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Olive Tree Café
Categories: Restaurants Greek Restaurants Mediterranean Greek, Mediterranean [Edit]
4614 Kilauea AveSte 107
Honolulu, HI 96816
(808) 737-0303
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 5 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
250 reviews for Olive Tree Café
Review Highlights
"I enjoy everything about the lamb souvlaki."
(in 32 reviews)
"The fact that it's BYOB is pretty cool."
(in 86 reviews)
"Byob with a nice wine store next door."
(in 8 reviews)
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250 reviews in English
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Review from Katie K.
12/12/2011
I'm a sucker for Greek food. Throw some lamb in warm pita bread and I'm in heaven. I think Olive Tree Cafe is right up there at the top when it comes to Greek food in Honolulu.
So far I have only tried the Lamb Souvlaki but it was amazing and I'll have a hard time trying anything but this! The lamb was perfectly cooked and well seasoned. And the other reviews aren't kidding--the salad dressing that comes with the side Greek salad (included with the souvlaki; $12 for the plate) is delicious!
Unfortunately they are only open for dinner so I can't eat here everyday. Damn you night job! And although they are a tap bit pricier than the Fat Greek (I'm comparing it to my normal order of a gyro plate), the quality of their food is sooooo worth it! I even saw a sign that they use local farms for the greens and veggies--yay! I was so stoked with everything on my plate, from the lamb and tzaziki sauce to the perfectly ripe cherry tomatoes, that I will probably be back for more take out on my next night off! I'm getting hungry just thinking about it! -
Review from Annie W.
1/29/2012
The lamb shaorma is not my favorite here. It's grounded up lamb, flattened to patty style, served in hummus, tahini like sauce wrapped in pita bread. I'm not sure if it was the spices, but it smelled and tasted sort of weird to me. I can pass on this one for $9.50 and pay a bit more for their souvlaki.
The lamb souvlaki was a different story. Chunk of lamb, cooked on a skewers and then released onto a nice sized pita bread. The amount of dill yogurt sauce they laid over it was a bit much, but the meat was still heavenly. Take a bite and see how perfectly red its inside and absolutely no gamey taste. I couldn't help, but to think of how much more tastier it would have been, if there were some hot sauce to add to this dish.
With that said, we came, we tried and we still heart The Fat Greek. I would still return for the souvlaki, but the cash only deal is not cool. I do however appreciate the fact that they accept local checks.
Finding a seat is like pulling teeth here. It's a chill ambiance and I understand why the BYOB is so common with a small wine store next door. -
Review from Manda S.
1/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
Whenever I'm in the Kahala area, I tend to get a craving for Greek...except it's always during lunch-time and the Olive Tree Cafe isn't open. Sad Panda. :( I've been dying to try this place forever and I finally got the chance to come for dinner last week. This place definitely lived up to my expectations:
- BF, Friend, and I all got the lamb souvlaki. It comes with a full kabob's worth of lamb in a respectable sized warm pita and served with that tasty white sauce (I wanna say it's called tzatziki) with a salad on the side.
I really enjoyed my food--I was the first to finish at the table! I really liked the salad. The sauce wasn't overpowering and it complemented the perfectly cooked lamb very nicely. Only con to this dish is that bigger eaters might not be satisfied. I was happy but BF and Friend wish they had ordered 2 plates.
- The staff here is awesome. I was eyeing out that scrumptious looking baklava the entire time I was standing in line and the cashier guy noticed, cut me a sample piece, and let me try it. It tasted very rich in honey--it was heavenly. If you order this, I promise you won't be dissapointed.
- This place also has a really cool atmosphere--it's BYOB so bring your own wine, kick back, and enjoy awesome food with good friends! (If you didn't bring your own, Olive Tree has a little shop next to it that sells Greek wine and other tasty things)
I'd come to this place every night for dinner if I could--the specials change regularly and they all look extremely delicious. I'm definitely getting the hummus next time, and perhaps an appetizer?
As a side note:
- Olive Tree is CASH ONLY.
- BF and Friend are more experienced with the Greek eateries on this island then I am. They thought the food was good but for the price and portion size, you can get better elsewhere.
- This lot can get pretty crazy (it's shared between Olive Tree, Subway, and Wahoo's Kahala). Pass through it and I'd say there's a 50/50 chance you'll get lucky but if you see a line of cars sticking out the driveway, I recommend parking on the street. -
Review from mona l.
Kaneohe, HI
1/13/2012
I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS PLACE.
