10 Secrets Behind Olive Oil Pantry Lathrop's Success: From Tasting Room To Top-Rated Pizzeria

The Olive Oil Pantry Market & Restaurant in Lathrop, California, stands as a premier destination for gourmet food enthusiasts and casual diners alike, offering a unique blend of a specialty market and a Mediterranean/Italian dining experience. As of late 2025, this establishment continues to thrive, solidifying its reputation in the Central Valley region by providing visitors with the freshest Extra Virgin Olive Oils (EVOOs) and a diverse, flavorful menu that goes far beyond typical Italian fare. Located strategically off Interstate 5, it serves as an essential, high-quality stop for both local residents and travelers looking for an authentic and updated culinary experience. This unique hybrid model, combining a tasting room with a full-service restaurant, ensures that every dish is crafted with the very products sold on the market shelves, creating an unparalleled farm-to-table (or pantry-to-plate) experience. The focus on high-quality ingredients, from imported balsamic vinegars to locally sourced California olive oils, is the core principle driving the business, managed by its dedicated owners who have cultivated this specialty food haven for years.

The Founders and The Culinary Journey: Caroline & Mike Elness

The story of the Olive Oil Pantry is deeply rooted in the passion and vision of its current owners, Caroline and Mike Elness. Their commitment to bringing the world's finest olive oils and balsamic vinegars to the Central Valley is the foundation upon which the Lathrop location was built.

• Names: Caroline Elness and Mike Elness
• Role: Owners and Operators of The Olive Oil Pantry Market & Restaurant
• Original Founding: The Olive Oil Pantry originally opened in Manteca, California, in 2011, starting as a dedicated olive oil and balsamic vinegar tasting room.
• Lathrop Reopening/Expansion: The Elness family reopened and expanded the business at its current Lathrop location on October 9, 2017, thrilled to continue the fine traditions of the original store while exploring new ways to educate the public.
• Mission: To provide the highest quality, Ultra Premium (UP) certified olive oils and aged balsamic vinegars, and to integrate these gourmet products into a delicious, accessible restaurant menu.
• Expertise: The owners are dedicated to educating customers, offering free tastings, and helping patrons understand the nuances of different olive oil varietals and their health benefits, such as high polyphenol content.

The Elness' vision was to transform the specialized tasting room concept into a full culinary destination. By integrating a Mediterranean and Italian-inspired restaurant, they created a dynamic space where customers could not only sample the products but immediately experience them in expertly crafted dishes, from savory pizzas to rich pasta entrées.

The Gourmet Market Experience: Tasting and Selection

The heart of the Olive Oil Pantry is its expansive tasting room, which features an incredible selection of oils and vinegars sourced from around the globe. This hands-on, interactive shopping experience is what sets the pantry apart from a standard grocery store. The market offers a remarkable collection of products, including:

• Extra Virgin Olive Oils (EVOO): Visitors can sample over 26 varieties of EVOO. These include oils from local California olive farmers as well as imported selections from the Southern Hemisphere (seasonal for freshness) and the Mediterranean. Specific varietals often available include the robust Arbequina EVOO, the intense High Polyphenol Chetoui, and the balanced Frantoio EVOO.
• Balsamic Vinegars: The selection is equally impressive, with over 28 types of Aged and Aged flavored Balsamic Vinegars. These are typically imported from Modena, Italy, and aged for years to achieve a rich, syrupy consistency. Flavors range from traditional dark balsamic to unique blends like fig, dark chocolate, or cranberry-pear.
• The Tasting Process: The pantry encourages a free tasting experience, allowing customers to use small bread pieces or spoons to compare different oils and vinegars. This education helps consumers choose the perfect pairing for their cooking needs, whether it’s a delicate oil for finishing a salad or a robust oil for high-heat sautéing.

This dedication to quality ensures the Olive Oil Pantry maintains a strong topical authority in the specialty food niche. By focusing on Ultra Premium Olive Oils—a certification indicating the highest quality and freshest oils—they provide a product that is superior to most supermarket offerings. The availability of High Phenol oils also appeals to health-conscious consumers looking for oils with maximum antioxidant benefits.

Beyond the Bottle: The Olive Oil Pantry Restaurant Menu

What began as a simple market has evolved into a beloved casual dining spot, famous for its unique fusion of Italian, Mediterranean, and American comfort food, all utilizing the store's namesake products. The restaurant, often described as a top-tier Lathrop Pizzeria, offers a menu full of flavorful entities:

Signature Pizzas and Italian Staples

The pizza selection is a major draw, featuring classic and inventive pies. The dough and sauces are infused with the pantry's EVOOs, giving them a depth of flavor that is hard to replicate.

• Margherita Pie: A classic, simple pizza highlighting fresh mozzarella and basil, drizzled with a premium EVOO.
• Mootz Pie: A popular option, likely a play on "mozzarella," focusing on high-quality cheese and a perfect crust.
• Pepperoni & Hot Honey Pizza: A modern favorite, balancing the savory spice of pepperoni with the sweetness of a hot honey balsamic reduction.
• Fettuccine Alfredo: A rich, creamy pasta dish, often enhanced with a high-quality finishing oil.

Global and Specialty Entrées

The menu’s diversity is a testament to the versatility of olive oil. The restaurant doesn't limit itself to just Italian cuisine, incorporating international flavors that appeal to a broad audience.

• Butter Chicken: A surprising but highly popular Indian-inspired dish, served as a pizza or an entrée, showing the kitchen's willingness to innovate.
• Grilled Beef Kabob: A Mediterranean staple, often marinated with olive oil and herbs, served with rice or salad.
• Caroline's Specialty Salad: Named after the owner, this salad is a must-try, featuring fresh ingredients dressed with one of the many gourmet balsamic vinegars and EVOOs.
• Tomato & Mozzarella: A simple Caprese-style appetizer, relying on the quality of the pantry's oils and vinegars to elevate the fresh ingredients.

The ability to order for delivery or takeout through platforms like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Postmates ensures the Olive Oil Pantry remains a convenient and current option for the local community, from the I-5 corridor to the nearby River Islands development. The blend of a high-end market with a casual, yet gourmet, restaurant makes the Olive Oil Pantry a truly unique and essential stop in the San Joaquin County dining scene.

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