What a darling restaurant The food and drinks were amazing. Our waitress was cute as can be. I would get there early because it fills up quickly and the place isn't huge. There is bar seating. read more

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The absolute worst chicken pesto sandwich I have ever had. I wish I snapped pictures but there was no room for my phone on the toddler table we were given. The chicken tasted old. The sandwich was clearly assembled and sent out. For the money paid I was hoping for the sandwich to be grilled with melted cheese and bun. I can say with absolute certainty do not order the chicken pesto sandwich. I ate half barely, the server never asked if my meal was ok. The positive is wine is half off in Weds. The menu selection is small. I'm sorry I didn't take pictures. read more

We had an amazing time celebrating our friends birthday at Olives! Izzy was such an amazing waitress. She was so friendly and accommodating, she made our time at Olives so fun! Thanks Izzy for being amazing and making sure all 10 of us had an amazing time! Our private dinning room was so nice and filled with AC! read more

Olives - Lychee Cosmo and Riesling - New American Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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I've wanted to try Olives for years, and it did not disappoint. The food was excellent. Every dish was fresh, flavorful, and clearly made with attention to detail. The ambience was warm and welcoming and it provided an elevated feel while still staying casual. They also have a ton of gluten free options for those with dietary preferences! The only downside was the wait time after ordering. We had to wait a little over an hour to get our food on a Thursday night. If you're planning a visit, I'd suggest being prepared for a bit of a wait specially if you are not on the waitlist. read more

Forgot to take pictures of all the food, but everything was delicious. I had the lettuce wraps which were a light and fresh option for the summer. My girlfriend had a goat cheese gnocchi, which was to die for. We also got the infamous lychee martini, 10 out of 10 would recommend. Service was fantastic with a very family, friendly, indoor seating. Can't wait to be back to try the rest of the menu. read more

Olives - Churros - New American Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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We had dinner last night and it was disappointing on several levels. My salmon entree was so laden with oil, the summer squash was swimming on the plate. The sliced avocado was half brown. Please remove the brown parts, simple fix and much more appealing for the price of the meal. The people next to us picked their meal apart and I over heard them say how disappointed they were. The hostess was very rude and curt. Not sure I'll dine there anytime soon. read more

A good time. Good food. Good environment. Service was fine. Odd that the Olive burger was not made with green olives. Appeared to be black olives? Different. Worth a try. read more

Olives - The other Olive Burger photo on here, from 8months ago, is completely different looking. Here is how their Olive Burger is currently. - New American Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Great service! The fried polenta was very good. Good company and great location . Nice decors

Fantastic service and food. The burger was surprising and intuitive, Elise at hostess was informative and industrious.

This place is simply just so mid. Everything is overpriced and tastes okay. Nothing was really bad but nothing was super good either. I wouldn't go back. read more

It seems this place is VERY popular. The ambiance is fairly trendy for the area, yet somewhat subtle. Service was fair, not bad, not spectacular. The food was disappointing, to be honest. Not that the hamburger was bad, not at all. However, this is the place touted for their "world famous" Olive Burger. Small world of Grand Rapids, I guess. The burger is made with an olive mayonnaise, not like a tapenade layer. So I guess it's about expectations. Mine were too high. I expected a stronger, briny flavor. read more

We had a fantastic date night at Olives. Apparently this place has been here forever but we just recently started hearing about its new renovation under new owners. According to their Facebook, the waitlist was turned off on Yelp due to ongoing issues but you can call to get on the list. When we called around 6:15pm on a Saturday, they didn't have a wait! We were seated upstairs in the old house portion of the restaurant, which is very cool. We started with the Mushroom Crostini and Elote Dip. My wife wasn't a huge fan of the texture of the mushrooms and we wished it was toasted a little more but I thought it was delicious. The Elote Dip was pretty good as well and the portion sizes were perfect to share. We then each ordered a side Michigan Salad and our entrees were the Bistro Filet and Goat Cheese Gnocchi. Our only complaint was that our salads and entrees showed up at the exact same time so we were bouncing back and forth to try to enjoy the entree before it got cold. We both loved our salads and our entrees. The filet was cooked perfect and I loved the grilled onions and potatoes. The gnocchi had so much flavor and my wife loved it. The portions were more than enough for us and the prices seemed very reasonable. Overall, this spot was great. We loved everything and our minor complaints were nothing to ruin our night. The restaurant is small which can make it feel very crowded but the upstairs wasn't as bad. read more

