A Hidden Gem in Takoma Park! Olive Lounge exceeded my expectations! The food was fresh, flavorful, and paired perfectly with their drinks. Their happy hour prices are very reasonable, making it an easy spot to enjoy without breaking the bank. I ordered the spinach dip, which was absolutely amazing, along with the pita and hummus, which was fresh and tasty. The standout for me, though, was the steak and cheese egg rolls, super good! Everything came out fresh, and the service made for an enjoyable experience. An added bonus is their outdoor lounge area, which creates a great atmosphere for relaxing with friends or enjoying a nice evening out. I'll definitely be back and highly recommend Olive Lounge to anyone looking for great Mediterranean food, good drinks, and a welcoming vibe in Takoma Park. read more

See all

Overall: great prices, delicious food, okay service, casual ambiance, single stall inclusive restrooms, changing table, kids menus, and high chairs available They have a great happy hour and different daily specials. There is so much to love about the menu. Everything we ate was delicious, but overall we are just wildly impressed with the prices. We rarely eat that much quality food for the prices you pay here. I love how many vegetables they have on the menu and the meat was cooked perfectly. read more

See all

It was one of the hottest days of summer, and my partner and I were in the Takoma Park neighbourhood on the hunt for somewhere to grab Happy Hour (HH)! We strolled the beautiful and quaint neighbourhood for a little, until we found Olive Lounge!! After taking a glance at their HH menu -- our decision was easy, the food and drink options were just what we were looking forward to!! I can happily report that the food was DELICIOUS & truly represented what you would want from a Middle Eastern restaurant. I was ecstatic to have their grilled halloumi & their beef and chicken kabob with kidreh and tzatziki was 10/10!!! The aromatic seasonings and flavours with the kabobs were divine, and perfectly complimented the kidreh (spiced rice, garlic, chick peas). My husband had the Takoma Burger which was equally fantastic - and only $10 with a side of fries on Tuesday!! We will definitely be back to explore their HH and dinner menus more!!! This restaurant is definitely worth a visit (or several)!! read more

See all

Came to Olive Lounge & Grill with coworkers and had a lovely time. This restaurant is quite warm and inviting but yet still feels like a bar. Their prices are a great value for what you're getting and all the servers were extremely friendly. I got the sourlip mocktail and it was tart but felt very well balanced. It was refreshing on a hot day and I'd order it again. I got the rockfish bites which were okay. The breading was well flavored but I think our fish was overdone because it was a bit chewy. The white truffle Parmesan fries were a hit. The truffle came through and gave each fry a nice umami to it. Got the Mediterranean hummus dip (it was hummus blended with olives). You can tell they make it there, it was pretty decent. read more

Olive Lounge & Grill - Mediterranean Hummus - Lounges Near Me - Takoma Park, Maryland

See all

Always a great experience at the Olive Lounge. The staff are very friendly, the restaurant is well-run, and the food is great. In my opinion, they serve some of the best chicken wings in the DC area, so that's my go-to, along with the fava bean appetizer. In addition to the qualities above, I also just appreciate that this is a normal restaurant, which is increasingly rare. No weird concept or brand, no high prices for innovations of dubious quality - just a solid restaurant serving fairly priced food. And the Hishmeh family are great people who support the community to boot. read more

Forget "hole in the wall," this "slice in the alley" was a fun find. It wasn't until after dinner that we realized we were sitting in the lounge half facing the parking lot instead of the restaurant half facing the r street. No wonder the service was a little slow since the server was also acting as bartender. The food was good, the ambience was cozy, and the staff was friendly. read more

See all

summary: exactly as the name suggests, a "lounge" type of vibe with a handful of drink options and food options to boot. The service was friendly from the get go. The seating situation is a little tight, but nothing unmanageable. It definitely felt like a "food first" type of establishment where the drink options are more there "just in case" versus it being like a complementary experience. We ordered a few apps for the table and they were yummy. Very light flavor and not heavy on oil despite it being like a crispy/fried type of food. It's a cute spot that I think deserves a deeper dive in the future. Would recommend if you're in the area! read more

See all

The food & the service were amazing! I have been here a few times before, but I wanted to make sure that today I left a review base on my experience today. I went out today to celebrate national tequila day with a couple of friends. We enjoyed the food and also the drinks and the shots as well.. everyone working here was super friendly & happy to serve us. Our server was Yenny & she was wonderful! definitely recommend for anyone to try this place. They have a lot of options. read more

See all

The place was packed but the service was still good. I got the gyro and sweet potato tots. They gyro was great but the tots could've been cooked for much longer. Would come back again on a less busy day to give them another shot. read more

