Olives is a real hidden gem. Inside of the Hilton Garden hotel and serving all day, you'd never know this is an inspired chef restaurant with five star menu offerings. I had the walleye and my wife had the top sirloin and both were as good as it gets. This owner- operated restaurant is "all that" and affordable to boot. Drinks are well made and very tasty as well. I only wish I had more reason to be in Mankato! read more

I would like to start off by saying our waitress was so incredibly kind and nice. The restaurant itself had a nice atmosphere. The food however was less than great. We got the scallops which were ICE cold and really not that good. We also got the lobster ravioli which had decent taste but they were underdone and just chewy. Normally I would have sent it back, but the waitress was so nice and it was her first night we didn't want to make her feel bad. Let me be clear that my problem isn't with the service or restaurant itself, it was just the food was horrible. read more

Hadn't been to Olives in a long time so wanted to give it a shot and I'm so happy we did! Started off with a drink, I wasn't super excited about their cocktail menu but I ordered a cucumber martini and it was better than expected! We got the beef Wellington app which was delicious. I enjoyed my spinach salad and my husband got the Cubano which was also good. It has hotel restaurant vibes (I guess that is what it is) but the food and service were good so I didn't mind! read more

Olives - Mediterranean Near Me - Mankato, Minnesota

Olives is a nice place with excellent service. This visit was not awesome. I should have just gotten the lunch buffet for $15.99. I could have had 30 sandwiches for less money than the price of this baby sandwich I got for $16 (and a side is not included). The Philly was MAYBE on a 5" roll and the quality of the sandwich was not high-end enough to be that small. It was just incredibly disappointing. Never order this item unless you are looking for an overpriced snack. read more

Olives - Philly Steak sandwich $16 no side included. - Mediterranean Near Me - Mankato, Minnesota

This restaurant is a fabulous culinary delight, Starting with the dirty martini, including homemade stuffed blue cheese olives! Side fact: My granddaughter said the Sherly Temple was also the best she has ever had appetizers... Best Onion Rings I have eaten besides my recipe. The Chicken Satay has no equal! It is juicy and has an intense flavor. Dinner was exceptional, and the homemade desserts were a great finishing touch. Our server Brooklyn was friendly and highly attentive, along with the other team members. I appreciate a place that pays attention to the little things where you feel special and welcome. I would recommend this restaurant and will be revisiting it! read more

See all

Had high hopes but it was it was marginal at best. Started with the spinach and artichoke dip. Bleh. Ordered the filet for the main course. I was seated right by the kitchen and kept hoping yO hear the sizzle of my steak but the kitchen was radio silent. The filet came out rare (ordered med rare) and Luke warm. There was pre made grill marks and not one bit of crispness on it. Maybe microwaved?? The gnocchi was good. Way too much sauce on the steak side. The place was not busy but both appetizer and main meal were very slow. Wine was good. Am back for breakfast but couldn't figure out how to add a new post. Sorry! I'm very confused as to how they cook here. For breakfast I ordered the caprese eggs benedict. I asked for the Hollandaise on the side and was given a soup bowl of it! Waste!! The eggs were cooked weird-not fresh-prob just warmed up. English muffin was drenched in butter or oil. Bacon was cold. Worst part was the tomato. It was cold-like it just came out of the fridge. It chilled the whole meal. If they could just throw it on the grill for a minute-or leave it out on the counter-that would have made such a difference! So much potential here and hopefully they make some much needed improvements. read more

See all

If you have not been to Olives lately it is time to go back! First, parking is very easy as they have reserved parking in the Hilton garage specifically for the restaurant and yes parking is free. The modern decor is very inviting when you arrive. The menu is not large, however all their food is made by Chef Matt. The entrees are excellent and his desserts are homemade. You really cannot go wrong whether you want pizza, steak, scallops or duck. There is also a changing wine, beer and bourbon selection if you are looking for some beverages! One of the best in Mankato! read more

We went to Olives for the first time and loved it. It's not always easy to find elevated food in Mankato but we really enjoyed the food at Olives. We have recommended out of town guests for our upcoming wedding to stay at the Hilton Garden Inn because of Olives. read more

I stopped in thinking the reviews sounded decent, but, now I would avoid! While the staff was nice enough, the food was quite yuck and expensive for what it was. The "full" sized beet salad had maybe a half can of pickled beets, a quarter of grapefruit, and a very odd sauce. The mushroom pizza, the "fungi," appeared to have dried mushrooms that had been somewhat rehydrated but were not ready. The sauce tasted canned AND old and crust was burnt. There are a lot of red flags here! Someone (management, hotel, maybe the health inspector?!?) needs to evaluate this place. Something is wrong. read more

