The Olive Bistro Reviews Summary

Atmosphere & Ambience

Pros:

• "Very warm atmosphere and nice decorations inside."
• "The ambiance of the restaurant makes you feel at home."
• "The atmosphere was very relaxed and the music transported me to the Middle East."
• "The ambience gives me a cozy at-home vibe."
• "From the moment you walk in, the ambiance is breathtaking with its beautifully decorated interior that reflects the true Palestinian culture."
• "The atmosphere was cozy."
• "The ambiance was warm and cozy."

Cons:

• "You're sitting inside an ugly plexiglass enclosure. There's no heat."
• "Small location so be prepared to wait for a table on the weekend if packed."

Service

Pros:

• "Our server, Abed, was not only exceptional but also incredibly kind."
• "The servers are attentive to your table and very friendly staff in general."
• "The staff was amazing - very friendly and kind."
• "The whole staff is friendly and nice."
• "Overall, staff is super friendly and create a warm atmosphere."
• "The staff was very attentive."
• "The owner was very friendly and his brothers were attentive."

Cons:

• "We sat for 15 minutes while 3 other tables were helped that were sat after us."
• "Servers are very relaxed for saying lies."
• "Staff was dismissive, completely ignored table."
• "The service was slow but not a disaster."
• "Serving time sensitivity is extremely terrible."

Food Quality

Pros:

• "Loved every single thing about the olive bistro."
• "The portions are generous."
• "The amazing seasonings in the rice was our fave."
• "The food was very tasteful and very authentic."
• "Loved absolutely everything we ordered."
• "The food was absolutely delicious."
• "The food was great, both flavor and presentation."

Cons:

• "The falafel was densed and tasted a lot like parsley."
• "Food lacked flavor, the taste profile was mediocre and it was totally dry."
• "The chicken was lacking a bit of seasoning and wasn’t cooked evenly."
• "Chicken was dry and overcooked besides not having any flavor."
• "The food had no flavor. Literally nothing was seasoned properly."
• "Only disappointment was with how oily the fries were."
• "Only disappointment was the kunafa. I grew up eating this stuff and was very excited to try theirs. Sadly though, it was lacking in flavor and the cheese filling was rubbery."

Value

Pros:

• "The prices and portion sizes are very good."
• "The price is very reasonable for the quality of food and service you get."
• "Prices are great for what you get."
• "The food portions were extremely generous."
• "The price is very affordable especially considering the quality and quantity."
• "Was also surprised by how low the bill was per person after ordering over half the menu."
• "Great pricing."

Cons:

• "Food was very good, but between the price and the staff, I think that's our last visit. Sorry."
• "We ended up paying a little over a $100 for 2 apps, 2 entree and no fancy drinks or dessert... It was definitely not worth it."
• "The thing that I was upset was we were just 2 people and an added gratuity of $10 was added to the bill."
• "Be aware that they already add 20% gratuity to your bill, we were just party of 2."
• "I noticed that a 20% gratuity had already been added, along with a 3.85% fee for paying with a credit card."
• "For 3 things the bill was $56 which is ridiculous amount for such low quality and tasteless food."
• "Food was excellent. Pricey though. Very."

Authenticity

Pros:

• "The food is the closest tasting to back home."
• "Authenticity, priceless!"
• "Ive been to this place a few times already since they opened the staff is so friendly and inviting.. when seating area is very cozy and warm lighting.. All the food was amazing im middle eastern and when they say AUTHENTIC its definitely spot on like moms kitchen."
• "Most delicious and authentic Palestinian/ Arab food I’ve ever had at any restaurant."
• "Haven't had authentic Palestinian food in an unapologetically Palestinian setting anywhere in NJ."
• "Authentic Palestinian cuisine by actual Palestinians."
• "As a Palestinian, I can attest to the food being authentic from the baba ghanoush to the mixed grill and knafeh."

Cons:

• "Better off to go to Al Basha in Paterson a few miles away. Much better portion and same quality food."