Olive Tree Cafe

by Corey P.

Well, it has become more than obvious the reason why the prices are so cheap here (and I MEAN CHEAP) is because they hire little to no staff to  man the dining room. The fact that that it is family owned and operated is charming, and the staff is very friendly and kind.  I journeyed into this establishment for lunch with a coworker. The falafel and chicken shawarma were not bad at all, but I still would prefer the shawarma at Falafel Palace up the street. If your looking for a cheap eat, and have a lot of extra time on your hands, it might just be worth the trip for lunch. Depending on how lenient  your boss is...

by lothari o.

Very casual little joint. I found the food to be bland and forgettable, which is too bad because this is a place I wanted to like. The people seem nice.

by Jennifer M.

I really wanted to love this place but i just couldn't. It's family run and I mean majorly. One of the many kids were at an empty table doing homework. I like that feel of family run restaurants. I'd say that's one star and the fact that they sell hookahs is another. I had a simple breakfast, under 5 bucks and I just couldn't really stomach the food. It just wasn't good. The coffee was weak. The service was off. They are a nice family and have a good idea for a restaurant but are missing the bull's eye, you know?

by Kelly K.

On 10-03-09 Three of us went there for breakfast. Never been there before just drove by and decided to check it out. The restaurant was seat yourself. When we walked in there was a small (maybe 2 years old) boy all by himself in the corner eating a backscratcher. The waitress came and took the small child out back. There were marker scribbling all over the filthy wall(most likely from the small child.) The floor has never been mopped. The menus were brought over. They were sticky, brown and very dirty. We all ordered omelets.I ordered the spinach feta omelet. It was more like a fried egg mess. The toast was half a burnt raisin bagle dowsed in butter. Non of us liked the food. There were mismatched dishes and mugs. All three of us ordered coffees and one water. We got two coffees and no water. Finally, we had to ask for the missing coffee and water. All the knick knacks, pictures, and hookas were all dusty and dirty, and all for sale. There was a small flea market in the corner with jewelry and some other odd items for sale. I got up to pay and there was used bottles of nail polish sitting with the food behind the counter where all the food was. I asked to use the bathroom. She said it was outside around the building in the back. It's a big grey door. We drove around the building found the bathroom. The bathroom was discusting and as dirty as the restaurant. There was toilet paper with feces all over the floor. Urine all over the floor and toilet. I went to go flush and it was broken! After leaving this trainwreck of a place i felt like i needed a shower and a hepatitus shot.

by Vikram S.

It is nothing short of a miracle if this place is open.My girlfriend loved the lentil soup she once had at this place. So we tried to visit this place at various times, and irrespective of when we went (believe me, we tried going at all kinds of times) - it used to be closed.Maybe they were renovating or something then - I dont know, whatever it was, it did not make great business sense.Anyway this once when we managed to find it open (we were really excited to go in, I remember), we had the lentil soup again (this time it was ok, clearly there is not much consistency in the cook's recipes). But should say that the food was not too bad. I think we had some veggie soup as well, and that was also not bad.5/10 for the food, 0/10 for their hours.

by Giovanni G.liz b.Seth T.Nadaline J.Irene F.

I ate here 3 days ago and I got this lamb kabob dinner for $6.50.I thought it tasted pretty decent on the whole, but the rice tasted kinda funky and I couldnt taste too much of the lamb. It felt like I was eating beef for the most part. I would give this 4 stars for prices, the main dish and somewhat the rice but moreso the lamb kabob dinner + its somewhat of a charming little hole in the wall. I wouldnt get their bbq stuff though since its most likely that theyd serve it with that white rice and not really be like authentic bbq though. Overall, Id say I wasnt disappointed like some people reviewing it clearly are. Cant complain and I may even come again.Ew. The stars are for the price (and the good bread -- even though they only gave me one piece) and not the food. If you're not in a rush and have an iron stomach you're set. Went this weekend for breakfast (ok, it was closer to lunch time but we were still in it for breakfast) When we got there there were only 2 other people in the place, pushing food around on their plates. Should have taken that as a bad sign. We were handed tattered and stained menus to look at and sat down. No mention of the fact that you have to order at the counter. Another group came in after we'd decided what we wanted but before we realized that sitting at a table in plain view of the sole employee did not mean that we were going to get any instruction. Once we finally did order it took about 20 minutes to get our two breakfast plates. I had two eggs over easy that came with potatoes and a piece of bread. Eggs were greasy but cooked ok. The home-fries were inedible and tasted a bit like Windex. My dining companion had one of their combo breakfasts -- there was some major confusion (on their end) when he ordered, with lots of snipping from the staff -- anyway it came out with 3 pieces of french toast with so much cinnamon on top that he could barely eat it... as he said "my mouth is burning!" The eggs looked ok but the bacon was hardly cooked -- I don't think he had more than a bite. While we escaped for under 10 bucks, I still don't think it was worth it. Sunny's around the corner is a much better bet.As a side note, I really have to agree with the other posters about the sanitation being rather lax.exactly as bad as everyone says.That place was horrible. I just had breakfast there. I got the breakfast special (3 pankcakes, ham, hash browns). Though the lady was very nice, they OVERdid the cinnamon powder. I asked for it to be removed. I was given another set of pancakes half the size, no hash browns, and the pancakes were VERRRYYY undercooked. I basically ate warm, brunt-tasting batter. This decor is as described. I wouldn't trust this place to even make my coffee. I understand the place is affordable but don't risk food poisoning for cheap food.We had a big, hung over group after a wedding and we needed breakfast. Stat. A slightly confusing seating situation but we finally sorted it all out and got our orders in. Now, the service, is non existent. Our waitress was also probably about 13 years old, so I do have to cut her some slack. But food came out at strange pauses, so half our table of 6 had eaten most of their food before the rest of us got ours.Now here's the deal though...it's really cheap, and the food is pretty darn good. I enjoyed the babaghanoush appetizer like woah! And my omelette wasn't half bad either. So, it is what it is. You want some good cheap eats? Cool. Just deal with the strange seating, mismatched dishes, and bad service. You want fancy and nice? Go somewhere else.

by Rekha M.

