This place has changed since I used to come here (perhaps 3-4 years ago?). One should be aware of this when reading older reviews, since many of the dishes mentioned in those are no longer offered. In particular, Olive's doesn't include any more sad side salads, thank goodness. I recently began coming here again this fall (2018). I don't know when it turned into a sandwich shop with its current menu, and I believe it's improved from before. I really enjoy The Olive, which is a pita topped with an impressive mountain of hummus, arugula, olives, quinoa, yogurt, and more. The other sandwiches are also quite good and they're named after Stanford-related things, such as "Campus Drive." I've heard that their cheesy waffle dip is particularly good. read more

The sandwiches always hit the spot! The staff is always so friendly and I love sitting with my friends in outside area.

I had a number of classes in Building 160, and I stopped by Olive's pretty often. For the most part, I treated it like a convenience store, where I could pick up a Yoplait or a fruit cup or a soda on my way in or out of class. This is a very outdated post, so take it as you will, but I remember exactly what the place looks like, down to the placement of the furniture and soda fountains. At one point, I must have been stopping by Olive's two or three times a week. I rarely took meals here - I think I had a salad once, maybe some skewers one other time - but the food was passable, and affordable enough. For basement cooking, I definitely preferred Thai Cafe. Anyway, Stanford is a big place, and it's nice to have food options right by the classrooms. Olive's was great for the mid-afternoon calorie bump, and I feel some nostalgia for the place now that my college days are long gone. read more

I will no longer get hungry smelling this place in my Turkish classroom from 11 am to noon every single day, and that's saying a lot. My boyfriend and I went here for a quick lunch to go. I got the Mediterranean black bean burger, which tasted fine, although it came with mayo. You should warn someone about something like that! The takeout box was also filled like a down pillow with undressed lettuce and spinach leaves. So strange. My boyfriend ordered the falafel plate, which at first they completely forgot to make. We waited a solid 15 minutes for them to put it together. In the end, he got his three falafels, lettuce, tomato, (dressed!) lettuce and spinach leaves, stale pita, and reddish hummus that tasted just like unrinsed, aluminum-permeated chickpeas. And it's not cheap either... $7 for lunches we had to wait forever to choke down. read more

Food: 2 Decor: 3 Service: 4 Grabbed the falafel plate, 7 from here for lunch. Overall, pretty mediocre. They also had beef and lamb gyros, as well as chicken skewers. Chicken skewers were pre-cooked, and they didn't look too appetizing. read more

So long as you know what you're getting into, I have no complaints against Olives. Olives is an on-campus eatery in the basement of an academic building, so they're really only open during breakfast lunch time (I think 8am-4pm). If you're looking for breakfast, you can get mediocre espresso drinks, bagels, muffins, yogurt, or granola bars. At lunch, the selection consists of pre-made sandwiches and Greek food, with a fairly limited selection. The "pizza" always looks underdone, but the Greek entrees are consistently pretty good, even if they're a little overpriced. I get the beef and lamb gyros about once a week, which come with a pita, side salad, rice or couscous, and hummus and yogurt sauce. Nothing extraordinary, but definitely good and the portions are large enough to keep me going all afternoon. My only complaints are that sometimes it takes an exceptionally long time to get food, even though there don't seem to be that many people in line, and the staff isn't wholly consistent in their assembly of dishes. Extra bonus points for using all compostable plates, to go containers and silverware (and having compost bins readily available at their outdoor seating). read more

Olive's - Beef and lamb gyros - Greek Near Me - Stanford, California

Loved the outside seating and the triple salad combo. A nice choice if want a quick lunch at the Main Quad. So much healthier than Thai! read more

Olive's - Love this three salad combo & outdoor seating! - Greek Near Me - Stanford, California

