Interesting experience last evening sitting outside on their "patio". It's the street in front of the Restsurant, very noisy with many many cars driving close by the tables The food gets mixed reviews. The appetizer plate with the Greek spreads was wonderful with the pita & their bread. My husband loved the lamb shank & my son in law enjoyed the rockfish. The crab cakes were nothing special. My daughter was not happy w the lamb balls or the Greek cheese plate-very salty. The pasta & lobster dish I had was very very dissapointing. The pasta was dry, & even with the added sauce I requested, had no taste. The lobster was very difficult to get out of the shell perhaps because it was over/undercooked? Not sure which but was like chewing gum. Do not spend the $40:00 this dish cost! Thank goodness for the wonderful backlava icecream which helped to end the evening on a good note. Very pricy for the lack of quality of some of the dishes!! read more

Considering i went to a seafood restaurant and had a very good steak was by itself was amazing. Their Salmon which my date ordered was not too impressive so was the mussels we had. The restaurant itself was great clean good staff and generally no complaint from me asides for my partners Platter which was not up to par for the pricing read more

The dining room is beautiful and we were lucky enough to be seated at the front window looking out onto Bond Street. Our server was attentive at first but became scarce as our dinner progressed - at one point we even had another waiter taking care of us. The saganaki appetizer was delicious and even better with their homemade black olive bread. My husband was pleased with his crab cakes. I had the rack of lamb and shrimp combo - both were overcooked. My lamb was medium going on medium-well (I asked for medium-rare), but I had no opportunity to tell our waiter because he disappeared. While it was overcooked, it was still tasty as was the asparagus side dish. For dessert we tried the carrot cake and the flourless chocolate cake; both were very good and rich. In the end, I can see where this place would be great, however I was sad that I didn't get to experience that. read more

My co-workers and I ended up here for a team lunch one day and the place was completely empty. That being said, I can't vouch for what this place would be like if it's packed or at dinnertime, but as a nice lunch it was pretty good! Our waiter was attentive and nice. Everyone really enjoyed their meals (most people got some form of salad and the potato leek soup which they raved about). We started with an appetizer made up of hummus, tzatziki, eggplant spread, and some form of olive spread. Everyone loved the spreads and most people seemed really psyched for the grilled bread that came with it, but I found the bread disappointing since I'm not fond of a burned taste in the middle of my appetizer. For my meal I got the Greek Village Pie which I would highly recommend. It was delicious, a decent portion, and not half bad for $14. Overall, this place is great as a nice treat if you're craving Mediterranean, but be prepared to spend a few extra bucks than you probably normally would on lunch. read more

Went there for restaurant week and I was impressed with the quality of the food and the service. The fish is fresh and the wine list is also quite varied. I had the fish soup for the first course which was really good, then the seafood kebab which consisted of rockfish. Also very well done. The baklava was nice and sweetened just right. I like this place a lot and I will be back. read more

We've been here before, but it's been awhile. The service was awful. It took 15 minutes--with a reservation-to even have a waitress come to the table. She was not in the weeds--staff was not an issue. Then she never checked back. Not once. I expressed my concerns to the owner who did not seemed concerned. With countless restaurants from which to choose this will never be our choice or recommendation again. The food is good, but not worth the terrible experience. I can get great Greek food many places in Baltimore. read more

I will split the rankings into two categories. First the food side. The seared octopus salad starter was excellent. The meat was perfectly prepared with no hint of "chewiness" that can occur. The fish of the day was also very good. The service was kit what you'd expect. Our server Earl was attentive but too much so. He was not reading the signals from the table and must have asked us four times if we were ready to order. We were in the midst of a business discussion and enjoying glasses of wine. A more sophisticated waiter would have been sensitive to the vibes. I finally said "we will flag you when we are ready.." read more

Thoroughly enjoyed the food. From the appetizers to the wine choices to the desert. Highly recommend this restaurant. Loved the atmosphere as well. Service was excellent read more