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I visited downtown East Grand Rapids and stopped by Olives for a late supper. We received a warm greeting and attentive service from Randy. The restaurant has adjustable blinds that allow you to customize the lighting. While it is small, it has a cozy atmosphere and also features a bar. I ordered the Philadelphia cheesesteak and opted for a $4 upgrade to truffle fries. My wife chose the chicken salad sandwich, which came with potato chips. Both meals were served hot, satisfying us and leaving us full. Parking can be a challenge, so I recommend using the D&W lot across the street. It's just a short walk to Olives from there. I visited downtown East Grand Rapids and stopped by Olives for a late supper. We received a warm greeting and attentive service from Randy. The restaurant has adjustable blinds that allow you to customize the lighting. While it is small, it has a cozy atmosphere and also features a bar. I ordered the Philadelphia Cheesesteak and opted for a $4 upgrade to truffle fries. My wife chose the Chicken Salad Sandwich, which came with potato chips. Both meals were served hot, satisfying us and leaving us full. Parking can be a challenge, so I recommend using the D&W lot across the street. It's just a short walk to Olives from there. I visited downtown East Grand Rapids and stopped by Olives for a late supper. We received a warm greeting and attentive service from Randy. The restaurant has adjustable blinds that allow you to customize the lighting. While it is small, it has a cozy atmosphere and also features a bar. I ordered the Philadelphia cheesesteak and opted for a $4 upgrade to truffle fries. My wife chose the chicken salad sandwich, which came with potato chips. Both meals were served hot, satisfying us and leaving us full. Parking can be a challenge, so I recommend using the D&W lot across the street. It's just a short walk to Olives from there. read more

New Menu Item - Fried Whitefish! So moist, so flakey - the rice bedding underneath with the sauce is just the right touch. Took some friends of ours there who've never been before and they were very happy - loved the service, food, and ambiance. read more

Olives - Fried Whitefish - New American Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Had another wonderful visit and want to update my rating. Thr burger, side salad, and drink were divine! I so love having this gem in Gaslight Village! read more

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Good eclectic menu and very nice staff! New decor is comfortable and inviting, and the pours on the martinis are to the absolute tippy top (and perfectly mixed). Only knock is that they use store bought blue cheese olives that are bland and tasteless. If you specialize in martinis and your name is olives...the cost of the martinis and the perfect mix deserves fresh. :) read more

The ambiance is cool, but it's all smoke and mirrors. A friend and I tried this restaurant on our way to a show at Meijer Garden. We were seated quickly inside as outside was full. There were at least six tables still open inside. We should have listened to the waiter as he tried to convince us to order burgers saying that they were known for their burgers, but we wanted entrees. More than an hour passed, and we didn't have our food. The waiter's demeanor was slightly detached when he apologized for the wait, and I pointed out that every other table seated after us had received their food. His reasoning was that the kitchen had gotten backed up. When it did arrive, it was an inedible disappointment. The chicken piccata was a curled up, dry, breaded chicken breast rather than a moist cutlet. It was insanely salty, impossible to cut, and overall inedible. My friend's salmon was decent, but not worth an hour's wait. She didn't finish it. They comped my meal and half of hers, but it was overall a drag. read more

Went to Olives yesterday with my dtr. We love the food and generally the bartenders are wonderful. However, when we arrived it was close to 2:30 or so. David the bartender was seating people and we requested to sit at the bar. My dtr asked if there were outlets she could plug her computer into, most places have them now. They do not however which wasn't the issue. He proceeded to tell us that next time we were going to need to sit at a table instead because they do not allow computers at the bar. He was snippy but I said oh that must be something new cause we come here quite often and we've never been told that. He then launched into a condescending tirade about why too many people at the bar with computers isn't allowed. Mind you, there was not another soul at the bar but us. I never write these reviews to be negative and things have to be pretty bad for me to complain, but this kid really wanted us to know he was in charge! I specifically asked his name cause we were both irked by his demeanor. A few minutes later I heard the manager reprimanding him for not checking on the patio customers. So to the owners of Olives, have a chat with this entitled young man please, he needs to know that this is a service industry, make your customer happy and you'll do well. Being rude to a 70 yr old mom having lunch with her dtr. doesn't set well. I know too many bartenders at area restaurants who are stellar at their craft, David you are not one of them. Perhaps customer service is not your forte! The bartender who came in at 4 was! She was sweet, made a mean drink and had an overall air of confidence, that's stellar! Listen and learn ‍ read more