Ok I have only been to one other Greek restaurant on the island but this my friends is by far the best I have ever tasted in my life. I seriously think they put crack in the food. I have not ordered one thing that I thought tasted horrible. Everything is so DELICIOUS-ONO. And that is why I think there is some kind of food crack in the food because I cannot stop ordering and eating more food. I frequent this place often and take all my visiting guest to the island here to feast. There is only 2 down falls.......
DON DON DUN
1. they do not except debit cards . cash only. I never carry cash so I always have to remember to get dinero before I go.
2. Is the sitting arrangement there. I wish they could organize it better. So it is a seat yourself place. First come first serve. So you go in and order your food. You let the girl know if you got a table or not. If you don't she well tell you to let her know when you do. Now just an FYI they are always packed. Never seen it quiet. If you get there and there is a table available right away its a miracle on Kilauea Ave. If not it is a waiting game. You and everyone else is like a bunch of hyenas hovering over tables watching the other lions eat and waiting for people to leave so you can snatch their table. This would be fine but some people are rude and have not etiquette. You can get there and be waiting for awhile and some new patron can just show up and haven't been there not even five minutes and take a table that should be yours. Just because they were quicker to get to the table when someone was leaving. Now they know its yours but they are down right rude. FOR THE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT DO THIS DON"T WORRY YOU WELL GET TO EAT JUST WAIT YOUR TURN. THERE ARE STARVING PEOPLE ON THIS EARTH THAT HAVEN'T EATEN IN DAYS COMPARED TO MY YOUR 4 HOURS. SO WAIT YOUR TURN.
Other then those two things its worth the wait. It is a great place to bring wine or beer , eat great food with great company. -
Review from Sean W.
Aiea, HI
1/31/2012
This is my favorite Greek restaurant on the island! Their lamb gyros come with real chunks of lamb seasoned perfectly. The homemade hummus is awesome as well. The muscles are light and extremely refreshing and would definitely order those again. Also, the baklava is light and not too saturated.. it's wonderful. One of my favorite parts of this place is that there is a small wine shop next door; you can pick a nice wine and bring it over for dinner next door... such a great idea! We had a 2007 La Posta Concina Blend... 60% Malbec, 20% Bonarda, 20% Syrah... it was fantasic!
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Review from Trisha W.
Honolulu, HI
11/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
The Olive Tree Cafe has been a Kahala hot spot for close to two decades. (You know you're from Kahala if you know what was in that location before the Olive Tree, and no - I'm not telling you.)
It's fantastic. It's always busy (a.k.a. crowded). They open nightly at 5 pm. (They're only open for dinner.) You order at the counter. You seat yourself. There are tables inside and outside. (They bus your table after you leave.) They only take cash or personal checks. They're known for their take out, orders start coming in daily around 4:30 (first pick up is at 5:15 pm). Their number, 737-0303 (737 "olive tree, olive tree" - another Kahala insider tip).
Everything is good. Seriously. Everything is good. The hummus is fantastic. I suggest ordering it with cucumbers and feta (extra charge, but worth it). The prices are great. Dinner for two including an appetizer is usually under $30. The portions are big; the taste is bigger. I've been getting the chicken slovaki plate for about 20 years. I never get tired of it. (There is also fish and lamb slovaki and a nice assortment of fantastic greek food.)
They also regularly have specials. They're always good. They're greek salad is the best in town. People ask to buy their dressing and sauces. They don't sell them.
It's also BYOB. Corkage is 50 cents per person. The owner of the restaurant owns a little shop adjacent to the restaurant; you can pick up wine there. The shop also sells gelato in case you want dessert after.
The parking is hard. The lot (the drive way Diamond Head of the Kahala McDonald's) is small. There are about 20 spaces. They're usually full. If you find a spot, you're lucky. There's street parking. A lot of people park at McDonald's next door.
If only the nation of Greece was doing as well The Olive Tree Cafe. -
Review from Melissa B.
Chino, CA
1/12/2012
I am a big fan of mediterranean food and place has one of the best falafel I have ever tasted. I had the hummus, dolmas and chicken shawarma which were good too, but after having the falafel I never ordered anything else. The place can get super busy so you have to be on it to order and pick up your food. You also have to stake out your sitting area but most people are friendly and will let you share a table. We met a really nice and interesting couple here. They also have a nice Greek market right next door where you can grab a bottle of wine or any other Greek treats to take home or enjoy with your food.
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Review from Negean V.
