I cannot say enough good things about L'Olive! We've been coming to Venice for years and I'm embarrassed to say this was our first time here. We ordered the spread sampler and took our waiters recommendations for selection. Oh. My. God. We got the carrot tarator, htipiti and shakahouka spreads and each had such a unique flavor profile, we couldn't pick a favorite. Entrees were delicious (Greek shrimp linguini and seafood tagliatelle). Generous servings. For dessert we got the orange cake which was life changing and a Turkish coffee. It's an intimate setting, not a place for a quick meal! We'll be back for sure. read more

L'Olive - Dessert (orange cake with fresh whipped cream and blueberry compote) and Turkish coffee - Mediterranean Near Me - Venice, Florida

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Saturday, August 16, 2025 - my birthday and a little lunch after some hot muggy golf.... 2 for lunch. They were just opening for lunch time on a Saturday. Putting out place settings outside at tables, and turning on lights......welcomed us right in!! Service is perfect, the water glass never got past half empty (needed after 9 hole in heat advisory and 90F plus weather) It was nice fresh water! We got some pita and hummus for a little app. Pretty good, the hummus was a little thin for dipping and spreading more like a dressing consistency, but tasted great! The pita was fresh baked and properly done. Wife got a Caesar salad with grilled chicken. She said it was very good and the greens and cheese were fresh and flavorful. The chicken was a little charred/burnt edged but not dry. 8/10 I got the Beet Salad and thought this would be my last try for falafel on a salad. (the last three other restaurants it has been a greasy fried ball of "bread crumb sand". yech! Well not here at L'Olive - just the opposite!!!!!! A nice filling that was moist and not bready, just beans and herbs and a nice filling. A LIGHTY fried and NOT very oily at all! 10/10 Falafel is back on my vegan/WFPB/Nutritarian food list. The beets were perfect and ample, the baby spinach was perfect and must have been grown out back in a field it was so green and tasty!! Toss in some yummy figs pieces, a light and nice dressing. Walnuts and orange slices competed the collage of goodies. (I got this sans the goat cheese - "naaaaaaah" I am sheepish about those cheeses) Great salad. 10/10 We both (after the second bread board of pita showed up!!!) had to take half our salads home for the beach tomorrow. Friggin awesome take home boxes!!! They are like Tupperware and we are gonna schlep them right down to the beach!!! I said it before but just to add, service was awesome. These guys are less than 2 miles from our house..... we WILL be back!! Nice job! ========= Note to owner ==== NOT part of the review but an aside. The place is very nice and super clean and nice layout and fantastic sturdy hard chairs for folks with bad backs and etc. and great bathrooms.....HOWEVER 1) you need to reverse the door on the men's room or move that privacy screen and plant - crazy clumsy and goofy. 2) throw out the electric room deodorizer in both bathrooms. they stink worse than five car wash air fresheners! The atomized chemicals wafted my wife and she felt ill. I checked out the men's room and it felt like I was vaping in that "smoke". Pretty musty and stinky. read more

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Quaint place with excellent staff. Ordered special and it was delicious. Can't wait to go back

A solid Mediterranean restaurant. My wife had the octopus tail which was done perfectly. It came with a nice side salad. I had the bean soup when the beans are puréed, and other flavors add interest. My wife's entree was shrimp in pasta. The dressing was subtle so you're not inundated in oil. Lots of goodies like artichoke, capers , and olives keep it interesting. Then the other dish was five perfectly cooked lamb chops. A roasted tomato and bulgar wheat accompanied the meat. Mediterranean scenes in the pictures on the wall help the ambience feel authentic. Making this an excellent restaurant when you're looking for Mediterranean. read more

L'Olive - Lentl soup - Mediterranean Near Me - Venice, Florida

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This place really delivered on authentic Turkish for me. The only reason it is not a 5 is that the worker was not the friendliest. The inside is a fine dining feel and very clean. It would be great for a fancier dinner out. The pricing reflects a higher class meal as well. Flavor of the chicken and bulgur was top notch. I will definitely be back. read more

