The Olive Branch — Restaurant in North Island

Olive Branch in Whakatāne offered nothing but disappointment—unless you count frustration as a free side.

From the moment I walked in, it was obvious: the restaurant was completely empty, which absolutely should’ve been my first warning sign. Yet I went ahead—big mistake. The staff looked bored and uninterested, giving us barely a nod. No warmth, no welcome, no real service at all.

But if that was indifferent, the food was downright offensive.

Olive Branch purports to deliver a “Mediterranean” dining experience—but instead of authenticity, each dish felt like a confused identity crisis. The menu tries to be Italian, Greek, Turkish, and Spanish all at once—and heals none. There’s no cohesion, no heritage, and worst of all, no flavor.

I ordered their so-called Spanish Paella, billed as a “family recipe” with short-grained rice, chorizo, prawns, olives, and mussels cooked in seafood stock—priced at a hefty $48.00. What showed up was a soggy, clumpy insult to paella, with overcooked rice that could’ve been swimming in tap water. The chorizo was barely detectable, the prawns were rubbery, and the mussels offered nothing but disappointment. This was not paella—it was a bland swamp masquerading under a Spanish name.

Honestly, nothing tasted fresh, nothing had character, and everything felt microwaved. And nobody asked how our meal was or if we wanted anything else—because they likely knew how bad it would be.

In short: Olive Branch is a restaurant that tries to be everything and ends up being absolutely nothing. It’s expensive, lifeless, and utterly forgettable—except for how bad it was.

Save your money and skip this place. You’d get more flavor from a packet of instant...

I was in Whakatāne for work—tired, hungry, and looking for something that resembled a proper meal. As a second-generation Italian-Australian, I know my way around a plate of pasta. So when I saw a place called The Olive Branch, I thought, alright, maybe I’ll get lucky.

I didn’t.

Let’s be clear: this was not Italian food. Not even close. If you squint hard and really stretch your imagination, you might say there were Greek influences. But Italian? Absolutely not. The pasta was lifeless, the sauce confused, and the flavours… well, let’s just say oregano was doing a lot of heavy lifting.

In hindsight, I should’ve gone to the kebab shop down the road. At least they weren’t pretending to be something they’re not.

Verdict: If you’ve ever had actual Italian food, skip this place. If you haven’t—still skip it. You...

A true culinary gem in Whakatāne. Olive Branch stands as the finest Mediterranean restaurant in town, where every dish reflects exceptional quality and care. The pasta mains were outstanding — each component unmistakably fresh, from the vibrant herbs to the rich, flavourful sauces. The pizzas achieved that perfect balance of texture and taste: crisp yet tender bases, topped with fresh, premium ingredients that brought every bite to life. Dessert was an experience in itself — the tiramisu was faultless, light and indulgent, while the strawberry cheesecake was pure class, easily among the best you’ll find anywhere. Olive Branch delivers refined Mediterranean dining with authenticity, freshness, and heart — truly the finest restaurant...