Costa Mesa, CA
1/22/2012
Lamb souvlaki was great!! Tabouli was yummy! You can get Wine next door or bring your own beer which is cool. Would definitely go back. Service was good.
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Review from Angelica Z.
Honolulu, HI
11/16/2011
The fish souvlaki was ok - nothing to write home about. It was tasty, but nothing amazing. The portion size was a little disappointing -- 13.50 for a little side salad and the souvlaki (with no table service, either)???? That's a little too steep for my law school student budget.
A few friends had the lamb souvlaki. The general consensus was that it was standard (nothing crazy) and overly dry.
Parking was pretty limited-I felt lucky to get a parking spot! I do wish I could give this place an additional 1/2 star, since they accommodated our group of 8. The lady taking our orders was also very pleasant and helpful.
Overall, I was underwhelmed, which is a huge disappointment since I wanted to like this cute cafe! -
Review from Julie H.
Kansas City, KS
1/30/2012
I went here with some friends who are "regulars" and loved everything about it. We shared a variety of dishes but my absolute favorite was my fresh fish souvlaki - several hunks of fresh fish (I think it was mahi) in a lemony sauce inside a pita, with a nice little Greek salad. They had just taken a big pan of fresh baklava uut of the oven and it was delicious I'd go there again any time!
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Review from Chantelle T.
Los Angeles, CA
1/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
Ahhh delicious! The Lamb Souvlaki is amazing and I would order it again in a heartbeat. The falafel is also pretty delicious -- the texture was creamy and rich unlike other falafel I've had in LA. I would actually give them 5-stars for their food, but the portions are pretty small for the price and parking is ridiculous during the dinner rush.
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Review from Aris S.
Honolulu, HI
1/5/2012
Normally I would have given this place four stars; however, the last few times I have gone have caused the rating to drop down. We frequented this place a couple of times a week for quite some time, now. The food was great and the ambiance was great. We would dine in once a week and do take out once a week. I also shopped at Oliver next door (same owners).
The last few times I have gone my orders were incorrect. Tonight I picked up take out and when I got home, there was a hair in one of the sandwiches. Mistakes happen, and I called to inform them of the situation. The guy who answered the phone apologized, said they would replace it and refund my money. This seemed fitting as I had to drive back there to have my order replaced. When I got there, the food was ready but they didn't refund my money. The thing is, they had already said they would and I have been there twice now for one order.
So I get the food home (second order) and sit down and the food is ICE COLD. Now I know it's take out but I live around the corner and have gotten take out many times from there and it has been hot when I get home. So I call the guy back to tell him and they are RUDE!!!!!
This is horrible customer service and judging by my last few visits, it is indicative of the direction the place is going.
I will not be back. This was the final straw for me. I wasted time and gas for horrible service. They lost a VERY good customer. I will also inform all my friends as to not go there. I did recommend a lot of people to this place and they will ALL be told how downhill it has gone. -
Review from Kim M.
A GOOD SIGN
I went to Olive Tree Cafe for the first time with a friend just after opening one early evening. It was nice too see that there were already patrons inside at opening.
Regulars? Always a good sign.
WEDNESDAY = LAMB http://www.yelp.com/bi... http://www.yelp.com/bi...
My friend did all of the ordering because he is an Olive Tree Cafe regular. We went on Wednesday specifically for their lamb; he and I both love lamb. I don't even know in detail what he ordered, but all the dishes were excellent. Salad, muscles, hummus, lamb, fish... all of it. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
BAKLAVA http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Being the heifer I am, even after all that delicious pant-button-popping food, I wanted dessert. Olive Tree Cafe's baklava was divine. If I wasn't so full, I would have probably ordered another. And one to go...
LEFTOVERS
Of course we had leftovers. And guess who took 'em home and ate 'em later that night?!!
Hah, yours truly! :)
PARKING
Parking is a bit limited because the lot is shared among other businesses in the area... But really, who the eff cares?! Parking is the least of your problems.
You need to get down to Olive Tree to get your grind on. If there's a will, there's a way... and if there weren't any parking available in that immediate shared lot, I'd park on the street somewhere and walk. Seriously... Be a better "you," and walk.
VERDICT
I'm pretty stoked to say that I now love Greek food more than ever. And I can't wait to go back. I'm also glad Kahala Mall is nearby, so I have somewhere to walk off that delicious food after.
Olive Tree Cafe, thank you.
Keep doing what you're doing.
Yelp 365 - #042/365Listed in: Yelp 365 Challenge, Cash ONLY
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Review from Ian T.
