It's been a while since I've been to the Olive Branch which was one of my fav Middle Eastern establishements in the Glendale area. This past weekend, my family and I were visiting the parents and we had lunch at the restaurant. We arrived at about noon and the place was empty.... an older gentleman greeted us and we sat at one of the tables. I immeidately noticed that the chairs were very worn and needed to be replaced. We were given menus and I asked the gentleman if they had lunch specials. He replied in a calm voice, "You do not like this menu?" I replied, I'd like to see your lunch menu please." Really? No wonder your place is EMPTY! My Lunch Order: (1) Pita Bread, Onions, Radish, Butter - Complimentary (2) Hummus Olive Branch's hummus has always been consistently tasty. (3) Chicken Thigh Kebab Every lunch entree includes a choice of barley soup or salad and basmati rice, grilled veges, or salad. * I selected the barley soup which was A-OK * Chicken kebab was full of flavor and delish * My basmati rice, grilled tomato and pepper partnered well with my chicken. (4) Diet Soda - Refills Cost An Extra $1 Please let me know if there is a charge for a refill on sodas on tap. My lunch was tasty; however, the service was slow and I was being "bullied" into ordering off the dinner menu. There is a new Middle Eastern/Armenian restaurant opening up in Glendale every other day. Although Olive Branch delivers tasty food, they need to improve their service (i.e. keep that older gentleman in the kitchen) and replace their furniture. 2 Stars for the sketchy service and an extra star for the food = 3 Stars read more

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Good overall but not for the price. Great shallot and yogurt Good sides overall But the expensive Sultani had dry barg and undercooked koobideh. read more

I haven't tried much here due to a strict budget. But I already know that I will probably love it. Why? Because I picked up a small order of pita, literally walked up to the pickup table and they came back with 4 fresh pitas; for under a dollar. Classic, perfect pita with a slight char from a clean grill. First class all the way. read more

My family and I came here for dinner last night and the food was pretty good. I'm vegetarian so I had the garlic yogurt dip, the falafel, hummus, and Persian eggplant dip. I liked everything except for the eggplant dip which wasn't really my style. I think next time I'll stick with baba ganoush. One thing that was a total turn off was when I asked for hot sauce, they brought me a very old looking taco sauce bottle and said that was all they had. I don't understand how any restaurant and not even simple Tabasco!! Oh another thing is that the pita bread wasn't warmed up at all :-/ They have live music which is nice and the restaurant is decorated as if you're at a fancy wedding. The volume of the live music could be lower... Or they didn't need to put us at the table right next to the musician when there were many other open tables!! read more

Olive Branch - Eck the hot sauce... - Middle Eastern Near Me - La Crescenta, California

This restaurant still has good food, but customer service is in short supply by the owner. I called ahead one evening to see if we could dine at a certain time we had in mind, and they were open. I brought my wife with me to dine there and was told they decided to close early, so would not accommodate us. I reminded the hostess I had called ahead and was told we could dine then. She apologized, but was told, I believe by the owner, to close, in spite of being told customers had just confirmed they were open a short time ago. I believe the owner is lucky, he has no idea how to treat customers, I have never seen him greet anyone, or thank them for dining there. He sits in his restaurant and ignores his customers and looks bored. He is old enough to know better. read more

Best Armenian/Persian food. Omg soo good!!!! Their vegetarian appetizer sampler plate is #vegan and so is their Zereshk Polo Rice. Yummmm AMAZING FOOD!! Even their hummus is the best I've ever had, and I've grown up with it. read more

