Stopped by to get gas from a long car trip. Family was feeling hungry so we noticed the Bleu Olive restaurant across the street. We decided to check it out. Ambiance: When we arrived, it was rather full but we were immediately seated. Our table was sitting right near the door. Since it was rather chilly that day, I felt the chill breeze everytime someone would go in or out. We couldn't move since the restaurant was rather packed. Food: I ordered the falafel wrap with a side salad, bistro burger with a side of fries, and calamari. The food tasted great. Service: The service was not as impressive. I believe that good customer service should make you feel welcomed. We had to flag our waiter for a few things such as straws and refill on waters. Either way, we had a good experience. read more

Bleu Olive - Falafel wrap and side salad - Mediterranean Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Great lunch. Excellent service. Nice atmosphere. Every meal I have had at Bleu Olive has been delicious. I often come when I am in town. read more

Bleu Olive - Butternut squash and lamb pita. - Mediterranean Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

The food was delicious; service was attentive. It was a beautiful day so we dined outside. Despite that, service was still spot-on!

Updated review: I don't know what happened in the 4 years that we have lived here, but this restaurant leaves a lot to be desired. Went there for lunch today and had an 11:30 reservation. There was a line to get in at this time. We asked to be seated at the side tables that are semi-private and were told, "We took those tables out because people were staying too long". We were then seated very close to another table that had just been seated. The menu states on it that you must be finished in one hour. We ordered our food and I said I had a shellfish allergy. I asked if the French fries were fried with shellfish and the waiter said, "they're just cooked with the calamari and oysters" . . . Uh, that is shellfish buddy! Within 5 minutes, the table next to us received a steaming plate of fried calamari that had a very strong odor drifting our way. I felt exposed and asked to be seated at an empty table next to us; I was told it was reserved. Then the waiter told the manager who offered a table next to the kitchen (uh, no that is also next to wafting fried shellfish odors) and one high top that didn't suit because I am 5'1" tall. So, I put my facemask on and stayed. The food when it arrived was just ok; the incorrect soup was brought to my friend and the woman next to us complained that her order was incorrect as well. Mine was okay, thank goodness. Just as we were finishing up our food, a table of 4 was seated next to us. They ordered fried shellfish and again the odor was drifting over since the tables are so close together. In addition, the woman seated very close by me was sneezing and coughing up a storm! Why would you go out to eat knowing that you are ill?!? We quickly paid by cash and left as fast as we were able. I'm sorry, Bleu Olive . . . Even though we live just down the street, we will not be back. We've had several negative dining experiences there over the last year. read more

My first time to Durham and what a treat to find Bleu Olive on Yelp with amazing reviews. It was easy to make a reservation, and my table was ready when I arrived. What a charming, intimate, low light restaurant with excellent service by Cleopatra and incredible cuisine. We started with the Tasting of Spreads and Greek wine - Paranga. Each "dip" was delicious. Cleopatra brought more pita and crostini when we had gobbled it all up, but had dips left to devour. One of my favorite Greek dishes is grape leaves. These Domathes were fantastic. Expertly wrapped and just enough lemon juice and olive oil - yummers. For my entree I chose the Lamb Defte appetizer which was plenty for an entree and even enough to share with the table. The lamb was cooked to perfection and the sauce and spices just right. My dinner companions enjoyed the Red Drum fish entree and the Joyce Farms Chicken entree. Even though we were stuffed full of wine and incredible dishes, Cleopatra was barely at the table with a dessert menu when we asked if they had Baklava. Of course they did! Three to go, please. Meaning to save it for breakfast, I couldn't resist a peek late into the night in my hotel room. A peek led to a taste then a full-on midnight snack fest until barely a pistachio crumb was left. This place was so good that I told another family member who would be visiting Durham in the coming weeks about it. It's a "must go to" place, I said. Go he did. Enjoy he did. Definitely agreed, he did! read more

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My husband and I split the baked feta, lamb meatballs, dip sampler, spicy mussels and pork chop. Everything was wonderful but I am still dreaming about the Bleu cheese risotto that came with the pork chop. It was FANTASTIC!! I really loved how they even split the pork chop for us and brought it evenly distributed between two plates. It was very thoughtful and made the experience even better. The atmosphere was very cute with dim lighting and a Christmas tree. Service was also good. We loved it all! read more

