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

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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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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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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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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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

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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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

Bismillah the value for the money is great! The rice that comes with the farooj is delicious and they aren't skimpy with portions this will feed me for 3 days. The service is kind and the ambiance is beautiful modern with a backdrop of the dome of the rock. Special for those of us who can't go in person. read more

The Olive Bistro - $20 lunch special to die for the farooj - Middle Eastern Near Me - Clifton, New Jersey

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

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

Well deserved 5 star restaurant, came for Iftar and they had a huge display buffet. All sorts of variations of food, ALL DELICIOUS AND FRESH. There was not one food I didn't try that wasn't good. The staff is well ran very attentive very polite. This is one of the best restaurants in nj especially halal Palestinian cuisine. Highly recommended to visit this jem! Pictures will be posted from my next visit but trust the review, food did not disappoint. read more

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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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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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

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 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'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

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

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

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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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

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

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

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

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

Everything is amazing! The food is fresh and comes out promptly. The restaurant is clean with a modern design. Service is wonderful but perhaps understaffed at times with the wait staff being pulled away to fulfill large takeout/catering orders. One thing that should be clearly expressed is the automatic 20% service charge, we were a party of three. Maybe it was on the menu somewhere and we overlooked it. read more

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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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

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

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

"I had a truly awful experience at Olive Bistro. We went on Mother's Day and loved their mixed grill for two, so we returned today, May 25th, with a large group--12 adults and 14 kids--for a birthday celebration. We called ahead, but when we arrived, no one attended to us, and we had to ask for appetizers. When the food came, all six mixed grills were ridiculously small--nothing like the generous portions we had before. When we showed them a picture from Mother's Day, they said it was a mistake, like we shouldn't have gotten that much. And even after I pointed out that we only received one Kofta instead of three, the manager insisted they gave us extra chicken--but it was just six tiny pieces, barely half of what we got before. When I asked him to count them, he ignored me. No apologies, no attempt to fix it--just a complete lack of care. Don't waste your time or money here; they treat their customers horribly and don't offer anything if you're upset." read more

"I had a truly awful experience at Olive Bistro. We went on Mother's Day and loved their mixed grill for two, so we returned today, May 25th, with a large group--12 adults and 14 kids--for a birthday celebration. We called ahead, but when we arrived, no one attended to us, and we had to ask for appetizers. When the food came, all six mixed grills were ridiculously small--nothing like the generous portions we had before. When we showed them a picture from Mother's Day, they said it was a mistake, like we shouldn't have gotten that much. And even after I pointed out that we only received one kofta instead of three, the manager insisted they gave us extra chicken--but it was just six tiny pieces, barely half of what we got before. When I asked him to count them, he ignored me. No apologies, no attempt to fix it--just a complete lack of care. Don't waste your time or money here; they treat their customers horribly and don't offer anything if you're upset." 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

Stopped by for quick takeout and was wowed by the quality of the food. Grilled shrimp was flavorful and tender. I also tried a zataar and cheese pie. Sort of like pizza but on a pita crust with delicious flavor and sesame seeds ... hard to stop eating it, and it's definitely enough for two. A great dinner, friendly service! read more

The food was fabulous..super tasty and flavorful..real Palestinian food..and the stuff was amazing excellent service..Adam in specific he was so helpful and definitely knows how to serve Maqluba in the best way..I will definitely come back..and thanks for Adam again.. read more

Great value, delicious food, beautiful décor, this new Palestinian restaurant is a winner. Prix fixe lunch @ $20 was tremendous - soup, appetizer, main course. I had half a chicken with rice. Attentive, friendly service and lots of free parking. Try it. read more

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