Just finished our first delivery order from The Olive Bistro and we're stuffed. The food coma should be starting any minute now. It was a bit pricey, but worth it. We ordered the mixed grill for one, which was just about enough for the two of us; the meat was done perfectly, and seasoned to perfection. The musukhan rolls were new to us, and we liked those a lot, too. The sujuk was flavorful and not too greasy. The biggest surprise to me, as someone who's not a rice person, was the kidrah rice, which tasted like it had minced meat and slivered nuts (I'm guessing almonds) in it. Think pilaf, maybe? Anyways, loved that, too. And did I mention that it comes with three or four pieces of warm, pillowy pita bread? Like I said, slightly pricey; after delivery fees and tip and whatnot, it came to about eighty bucks all in. But let me tell you, it was worth every penny. The only regret is that I didn't think to order some knafeh to go with it, because if it's as good as the rest of what we had, I'm sure I missed out on something great. Oh well. Next time. And yes, there will be a next time. read more

Went for a lovely breakfast here on a Sunday. Interior is clean and aesthetic is beautiful. They have many TVs and they show videos of their food which I appreciate so you can know what looks best for each person. Friendly staff and they have a lot of parking. Portions are huge! Great value for your money. read more

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Visited The Olive Bistro for dinner on a Friday. We made a reservation for 8, so we were seated as soon as we arrived. It's a nice restaurant, very modern and comfortable. We immediately placed the order for the lamb makluba, knowing that it would take about 45 minutes to prepare. We also ordered the tabouleh, Za'atar & Cheese, the Olive Bistro Spread, and mixed grill for 4. The Za'atar & Cheese was like a pizza, minus tomato sauce. The Olive Bistro Spread came with hummus, baba ghanouj, labneh, muhammara, two cheese rolls, and two fried kibbeh, accompanied by warm pita bread. It was a lot of food, my favorite dip was the labneh. Mix Grill for 4 came with six kofta kebabs, two shish kebabs, and four chicken kebabs, served alongside tender beef shawarma, grilled vegetables, house rice, and warm spicy bread. It was a lot of food. Some meats were overcooked though, and I prefer other mixed grills I've gotten at other Arabic restaurants. My favorite item was the lamb makluba, which had a seasoned rice with extremely tender bone in lamb chunks. I'd get just the makluba and maybe an appetizer next time so I'd have way less leftovers. read more

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Love this place. I love that they also bake things from scratch like the bread and the manaeesh. I wanted a late breakfast and they serve until 3pm! I have to come back to try more of their breakfast offerings they have plenty. The service is always so kind and the restaurant is beautiful. One of my favs read more

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Consistency consistency Second time visiting the olive bistro and it might have been even better the second time. Pictured is the mixed grill with sweet potatoes fries was mouth watering, we also got a huge portion of lamb Makluba which has to be the best lamb dish I've ever had and being European we eat lamb often enough. Words can't describe how tasty this dish was, best lamb best rice, full of flavor. Everything was top tier and delicious one of the best eats in nj by FAR! Dessert was probably the best baklava I've ever had. Beautiful ambiance very clean kitchen lovely staff with AMAZING FOOD, thank me later when you visit this restaurant. Lastly I'd like to add owner was there on a Sunday working hard always love to see it shows how serious they care about their business. Will definitely be visiting repeatedly read more

The Olive Bistro - Baklava - Middle Eastern Near Me - Clifton, New Jersey

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My family and I went for a late dinner at The Olive Bistro after a long afternoon of playing pickleball. My friend had been before and he highly recommended the Makluba. We were a party of 8 so we also ordered the Mixed Grill for 4. We also ordered several appetizers. It ended up being way too much food. The service was very friendly and pretty quick. The restaurant itself was clean and modern. My one gripe was the music was a little too loud. But to give them the benefit of the doubt we were seated right next to a speaker so it's probably better at the other tables away from the speakers. The lamb makluba was delicious. The lamb was tender and flavorful without having a gamey taste to it. The rice was moist and soaked up the flavor of the lamb and other vegetables cooked in the same pot. I also enjoyed the nut garnish added on top as it provided a welcome crunch to the dish. My opinion of the mixed grill is just that--mixed. The meats were good but some pieces ended up dry even though we requested it be cooked medium rare. I really enjoyed the rice that came with the platter though my dining partners were not as enthusiastic. It certainly didn't have as much flavor as the makluba rice, but it was still very nice. Given that we also had the makluba, the mixed grill for 4 was too much food so we had plenty of leftovers. The appetizers we got were very enjoyable. We got tabouleh, pita with assorted dips (hummus, baba ganoush, etc.), and a cheese pizza type thing that I can't recall the name of. I liked all of them very much. None of it was mind blowing, but all just very solid food. I also got the mint lemonade which I enjoyed a lot too. It was a bit sweet for my taste but that just meant I could dilute it with some water and enjoy it for longer. All-in-all The Olive Bistro was a great experience and I would certainly come back. I'd probably order less food this time. read more