I ate here several times a few years ago because it was convenient. But the grime, the lackluster and possibly grimy food, and the sullen staff just turned me off. I went back again this week because my husband insisted on trying it. Our tap water came in styrofoam cups... mine was stained with dirt. The service was still sad and the space was still grimy. The falafel was fine but not made with love, and I'm actually just hoping it doesn't make me ill. I don't trust that place.

by Giovanni G.liz b.Seth T.

I ate here 3 days ago and I got this lamb kabob dinner for $6.50.I thought it tasted pretty decent on the whole, but the rice tasted kinda funky and I couldnt taste too much of the lamb. It felt like I was eating beef for the most part. I would give this 4 stars for prices, the main dish and somewhat the rice but moreso the lamb kabob dinner + its somewhat of a charming little hole in the wall. I wouldnt get their bbq stuff though since its most likely that theyd serve it with that white rice and not really be like authentic bbq though. Overall, Id say I wasnt disappointed like some people reviewing it clearly are. Cant complain and I may even come again.Ew. The stars are for the price (and the good bread -- even though they only gave me one piece) and not the food. If you're not in a rush and have an iron stomach you're set. Went this weekend for breakfast (ok, it was closer to lunch time but we were still in it for breakfast) When we got there there were only 2 other people in the place, pushing food around on their plates. Should have taken that as a bad sign. We were handed tattered and stained menus to look at and sat down. No mention of the fact that you have to order at the counter. Another group came in after we'd decided what we wanted but before we realized that sitting at a table in plain view of the sole employee did not mean that we were going to get any instruction. Once we finally did order it took about 20 minutes to get our two breakfast plates. I had two eggs over easy that came with potatoes and a piece of bread. Eggs were greasy but cooked ok. The home-fries were inedible and tasted a bit like Windex. My dining companion had one of their combo breakfasts -- there was some major confusion (on their end) when he ordered, with lots of snipping from the staff -- anyway it came out with 3 pieces of french toast with so much cinnamon on top that he could barely eat it... as he said "my mouth is burning!" The eggs looked ok but the bacon was hardly cooked -- I don't think he had more than a bite. While we escaped for under 10 bucks, I still don't think it was worth it. Sunny's around the corner is a much better bet.As a side note, I really have to agree with the other posters about the sanitation being rather lax.exactly as bad as everyone says.

by liz b.

Ew. The stars are for the price (and the good bread -- even though they only gave me one piece) and not the food. If you're not in a rush and have an iron stomach you're set. Went this weekend for breakfast (ok, it was closer to lunch time but we were still in it for breakfast) When we got there there were only 2 other people in the place, pushing food around on their plates. Should have taken that as a bad sign. We were handed tattered and stained menus to look at and sat down. No mention of the fact that you have to order at the counter. Another group came in after we'd decided what we wanted but before we realized that sitting at a table in plain view of the sole employee did not mean that we were going to get any instruction. Once we finally did order it took about 20 minutes to get our two breakfast plates. I had two eggs over easy that came with potatoes and a piece of bread. Eggs were greasy but cooked ok. The home-fries were inedible and tasted a bit like Windex. My dining companion had one of their combo breakfasts -- there was some major confusion (on their end) when he ordered, with lots of snipping from the staff -- anyway it came out with 3 pieces of french toast with so much cinnamon on top that he could barely eat it... as he said "my mouth is burning!" The eggs looked ok but the bacon was hardly cooked -- I don't think he had more than a bite. While we escaped for under 10 bucks, I still don't think it was worth it. Sunny's around the corner is a much better bet.As a side note, I really have to agree with the other posters about the sanitation being rather lax.

by Allix T.

AWFUL!! Seriously, do not bother wasting your lunch break here--b/c that's what it will be, a waste.  I used to patronize the truck that Olive Tree (formerly Jerusalem) Cafe had out at the MIT lot.  After a few friends of mine got food poisoning from the food, I put my visits on hiatus.Rob C. and I met up for a quick lunch date today in celebration of the fact that we, once again, work near each other.  Miracle Of Science was packed so we wandered down the street and figured "hey, why not give this little place a shot."Forty minutes later we still didn't have our order of grape leaves, hummus and falafel.  (Note, there were no customers waiting to order when we arrived and only  a few trickled in after us).  We didn't even have time to enjoy our lunch together as our lunch hours were just about up. To add insult to injury, the one woman working didn't bother to ring us up, just rounded our orders to $10.  Cheap yes, but still more than what the prices on the menu listed.At this point we didn't bother to argue, just fled out the door to try to quickly eat our soggy grape leaves, oily hummus, and uncooked (yup after forty minuts), tough, and nasty falafel.  Forget you Olive tree--never again.And if the business owner ever reads this--please tell your employee--if they are the only person working during a lunch hour, it's bad practice to hide behind the counter talking on the phone all through lunch.