Meze is a tricky business. On the one hand, one exceptionally good dish can leave you raving about the restaurant and skimming over its more mediocre offerings; on the other, there are so many dishes that it's very easy for one or two of them to be a bit disappointing. However, luckily, the chefs at The Green Olive know what they're doing, and as the dishes begin to arrive (at the perfect pace), each one proves to be a delight to the eye and the palate.
Particularly good are the olives; the taramasalata; the filo pastry cheese parcels; the tabouli; the swordfish souvlaki; the spiced sausage; and the chunky fried potatoes.
There is a lot of food in the £17/head evening meze, so meze for two is usually enough for three. You can also build your own menu (a rather more expensive option) or supplement the set meze with the odd extra dish from the menu.
The staff are friendly and lighthearted, and are very willing to explain dishes and recommend wines and other accompaniments.
Unfortunately, most of the desserts are very sweet, honey-laced Greek confections, and the fruit salad, although generously proportioned, can be a bit on the unripe side. That said, you might not have room for dessert, and the coffee is excellent.
The premises are clean and bright, and I found the bathroom in immaculate condition. All in all, a great night out, especially if you've never tried meze before and you want to have a go at something new. read more