Students seek a Mediterranean holiday at Fig and Olive

Fig and Olive provides a warm haven for students exploring Fifth Avenue, its welcoming doors protecting fingers and ears from frostbite.

Located at 10 E. 52nd St., Fig and Olive is certainly not the flashiest building on the block—Armani Ristorante is just a couple yards away. Once inside, gleaming olive oil bottles filled to the brim with golden elixir immediately greet diners. The walls of the restaurant are lined with uniform rows of bottles, except for the wall of the bar, which is packed with every necessary variety of alcohol. The bar itself has an antique look, as if it was taken from an old beach home on the Mediterranean. Orange, green, and white décor further emphasize the Mediterranean feel. Fig and Olive offers an extensive menu, mostly comprised of items made entirely of figs and olives. Many diners will require ample time to consider the daunting array of choices.

A first course of tomato red bell pepper soup with cannellini crostini makes for an excellent accompaniment to leisurely studying. Although the soup warms up diners from the blustery weather, the crostini comes cold—surprising for a dish that is typically served warm.

Just as students scrape the last spoonful of soup from the bowl’s bottom, a fig, prosciutto, arugula, gorgonzola, and tomato tart arrives. Although some of these items—tomatoes and figs—seem incompatible, the mixture works well. The fresh arugula atop the dish tastes fresh and spicy, pairing flawlessly with all of the ingredients. When the gorgonzola, prosciutto, and fig combine in one bite, the dish reaches its culinary climax. And the puff pastry for the tart is impeccable.

Finally, for dessert, comes an olive oil gelato with blood orange caramel. Less-adventurous eaters may cringe upon hearing this flavor profile, but the end product tastes absolutely fantastic. Rather than vanilla extract, the surprising key ingredient in this gelato is the olive oil, which gives it a taste reminiscent of a sweet vanilla butter, and a perfect creamy texture.

Even when the restaurant is completely full and bustling, the atmosphere at Fig and Olive is not crowded or rushed like at peer institutions. Waiters take time to answer questions and engage in cordial conversation. Fig and Olive creates an ideal ambiance, appropriate for a casual date or an outing with the parents. Maybe olive oil gelato is not the best choice for a cold day, but students willing to brave the cold and make the trip to the other side of Central Park will not regret it.