This was my second time going to Black Olive and I have to say it is pretty good but because it is really pricey, I don't think I can give it 5 stars. The place looks like an ordinary rowhouse in Baltimore from the outside but once you get in, it is pretty spacious and is very nicely set up. They have really fresh fish and if you want, they will take you to the front and show you all the fish available on the menu and talk to you about why each one is so good. Tonight, we ended up getting the sample spread platter for the appetizer which was pretty good. I liked the eggplant and the caviar dip the best. The bread is fresh and tastes pretty good but I prefer pita bread at Samos better to dip my spreads with than a slice of bread. For the main course, I got the Mediterranean sea bass which was very tasty. I also tried the rack of lambs and shrimp combination which was also really good. If you are a big eater like I am, you might be disappointed with any of the dishes because the portions are kind of small. The rack of lambs came with 4 pieces and that was $32 while the rack of lambs plus shrimp combo costs around $36 but it comes with only 2 pieces of lamb and 2 pieces of shrimp. The fish was really good too but they also have the rockfish there which I thought tasted better the first time I came. If you are on a date or if you want to impress someone with a good seafood place in Baltimore, this is a place that I would definitely recommend to take because the food tastes really good but if you are someone who likes to eat alot and feel full at the end of the meal, you may not be very happy afterwards. read more

Grilled seafood platter was amazing! The service was slightly inattentive, but I still highly recommend this restaurant.

Wonderful cozy Greek restaurant. Great service. This is all about fish and seafood. We had the fish that was fresh and boned at the table. The stuffed grilled calamari is definitely a must. Large plump juicy calamari grilled to perfection. read more

Dinner with family was a lovely experience. Service, ambiance, subtle live music, and a delicious menu combined with great conversation resulted in a night to remember indeed. Our server Aubrey was the perfect guide to the evening. We will be back. read more

I'm happy to see that unlike many of my other Baltimore favorites, this gem has not been overlooked by my fellow Yelpers. To be honest, I'm a little embarrassed I didn't come across it before this winter!As a native of Baltimore, I often find myself insulting it's lack of fine restaurants compared to other large cities-- but now I've realized I've spoken too soon. The Black Olive isn't just one of those restaurants I'll remember for the food, but rather also for the experience of the entire meal. Contrary to many upscale and expensive restaurants where I often find the dining experience somewhat stuffy and superficial, at Black Olive the dining areas are classy, yet comfortable. Perhaps the most exciting part of the evening was how knowledgable our server was on each and every aspect of the menu. Before choosing our meals, she invited all of the guests at my table for a quick "tour" of the fresh fish and meats that were available for dinner, a unique dining experience I really appreciate since I'm not as knowledgable about local fish dishes as I would like to be. In addition to her knowledge of each of the entrees and specials, she knew the wine list like the back of her hand and was quick to provide knowledgable recommendations with a touch of her own personal preferences. Just when I thought this experience was just too homey and personal to be authentic, the restaurant's owner stopped by the table just to say hello and check up on myself and my fellow diners. His genuine nature showed that this is not an infrequent occurance in Black Olive-- proving that the Black Olive isn't only some of the best Baltimore seafood I can remember, but perhaps one of my all-time favorite dining experiences in general. read more

I have eaten at the owner's brothers restaurant, Milos, in New York several times and it is one of my favorite restaurants, period. So I arrived here with high expectations. Unfortunately I think it has been dumbed down a bit to make it more acceptable. I also agree that the portions can be a little small, but that is not always a problem, it just allowed my to try more. The restaurant claims that seafood is the specialty of the house but there is not the extensive selection that there is at Milos. The dining rooms are laid out in two small row houses that have been combined. The dining area is separated by the entrance and is on two different levels. There is a small bar at the rear of the raised dining area and an open kitchen at the rear of the lower dining area. It is a nice cozy intimate space with exposed brick walls and upholstered seating. We visited for a late Sunday lunch. Our waitress was very enthusiastic and informative about the food. My wife and I ordered several appetizers and my son ordered the steak. Running down the list, the octopus salad was excellent as were the grilled sardines in grape leaves, both were cooked perfectly. The tomato soup was OK as was the fish soup. If you are expecting a French type of bourride or other hearty style of fish shop you will be disappointed but it was still full of flavor and the fish was not overcooked. The salad was a bit of a disappointment only because it was so over dressed. My son devoured the steak before we could get a taste so it must have been pretty good. We had a white wine from Santorini which was excellent with everything. For dessert we had a baklava which was very different, much lighter than we have had before, it was excellent. Other than the pastrami sandwich at the original Attmans, this was probably the best meal that we had in Baltimore. read more