Just redone and very, very cute inside! It's modern and clean/simple. They still kept the small town vibe (little tables/chairs) and kept the wine lockers. It's very personal. The lunch menu is very small with not a ton of options... and no, there's no meatloaf :) A couple salad options, sandwiches, snacks/apps, but no main dishes - I assume there are more of those main dishes on the dinner menu. I ordered the Michigan Salad ($16) and added Salmon ($7)... which in GR for a nicer restaurant isn't completely unexpected price wise, but what was shocking was how dainty the dish was. The portion size was more like a side salad in a smaller bowl and the salmon filet was 'maybe' 1.5 ounces. Tasty, but I left there and immediately ate a bowl of oatmeal that I had stored in my drawer when I got back to my office. We've not yet been for dinner, although, with so many other options and having this recent lunch experience (high price tag, small portions)... we'll probably opt to go elsewhere when we have so many other options in town. read more

Olives - Michigan Salad - added Salmon (tiny!) - New American Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

We went for our first time and were very pleased. The service was excellent, our server friendly and attentive. We got the brussel sprouts appetizer- it was very good with a sauce I wasn't expecting. We also shared an olive smash burger. The olive dip I could eat alone but that's not classy. The truffle fries my husband loved. If you have a gluten sensitivity be sure to be careful about what you are trying as I am sure I got some gluten (I just have a rash reaction not celiac). We would go back. read more

Went here for lunch last weekend. Crowd was mixed - couples in their 30s, a few groups of women in their 60s/70s, some kids- it wasn't packed but just about every table in sight filled up at lunch on a Friday. It was their last weekend for the lobster roll so I tried that and it was much larger than expected (the photo shows just half of it!) the price was great at just $17 for the, what I called, the double roll and fries. I wish it was around longer - I'd go back for it. It had a decent amount of pickles on it too. I think they added dill into the lobster salad so it had a unique flair. The fries are seasoned so well and they're hand cut daily according to our server. Only reason it didn't get a 5-star was because the service was quite slow. We were there for a full hour, maybe a little more but the atmosphere is cute and intimate. Would make a cute date spot! read more

Olives - Lobster roll and fries - New American Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Looking for a cozy place with yummy food to catch up with a dear friend or for date night? I love Olive's! It's like the main floor and upstairs of a house turned into a casual and warm atmosphere restaurant. Call ahead for a reservation. We lucked out and scored a table with an early dinner. Our server was great! Yum: Kale salad with dried cherries, feta, almonds, and honey mustard dressing. Chicken thighs dinner with broccoli race and potatoes - all so delicious! Shout out for All Gender restrooms! After seeing how good my friend's burger looked, I went back later in the week and ordered an Olive Burger to-go. It hit the spot! Their online ordering platform wasn't working for me (it was down and they didn't know it), so I called the restaurant and they were so kind and helpful during the call and when I arrived at the restaurant for pick-up. read more

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Fantastic local eatery in the heart of Gaslight Village. The ambiance is cozy and upscale casual and it has a fantastic outdoor area. This is a locally-owned business and the care and love the owners pour into this place is tangible. I absolutely love it here and highly recommend it. Their food is excellent and I always love coming here - for business meals and personal (just ate lunch there this week on the terrace. So lovely). You will not be disappointed! read more

Great food in an unexpected setting. Our server was upbeat and attentive. We will definitely eat there again.

Food was decent. Service was below average, and overall attentiveness was not good at all. The restaurant was not busy, but staff was preoccupied with conversation or just lazy. Has potential, but clearly not being managed well. read more

The best place to be seated is upstairs, it's got nice ambience and space so you're not too close to other people. Salads and burgers are good, pretty simple food and a bigger menu would be nice. Dinner service was great. read more

Lovely locale EGR spot with sweet new decor. Always enjoy the food and the service. would recommend to anyone. read more

Olives - Née menu and a crisp glass of sauv blanc - New American Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

First visit to this restaurant. Midday casual and not busy, great service and a nice olive burger. Two smash type patties and a Kalamata olive sauce. I prefer a traditional green olive version, but it was good. read more

Olives - Midday lunch - New American Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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Food, good nothing special Service, friendly and attentive Ambiance, just redone very nice dining read more

Great aesthetics. Lovely decor and ambience. Looks great from outside and even better on the inside. Very classy! The menu is not extensive but everything from drinks, to the smash burger, lobster roll, and dessert were perfect and tasty. And did I mention the service? It was spectacular. Loved every aspect of the experience and the fact that we drove 2 hours to go here and know that we will return again says it all. Love, love, love this place! Shhh, don't tell anyone. I want to be able to get right in when I go next. read more

