Cedar and Olive — Restaurant in Jacksonville Beach

A Must-Try for Authentic Lebanese & Mediterranean Food Lovers

If I could give this place more than 5 stars, I absolutely would. This is hands-down one of the best and most authentic Lebanese restaurants in the area — and a true hidden gem for anyone who loves Mediterranean food.

From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere felt warm, welcoming, and genuine. This is a family-owned restaurant that clearly takes pride in its food and service. The owners personally greeted us during our visit, which made the experience feel even more special.

The food? Incredible. The hummus was exceptionally creamy and flavorful — easily some of the best Lebanese-style hummus we’ve had. It’s served with soft, fresh pita, and for anyone with a gluten allergy or sensitivity, they’re more than happy to provide crisp, fresh-cut veggies as a gluten-free option.

We also ordered the baba ghanoush, which had a perfect smoky flavor and was clearly made fresh in-house. For our main dish, we tried the filet mignon steak kabobs — and they were spectacular. Tender, juicy, perfectly seasoned, and served with generous portions of aromatic rice and traditional Mediterranean sides.

This restaurant is a standout for authentic Middle Eastern flavors, high-quality ingredients, and excellent service. Whether you’re searching for healthy Mediterranean options, delicious gluten-free choices, or just a memorable dining experience, you’ll find it here.

Highly recommended for anyone who appreciates great food and wants to support a local business that truly cares about its guests. We’ll definitely be back — and encourage anyone in the area to give this...

The BEST Mediterranean food AND STAFF at the beaches!! My fiance and I ordered the Shish Kabob and the Tawook (Chicken Kabob) Platters, and we got some Baba Ghanouj. We were blown away with what they brought out to the table- they pretty much gifted us with bits and pieces of the whole menu on the house. We were in heaven, where to begin?!

Let me tell you, that Baba Ghanouj was some of the best I've ever had. The owner said he makes it fresh and it certainly tasted that way- had a smoky flavor, and the pomegranate was the perfect compliment. I could have eaten the entire thing in one sitting. BUT there was more! The Kabob platters were AMAZING. You cannot skip out of the garlic sauce/dip that comes with the chicken kabob, and the steak was cooked to absolute perfection. The flavors married up soo nicely with every bite. The tabbouli was a perfect palate cleanser, and left you feeling light. The Fattoush salad (and honestly also the tabbouli) tasted SO FRESH. You could tell they made it in house that day. Do not skip the grape leaves either- tasted like my greek family members' dolmas.

I felt like I was sitting at the table at a family dinner with how fresh and delicious and incredible everything tasted.

At the end, they made us a crepe for dessert- heaven!! Strawberries, bananas, nutella. Amazing.

100/10 experience, will be going back and would recommend to everyone!! Great service, great food,...

We recently tried Cedar and Olive, a Lebanese restaurant, for takeout, and from the very first bite it felt like we had found something special.

We ordered tabbouleh, hummus, and falafel, and while waiting asked if they had dolmas—even though they weren’t listed online. To our good fortune, they had one last order. The dolmas were a revelation: tender, balanced, and bursting with flavor. Easily one of the best we’ve had, and absolutely worth recommending.

The hummus at first seemed almost understated—not heavy on garlic or lemon—but after a few bites, its depth unfolded into a rich, creamy balance that was terrific. The tabbouleh, though, was the clear standout: bright, crisp, and perfectly seasoned. For us, hummus and tabbouleh are the “test” dishes we order at every new Middle Eastern restaurant, and Cedar and Olive aced both.

The falafel rounded out the meal—crispy, warm, and satisfying. The staff also mentioned they’ll soon be introducing a specials menu, which makes us even more eager to explore their offerings further.

On top of the food, the staff were incredibly kind, friendly, and warm—they truly treated us like family.

We cannot wait to go back.. Also I completely forgot to...