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Highly recommend this restaurant based it was always packed which of course is Leah's a sign of good food. The restaurant is very airy and beautiful. And the food is fresh and delicious. read more

The Olive Bistro - Salad - Middle Eastern Near Me - Clifton, New Jersey

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Loved this place! Was shopping at the Veiled store located in the same parking lot when I happened to notice it. We were originally planning on eating somewhere else. So glad we decided to have lunch here this Saturday. The food was fresh and delicious. We got the chicken breast kabab platter, freekah soup, meat pie, and sweet potato wedges. Everything was super delicious and fresh. The chicken was tender and juicy and the rice was buttery and perfectly cooked. The meat pie was like a pizza - crisp and flavorful. Service was extremely attentive, friendly, and quick. It was super packed in there with lots of other patrons but they didn't miss a beat. We got our food quickly and anything else we needed. I am planning to return here with a bigger appetite to try the rest of the food and leave room for dessert - the menu looks pretty extensive. Overall, I really enjoyed the vibe of this restaurant. It was classy without being stuffy, perfect noise level for me and the decor was very nice. Great place to return for a casual meal or celebration. Mandatory 18% service charge, which they more than earn. :) read more

The Olive Bistro - Chicken breast kabab, meat pie, freekah soup, sweet potato wedges. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Clifton, New Jersey

Thoroughly enjoyed eating at this location. Service was fast and friendly, food was amazing, and dining space is nice. We tried the hummus with filet mignon as an appetizer- just amazing. We had the lamb and the shawarma for our mains. All were delicious... Will definitely be back. read more

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Great food. Tasty and juicy shawarma and fluffy fresh baked pita bread. Good Mediterranean salads. Great service.

We were in town looking for authentic Middle Eastern food, and we're so glad we found The Olive Bistro. They serve true Palestinian cuisine, and it felt just like mom's home cooking. From the moment we walked in, we felt right at home--the ambiance was warm, clean, and bright, creating the perfect setting for our meal. Our party of seven was warmly welcomed by a wonderful hostess, and our server was absolutely amazing--attentive, knowledgeable, and full of personality. Honestly, the entire staff was fantastic. We even had the pleasure of meeting the owner and his father, both of whom were incredibly gracious and hospitable. Now, the food--wow. We ordered makluba (one with lamb and one with chicken), and each dish was generous enough to feed three to four people. We also tried the mansaf--my personal favorite--and it was absolutely delicious, with portions large enough to share. Every single item we ordered was packed with flavor and cooked to perfection. I truly can't say enough good things about this place. The Olive Bistro is worth every mile, and I'd gladly make the five-hour drive again just to eat here. read more

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The food was AMAZING here!!! I'm so happy I stumbled upon this place. Definitely satisfied my craving for this cuisine. I'm in awe of how good this all was. The service was great too. The restaurant was nice and cozy inside read more

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Had the best food there! Service was superb. I , former vegetarian, started eating chicken recently and usually have to just force myself, but this place makes the chicken in a way that's 1) halal and 2) irresistible- I haven't stopped thinking about it for a week now. It's a beautiful Palestinian restaurant! read more

The Olive Bistro - Pita , hummus and veggies - Middle Eastern Near Me - Clifton, New Jersey

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First, its very expensive, but the food is delicious and served by the kindest people. Absolutely LOVED everything they made, especially the lamb!! It was the most tender lamb i've probably ever had. The ambience was perfection, loved the artwork and decorations- they all felt so warm!! The mint lemonade was 10/10, my favorite out of all the Paterson/Clifton restaurants. I would reccomend anyone to come here with their friends or family, it will surely be a lovely experience. Every staff member treats you like family with a warm smile and kind words! read more

