didn't. They checked all of the boxes. Coming to dine with them was absolutely one of the best memorable experiences ever. We didn't mention that we were celebrating anything but Olivia was able to ask us after dinner when she bought the check and Rahul presented us with a Birthday card signed by everyone working at the restaurant that evening. My boyfriend was very impressed with the food and how they created each and every dish. What stood out: Everything we ordered but a special mention to the Chicken Liver Mousse (which reminds you of PB&J) and the Carrot and Ice Cream (Boyfriend was hesitant at first but when he had it , he can't stop talking about it) Honestly, he can't believe warm roasted carrot is perfectly served with a savory cold ice cream. The Beef and Latkes we had, reminds me of a dish from home with fried plantains, lol... Service: It was perfect especially that we had a very knowledgeable server Rahul to which he made our experience better. He knew the menu, recommendations on the wine, and how he orchestrated our meals in sequence. Olivia came by to our table and explained one of the dishes to us. Recommend: YES!!! If anyone wants to try unique flavors that has a story to every creation, it's this restaurant. Ricky and Olivia's heart and passion in food is evident in every plate they serve you. So if you guys are reading this, I suggest, GO!!! You will never regret it and definitely will be coming back for more.

We recently celebrated a special occasion at Ricky+Olivia, and the entire experience felt like something truly out of the ordinary. From the moment the dishes began arriving, it was clear that this isn’t a place that simply serves food — it tells stories through it. Every plate felt thoughtful, playful, and just a little unexpected in the best way possible. The carrot with ice cream was a perfect example: imaginative, beautifully balanced, and somehow both comforting and surprising at the same time. It’s not often a vegetable dish becomes one of the highlights of the night, but this one absolutely did. The chicken liver mousse was impossibly smooth and rich without feeling heavy — indulgent but refined. The chicken and duck kofta brought incredible depth of flavor, seasoned boldly yet elegantly, with textures that kept each bite interesting. And the pork dish was outstanding — cooked perfectly, layered with complexity, and presented in a way that felt both artistic and inviting. To finish, the banana bread pudding was pure joy. Nostalgic and warm, yet elevated with the same creativity that defines the entire menu. It struck that perfect balance between comfort and sophistication. What we loved most was the sense of fun woven into everything. The presentation, the combinations, the subtle twists — you can feel the chefs’ personality in every course. It made the evening feel intimate and memorable without ever feeling pretentious. A truly special experience that we’ll be thinking about for a long time. Highly recommend for anyone looking to celebrate something meaningful — or simply to enjoy food that surprises and delights at every turn.

Had a really wonderful first meal here for our anniversary. The food was incredibly playful and delicious. Their burger and pulled pork dish were stellar. The burger is among one of the better I’ve had in this city. We also tried their tartar, the liver mousse with donuts and carrots and Ice cream which were alll really tasty and unique. We probably got one too many dishes that had a sweeter element but the overall meal only wanted us to come back and try more off the menu. The cocktails were great. I had a blue cheese washed, old fashioned style cocktail that was mind bending, and their martinis are very well balanced as well. The ambiance was perfect. So glad to be in a restaurant where the tables aren’t crammed together. And finally, the service was exceptional. Olivia was our server and we felt very taken care of. It was great chatting about our favourite neighbourhood spots in the east end between courses. You won’t have a bad time here!

We went to check out this cute little place in Leslieville. From the outside it looks quite unusual and I wasn’t sure what to expect. The restaurant is long and narrow and we sat in what I like to call the studio 54 room. The tables were cozy and the room has a great vibe. The menu is small but very well executed. Our server was very friendly and happy to explain any dish. They seem to take pride in what they serve. We tried the Caesar salad, carrot cake and the steak tartare. All 3 dishes were wonderful. The flavours were unique and very tasty. I especially enjoyed the steak tartare which was paired with dill and chopped cornichons. Excellent dishes overall. I certainly will return to try their other offerings but would gladly return just for the steak tartare.

Thank you, Ali! And Ricky + Olivia and team! My partner and I booked a reservation to celebrate our anniversary. We wanted to try something new, unique, and high quality and this spot hit the nail on the head. Service was fantastic (our server was Ali, super attentive, kind, but not overbearing at all). Food was delicious, the flavours were super fun and well balanced. The burger was to die for! Highly recommend you step out of your comfort zone and try this spot out. Oh ya, amazing wine list and great cocktails and mocktails - whole package really. We will be back.

One of the top burgers in the city. Came here for a 7:15pm Thursday dinner for 2 and it was a full house. Not surprised since it's a Bid Gourmand. Thankfully my friend booked a reso a few days before. We ordered 5 dishes to share: steak tartare, chicken liver mousse, spaghetti squash salad, burger and the chicken+duck. My favorite dish was the burger which came out medium rare and so juicy it just melted in my mouth. I think we could have went without the chicken liver as I thought it was a bit too sweet, but the fried bundt cakes were delicious on its own. Overall portions were solid and I left full. Highly recommend and would come back!