Whenever we are in town, we always eat here. Consistently GREAT food, excellent service. Our favorites are the appetizer cold platter (get the ezme: trust me), balloon bread, any of the grilled dishes, finished up with the kunefe. Looking forward to our next visit here! read more

I was meeting a group at this restaurant. I don't really come to the area often. The street apparently hosts a car show on Friday evenings during the summer which made parking an adventure. But it was the only timing for our schedule that could take a reservation as it is a popular choice. I got lucky with having a town public parking lot around the corner. We start off with appetizers. We had this balloon bread that came with 2 sauces but what I was really excited by was the platter of different dips you could pick six of. Ours had hummus, baba ghanoush, some spinach and yogurt combination, and more. I think it's so strange that it didn't come with bread. These were all items you inherently eat with a flatbread. The service was slow requesting bread for them, but I did enjoy almost all of them in what was a sampling of each. I also had pied as my main entree. The proportions are large and I had to take some home. For desert, my table ordered some ice-cream and knafeh. The ice cream had a texture to it as I'm told it's a Turkish style which was enjoyable. Knafeh is always nice warm stretchy cheese that's lightly sweetened. Coming here was a treat. The food was good, some comments on the environment but I would like to come again. read more

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Came here for lunch on a weekday with a friend. We ordered 4 dips to share as appetizers: hummus, babaganush, Ezme and spinach tarator. Nothing really stood out. The hummus as grainy and I've had better store bought ones. The spinach was mainly yogurt and very little spinach. The portion sizes were small given it was $12 each. I also ordered chicken kebab with yogurt. They cut the chicken cubes in half letting all the juice escape, making it extremely dry. Another thing was unlike other restaurants which are normally serviced with salad and rice, it was only served on a bed of "buttered pita" but it tasted like a bed of soggy baguettes. It was one of the worst chicken kebab I've ever had. However, the restaurant was spacious and comfortable and our server was friendly and attentive. I really wanted to like this place as I was very excited to come try this new restaurant since it was recommended by a friend. Unfortunately everything fell flat and there are better options around the area. read more

Olivium Mediterranean Cuisine - Humans, babaganush, ezme and spinach tarator - Mediterranean Near Me - Somerville, New Jersey

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Great food and service. My 3rd time eating here. Had a lovely time. The floor is really good. Portions are just right. The hummis was very flavorful the salmon was very flavorful as well. read more

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Upscale new Turkish restaurant in the Somerville area! The restaurant is absolutely beautiful inside. Perfect date spot. The food is very good! Highly recommend trying the spinach tarator! It's absolutely fantastic! We got the iskender, the pide, the lahmacun, and the ice cream! Everything was fantastic! Service was great. They were very accommodating for us and friendly. Prices are not bad for Turkish food by any means. Lots of healthy options, lots of traditional options. Will be coming back! read more

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I had a great dining experience at Olivium! 5 stars for food, ambiance, and service. Eren was pleasant and attentive. Located on Main Street in Somerville, you can find metered on street parking, which I did, but a bit away as the parking lot around the corner was full. Just be mindful of that if you have a reservation--allow extra time. Nice decor, spacious, and clean. Great menu variety. I loved the Turkish balloon bread that was exciting to see before we "popped" it lol. I loved the chewiness of the texture. It went great with the delicious apps that we ordered (hummus, eggplant salad, and cacik -yogurt based dip)--they also brought out some hot sauce with the bread--all of it in my plate was such an experience. Fresh, beautiful in color and presentation... and most importantly, delicious! For my entree, I am so happy that I ordered hunkarbegendi--man oh man, this was exceptional. It was tender lamb cubes, swimming in a cheesy eggplant puree... divine. Dessert was Turkish rice pudding, so creamy, not too sweet, perfectly balanced, washed down with Turkish tea. The only issue that I had was that I when I called to make the reservation, I said that it was for a birthday and they said they would celebrate it during dessert. Well, they did celebrate another birthday, but not my friend's. Not the worst, but was disappointing. I will definitely be back to try additional items on the menu (or the same ones lol) read more