Honolulu, HI
11/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
Greek food without olives?!
Fun spot with a diverse scene inside. Definitely the place to bring a small party - much more than that and you're hunting for seats.
Dug the tzatziki though - helped out with the lamb. -
Review from Karen D.
8/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
Yassou, Olive Tree Cafe'! After hearing so much about you, it's good to meet you--finally. As a loyal customer of The Fat Greek, I was skeptical that your food would impress me more than theirs. But as I say in my headline, I gave you the benefit of the doubt.
Having read about you in advance from my fellow Yelpers, I chose to visit you on a weekday evening at 5:00pm when you would be less busy. I had no trouble parking in your small shared parking lot. I was first in line (after the numerous call-in orders), so I received my food relatively quickly and got my pick of tables on the lanai. This made my meal much more enjoyable than it might have been otherwise!
I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed your food as much as my beloved Fat Greek! I even liked your salad better because your salad dressing is nóstima--delicious! (I just wish you would put kalamata olives in it and give me more feta cheese on top.) For comparison purposes, I ordered the lamb souvlaki and domathes, my favorites at TFG. I liked yours as much, but not more than, The Other Place.
For my final comparison, not to mention top off an 'onolicious meal, I ordered your baklava, which I like from you-know-where. Yours was equally good but the portion size is much bigger! Lastly, it was kind of fun to listen to cheesy Greek music in the background (where it belongs) instead of loud soul music that blasts me out of my seat at times and makes it hard to converse at TFG. (I like soul music, but not that much!)
Because I like you a lot, I will tell my fellow Yelpers that you are located on Kilauea right behind Kahala Mall at Pahoa. Accessing your parking lot is a pain in the 'okole, so I will let everyone know that to pull into your undersized parking lot, you must approach from the Kilauea side and pull into the driveway immediately after you pass McDonald's. If you pass it and come to Pahoa, just turn 'ewa (right) and park on the street--you probably wouldn't have gotten a space anyway.
A really important thing my Yeeps need to know is that you are one of those annoying places that is CASH ONLY and that you are BYOB but that you charge for every cup (I would bring glasses from home). Your method of ordering is a little quirky--customers order at the counter, wait at the table, pick up at the counter, and then pay. Your in-house soft drink prices are decent--a soda is just $0.96 and you don't charge for refills. Awwwright!
Olive Tree Cafe', you converted me from a doubter to a believer, and I am now a fan. A hui hou!
Yelp 365 Challenge #19/365Listed in: Yelp 365 Challenge
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Review from Kit T.
Honolulu, HI
7/15/2011
Dear owner - your sorta decent food is ruined time and again by obnoxious servers contriving to make OTC their friends' playground - rudeness, picking and choosing who to serve and in what order, happily chatting and showering attention on certain parties and actively ignoring others, laughingly letting one sprawling hipster take over three tables during the dinner rush - not eating or ordering anything for the 45 minutes we were there as people waited in line and got turned away for tables. Who is watching this hen house? Time to clean house and pay more attention to the hiring process. Plus, I think it is illegal (in addition to stingy and inhuman) to charge for water (!?), restaurants must provide water on request.
Dear servers: If you must be a self-important douche bag, go work for a velvet rope nightclub. Otherwise, wake up and smell the humanity. -
Review from Jenny C.
Honolulu, HI
7/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Oh-my-awesomeness. I don't think I've had good Greek food until I dined here! We got here early on a weeknight so we didn't have to deal with much of a crowd. Very casual sit-down eatery - we noticed a lot of older relaxed folks come in with their own bottles of wine. On to the food!
Hummus with Pita Bread - Can't get better than this. The pita bread was fresh, hot, soft, pillowy and perfect. The hummus - this beats any version you buy in the supermarket by far. I tasted a strong sesame flavor...and a bit of a kick. And garlic, who doesn't love garlic? The perfect dish, truly.
Lamb Souvlaki - Wonderful! A whole pita served with a skewer of perfectly cooked lamb (unskewered of course) along with a generous helping of tzatziki sauce. The souvlaki is served along side a simple greek salad which was GREAT. I need their salad dressing recipe - because that stuff is like crack.
I noticed that they had a big bunch of take-out orders before they even opened, boxes were being stacked up as we were dining. Reasonable price and great food - you can't go wrong!
Cash only. -
Review from Brent S.
7/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great food, always crowded.
We don't come here often because it's always super crowded and it takes a while to get your food. But it's definitely worth the wait. Plus it's pretty cheap for the quality you get.