The Olive Bistro - inside - Middle Eastern Near Me - Clifton, New Jersey

Was a pleasant surprise to find this restaurant close to home. The food was fairly good considering it is located in the vicinity of many Middle eastern & Turkish restaurants. Unfortunately as always, a good thing is always too good to be true. On getting the bill, a pre-imposed 20% service fee was added automatically even though we were only two. When questioned, they pointed to and extremely fine print on the bottom of the last page. Was also charged for a drink that was never served, so much for service . To the owners, we could have been repeated customers who would have returned with friends and offered recommendations but your pre-imposed service charge is definitely a turnoff at your restaurant. read more

Authentic, family-owned Palestinian restaurant serving homemade dishes made to order, with generous portions and very friendly staff. The chicken musakhan ($25) is the standout and big enough for two: a must try. The hummus ($9) is delicious. read more

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Food was ok nothing special service was also ok again nothing special.prices for grape leaves were crazy though. I thought it was too high

Great food, service and ambiance, very satisfied. We're driving past when I noticed Olive Bistro and decided to give it a try and we're not disappointed. Very good experience from the moment we walked in we're offered a table, server was very attentive and responded to all our questions. Food started to arrive shortly and it tasted amazing. From soup, baba ghanoj to main dish makluba everything was fresh and delicious. Have your appetite ready, portions are huge. Definitely we will be back. Highly recommend. read more

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Very delicious middle eastern food! We ordered a bunch of food for pick up and I can't wait to keep coming back. I highly recommend the Zatar chips, babaganoush, hummus, fried cheese sticks, and the mixed grill platter. The kebab and chicken were both very delicious. read more

The Olive Bistro - Middle Eastern Near Me - Clifton, New Jersey

Food was amazing. Went here for brunch for a private event. Great manakeesh. Tomato with beef dish was delicious. All dips were great. Service was excellent. Highly recommend! read more

I dined here recently and was simply blown away. First of all, can we talk about the entrance? It is absolutely gorgeous with the big olive tree, the intricate wall panels and the gorgeous olive green upholstery and colors that flow through the entire space. The carefully placed photography and art work are a living tribute to the motherland of Palestine. This restaurant is huge and absolutely where you want to go with a big party to celebrate a special occasion, take a date or even just a cozy family meal!! Our host was very accommodating as we showed up without reservations. The menu is extensive but we opted to try their cold appetizer sampler and the mixed grill and rotisserie chicken. The cold appetizers were executed with absolute perfection. I have never had labneh that was dressed so well with garlic, lemon and dill - like an elevated version of tzatziki sauce with warm pillowy fresh pita bread served table side. The muhammara was thick, tangy, with just the right kick and a beautiful vibrant color with tiny morsels of walnuts greeting you in every bite. The hummus was an absolute dream - the texture was so smooth and creamy, so much depth of flavor and the acidity was just right with the richness of tahini finishing off the palette every time you dipped in. Crunchy, tart and savory green olives formed the backdrop of this song. I absolutely loved the kibbeh that came with the platter - literally the best kibbeh I have had by a mile. The outer bulgur shell fried to perfection and very light, crispy and airy, allowing the abundant meat and pine nut filling to shine beautifully through. The cheese rolls also very good but paled in comparison to the other components. The real showstopper was the mixed grill for two. It was a spectacular display of meat in abundance. Chock full of shawarma meat, lamb kabab, chicken kabab and filet mignon. This is what I would call every meat eater's dream come true. Of course the filet mignon was heavenly - juicy, tender, so flavorful. The sumac onions and rice formed the perfect supporting actors pair for the theater that was this dish. The chicken kabab was absolutely fantastic, even though it was white meat it was juicy as ever, and even heat up so well the next day. Lamb kabab was dripping with fatty goodness, just how I like it. Shawarma meat also seasoned so well and made for amazing sandwiches the next day. I was expecting the rotisserie chicken to be a little on the dryer side, but that was so blasphemous me. Every piece of that rotisserie chicken was juicy with beautiful rendered fat skin. I loved eating this the next day with the delicious garlic toum. Naturally, we were so stuffed by the end of this meal that dessert was absolutely out of the question, even though the pastry case is the first thing that caught my eye when I walked into this establishment. Although I didn't get to try any of their desserts, I'm grateful that I have an excuse to go back here again for this very purpose. If you are in the area or happen to find yourself driving through Patterson, you absolutely have to stop over at this restaurant and have a meal. I'm not even exaggerating when I say this is 100% one of the best Arabic restaurants in the tri-state area. read more

