By The Fig & The Olive — Restaurant in Ocean Springs

If I had to capture my experience at this establishment in a single word, I think the best choice of word would be ... warmth.

From the moment I stepped inside, I was embraced by something far deeper than just good food or a cozy atmosphere. I felt safe. I felt at home. You will notice that there are no clocks posted on the walls. For a great reason. In a world that often feels rushed, restless, and chaotic - this place felt like a sanctuary.

Now for the food itself. The food wasn’t just food. It was nourishment. It was medicine. Every bite carried a tenderness that spoke without words. They spoke of care, of love, of history. It was healing in a way I didn’t know I needed.

I had the privilege of meeting one of the chefs behind this experience, Chef Fariha. In our brief conversation, her warmth shone just as brightly as the dishes she creates. She is as wise as she is kind, and speaking with her left an imprint on me that extended far beyond the meal itself.

She helped me realize something that, though simple, felt profound: Food doesn’t just belong to a country. It transcends borders. It carries the culture, the struggles, the triumphs - the living memory of a people. It is history served on a plate, waiting for someone willing to listen.

In the kitchen there might be different hands, different histories, yet one song - one symphony.

Seeing how you guys ran the whole thing. I still can’t quite put it into words, but dining here transported back to a time when life was simpler. To childhood days being with family, filled with joy, laughter, and that rare feeling that everything was exactly as it should be.

As I drove home, I realized I couldn’t help but smile. The worries of adulthood seemed to melt away, as if they were never real to begin with. All it took was the simple act of breaking bread.

To those unseen chefs - and to Matt, Ethan, and the rest of the front-of-house crew, thank you. You didn’t just feed me; you brought me home.

I never knew food could be such a transformative experience. Thank you guys for the experience 🙏

By the way - that Baklava I had was seriously life changing. I have had plenty of Baklavas in my life, nothing could unfortunately compare. It might have ruined Baklava's forever now that the standard is...

From the moment you walk in the aroma is tantalizing! The warm wood is welcoming and the dining room is very comfortable. You can tell there was a lot of thought and consideration went into the design of every single item. Very organic!

The menu is not big with a lot of choices. But it doesn't need to be because what they do is outstanding! You can tell the food is made with love. Everything is fresh and delicious. The presentation is beautiful! We eat with our eyes first. We ordered several different things that we had been wanting to try but couldn't make up our minds so we ordered 2 "snacks" and 4 entrees for 3 of us! The portions are plentiful and way too much for one person to eat alone. But please try LOL or just order a little of everything!

We had the goat cheese and fig flat bread which was so tasty and huge! The Turkish cheese roll with chili fig jam. For entrees we had falafel on greens (yummo) Thali (so many different items of deliciousness) Seekh Kebab Platter (must try) and Tandoori Club Sandwich (not a typical club thank goodness) and ended it with stuffed dates. (No photo because we are them too fast)

Chef Fariha comes to the table to speak with you to see how everything was. This lady has such a good vibe, love and intentionality to her it's humbling! What a culinary artist and beautiful human being she is! The entire staff is wonderful!

They are open for lunch only so make the time to grab that special person or people and sit, eat, talk and love on another like God intended at meal time. Seriously put down the phone and soak it in!

It's rare that you visit someplace and you feel the love and warmth while you are there! This is one of those places!

Peace and...

First, the food was off the hook superb. We toured all the appetizers and each was terrific. Portions are generous, especially the flatbreads and dip items. Each has unique tastes and textures, and all were superb. Chicken shawarma wraps were pressed and hot. This is a place to arrive hungry! Take your time through courses to enjoy each course. Best to come with a group to enjoy ALL the shareables. We over ordered, so even after eating way more than normal, we had leftovers. The next day we literally had lunch again by warming up the ample leftovers. A very nice coffee shop is next door but opens into the restaurant so you may enjoy the food and unique coffees or teas at your leisure. Word will spread so highly recommend you make a visit soon before the place is swamped with fans. It hasn’t had a grand opening yet.

Many nice places in Ocean Spring are located in busy places with tight parking. Not bad to be busy, but “Fig and Olive” is a block off Hwy90 so very easy and safe to come in and out with ample parking due to combined parking areas.

We will definitely be back and will bring more future fans along.

Bravo to the kitchen! Bravo to the...