The Lamb Souvlaki is extremely flavorful with a decent portion size.
I could eat the Hummus with Pita Bread everyday.
My wife always gets the Baklava.
And even their salad dressing is the perfect compliment.
They do take phone orders, so actually, we should probably just do that to avoid the wait. -
Review from kylie k.
Honolulu, HI
9/30/2011
I just went to the Olive tree the other day, and the food was not as good as it use to be. Usually the food is really good. I usually order the chicken or lamb souvlaki and you can't go wrong with the pricepoint.
The place is always crowded, and almost always no parking. -
Review from Kimo S.
Honolulu, HI
12/28/2011
Bar none, I mean no bar so BYOB and next door the owner has a deli for cheese drinks and canned foods. Order then find a table, open your wine, go to the deli for more, and relax. Always busy because it is good, and bring cash. You will return.
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Review from J P.
Honolulu, HI
7/2/2011
This is the standard for Greek food on Oahu.
Everything works together on the plate, their hummus in on a totally different level. The dressing on their salads is wonderful and light. The tomatos, and I hate tomatos, are delicious.
I had their falafel, and it was delicious, but I always go for the lamb souvlakiwhen I'm there.... really good!
Their Baklava is amazing as well..... -
Review from Al D.
Honolulu, HI
10/16/2011
This place is overrated and overpriced. The falafel sandwich hardly came with falafel and if you wanted to add hummus, you had to buy the full, $5 side hummus. The workers tried to tell me that the tahini sauce that came witht he sandwich was similar to hummus but I know my Mediterranean food and when I ask for hummus on my sandwich, it's b/c I want freaking hummus. The soup was just ok. Just tasted like chicken rice soup with some lemon squeezed in. The fish sandwich was ok, but there was not enough fish to justify the price. The babaganoush was just ok. The baklavah was fair but you're better off getting it at Da Spot where you get much better service, food options, and comfort.
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Review from Justin F.
Honolulu, HI
10/27/2011
Great Greek food. A tough place to get a table, a bit loud, no intimacy, but amazing food in general. Had the Lamb Souvlaki, Lamb shank, Tomato Salad, and Feta with olives... all excellent!
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Review from The e.
Honolulu, HI
7/25/2011
Wow. My first review on Yelp! I always read the reviews, and now, I finally want to participate, with perhaps, my favorite casual place on the Island: Olive Tree Cafe!
I LOVE Olive Tree Cafe. I've been a customer of Olive Tree for at least 10 years, and I still love going there
First, the restaurant is 'family owned', and it is NOT a franchise. All of thier food comes from 'scratch'. Sometimes, you can even see them cooking several gallons of milk to make their yougurt, or you can see them burning eggplant on the fire-gas stove to make their baba-ganoosh. The smells from the kitchen get me every time.
The Olive Tree does have a certian personality though. 1st. Do not even ATTEMPT to go there between 6-8:30. They are extremely busy, and a lot of people come in just to pick up take out orders. I sometimes would get frustrated, because I'd be waiting in line, and would see the staff just sending food out, and taking few orders. When I finally got my chance to order, the girl apologised, and said they were extremely busy do to phone orders, and I was good, and understood. After I FINALLY got to order, I sat at my table, (which my girlfriend was saving)... and we popped our bottle of wine.
2nd. Olive Tree charges 50cents for water, or, 50cents for BYOB. At first, I kinda tripped on this, but, after I thought about it, it doesn't seem THAT bad. I recently went to another restaurant, and their corkage fee was $10, for bringing in my own bottle of wine, so, when I had to fork out a buck for two glasses, I was actually kind of thankfull. And, growing up in Hawaii, and knowing that our island has limited natual resources, I'm actually glad Olive Tree charges for H20. I go to many restaurants, and see people leaving their tables with their water un-touched. I wonder how many Olive Tree customers do that?
3rd. Olive Tree is NOT a typical restaurant. They know me by name there, and I also see many other customers that seem like regulars. There always seems to be almost like a Greek/Hawaiian atmosphere there. When you get there, don't expect to be seated. It's almost like musical chairs. And when you get your table, you order at one counter, give them your name, and when your food is done, you go to the other counter to pick up the food. That's always fun, because you get to see the other delicious foods you didn't order!
And now, the food! Where should I start? With my favorites! I love the Babaganoosh, and Hummus. And you can ask for a 'half and half'. Half baba/half hummus. And, make sure to order extra pita! The muscles are also awesome. Served chilled, and from New Zealand, with a great sauce.
