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Olive Cafe
Categories: Restaurants Mediterranean Restaurants Sandwiches Mediterranean, Sandwiches [Edit]
43 Gore StCambridge, MA 02141
Neighborhood: East Cambridge
(617) 876-4189
- Nearest Transit:
-
O'brien Hwy @ Winter St (80, 87, 88)
Cambridge St @ Third St (69, 80, 87, 88)
225 Msgr O'brien Hwy (80, 87, 88)
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 11 am - 8:30 pm
- Parking:
- Street
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
35 reviews for Olive Cafe
Review Highlights
35 reviews in English
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Review from Loan V.
Quincy, MA
1/9/2012
This has to be one of my favorite places to go for lunch during work! Most of the time I get a Chicken Cesar Salad and I have to tell you that you're not going to find someone who cares about the food they produce in the quickest time possible then these guys. The food is always delicious, plentiful and a great value! I would totally pay more for my salad, its cheaper than Panera and way healthier and tastier.
I've tried their pizzas and subs too, just as great as my favorite salad! Plus it helps that you're always greeted by a smile :) -
Review from Liz S.
Cambridge, MA
11/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
LOVE their buffalo chicken pizza with blue cheese. The crust wasn't quite as melt-in-your-mouth as I would hope, but it was still totally fantastic! My small pizza was about $9 and I ate it for two meals. Perfect!
I'll definitely be ordering from here again and again. -
Review from Kim W.
Oswego, IL
9/23/2011
I was staying in Cambridge overnight and asked the front desk clerk for some menus of places close that delivered. Without high hopes I ordered from Olive Cafe. I was very pleasantly surprised.
I ordered the Chicken Shawarma, a side of Onion Rings, and a slice of carrot cake. First, the Onion Rings were still hot when delivered; very crispy and flavorful. Second, the carrot cake was great. Good frosting.
The Chicken Shawarma was awesome. Well seasoned, cooked perfectly and the tabouli was very, very fresh.
I will definitely be back the next time I'm in the Boston area. -
Review from Steven L.
Somerville, MA
2/7/2012
Good, quick food, great for lunch
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Review from Amy I.
Somerville, MA
1/28/2012
I love this place!
I order lunch from here all the time when I'm at work, and it never disappoints. My coworkers have even started ordering with me; it's kind of become our go-to place for the days when we're all too lazy to pack our own lunches.
Not being a meat-eater myself, it makes me really happy that they have a bunch of vegetarian options beyond just salads (though their salads are great too!)
Huge fan of the vegetarian roll-up selection. And the delivery guy is always really nice/fast. And, of course, the prices are super reasonable, which makes it all the better. -
Review from Dan C.
8/23/2011
I've ordered from Olive Cafe six or seven times, and EVERY time I end up getting the Smokehouse Panini on ciabatta bread. Smoked turkey, bacon, sun dried tomatoes, three cheese and honey mustard?
I dare not think about how many turkeys, pigs, tomato vines, dairy producers, and whatever the hell mustard is made from were sacrificed to allow me to eat so decadently, but frankly I don't care.
All served for $8 with a side of fries? Let the carnage continue... -
Review from Al Y.
Cambridge, MA
11/22/2011
I have Olive Cafe deliver at least once a week and it is always good. The ingredients are fresh, lots of menu options and they are quick to deliver. The prices are incredibly reasonable for the quality and quantity of food. I'm a HUGE fan!
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Review from Cara P.
Cambridge, MA
10/27/2007
What? one star review?
I live near here and eat here probably twice a month. Nothin fancy. Fast food. Decent prices. A few tables to eat at.
They have a small selection of Middle eastern offerings, such as Falafel and hummus-touboili salad with Tahini. They offer about 10 Vegetarian Wraps as well.
Also: Gourmet Pizza, Panini Grilled Sandwiches,Combination Dinners with fries or rice and salad, Hot and cold subs, salads, soups........there is a great variety of food.
I always get the Spicy fajita chicken on top of rice with provolone. Extra Spice please.
