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If you’re spending the day in beautiful Excelsior, MN and looking for a casual spot with seriously good pizza, make sure you stop at Olive’s Fresh Pizza Bar. After walking around town, browsing the cute boutiques, and enjoying the lake atmosphere, pizza felt like the perfect choice — and this place completely exceeded our expectations.
Excelsior is one of those towns we never get tired of visiting. Between the local shops, lakeside views, breweries, and restaurants, there’s always something new to discover. It’s the kind of place where you can easily spend an entire afternoon wandering around before settling in for a great meal.
We had heard good things about Olive’s Fresh Pizza Bar before visiting, but after finally trying it ourselves, we totally understand why people love it. From the flavorful sauce to the incredible crust, this was the kind of pizza you immediately start talking about while you’re still eating it.
About Olive’s Fresh Pizza Bar
Olive’s Fresh Pizza Bar is located right in downtown Excelsior, making it an easy stop while exploring the area. The restaurant has a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere that feels perfect for lunch, dinner, or a casual date night.
What makes Olive’s stand out is the ability to customize your pizza exactly how you want it. Whether you want one of their signature pizzas or prefer to build your own creation like we did, there are plenty of fresh toppings and flavor combinations to choose from.
The menu also includes salads, appetizers, sandwiches, desserts, and drinks, so there’s something for everyone even if pizza isn’t your main thing.
What We Ate
We started with the Italian Fries, and honestly, these alone are worth ordering again.
They’re made with Olive’s signature crust topped with garlic parmesan farmer’s sauce, shredded mozzarella and fontina cheese, Italian spices, and served with marinara sauce for dipping.
They came out hot, cheesy, and packed with flavor. The crust had the perfect texture — soft in the middle with crispy edges — and the garlic parmesan sauce added so much richness without being overpowering.
For pizza, we decided to create our own simple Hawaiian-style pizza instead of ordering the Hawaiian pizza already on the menu. Their version had more toppings than we were looking for, so customizing it was the perfect option for us.
We ordered:
- Half pineapple and bacon
- Half pineapple and prosciutto
One of us doesn’t really care for prosciutto, so doing a half-and-half pizza worked perfectly.
And wow… this pizza was SO good.
The crust was amazing — perfectly baked with just the right amount of chew and crispiness — and the sauce had incredible flavor. You can tell they really care about the ingredients and balance of flavors here. Even with simple toppings, everything tasted fresh and delicious.
Honestly, this was seriously one of the best pizzas we’ve ever had.
One thing that surprised us was the size. The pizza was much bigger than we expected, which meant we had plenty left to take home afterward. Leftover pizza is always a win, especially for late-night snacking or cold pizza for breakfast the next morning.
What We Drank
To go with the pizza, we grabbed an Excelsior Brewing Big Island Blonde beer from nearby Excelsior Brewing Company.
It paired perfectly with the pizza. The light, refreshing flavor balanced out the richness of the cheese and sauce really well without overpowering the food. If you enjoy local Minnesota craft beer, this is definitely a good option to try while you’re in town.
One of the best parts about eating in Excelsior is how many local businesses work so well together. You can spend the day shopping, grab a local beer, and enjoy great pizza all within a few blocks.
The Atmosphere
Olive’s Fresh Pizza Bar has a laid-back atmosphere that makes it easy to settle in and enjoy your meal. It’s casual without feeling rushed, and it works equally well for families, couples, or groups of friends.
Because it’s located downtown, it’s also a fun place to stop after exploring the lakefront or shopping around Excelsior.
Parking in Excelsior can sometimes get busy on weekends, but there are public lots and street parking available throughout downtown within walking distance of the restaurant.
Why We’d Go Back
Some pizza places are good once. Others immediately become places you start craving again before you even leave.
Olive’s definitely falls into that second category for us.
Between the flavorful sauce, incredible crust, customizable pizzas, and generous portion sizes, this ended up being one of our favorite restaurant stops in Excelsior. We already know we’ll be back the next time we’re in town.
If you love simple pizza done really well, this place absolutely deserves a spot on your Excelsior food list.
Tips Before You Visit
- Build your own pizza if you want something simpler or more customized
- Don’t skip the Italian Fries
- Portions are larger than expected, so leftovers are likely
- Pair your meal with a local Excelsior Brewing beer
- Visit before or after shopping downtown or walking by the lake
Location
Olive’s Fresh Pizza Bar
287 Water St.
Excelsior, Minnesota
More Things to Do in Excelsior
While you’re in town, make time to explore more of Excelsior. Some of our favorite things include:
- Shopping the local boutiques downtown
- Walking along the Lake Minnetonka waterfront
- Visiting Excelsior Brewing Company
- Trying other local restaurants and coffee shops
- Exploring the nearby Lake Minnetonka area
Final Thoughts
We came to Olive’s Fresh Pizza Bar hoping for good pizza and left talking about how it might be one of the best pizzas we’ve ever had. The combination of amazing crust, flavorful sauce, fresh toppings, and huge portions made this a meal we’ll definitely remember.
If you’re planning a trip to Excelsior or just looking for a new Minnesota pizza spot to try, Olive’s Fresh Pizza Bar is absolutely worth adding to your list.
More Minnesota Restaurants, Breweries & Foodie Finds
If you’re planning more Minnesota food and brewery adventures, here are a few more posts from our blog you might enjoy:
- Forager Brewing Company in Rochester, MN — One of our favorite brewery and restaurant stops in Minnesota with amazing food and craft beer.
- Tanzenwald Brewing Company in Northfield, MN — Great beer, delicious food, and a cozy atmosphere in downtown Northfield.
- Chapel Brewing in Dundas, MN — A relaxed southern Minnesota brewery with excellent IPAs and a laid-back local vibe.
- Visiting Chankaska Creek Winery — Wine, pizza, charcuterie boards, and beautiful vineyard views near Mankato.
- Fulton Beer Taproom in Minneapolis — A fun North Loop brewery stop with great food and local craft beer near Target Field.