Came here for a birthday dinner, and everything was delicious and seemed authentic, although a little pricey, I am definitely coming back again. Their Melitzanasalata was delicious (a delightfully flavorful yet not too garlicy eggplant spread, served on a cold plate) as well as their Saganaki Plate, zucchini with fried gooey cheese, especially if you love cheese, was absolutely delicious. The Bread Pudding appetizer was ok. Their Greek Village Salad of tomatoes, peppers, and cheese was fresh, delicious and cold (the feta cheese was great in the salad). We got the seabass grilled which was fresh and very good- they divided the fish into 4 plates and served it with roasted cauliflower- absolutely delicious especially with the thyme lemon sauce. We also got the lamb chops- I normally don't like lamb but this was also very good. They served the birthday cake we brought plated with fruit on - service was impeccable. Try it! I will go back!! read more

This had to be the most overpriced and disappointing place I've ever been to in Fells Point. The food was not that great, the place was not air-conditioned on a super hot night, and everything was really expensive. I ordered the Village Pie. The homemade phyllo dough was way too thick for my liking and the inside was super spicy. My date got the fish special and thought it was good but not worth $40. I will not be returning for the amount of money spent. read more

Seeking a good local place for dinner prior to the theatre, a date and I went to Black Olive on Saturday to experience the restaurant week menu. The menu, while limited as all of them are, still featured a number of interesting items, including a fish soup, lamb cooked in parchment paper, and a variety of deserts. This was offered along with the restaurant's extensive wine menu. The wine menu, advertised on the website, was exactly as promised, with bottles from across the world, including an extensive selection of greek wines. The food was quite good. The fish soup, which was really a type of tomato vegetable soup with halibut, was good, albeit nothing too memorable. The lamb dish was very good, consisting of well-cooked lamb (slightly red, which preserved flavor), cooked with lemon and goat cheese. An interesting combination to be sure, but it worked very well. This was served with warm couscous, also very good. The homemade ice cream for dessert was similarly good, tasting exactly as European ice cream should, and actually, since we shared, a nice pairing with my date's baklava. The service was decent, nothing too special but not bad either. The warm bread, olive oil, and olives served in advance of the meal were delicious, nice and crusty, and service was not overbearing. Just about the only downside is the layout of the restaurant. While it is located in a converted row home, and you thus can't do anything about the layout, having one less table in the small back room would have kept the noise levels a little more manageable and improved the overall experience. A nice spot for dinner, albeit a bit on the pricey side. read more

This is a very interesting and amazing place. From having olives on the table to the pesto hummus, there is nothing normal on the menu. The focus of the Black Olive is seafood, and I might say they take it seriously. This is a great restaurant to visit with friends, and be patient because the food is cooked to order so it may take some time. read more

We ducked into The Black Olive as it neared 9pm on Halloween night last week. We weren't sure how late they were open or if they had availability. They did and we were seated at a lovely table. We ordered the hummus and grilled seafood platter to split, as it was late and neither of us wanted to eat a large meal. The seafood platter was fantastic: lobster tail, shrimp, mussels, clams, grape leaf wrapped sardine, etc. While it did take a bit to arrive to the table, it came out hot and tasted fresh and delicious. The hummus was also tasty, although we were pretty full from the seafood so we didn't have room to finish it. The bread they served with it was hearty and fresh. I also had a very nice glass of red wine, but I forget which one it was on the menu. Our server was friendly and accomodating, especially given we were probably the last seated table of the night. They have an open kitchen environment and it was great to see all of the chefs in action and the fresh food. It was a lovely experience and I would highly recommend the restaurant. Prices are on the higher side, but I feel the quality of the food and the overall experience warrants it. read more