The dirty martini with their signature olives were so good! We overordered food because everything looked so good on the menu. You can't go wrong! read more

Food was excellent, portion size a bit small for the menu price, but delicious. when ordering dinner, I like to receive water along with ordered drinks.. had to request it. Hosts were very friendly, but not very knowledgeable about the menu when asked where the beer list is located. overall great neighborhood spot. read more

Cozy place, but took 15 before we saw our server, 30 minutes before our cocktails arrived. Appeared to be understaffed for a 8pm dinner. Food was pedestrian but what do you expect from a Grand Rapids restaurant. I would go for drinks but nothing else. read more

All in all very good food,venue & service.Loved the oriental salad with the blend of fresh cilantro,mint & peanut-absolutely delicious!The short ribs were excellent also.The chicken added to the salad was very tasty but a bit dry on the ends.The Olive burger was very flavorful but the truffle fries were a bit flat & puckered.The wait person was pleasant & efficient.The bill was commensurate with the food & experience.Definitely plan to return. read more

I'm already looking forward to coming back. I split the olive burger and Michigan salad with my friend. Both were awesome. They toasted the bun which always helps the gluten-free bun taste better. The salad was really yummy. I think it would taste really good with chicken. I ordered a Paloma to drink. It was fine. We on the deck, which was so nice as it was a beautiful evening. I would recommend some music out there. I think it would help the vibe and also block some of the conversations from other tables. read more

Oh My Gosh - what happened? I ordered a Caesar salad to go and the lime creme brûlée. No croutons on the salad: a grinding of (crouton?) bits that made the salad feel gritty. The dressing was awesome, though, as usual - thank haven that has not changed. The creme brûlée was totally faux; it tasted like lemon pudding with graham cracker crumbs with 4 funny little nips of merengue in each corner. read more

So disappointed in the new olives. :( The service was extremely disappointing and the food was subpar. The space has been redone beautifully but everything else is lacking. We gave it 2 chances to work out the new bumps but will not be going back. I don't know where the amazing staff went but the hosts are completely new and don't know what they are doing. They seemed clueless on how a restaurant works even with empty tables and no wait... also handing out dirty menus. After being sat... the wait staff didn't come see us for 20 mins until they finally realized no one had served us anything but water. When the food came I ordered a classic Olive burger and it was so greasy I couldn't stomach it. My husband had a po boy sandwich and it was so basic. Gone is the flavor and finesse. I will say our server was very kind, but the experience, flavor, and finesse we used to come for is gone. Won't be returning which is such a bummer because it used to be such a staple for us. read more

Always a great time at Olives. The food is great, the renovation is really nice. It is a little loud upstairs, kind of hard to hear if there a a lot of people in that space. Great go to place! read more

Went here last night for a book club meeting, and really enjoyed it! There were 9 of us, and we never had an empty glass, nor did our plates sit in front of us long. Great service. I ordered two glasses of the Cabarnet Sauvignon and the seared broccoli salad with grilled chicken, and it was delicious! The menu changes often to accommodate seasonal items, so always something new to try! One of the ladies ordered the duck, but was told she had to change her order when she told the waitress she had Celiac's. The duck comes with farro, which isn't gluten free, but I thought it was odd they couldn't substitute it with lentils since it comes on the side. It was a little loud come 7pm, but to be expected since it's smaller inside. It has a very cozy feel to it, and I love the decor! Parking is easy in the lot across the street. Also, they add 20% gratuity to parties of 6 or more, and our waitress made sure we all knew that, which I praise her for since many servers do not point that out. I'm looking forward to going back to try another dish! read more

Olives - Book club meeting must commence with a glass of wine! - New American Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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The menu change delivered a major downturn for Olives.... Sorry! We used to be regulars and would dine frequently but, despite being able to walk to this popular Gaslight restaurant, I won't return until menu changes are made. The two biggest misses? Changing the mushroom crostini and making it a peach version with shreds of prosciutto AND changing the lettuce wraps? The crostini was downright bad (compared to the addictive mushroom crostini it replaced) and the lettuce wraps were a major taste downgrade. We also were seated up in a cubby hole of a room that should be reserved for one reservation but there were two other two tops and literally zero privacy. I was embarrassed for the other two tables for invading their privacy but there we were, all hanging out together with the impossibility of having any of our own conversations. Here's hoping some of the old menu makes a comeback. read more