Blu Olive Mediterranean Bistro

Just had another great lunch here. It is one of our "go to" places when in the area. At time we have made the 12mi drive from the Pearl to Blue Olive just for a great dinner.

Our 6:30 p.m. group of seven was kept waiting on the sidewalk for nearly half an hour despite earlier telephone assurance that a reservation was not needed because we would be seated upon arrival. Once inside we threaded our way through closely spaced tables. This density of diners and the absence of sound deadening of any kind created a din that made even cross-table conversation virtually impossible! "alone together"Our server was prompt in providing menus, explaining unfamiliar items, taking orders, tracking special requests and bringing our food, all in good spirits. Almost everyone at our table ordered something different, and all seemed pleased. My lamb shank was large, meaty, well-browned and fork-tender, bedded in saffron basmati rice with a pile of mixed salad. The other plates I saw seemed similarly well-filled. In my experience, salad is not a strong suit of Middle Eastern restaurants, and unfortunately, Blu Olive's was not an exception. I ordered my first dooga beverage, expecting it to be similar to a lassi, which it was, except that it was salty rather than sweet and tasted of mint, just the thing, I imagined, for coming indoors after a day of hot, sweaty desert travel. It was a good, solid meal, well-served, but from this experience, I would aim for an off-prime hour, especially if I wanted conversation.I wish there were a 3 1/2 star rating. It's not so "average" as a 3 would suggest, but doesn't rate a 4 for quite a few reasons. So, I'll go with the 3.

The space was to small for conversation. The staff was rude and didn't help with seating or menu options. The manager was loud and demanding of staff and they looked scared. The food was OK but could find better. I would skip this place and find somewhere with better service and staff.

Good food. Quick to come out. Appreciate the freshness and simple the dishes were. Love the lamb and steak gyros

We've lived nearby for awhile now and decided to stop in on a weekday evening. It was so busy! We were quickly seated, had attentive servers come through, and felt taken care of. We ordered the baba ghanouj & calamari. Both were great. The calamari was crispy, the baba ghanouj flavourful. My partner had the lamb special and it was so tender. Same for the chicken souvlaki! Everything was flavourful, the service was great, and we will be back for the rest of the menu!

Heard good things about this place from local Iranian community so was very excited to try and indeed they're really good!Popping on a Friday dinner, staffs were all busy serving and prepping delicious food. We split the Kabob Barg and Koobideh. They're both very well-cooked, seasoned, and tender but the winner goes to the Koobideh for me. Super, super juicy. You can actually see the owner/chef cooking everything fresh from behind the counter. The dishes were served with saffron rice and salad. The salad was a sleeper hit! Super flavorful and herby. I would gladly just do salad for my plate next time.They got other interesting appetizers and main on offer as well but the grilled plates were definitely their specialty. Desserts from other tables also looked enticing; will check that out next time.Lots of tables in a modern space. A great spot in general!

Great food! Fast service (I ordered out during the dinner rush and my food was ready within 20 minutes). I had the koobideh plate and hummus. Pita bread with the hummus was good. The hummus was smooth in texture and good in flavor. The koobideh was spot on in terms of flavor. The pricing was great in relation to portion sizes. I wish I would have orders the basmati rice with the barberries to add more flavor to the rice.

Excellent salads, dips, and grilled meats.Also loved the rice. I'm hooked on the saffron chicken dinner!

Food, deserts and ambience were just perfect. If you haven't tried this joint, you must

Oh my gosh - yes, yes, yes! I love the cheerful welcome, outdoor seating and the custom cocktails are fabulous. Try the Helen! It tastes like magic. Our server was friendly, knowledgeable and quick. Our food was perfect. I can't wait to go back.