Olivium Mediterranean Cuisine - Mediterranean Near Me - Somerville, New Jersey

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We loved the manti dumplings and mixed Pide. The Turkish sausage and cheese Pide fell a bit flat. We could only taste the cheese and not the sausage. The chicken Adana was good but a bit dry. The kunefe and ice cream was not bad, but I've had better. The restaurant was spacious with a lovely ambience. The staff was extremely kind and hospitable. I'd come back again! read more

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Where to begin, let's start with the positives. The interior is really nice, spacious, light, and warm. They seated us at the first table by the window facing the street. This was perfect for my uncle who has some mobility and vision challenges. Friendly staff but not so attentive to check on us immediately after the food was served. I went to wash up in the restroom and the lights were out. No switch by the door but luckily someone walked by and they turned on the lights for me. Ok the server was unfamiliar with the menu choices and the beverages available, odd because that's her job. The menu that was presented to us did not have all the options available. A party at my table asked about a sandwich option and was told no. We were there around 2pm so not the dinner menu yet. This was unfortunate as we would have order more food. Two from our party just had salads. Note to patrons, look at the other menus available at the front counter. Canned beverages served unopened with no ice, we had to ask. The ballon bread was served to us while seated, it was terrific! One in our party ordered their salad with "very little dressing" but it was saturated and had no feta on it as in the description. Another ordered an avocado salad, very bland and the basil was unnoticeable in the little dressing that was on it. My uncle ordered the gyro and it was so dry and again the menu states served with their special house made sauce that was not on the plate and since the waitress did not come back to us to check "is everything ok" right away he had to use the sauce from the calamari?? Which was served cold. Cold sauce with the hot calamari was very odd and so was the fact that the calamari was server on cold lettuce. Nothing makes lettuce wilt faster than hot fried food. Just put it on the plate please no greens bed needed there. I had the musaka,It was served with rice on the side, it was okay but needed salt because of the lack of flavor. Not a good first impression and I can't believe there were so many five star reviews, maybe friends?? The place has only been open for three months so they have some work to do here. I hope they do it. read more

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Overall, the food was fine just very overpriced. The service was all over the place, from very attentive to having trouble locating our server. The biggest issue and HAZARD was our dessert had fluffy white MOLD on it. The rice pudding had mold and our server did not really care too much besides asking if we wanted another one and taking only that off the bill. This is a massive health hazard and something I have NEVER seen before in a restaurant. It takes a long time for mold like that to appear so I worry about how they keep track of other ingredients and make sure they don't spoil. Bummer because the food wasn't bad, but I will never eat here again in fear of being fed old spoiled food. read more

Great new find for me! Came here for friend's dinner. Kids were with their babysitter. BYOB! The menu is great for us who enjoy proper middle eastern cuisine. Meats were on point! Vegetarian options are available. Get the chicken if you're boring, but seasoned well! The beef and lamb is where flavor and hundreds of years of tradition come together! The culture of home cooking passed down generations is expressed with every bite of the lamb and beef. The service is friendly and the inside is elegant yet cozy! My wife and I will return with a larger appetite!!! read more

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Olivium is a must try!!! Downtown Somerville can be a tough competitive market for restaurants and Olivium steps up the food scene giving the surrounding restaurant a run for their money. The food is excellent and the service is even better. The staff is friendly, attentive, and always willing to accommodate. Stand out dishes for are the lentil soup, Lamb Shish, Lamb Chops, and the hummus. The restaurant is BYOB, they don't have a space for outdoor dining but the front dinning room has large windows which is great if you want to look out to downtown as you eat. Street parking can be difficult on certain nights but there is a lot behind the restaurant. The food is excellent and well worth the trip!!!! read more

I have been here multiple times for lunch. Food is always on point. The bread and the sauces are amazing. I have a Lebanese restaurant in ridgewood NJ so I am critical of this middle eastern cuisine. I give this place my stamp of approval read more

