Undercover Diner Visits 801 at Olivers

I’ll be honest: walking into 801 at Oliver’s, I wasn’t quite sure what I was walking into — starting with the name. Is it 801? Is it Oliver’s? Is it both? As it turns out, that slight confusion is part of the story.

For years, there was Oliver’s on Rivermont, a place with a loyal following but also a reputation for inconsistency. Recently, the original owner sold the business to the owner of 801 Raw Bar on Church Street, and the two concepts have essentially been merged. The result is a new chef, a new owner, and a hybrid menu that still includes longtime Oliver’s favorites alongside seafood-forward dishes you’d expect from 801 Raw Bar — plus brunch, just to keep things interesting.

My husband and I decided to check it out on a rainy Saturday evening. Going in, expectations were… cautious. We’ve never had great service at Oliver’s in the past, and “a bit of a mess” would be a fair way to describe earlier visits. But the weather made it feel like a good night to give the revamped spot a chance, assuming it might be slow.

We were pleasantly surprised almost at once.

We grabbed seats at the bar — always our preference — and the first thing we noticed was the staff. Every face appeared new, and more importantly, everyone was genuinely friendly and attentive. There was a learning curve, sure, but it came with enthusiasm and kindness rather than indifference.

Case in point: my husband ordered a beer and asked the bartender what kind of New Realm beer it was. The beer list simply listed “New Realm,” which, of course, is the brewery, not the beer. The bartender cheerfully replied, “It’s New Realm.” My husband clarified, “That’s the brewery, what is the beer?” No harm done, and honestly, it was kind of endearing. They’re clearly still learning the ropes, but the effort and attitude were there, which goes a long way.

We started with the steamed shrimp, which arrived piping hot and well-seasoned. They were slightly overcooked — just past that perfect snap — but still flavorful and enjoyable. Not a dealbreaker, and a solid start.

The main courses were where things really shined.

My husband ordered the scallop tacos, and I went with the fried fish tacos. Both were a little unexpected in the best way: instead of soft tortillas, the tacos were crispy and lightly fried, which gave them structure and a great texture. We both agreed we loved them this way.

The tacos were generously filled. My husband noted that the scallops could have used a bit more seasoning, but he was more than satisfied with the portion size. His side salad was exactly what you’d expect — fresh, simple, and inoffensive.

I opted for fries with my fish tacos, specifically the sidewinder fries, which are shaped differently than your standard fry and ended up being really good: crispy on the outside, fluffy inside, and easy to keep picking at. My fish tacos were loaded to the point that I couldn’t finish them all. I swapped tartar sauce for bang bang sauce (a good call if you’re not a tartar fan) and added tomatoes and lettuce. The tacos were massive and admittedly a bit messy — everything was falling apart — but the crispy shells held up surprisingly well.

By the end of the meal, we both agreed on the same thing: this was not the experience we expected — in the best possible way.

Overall, 801 at Oliver’s feels like a reset for a space that desperately needed one. The service was warm and attentive, the food was solid with some standout elements, and the menu — while admittedly huge — offered plenty that made us want to come back and try more. Between the brunch menu, the original Oliver’s offerings, and the seafood selections inspired by 801 Raw Bar, there’s a lot happening here.