L'Olive - CHICKEN SHISH KEBAB - Mediterranean Near Me - Venice, Florida

The food is all made fresh. This service is fantastic. It's a little place. Lots of TVs. It would be a fantastic place to watch your favorite team play. I will definitely be going back highly recommend this place. read more

Came for the third Christmas Eve dinner. The baba ghanoush was like a yogurt spread. The Caesar was OK, not pleased with packaged croutons. (Go to Tommy Bahama where the salad is exceptional.) Asked for the same wine as last year, go something not as good. Mom was very pleased with lamb rib chops, and she would rate the evening 5-star. read more

Okay folks. The special was out of this world!!! We enjoyed a few Mediterranean staples from the region such as the hummus for a starter, followed by the Gyro platter and the daily special (a beautiful ravioli) as a main course. The food and service was phenomenal. The ambiance was clean, quiet and nicely decorated. The Chef, who is front Turkey, and trained in France, visited our table and mentioned that he goes to great lengths to provide high quality ingredients. His effort and passion for food definitely shows in his cuisine. Thank you very much and we will return. read more

oh yeah this place was surprising. interior was super great, service was more than attentive, explanatory and gracious and fun! best staff ever IMO. the octopus was indeed excellent and tender - the lamb chops were perfectly cooked and delicious. lobster ravioli was extraordinary. we will def be back to try other items from the menu. only drawback is no liquor - wine and beer only. the place screams for a martini!!! read more

Amazing food, service and pricing! What a gem of a spot right in Venice next to the former Winn Dixie (soon to be Aldi). We WILL be back! Happy Holidays. read more

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Looking for a new place to try , we opted to try L'Olice. Alas it turned out to be overpriced and under seasoned. read more

If you appreciate and savour authentic Mediterranean, food, excellently prepared, reasonably priced in a wonderful environment with excellent service. This is your place to go. read more

Our favorite in Venice FL and it's not even near the ocean! Why the favorite? Fabulous, fresh food choices from appetizers to entrees and desserts. The table starter pita and tapenade is so good. Every dish is amazingly flavorful and delicious. Beautifully plated. The wine and beer selection is expansive. Parking is easy peasy. And the service and ambiance are equally impressive! L'Olive is so popular that even off season you will want to make a reservation! Paul runs a wonderful, relaxing, and special place. ENJOY! read more

L'Olive - A surprise birthday treat! - Mediterranean Near Me - Venice, Florida

Food is superb , chef is beyond awesome ! Would recommend it to all . Wait staff is superior and every informative

Add reservations at this restaurant last night at 5:15 we were shopping beforehand and we got on the highway and it was all backed up. My GPS said we wouldn't get there till 540. I called the restaurant and they said no problem. Thank you for calling we got there and we ordered the same meal. We had a year ago which starts out with the pita on the table and Olive spread, we moved on to 2 cups of lentil soup, one for my bride one for myself, and then we shared the salmon which came with a rice dish and a broccoli dish and then we topped it all off with dessert which was baklava and a scoop of ice cream and I always have coffee and the meal otherwise it doesn't feel like I ate everything was just as wonderful this year as it was when we were vacationing down here a year ago they do a great job at the restaurant was packed. They managed to get us in even when we were late half an hour, just a great restaurant. read more

An absolute must try! I could live in the beet salad! The hummus was so delicious and the gyro meat was packed full of great flavor. The service was amazing and the ambiance was perfect for our Anniversary dinner date night. I cannot wait to return. read more

We stopped in for lunch because we were in the neighborhood. We were surprised by the nice environment and tablecloths on the tables. Good selection on the menu. The food was delicious! I had the special. Our service was excellent! I will return. read more

First timers and from out of town...Our server Robert was so friendly and helpful. We had a lovely meal all around and will definitely be back. It was a nice and cozy place and a cute bar area. read more

Impressed with this lovely restaurant that would be perfect for a special occasion/ night out or a casual lunch after pickle ball. The tables are dressed with a lovely white cloth and pretty china. indoor and outdoor seating available. The Mediterranean food is beautifully served yet well priced. I should know. I had Mediterranean food in Bradenton as recent as yesterday. The food here is fresh, generous in portion, tasty and beautifully presented. The service is excellent and not rushed. The menu is reasonably priced. The server was excellent. I highly recommend and I will definitely be back. read more