This facility is inside the Hilton Garden Inn and near the convention center. It's been almost 2 years since I stopped by. Well... It's still quite good. My choice has always been the Massa Salad w Mediterranean Chicken. It's an elegant dish. The salad is huge. I ordered shrimp in pesto apps and chicken satay apps.... To go. Just can't eat that much in one sitting! read more

Olives - Massa Salad w Mediterranean Chicken - Mediterranean Near Me - Mankato, Minnesota

Food was a masterpiece on the plate, steak done perfectly, and taste great. Olive tray to accompany dish was great. Taylor was a fantastic server. I'll eat here again. read more

Olives - Sirloin Sirloin - Mediterranean Near Me - Mankato, Minnesota

This restaurant sits inside the Hilton hotel. It's also the hotel bar. This Mediterranean restaurant was somewhat recommended to us by our Air Bnb host because we were at the Civic Center nearby all week. She mentioned that it's good but VERY salty. She was so right. The food seems to have excessive salt in almost everything- and I like salt. The pastas were too salty and the hummus and babaganoush were almost inedible. I got the lunch buffet for $11.95 so I was able to try a variety of items. Our server was very nice but I did have a negative interaction with another worker when I asked to pull up another table for others that would be joining. She laughed and said "That's not going to happen, we have too many groups in here right now". That was rude. Overall, I would visit again but be prepared for the salty food. The lunch buffet was a good deal if you're famished! read more

See all

I love the menu the new owners have created. Amazing starters. I would recommend the Beef Wellington wontons. We liked everything we tried, steak sandwich, reuben, rocket salad. The service is amazing. All of their staff are happy and they support each other as a good team should! I love hearing their positive interactions! Joe is an amazing bartender! read more

Located in the Hilton hotel, parking available in the structure. The atmosphere was good and there are a lot of customers. The waitress was attentive. I ordered the red snapper with risotto, asparagus, tomatoes and corn. Every item on the dish was extremely salty, there were no asparagus to be seen, and I couldn't drink enough water to help it. The salad was rough, and the dressing wasn't very flavorful. Just salty. The other people in my party ordered the seafood trio and they didn't like their food either. It was bland for them. The best part of this place was the convenient location. If I were to stay here again, I am not sure I would eat here again. read more

See all

the service was amazing, the desserts were also delicious. we got 2 crème brûlée and cannoli , both were fresh and tasty. the music inside the area is nice aswell. overall im glad i found this spot for me and my friends for our stay in Mankato. read more

Service and the vibe in the restaurant were really good. The food was very good too, just maybe not quite worth the price for the quality you get. Still very good. read more

Olives was perfect for a family birthday outing! The place is classy but not pretentious. The food -- wow! Great for teen to foodies to 81-year-old guest in our group, who got an adventurous dish & loved it! Our server, I think Abby, was excellent in being attentive but not hovering. She even put a candle on the complimentary dessert for the 81-year-old bday gal, who is normally a tough crowd but not tonight. Thank you! read more

Olives is back! Same name, new owners. This Mankato staple was recently sold from the Massad family to a delightful couple who have taken the reputable name and retooled the Mediterranean menu and freshened it up a bit. Even though the famed "Shwarma Pizza" is absent from the menu there is much to celebrate. My dining companion and I recently stopped there for lunch and were properly satiated by the updated menu. My go to for a meal was the delicious beef and chicken kababs. Sadly they are no more but as they say "redemption draweth nigh" and I was easily swayed by the familiar luncheon buffet still in tact but with a plethora of new offerings. The buffet has a wonderful potato salad and chicken salad, along with a fresh lettuce salad and fresh fruit. The sandwich bar had a great selection of choices including my new personal favorite - a very tasty BLT. Also included on the tiered selections were Cuban sandwiches, an egg salad wrap, a chicken wrap, fish sandwich. I wish I could give a review of the other sandwiches but the siren song of the BLT kept calling my name and who am I to ignore one of my favorite sandwiches. I also had a brief taste of the Gazpacho which was a zesty tomato broth - perfectly balanced with flavors of fresh tomato and cucumbers. The soup of the day was a ham and lentil which was so delicious that I almost needed a straw to get every last drop. My dining companion enjoyed the steak sandwich and she chose the potato gratin which was presented with geometric precision in terms of the presentation. I was able to sneak a bite of the sandwich and the potatoes and would have shouted "SOLD!" enthusiastically but did not want to risk embarrassing my companion. The dessert menu has also been spruced up. Gone are some of the favorites and it appears that the pastry chef has been allowed to do what she does best - give our sweet tooth an explosion of flavor. I chose the Chocolate Mousse and it is one of the best desserts I have eaten in a very long time. Othere selections included cheesecake, passion fruit cheesecake, Creme' Brulee, and a chocolate decadence that looked so deliciouis that I will definitely eat this on a return visit. I can honestly say that not only have the new proprietors done justice to a Mankato institution but they may have taken a good thing and made it better! read more