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We have been twice now and absolutely love the food at Bleu Olive. We had the exact same thing both visits. We started with the mixed dip appetizer. Those housemade crostinis are freaking perfect. There are four dips and all are delicious but our favorite is the red pepper/feta mix. Out entrees are the salmon dish and shrimp with pasta. The salmon is grilled and served over polenta and roasted root veggies with a beet relish and a green sauce similar to chimichurri. The combination of flavors is soooo perfect. The shrimp is over pasta and veggies with a light tomato sauce and it's scrumptious as well. Our server, Lila, was sweet and efficient. read more

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Same excellent server roxane as 4 years ago! Ordered the same food as last time. Dolmades same recipe as four years ago but the saltiness annoyed my husband. Both if us have had better-tasting dolmades elsewhere. Didnt enjoy my beet salad this time. The beets tasted almost pickled. Some of the arugula was yellow (fresh arugula is green). The goat cheese seemed odd in texture. The pan seared salmon was ok and fresh. My husband said his salmon was overcooked. The creme brulee was tasty but my hysband thought the crust was burnt. I ate the lighter-looking parts of the crust. No reason to return here. read more

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This was my 1st visit but definitely won't be the last. My husband & I shared the stuffed grape leaves & octopus, & I had the lamb bolognese- all were delicious. The service was great, & I liked the ambience. read more

When we recently went to Durham, NC, we were expecting BBQ, grits and all kind of Southern cooking, but a great Greek restaurant?!? We were thrilled to find @bleuolivedurham - a true hidden gem in the South. @bleuolivedurham is located in a strip mall area with an upscale interior. The service was fantastic but the food had us recommending this spot to all the locals! We ordered Grilled octopus Dip Medley with babaganoush, hummus, tzatziki and roasted red pepper dip served with warm pita Swordfish Mushroom Pasta Pot de Creme Trio with dark, milk and white chocolate The food was so so good that we were tempted to skip the rest of our weekend festivities to come back for more! Thank you @bleuolivedurham for bringing the Mediterranean to the South! read more

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Very tasty. Got carry out. Would go back to dine in. A bit pricey for what it was, but for dining in that makes sense.

I love their Mediterranean shrimp and the SALADS are great too!.The octopus is perfect. Try Bleu Olive, it's wonderful.

I have been eating at Bleu Olive for a couple of decades, but yesterday I was so stunned by the bad service that I couldn't enjoy the tasty meal. I arrived with a companion at 12:23. We were to meet two medical colleagues at 12:30. It was a frigid Friday afternoon, and the restaurant was 3/4's empty. At least a dozen tables were open. I was amazed when the maitre d' asked whether we had a reservation, then said that as our party wasn't complete, we should wait on the bench in the cold breezeway. I'm a gray-haired grandmother. I refused to sit in the cold and was told that we could wait at the bar. My companion is 4-years sober, I can't climb onto a bar stool, so we just stood in that area until one of our friends arrived at 12:30 and we were seated at a table, where we should have been made comfortable to begin with. When I remarked on this to the maitre d', he said that this was their policy "in December." As our table was set for four, our male server passed by and said he wasn't going to wait on us until the fourth guest arrived (which she did, at 12:36). Although he eventually took our order, he never smiled once throughout our visit. I actually wondered whether he might be autistic, as he had such a flat affect and spoke so coldly, but the others agreed that he was being pretentious and ungracious. It just felt mean. Bleu Olive is a lovely restaurant with good food, but there is no need for this type of snotty pretension. The restaurant sits in a strip plaza next to a FedEx and an Urgent Care. People go there to meet friends and enjoy the pleasant atmosphere as much as the good food. Our two male servers made us all feel that they were doing us a favor and found it a burden. Very unprofessional. If I were to treat a patient like that, I'd deserve to lose my job. read more

The food here is outstanding but the service even excels the food. I have lunch here two or three times a month for several years now. However, in that time the luncheon menu has not changed. read more

