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    The Green Olive

    4.8 (27 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 9:00 pm

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    gyro sandwich with fries
    Corey H.

    This is homemade, delicious, incredible food served by friendly people. I only wish I lived nearby so I could go there often. The decor is basic stripmall. The menu has pictures so you can easily decide. The portions are large. My leftovers fed my 18 year-old son dinner!

    Christina W.

    THIS SECOND LOCATION IS FIRE !! Finally made a visit to their West Des Moines location and it satisfied every craving we had. Ever since having my food experience in Burbank, CA December 2023, I was on the hunt to find the best Mediterranean close enough to taste like the west coast. Found Green Olive right after my trip and have been eating here for a year now and I can't stop. Won't stop. THE GREEN OLIVE is theeeee place. The kofta and steak kabob are the best. Can't go wrong with the lamb or the salmon kabobs either. Total for two meals and a drink $40.xx before gratuity. Everything here is excellent and consistently hot and delicious. Favorite drink here is the mango aqua fresca. Meals are HUGE and can be shared for $2.99 plate split fee. Desserts and appetizers made in house. Water, pop, and iced tea are offered for drinks. I love this location and the layout of the restaurant. Very spacious and open. Large windows and very inviting. Service is always excellent and very welcoming. I appreciate their consistent kind service and willing to please their customers. I've never experienced an "off day" with their service or food. I've meet Veronica, the owner, and her daughter. Got their story on how they made it here to Des Moines and why they started the Green Olive. I absolutely LOVE their story and admire their love for food and people. Highly recommend and love supporting their food and family!!

    Not a menu item but they let you make your own plate! Substituted the salad and hummus for the amazing Greek spicy potatoes.
    Kimberly G.

    Lunch go to! The staff are attentive and food comes out fast and fresh every time. Both locations are great but the Grand Ave location has a much larger dining room.

    Appetizer Platter
    Twee W.

    Honestly I would come back here just for the spinach phyllo . The service was really nice, and each table had different local hot sauces. We enjoy the baba ganajou and the kofta. The rest was pretty subpar. Overall would try again

    Katelyn M.

    Everything was SO flavorful and the portions are huge. This is really good, high-quality food. All of the meat is seasoned to perfection and the green sauce was a huge surprise, I'll be ordering extra next time...it's delicious!! I can't wait to go back.

    Greek salad, #10 Gyto mix

    Absolute amazing food, superb sauces and perfectly cooked meats. We had the Greek salad and the gyro platter. Generous portions! Just delicious!

    Flan

    All of the above, my sister is a big regular and orders delivery often. They had forgotten the free dessert and she truly didn't mind, and as we are on face-time.. half an hour later her doorbell rings and she's frantic and worried. She opens the door after the car leaves to check what possibly could be out there and I will just leave this photo here. THEY DROPPED IT OFF WITH NO CONVERSATION NEEDED. She didn't call, she didn't complain, she had no clue. I will say we laughed so hard at this but clearly this place GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND!

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    5 months ago

    Very good! Wouldn't say amazing but for Des Moines and fast there probably the best! Go with the sampler and you won't be disappointed

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    1 year ago

    The food was absolutely delicious! Highly recommend checking them out! If you need good mediterranean, this is it.

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    1 year ago

    Food is great and the service is also excellent. Visited this place 3 times and tried the combo selection. The food is authentic and tasty

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    9 months ago

    Great service. A++++ amazing breakfast burrito Sunday morning. More addicting than crack. Had withdrawal symptoms today

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    The Green Olive - Gyro mix takeout.