Came here randomly on a Monday and had the best experience! Their Mezza platters are only $15 (normally 27) on mondays and it's really the best deal ever. You get pita bread, a bunch of falafel, stuffed grape leaves, tabbouleh, hummus, baba ganoush, and a Mediterranean dip. It easily fed 3 of us with plenty leftover. Service was fast and friendly. read more

Olive Lounge & Grill - Mezza Platter only $15 on Mondays!! - Lounges Near Me - Takoma Park, Maryland

The Olive Lounge and Grill is one of those places I hesitate to write about, for fear it will become impossible to get a table there. However, since it is already so popular, perhaps the secret out in any case. The core of this family owned restaurant is Middle East food - the restaurant was started two generations ago by brothers who hailed from Ramallah. They do this cuisine extremely well. But you can also get regular pub fare - Tuesday night is $10 burger night, Thursday is $11 nachos locos. And then there are some outstanding entrees that are not usually associated with the Middle East, like French cut lamb chops with grilled onions and peppers and a choice of couscous, rice, or kidhre. Besides the homey atmosphere, friendly staff (most of whom are family members, who are still hands on at the restaurant), I really appreciate the prices. Although they have gone up a little like everywhere else, they still feel approachable. Thanks, Olive Lounge! We love having you in the neighborhood. read more

Let me start with the customer service/end of our time here. When I first arrived, a server immediately came out to get drink and food orders. He was very friendly and was happy to give me a few minutes to look over the menu. Our main server for the remainder of the evening was also very friendly! She had a great vibe, was cheerful, and helped us pick a couple things out. Our appetizer and drinks and then entrees came out very quickly. At the end, another woman came out. I should have asked who she was, but Im assuming either the manager or maybe even one of the owners. She just wanted to check in to see how our food was and then she asked if we had been there before. When we said we hadn't, she said she didnt think so because she didnt recognize our faces, which says to me that they have a lot of regulars. After my experience, I can absolutely see why. Customer service alone was major points. We sat outside, as it was a surprisingly nice night out. They had maybe 6ish 4 tops outside, and the indoor looked small-ish, too, but in a cozy/homey way. Now, for the food. I ordered the dolma for an appetizer, and they were delicious! Perfect amount of tang, and the rice was cooked just right, so the texture was great. Just very solid. My friend got the nachos with chorizo for their main, which they said were great. The nachos were definitely loaded, so they didn't skimp on the toppings. And then I ordered the gyro wrap for my main. The wrap was soft and fluffy, not overcooked or dry like some I have had. There was plenty of lamb gyro and tzatziki in it. The lamb itself was sooo flavorful, and it had this perfectly crispy outside while still being soft in the middle. Finally, for my drink, I had the rosemary vodka lemonade, which was also tasty! I love rosemary and it went great with the lemonade. Anyway, I will absolutely be back, and I highly recommend it for others! The food will for sure draw you in, but the warmth of the staff will make sure you return. read more

The happy hour was truly delightful, and the service was commendably swift. The gin and tonic was expertly crafted and satisfyingly strong. The culinary offerings were unique, and I wholeheartedly recommend coming here. read more

Olive Lounge & Grill - Lounges Near Me - Takoma Park, Maryland

Awesomeness place great food Russell the waiter the nest ! We will be back here! Very family oriented place definitely seems like a mom and Pop place read more