Parking is in the Citizens back lot and the joint is located on the corner of the street
Decent place. WAY more than one star worth. Also, the owner is the cook and remembers a loyal customer.Listed in: My Neighborhood: East…, It ain't fine dining but it…
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Review from Shannon F.
Somerville, MA
6/26/2008
I went to see an apartment on Gore St. last night, and after being sorely dissapointed by the dump, I needed a little pick-me-up...
I happened to walk right by Olive Cafe on my way back to Lechmere. I was greeted kindly by a man who seemed to be the owner. I am a sucker for wraps... i'll pretty much eat anything if it's grilled and wrapped up in a wheat tortilla, so when i saw their "roll up" section on the menu, I knew I had made the right choice by walking in.
The nice man behind the counter encouraged me to take my time, and also made some great suggestions for a menu choice. The honey mustard chicken roll up came out in about 10 minutes, and when we finished our meals he asked where we lived. i told him that I lived in Davis, but I was looking to move to the Lechmere area, and he said he'd be glad to deliver to Davis square "just for me"
He also told my friend that she was more beautiful in person than she was in her license.
Whether this guy was flirting or not, we liked it. The roll up and the service certainly made me feel special. If i DO finally find a cool apartment over near Lechmere, i'll be sure to stop into Olive Cafe often! -
Review from Andrew D.
Warwick, RI
8/26/2009 3 photos
By all rights, Olive Cafe should be a popular office-worker lunch option, but I think the combination of a bad location and poor reviews by some locals has kept it relatively unnoticed.
From what I saw, the dining area was simple and clean, with a setup identical to your average sandwich/sub/pizza shop. Service was quick and friendly. I ordered a BBQ chicken pizza to-go, which took about 15 minutes to prep and cook. The guy who took my order was nice enough to check up on me halfway through and let me know how long it would be until it was done.
The pizza itself was pretty darn tasty. The crust was soft and chewy on the inside, crispy on the outside. Most BBQ pizza sauces are ridiculously sweet and sugary, but this one actually had a hint of spice to it, which I liked. The toppings weren't terribly generous for a $9 small pizza, but overall I was still satisfied and very full by the time I finished it off. Any time I'm in the mood for pizza for lunch, I will definitely be getting it from here. -
Review from Dachary C.
Cambridge, MA
7/17/2007
I've never ordered delivery from here, as it's convenient to both work and home, so I cannot comment on those services.
However. I have to drastically disagree with the 1-star review of this place. I've been hearing a lot of good buzz from the locals for a while now, so I tried it for the first time a few weeks ago. Had a cheeseburger sub and an order of fries, and I was pleasantly surprised. The ingredients are fresh - no pre-frozen burger patties here - and the quality and care really show. They batter their fries, so if you like them that way, you're in for a treat. And I have discovered, today, that their chocolate chip cookies are surprisingly tasty! They were perfectly done, with a tasty cookie batter, good consistency, and even at lunchtime the choco chips were slightly gooey and lovely.
I have now ordered on a weekend, on a weekday evening, and at lunchtime. The lunch crowd is definitely their busiest time, but the employees were all friendly and helpful. Everyone made it a point to smile at me, and even though it was hectic, I never felt they had forgotten me - they made it a point to acknowledge and take care of me. They've always been friendly and welcoming - even when I went in at an off-peak time on a Saturday and weren't sure if they were even open. Whether they're overflowing or you're the only person there, they'll take care of you.
A few notes: I probably wouldn't order the fries for delivery, as they'd likely be soggy by the time they got to you. They come out very hot and crispy, and they're best enjoyed that way. I haven't tried the pizza yet, but I've seen a lot of people eating it so it must be good.
This place is definitely a neighborhood sub and pizza joint, although they profess to be "Mediterranean" on Foodler and Campusfood. Not really anything to go out of the way for, but if you're in the area, definitely try it out. Like me, I predict you'll be pleasantly surprised. Definitely one of the best spots in the neighborhood, and I know I'll go back often. -
Review from Erin O.
