I was headed out to Fenwick Pier to get my hair cut (don't laugh!) and I stopped by Oliver's. You might have thought that I'd have gone to an Oliver's before, especially given the fact that they have a location at HKU where I work. But the truth is, you're an idiot if you try to eat on campus during lunchtime at HKU. I was pleasantly surprised that this Oliver's even had seats free!
All that said, I haven't much good to say about the place. In my previous life, that is, for the past seven years, I lived in New Jersey. Now, there's a lot that makes Jersey a hellhole, and I certainly won't deny it, but it has redeeming features, not the least of them being delicious sandwiches made by the descendents of old Italian-Americans. I imagine that other states have delicious sandwiches too, I just haven't been there so I can't vouch. Jersey, anyway, is covered with delicious sandwiches-- almost to a point that you can't walk around. They're like, several feet thick everywhere.
But I digress. The problem with Hong Kong (well.... the *culinary* problem with Hong Kong) is an utter lack of sandwiches. People here don't seem to understand the basic principles-- or, more like, they don't respect the basic principles. My Chinese students even complain about the lack of good sandwiches, so this isn't just western bellyaching. Most of Oliver's menu-- most-- is non-sandwich-related. Already, there's a basic principle-- sandwich shops should serve sandwiches.
But then, say you order a sandwich-- I ordered the smoked turkey, avocado, and cheese sandwich. Hah! What are you doing? You're not in Jersey anymore, Toto.I got: one slice of bland turkey, folded, so it looked like two; one small slice of avocado, no more than two bite's worth, and some cheese that didn't have enough flavor to distinguish itself from the bread. All this came on a sandwich where only the middle portion (i.e. not the crusts and not any part reasonably close to the crusts) had any food on it. Furthermore, they took 'turkey, avocado & cheese' a little too literally-- there was nothing else (save bread)-- no mayo, mustard, tomatoes, lettuce.... nothing.
In the defense of Oliver's, the price was only $31, and that was with tea. But for that price in Jersey, you could get a sandwich as big as your great aunt Myrtle, with more meats than you could name.... Mmmm.... Myrtle.
But I digress. The point is, Oliver's seems like a good deal. Look! Super sandwiches! But then you go there and the sandwich menu is miniscule. They advertise 'made your way' but that doesn't seem to be on the menu. Then, when you order a sandwich, they bring you out HK$31 worth of sandwich-- about as much food as you get from the grilled cuttlefish guy down on the Avenue of Stars. And the sandwich is bland. And warm! It's one thing if you like toasted sandwiches, but surely everyone can agree that it's nice to have a cool, refreshing sandwich-- like a salad on a bun. No chance here.
Overall quality: 2/10. For the price (cheap!!!): 3/10.