Stopped for dinner after a long drive. Road trip! We eat light when we travel, so was delighted to find several beautiful salad choices on the menu. Perfect. The wine list is being updated so was happy with the basic house red from CA. My honey had a local IPA and enjoyed it. Our server, Taylor was a real gem. Yes, we recommend! read more

This place is one of the best in Mankato. It always has fast and friendly service without feeling rushed and reasonably priced food. Two of my favorite things about it is they have a really nice lunch buffet and a date night on Wednesday nights. On our next visit I will review again with pictures. read more

Stayed at the hotel. Had a lovely drink at the bar and dessert when we returned. Next time I will eat there. My grandson loved picking from all the beautifully displayed desserts! Thank you for the experience. read more

A warm welcome to Mankato! We stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn Mankato and we're hungry for lunch upon arrival. We were greeted by a friendly server who not only recommended the best dishes for us so share, but also gave us tips on what to see, do, and places to eat and drink in Mankato and New Ulm. We ended up taking her recommendation on not only the things to do, but the food as well, and we're so glad we did! We ordered the Mediterranean Mezze, the edamame, and the schwarma pizza. The mezze was delicious and had spectacular baba ganosh! I'm gluten free so the server brought me fresh raw veggies for dipping at no cost in addition to the pita. The edamame is a huge portion and great for sharing--I definitely recommend the Asian sauce that comes with it--not spicy but great flavor! The pizza was so unique and delicious, I'm so glad she recommended it. With chicken, pickles, and the restaurant's signature aioli sauce, we were obsessed. And the GF crust was only $1 more! We ended up coming back for a late night dessert nightcap before heading up to our room. Their display case was full of delicious options. We decided to share the chocolate mousse, the NY cheesecake, and the Carmel pecan dessert. All were rich, smooth, and decadent--and gluten friendly! The service was extremely helpful and welcoming. Makes a world of a difference! read more

See all

Disappointing.....the hours state they close at 10pm for dinner and our baseball team walked into the restaurant at 9:25 pm and was told the kitchen was closed. Viewed 3 people sitting at the bar eating when we were turned away. We are staying at the adjoining Hilton hotel and came back specifically to eat. Don't advertise dinner hours if your not going to honor them. read more

Olives - Mediterranean Near Me - Mankato, Minnesota

I went out and made a Yelp account just to be able to leave a review for this place! The dinner was excellent, I had the BLT and it was out of this world. What really has me wanting to come back was the service, though. Our server Tim, the bartender made sure we all felt at home, kept us laughing, kept the drinks full and almost made me forget I was at a bar and not just at home with my friends. He introduced a few other patrons and we were all able to enjoy a night together. The other staff that popped in and out (I didn't catch their names) were also very warm and welcoming. I would recommend anybody stop in to Olive in Mankato. read more

I have really tried to like this restaurant over the past year that I have been coming here. The owner is very Hands-On and very much a delightful person. I would have to say that the issues are not with their upper management, but rather small tactical matters that break down what they envision delivering. Last night was a great example of simply several tactical matters culminating in a totally unsatisfactory experience. I was greeted by the hostess whose personal appearance and presentation exuded arrogance, slovenliness, and conducted herself in a manner that the guest was an after thought. The server, Rebecca, was a joy and tried really hard. We shared some conversation and she was pleasant. Then my main course was served. I had ordered the rigatoni with a creamy rustic sausage sauce. I could. It make out what pasta they decided to use as all I could see in my bowl were flat shards of what may have been, at one time, rigatoni. There was not one rigatoni which had held it's shape, not one. You see, it is the shape of the rigatoni that helps it be the ideal pasta for such a hearty sauce as it will stand to such a sauce, but alas that was not to be. I decided against the desert and called it a night. If the owner had been there I doubt such a plate would have made it to the floor and the slovenly hostess would not have been at her post, but you can't always have someone supervising even the most minute details. read more

