The Olive and Grape

Right after my brother and I had a book hunt in HPB outlet, we decided to find a random place to eat our lunch. Perhaps it was the restaurant name? Or the 3 courses deal? Or the cuisine itself? Something draw us in into this restaurant, Olive and Grape.
As soon as we entered, the server greeted us with a friendly smile. Then i looked around as we seated. There were two European style paints on the walls. I also noticed the faux window and a decorated mini 3D air balloon at the corner. Also, I liked how my wooden chair could be so light yet supportive.
It took me a while to decide what I should order from an unfamiliar cuisine. The server was so sweet. She was very helpful to answer my questions about the menu.
Eventually, my brother ordered a Mediterranean combo while I ordered a lamb kebab, a 3 courses lunch.
The appetizers were a salad that using fresh veggie and a plate of pita chips (not sure if this is what it called) with a bowl rich yet creamy tomato soup. They both easy to digest and the portion size was perfect as appetizers.
Then the main course came. The display of the food were very pretty. In my brother dish, there were two pieces of mini cheesy eggrolls, two pieces of stuffed grape leaf, and a adult palm size of stuffed portobello mushroom. In my dish, I got my seasoned lamb kebab grilled together with grape-​size tomato on a stick, a round pita topped with caramelized onion. The lamb was grilles to be perfectly well done. Juicy, chewy and tender. By eating those freshly grape size tomatoes, I cleared and watered my throat easily.
With my brother’s permission, I took one of his stuffed grape leaf and chewed. This piece was totally out of surprise. Unlike the soft stuffed grape leaf that I had in other places before, I could definitely tell they made their own stuffed grape leaf. (please correct me if I was wrong) By adding pine nuts inside this finger-​size grape leaf, it is not only adding texture but also adding flavored. I was so irresistible to have a bite, one after another and another.
It was a pleasure experience. I would definitely come back and try other dishes on the menu.
This restaurant is such a hidden gem in Greenwood.

As someone who lived in Turkey and is very familiar with Turkish food, I was surprised by how authentic it was. This was better than some of the food I had while in Turkey. The food was excellent and their was Turkish wine, beer, and Raki available. I had the iskender Donner and the Raki which I highly recommend. The company I was with had the lamb kofte and the moussaka, both of which I tried. We also shared the Turkish platter. The service was fabulous and the restaurant is clean and cozy.
The menu was extensive and had options for many dietary restrictions and general food dislikes. The alcohol list had a variety of options from wine to beer to cocktails.

Ok let’s get down to business
CONS:
Manti: don’t order this. It has no flavor and the meat tasted old. Definitely NOT worth $ 18 it was very disappointing
Although the menu says you can add a salad it’s an extra charge — misleading
The dolmathes are not that great. I’ve had better
PROS:
Gnocchi with pesto: WOW so delicious! Some of the best gnocchi I have tasted. (Pillows of heaven) I was so mad I had ordered the manti cuz my friend’s gnocchi tasted sooo much better
The decoration and ambiance is very cute and I love that the wall to the street opens on summers
Baklava: also very good I enjoyed it. Also it is enough for two ppl
Overall, this was my second time here and like last time, my experience was just ok… It doesn’t makes my list of favorites but it’s not terrible either.

I selected this place for my birthday lunch today, and the food was perfect. The Greek salad had so much flavor and the fresh herbs were delicious. The lamb kabobs were tender and delicious and the tzatziki sauce was thick and wonderful. The restaurant is very nice looking and clean and we had a lovely time.

What a hidden lil gem! Greek restaurant run by a couple. Serving great traditional Greek good. Fabulous!

Haven’t been in for a while, but we dined last night and once again this place is awesome! Portobello Mushrooms and the Greek Salad is a killer combo and you’ll never go away hungry.
We were happy to hear the recent gas explosion in the neighborhood hadn’t affected them as others in the neighborhood are still under plywood.
Paola and Tolga were a perfect team who kept us happy and satisfied. We’ll be BACK!!!

Tiny little bowl of seafood sold as the captains platter. Had to leave after and go EAT!