This is my favorite restaurant in Durham. The salmon plaki is excellent. I am a regular: the maître de remembers where I like to sit and the waiter remembers my entire order including appetizer and drink. This is a well-run restaurant. Always feels good to eat here. read more

Our office has been going to Bleu Olive since it was PaPa's. It was always a nice lunch with good service. In the last several years the same (male) waiter has been a condescending ***. Why? Customers are paying your salary. We always put up with it because the food was good. This week the food was almost inedible. The chicken appeared to be some mystery meat with all our meals. They now serve hot canned drinks for $3.75. As always, the fries were good! We made the group decision not to go back. read more

Celebrated hubby birthday. The food was magnificent and the servings were plenty. The server was friendly as well. read more

Bleu Olive - Old Fashion and Empreas Aviation - Mediterranean Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Very much enjoyed a light dinner at Bleu Olive. Located in a strip mall, wait to be seated, and make a reservation if you are able to plan in advance. There is a good amount of parking available in the shared lot. We were seated at a table for two near their 'wine cellar'. It was a nice, quiet corner. Our waiter checked in right away to let us know he'd be right back with waters. Menu is on-line: scan the QR code at the table. If you really want a menu, the waiter will get you one. We ordered a Greek salad, one of their 'dips' appetizer and lamb meatball app. Everything was well prepared and well seasoned. The waiter was excellent keeping an eye on us and our water glasses filled. The ambiance here is upscale without being stuffy. The glassware and flatware both heavy, good quality. Cloth napkins are soft and pliable Prices are in line with quality of food, service and surroundings. We would dine here again. read more

Bleu Olive - Feta and roasted red pepper dip. Tasty with just a hint of heat. - Mediterranean Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Really liked the experience we had at Bleu Olive. While our opinion is that it's not the best Mediterranean/Greek restaurant in the area, we still think it's one of the top ones. Several very nice vegetarian options and the Greek Salad was especially tasty. We plan to return some time in the future. read more

Noting extraordinary here, just decent Greek fare. Avgolemeno lacked lemon flavor which is kind of the point. Meze was OK nothing to complain about but nothing that was notable. The fish was bland at best and lacked any greek inspiration or flavors. Again, nothing to hate but nothing to come back for. read more

The food was delicious! The ambiance was cozy and the service was friendly. I would go back.

I would give 3.5 stars. I had the salmon dish. The salmon was cooked good and I liked the Brussel sprouts. I did not like the polenta it came with. I am most definitely not a picky eater but for some reason I didn't like the carrots and I think it was potatoes that also came with it. I think it was the seasoning. I did not like how the hostess was sitting down at the table next to me and only got up when someone walked in. He had all his personal belongings on the table. That's very lazy and does not look good. But my waiter was very good to me. read more

Bleu Olive - Salmon - Mediterranean Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I had a business dinner at Bleu Olive, and it was surprisingly the best meal I had in a while. I'd recommend Bleu Olive if you're looking for a nicer meal at a pretty reasonable price. Mezze: - tasting of spreads: good to share for a group, 4 dips with warm pita, cucumber, and crostini - fried calamari: I usually love this dish, I think maybe skip it here, heavy breading, not a standout Salad: Beets with goat cheese, arugula, fennel, lemon sesame vinaigrette. I was on the fence about getting this, and it was actually one of the best parts about the meal! Big, juicy, fresh chunks bed of beets, a layer of goat cheese, then arugula, sparse fennel on top, with vinaigrette drizzled on the perimeter. The presentation is so nice, good portion, and the flavors complement each other well. Honey glazed lamb loin: perfectly cooked to medium. Meat was so tender and not dry, broccolini was crunchy, mushroom orzo flavorful. So satisfying. Dessert - goat cheese & honey cheesecake: recommended by waiter and SO good. Rich, cute presentation with whipped cream, fruit, mint leaf, relatively thick crushed pistachio base - chocolate tart: dense, hint of orange, also good but the cheesecake was better Service: Our waiter was professional and no problems orders. The restaurant was busy, but the wait for the food was very reasonable. The space: Nicely decorated with some wreaths and Christmas tree for the holidays. You can see part of the kitchen counter where food comes out, but can't see most of the cooking process. Medium-sized restaurant. Busy during a weeknight dinner, so do consider reservations. Lots of free parking, and that's always a plus. read more