The ambiance of this new restaurant is warm and inviting, with a decor that combines modern style with traditional Turkish elements through its exquisite pottery and dishes that are displayed in built-in cabinets that line one wall leading to a private dining room, likely reserved for VIP guests or loyal patrons during busy nights orweekends. The restaurant offers a variety of seating options to suit different tastes, including a secluded spot near the front with a bird's eye view of Main Street, booths, and tables of various sizes. The staff were extremely friendly and helpful, providing expert guidance on menu selections that cater to a range of dietary preferences, including vegetarian, pescatarian, and meat options at reasonable prices. Our chosen dishes, including eggplant salad, chicken kebab, and lamb adana kabab, were extremely fresh and bursting with flavor, and the portions were generous, served with salad, rice pilaf. The appetizers came with balloon bread and sauces. Given the substantial servings, we anticipated enjoying leftovers for tomorrow's lunch. The glowing endorsement from my partner, a picky Italian food connoisseur, who claims this meal surpasses any other he's had in Somerville, attests to the culinary excellence of this establishment. And we have eaten in just about all of Somerville's eateries, our favorites - tons of times. I urge you to check Olivium out, different ambience from the other Mediterranean places in town, BYOB & liquor store very close by. read more

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Met a friend here for lunch. The hostess let us know they have been open for 4 months. The food was fresh with generous portions. The service was excellent and the ambiance was modern and clean. Can't wait to come back! read more

Great Mediterranean food. everything we ordered including appetizers such as falafel, hummus, Sheppard salad, zucchini fritters was delicious and comes with fresh baked bread. we ordered the mixed grill and doner kebab. all was very fresh and full of flavor. Portions are generous and you will likely be taking some del leftovers home. don't miss the Turkish tea and baklava. Service was excellent and ambiance is very inviting. We will definitely be back soon! read more

One of my favorite new restaurants, the food it's really really good and spiced very well. Highly recommend.

Really good babaganoush and I love to get extra Turkish bread with that, the cheese rolls, spinach dip, eggplant dip, eggplant salad. All very delicious! read more

Ambience 5 Stars. Service 5 Stars. The Food 5 Stars. My wife and I have been twice so far and both times have been uniquely different experiences. We first went for an early dinner on a Monday and Ainur took care of us. She was incredibly helpful with walking us through the menu and we went with her recommendations. The small sampler for the dips was the perfect thing to have on the table throughout the meal. Also the Feta Cheese is so much better than any feta ive ever had before. We got the Chicken and Lamb yogurt dishes with the crispy bread. Simple yet perfect. The portion size was just right. We ended the night with the Baklava and a Turkish Coffee. Best ive ever had. The next time we went was a saturday without a reservation. You need to make a reservation because they were very busy. We got lucky and we're able to be seated in under 30 min. We had the sampler again and we got the Mixed Grill. Everything was delicious. This is my new comfort meal. From a slower Monday night to a busy Saturday the food and service was still fantastic. My Wife and I cannot wait to go back and keep trying new things on the menu, so much so that we're bringing her parents tonight. We wish Olivium all the success in the world and we look forward to dinning with them for years to come. Cheers! read more

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If you like lamb, you will be overwhelmed by the choices. And if you have never had manti, this is the place to try succulent dumplings. From wait staff to food, the experience was outstanding. read more

Olivium Mediterranean Cuisine - Dining room. Beautifully appointed. Atmosphere casual but classy.Food to die for. My new favorite restaurant in Somerville. - Mediterranean Near Me - Somerville, New Jersey

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Fabulous food and service; great ambiance. A perfect leisurely lunch that lasted two hours! Every dish from cold appetizer combo to adana kebabs (chicken and lamb) to baklava was excellent. read more

We went a few weeks ago, and really enjoyed everything. Great food, friendly staff, did not rush us at all. Definitely looking forward to returning. read more

Delicious food, friendly staff and great atmosphere! My friends and I had a great dinner here. read more