Success is about managing expectations. In the case of olives restaurant, our expectations were high. A pricey menu at the Hilton hotel with high ratings. The experience did not match the expectation. A signature shwarma pizza was virtually inedible. Two of our dining party ordered the barbecue ribs. As advertised, the meat did fall off the bone but compared to other ribs that we have had, it was just fair. However, the mash potato was over salted and the number of ribs for the price was modest. We also had kebab and the diner said it was quite good. So maybe the menu is hit or miss. But service was friendly and they accommodated us on a busy night. For that, they get points. read more

Table of 7 of us. A round of cocktails and we were ready for dinner. I had a dinner salad and French Onion soup. The salad was good. I think the soup was prepared by a comedian in the kitchen. It was served in a regular soup bowl with a little chuck of bread and a dap of cheese the size of a 50 cent piece melted on top of the bread. Not the crock of onion soup one would usually expect. Fortunately the kitchen redeemed themselves. I ordered the lamb, medium rare. Folks, lamb does not get any better than this! Had the NY cheese cake for dessert. Excellent taste and presentation! Overall, this is one of Mankato's finest! read more

This place is pretty awesome. For a parking garage it's not bad because the first level is reserved for the restaurant. It was a mistake not to get the chicken. Next time. I got the Intl. dinner cause I was in the mood for steak. Big misteak. It was the steak Diane which was good but not hot enough. However they force another entree with this one and it's Szh. pork, which doesn't mix taste buds with at all. I gave that to Basil. I dare you not to get a dessert. They are behind the counter as you walk in. The strawberry shortcake was unconventional, yet tasty. What put this over the top in spite of a non-perfect entree was the service by a gal named Sammi. She went above and beyond. Just awesome. I'm glad we hit such a classy place on our trip. We may even stay in the hotel next time. read more

The quality of food was terrible. Our "spicy, creamy" rigatoni came with a very bland red sauce. My dad ordered chicken piccata and it came with the same sauce! My mom got chicken parmesan-same sauce and the chicken was burnt and dry. No discount was offered. My parents were up all night sick- the chicken was probably bad. read more

Assaulting. This is the best way to describe every dish I had here during a recent visit. I travel for work and eat out a lot and have never felt inclined to rate a restaurant so poorly. I was very excited about the restaurant because of the convenience, the atmosphere, and mostly positive reviews but soon felt differently. Dinner started off well with the complimentary bread and olives - my favorite part! We then ordered the crostini as an appetizer because the flavor combinations seemed great but this was a mistake. There was so much wasted potential because there was absolutely no blend of flavors. In the caprese style one, I couldn't taste anything but garlic chunks. The olive one had a giant heap of olive mash (similar to a tapenade) but was so salty and completely overpowered the goat cheese. Another one barely had any avocado to balance out an overly onion based pick de gallo. This set the tone for the rest of the meal - our main dishes were over seasoned. The proposed flavor combinations have a ton of potential but NEED to be reexamined because my taste buds were constantly assaulted. read more

The lobby runs CNN 24/7. I don't like to see garbage before a meal. The food is great, but I won't eat here if they are broadcasting CNN.

Came here to eat the state fish, Perch. Was very good and in a nice ambiance. We got there early and even though breakfast was still being served, the staff bent over backwards and served 2 of us lunch! KUDOS to them! read more

Restaurant located in the Mankato Hilton. Service... great, food... excellent. My wife and I loved it so much Friday night for dinner, we went back Saturday night. It was even better, going back as often as possible. The head chef "Matt" came out and made himself available, you can tell he's passionate about what he does. He's now my personal chef . read more

Taste is bland and they serve middle Eastern food and it doesn't even have middle eastern taste

The food was fairly good. They give you a bowl of olives to eat while you're waiting for your food; but watch out, they have the pits in them! Definitely make a reservation! read more