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I had a good experience at the Olive bistro restaurant. The chicken kebab sandwich was flavorful and cooked well, the mixed platter was ok I did not like the filet mignon and the portions were a decent size for the price. The staff was friendly and the service was fairly quick, even during a busy time. The atmosphere was comfortable overall. read more

Really tasty food! I recommend the hummus with meat, flatbreads & chicken musakhan. Nice, spacious dining room as well. read more

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I'm so happy I finally got around to coming here!! I've been hearing about this place for. While for good reason. Don't know what was better...the food, the service or the espresso (different category). Seriously, I got the mixed grill, hubby the grilled shrimp & daughter - the schwarma. All were flavor explosions. Beautiful people and super cute , well done place. Looking forward to going back soon. Thanks for getting it so right guys!! read more

Went to lunch with eight colleagues, and we all loved it. The ambiance is serene and relaxing, the service from Maria and the staff was excellent, and the food was outstanding. We are especially crazy about the bread! The falafel was very good -- and I'm definitely a falafel snob. The lunch special is also a great value, although the salad that came with it was disappointingly tiny. Overall, it was a wonderful experience, and I highly recommend this restaurant. read more

Place was very clean. Fast friendly service. Reasonable prices. No alcohol allowed at clifton location. Food was very good. You kind of need to know what to order. We tried various things. All were good. Saw other people ordering family style dinner in large pot. Looked interesting. Will be back to try. read more

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Amazing service, delicious food and great decor. Have been 3-4 times already, which is uncommon for me. Surprised I haven't left a review already! read more

Food was amazing- the best falafel I've had in recent memory. Service was also great. Only surprise was the automatic 20% gratuity for a party of 2. I wasn't mad and would have happily left 20% regardless but it gave me pause to see it and no one mentioned or pointed it out. read more

Outstanding Palestinian cuisine! The food was amazing--rich flavors, perfectly cooked, and clearly made with care. The service was exceptional and made us feel right at home. This place is a gem, and I can't wait to come back. read more

Excellent service and big portions at very reasonable prices which would probably cost double in nearby NYC, the food was fresh and the lemonade with mint was very refreshing. I will be back. read more

Food was good nothing spectacular . Pricey & small portions. Would we go back, no there are better Mediterranean restaurants out there. read more

Lovely experience here! It's a beautiful restaurant with a great decor and ambiance. We went with a large group and called ahead, they were super accommodating even knowing we would be cutting it close to their closing time. The wait staff couldn't have been more gracious. The food was excellent, I particularly love their msakhan and hummus. Would definitely come back. read more

Delicious authentic dishes. Generous portions. Friendly & courteous service. Would go again

Very hostile staff, they're not welcoming around Hispanic customers. Would not recommend eating here.

Excellent service! The food was incredible. Immaculate atmosphere and friendly staff. Highly recommend the Olive bistro! They have one in Little Falls as well which is equally great. You can tell these guys know what they're doing, mA! read more

The Olive Bistro - Beautiful aesthetic and interior design - Middle Eastern Near Me - Clifton, New Jersey

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This place really didn't let me and my family down. The staff were very friendly especially with some recommendations. I would highly recommend this restaurant for sure. read more

We are from out of state and ordered the Msakhan and Lamb Kedre. The food is fresh and absolutely delicious. The restaurant has a modern, clean design with an elegant dining style. Highly recommend! read more

Everything at this place is quality. Just as good as their Little Falls location. I've had pretty much everything on the menu except the Maqluba. The Musakhan and Kidreh are phenomenal. Just watch out for the spicy peppers on top of the hummus! read more

Obsessed with this place. Service is incredible. Food tastes fresh, literally feels like grandma cooked it. I always go here to grab a dish to take to a party or event. Never disappoints. Always a hit. read more

The ambiance and service was amazing, and the food was absolutely incredible. I would highly recommend trying if you are a fan of middle eastern cuisine! read more