The Olive Branch Mediterranean Cuisine — Restaurant in Vestavia Hills

I’ve eaten here several times and always enjoyed it. I went this week with my SIL and while the food was very good (as usual), the service was just awful.

We went after the lunch crowd was over so the restaurant was pretty empty. We were greeted nicely by a women at the register and seated but it went downhill from there. The waitress who we unfortunately got looked relatively young with long brown wavy hair pulled back. First, she smelled like an ashtray, which was very offensive and it was the first time it made me feel like we were in a dirty restaurant. She never smiled or said one pleasantry - just took our order. It was brought out in good time but never once did she check on us. My SIL needed more tea and I looked for our waitress but saw her outside smoking a cigarette (explains the odor). When she came back in, she still ignored us. Someone else brought our ticket, we paid and left. No “thank you” as we walked out despite her and two other ladies standing by the register. It was clear that we were not valued customers that day. Because I like the food so much, I will give them another try. However, if I ever get treated that way again then I’ll sadly take my business somewhere else. Birmingham has several very good Mediterranean restaurants!

UPDATE: My husband and I went to Olive Branch last week. We had a totally different experience with service. The woman who waited on us was welcoming, attentive and just very nice. The food, as always, was delicious. I had a lunch special (chicken) and he had the falafel sandwich. It couldn't have been better. If I can get that server's name, I'll update my post...

Great mediterranean, lebanese food. The deep fried cauliflower comes seasoned with a splash of lemon, salt and fragrant (!) black pepper. You should share this appetizer they don't skimp on serving sizes. The Falafel comes in a wrap (roll up is easier to eat than the pocket), a pita pocket or on a plate. Again, they don't want you to leave hungry and managed to get 4 deep fried chickpea patties the size of slightly flattened golf balls into a pita bread pocket. The falafel is fresh, green from herbs, moist and made from finely ground chickpeas. Good dose of garlic but the texture was too fine for my taste. I like my falafel a little more coarse giving it more texture. The tabouleh contained more cucumber and tomato than I am used to and although a nice side not quite what I expected. The fruit side was comprised of fresh and delicious pineapple, orange, and cantaloupe slices. All in all a very enjoyable atmosphere, good, homemade food highlighting the bright tastes and full bodied flavors of the eastern mediterranean cuisine. Why not 5 stars? No self-respecting falafel would ever enter a pita bread without the nutty freshness of tahini sauce (tahini, lemon juice, garlic, salt, water, perhaps some parsley or dill) and somehow there was no tahini on my falafel. Craving tahini since I left...

Update Jan 2024 Olive Branch is open! Same great food and tiny space. We found the stuffed grape leaves delicious and the salads huge! We had a lunch special gyro plate and a gyro salad. Both were delicious, presented well and were made fresh to order. Their taziki sauce is good but not your typical sauce. We will def be going back. They really fill up quickly so plan on arriving early.

Update July 2023 Sign has been removed and doors are locked. Apparently permanently closed as of 7-24-2023

Nov 2022 We had lunch here earlier today and we enjoyed the time there as well as the delicious Mediterranean cuisine. Service was good and the kitchen was quick to respond. Our server was friendly and helpful. The gyro special is great. Keep in mind it’s a platter and not a sandwich but you can get it as a sandwich (inside a pita) by simply asking. The Greek chicken soup is especially comforting. They also serve wine and beer. It’s a small place so get there early or be prepared to sit on the outside deck which is nice during warmer times of the year.

We will definitely be going...