Came here for lunch today. In addition to the pre-packaged sandwiches, there are daily specials and a few dishes that are always available, including gyros and a falafel plate. I had the falafel plate ($6.50) and my fiance had the beef & lamb gyro ($6.50). Except for the different meat and the fact that his had some yogurt slopped on it, they had the same ingredients - pita bread, tahini sauce, huge salad (covered in chopped tomatoes). The food was ok, but not particularly great. The falafal balls were tough and way too chewy and everything was just a little flavorless. The meat in the gyros looked like fake overprocessed meat - the 'beef' and 'lamb' were completely indistinguishable. They also had salmon filets that looked really bad. I didn't think the prices are that bad, but the portions of everything except salad is on the small side. The food was really more 2-2.5 stars but I rounded up because they are one of the most unique food options on a campus where everything is burgers & sandwiches. They take credit cards too, which is nice, and the food came out very promptly. I would normally prefer to go to most of the other eateries on campus, but once in awhile this is ok just for some variety. read more

I like spinach. I like it sauteed with garlic. I like it flavored with lemon zest. I like it raw. I like it on the bed, on the floor, on a towel by the door, in the tub, in the car, up against the minibar. I'm fucking Matt Damon! Ok, so I like spinach. So naturally, I would want to support any establishment owned by the original spinacia oleracea afficiando himself, Popeye. But it turns out that Olive's isn't operated by Popeye. It's owned by Stanford DIning. They hide it well, though. It really does feel, legitimately, like an independent Mediterranean cafe. And when you pay, you don't have to give your money to the man. You only have to give your Stanford Dining Points (tm), which you may or many not have purchased with money, to the man. FIght the power. read more

The thing about Olives is... it's just not that good. I go there when I'm feeling too lazy to walk all the way to Fraiche or Coupa for coffee. But seriously, NOT a great place to grab a snack. If you go there for lunch, fine--the falafel, hummus, etc., are decent. But if you go there any other time of day, expect to wait in line for a "meh" cup of coffee or an overpriced pre-made sandwich. (And can I just mention that there are tomatoes in EVERY kind of sandwich, EVEN the egg salad? Yuck!) The pre-packaged fresh rolls are so-so, and also overpriced. I suspect this place wouldn't do great business if it wasn't so conveniently located. read more

This place is not too bad, especially when options on campus are not that great to begin with. I've been a student here for 5 years, and so far, the only things I really look forward to eating on campus are Olives and Thai Cafe (which has been removed as of this school year). Nothing too special, but you will get a solid meal for a reasonable (for Palo Alto/Stanford) price. They also don't sell all the options every day, so their menu changes on a per day basis. Last time, I got the Buffalo chicken sandwich and it was not great; the chicken was cold! I'd expect Stanford would do better but alas, to no avail. They have some good cookies though, so for that, I'll give them 3 stars instead of 2. read more

Not very interesting food. Unfriendly service. Paid my first visit to this place today. It wasn't busy at all. But somehow the guy who helped me still managed to mess up my order. And when I went back to ask him. It says 'WHATEVER! I DON'T CARE!' on that guy's face! A manager looking guy was trying to help. But it didn't do any good. I feel sad for him, because it seems like all the others don't care that much. I would never go back again. read more

I like: that they're right on campus, take Cardinal Dollars, sell drinks the Axe and Palm doesn't carry (like Iced Tea and Starbucks Fraps), have friendly staff, and yummy pre-made sandwiches I dislike: that they're only open during lunchtime, there are swarms of houseflies everywhere, and have a lack of seating Not hungry? I would recommend getting the small container of hummus for less than $3. Ask one of the workers for some pita bread to go with your hummus, and they'll even toast it up for you. What a great deal for a quick lunch munch! read more

This spot is a nice alternative to the other places on campus. Large portions, tasty hummus. I had the falafel plate here the other day and it was quite enjoyable. The pizza also looks quite good. The only thing is...I took a look at my friend's Beef and Lamb Gyros and the beef/lamb looked like...fake meat. You know, like spam or tofu meat. Did not look appetizing. I'll stick to my falafels...thank you very much. read more

