Black Olive Restaurant

Fantastic dining experience, lamb was wonderful. Paul and his staff were great. My favourite restaurant in Victoria now.

This was a great find. The owner is super nice and amazingly friendly. We arrived late at his restaurant and he welcomed us like he had just opened. The food was fresh and delicious. We had a wonderful Greek salad, salmon, octopus, lamb… all four of us loved our food. We’ll go back whenever we’re in Victoria.

The owner is incredibly kind and attentive, throwing in extra sides and appetizers since we had hungry kids. My son pronounced the ribs the BEST he’s ever had and my wife felt the same way about the Dolmades.

I had penne and chicken. Did not like taste, appearance or concistency. The chicken tasted «old» and the chick peas were a strange addition. The owner was noisily holding court at a back table. There are so many other resataurants in Victoria to try.

Fantastic food.
Unilocalers have not liked décor, but we found it nice. Owner and one waitress doing all the serving. They were very personable and attentive.
I ordered lamb shoulder that was the most tender I think I have ever had — and I always have lamb at a new restaurant. I reluctantly shared and everyone enjoyed even the ones who don’t like lamb. Everyone else had chicken played and cleaned their plates. Escargot was or appetizer and was as good as or better than we had in Paris.
Would definitely go again Ann’s recommend to everyone.

Sorry about being late to review but since we enjoyed dinner so much, the Black Olive deserves its 5 stars. We dined early on a June Saturday before a Jazz Festival concert in nearby Royal Hall. My wife had grilled wild salmon and I had the lamb shank. She loved her salmon and my lamb shank was melt-​in-​the mouth quality.
As we came right at 5, the restaurant was still quiet so we appreciated that as it was our anniversary. Did not have room for dessert bur our starters were excellent. This had a formal enough atmosphere for a special dinner but not at all stuffy for those wanting to enjoy a more casual dinner. Staff and service were great. Would eagerly return on our next visit.

Was a little apprehensive about the place after reading the reviews, including the guy who got yelled at by the owner. However, my wife and I went on Saturday night using an Open Table reservation at 7pm. We were promptly greeted by the hostess and owner who asked if we were the 7pm reservation, and we indicated that we were. The place was about ½ full with a 2 man band playing light music — perfect for dinner (can talk over it but enjoyed the background music very much). Unlike some of the reviewers, the service was very prompt — I had a double rack of lamb (I was hungry) and my wife had the duck breast, plus we shared the Greek salad. I have to say that I’ve eaten in many places in Canada and the US, as well as parts of Europe, Asia, and South America. The food quality was actually very good considering it’s in Victoria (not known for Greek food); portions aren’t huge but reasonable. To some a bit pricey, but we just came back from 8 days in Manhattan (that”s getting pricey). I have to give it 5 stars based on what we saw and what is available in Victoria — which I’ll be honest, isn’t the culinary delight capital of the world. My two cents worth — you can take it or leave it.

To be honest, I have not eaten at this restaurant or been there, so I cannot comment on the food or atmosphere. But what I can comment on is of business conduct with potential patrons.
My family decided to take a trip up to Victoria (from Seattle), we were going to have High Tea at the Empress and Dinner at Black Olive. I set up open table reservations a week ahead of time for Black Olive. Unfortunately, our 7-​month old son wasn’t up for dining out after all the traveling and activities in the afternoon, so we decided to take him back early. Everyone who has kids knows that things happen and things sometimes don’t go as you want them to. However I forgot to cancel the reservation (which I admit was my fault). What happens next is the reason we’re writing this review.
We had got several harassing phone calls for the owner, demanding us to make things right, yelling at us and threatening to come after us. I considered this very unprofessional, very aggressive and very alarming. I have since contacted opentable about Black Olives conduct and they have assured me that they will contact them and make sure that this situation will not happen again. If this is the way Black Olives owner does business, I will never go there and I thought it my duty to warn people about his behavior. Or maybe the lesson learned is just don’t get on the back side of the owner, either way he will never see our family or probably anyone else we know.

A worthy restaurant for a birthday dinner. .. .
The $ 40 prix fix was a good option:
The Caesar Salad start was plentiful, fresh tossed with a good balance of fresh, lemony garlic dressing with croutons.
Prime rib to order was a well marbled slab with Greek roasted potatoes and fresh vegetables. Ask for horseradish.
Homemade taste raspberry cheesecake for dessert.
Each course complimented with good choice of BC wines at a by-​the-​glass charge.
Friendly, knowledgeable, attentive service, and the owner out and about checking on the meal, and selling his family’s olive oil by the bottle for take home.
Somehow the food, service, atmosphere reminded me of 1980s/​90s Sophia’s in Cook Street, which is good memories.
All in all, I’ll be back. .. .