And then, for the main entre. I'm always a fan of the Fish Souvlaki, which is served in Pita with their home made yogurt sauce. But on Wednesdays, I ALWAYS go for the Lamb Shank. The shank is served on a delicious pasta, and then covered with a delicious tomato sauce! It is awesome!
The thing I like most about Olive Tree is that they have never done me wrong. They have, in the past made mistakes with my orders, but, vary rarely (no one's perfect)! And when they did make a mistake, it was always corrected immediately. I also like the fact that the staff seem to work very well together, and sometimes, after closing, you can see them all eating together, looking tired, but, happy, and sharing a bottle of wine. -
Review from Samantha C.
Honolulu, HI
5/30/2011
Olive Tree is the BEST Greek you can get on OAHU PERIOD!
I am sorry our choices are limited to begin with, but at least we have been given at least one good greek restaurant! Anything you order here is GOOD, especially within their appetizer, entree or dessert selections ;)
My personal favorites:
HUMMUS: Their hummus is to DIE FOR! With their healthy toppings of olive oil and the quality chick peas they use for the dip it is great. (Get Extra Pita)
Mussels: Their mussels are fresh and delicious with a nice robust flavor.
LAMB Souvlaki: So any of their souvlakis are good, but I personally like lamb. If you aren't a fan of the gaminess of it then get the chicken
LAMB Shwarma: Moistly cooked in the herbs and spices, served with a nice greek yogurt in a pita and a side of greek salad. (FAVORITE)
BAKLAVAH: They put other baklavahs in Hawaii to shame.
They also have a daily special that is usually good so don't be afraid to try something new! So I'm not saying Olive Tree is the BEST GREEK ANYWHERE, just in Hawaii...
You order at the counter and choose your seating. You pay at the end and while it may be BYOB you have to pay per cup so bring your own cups so you can avoid paying for water and drinking wine out of paper cups. Parking is limited, but you can also park on the street.
Happy Eating :) -
Review from Kristine N.
Kaneohe, HI
3/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
Why the 3 stars? When I spend my hard earned money, I expect AWESOMENESS in return. I don't feel awesome when I eat here. The only thing that keeps me from screaming out in frustration is the falafel in my mouth. True, the food is quite delicious. I also really do enjoy the chicken souvlaki. What I don't enjoy is the not-so-awesome service.
You have to wait in a long line to order - some buttheads will cut and pretend to be looking at the menu, this happened to me... twice. You can only pay cash... SURPRISE!!! You have to pay for a cup of water - mine had weird little things floating around at the bottom, didn't notice it till I was 3/4 done. You have to practically knock people out to get a table - jump on it, or you'll be waiting around forever.
Most of the staff are really nice and friendly! One is not. He helped two people who WEREN'T in line while I waited patiently in front of the register. He laughed and made jokes, opened a bottle of wine, then when it was my turn, he made eye-contact, and walked to the back of the kitchen. Seriously... what the??? Another guy came by asking if I had been helped yet. Uhhhh... no. Then when it was time to pick up my order, same dude kept it waiting on the side while he counted money. Grrrrrrr...
Considering the service, I think there are better places out there. Places located in Koko Marina. It starts with a "G" and rhymes with "Reek Marina". Hahahahah!!! -
Review from Carol M.
Honolulu, HI
10/7/2011
Love this place. It's good food and good value, which is why it's packed all the time. It's not fast food but the tables do seem to turn over so you'll have someplace to sit. The parkings awful but there is street parking and pay parking at the adjacent post office for a fee.
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Review from Tex F.
Honolulu, HI
11/14/2011
We thought this place would have authentic style Greek food at an authentic price. Wrong and wrong. The food was decent but overpriced for the meager portions they give you. Byob is cool, but the disgusting tables and rat race atmosphere ruins it. Last but not least, the service was absolutely pitiful. The guy at the counter I assume is the owner was a pure jerk. We will not be going back to this overrated dump.
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Review from Vivian H.
Honolulu, HI
5/16/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Must Order: Lamb Souvlaki, Hummus, Falafel, Baklava
I heart this place. Really I do.
Make sure you have cash when you come here. Also it's BYOB so grad something from next door or Whole Foods. Especially some Ouzo to cleanse your palate after dinner.
Start off with some hummus. Yummy appetizer to keep you satiated while you wait for your food. Because on busy nights, you'll definitely wait.