I have been here twice for dinner and lunch. I have to say that the dinner experience was just fantastic, I had great cocktails at the bar and then a "fish tour" where I have been able to pick my sole. The food was fabulous! One of my coworker didn't eat gluten and the meni has some gluten free options. For lunch I haven't found the service that great but the food was still awesome. Also they had a $20 lunch menu which is a great deal given the quality of the food! read more

Overall, the experience was nice, but just nice. The taste of the food was okay (not bad, mind you) but the portions a bit less than satisfactory. The decor and ambience was nice. Just an overall nice but unmemorable experience. The fish was the highlight, the calamari the big disappointment. But even the highlight was just nice, nothing spectacular. Nothing really stuck out, and when that happens, one tends to notice the price of food more. And yes, I noticed my bill. Typically, I don't concern myself with prices when going to restaurants of this caliber. I expect to pay a lot for good food that displays ingenuity and requires special preparation. I expected this at Black Olive. I paid much more at the French Laundry, but did not think twice about my bill there. I'll go back but only at the invitation of someone else. read more

Let me start with: don't go here if you are in a hurry. Service was good, but slow (3 hours seated to out the door). Admittedly, we were a large group (26, very large). And they were down a bartender. And our group likes its drinks. Especially guy next to me who downed 3 pilsners before appetizers arrived. And wasn't drunk. We selected this place because it is farm-to-table restaurant and had been recommended heavily by locals. Food was delicious. Good thing that the bread (fresh, warm) (dense, chewy) (so good) kept coming because the main course took a while. We used the bread along with hummus (a green blend of chickpeas, olive oil, garlic, lemon, parsley, and a hint of cumin) that made us think "pesto" but then had us practically fighting over the dregs on the plate, and melitzanasalata (grilled eggplant, garlic, balsamic vinegar, and olive oil) which was also wonderful, but the bar was set pretty high with the hummus. But when it arrived, it was worth the wait. I had the fish of the day - halibut - which was grilled perfectly with a light coating of corn meal. Huge (HUGE) portion, moist, tender, served with a side of couscous salad. It was even better before I was offered a lemony white sauce and foolishly accepted. It was perfect with just a squeeze of lemon. My neighbor tablemates had a variety of mezza that made me curse my shellfish allergy. The mussels were cooked and served in an ouzo broth (I am not typically an ouzo fan) and the smell was intoxicating. I kept leaning over to waft some smell over my way. They also had a mild Greek sheep cheese wrapped in grape leaves and baked and a bread pudding made from olive bread, leeks, portabella mushrooms, artichokes, and Greek cheese which I passed on because I was completely stuffed. Other friends had the grilled shrimp, grilled scallops, and something called Greek village pie (spinach, red swiss chard, leeks, sheep's milk cheeses in a homemade phyllo). They were all very pleased, left not a morsel on the plate. I would definitely return again, but with a smaller party. And without any plans after dinner. read more

Saturday night and they were overbooked - waited at bar for 30 minutes which was ok. Food was great - fresh fish and traditional greek Service - server was busy - perhaps needed a bit of help Three of four dining rooms were really nice - the fourth looks like a half done converted garage and my only "complaint" - take some time and make it spectular - Loved the fresh fish selections, bakalava ice cream, spinach pie Would go back ! read more

4.5 stars What a wonderful Greek place in Baltimore! I came here with my family and we all shared the appetizer combination, the avocado Greek salad with mixed greens, and two different fish selections. The food came out in a timely manner and was all well seasoned, healthy, and tasty. I would highly recommend it to anyone who likes Greek food. The waiters are also very helpful, approachable, and accommodating. I will definitely come here again the next time I am in Baltimore. read more