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Cold baklava, with ice cream!! What a lovely place I found through the Yelp App. Wonderful ambiance read more

L'Olive - Cold baklava, with ice cream!! - Mediterranean Near Me - Venice, Florida

Great little Mediterranean restaurant. Food and service was excellent. Nice ambience with an upscale vibe. I highly recommend the mushroom ravioli; It was amazing. The gyro platter also got rave reviews from our party. The baklava topped with ice cream was phenomenal! Good wine menu and plenty of beer selections too. Good value for the quality of food and service! read more

Exceptional food here. If you're looking for authentic Mediterranean food, this is a fantastic choice. Totally underrated and worth the trip. read more

Four nights past, we had an excellent dining experience once again at L'Olive. We truly believe it's a one of a kind hidden treasure here in Venice. We find the overall vibe to be relaxed, not rushed, like being at home enjoying wonderful food with friends and family. For us their unique food is authentic, always fresh with incredible flavors, all being created by Chef Ismail. We must also mention our professional waiter Benedict. Ben adds such special attention to all details, big and small. Thank you Paul (owner/manager) for providing Venice with a wonderful restaurant experience. We'll be back. Best regards, Chuck & Judy read more

L'Olive offers an exceptional dining experience that combines Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flavors. The upscale ambiance and attentive service complement the outstanding cuisine, making it a must-visit for food lovers seeking a memorable meal. Highly recommended! read more

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As full time Venice residents, my wife and I had a ten star surprise experience three nights ago at our Venice restaurant L'Olive. Our server, Benedict, was a true professional who obviously has a passionate understanding of the food they offered. Their Michelin trained chef prepared our amazing dished creations. Thank you to all the team, especially Paul, their proud owner and operator. We will return soon. Chuck & Judy read more

Our server was excellent however unfortunately the food was a disappointment. I got the gyro platter and it looked promising on arrival however the gyro meat was very greasy and had an odd texture. Couldn't finish the meal which was unfortunate for the $28 price tag. read more

L'Olive - Gyro platter - Mediterranean Near Me - Venice, Florida

Overall - 8/10 Food - 4.5/10, we had the falafel appetizer which wasn't great but also wasn't bad, the hummus with it was good, also came with a side salad. Girlfriend has the cheesy roll up appetizers, they tasted exactly how you would expect; however, $14 for it was quite an ask. To end the lunch, I tried the baklava, I was informed it was a Turkish baklava, had an odd flavor that was I wasn't expecting as I may be accustomed to Greek baklava. Nothing extraordinary in terms of food to price ratio. Service - 10/10, our server Rob was absolutely fantastic, checked In on us the perfect amount of times, and was very passionate in the story as well as the food the restaurant had to offer. Wouldn't change anything. Atmosphere - 10/10, simply put, it was a nice intimate setting and we very much enjoyed the low light setting with quiet music. Would not expect this type of setting where it was located. read more

This is easily my new favorite restaurant!!! The food was beyond delicious, the olive and pita appetizer was phenomenal, we tried the stuffed grape leaves which I loved, and we tried the grilled chicken pita and the ground lamb pita which was the daily special, and holy moly everything is so delicious!!!! Even the coffee is wonderful! We tried the double espresso and cappuccino and absolutely loved them. The restaurant has a beautiful, relaxing, Greece inspired atmosphere, perfect for a romantic date, and some of the best customer service I've experienced!!! Our server today was Paul and he was spectacular through and through; so polite, kind, and attentive, I could not have asked for a better dining experience. I absolutely love this restaurant, I am so happy we tried this place and we will definitely be going back (probably way too often) it really is just that good, you've got to try this place out for yourselves. read more

had lunch here, a bucket list item for me was trying octopus. we had it as an app, the meat was firm with a mild taste. I like it, my wife had issues with the thought of what we were eating. our meals were lamb chops and lamb kabobs, both served with rice. we both cleaned our plate. our waiter was spot on and provided great service. well worth the visit read more