Cambridge, MA
3/27/2008
I've eaten food from the Olive Cafe twice, and both times have been enjoyable. I haven't ordered delivery (it's a few blocks from my apartment), so I'm unable to rate that aspect.
Pizza from here is delicious. No over-saucing, a good amount of cheese, and our veggies were fresh. The crust is crisp on the outside and chewy (as opposed to doughy) on the inside. We ordered the Gore Street.
On a different occasion I ordered the falafel roll-up, and I was quite impressed. The falafel tasted fresh and just a little spicy. The lettuce was super-fresh and they actually used leaves that would roll up well in a sandwich (i.e.: not the white part of the romaine head). The tomatoes were diced, sweet and plentiful (I hate eating a sandwich and having a huge slice of something slide out; I thought dicing the tomatoes was a nice touch). The tahini was a bit bland, but otherwise tasty.
The people at the counter have always been pleasant. I'm excited to try more of the diverse menu. -
Review from Daniel M.
6/30/2008 2 Check-ins Here
After a crappy day I wandered in here seeking solace in a grilled cheese sandwich. Thank Jebus for that.
Prep took only about five minutes and when I got home I was surprised with what I got. In front of me was this huge sandwich filled with cheese and tomatoes on focaccia. The bread was crisp yet not enough to shred your mouth and the cheese was just melty enough. Damn the thing was good.
It also came with a teeny salad and fries. The fries were surprisingly delicious and since when have carbs not improved a day? The salad came with no dressing and so I'm assuming was merely garnish and was treated as such. For what it's worth it looked pretty.
All of this for about $6. Damn.
Day = MUCH improved.
This is a solid little neighborhood joint and I'll be back next time I need a little comfort food.Listed in: My old hood
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Review from Sarah R.
Somerville, MA
7/3/2008
As I write this review, I write it with a belly full of chicken shawarma from Olive Cafe. I'm a fan.
It's been my experience that when ordering food from a place like this or Charlie's Kitchen, where it's technically a Middle Eastern restaurant but tries to cater to everyone, it's best to try to stick to the Middle Eastern/Mediterranean fare. Sounds obvious, but it's true. I learned this after ordering a calzone from Charlie's Kitchen one time and being sorely disappointed.
The prices are reasonable at Olive Cafe. The shawarma comes with a huge salad featuring fresh lettuce (none of that iceberg crap, either) and chunks of lightly seasoned, non-greasy chicken, yummy hummus, tabouli, and pita bread. A lot of food for around $8, that's for sure, and won't make you feel like a stone's sitting in your tummy, waiting to digest. The delivery is fast, too.
I think I've found a new place to get my shawarma on. -
Review from annie k.
Los Angeles, CA
12/2/2006
Ordered for delivery. Cheap prices. Falafel sandwich was OK but below average. Portabello mushroom sandwich was garbage. Didn't even have a portabello mushroom. Was soggy and inedible.
update 2/27/07. was starving from diet so ordered a falafel salad. the falafel itself is ok, but the salad is very poor, lacking fresh vegetables. tahini dressing was weak. i guess cheap prices alone don't cut it for me. a subway salad is better and cheaper still. -
Review from Amanda M.
Astoria, Queens, NY
4/14/2010
Yum!
Olive Cafe is close to work and easy to get to for a lunch break. The service is very fast and the counter staff are very friendly (and patient when a group of 8 walks in and suddenly fills the place).
It wasn't the best falafel I've ever had, but it wasn't bad by any means either. The other ingredients in the wrap I got were very fresh and the dressing was perfect. The portions were huge and I easily got lunch the next day out of this as well!
Since we pretty much all got the falafel, I can't really comment on anything else but the menu was very extensive. I'll definitely be back to try more. -
Review from Joanna C.
Somerville, MA
12/15/2008
I ordered delivery from Olive Café via Foodler on a dark and stormy night. They said it would take 45 minutes to deliver my order and they were right on time.