Bleu Olive has been around for a long long time. So maybe it's not the first place you think if when you want a lunch that is delicious, presented beautifully, and arrives so fast you can scoot right back to work (if you are still going in to an office). The menu is Greek (think lamb in pita with tzatziki ) with some crowd pleasers (like chicken salad which you can order by the 1/2 on the crispiest whole wheat toast and get a side of avgolemeno soup). Tables outside for this great Fall weather and stellar service. read more

Good Greek food. The fried oysters were the best thing we had. Their bread is excellent. Wasn't a fan of their hummus though. Service was good too. read more

Good spot that stays busy to grab dinner or just a quick appetizer and a cocktail also. We came for the latter and ordered the hummus with cucumber and pita slices. Good flavor and it tasted nice and light. We will come back to try a full dinner here soon since I love Mediterranean cuisine. read more

Bleu Olive - Appetizer - Mediterranean Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I booked online but I arrived couple minutes late because that place really hard to find parking spots. One of my friends already went there but they didn't enter us some reason then when I arrived there made us to wait more then 30mins and set the table next to the restroom. It was my friend's birthday they ruined all our lunch. Food was ok but service was so terrible and owner attitude was so mean. read more

Takeout for front porch dining...supporting our locals and eating REALLY good at the same time. #YelpsBigNightIn @yelpnctriangle One of our fave places--- and does not EVER disappoint. Delicious steak frites and most tender lamb tenderloin w mushroom risotto. Ordering was easy, foods were ready/on time and the owner/staff are always so friendly. read more

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Food was excellent but food took an hour to arrive. No apps; one salad and 4 entrees. 1 glass of wine=$200 Will not go after 6 pm again. Nice atmosphere. No bread or anything to pass the hour.... read more

What a great find across the street from the hotel. Sometimes you think you need to work harder to find a 5-star dinner. The atmosphere is elegant but you can feel comfortable in either jeans or dressy clothes (we wore jeans). The food was truly enjoyable! FAVORITES (only visited once) - Moussaka. OMG. You have to order this. The tender lamb and eggplant, topped with decadent potatoes with goat cheese béchamel. It was divine. - Paella. Shrimp, muscles, chicken and high quality sausage. Had a really nice (and not so subtle) smoky flavor. The risotto was nice and creamy with a wonderful tomatoe sauce. It really warmed the soul! TIPS - Complementary bread was good. The olive oil dip had massive chunks of garlic, and was too garlicky strong. Recommend asking for butter or oil without the garlic. - Grilled octopus. I am big fan of octopus and found this to be slightly less tender than optimum. The flavor balance with the diced olives and pickled onions was spot on delicious. - Wine list was very respectable with good options and many options. We opted for a bottle of Italian Camenere that was delightful read more

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I made a dinner reservation here for a Friday night. I was able to get on for the same day. When I arrived the hostess was welcoming and I got seated quickly. There were quite a few customers and there was a good ambiance for a date. The waitress was prompt and checked on me at appropriate intervals. I started with mussels as an appetizer and they were tasty. The sauce that the mussels were in was really good and it was a good portion. I also had a Shirley temple to drink and moussaka as my entree. That was my first time having moussaka and it was good. The portion was plenty and I took some home for leftovers. It was still good the next day. The menu is a little pricy but it's worth the cost. No complaints. read more

Bleu Olive - Mussels Krasata - Mediterranean Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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I can't believe I've never reviewed Bleu Olive!! It's one of our go-to's for a special occasion. The menu and food is incredible. The seafood paella is my fave. Flavorful, scrumptious, delicious! My husband loves their lamb - both the rack of lambs and sirloin. The moussaka is a Mediterranean staple and yummy. Their apps are FIRE. I could just eat the apps (except their mains are so good too so maybe not). The lemon chicken soup (I can never spell it) is perfect, hearty and hot. The sautéed calamari is amazing. Both mussels (spicy and non) are great. I usually love spicy but the non were actually better - and both come with delicious giant pieces of bread. Im drooling thinking about it. Its kind of in the middle of no where in Durham but a classy, dimly lit restaurant perfect for a date or small group. The service is good. It's on the pricier side but worth it! read more