TL;DR: The server (who is also the owner, I believe, but I could be mistaken) grabbed the bill, my credit card, and my phone angrily out of my hands. She took my phone and slammed it onto the table, cracking the glass. She yelled at us to «get out of the restaurant.» My friend noted that she still had my card. We got it back and when outside, our server came out again and yelled at us never to come back. I suggest other patrons approach with caution.
Longer version:
Just went here tonight (4-​March-​2016) with a friend who lives in the neighborhood. The place was pretty empty (while other establishments seemed brimming with activity). Still, we sat down and ordered some standard fare (greek salad, warm olives and feta, etc.). The appetizers were pretty good. Then they brought us the steak kebab, which was WAY overcooked, gray in the middle, and dry like shoe leather. I showed it to our server (who I think is also the owner – this will be important soon). She said «oh, you want it medium rare?» I said yes… but in a sort of incredulous way, because this steak was cooked to death. And then cooked again for good measure. We got the second steak, found it similarly poorly cooked, and decided we would go elsewhere for the rest of our meal. After sitting with it for 20 minutes, we asked for the bill.
The server brought it out, and my friend asked me if they charged for the steak. I said «yeah» (I expected as much), and she insisted that I should say something. I should have known something a little odd was happening when the server literally tried to wrench the bill from my hand. I said «wait, hold on a sec» and she replied «fine, I’ll come back in a minute.» Uh oh. So she comes back, and I ask «Do you think we should pay for the steak, given that we’re still hungry, and we couldn’t eat it?» I thought she was going to ask what was wrong with it, but instead she said «Everyone loves this dish.» At this point, I admittedly did something a little childish: I looked to my left and to my right (there was one other table out of 15 that was occupied), and said «Is it Friday?» (The classic restaurateur delusion is to never listen to criticism, believe constantly that «everyone loves the food,» and then wonder why none of those people are showing up anymore.)
That was too much for her. As I said above, she angrily ripped the bill out of my hands (taking my phone and credit card with it). When she realized she had my phone, she slammed it back onto the table. This amounts to assault, and is just not acceptable. Until my admittedly sarcastic question at the end, we had been polite and gracious, even about sending back the overcooked steak. No matter how bad a night you are having, and quite frankly, no matter how much of a jerk you think I am, you cannot get physical with your patrons. It’s illegal. I have property damage that far exceeds the dinner bill. I sit here wondering if I should call the police. But even misdemeanor assault can carry serious consequences, so I decided to check if there were any similar reports of violence on Unilocal,and it appears the answer is no. Given that, I let this review stand as a warning.

Cute décor other than the ceiling (I recommend painting it or removing the drop-​ceiling tiles altogether) and a modestly nice ambiance. My wife and I were on a date night but wanted to stay close to north Ballard and the reviews for this place were attractive. Just looking for a casual but better-​than-​pub restaurant experience without great expense. I would say this place fit our goals as far as price and atmosphere. Service was pretty good, too. It was a busy weekend night but I never felt neglected. Drinks and food were served in a very reasonable time frame. I ordered off the specials, lamb shank with a potato purée; wife ordered a seafood risotto. We got over-​eager and also ordered the fried brie with pita bread as appetizer and the pistachio ice cream dessert. The entrees were good, not great. The pistachio ice cream was my wife’s favorite dish and I thought it was pretty good, too. The fried brie appetizer was definitely something we should have skipped — mushy but in a tofu-​like way with pita bread that came straight from the cheap frozen section of Safeway, warmed in a microwave. The cocktail I ordered was fine, but I only ordered a cocktail because I found the wine list totally uninteresting and overpriced for what was available. I find it unacceptable that any half-​decent restaurant in Seattle cannot muster a selection of wines that goes beyond a selection of six bottom-​of-​the-​barrel reds and whites. I would have also appreciated hearing from the wait staff ‘The entrees here are a solid meal, so you may find that an appetizer is a bit too much.’ That may be expecting too much, but it would have been nice. So, overall I would say ‘not going back’ but did we have a pleasant experience at the restaurant. It wasn’t anyone’s fault but ours that we stuffed ourselves like turkeys, but I can’t help associating that feeling of deep regret that we ate too much with the establishment. So my internal rating is really 2.5 stars but I’ve rated The Olive and Grape at 3 stars since they didn’t force feed us — our bad!

Went during happy hour and service was quick – food came out a couple minutes after ordering.
Got the Lamb Trio and was not disappointed! Lamb was very flavorful and just the right texture. The cucumber bits in the tzatziki sauce were a nice touch and quite satisfying to crunch on. Aegean calamari was just so light and crispy and all around tasty! Lemon Panna Cotta was DELICIOUS! Light and creamy texture with a light flavor – not too sweet and not too sour – so good! Tiramisu is very creamy and seems more like chocolate mousse than a cake – don’t expect much cake in it – still tasty nonetheless. Will come again soon!