    The Green Olive

    4.6(116 reviews)
    4.8 mi

    5-Star Plus Plus Review: Green Olive at 1960 Grand Ave, West Des Moines, IA 50265…read more Green Olive absolutely delivered a meal that felt like comfort food and a special treat at the same time. I ordered the combo meal, and it was the kind of plate that makes you slow down and enjoy every bite because there is so much flavor and variety. The chicken was tender and well-seasoned, with that perfect balance of warm spices that tastes rich without being too heavy. The beef had a deep, savory flavor and a satisfying bite, and the lamb was the real standout. It tasted clean, bold, and cooked just right, with that hearty, slightly smoky taste that makes lamb worth ordering. Every protein on the plate felt like it was prepared with care, not rushed. The rice was fresh and fluffy, and it did exactly what great rice should do. It held the meal together and soaked up the flavor from everything around it. Then came the best part, the variety of sauces. Each sauce brought something different. One added a creamy smooth finish, another gave a bright kick, and another brought that deeper, bold flavor that keeps you coming back for one more bite. I loved being able to mix and match because it made the meal feel like several meals in one. To finish, I had the cheesecake and coffee, and that was the perfect ending. The cheesecake was smooth, rich, and satisfying without being overly sweet. The coffee was warm, strong, and comforting, and it tied everything together like a great closing note. Bottom line: Green Olive gave me a full, flavorful, and well-balanced experience from the first bite to the last sip. If you want a meal that is filling, fresh, and packed with variety, the combo meal is the way to go. The staff were friendly and kind absolutely OUTSTANDING!!!

    Finally got to visit this place after hearing people talk and I'd say my first impression of it was…read morereally good! Service was friendly and welcoming. We came for dinner on a weekend night and there was plenty of seating. I think most people stop in for carry out or online pick up orders. We got the #5 gyro platter plate and #10 gyro mix plate. Heavy portions that are worth the price! I think the gyro platter was better but the chicken for our gyro mix plate was delicious! Green sauce was great and has a little kick to it. I'm definitely going to ask for an extra sauce of it next time. Plenty of parking out front, had no issues finding this place. If you're dining in they give you menus after seating. Great casual dining spot.

    Photos
    The Green Olive
    The Green Olive
    The Green Olive - Took parents here.  Their favorite restaurant now.  :)

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    Took parents here. Their favorite restaurant now. :)

    Bawarchi Indian Grill and Bar

    Bawarchi Indian Grill and Bar

    4.2(79 reviews)
    3.7 mi

    Fantastic food and service! The chicken is very well marinated and soft. The naan is also very…read moretasty and the service is very kind. Quiet ambiance with some music. Can have a good conversation there.

    I'm not sure what is going on here lately, but what used to bring me to Bawarchi Indian Grill and…read moreBar seems to be fading a little... We stopped in again last Tuesday for the lunch buffet at right about noon. We were greeted and told to take a seat as normal, but that's kind of where things ended. We sat in the booth for a few minutes. Normally a server checks in with you and takes a drink order at least and releases you to the buffet. No sign of anyone returning... We finally got up and headed to the buffet on our own. A lot of the warming trays on the buffet were already mostly empty and hadn't been refreshed. We did our best to fill a first plate (tandoori chicken, chicken biryani, goat curry, etc.) and went back to our booth. When we got back to our seat there was a carafe of water and a basket of naan on the table. That was a good thing. My co-worker was able to flag down the server to get him a Diet Coke. The food was good. What there was of it... After finishing the first plate we headed back up and it was kind of the same story. Quite a few empty warming trays... But at least a couple of the previously empty ones (aloo gobi and chicken 65) had been refilled so we got some variety. While we were up our first plates hadn't been cleared from the table... Maybe they were short staffed...? It only appeared to be the one gentleman working the front acting as host, server, and cashier. Given the lack of attention to guests and keeping the buffet replenished... I'm really hoping this extreme was a one-off, but things have been a little hot and cold the last couple of visits. It's a shame. We really enjoyed this buffet for a couple of years after our first visit. I've pretty much given them a pass until now hoping it would return to normal. Crossing my fingers things will get better again. With competition like Chowrastha not far away... They're too close by (Ashworth and 60th in West Des Moines) to be letting your game slip like this...

    Photos
    Bawarchi Indian Grill and Bar - The sauce table.

    The sauce table.

    Bawarchi Indian Grill and Bar - Tandoori chicken and butter chicken

    Tandoori chicken and butter chicken

    Bawarchi Indian Grill and Bar

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    Spice Pot - Breads & Biryani

    Spice Pot - Breads & Biryani

    3.5(30 reviews)
    3.5 mi
    $$

    Awesome food! I go here with the same friend so we keep a running list of what we like. LOL!…read moreYesterday we had our staple of Samosa, always good. It comes with a green dipping sauce that is enhances the flavor. For our entrees we had our usual, Chicken Tikka - also always good! Then, at the recommendation of our waiter, we tried the Chicken Korma. Oh my goodness! Our new favorite. Both dishes are served with white rice and we have to Naan (garlic is best) to sop it all up. It's a little pricy for lunch, but definitely worth the splurge. Oh, we ordered both dishes at medium heat which was perfect. Enjoy!!