I ordered the Chicken Kabob Dinner and my boyfriend ordered the Teriyaki Steak Tips Platter. The food didn't quite meet my expectations. I mean, it tasted okay; it just wasn't what I was expecting. There was no saffron in the rice but there were peas and carrots, the vegetables weren't chunky, and there were no grill marks on the chicken. I think it was more of a stir fry than a grilled skewered sort of deal. The steak tips smelled pretty good and I didn't hear any complaints from my boyfriend.
So...the meal filled my belly at decent prices, but I wouldn't return for more. -
Review from Erin W.
Cambridge, MA
12/17/2009
Its all about the wraps here guys! Its my go-to spot... Fresh, creative and tasty WRAPS!
NUM NUM NUM NUM!
Can't say I've had anything else- so try the wraps (way better than the others in the hood). -
Review from Becky D.
12/14/2010 1 Check-in Here
Had a huge Greek salad and the tomato mozzarella pannini to share with a friend. Good price, lots of food, good stuff
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Review from Amanda F.
Somerville, MA
10/6/2009
This is a great place to stop on a lunch break. It's a short walk from my office, and service is fast and friendly.
I've only ever had the buffalo chicken sub, but each time I've had it, it's been exactly what I wanted. It's stuffed with big juicy chicken fingers, dripping in buffalo sauce, blue cheese dressing, lettuce and tomatoes. It would be better if the sub roll was toasted, but I always forget to ask.
They accept credit cards, and the guys who work the counter are always very friendly. Both of those are big plusses in my book.
I always suggest this place to co-workers looking for a new lunch spot, and I want to go back and try more of their offerings. -
Review from Tara P.
Boston, MA
8/7/2009
I am genuinely surprised by all of the negative reviews. I consider Olive to be one of the better takeout gems in East Cambridge.
The staff is very, very friendly and eager to please, and delivery tends to be pretty quick (25-45 minutes, depending on your location and the time of day). If you go in for takeout, you'll wait about 10-15 minutes, as they cook everything fresh.
Their wraps are good, and pretty big. Their salads are fresh. Their French fries are awesome, and their chicken fingers are cooked with herbs and spices and are the best takeout chicken fingers I've ever tasted (excellent portions, too).
Try their panini grilled sandwiches. Awesome.
I would at least give them a chance; don't judge by some of these harsh reviews. Compared to some of the other local offerings (i.e., Arams #2), Olive Cafe is awesome. I hope they'll stick around for a long time. -
Review from Travis H.
San Jose, CA
11/3/2010 1 Check-in Here
Ordered the BBQ chicken wrap and it was amazingly bad. The "BBQ sauce" seemed like nothing more than catsup mixed with sugar and was cloyingly sweet. Barely edible. The tables were dirty and the room stuffy. Would not go back.
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Review from Virginia su m.
Boston, MA
11/20/2009
pizza you can eat without experiencing the urge to compare it with dirty socks on yelp the next day.
i will be back to eat more.
shut-up thighs, this doesn't concern you. -
Review from Chris M.
Salem, MA
6/26/2008 1 Check-in Here
I like this place! I am surprised by the one star reviews as well. The owner is super nice and has always been very accommodating when I have visited. I like to support local businesses and I would much rather eat here than a place like Subway! Besides the owner being extremely friendly, he also seems to take pride in his business which is refreshing considering I encounter pretty poor customer service more often than not lately. Onto food cause you know fat is how I roll! I like their chicken fingers and I have also tried the buffalo chicken which is pretty solid also. Chicken Caesar wrap is very good. I will definitely return.
Listed in: Lets do the local thaaang
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Review from Shawn B.
Maynard, MA
6/24/2011 10 Check-ins Here
Love the Red Sox sandwich. Great prices and friendly service.
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Review from Jeff D.
Winchester, MA
9/17/2008
Another great find!!!!