I never really understood the hype around Olives when I went to school at Stanford. Yeah it was good, sometimes great. But a lot of times it wasn't. And I could never really tell which one it would be on any given day. I tended to stick with the most basic, classic Greek things that I knew they do well. Hummus, falafel, vegetarian plate with both of these things, etc. These are super super delicious and I would highly recommend them. The rest I have found to be a bit hit or miss. Sometimes bland, sometimes a bit overcooked, just generally underwhelming. Coffee is meh. Seriously, they need to work on this. It tastes kind of a stale and old and is a last resort for when I can't make it over to formerly Moonbeans now Coupa Cafe outside of Green Library. Or Starbucks but that didn't exist when I was an undergrad so it wasn't an option back then haha. Service however is great. I loved the people working there when I was an undergrad. They alone make me almost want to give an extra star. But alas, I am obsessed with good food and will Yelp accordingly. read more

Great place to eat when you're on campus. "simple" food.. delicious.. and reasonably priced. They gyro is yummy.... Salmon is also good. read more

Absurdly expensive - my tiny cold brew coffee was $5.99 - but the cheese waffle dip was stupid good. Buttery but not oily, nice mixture of melty cheese, crispy, delicious. The tomato soup elevated it; it was sweet and creamy - not a traditional tomato soup taste - and was magically harmonious with that tasty fatty waffle. Damn that was good read more

The service is what stands out here. The people are very friendly and responsive. The food, however? Very much overpriced for the quality you get, which is waaaay more hit than miss. Even basic, easy plates like hummus were a bit of a gamble. The only reason to come here is because it is convenient, and the portions are ok. read more

The smells of garlic emanate from Olive's in the early morning as I walk to work through the citrus courtyard. They are getting ready for the lunchtime rush, and it helps to start well ahead of time. This is classic, if somewhat uninspired, Mediterranean food: humus, tabouli, baba ganoush, roasted red pepper salad, and lots of little dishes. The outdoor dining options are really great here, located as they are in the Serra Mall inner courtyard with lovely landscaping and nice opportunities for people watching. This is a good, above-average option for dining at Stanford. read more

Affordable and delicious Mediterranean, Olives is located in the basement of Bldg 160. As a staff member at Stanford, I've been here for lunch many times. I recommend the gyros as well as the falafel. Most lunch dishes come with rice or couscous, as well as tzatziki or tahini sauce and pita bread. The service is fast and friendly. There's patio seating up the stairs behind the eatery. I'd like to suggest you take your food out to the main quad and eat it there. The people watch and the scenery are fabulous! read more

I never came to Olive's much in undergrad but now that all my classes are in Wallenberg or McClatchy, this is the most convenient eatery to grab a quick snack or lunch. I usually love falafels but man this place was very underwhelming. I like that the meal comes with lettuce and diced tomatoes and two types of hummus. I don't like that the falafels are not crispy on the outside. They taste kind of stale in fact. Actually, the falafels I had weren't even warm. Maybe I went on an off day but after having great Mediterranean food elsewhere I have trouble justifying spending hard earned money here (not to mention having more calories when it's not that enjoyable!!). Two stars for very convenient location, long pre-dinner hours unlike Thai Cafe, and delicious greek yogurt with different fruit toppings. read more

Most of the times they don't have anything veggie except for their three salad option, but there are better places for salads on campus. I once had the Mediterranean plate, which could have been a great win. However... Their humus had too much cilantro, their pita bread is hard and the veggies and olives are dry. I also tried the chicken sandwich which was ok. read more

My favorite place to eat on campus. My go to's are the salmon and the turkey club, both are delicious!

Mediterranean options. They give you a *lot* of food. Salad is ok, gyros are decent. Can feed you for two meals, easily.