We have now been many times and it's become a favorite. Every dish we've had has been excellent. I love the kabobs so I get them a lot, but husband has tried a variety of things and has loved them all. Won't be a hidden gem for long... read more

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Second time in two years. Even better this time. Finally a place to get great Kabobs. They didn't over cook the chicken or the shrimp. Service was exemplary and wine was fairly priced. Very clean and many regulars came in while we were there. read more

This restaurant is a hidden gem. You can tell the chef really cares about his craft. Upon entering we were seated right away and the waiter gave great suggestions. The food was amazing, and the shrimp skewers were cooked perfectly. Definitely recommend this place! read more

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Let's start with the service! Top notch! Friendly, but not overly attentive. It's so refreshing to have water glasses refilled without asking! The food was fabulous. Each of the meats on the mixed grill platter had their own unique delicious flavors. The Branzino was moist, sweet and flaky. Nice crisp on the skin. This was my first time dining here and now I understand all the rave reviews. We will be back! read more

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Started with fresh pita bread and olives very nice. Then a Greek salad and a beet salad. The beet salad was good but the Greek salad was great. Adana shish kebab was also good. Finished with Turkish baklava, very tasty. The service with Paul was great. Luv his energy and enthusiasm. The place is very nice inside. We were so glad we went and will go back. read more

L'Olive food and service is always spot on. Employees work together to ensure the delectable food is promptly served. The ambiance is warm and friendly and very noisy when crowded. Octopus, salmon, sea bass , lamb chops and shrimp linguine. All excellent Thank you, L'Olive!!! read more

We were visiting Venice for Baseball Spring Training and happened upon L'Olive. Absolutely excellent Mediterranean food. Sat at the bar because we had no reservation but service and ambiance was great. The chef/owner sources the best ingredients. The food was delicious and the service was excellent. read more

L'Olive - Mediterranean Near Me - Venice, Florida

What a gem here in Venice, decorated nicely and very clean, service excellent 2nd time back have a new spot. Every single item is fresh and packed with Middle Eastern spices and authentic in flavors. A must try highly recommend read more

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This was part of a large strip mall with about 15 or so tables and a slight view into the kitchen. The service was very friendly, and the menu had a number of Mediterranean dishes. For an appetizer, the 4-sampler mezze ($26.50) was ordered. The options that were chosen were the hummus, baba ganoush, htipiti, and dolmadakia. It was all served with a bunch of pita and an herb infused olive oil. There were 3 small grape leaves present as part of the dolmadakia. They were stuffed appropriately with white rice. All of the spreads were great, but my favorite was the htipiti. This spread had a slight kick to it and the walnuts added a slight crunch to this spread. It was a great way to start the meal. For an entrée, I had the lamb shank which was a special on the night I attended. It came with a side of white rice. The entrée came with a broth with carrots and potatoes. The lamb was very tender and fell right off the bone. There was also a perfect amount of rice to soak up the broth and juices from the lamb. I also tasted the Adana shish kebab which was tasty as well. For dessert, the baklava ($10) was tried. It came with vanilla ice cream as well. The pieces were a little small, but the taste made up for it. The pistachio filled dough was very apparent and tasty. It was even better when combined with the vanilla ice cream. Will I go back? I would. read more

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A little hidden gem in Venice! Everything from the service to the food was top notch! We ordered mussels, the carrot spread, branzino, chicken alfredo and lamb chops! All outstanding! We were celebrating two birthdays which came with chocolate backlava and ice cream. Highly recommend and will be back! read more

L'Olive - A Delicious Cab - Mediterranean Near Me - Venice, Florida

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Second time at L'Olive; this time was for a nice Valentine's Day dinner. Our server was timely and polite covering the meal specials and bringing complimentary pita bread and olive spread. Dinner was flavorful and hot. The restaurant has the tables spread out thoughtfully to allow for an intimate dining experience to include small tabletop lights. Thank you for a fabulous experience! read more