Right down the street from Lechemere T station up Cambridge and turn right on 3rd St. to Gore St. and you'll find the Olive Cafe. I had great service and a great Sausage and meatball Calzone. The Small Calzone was a perfect personal size and they also had refreshing drinks and good cookies!!!! Excellent service. I told them I'd be going on a walk through the neighborhood - to MIT and then Along the River and back and would take me about an hour or so . I called them when I was about 15 minutes out from the restaurant down by the Science Museum/Cambridge Galleria pathway and they had it ready for me when I arrived. They have delivery as well ....a cool scooter with a pizza box holder on it that the guys drive. Say hi to Fransisco....!!!!!! They have a nice seating area and friendly service. It would be a good pizza or sub shop for kids, families and adults as well as employees of the nearby courthouses and offices. Its a family-friendly -neighborhood friendly location in a safe location by the Lechemere courthouse right down the street from a Dunkin Donuts where there are a million cops going by every night. No worries here =) -
Review from Maryn H.
Cambridge, MA
10/25/2008
I admit, I was a little dissapointed. I expected more. It is so cute, and the people are so friendly! Unfortunately, the food wasn't very good. The falafel sandwich I had wasn't anything to write home about, and my roommate hated her stirfry chicken wrap. They didn't get her order completely right too. They did however convince me to buy a cookie, and I have to admit it was delicious. I'll give them that.
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Review from Amie R.
Arlington, MA
11/19/2009
Awesome place right by the Lechmere T stop - no frills, good food and portions. I honestly feel like nothing you get could ever take over 10 minutes to be ready. Bonus!
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Review from Celeste G.
Oakland, CA
7/23/2009
I order the Mediterranean veggie platter from there frequently. I've never been inside the restaurant but they always deliver my food super speedy and it always tastes fresh and the amount of food they give you for the price is a great deal. Yep, i'm a fan.
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Review from R T.
Somerville, MA
10/15/2009
This review is for take-out. I ordered the carrot cake, a monte cristo, and green tea. The food: fresh, flavorful, the sandwich was still warm, the tea and cake still chilled. Delivery: WAY fast and friendly, the packaging stayed closed so nothing spilled or slopped. To wit: 4 stars. I will definitely order from here again and stop by for dining in if I am ever in the neighborhood.
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Review from Debra M.
Santa Barbara, CA
5/11/2010
Wide variety of chicken wraps. The wraps are big, you could eat half for lunch and save the other half for the next day. You can eat the whole thing and only need a light dinner. Not bad for $7-$8.
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Review from Greg S.
Arlington, MA
6/10/2008
My coworkers like to order from this place and well I flat out refuse to after 3 not so great lunches. First of all, I loathe any sub shop that refuses to toast a sub, I've ordered a chicken parm and an Italian both toasted neither came that way, they also refused to put cheese on my chicken parm, how do you forget cheese? It's not a parm without a cheese! I even specified Provolone. Anyway, I decided to get over the lack of toasting of subs and order a Caesar chicken wrap, let's just say Olive's chicken, the kind that they make for wraps an salads has something distinct about it and well you get the Olive's Chicken burps from it, which you will have for the rest of the day and each one will smell worse, frightening away all the people in your presence.
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Review from James K.
Somerville, MA
11/25/2008
Decent subs, never tried their pizza but it seems the typical Boston Greek style. Steak and cheese is good, but not award winning (best S&C in the area can be found at Angelina's in Teele Sq, Somerville). I usually hit this place up on Saturday lunch hour and the woman who works there is very pleasant. Check it out if you need a grinder in a pinch, but not exactly a destination subbie.
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Review from J J.
Boston, MA
4/16/2009
When I stop at Olives my food is always ready and waiting, and the woman behind the counter is nice enough... But I find it disconcerting that I am generally the only customer in the restaurant. I'm beginning to think that there's something I don't know... My Olives paranoia deepens daily
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Review from S W.
Cambridge, MA
12/13/2008
Got delivery-- Good gyros and tzatziki-- And they don't get soggy on the way over--LOVE IT