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Great food, beautiful decor, and friendly service! We enjoyed the sides and bread. I got the CHICKEN KEBAB and it was cooked to perfection. I very much enjoyed the Balloon Bread! Would come again. read more

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My wife and I are trying to find the golden nugget restaurants that we can enjoy a great meal without blowing out our wallets. Olivium hit the mark. Great atmosphere, great service and great menu! I had a lamb stew and my wife had chicken skewers. We both greatly enjoyed our meals. The baklava was a bit lighter than what I've had at many other places but we enjoyed it. read more

We had a lovely dinner here. The falafel was the best I've ever had. Their hummus was delicious. We got the cheese roll, traditional Turkish dumpling and baklava and it was a great meal. We will definitely come back. read more

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Excellent service from the host to the wait staff at Olivium. Great atmosphere. The lamb Adana was delicious! Nice selection of vegetarian food on the menu too. When I return, I am going try the Sea Bass. It's BYOB - recommend trying Zacharius' Moschofilero. read more

Beautiful clean restaurant that gives casual fine dinning vibes. The food was amazing and filled with lots of flavor. Good portion size for the price. The only con is the service. They don't answer the phone so it's hard to call in orders. Long wait for staff to greet customers which was a bit dismissive and rude Overall great place but they need to work on their customer service read more

Service was slow, and frantic. Waiter took our byo bottles and the champagne sat and got warm over by the kitchen. I had to go find him to bring back our wine. Maybe open them at the table? Food was just ok. read more

The new Turkish Mediterranean spot that just opened on Main Street in downtown Somerville is an absolute gem and a fantastic addition to the local dining scene. From the first bite of the perfectly crisp, flavorful falafel to the fresh, vibrant Shepherd salad bursting with bright herbs and ripe vegetables, every dish felt thoughtfully prepared and beautifully authentic. The standout Olivium Special--generous enough to feed up to four--was a true feast, offering a delicious variety that made the whole table feel like we were sharing a celebratory meal in Istanbul. Every flavor transported me straight to Turkey, as if I were sitting in a cozy restaurant along the Bosphorus enjoying a wonderfully authentic dinner. It's exciting to see such a high-quality new restaurant arrive in downtown Somerville--this is exactly the kind of place that will quickly become a favorite and thrive in the neighborhood. read more

Excellent addition to Somerville! Everything was delicious and served hot. Nice space inside, I highly recommend, only caveat it's a no rush pace take your time and enjoy your meal. read more

Maybe as time goes by the service will be better. I did have a vegetable casserole which is not exciting but not much for a vegetarian to choose. The ambience is very nice. Nothing there made me feel like going back though. read more

lovely place, spacious , looks like it's family owned authentic Turkish Mediterranean food nice variety. We had the cold Mazza platter appetizer, which was very generous: 4 appetizers was the small portion for $18 and one of their pizza breads, which was vegetables and ground beef also delicious. we each had a dessert and tea. The desserts were all made on premises and had that homemade feel and vibe but yet they were meticulously, plated and delicious. The server very attentive and offered suggestions that we took advantage of ordering.. definitely a place you want to go back to and go back often. read more

Pleasant ambiance, friendly service excellent food. Very affordable. True Turkish. Multiple options for kababs and deserts.

If you're looking for authentic Turkish cuisine, then this is the spot! Delicious food, good customer service and artfully decorated.

The food was very good as well as the service. And the atmosphere was also very nice.

I had the great pleasure of dining at this wonderful establishment this past weekend. The ambience was delightful. The staff was friendly and attentive. The food was delectable. We started with complimentary bread and sauces, a nice mix of flavor and heat. Main dishes included traditional chicken kebabs and Adana. We enjoyed Izgara Kofte and salad. A mix of traditional Turkish ice cream, cheesecake and specialty baklava. I ended the evening enjoying a Turkish coffee served in the most beautiful cup and delivered to me like I was royalty. The entire experience was special. You knew the staff took great pride in the atmosphere, the food and the culture it represented. I highly recommend you try it out. We will definitely be back. read more