Yes yes yes! Definitely one of the better Middle Eastern food spots in the neighborhood. They've been around for quite a while now, and they've experienced some up and downs in terms of food quality. But overall I'd say they're doing a fine job with Persian cuisine. The place is rather small but the food they serve is definitely big! They also take their time serving you the food because they make it fresh in the back, so enjoy your stay with some refreshing live music being played (although I do think that's only for dinner). I personally like their version of the hummus. Theirs is more on the sour side with more lemon juice, but not overpowering. It cuts through the richness of the oils just right and gives you a wonderful dipping sauce for their complementary pita. Although I do wish the pita was a bit warm at least. Their kabobs are wonderfully flavorful and juicy as well. I've ordered their ground beef and chicken kabob, as well as their lamb koobideh, and they never disappoint. Order the koobidehs if you're new to Middle eastern fare and want to try a gateway food, especially from this place. I was also able to sample their zereskh polo aka barberry rice. It's pretty good, the flavors were there, but for some reason it didn't wow me as much as I hoped it would. Perhaps my expectations were set a tad bit too high. But don't get me wrong, you still won't get it wrong if you order this. Finally, my absolutely most favorite dish from their restaurant, their lamb shank. First of all, I'd like to comment on how humongous that thing is, I just kept digging in, and digging in, and digging in, and holy hell there is still meat hiding behind and underneath and everywhere around that bone. Overall the whole shank must have been as big as my head, and I have a pretty big head. And the best part of it is how it simply juicy, succulent, and falls off the bone. Definitely a must try from their menu. Prices are definitely on the higher side here at Olive Branch, but their portion sizes and the flavors definitely warrant the higher price tag. They don't take shortcuts with the food they serve you, and that's what makes a restaurant like this one stand out from the others. read more

Olive Branch - Ginormous lamb shank along with a wonderful zereskh polo - Middle Eastern Near Me - La Crescenta, California

This is my second time here The food is great and the price is reasonable. The staff are friendly and sweet read more

Olive Branch - Chicken breast kabab - Middle Eastern Near Me - La Crescenta, California

My family has been coming here for years. The food is SO delicious and the employees are very kind. The prices are affordable too. We're lucky to have authentic, delicious kebab in our neighborhood! read more

Okay meal for $9.95 Entree with radish, onions & mint Main course served with salads, rice or BBQ veggies Assortment of lamb, beef, chicken breast & thigh kebabs Ive had better...Carrousel on Brand has way better service and food but its pricier as well read more

Olive Branch - Chicken Thigh Kebab - Middle Eastern Near Me - La Crescenta, California

Love coming here for good Mediterranean good. There's plenty of parking in the front but if none there's a parking lot in the back with a back entrance. It's got a nice place with plenty of tables and chairs. Very clean and has a TV with light music played in the background. Menu has a good variety. Ordered the lamb kebob and it comes with veggies and rice. Hubby had the eggplant and beef stew and it was delicious. Weekdays they have a really good deal on combo meals. read more

Olive Branch - Lamb kebob - Middle Eastern Near Me - La Crescenta, California

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Food is good . Prices a bit on the high side . 2 meals and 2 side orders will run $ 70 not including tip .

I looked up the menu on line, placed my order and was charged almost double. When I questioned, I was told "the old pricing is online, we changed our prices a year ago." How is this ok? read more

Service and employees were amazing. I walked in with a party of 7 and Wendy was very accommodating and made sure we were all taken care of to sit together. The cashier was very personable and friendly. Great ambiance! My whole party was very satisfied with their food as well. read more

This is by far my favorite Mediterranean restaurant! You don't understand how JUICY and FLAVORFUL the food here is!!! My favorite is ground chicken kebab and the yogurt dip! Oh my gosh if you are ever craving perfect food this is the place for you . read more

Flash forward a year and the service has gone downhill. Quick notes - they do not take AmEx; there is a small parking lot in the back. I ordered on the phone on a Monday night, was told 30 minute wait. We repeated the order back and forth esveral times to ensure it was correct (it wasn't anything complex). We even went over the order AGAIN when I picked up the food. Got to the destination, opened up the food and they completely botched the order. I tried calling to rectify but the girl (that took the order in the first place) just tried to deny fault (I don't care about blame - I care about getting charged money for food I never received). Too much effort to go back in person and deal with it, but never going again. Beware and CHECK YOUR FOOD before you leave to make sure the order is right. ANd on top of it all, the food was not tasty :( The meat was tough and dry. /sad read more

Great place. Consistently good for the last 25 years. The ultimate comfort food will go back forever.

