The Black Olive — Restaurant in Jonesborough

Arrived with a pleasant greeting, able to sit very quickly, almost like they have way too many table for the size of the room. Drinks came out promptly and that was it for the drinks had to wait until end of meal before any refills. Cheese sticks were luke room like they had been precooked and placed into warmer. We asked for bread and butter and the poor waitress had to repeat it several times, like it wasn’t really a thing, my daughter said they to ask, like at the other location, it came out about halfway through the meal with NO butter. We had a variety of meals, the shrimp one was great, my dad loved the salad, said it was fresh, daughter said her chicken parm was with white Alfredo and it was delish, my mom and I had the chicken fettuccine alfredo, I wasn’t sure how the chicken was able to be sliced so paper thin and I didn’t have my glasses to see if it was shredded fresh chicken breast, I took a bite and decided it was slightly spongy but it could have been just covered in sauce I decided to not eat anymore. They did place all the sauce in center of bowl so has I stirred and ate, it became dry, I would have asked for a small side of sauce but our waitress disappeared through the whole meal. The young lady who brought the food was very nice and maybe she could wait tables as she seemed she would be more suitable. I was not happy to find our waitress wiping her nose and face while asking if we needed anything- NO thank you, please keep your face sweat to yourself. If I had an Italian restaurant I would not have cheap plastic plates, instead colorful glass plates like I wouldn’t even care if they matched, heavy silverware, and napkins not cocktail napkins for the table. If they sold some of their extra tables and chairs and all the plastic they might be able to afford some. I also would take all the extra stuff off the menu making it less like chicken wings and ALL Italian. This place has the opportunity to really shine.

I’m very conflicted about how many stars to rate so I’m starting a new star system just for them 1-star for edible food, hot and decently plated 2- star for pleasant other staff especially the gentleman in the front seating. 3-for the kind older couple next to us who actually were given many refills, maybe I should ask for their waiter next time That’s it folks, sometimes all it takes is a fresh pair of eyes to make all the difference, if the owner reads this maybe I could come in and work with them for a day, I bet some proper etiquette training with the waitresses, selling the extra plates and tables on FB marketplace and starting a cloth napkin system instead of having the staff not washing their hands and rolling it out on tables right beside you. There are certain things that need to happen in back of house and certain things in the front. Maybe they should close off part of a back dining room that no one was eating it and expanding their To-Go system as we saw about 15-20 bags coming from kitchen to front, this would make for a more efficient system along with a sanitize system for system to keep hands clean and away from face. They really don’t need a hostess stand just have that young man seat folks and take names on a scratch pad you don’t need a 15 pound Bible for that.

I’ll be back but it will take some effort to avert my eyes from the lack of hygiene front staff. Almost scary to think of kitchen but as the doors swung open and I had full view I wasn’t as scared of the back. Maybe they should knock that wall down and prepare food in front of guest like on Hells Kitchen those styles of restaurants are extremely popular in tourist areas it could very possible work really well for them I though it looked pretty organized. So I’m going to stop now as I could write another 3-6 paragraphs on...

UPDATE: July 11, 2022

I am very pleased to report that the below situation was corrected by The Black Olive. When I called to place my order for a Lasagna and a Greek Salad, I mentioned to the very polite, professional employee (Liz) that I was to receive a free Lasagna for the below previous issue I posted/commented on. Liz said that my Lasagna would be free and I thanked her. I picked my order up about 30 minutes later (everything was correct and included in the carry out bag). When I got home my wife and I enjoyed another OUTSTANDING meal from the restaurant we frequent the most. Thank you Black Olive for making things right and for another great 5-star customer service and dinner.

Previous Post:

I have been a patron of The Black Olive in Jonesborough for about a year. We average 3-4 meals a month with all being take-out. Our experience (food and service) up until last night has been 5-STAR....... I have to give a 1-STAR today due to how a mistake was handled by the staff, understandably mistakes do happen (and I am quick to recognize that) but it's important to me how they are addressed/handled. Last night at approximately 7:30pm I placed my order by phone (as I always do) as a take-out order. About 20 minutes later I arrived at the restaurant and went inside to pay/pick up my order. After paying and receiving my order I departed for the ride home (about 20 minutes). When I arrived home and was getting the order out of the bag (grilled chicken salad and lasagna with a side of extra meat sauce) I discovered the lasagna had not been placed in the bag. I called the store back and explained the situation and they said they were sorry and offered me a free desert. I don't eat desert so I declined. I drove back to The Black Olive (20 minutes) and was again apologized to and offered a free desert and a 15% discount card to be used toward my next order. I declined them and took my lasagna (which was warm, not hot at this point) and drove the 20 minutes back home. An hour of driving due to the error made by whomever without so much as an offer to speak with a manager or offer reimbursement for my trouble (due to their mistake) was cause for irritation/disappointment. Some of the outstanding employees I have come to know (Travis, Liz, and Wess) were not there (maybe the reason for my first issue with a take-out order) rather it was a group of people I had never seen before and to top it off, they were not very busy. As a result of this incident we sat down to eat around 8:30pm last night. Is a free desert and a 15% voucher for future purchases acceptable to the owner/management? Again, it wasn't the mistake, it was the nonchalant manner in which it was...

Called in an order tonight that my mother in law picked up for us. The fairly simple order was wrong when she got to our house (wrong quantities of items). I called to let them know in case someone else got our order. They offered to add a missing item from our order to their free list and we could go in within 30 days to get it. Done. Case closed…. Nope. I then received a call from the manager that she had spoken to their kitchen staff. The owner was in the kitchen and remembered boxing our order and said it was correct so we could no longer get anything free. So. Calling me a liar. I offered to send a picture. She gave me her number. I texted it, clearly proving they had mixed up our order. “Thank you and sorry” was the reply. No call back. No idea if we’re on some magical free food list. But I wouldn’t want it at this rate anyways. I worked in customer service for 15 years before staying home with my children… the customer may not always be right, but I would never call one a liar blatantly and take back something I had offered. Incredible. Try Bella Vita in JC if you want great service and better food.

Edit: The owner called me a few hours later. I’m not interested in the apology at this point, but I appreciate the call. What should have happened: if they were unhappy with the employee adding us to the free food list, tell that employee to check with the kitchen before making a promise, and then let it go. Suck up the $10 loss if I were to come in for the free entrée (or take the $40 gain as then my family would be dining again too?). Instead they had to have the last word and call me back to tell me...