The night started out with some really good appetizers. I had the fresh sardines from the Mediterranean special. The fish was lightly breaded and pan fried. Really fresh fish with a little lemon made it a good dish. My GF has the traditional Greek spread which consisted of hummus, taramasalata, melizanasalata and tzatziki. The only spread we didn't like was the melizanasalata, but overall it was a good way to start off any meal. For the main course I had the Kleftico. The lamb was great and paired with some couscous made the dish phenomenal. I would say it was the best dish I had all night. My GF had a grilled sea bass filleted at the table. It was good table side service and the server did a good job filleting the fish and keeping all intact. The fish was really fresh and the house sauce was great. The fish came with a side of yukon sweet potato mash which was great and you don't see it very often. For dessert I had rein de saba, which was a flourless chocolate cake with hazelnuts and a ganache frosting. It was really dense and made me really thirsty. I guess it would be ok if I had some coffee to wash it down, but sadly I didn't. I don't recommend this at all. My GF had the baklava which was pretty good but again on the dry side. Dessert was by far the worst part of the whole meal. I would have given this place 5 stars if it wasn't for the disappointing desserts. Also I didn't get a chance to try it, but there was a lady that went into the restaurant and seated next to us. She left once the server told her they weren't serving their grilled octopus salad. Apparently it's so good that it was her only reason to eat at the restaurant. Such loyalty to a dish should be tried at least once. read more

Wow. Just got into Baltimore and this was 1st on our list. It was amazing. First ..Laura our server was very knowledgeable and as nice as can be. We highly recommend this place for authentic Greek cuisine. You will leave satisfied yet not stuffed. Hummus...amazing. grilled octopus...could eat all night. The grilled seafood platter...perfect dinner for 2 with apps. Will be back without a doubt. Awesome place. read more

I came here to celebrate my birthday and I was somewhat satisfied with the seafood quality ONLY. For some one who knows seafood very well the mussels where overcooked to the point where they where dry like they had been sitting in a pot on the stove for hours. I was not thrilled with the fact that the restaurant did not offer small plate options for children besides the appetizer menu which is not catered to children. I took my son who is 8 years old there to celebrate with me and my boyfriend and all they could offer us was an $8 plate of pasta which included just the pasta and only seasoned with olive oil. They did not have sides to compliment the pasta we had ordered for my son and when we asked for diced tomatoes they brought us sliced tomatoes. About 5 minutes into our dinner there where two tables next to us that became very loud and obnoxious. Sad to say it included 2 homosexuals and 2 african american women speaking across the room to each other as if they where the only ones in the room. Their conversation overpowered anything I could say to my boyfriend or son. What was most disappointing was the fact that not once did the restaurant say anything to these two tables and their noise level. For the type of food your getting there as well as the price your paying this has changed my perspective on what matters most to the owners of Black olive. I can deal with the fact that they don't cater to young children though I cannot deal with the fact that they could care less about the ambience of the restaurant as a whole. With good food comes great ambience they must go hand in hand. What I thought would turn into frequent visits in my part is out the window now. read more

The Black Olive - The seafood sampler - Seafood Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Black Olive used to be my favorite and "go-to" restaurant in Baltimore. This last visit, however, was most disappointing. This night, the fish selection was limited - and the service was very, very slow. Almost inattentive. My friend's salmon was not seasoned properly. Nor was my lamb. My glass of wine was from a bottle that had been opened at least two days earlier, as it was "musty". I never thought I would submit a bad review about the Black Olive. Changes are needed. read more

My spouse and I had been wanting to come here for a while. Our recent visit was on the same day that they had been robbed (!) and they were understandably out of several types of fish, the fish case was not available for display, and our waiter was a bit out of sorts. Despite all that drama, our food was mostly very good! We got several small plates: the stuffed calamari on the grill, the saganaki plate, the village pie, and grilled sardines in grape leaves. That, plus wonderful bread brought to the table, filled us up. My favorite was the saganaki - although it was not presented as described on the menu, our zucchini was rather chunky. My husband loved the sardines - which was too intense for me. The village pie was good, though a tad overpriced. We ended the meal with a slice of the chocolate cake, which was the only disappointment of the meal. My spouse wanted the baklava ice cream. Service was okay. As I said, our waiter seemed upset and told us about the restaurant being robbed that morning - and the Baltimore PD was just arriving at dinner to fingerprint and all... The little restaurant seemed very charming. read more