Lovely and quiet spot on my journey home. Not very busy and staff very attentive. Tried the stuffed portabella mushroom and Turkish platter. Small but filling. Good flavors!
Bought some of their baklava to take home to the Mrs. We shall see what she thinks!

After hitting the Flying Bike Cooperative Brewery we were hungry and this was the closest place on my bookmarked list on Unilocal to hit. We were not disappointed!
We did a special from the menu items of the week list where we picked an appetizer, entrée and a dessert. For my appetizer I got the Shrimp Gazpacho which was fantastic! For the main course of the meal I got chicken, a ka-​bob of sorts but not exactly along with mashed potatoes.
For dessert I went with one of the Mediterranean’s staple desserts, Baklava which was also wonderful!
Despite selections that could potentially leave you overfull and bloated as this kind of food can do the portions were perfect and we left satisfied.

Our party of two arrived around 11:45am on a Saturday, smack in the middle of brunch hours, and the place was empty. That should have been a warning.
Our server was… out of it. I’m not sure how else to explain it. Interacting with her was like talking to someone who was half asleep, or high, or both. We ordered a kebab plate each, plus a plate of dumplings to share and an octopus app. The ordering process seemed to take much more effort than it should have, partly because their lunch and dinner menus aren’t clearly labeled.
Our salads and app came in a timely manner. The salads were solid, though the octopus leg, which is normally one of my favorite things in the world, was bland. Then we waited. And waited. We watched the two people in the kitchen do… whatever. Two more tables came in for a total of about ten people in the restaurant. An hour later, we asked our server where our food was. Now, it’s not as though kebabs take very long, or they had to make the dumplings fresh. She assured us that our food had just gotten started in the kitchen. Wait. Seriously? The kitchen was JUST THEN getting started with an order after an hour, and there had been literally no orders ahead of ours? Something seemed fishy.
Then the table that came in as we were getting our appetizer got their complete meal before we did. Nope. That was it. We wanted to cash out and leave. My partner went up to tell the server to cancel our order and cash us out. The situation became clear when we found out the server had FORGOTTEN to put the order in. The only order that was there at the time. And she didn’t bother to check to see what was up in the intervening hour.
She then tried to charge us for the whole meal, which we didn’t get. She claimed it was a mistake, but I’m not buying it. She didn’t even apologize for the wait or the inconvenience. We should not have had to pay for anything. I don’t say that because I’m spoiled; it’s just common freaking courtesy to compensate a customer for a bonehead mistake like that.
Bad customer service makes me so mad. That’s time in my life, and $ 22, I’ll never get back.

The food was absolutely delicious. I loved my breakfast sandwich. Cheesy with the Turkish pepperoni (never had that before, but would definitely try again). The garlic fries were perfection. My boyfriends meal looked amazing too. Plus, the Turkish coffee was wonderful.
The homemade baklava was the highlight. Flavorful and not overly sweet.
Service was nothing that blew me away, but perfectly acceptable.
Will definitely be back when I am back up in that neighborhood.

The first time was a great experience and the food was fresh and tasted pretty good, just a little pricey for what you get. The second time our server was horrible not very friendly and to be honest acted like whatever… The server also said the lunch and dinner menus are pretty much the same portions, just for dinner it is a higher price? Hmmm so your charging me a couple of dollars more for the same portions, but just a different time of day Really… Hmmm if we decide to return it will only during lunch so we can save a couple of dollars and hopefully have better service as well.

The Olive and Grape has a lot of potential but did not quite blow me away. The space is beautiful, with nice décor and an open front, which I definitely appreciated on this super warm afternoon. I can imagine the restaurant being open yet cozy during the evenings.
We ordered the lamb kofte, the lamb kebab, and the manti, which are Turkish-​style mini dumplings stuffed with ground beef and drizzled with cream and tomato sauce. The lamb kebab was perfectly seasoned and juicy, and the lamb kofte was well-​spiced and tender.
The manti were not bad, but were frankly a bit bland, and the portion was not nearly enough to satisfy. How the kofte could have so many complex flavors and the manti would have no flavors outside of the tomato sauce I’m not sure. I could have just ordered the wrong thing on the menu, but the manti was listed under their house specialties, which I feel you could reasonably expect to be the restaurant’s best. Their garlic fries were nice and crispy with the interesting addition of feta cheese, but were a bit too salty and were pretty similar to McDonald’s fries.
However, the pita and tzatziki sauce were both great. The servers were nice, if a bit brief.
Overall, I’d say I had a decent experience at Olive and Grape, but I’ve definitely had better elsewhere.