    Despite living in Iowa pretty much all of my life I'm still one to stay in on cold nights…read more.. Indian food sounded good. It's been a while. I used mytown2go to place an order last night so I didn't have to leave my couch. I've never visited Spice Pot before and the reviews I'd read online seemed all over the board. I ordered chicken tikka masala (medium heat), chili cheese naan, and chicken dum biryani (medium heat). My total ran just under $27 before fees and my driver's tip. The fundamental taste of the food was really good. The sauce on the chicken tikka masala was rich and flavorful. The elements in the biryani complimented one another from the chicken, to the rice, onion, the lime, spices, and the mint. Overall I was happy with the food... That being said... I'd call both dishes I received mild...rather than medium. I assumed the biryani would be bone-in... However the pieces of chicken appear to have been taken apart with a cleaver and there were shards of bone that made the dish less than desirable for me... It might be authentic...but it's not for me. The naan... Very good, but once again it lacked the heat I'd expect from something with visible chunks of chili peppers embedded in it. I'd order from Spice Pot again...or stop in for dine-in...but I'd adjust my order a little from this experience. Try some other dishes on the menu... And I'd up my spice level to "hot"... I don't consider myself a chili-head; I like a heat level that is noticeable, but isn't overpowering. About mytown2go... This is the second time I've used them. The app is easy to use. Both times the service has probably left me more impressed than the food I received. I placed my order at 614 pm and it was delivered at around 647 pm (estimated time was one hour...714 pm). My driver was a Pleasant Hill school teacher who delivers as a part-time job. He was personable, polite, and provided excellent service. A really nice guy. He said he hasn't been delivering long. I wish him the best.

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    Spice Pot - Breads & Biryani
    Spice Pot - Breads & Biryani
    Spice Pot - Breads & Biryani - Very spacious

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    Very spacious

    Mo'z Mediterranean Grill - 10. Combo Plate

    Mo'z Mediterranean Grill

    4.4(20 reviews)
    3.2 mi

    Food: Hot, fresh and delicious! Ordered the Mo'z box to-go which came out hot and ready. It comes…read morewith a chicken shawarma and fries. Obsessed with the garlic dipping sauce that comes with it. Atmosphere: Felt like I was back in Greece. The vibe is so cute with greenery over the ceiling and artwork. Could be a fun casual date night spot or a lunch spot. Seating: Booths and low top tables available About: They're a local family run business and if you like supporting local and love good food and shawarma's, it's a must-have. Definitely adding this into my rotation of spots.

    "Do I order here or sit down..." roughly what I asked as well as the next guy who came in while we…read morewere eating. Whoever is at the front desk should proactively greet each person and ask "dining in or to go?" Instead the lady waited for me and the next person to takk with her first. Then she asked if we knew what we wanted. If they fix this, your answer should be "to go". While the ambiance is lovely, the fact they make you buy bottles of drinks instead of having cups of water or other drinks available really decreases the value of sitting in and cheapens the experience. The restaurant ambiance is also marred by all the items for sale like a local market. Perhaps it makes it feel more genuine, but definitely makes it feel less fine dining. That and the music gets interrupted by what is likely alarms or timers on the phone playing music. Perhaps it shouldn't be thought of as fine dining, and more of a foreign family diner. The service was nearly non-existent. As mentioned before you had to proactively ask how things worked, there were no refills as it's just bottles ... and the bottles just sit in a fridge. Outside of that she sat at the front desk on her phone, though she did ask how everything was... once... after we got it. She also thanked us for coming when we left. It took about 10 minutes to get food... not bad since the food seemed fresh. That said the food was good enough. I've had better chicken shawarmas, but nothing tasted bad. It's slightly above average experience hence the rating. I wouldn't go so far as to say you must try this place, but I wouldn't say don't come here either. I hope they improve the experience over time. This review is meant as constructive criticism.

    Photos
    Mo'z Mediterranean Grill - Dining area

    Dining area

    Mo'z Mediterranean Grill - Chicken Shawarma Plate

    Chicken Shawarma Plate

    Mo'z Mediterranean Grill - Menu 3

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    Menu 3

    The Green Olive - mediterranean - Updated May 2026

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