Olive Lounge & Grill - Lounges Near Me - Takoma Park, Maryland

See all

This was our first time trying this restaurant, parking was convenient with a small lot ($5/day) behind the restaurant. They have a nice outdoor dining patio with heaters out back. If you go in the back door off the parking lot and enter through the patio space, you come into the cute bar area. The main dining room is through a hallway and down a few steps. If stairs are an issue, enter through front off Carroll. Dining room is nicely decorated in a Middle Eastern vibe. In winter I can imagine this front area might be chilly, when the front door opens, outside air blows in. We got little chilly on a 60° day as we were sitting near the door. Service was excellent and any questions we asked, she tried to answer to best of her ability. We were a group of 3 and all ordered something different. From prior reviews here with photos, I wasn't sure if I wanted to order a flatbread or app to share. Would it be too much food before sn entree? Well, I should have as I decided to get the chicken Kabob entree. Flavor was excellent, chicken was tender and very flavorful. Basmati rice was plentiful and cooked just right. Only thing was portion size for chicken was very small and I still was hungry, which left room for dessert. My hubby ordered the Chicken Shawarma. His portion size of chicken was great, at first he really liked whatever spices were used in the marinade & cooking process, but he said after a while he grew tired of it & couldn't finish because he started to turn off to the spices. I did try a bite or two and to me, it almost tasted like a "soap" flavor. Not appealing to me at all. My friend ordered the rack of Lamb. The said it was delicious but she came across couple fatty bites that had to be spit out. For me, I noticed it looked rare along the bone. I'm not familiar with how rack of Lamb is cooked or served but couldn't help wonder if it was done. Then we did order dessert. I became a fan of Kunefe from another restaurant that I love, so any place I see it on the menu, I want to try. Although any place has a tough dish to fill. The waitress brought out a nice display tray of what they offer for desserts and she went through them all and explained a couple of them were housemade, Baklava and Kunefe being those and that's what we ordered. I'd say stick to desserts that are not housemade as the Baklava was not good. Out of the 2 served, I only photographed the better looking one. I did get the Kunefe and it was ok, but when comparing to another, I wouldn't order again and even one of my FB friends who is middle eastern & saw the photo, she thought it didn't even look good. I would love to come back as I really wanted to try the Mezze platter and flatbread and also to support a family business. I believe here everything is based on your taste appeal to various spices and everything was enjoyable except for dessert. For those who like specialty teas, the spiced tea (served cold or hot) was delicious, touch of cinnamon in the background. If your not sure, request a sample to try before ordering to be sure. I had it iced and loved it, unfortunately, no refills and our friend received hot with honey which I'm sure was delicious. Once it got busy, service attention did get less attentive as there was only 1 waitress. They do charge different cost for cash vs credit here. read more

See all

Just leaving this place after visiting for the first time. Great spot! The ambiance of the interior is exactly what you want out of a dive bar, and the food was spot on. The stuffed grape leaves melt in your mouth and explode with flavor, and the chorizo nachos I got were fantastic. They have outdoor seating, which for tonight was amazing because there was live music just down the road at a little pavilion that really enhanced the meal. The service was really good! The waitress we had seemed to have a sixth sense on when to check with us at the table. They also have pours of liquor on the rocks at reasonable prices for the area! 10/10 will dine again. read more

Very quaint. Simple straight forward neighborhood establishment that has simple charm. My bartender was very good at making drinks. So I will be back looking for her. read more

Cute place that is half bar & grill and half middle eastern fare. We were looking for the latter when we came on a weekend for lunch so it wasn't very busy. We ordered the grilled cauliflower, hummus with lamb, and a chicken shawarma pita all to share. My favorite was the cauliflower, it came with a sauce I can't remember well enough to describe except for not being a toum or a tahini like I would have expected. The lamb on the hummus was chunks rather thanground meat (which I was expecting simply because of how an old haunt that used to serve that dish did) and the lamb was very good but i found the hummus quite mid - heavier on lemony or other tart notes than on tahini as I prefer. The chicken shawarma was decent quality but the chicken didn't have the flavor profile I was used to for shawarma and to me seemed bland (though the sauce helps). My husband enjoyed those more than I did, but admitted he too prefers a more tahini driven smooth hummus. I would come back and try other stuff (they have some Latin food among others) if in the neighborhood, but for shawarma and hummus that requires a trek anyway, it won't replace our favorite in Rockville. read more

Just look at the perfectly balanced tap list without too many of any one kind of beer. this is where you want to drink after the farmers market on Sunday, they clean out the tap lines every morning. read more

Olive Lounge & Grill - Stamped pub pass 2024 - Lounges Near Me - Takoma Park, Maryland

See all

Cute, little neighborhood bar/restaurant, with an outdoor seating area. My friend and I just stumbled across this bar/restaurant. The food was good. I had the baked stuffed eggplant and he had the falafel plate. The service was not very friendly. The server said she wasn't going to serve my friend any beer because she thought he was drunk. He hadn't been drinking at all, so that was a bad call (and rather rude) on her part! I doubt I'll be coming back. There are plenty of bars where I live and the service there is much better. read more

Having visited Olive on Main in Laural, on another day we wanted to try Olive Lounge and Grill in Tacoma Park. Loved the ambiance and atmosphere in the evening. Service was excellent. Food was a "10." Desserts were out of this world. Visiting from out of state and will definitely return and recommend to others. read more

Great food, friendly service, reasonable prices, and an interesting selection of beer in tap can be all ve found at Olive Lounge and Grill.

