Delicious food (love the hummus with pita), friendly staff, and nice little spot on commercial street! Great for a quiet date night!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Chris McIntyre
Why wait for an hour for some tourist trap restaurant to open up a table? The Olive Cafe has AMAZING food, OUTSTANDING service and a neat atmosphere. Did I say the food was AMAZING? Give it a try, you will NOT be disappointed.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jeremy Bennett
Olive Cafe is excellent! They offer fantastic food, an extensive menu of Mediterranean inspired Lebanese cuisine, great service and a friendly staff. I look forward to my next visit!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Josh Brassard
Best shawarma in Portland, hands down. Quaint, homestyle atmosphere inside. Service is fantastic (a little slow if it's busy, but not bad at all, and well worth the wait!).
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amy Adams
Had a horrible experience with the cashier - a bald foreign retarded guy. He was a very rude individual with his ugly pissed off face and a bad attitude accosting a customer based on their profession. It seems like he particularly has a problem with law enforcement. If you have this attitude with customers you should go your home country and treat people like that there, not in a professional setting. Frankly disgusting behavior.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
John M
We have been enjoying Olive Cafe for at least 6 or 7 years and have recommended it to everyone we know in or visiting the Portland area. After a long absence mainly due to the pandemic we have been anxiously awaiting our return to see if it was still as we remembered.On this very wet day of coastal flooding and business closures, we brought two of our Boston friends to sample and savor.Happy to find that our two favorite flat breads: ya baba and the Brussels were better than ever. Despite several tries, we have never been able to replicate at home. Also vegan which can be so difficult to find, especially as tasty as these.Our host was typical Portland friendly which makes us want to support. The space is nothing unique but works great for almost any size group.All that said we have to say that the one big disappointment was our order of the Mediterranean platter. While absolutely fantastic, the portion was barely enough for one person as an appetizer at the cost of an entree.Back to the upside, their coffees are terrific. All and all we will continue to be fans and hope for them the best.John and Jon
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Brussels Sprouts
philwithnotes
What a find! Food is delicious, atmosphere is charming and friendly.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Brussels Sprouts
Shari
It had been a few years since we'd last eaten here. The service was fast but curt (menus thrown on the table, pretty much the same with the food), and the food was average. Falafel was light but "flour-y."
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Chris Borch
Some of the best middle eastern food I've ever had and the waiter was very understanding. The other members of my party were very late and he didn't mind seating me anyway. I will absolutely be returning here on my next opportunity.
Nice done beef shawerma. It was delicious and juicy. ??
Food: 5
Recommended dishes: Beef Shawarma
Tim W
This is one of my favorite places in town. It provides an awesome atmosphere for conversation and enjoyable eating at some of the most reasonable prices in Portland.Some of the negative reviews toward Olive Cafe are centered on having to wait longer than desired for a table in the Summer time. All there is to say is welcome to town - there is no place in the summer without a longer than desired wait.Vegetarian options: Every item category has a vegetarian option. Every item category has a vegan option. If you want a place for every random thing that everyone is allergic to or avoiding, without complication, THIS IS THE PLACE.Dietary restrictions: Can support literally any dietary restriction. You will walk away feeling satisfied, and will want to come back and eat dinner here every day that follows. Trust me.
While spending two nights in Portland and not being a big deal food lover we stumbled upon this restaurant and decided to give it a try.The hummus appetizer was great as were the falafel.We also shared a delicious chicken kabob with couscous.Finishing it off with baklava was a nice touch.If you are in Portland give this place a try
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Chris Powers
Great, unique dishes in a cozy atmosphere. Highly recommend the baked haddock or the
Great lunch spot!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Delicious food (love the hummus with pita), friendly staff, and nice little spot on commercial street! Great for a quiet date night!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Why wait for an hour for some tourist trap restaurant to open up a table? The Olive Cafe has AMAZING food, OUTSTANDING service and a neat atmosphere. Did I say the food was AMAZING? Give it a try, you will NOT be disappointed.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Olive Cafe is excellent! They offer fantastic food, an extensive menu of Mediterranean inspired Lebanese cuisine, great service and a friendly staff. I look forward to my next visit!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Best shawarma in Portland, hands down. Quaint, homestyle atmosphere inside. Service is fantastic (a little slow if it's busy, but not bad at all, and well worth the wait!).
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Had a horrible experience with the cashier - a bald foreign retarded guy. He was a very rude individual with his ugly pissed off face and a bad attitude accosting a customer based on their profession. It seems like he particularly has a problem with law enforcement. If you have this attitude with customers you should go your home country and treat people like that there, not in a professional setting. Frankly disgusting behavior.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
We have been enjoying Olive Cafe for at least 6 or 7 years and have recommended it to everyone we know in or visiting the Portland area. After a long absence mainly due to the pandemic we have been anxiously awaiting our return to see if it was still as we remembered.On this very wet day of coastal flooding and business closures, we brought two of our Boston friends to sample and savor.Happy to find that our two favorite flat breads: ya baba and the Brussels were better than ever. Despite several tries, we have never been able to replicate at home. Also vegan which can be so difficult to find, especially as tasty as these.Our host was typical Portland friendly which makes us want to support. The space is nothing unique but works great for almost any size group.All that said we have to say that the one big disappointment was our order of the Mediterranean platter. While absolutely fantastic, the portion was barely enough for one person as an appetizer at the cost of an entree.Back to the upside, their coffees are terrific. All and all we will continue to be fans and hope for them the best.John and Jon
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Brussels Sprouts
What a find! Food is delicious, atmosphere is charming and friendly.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Brussels Sprouts
It had been a few years since we'd last eaten here. The service was fast but curt (menus thrown on the table, pretty much the same with the food), and the food was average. Falafel was light but "flour-y."
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Some of the best middle eastern food I've ever had and the waiter was very understanding. The other members of my party were very late and he didn't mind seating me anyway. I will absolutely be returning here on my next opportunity.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Shawarma
Restaurantji Recommends
Nice done beef shawerma. It was delicious and juicy. ??
Food: 5
Recommended dishes: Beef Shawarma
This is one of my favorite places in town. It provides an awesome atmosphere for conversation and enjoyable eating at some of the most reasonable prices in Portland.Some of the negative reviews toward Olive Cafe are centered on having to wait longer than desired for a table in the Summer time. All there is to say is welcome to town - there is no place in the summer without a longer than desired wait.Vegetarian options: Every item category has a vegetarian option. Every item category has a vegan option. If you want a place for every random thing that everyone is allergic to or avoiding, without complication, THIS IS THE PLACE.Dietary restrictions: Can support literally any dietary restriction. You will walk away feeling satisfied, and will want to come back and eat dinner here every day that follows. Trust me.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Hand Cut Fries, Chicken Gyro, Haddock, Couscous Salad, Mediterranean Veggie Pizza, Olive Plate, Greek, Falafel Gyro, Brussels, Haddock Shawarma, Hummus and Pita Chips
While spending two nights in Portland and not being a big deal food lover we stumbled upon this restaurant and decided to give it a try.The hummus appetizer was great as were the falafel.We also shared a delicious chicken kabob with couscous.Finishing it off with baklava was a nice touch.If you are in Portland give this place a try
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great, unique dishes in a cozy atmosphere. Highly recommend the baked haddock or the
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amazing food !
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5