The Black Olive — Restaurant in Baltimore

I recently had dinner at at Black Olive, and I'd like to share a detailed account of my experience.

Our party arrived at 7:50 PM for our 8:00 PM reservation and was warmly greeted by the host, who assured us that our table would be ready soon. However, during this interim period, all seven of us found ourselves standing in the lobby, as the bar area had no available seating. Not a huge issue, since we arrived early. The only problem is we had my mother and grandmother, who id prefer had a seat while we waited.

At around 8:10 PM, we decided to inquire about the expected wait time for our table, which led to a conversation with the restaurant's manager, who happened to be the owner. To his credit, he displayed exceptional kindness by grabbing some chairs from the hosts to accommodate some of us at the bar. He also generously comped our drinks and assured us that a table would become available within the next 10 minutes.

Regrettably, we ended up waiting an hour past our reservation time. During that time we asked the owner for an update so we could decide if we should leave or not, and he told us he was very sorry and that he will ensure we have the best meal possible along with dessert on him. In addition, we asked for something to nibble on while we wait, so he brought out some cucumbers and hummus.

Our dining experience finally commenced at 9:00 PM, which was an hour behind our originally scheduled reservation time. We inquired about the restaurant's closing time, as Google indicated an 8:45 PM closing, and were assured that we could stay as long as we wished, with the offer of desserts as a gesture of goodwill.

Unfortunately, the culinary aspect of our experience did not meet our expectations (personal opinion), as we found the dishes to be somewhat lacking in flavor. In fact, most of us at the table felt compelled to enhance our meals with additional salt and pepper. This was further compounded by a persistent fly hovering over our meals, which certainly detracted from our overall dining experience.

The service staff, while consistently polite and attentive, collected our plates with notable frequency, making us somewhat uncomfortable. This was particularly evident as the restaurant emptied out, and it felt as though we were inadvertently delaying their departure. By the time we finished our meal the only individuals left at the restaurant were our server (all the others left) and 2 people in the kitchen. We were brought 3 dessert options as promised, but had no plates to share them between the 7 of us because all of the plates were already cleaned and put away.

While our primary server and the entire service team were undoubtedly affable and accommodating, our primary server thoughtfully deducted the gratuity from our bill, a gesture we initially contested. However, we ultimately decided to tip him the standard 20%, as it was clear that our predicament was not of his making.

In summary, the restaurant's staff consistently expressed their apologies throughout the evening, yet we feel that more proactive measures could have been taken to expedite our seating. Perhaps instead of offering us seats at the bar and comping our drinks they offer it the the individuals who had already paid and were simply having good conversation.

Although the ambiance exuded a warm and homely atmosphere reminiscent of a grandmother's home, our overall dining experience fell short of our expectations. On a busy evening, I may hesitate to recommend Black Olive...

A Greek Culinary Odyssey in Baltimore's Historic Fell's Point

Tucked away in the picturesque locale of Bond Street in Fell's Point is a hidden gem - a Greek restaurant that exudes an authentic Mediterranean charm while providing a culinary experience that surpasses all expectations.

Every guest is instantly greeted with a sense of warmth and friendliness, setting the tone for a dining experience that feels less like a restaurant and more like a home. This is a place where food, friends, and memorable moments intertwine.

During a recent gathering, our group of five embarked on a culinary journey that perfectly encapsulated the essence of Greek cuisine. We commenced our meal with a selection of appetizers, each a symphony of fresh, vibrant flavors that set our taste buds alight with anticipation.

My personal favorite, the Black Olive Lobster Pasta, never fails to impress. This culinary delight features fresh pasta bathed in a rich white wine, tomato, and tarragon-based sauce, perfectly married with tender lobster and finished with a hint of cream. Each bite showcases the chef's commitment to delivering culinary excellence.

But the Greek Village Pie is another showstopper. A hearty ensemble of Spanakopita, spinach, red Swiss chard, and leeks encased in a homemade, hand-rolled phyllo pastry. Topped generously with sheep’s milk cheeses, the pie offers a textural and flavorful contrast that encapsulates the authenticity of Greek cuisine.

In an unexpected twist, is the Moroccan Style Braised Lamb Shank offers a taste of culinary divinity. This exquisite lamb dish is slowly braised for hours with a mix of vegetables and currants in red wine. Served over a bed of couscous, it's a dish that impresses with its depth of flavor and tenderness, further adding to the dining repertoire.

No meal here would be complete without trying something for their impressive desserts list. Each one, not overly sweet, was the perfect endnote to a symphony of flavors, a testament to the chef's expertly crafted menu.

Each course of our meal was complemented by expertly chosen wine pairings. The wines accentuated the flavors in the food and offered us a taste of the varied Greek wine landscape.

The Black Olive is an ode to the culinary traditions of Greece. With its welcoming atmosphere, the exquisite variety of dishes, and the unrivaled service, it promises an unforgettable dining experience. Whether for a casual dinner or a special occasion, a meal here is sure to leave you with wonderful memories and a...

We tried to eat at the Black Olive on 11/25/2023. We had a reservation and We were sat right away. The restaurant was busy but there were a couple of open tables. We were sat at our table and given menus. We then waited fifteen minutes before the waiter returned to get our drink order. We hadn’t seen the drink menu yet. He returned in five minutes and threw the drink menu on the table and left. The waiter returned after another five minutes to take our drink order. After taking our drink order he asked us if we were ready to place our food order. At no time were we greeted by a waiter, Told about the specials or even introduced to the restaurant or menu. When we told the waiter we were not ready to place our food order he quickly left. Our drinks were delivered to our table 10 minutes later. We waited another 40 minutes before we decided to leave. The waiter never returned to take our food order and at that point we had no intention of ordering given the horrible service we had received up to the this point. I have had friends who have had a good dinning experience at this restaurant. But sadly I can not recommend this restaurant to anyone. We had taken family who were visiting from out of town here and we left at 65 minutes after we were seated. I am extremely disappointed in the service we experienced at this restaurant and am having a hard time understanding how they can charge the prices they are for their meals. I would like to leave a review for their food but I was not able to experience it. In my opinion if the restaurant can not serve food and drinks in a timely manner then they cannot charge these prices for their meals in their menu. I strongly suggest you look elsewhere to get something to eat. There are many other small family oriented restaurants in this city that are far more worthy of your...