How I heard of this place: We moved to the neighborhood, walked down the street with some friends to find our lunch and discovered this place. We are so happy we did!
Type of cuisine: «Each and every meal served is infused with the traditions of Turkish and Italian cuisine. Our dishes reflect a lively repertoire of scratch-​made meals designed to please any palate. Crafted with imported Turkish olive oils and fresh ingredients sourced from the Pacific Northwest…
Being Italian-​Turk, and raised with Greek influence, her kitchen focuses on these three cultures. There are many common ingredients across these regions. We use these ingredients and take a few flavorful liberties with our dishes.»
Ambiance: Whimsical and nostalgic — if ever you have been to Turkey — the brick walls are laden with antique ornaments, Turkish design and mini hot air balloons set against murals of Cappadoci.
What I ordered: For our lunch-​time outing, the two men each ordered spicy Adana Kebab Wraps ($ 11 each) with hand-​minced lamb kebab formed on a long, wide iron skewer and grilled placed in a wrap with caramelized onions and tomatoes, one served with Garlic Fries, and the other with a side of greens.
We had one Vegetarian Wrap ($ 9) with pan-​sautéed eggplant, zucchini, and potatoes, with tomatoes, and homemade Turkish tomato sauce.
I selected the Salad Duo ($ 14) with the Greek Salad: tomatoes and cucumber mixed with onions, olives, feta cheese, pepperoncini and parsley, dressed with house-​made dressing and served with warm pita bread, served alongside a skewer of Grilled Shrimp.
To complete our meal, we sampled The Olive & Grape’s house-​made Mama’s Baklava ($ 6.50). «Paola explains, ‘I am using my mama’s recipe. Greeks use honey and cinnamon in the syrup; Turks use only sugar. My mama found out that the best flavor is with sugar in a syrup with a little bit cinnamon in the nuts. That is why my Baklava is different and good.’»
What I loved: All of it: the salad, the shrimp, grilled to perfection, and the sweet, gooey baklava. It’s time for another trip.
Why I loved it: Simple food served with plenty of flavor, a taste of the Mediterranean; a casual atmosphere made all the more friendly being served by Paola, herself, and right in our own backyard.
Cost: Average ($ 9 — $ 14 per lunch entrée)

This place is soooo cute! Here for happy happy hour; it’s place perfect place to go with girlfriends!
Happy hour wine is only $ 5!
Pita plus tzasiki was delicious!!!
Great service! Come here!

I love the location of this restaurant. It is in downtown Greenwood. Too bad this area isn’t more happening on a Saturday morning. I guess this neighborhood is just not as popular as places like Ballard or Capital Hill.
I really liked this store because it is really quaint with its wooden table and chairs. It has this rustic and Mediterranean feel. Everything was pretty clean inside. The food is Turkish inspired cuisine. The servers were all really nice. I couldn’t have asked for better service. Not only were they super polite but they were really attentive. Whenever we needed to order an extra item or wanted more water, the waitress was there to help.
The food was pretty good. I got the lamb/​beef gyro plate with tomato sauce on top. I forgot the name of this dish but I think it was $ 11. My husband ordered the chicken kabob. I highly recommend the beef/​lamb gyro plate because the meat was juicy and well flavored. The chicken kabob, however wasn’t too special. I thought the meat was kind of bland and chewy. I was not a fan of my husband’s dish. I usually steal off of his plate but didn’t do it this time. Food is on the more expensive side in terms of its portions but I don’t blame them for having smaller portions since they do the groupon coupon on the weekends. I’ve talked to restaurants that use groupon and apparently they take a huge percent from the cut. With a coupon the food is very affordable and would come back again.
Oh yah, the Turkish coffee is very good. I highly recommend that you order it.

I came here with a friend for dinner. The restaurant space is very cute and cozy.
They have a wide variety of gluten-​free items which is great for people with restrictions.
Right off I told the hostess that we had 2 ppl. I was seated and waiting for my friend. I went to the restroom and came back to the table and another server was clearing the 2^nd place setting. I told her that I was waiting for someone and then she put the silverware back. Just seems kind of odd.
The food was good but expensive for what you get, I think. My gyro plate was $ 18. You can get a similar plate at Hummus Café down the street for several dollars less and you get more variety with the plate.
Also, the gyro plate is advertised to come with pita. What the menu doesn’t describe is that the sauce and gyro meat are placed on a bed of pita which results in soggy pita under the meat and sauce. I would much rather have the pita on the side for dipping.
I would come back but for the many similar choices in the area I’m not sure it’s my first choice.