Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Olive Tree Cafe

    3.7 (456 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 4:00 am (Next day)

    Olive Tree Cafe Photos

    OLIVE TREE CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Olive Tree Cafe

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Tiff T.

    This place is really sexy and they have a comedy cellar. Olivia was our server, and she was super sweet. Thanks for the service, girl!!!!! My friend took me after work and I was like a cafe lol but I was definitely shocked about the place. The stain glasses are beautiful The tables you can use chalk to write and draw on, so fun. Now food, my friend, so hmmmm, I wanted buffalo wings but got cauliflower. lol, I didn't enjoy that like I thought the falafel was really good. The combo of the plate was on point. The truffle fries were my favorite hands down. They also play some amazing tunes so that had me feeling myself

    Kassandra F.

    Thorough enjoyed ourselves during a midday jaunt. It was the perfect oasis to cool off and people watch. The service was exemplary.

    Live music on Monday nights
    Guy B.

    The burger was one of the best I've had in a while! They make burgers with a great seasoning mix of noticeable but not spicy/overpowering flavors. Vibe inside has an old school NYC element that works well. I went on Monday night for the music which started at 9pm; at times a bit loud but nothing crazy. Biggest downside is using the bathroom that's shared with comedy cellar; not great but manageable. And if you're a true New Yorker past or present you'll prob recognize some fellow customers inside (comedians, podcasters, popular 'intellectuals'). In modern times you prob won't get a better mix of eclectic mix of people inside that is authentically NYC which is getting rarer & rarer. My 2 friends who joined me had never been but really liked vibes & food too.

    Chicken Kebob Platter
    Stephanie G.

    This is my second time coming here . First time I came here was for for drinks. This time around myself and Fiancé came here for dinner prior to attending a comedy show . I had the steak and fries, steak was good; I just wish it came with a sauce. my Fiancé got the chicken kabab platter, which I loved . I love the fact that they didn't rush you so we were able to stay there until the start of our comedy show ; which started at 12am.

    the interior of the restaurant
    Mark M.

    Excellent meal here, we had beer and coffee that were good. The Chicken Kabab platter had all food nicely charred, with some Indian spiced white sauce. Chicken was cooked perfectly. The white rice was plain but good. Decor inside is very classy with dim lighting. Lots of brown. Service was good, getting us everything we needed.

    Mediterranean Platter
    Shannon S.

    The Olive Tree continues to be one of my favorite spots in the city for the last 13 years. The atmosphere is welcoming and the food outstanding. I really appreciate the bartender Carly's creativity when making non-alcoholic drinks, as I am 5 years sober. Highly recommend 10/10.

    Food, service, ambiance - all excellent. The Walnut Pesto Pasta was fantastic, and Victoria (the server) was very attentive and nice. This place has been around forever, and I'm glad the cafe is as pleasant (at least when it's not packed with tourists) as when I first visited.

    Table
    Kortnee L.

    This place never disappoints. I've been coming here for over ten years and with all the menu updates, it's still an awesome ambiance and selection of dishes. It seems like it's Mediterranean focused, however there are options that contain meat other than lamb. The Hummus Platter is pretty big considering the price and the area. The Mac & Cheese is also tasty, and has panko crust atop the dish. The tables are equipped with chalk! White only, however perfect for kids and fidgety patrons. Not sure if everyone knows this, but the bathrooms are below the cafe... through the cellar room reserved for comedy shows. The infamous Comedy Cellar is below the cafe, however you need to buy tickets for those shows separate as entry to the shows are NOT included in the dining experience. Greg was an awesome server; gives great suggestions. They also carry Irish cider. Check it out- it's definitely a staple of the NYU area.

    Middle Eastern platter
    Elyse S.

    Food was very tasty. We ordered the middle Eastern plate that had baba and hummus and tabouli and a salad with cucumbers and tomatoes. We ordered it with 2 chicken kebabs and a small side dish of vegetables. Service by Giselle was very professional and lovely.