Family owned business with savory dishes. You know the legit factor is in effect when they bring out the complimentary raw onion, mint and red radish bowl as an appetite stimulant. Their strengths are in the lamb and kebob dishes. Good flavors. read more

Olive Branch - Lamb kabob combo meal. - Middle Eastern Near Me - La Crescenta, California

This is my 2nd time coming here. There was a dead bug in the salt shaker. We ordered the yogurt with shallot they brought it big piece of hair right up front. I don't know how they didn't see that. Also I ordered a bottle yogurt drink (dough)They brought it for me opened. I don't understand why you would open the bottle before you bring it for me. read more

Try the chicken or salmon kebab! My parents love to order take-out from Olive Branch. Everytime I stop by here to pick up our orders, I rarely saw any diners but rather other take-out orders. Portions are huge, prices are average, but the quality of the dishes are good. read more

The Olive Branch has been a consistent go-to all during the pandemic. Weekly, I order delivery and pick-up for myself and several family members. This is true healthy, comfort food. My very elderly mother thinks the Olive Branch regular rice is dessert! She says, "Don't bring anything over! It's too much to eat!" "But it's Persian!" "OH-oh-OHHH!!!! . . . well, THANK YOU!" I will FOREVER be thankful to this wonderful restaurant for its consistent excellence during a really hard time. Thank you Olive Branch, so very, very much! read more

This place has zero vibe. Food was ok but wow the restaurant needs love... chicken was overcooked but my puppy enjoyed it!

Amazing lunch - Food, Service, Decor All lovely The food is freshly made served hot and presented well Today we enjoyed lamb kabob and Cornish hen The rice is fluffy,tasteful, and abundant The seasonings on the meat superb The appetizers fresh made on premises- Super delish Loved loved loved it!!! read more

Olive Branch - Super lunch AGAIN - Middle Eastern Near Me - La Crescenta, California

I love this place. It is bar-none the best "mediterranean" food I've had. There may be better, but I've never had it, even when I visit the mediterranean in person (cuisine in that part of the world varies greatly between countries, so how this restaurant can claim "mediterranean" I'm not sure). I've eaten at maybe a dozen or two "mediterranean" restaurants in the greater area. I haven't found anything that bests this place. Even though it's right on the boulevard, it has a quasi-classy feel inside with their cutlery, table clothes, cloth napkins, etc. I've tried just about everything on their menu one time or another over the 30 years I've been patronizing this establishment. All of it is good. Some dishes that other restaurants mess up, like stuffed grape leaves, this restaurant gets right. The dinner salads are good, and I've had people accompanying me just eat that for dinner. For me, the Ghorme Sabzi is the dish I order the most frequently. They don't skimp on the beef and the vegetables are fresh. The stew isn't too soupy, or greasy (a common issue I've encountered at other establishments). For those that have never had it, it's basically a very thick soup with the stock made mostly of parsley with cilantro. It doesn't sound like a good base for a stew, but the dish is excellent, and very satisfying. I generally make another large meal easily with the left-overs I take home. The kebabs are seasoned quite nicely. Very savory, and not "weird" tasting. I find some places meats taste a little mealy, but I like this restaurant's. My favorite is the ground chicken. I don't know why, I just like it. Maybe it's the color, bright yellow. No, that's not it. It tastes good. The color just enhances the experience. They provide "appetizers" or is it "condiments" that consist of Pita bread, radishes, some kind of green leafy thing I think is parsley, and huge slices of white onions. The tables have pre-packaged pats of butter, and you can make a vegetable sandwich while waiting for your order. I always make a point to each great quantities of these onions when I dine here because there just aren't enough restaurants that give you a giant slab of onion with your meal. This restaurant also offers a dish many other places don't: tadig. I'm not a native from any country claiming to represent the mediterranean (born in U.S.A.), and I don't know the cultural or culinary significance of this dish, but I like it. I guess I'm probably supposed to, because it isn't always available, just sometimes, but when it is, and I get it, it's good. They've been working over the years to make Tadig available more frequently. What was available just "rarely" 30 years ago seems to have morphed into "pretty much available all the time" today. Their parking lot is quite small and it's on a hill. Those with limited parking skills may want to opt for street parking on Foothill Blvd. I'VE never had problems either finding a space or negotiating the driveway and hill, but "parker be ware." The potential parking problems don't bother me, and I make it a point to visit this place nearly every time I'm in the area. read more

This place was great! Servers were so friendly. Food was excellent. The lamb shank is the best. All their kebabs tasted good too. Will definitely come back. read more