The short: Nice ambience, good service, mediocre (that's me being MN-nice, FYI) food. If you must go, please, do it on a Monday night for the burger special. They are a good deal for the price. Avoid the Seafood like it's a rat infested with fleas infested with the black plague from Canada. The long: I should have realized what we were in for based upon the large placard displayed at the entrance of the restaurant. It was a photo of the executive chef pitching his insipid "schawarma sauce." (They claim it is an aioli but I've had aioli, I've made aioli, I freaking love aioli, and that is no aioli.) I may have turned back there, but it was my girlfriend's birthday and the restaurant looks so nice. We were seated immediately and our waitress arrived quickly. The menu has more "signature" items than the Declaration of Independence. Each item has a quote like, "A masterpiece of flavors," and "A little bit of Italy in Mankato." I don't know who exactly they are trying to convince, but I do hope that the message hits home soon. We ordered the Seafood Trio (a signature item...surprised?) and the signature burger (I'm really not making this stuff up) The burger - a Monday only special, was actually decent and, for $7, even a pretty good deal. However, the Seafood was an utter disaster. The prawns wee overcooked, the trout looked like jerky, the potatoes were cold, and the flavors...dear good, the flavors were horrid. I could go on, but I won't. I really believe that a modestly trained home ec class from a rural high school could have executed the dish better. To their credit, the staff apologized and took the plate back immediately. They offered us a dessert, we chose the fresh fruit tart abd were underwhelmed again. (I don't know if it was a signature dish or not.) The food gets one star (yes, the burger was fine, but a special menu item. Harsh? Perhaps, but it wasn't my birthday.) but the service earned one back. Sadly, I won't be able to update this review because it is very unlikely that I will go back to this restaurant again. I wanted so badly to have a good experience. Mankato has a food scene about as active as the average Midwesterner and, gosh diggity darn it, could it use a great restaurant. Alas, this isn't it. read more

I visited this restaurant when I was up from Kansas City visiting family. This was a great find in a rather abysmal dining experience in Southern Minnesota. A gem among rocks, a pearl among swine. Most places I go to up around that area are just meh. This place was both memorable and made me wish my time in Minnesota was longer so I could have gone back for more. The menu isn't extensive. A few more vegetarian offerings would be wonderful, I agree with another reviewer who said that, but there's really something for everybody on the menu. The only thing that disappointed me is how much I wanted to go back to this place and now have to wait until I am up north again. People of Mankato, you have a treasure in your city! Keep it there, please! I want to come back! read more

The price far out weighed the ambiance, service or food. Being the hotel restaurant, I was lazy and decided not to venture out however the venture would have been a good idea. The beer was cold and initial bar service was fine. The olives offered are nice and the bread was decent but overall the service in the kitchen and bar seemed like they were overwhelmed. I would not recommend them unless you are stuck at the hotel. If so, be patient. read more

Well I can say I have had better Med food, this place is really very good all things considered. (LOCATION!) On a recent trip to Mankato visiting family, my mother in law offered to buy lunch, my sister in law and niece both looked at each other and simultaneously, emphatically shouted "OLIVES!" I guess my sister in law had her birthday dinner here a few years ago, and they really like the place. My niece who is a very picky eater demolished her entire plate of kabobs; even my mother in law noticed and commented she's never seen her eat so much food. I had the schwarma wrap, and the chicken was alright. My plate wasn't anything to sneeze at, but I don't know I'd order it again if I were to stop by. We checked out their buffet upon arrival and opted to order instead because it wasn't exactly massive or anything. Our service was good. read more

I'm originally from Mankato, was visiting the city for an anniversary and decided to try Olives. My current home is in the northern suburbs of Chicago and my wife and I eat at restaurants 2-3 times per week, the average tab for dinner is between $50 & $80. We ate a Olives Thursday evening, June 20, 2019. Tab total $73.00 The longer my wife and discussed the Olives Restaurant experience the more disgusted we became and I arrived at the opinion that it was the "worst value" meal I have ever eaten! I had the teriyaki pork tenderloin and she had a sliced chicken breast over mashed potatoes, the entrees were served with 2 rolls and 2 pads of butter and no salad. If there was a chef working, they were not visible, all I saw were college age wait staff and in the section of the kitchen, we could see from our table, probably the same. The food was absolutely bland tasting, a cheap cafeteria would serve, food that was just being warmed up. My Teriyaki sauce was actually congealed and room temp warm to cold, I wonder if it came out of a jar... The chicken and mashed potatoes were just warm also. I'd venture the total procurement cost of what we ate did not exceed $1.00! If the tab had been $30 I would have written the experience off and let it go at that, however, we paid $73 for this food, which would be towards the high side for many of the Chicago area restaurants we eat in. This past evening we ate a restaurant in Glenview IL called Gusto Italian restaurant, the tab was $75.00 and the food was outstanding and that's when my wife and I recalled our dinner at Olives, and we remarked we couldn't believe a restaurant would serve such poor quality and poorly prepared food and charge the prices they do. It was this conversation that prompted me to write my review, patrons should know just how poor the experience was, the owner can write it off to maybe a bad night for his establishment but I think it is probably systemic. read more