    Lamb

    See all

    18 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    16 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jess D.
    392
    804
    4966

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 11
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Olga F.
    54
    35
    36

    6 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Cara L.
    3
    12
    44

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kelly A.
    465
    12
    5

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    15 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sàba V.
    110
    40
    5

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Shanea C.
    84
    68
    150

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    16 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    16 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    18 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    19 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    17 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    19 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    18 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    16 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Erik D.
    68
    41
    0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Shar H.
    40
    153
    11

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    Page 3 of 12

    Olive Tree Cafe Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Olive Tree Cafe

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Middle Eastern 8,373 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Lava Shawarma - Lamb Chops

    Lava Shawarma

    4.3(69 reviews)
    0.1 miGreenwich Village

    This place really stands out for flavorful, authentic Middle Eastern food that tastes fresh and…read morewell-prepared. Their shawarma is honestly some of the best I've had in NYC--juicy, well-seasoned, and wrapped or plated in a way that feels very satisfying without being greasy or heavy. What makes the place even better is the variety on the menu. You're not limited to just wraps; there's a good mix of platters and rice-based dishes too, which makes it easy to go back and try something different each time. The biryani is a pleasant surprise--fragrant, well-spiced, and not overly oily--and the kofta with rice is especially good, really tender and flavorful with a nice balance of spices. Overall, it's a solid go-to for consistently tasty, authentic comfort food.

    The food at Lava Shawarma was soo good - I'm so excited to find out that there is another location…read morethat is a little closer to me, because I'll be able to go more regularly! My friends and I stopped in for a quick and casual meal. The restaurant is super casual, with reasonable prices. We started with the labneh and pita - it was well spiced and tart, and a great, simple appetizer to get us ready for the rest of the meal. I personally got the lamb burger. It was juicy and hearty, and the pickles provided a nice little kick of acidity amongst the cheesy, rich bite. We thought about trying the baklava, but were too full due to the fair portion size. I've got my eye on the loaded fries for another meal, and a shakshouka for breakfast one day!

    Photos
    Lava Shawarma
    Lava Shawarma - Falafel Lava Wrap

    Falafel Lava Wrap

    Lava Shawarma - Mixed shawarma plate (lamb, beef, chicken)

    See all

    Mixed shawarma plate (lamb, beef, chicken)

    Cafe Mogador - Moroccan Eggs

    Cafe Mogador

    4.2(2.3k reviews)
    0.9 miEast Village, Alphabet City
    $$

    MY FAVORITE!! My friend and I went here for dinner and holy moly, I don't think I've ever loved a…read morerestaurant more. This is officially my new go to spot and I'm going to be telling everyone about it. I got there right at our reservation time, but the uptown trains had completely stopped and my friend had to walk all the way from Canal St to the East Village. It took her about 30 minutes to get there (), but the staff were so kind about it. They never made me feel uncomfortable or pressured to order while I waited, which I really appreciated. I did end up ordering a couple things so there would be food on the table when she arrived. We got the za'atar fries and the falafel with tahini and pita. Delishhhh For our mains, my friend got the chicken kebab which looked fantastic, and I got the veggie couscous bowl. It was unbelievable. It tasted exactly like the couscous my mom and safta made when I was growing up, even down to the broth being served with it. Eating it honestly made me feel like I was six years old again. This was one of my favorite meals as a kid and I haven't had it like that in so long, so I was so happy to find a place that does it this well. The vegetables were perfect with zucchini, butternut squash, cauliflower, and chickpeas, and I loved the addition of raisins and onions. Everything was also really reasonably priced for what you get. The energy in the restaurant was great and I loved that they have hooks for coats so you're not crammed at the table with jackets and bags. Overall just such a fantastic experience. This is easily my new favorite restaurant in the city and I cannot wait to come back.

    We ordered delivery, so I'm not sure how the food would compare if we ate in restaurant. I also…read morecan't speak to the service and ambiance. My favorite dish was definitely the chicken tagine with the lemon and olive sauce. The chicken was very juicy, and the flavors were unique. I also liked the couscous and the veggies in it, although the chicken was a little on the dry side. The chicken grill was quite juicy too, just a little less flavorful. The greek salad and dips were also solid, but didn't stand out as much as the other dishes.

    Photos
    Cafe Mogador
    Cafe Mogador - Merguez Sausage From the Grill

    Merguez Sausage From the Grill

    Cafe Mogador

    See all

    Olive Tree Cafe - mideastern - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...