See all

This past Friday night we had an amazing dinner. We had stuffed calamari, octopus salad, lamb lollipops & rockfish with roasted vegetables and finished with flourless chocolate cake. The team here was extremely receptive to our food allergies (gluten & shellfish). The service was very friendly and we were put outside with 6+ feet away from others. This was a great experience overall and one of our new date spots. Thank you Demetrius read more

We came here two weeks ago and really enjoyed our experience. Food, ambiance, service, and wine were excellent. Worth mentioning are the stuffed calamari, lobster kabob, and a lamb dish (name escapes me). Every aspect of the meal was fresh, flavorful, and cooked well. I did not give it a 5 for the following reason: Black Olive is known for its fresh fish. However, all of the fish selections we were interested in were only for two. Because my husband and I like to order two different dishes and share both, we chose other items. It would have been nice to have more fish selections that were single orders. Still, excellent experience. We will definitely return. You are assured of a fresh, flavorful meal. read more

Romantic, sweet atmosphere with the freshest fish cooked to perfection. Other Greek dishes like lamb and moussaka were ordered by others in my party who raved about them. read more

First time here for Baltimore Restaurant Week, party of 6. Overall it was a great dining experience,the appetizer and main courses were excellent and the baklava ice cream was amazing. The crab cake appetizer was very tasty, the grape leaf wrapped sardines was equally appetizing. The cornmeal encrusted rockfish was perfect as the Bronzini was equally great. The only slightly off dishes were the lamb and fruit tart dessert. read more

See all

Awesome food; Fantastic Experience. Instead of having a traditional Memorial Day of hot picnics and humidity, decided to meet a friend in Baltimore and try this place out. Was greeted and seated by Dimitri (the owner), and was served by Shoshanna. They were fantastic. We started of with Lemon Drop martinis (which were perfectly balanced and lined with brown sugar), followed up with the stuffed calamari, then the sea bass, and tiramisu for dessert. We were able to dine outside, and the ambience was perfect. I will definitely frequent this place, whenever I'm in Baltimore!!!! read more

By the time our dinner came, I'm not sure if it was the lack of A/C or the lack of service that made our food a secondary thought. Couldn't have gotten out of there any sooner and probably won't go back. Food was overpriced for what we got. Plenty of other restaurants in the area that are far superior. Give it a shot...we did, and we regret it. read more

We ate at the Black Pearl because one in our party had an excellent meal here 8 years ago. Sadly, it was not the same experience. This restaurant has all the signs of a place on the slide: mediocre food, pricey for the quality, and lackluster service. The grilled octopus was flavored nicely but the texture was "mushy". One slice of tired spinach pie was $16. Ouch! Dinner for three incl tip was $105. and the only beverage we had was tap water. read more

Absolutely the best Bronzino in Baltimore. If you like grilled fish this is the place. Perfect balance of all organic ingredients and spices. Great Greek wine selection, amazing, hot, homemade bread, excellent service. The Black Olive has been the seafood standard for this town since we moved here 15 years ago, and it has been consistently incredible since. Do not miss! read more