Now for the lamb. I love the lamb souvlaki with it's chunky pieces of perfectly cooked lamb tucked into a pillow of pita w/ tzatziki sauce and veggies. I love the way small chunks of lamb will roll out of your pita and you quickly stuff it back in before your dining partner swipes it from you. I enjoy everything about the lamb souvlaki!
If you're able, depending on your dining partner or level of hungriness, order the falafel. It's a great follow-up or supplement to the lamb. Whatever is in the falafel is goood so go for it!
Make sure to save room for baklava. Sharing may not be an option in this case. The beautifully flaky filo dough and sugary baklava makes you want to keep going until you're scraping your fork all over your plate to get any last flavors into your mouth.
Great food and great place to go with friends or a dinner date! -
Review from Harry P.
Monrovia, CA
11/13/2011
I've lived in Greece, and I was shocked at how delicious and authentic this place (in Hawaii) was. How can you go wrong? You can buy a bottle of wine from the shop next door and drink and eat outside. Delicious, fresh-made small plates of authentic Greek food. Perfect if (like us) you want a one day break from Hawaiian food.
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Review from Noe K.
Honolulu, HI
8/17/2011
Have been going to Olive Tree for years and years. Last night again we had a fab meal--babah ganouch(SP?) and chicken souvlaki. YUMMMMMMM
Always consistent and always packed with people. -
Review from Eric G.
Honolulu, HI
2/28/2011
The food was okay but nothing special. That is the best way to describe the food. Okay but nothing special. It's also overpriced for what you get.
They have some stupid rules and an inconvenient way of paying. First you order, then you sit down and wait to be called. Then you can't pay when you are called to pick up the appetizers. You have to come back and pay when your main dish is called. It's kind of a pain. Get up. Sit down. Get up. Sit down. Get up. Sit down. Plus... they have a Rules Sign and one of the rules says that you have to leave 45 minutes AFTER YOU ORDER.
HA HA! Whatever!!
It lacks the mood and atmosphere that you would expect for the price you pay. I wouldn't go out of my way to go there. Actually, I will probably never go back.
No credit cards. -
Review from Cy C.
2/28/2011 2 Check-ins Here
In the words of a Greek poet, "The greatest pleasure of life is love." Let me just say I love me some Olive Tree Cafe. One word, "nostimo" which means delicious in Greek. Okay I'll be honest I looked up the definition, but I couldn't find the words to describe my love in English. I believe the best way to honor this wonderful place is to describe this place in its native language.
May Mount Olympus continue to bless us mortals with gifts like the Olive Tree Cafe. Okay not to sound over dramatic but ohhhh the hummus with pita would make the greek gods of Mount Olympus happy.
When I was asked if I wanted to eat greek food, I had to think about that. See my only recollection of greek food is Gyros from Jack in a box. Quick note, why do they pronounce it Year-ohs...I can never say it correctly. So was my fast food Gyro eating butt ready for real greek food?
Olive Tree Cafe has a small parking lot (only negative) and hard to find parking. We had to find street parking, luckily we had more luck finding a table. Okay remember my theory if there is a line it must be good and yes there was a line. I love greek food, or is it just this place? Recommend going early and expect a wait for a table.
We ordered the tabouleh (herb salad with awesome dressing), hummus (see above) and Lamb Tslouvaki. Okay I can dip that Tslouvaki white sauce with anything. Great food and a lot healthier than a plate lunch. Definitely worth every dollar. Thank you Zeus!!!!
SPOILER ALERT!!!........BYOB!!!! (nuff said)
HOORAY for OLIVE TREE CAFEListed in: One word BYOB!
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Review from Kris G.
Honolulu, HI
7/21/2011
I have had many enjoyable meals at the Olive Tree Cafe! The atmosphere is relaxed and unpretentious, welcoming for couples and families. The food is delicious, healthy and what makes its better is that its BYOB.
Souvlaki's are delicious and you have a great deal of authentic PUPU options.
Desert, you must try the Baklava, its not as good as my grandmothers but its close :)
Thank you for the great food, atmosphere and keep up the good work! -
Review from Annie H.
Honolulu, HI
3/28/2011
I was super stoked to try this place based on the reviews here. Their avgolemono soup is GREAT. Everything else is kind of meh (we had falafel and a gyro). Needs more seasoning and more punch. And the salad tasted like it had been dressed a few hours ago - ick. The pita and hummus are gooood though.
Staff is nice, though, and the patio is great. I like the wine/cheese shop next door better than the restaurant itself - I think it's the same owners.