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Ate there Friday. The fillet is excellent and I've tried many from the various restaurants that serve it in the neighboring areas and adjacent cities. I also tried the Ashreshte and they nailed that also! What's more is that this place provides soft entertainment on Friday, which my 88yr old father loves to come listen to. The place is clean and the service was great. I truly have nothing but good things to say about this place. I will be returning. Thank you! read more

Food quality horrible will never order from there ever again My parents couldn't eat their soltani everything went into trash , meat was spoiled read more

Worst Persian food ever. Try to support local but that's hard to do when the restaurant lacks professionalism. I've had numerous problems with my order and the staff tries to make as though I am the problem when they are the ones who failed to prepare the order correctly. I'll be going to Raffi's from now on. read more

Absolutely delicious, traditional food. Friendly, attentive and helpful staff. The atmosphere leaves something to be desired, however, the food and lovely people make up for whatever is aesthetically lacking. Great for a casual night out with friends, family and large parties. This restaurant is one of my favorites in the area! read more

It should be called Olive Bland. First the look, bland. Brown wood floors, brown walls and brown ceiling. Food, bland, cooked well and bland. Lastly, we were there and had a singer musician. Playing synthesizer and some foreign songs. It's the only thing that hit with any oomph but this was just the wrong way. Between the screechy music and bland food, we won't be going back. read more

I've ate here quite a few times and like it a lot. The service is very good and they have a pretty good lunch special. I'm glad there's a Persian restaurant in the area with good quality food. I usually order the lula kabob and it's very good. Give it a try you won't be disappointed. read more

So far Olive Branch is the only restaurant that charges 2.95$ for a small soda can !!!! Ridiculous!!!!

Went to eat here again and after we had eaten we asked for a to go box and as we opened it a roach scrambled out of the box....the staff didn't apologize or anything. Oh well it was good until the ROACH read more

Delicious salad came with kabob along with pita and the yogurt-cucumber dip. Kabob tasty, I got the variety with lamb, chicken and beef. Delicious. I can't wait to try some of their interesting stews. read more

I've been here 3 or 4 times in the last nine months with my girlfriend and I still give it a very solid 4, bordering on 5 stars. Between her & I, we have tasted most of the menu & it's all consistently good. Have always had good service from the pleasant friendly waitstaff in a very clean environment. Note: I do not handicap on location as so many others do. If I did, I would give them a 5 star, because it is certainly of the best restaurants in the Glendale/La Crescenta-Sunland/Tujunga area wherein I have not had a TRUE 5 star experience ever. Also be aware, in this area of town particularly, there is still a population (hopefully small) of new school racists who tend to be culturally threatened by anything they consider to be associated with Armenians; and some reviews reflect that bias. read more

Great food and service... Been coming for years! Beef Barg is amazing Its my favorite local.

Best Mediterranean food in LA. Look at this luscious plate of food, lunch special only $10.95! read more

Olive Branch - Best Mediterranean food in LA. Look at this plate of luscious food and the lunch special charge for this plate is only $10.95!!! - Middle Eastern Near Me - La Crescenta, California

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I love Pomegranate Chicken. That's why we ordered from this restaurant. They called to tell us they were out after we had ordered. We had chicken kebobs which were okay, grape leaves that were really mushy and hummus with stale pita bread. It's been a good restaurant in the past. Maybe their food that is delivered is not the best. We won't use them again. read more

5 stars for the barg I ordered I also tried the chicken and beef lulehs. Everything came out piping hot and juicy. The rice was cooked to perfection. The cucumber and yogurt is to die for. I ordered the salad shirazi but honestly wasn't a fan. The only this I would recommend to the owner is to upgrade the tables and chairs , mainly the chairs. The chairs were very uncomfortable. But the food gets five stars read more

Olive Branch - Middle Eastern Near Me - La Crescenta, California

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Really great food! I ordered through the yelp app for takeout, once I went to pick up the food, they were out of 3 of the items I ordered. It makes sense because this place is so yummy that they sell out of certain items, I was just frustrated that no one informed me at the time I ordered or right after I ordered. I didn't find out until I came to get my food and that left me disappointed. I was especially disappointed because it was the desert that they were out of completely and I have been looking everywhere to try this specific type of food. read more