I love the black olive! I am a food server that serves great, beautiful, fresh food and have high standards of service because that’s my own way of serving. The black olive is a gem! The food is outstanding, great service and the owner Paul is a gem himself. My husband and I love him. We are from the states (Washington) and we have visited Victoria twice. We made sure we went to the Black Olive each time. I love the lamb! I crave it lol. The pasta dishes, seafood… And the wine is great! Great selection. Beautiful restaurant. Paul also makes his own olive oil. Make sure to get a bottle. It is pure olive oil, when others have fillers. I can defiantly taste a difference in his food because of it and at home when I use it. Thanks Paul –Cierra & Cousin J

Terrible. Expensive, bad service, awful food.

First night on our vacation, we set out on a walk to «find» dinner. We were pleased with our discovery. I had the chicken Marsala and the chicken was cooked perfectly, juicy & delicious. My husband had the 3-​course meal… creamy mushroom soup with lots of mushrooms, roasted chicken and a great piece of cheesecake. Our server was floated through a full dining room and did it all with a smile.

My wife and I live in California but visit Victoria 3 – 4 times each year. Been in town three weeks this time and ate at Black Olive for the first time. The service was great and the food excellent we had the Halibut and a beef tenderloin dish. We also had a chance to try some of the olive oil. It has a light smooth flavor and rivals anything we have in California.
We will go back again before heading home and will make this a regular stop each time we return to Victoria

I had the halibut, my boyfriend had the steak with mushroom sauce. His was quite tasty, even though he asked for no mushrooms and the dish still came with them. My halibut was a bit dry and flavorless on its own, but the sauce added a nice kick, as did a hefty salting. The rest of each dish was identical and unremarkable (brown rice, broccoli, carrots, and squash). The staff was very friendly though and the waitress even took pictures of us outside when we mentioned that we were going to step out to take a photo. We had the flour less chocolate cake and vanilla gelato for dessert– by far the best part of the meal. The gelato was light and refreshing, and the cake was dense with a delicious chocolate flavoring.

For the service, it was unacceptably slow. At the time when we got there, it is not busy time, there were only 5 or 6 tables occupied, We stood there for 3 or 4 minutes before we get greeted while there are 2 waitress out there simply ignoring us. it took 45 minutes for our orders were ready.
For the food, I ordered the lam rack, the lam was small with two pieces of vegetables and some rice. The taste was okay but not as good as expected (and advertised).
My advice is to avoid this restaurant if you are not local people. This restaurant is not friendly to tourists. (they will ask you first thing «Are you Victorian?»)

In a city known for it’s many tourists, I always look for neighborhood gems that perhaps locals only know, far from the maddening crowd (Thank you Unilocal!!). Places like this give you the favor of a city that restaurants most frequented by visitors usually do not give.
This is a small, fine dining restaurant that has perhaps 15 tables and one or two seatings a night. We were greeted by a host who took 5 minutes welcoming and getting to know us and others who were seated after us. Nice touch! We felt «at home».
The menu had a Mediterranean /​Greek flavor, but not heavy so. Meats of all sorts (lamb, beef, chicken, duck) are on the menu as well as seafood. A varied wine list, including many Canadian, French and South American wines offered ample by the glass choices as well as by the bottle. Half liters carafes were available. (I always love Canadian wine lists where USA plonk is expensive and French fine wine is downright reasonable). The Chilean Santa Amelia Merlot (2007), which I haven’t seen in my Washington wine stores, was dynamite !
For starters, bread was served with hummus. After a light salad, my wife had chicken Marsala, which was done to perfection! For a veggie like me (it’s all about getting into my Speedo, darlings), there were also many selections. I had the Roasted Vegetable Phyllo which was such a nice choice rather than the usual «well, we’ll toss some over-​steamed vegetables on some pasta and charge them $ 20 for the veggie crowd.» entrée. After dinner, we had a dessert and espresso. Damned civilised (note the Canadian spelling? I am bilingual)
Through the dinner, the wait staff kept our glasses full and the meal moving at a casual, but not slow, dining pace. This made the meal the evening’s event, not something rushed and work like. The tables were full all evening but the restaurant was not noisy. A comfortable, happy dining «din».
The owner, Paul Psyllakis held down the bar and chatted with diners as they went on their way into the night. He called us over as we were heading out the door and had a long chat with us. He’s quite a charming character!
We learned that he makes his own olive oil — Kastamonitsa Olive Oil — that is used in the cooking and available for sale at the restaurant and various outlets (it’s delicious, by the way).
So make a little effort and seek out local cafes when in a new town! You meet the real people of the town, eat the menus loved by them and have the local color they so enjoy.
No guidebook will ever offer a better example of these local gems than The Black Olive.