Don't usually eat on campus but it was nice to see the diversity and the offering of Mediterranean cuisine. This is no Evvia but it gets the job done for well under $10 for lunch. They serve up a decent gyro plate packed with food. Not too much choice in there but for a place without an extensive kitchen, you can't expect more than good food on styrofoam plates and plastic utensils. read more

the salads here make me go mmmmm... love their mediterranean and tuna nicoise. single serving baklava, too? oh yea! their pizza is pretty good, too! falafel plates? yes, please! i can pretty much eat this place up. did i mention they have haagen daz ice cream, too? bet you can't find that anywhere in a half mile radius! read more

I just had my birthday there, last Thursday. I love the food, everything was so good. The environment was just perfect. The owner Kavier was really friendly too. All of my friends and family member loved it. Loved the basil Salmon and Beef kabab. read more

Stopped by here accidentally when I was scoping out the Thai place. The food tasted...not real? Tons of rice, though fast and it's a campus lunch place, so what can one expect? read more

Cheap, healthy food. Quality is alright. Good portions (except for the chicken skewers, not sure why they only give you two when they dump heaps of beef/lamb on your gyros). Staff is really friendly. Gets very busy/packed from 12:00pm-1:00pm on weekdays, so try to go at 11:30 am if you dont' have class to beat the rush. read more

I got the salmon plate which came with lettuce and rice for $8.75. The portion size was reasonable but it was still a bit pricey. Texture was great but the food is a bit bland to be honest. The compostable utensils and boxes are a plus! They do have Peet's Coffee, pre make to go sandwiches and a variety of other snacks for sale too. Tip #1: I got the last salmon and this was before the lunch traffic that starts around 12:15pm. Beware of food shortages! Tip #2: Get there before the lunch traffic because it gets packed really fast! Tip #3: Use Cardinal dollars here! Overall, I probably won't be back unless I need to eat and don't have the time to eat elsewhere. The price just simply does not warrant the quality of the food I'm getting. It's location is extremely convenient though given that there are no other dining options nearby. read more

Olive's grilled cheese + tomato soup is the best food I've eaten in my entire life.

I used to work in a nursing home kitchen. This was disappointing, by those standards. Boiled rice is not pilaf. It's just boiled rice. Mashing a can of chickpeas does not make hummus. There's salt, lemon, tahini, cumin and garlic in hummus. At least some salt. Gyro meat should be sliced thin, not in fist sized chunks. Sour cream is not tzaziki sauce. Terrible. Never again. read more

ordered the gyros sandwich which was quite huge and stuffed with a lot of meat. The accompanying tzatziki sauce was a great version. I also tried the spanakopita (spinach pie), tiropita (cheese pie), and kreatopita (meat pie) which were all quite tasty and the crust and triangle shape reminded me an apple turnover. Finally, I got a beef kabob plate which came with a good sized Greek salad and plenty of potatoes. I thought everything was tasty and very good. read more

Peetz coffee is pretty strong. Luckily, at Olives, it tastes like the hot water my parents call coffee (only they don't charge me $2 . . . thanks mom). I must say, however, that on hot days, they stock a wonderful row of pepsi-one. I have not had a more perfectly chilled bottle of pepsi-one since I became more concerned with my sugar intake. read more

I am a frequent customer of Olives, and i usually come just to get snacks and coffee. But a few days ago i decided to get one of there lunch platters and it really made me feel different about the place. Although the people who took my order had great customer service, the falafel plate that i ordered seemed to be really dry like it was a few days old. And the chicken skewers my friend order were really over cooked and had little to no flavor. And what made it worse is that a guy who had a white jacket on (must have been the chef) kept coming out the kitchen and grabbing the food with his BARE HANDS, while others all wore gloves. l found that to be most disturbing parts of my visit. Another thing that made my lunch horrible, was that the soup that i was given tasted like it came from a can, and heated in a microwave. With that said , i recommend that you do not come during there lunch times, but instead wait till the afternoon when they are just a regular cafe and have really good drinks. read more