CASH ONLY!! Kind of a minus for me, but as long as I know beforehand, whatever. -
Review from Nicole B.
Washington, DC
2/4/2011 2 Check-ins Here
YUM...I absolutely love Olive Tree Cafe!
The food is excellent: simple, traditional Greek preparations that are so satisfying and delicious, you'll be back soon for more. The little twinkly lights on the patio makes for a rather romantic setting -- perfect for a low key date night! Olive Tree is BYOB (which I love) so be sure to grab a yummy bottle of red on your way out the door. The portions here aren't huge, so go ahead an order appetizers to start. The hummus is excellent and they have the freshest tomatoes I've ever had on the Island. Every single thing I've ever ordered at Olive Tree has been delicious, so you really can't go wrong!
So why isn't this a 5 star review? Good question. Olive Tree isn't perfect...here are some things to keep in mind before you go:
- Olive Tree is a cash only establishment. Annoying, but I don't expect they'll be changing this any time soon, so be prepared and have $$ in your wallet.
- The service isn't anything to write home about. Gruff at best. You place your order at the counter, snag a table, then pay for your food when they call your name. You carry your own food to the table.
- The restaurant is tiny and there are only a handful of tables indoors and on the patio. Come early if you don't want to wait too long.
If you don't want to deal with less than stellar service, consider getting your meal to go. Yep, Olive Tree does carry out! I've done this several times with friends, and it sure beats waiting an hour to get a table. The owners get major bonus points from me for using all biodegradable carry out packaging, too!Listed in: Low Key Date Night, Comfort Food
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Review from Meghan P.
12/29/2010 1 Check-in Here
Here's a good way to get your friends to be annoyed with you --
1) Let your friends arrive to Olive Tree first, order their own food, pick up beer (liquor store is right next to the restaurant), and get a table outdoors
2) Call ahead to order your food
3) Arrive and start drinking friends' beer
4) Go inside to find that your food is ready and bring it out to start eating
5) Somewhat apologize when your friends' food isn't ready even though they ordered first because the Olive Tree Cafe decided not to start making the food until they had a reminder (they claimed they didn't start making the food since our friends didn't have a table yet while they were ordered the food...??)
We didn't actually want to annoy our friends though and the unreasonably long wait for their food was really not necessary. I ordered a greek salad for dinner and luckily added soup on at the last minute because the salad (around $7 I think) was really not much food! Also, they are cash only and don't have an ATM...Listed in: Aloha! It's Not Just Beaches!
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Review from a c.
Honolulu, HI
3/17/2011
I heart Olive Tree Cafe. My friends & I have been eating here for the past ten years. We love the food, the atmosphere & the music they play.
We almost always order their fish souvlakis, 1/2 & 1/2 hummus & baba ghanoush, mussels, giant bean salad, egg lemon soup & baklava. Their ingredients are always fresh & their pitas soft.
It's a quick decision on a hungry night.
I would easily give Olive Tree five stars, but they started charging their patrons for water cups which I find petty & greedy. Especially when our tab is easily $50+.
Aside from that, if you want Mediterranean food, this is the place to be! -
Review from Sean K.
Honolulu, HI
1/24/2011
We've got a Live One here! No ZOmbies, Braaaain Eaters or Walking Dead at the Olive Tree.
A quaint, fabulous Greek restaurant tucked into a condensed corner by the Kahala Mall serves up some of the best Greek food and ambiance on the islands.
As you approach the restaurant it's clear that seating is limited and highly desired. One could say it's first cone first served, but it's really based on your ability to stand in the right place at the right time. Waiting for a table is worth it. However, if your with more than 6 people you better have a serious strategy or be willing to wait. Most tables occupy 4-6 people.
The food is great. The Olive Tree offers all of the essential, well known Greek-style dishes and more. When you go, ask about the special. It's usually something off the 'beaten' path and it's usually great.
The energy, the simple decor, the tight quarters and the festive Mediterranean style music supplement the splendid tastes.
The Olive Tree is a fantastic place to wet your appetite, meet with friends and to rejuvenate your desire to travel to far off lands with exotic smells, sounds and faces.
The prices are average. Pay as you pick up, seat yourself and BYOB.
"Not to ZomBie"; there is way to much life pumping at the Olive Tree. -
Review from Maria C.
Kailua, HI
7/2/2011
I Love this place. Get here early or you might have a long wait for a table.
My faves: Fish souvlaki, roe hummus, grape leaves, lamb shank (on Wednesdays).