At the risk of sounding like I love everything, I really loved this place. Please note that it’s not that I love everything… we just do a lot of research before trying places, especially when out of town traveling.
Okay, now for Black Olive. Service: excellent. Food: excellent. Environment: excellent.
My husband and I came with our 3 teenagers. The clientele all looked at the door when we walked in — I think they were worried about the kids. There were no other kids there. That said, all 3 kids loved their meals. We started off sharing the mussels. The broth was flavorful, so much so that my husband and I dipped our bread in it after the mussels were long gone.
I got a half rack of lamb because it looked so good on the website. My stepson got the mediterranean linguine; one stepdaughter got the vegetable pfillo (sp?); the other the seafood platter. My husband got the Mixed Grill. Each of us loved our meals; we traded bites with each other and loved each other’s meals. Everything was cooked perfectly, and while the portions were good, they weren’t too large or too small. We were still full (probably because of the bread at the beginning), so all 5 of us shared one crème brûlée, which was outstanding.
The owner stopped by the table numerous times, and made a wonderful mixed juice drink for the kids (grapefruit juice, ginger ale, seltzer?).
Very satisfied — I’d highly recommend this place.

This was my second time at this restaurant, first time for dinner.
I had Black Olive linguine and it was amazing. It is on a rich side with creamy pesto sauce, with mussels and scallops… but it was SO good. Service is pleasant and quiet enough to have good conversation. Definitely going back there again.

Hubby and I took my sister and brother in law to Victoria purely for nostalgia (Wax museum, the Empress and the Royal Museum — gotta love it) but the standout place for all of us was the absolutely fantastic dinner we had at The Black Olive. Of all places, we found this little gem of a restaurant in one of those dining guides they give out for free on the ferry over. It was a bit of a hike to and we passed some interesting folk getting there but it was so absolutely worth it.
We showed up without a reservation and the place was very busy — obviously very popular despite being a weeknight. The owner sat us in the adjoining café while we waited only about 10 or 15 minutes for a table.
We shared a couple of fantastic appetizers and then ordered entrees. Everything came out perfectly seasoned, piping hot and absolutely delicious. I recall a very well cooked calamari appetizer and a equally as good salmon entrée. On recommendation I tried a bottle of apple cider from a nearby local brewery — good but very strong! We finished off the evening with cheesecake and chocolate mousse split amongst everyone. So, so good!
Overall, a very memorable evening. I’ve already spread the word to some of the people I still know on the Lower Mainland. I just wished that the owner had given me more of his cards!

Me and some of my family in town wanted to go somewhere nice for dinner. The problem: It was sunday night, and a very large number of nicer places close their doors (I’m looking at you L’ecole). The Solution: The Black Olive, a nice Mediterranean restaurant up in the north part of downtown.
We didn’t have a single complaint about the night. At the door we were greeted warmly by our waitress and taken to our table. We were immediately struck by the décor of the place. The walls were adorned with artwork by local artists, which were also for sale (on a side note, I love it when restaurants do that, it makes them feel really connected to the community) There are plenty of plants and small trees in pots around the room with strings of mini-​lights to provide soft lighting. In the centre of the room is a large tree that looks as if it has simply grown out of the floor. It was a neat touch that just brought the scheme together without making the place seem like a theme restaurant.
The food was delicious. I had a starter of pan-​fried calamari that was perfectly done and very nicely plated. I’m surprised I’ve never seen calamari fans before.
For main, I had the Mixed Grill. Most delicious indecision ever. It comes with a chicken breast, a small filet mignon, two lamb chops and chorizo. I got it served along with polenta on the side (there was also the choice of potatoes or rice, but I’m a sucker for polenta). Everything was wonderful and perfectly cooked medium-​rare in the case of the lamb and beef. The polenta was also amazing, cooked with parmesan and herbs (rosemary I think, yummy).
For dessert was a nice simple slice of lemon crème pie. Nice, tart and light, it made a really nice finish to the meal.
One thing I must emphasize highly is the service. Our waitress, whom I mentioned above, was attentive and smiling all evening. I will admit the restaurant was nearly empty (right along with the rest of downtown, where does everybody go?) but I got the impression that she would be as friendly as possible regardless. She spent quite a bit of time conversing with us, both about options for our wine and our meals and just about life and the city. It made for a very relaxing dinner.
When we left, we were all smiling and already making plans to return. I have not had such an immensely pleasant dinner in a long, long time. If you have not visited the Black Olive, do so, as soon as possible.