We went in & the waiter told us the specials. I had the salmon & hubby had a steak special. Both meals were excellent,seasoned nicely & cooked right. All the sides were yummy as well. We enjoyed the atmosphere as well. Will be back!! read more

The sampler dip starter was just ok, nothing to rave about. The caesar salad is overly mayonnaise-y. The rest of my party quite enjoyed their meals. read more

The food was so good, a little on the pricey side though. But I would say the service was pretty good, which isn't too common in my experience. It's in a strip mall type setup, so the parking lot is large. That being said, I thought the portion sizes were also large. You win some and lose some. read more

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Best hummus I've ever had, great service and ambiance. We sat near bar, comfortable and convenient. read more

This place was absolutely incredible. Surprised by the tasteful decor and ambiance, complimented with fantastic and efficient service, Bleu Olive has everything to offer. We enjoyed some tasty wine, the bread service was delightful, and the Kalamari and lamb appetizers were some of the best I've ever had. Really enjoyed the Moussaka as well for my main entree, something I've never had before, and i only wish i had more. Highly recommend in the Durham area! read more

Bleu Olive - Moussaka - Mediterranean Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

First time dining here. Many nice reviews and good word of mouth among our friends. We were celebrating our wedding anniversary and dining prior to going to the Carolina Theater to see Kathleen Madigan ( what a GREAT show). I won't bury the lead. Dinner was excellent. I had the Mushroom Linguine and my wife had the salmon. My dinner was absolutely delicious. The serving was more than adequate. The linguine was perfect and the mushrooms and spinach likewise. The cream sauce was delicious and covered the dish in perfect proportion. My wife's salmon was prepared beautifully, slightly blackened. The veggies were fresh and delicious. My wife and I each had a glass of wine. My Pinot Noir was obviously from a bottle long opened. It was rather bitter. But unless the wine is like vinegar I'm not sending it back. Not that guy. But it was close. Service was ok. Nothing special. Took longer than expected for our server to take our wine order and even longer to get the aforementioned below average wine. Dinner, however, was served promptly. I felt sorry for the young "prom couple" next to us who ordered cokes that never came until they reminded their (and our server) as well as their bread that didn't come until just before dinner arrived. It was late arriving. Last thing. When making a reservation through Open Table their is a menu where you can identify if the reservation is for a special event. I did, in fact, note that is was our anniversary. Was there even the slightest acknowledgment that we chose Bleu Olive as the venue for our anniversary dinner? Nope. Nothing. How hard would it be to come up with an uncomplicated system to ensure you acknowledge milestone events that YOU ask for? So, summary... Food -Terrific Ambience-OK Personal Touch-Wanting Service was ok. To be fair I have no idea how many tables read more

It was a perfect evening. I started my night with a cocktail at the bar and was joined soon after by my husband who ordered a glass of wine while I was on the phone. I always want to taste what he's having so I sipped his wine. It was super tasty not over sweet. He said it was a Muscato, which some I am normally allergic to, but no itchy throat. I would try it again. He also had an insanely delectable clam chowder that had the best flavor I've ever had in a clam chowder. He also ordered lamb meatballs, which were really good they were grilled. I ordered the lamb shank and he had a lamb burger. My lamb shank came with broccolini and a risotto. Everything on my plate was perfect. Crystal the bartender also made us two Mexican mules that were just right. She also suggested that we go with the goat cheese cheese cake, not a mistake it was super good had just the right amount of tang and sweetness with a pistachio and honey base. The lighting in the place is pretty dim especially at the bar. The restaurant is nice not too loud and like I said, we really didn't notice too much more because it was pretty dimly lit. I ate all my food too fast to photograph it. I'll try to do better next time. read more

The paella was delicious, and well cooked. All of the spreads were amazing, and pita was the best. Very fresh. The polenta had an earthy taste and was the highlight of the dinner. For desserts, we ordered the creme brûlée and the cheesecake. They were okay. The lighting is really cool and you can never go wrong for a date here. read more

Bleu Olive - Paella - Mediterranean Near Me - Durham, North Carolina