Olive Vine Cafe
"A humble establishment with takeout options as well as two- and four-person tables, Olive Vine exerts a strong pull on the locals by infusing familiar Middle Eastern dishes with rustic character," writes New York magazine's Jonathan Dixon about the Park Slope location. According to Metromix, the Olive Vine location on Court Street serves "the same lamb sandwiches and olive-oil-dusted pies as the original, but expands with a variety of kebabs and chicken ouzi—a savory blend of rice, raisins, almonds, carrots, peas and chicken, stuffed into a gigantic philo dough and 'cooked to perfection,' as the menu boasts."
A Brooklyn Life says that eating at the Olive Vine "felt a bit like we were cheating on Zaytoons" but still gave top marks to the chickpea salad: "I could have eaten a whole plate. Low marks go to the hummus, which while smooth and creamy was missing a certain bright tang that I like. All was accompanied by fresh pita bread, served hot and puffed up, a nice touch." And local author Jonathan Safran Foer shares his love for the Olive Vine in a recent interview with The Young and Hungry — he says its one of the places he can bring his small children. What's your take on this place?
Reviews (11)
Bob Marvin wrote a review on May 18, 2009 12:12 PM
IMO OLIVE Vine is to middle eastern food as OLIVE Garden is to Italian food. The best thing I can call their food is not unwholesome.
SnarkSlope wrote a review on May 18, 2009 12:15 PM
Skip this place and go to Zaytoon's on Vanderbilt, Fatoosh on 5th, or Mr. Falafel on 7th.
northsloperenter wrote a review on May 18, 2009 12:20 PM
I've probably ordered delivery from the 7th ave. location 30 times, but more for value/convenience than anything else. But, for delivery in north slope, there food isn't bad at all.
Pros: quick delivery, good prices, good falafel, I like their pita-pizzas and some of their salads.
Cons: Hummus is boring, if you order a platter for delivery it sometimes gets jostled too much and things get mixed together that you might not have wished to mix together (e.g., your chicken and your boring hummus). I once ordered 2 falafel sandwiches and only got 1, which, of course, I did not notice until after the delivery guy had left (I was only charged for 1 sandwich).
I've never eaten in there, but I know some people who find their garden pleasant.
jjbel wrote a review on May 18, 2009 12:22 PM
Park Slope locale is a very chill place---especially the back patio. It's BYOB. Get a good bottle of wine, definitely order the *whole wheat* pitzas, look up at the stars and relax.
MsBrooklyn wrote a review on May 18, 2009 12:29 PM
The patio at the PS location is nice but the food has been pretty lackluster the times I've eaten there or ordered in. The falafel is weirdly bready, almost like a hush puppy. Zaytoon's is definitely tastier and a better value.
JBrklyn wrote a review on May 18, 2009 12:30 PM
Order from the Carroll Gardens location all the time. They are fast and delicious, and sometimes throw in free desserts for no reason. Prices are very reasonable and the staff is always very friendly. Love this place!
cwbuecheler wrote a review on May 18, 2009 12:36 PM
I've only been to the 7th ave location, but I'm a relative fan. I like the food, though I don't think it's outstanding ... their prices are generally fine and their lunch specials are a ridiculously good bargain: a good-sized meal and a drink for six bucks plus tax/tip. I really like their lamb and merguez platters, and their pizzas are tasty too. Their hummus is, indeed, nothing special, but I love hummus even when it's boring, so no huge complaints there.
It's a better takeout option than sit-down ... The backyard tent/garden is ok, but the service, around lunch time at least, has been notably slow every time I've gone. Also on days when it's a little too chilly for them to open the doors to the outside, the interior of the "tent" gets incredibly hot.
I doubt it's even close to the best middle eastern food available in the slope, but it's not bad when you want something cheap that's a step above fast food.
bkbella wrote a review on May 18, 2009 12:40 PM
I love the Court St location. The appetizers are wonderful, and hubby loves the chicken bastilla (sp?). I've only dined in, but have been quite satisfied with the food and service. And I always leave stuffed. Seeing this post makes me want to go there tonight.
WTbound wrote a review on May 18, 2009 1:40 PM
There is a south Slope location too and it is one of the few places that deliver to us in Windsor Terrace, making it one of our delivery standbys. The chicken ouzi and an order of baba ghanouj gets us through when we forget to cook. Nothing to write home about, but the veggies are fresh and delivery is always reliable.
superstooper wrote a review on May 18, 2009 4:55 PM
There was a time . . . but it has been many years. Olive Vine is not good. Zaytoons has the love and Kif on Dekalb.
Carol Gardens wrote a review on May 18, 2009 7:40 PM
I recommend the lamb sandwich!
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