My sister's and I choose The Black Olive for my mother's celebratory birthday dinner this past Saturday evening. Our reservation was at 7:15 pm. This dinner was extra special not only because we were celebrating our mother but because we were enjoying that it was just the adults out. In anticipation of the evening my sister phoned the restaurant ahead confirming our reservation and requesting a round table close to the kitchen. She explained that we were celebrating my mother's birthday and that there were 7 people in our party. The restaurant should have been prepared for us. First my mother, younger sister and I arrived at the restaurant. (My husband was parking) We were told that another large party had cancelled and were given the option of the round table or 2 square tables pushed together. We stated that we would please like the round table as we had requested. We were seated and said the rest of our party would be with us shortly. Our waiter came over and offered us either tap or bottled water. We asked for tap water for the table. The waiter then asked if we would like a drink. My mother asked what kind of gin they offered. The waiter responded with "You won't know any of them as they are Greek. Do you want to spend a lot or a little?" I responded with perhaps bring the bottles out with the descriptions and that will help us decide. Begrudgingly our server did. Once he took my mother's order he did NOT offer to take a drink order from my sister or me. When I asked him for a wine list he responded with " I left it open over there" pointing to the other side of the table. After a bit the rest of our party arrived . Our waiter at no point made sure everyone had a drink, offered bottled wine to the table or explained any of the cocktails. He only appeared annoyed. As we were all still thrilled to be together we weren't going to let drinks get us down. My husband and I decided to order appetizers for the table. Our waiter never offered to put an order in for appetizers I had to stop him as he was leaving the table behind us and request to place an order. (At this point we had been at the restaurant almost 45 minutes, still only some of us with a cocktail). I ordered the appetizer combination & 2 grill specials. I proceeded to explain to our server that my sister has a SHELLFISH ALLERGY and if the kitchen would please plate the shellfish separate from the other fish so we could all share. He then told me not to worry that there would be enough food for her to eat. I should have realized that he wouldn't tell the kitchen because sure enough the grill special came out on ONE platter. When I expressed my dismay he told me she could eat the hummus. REALLY?! The appetizers were tasty but we were not offered refills on our drinks, in fact we had to get the bus boy to bring us water. Our dinner orders were finally taken at 9:15 pm. We were never offered to come look at the fish counter or have the fish described to us. It truly was as if our waiter did not want to have anything to do with us. All the same we were there to celebrate mom and have a good time. None of us wanted to create a scene. Our food arrived and after waiting so long we were all eager to eat. The fish portions were minuscule but delicious. However the side of red potato's were par cooked, oily and honestly not good. No one would have eaten a potato but at this point we were starving. Our plates were cleared and then we were left to sit. Sit we did for 15 minutes. No coffee or dessert was offered NOTHING! Remember it was my mother's birthday? My brother in law had to leave. Still sitting. Finally I excused myself and talked to the manager. She said the coffee is being made oh look it's being poured now and pointed to the wrong table. I pointed out to her that wasn't our table and how could we be getting coffee when we weren't even offered coffee or desserts? I explained the rest of the mishaps of the evening. The manager took over for our waiter and brought my mother ice cream with a candle in it. Ironically she brought over a dessert wine and poured a bit for each of us. Why now could we get a drink that we didn't even request? Unfortunately no other attempts to repair the evening were made by the staff. Most importantly there was no apology! There was no amendments to the bill and there was an automatic 20% gratuity. In retrospect I wish we had left after our waiter refused to acknowledge the severity of my sister's allergy or that I had disputed the gratuity. Needless to say I can not recommend the Black Olive under any circumstance to anyone. read more

Excellent food! Excellent service! I wish I came sooner before I was leaving Baltimore

A fine dining experience, like a good book, takes you on a journey away from your daily grind. The Black Olive is a visit to the Old World with a menu of fresh fish and other offerings. Almost everything is grilled with olive oil, garlic, lemon; fresh food with clean flavors. We had the Baba ghanoush with grilled pita bread (it's called Melitzanasalata on the menu) which was the best either of us has had. No picture of the dish - it didn't last long on the table. Next we had the Greek Village Salad with feta cheese. Scrumptious. We were then presented with a seafood platter stocked with tender scallops, calamari stuffed with cheese, octopus, grilled shrimp, crab cakes, lamb chops and two giant crawfish, all of which was grilled to perfection. We also sampled a Dover Sole that was presented whole and plated as two perfect filets with a bread/frittata and grilled vegetables. The bottle of red wine (a California sryah) made for an unlikely but welcome pairing. The desert was a plate of fresh fruits and a delicious carrot cake. The servers were attentive and friendly. We look forward to going back for another chapter! read more

See all