I love having this reliable spot in our neighborhood. Their menu is extensive, and while I do love the buffalo wings, the kebab and shawarma is where they truly shine! Check out their website for daily specials too. Staff is always super friendly, and while the front area seems small, there's usually plenty of space towards the back bar down the narrow hallway. I do carry-out from here pretty often as well, and it's always just as good as dining in. read more

Olive Lounge & Grill - Lamb Shawarma Pita Wrap - Lounges Near Me - Takoma Park, Maryland

We love this unassuming little nook in Takoma Park! We recently tried the wings, egg rolls, spinach, and rice & chickpeas. Everything was fresh, crunchy, and delicious. Excellent service and cozy atmosphere. Love it read more

See all

I have been eating here for years and have never been disappointed. It's a great place to take the family and eat up front, or go with friends and drink beers in the back lounge. I love the middle eastern food they serve so I can't speak to any of their other offerings. The grilled halloumi is a must order, and the baba ganoush and labneh are top notch. Support a local middle eastern family and go here, the service is excellent and prompt. read more

Was a guest on Tuesday. It was one of the best dining experiences that I have had. Thank you for creating such a beautiful meal. Go to this restaurant Olive Lounge and Grill! Great Staff Great Food read more

Service is great, food is excellent... our first time here...ordered lamb kabobs with rive, kubbeh, spinach with walnuts... all tastes great...freshly cooked to order.. fast service and very friendly staff..reasonable prices and wide selection... definitely coming back soon read more

Finally, the contest is complete. In the best-burger- in-Silver Spring and Takoma Park-- goes to Olive. Not the old Republic, not Tak Bevco, not Zinnia, not anywhere in Downtown Silver Spring, and not Busboys. Olive wins. And on Tuesday, it's a cheap burger. read more

The drinks are good but the food is below subpar. The service is nice but I can't get over how bad the food was. The hummus bread as stale and everything else was not tasty at all. read more

The Monday happy hour Mazza Platter $15 feeds many. Crispy falafel, fragrant olive oil on the Mediterranean dip, tasty babaghanoush, fresh tabbouleh, grape leaves. Family owned, friendly staff, and attentive service. read more

Olive Lounge & Grill - Lounges Near Me - Takoma Park, Maryland

INSANELY great food, service, and atmosphere. I drive from Alexandria just to get food from here! The kebabs, middle eastern pickles (they garnish the dishes), and baklava ice cream are my top picks! read more

Food is basic, yet they can't manage a plain, unsweetened iced tea. You can have only two bill tickets per table, so bring cash if you need more than 2 bills. Other restaurants manage--I would have paid a small service fee to pay my own bill with a card--but they refused to even offer. Nice idea to have an in-town place, but evening hours are odd and experience really isn't welcoming and overall isn't that great. read more

Thank you to Angela and all the staff for providing such great service and food for my daughters college graduation dinner! The food was awesome, the service amazing! read more

Olive Lounge & Grill - Lounges Near Me - Takoma Park, Maryland

The food is delicious! We ordered through Grubhub and noted an allergy on a couple items and they made sure to note where the allergen was in the rest of the order, too. read more

Olive Lounge & Grill - a cake on a table - Lounges Near Me - Takoma Park, Maryland

What can I say other than this is a really great neighborhood restaurant and bar!! We had family in town for the new year and decided to walk here for dinner/happy hour! We were seated right away and the service the entire time was really great! We ordered the fried pickles and nachos as an appetizer and both were stand out options! The nachos were the clear winner though as they were just loaded with seasoned chicken and lots of fresh toppings! And it was more than enough for 6 people. We did ask for it without beans since I am allergic and didn't come our right at first but the restaurant was quick to fix the error! We all ordered different things for dinner ranging from gyros, to quesadillas, etc! All very great! The HH specials were also nice including the Wednesday night special on bottles of wine! I think it's safe to say we have found our new go to neighborhood restaurant! read more

I recently moved to the dmv and I'm so exited to have found such a good Mediterranean restaurant! It reminds me of back home, the service and the food were both amazing, definitely coming back to try everything else on the menu! The Turkish coffee is so authentic, along with the baklava! read more

Olive Lounge & Grill - Lamb Shawarma to the right and Mediterranean Chicken Pita Wrap with Sriracha wings - Lounges Near Me - Takoma Park, Maryland

My wife and I got take out. We ordered a Gyro and Falafel Bowl. Gyro Pita Wrap 3/5 - I've had gyros that are the size of a Chipotle burrito. It's been awhile though. For some reason so many places are making them tight and skinny now. I'm sure this is just a certain style, but I prefer the ones that are plump and full of lamb, feta, tzatziki, and flavor! Although this gyro was the tight and skinny version, it had a decent amount of lamb, and the flavor was on point. It could have used more tzatziki. Actually I'm not even sure if there was tzatziki included in the gyro, we had to use the tzatziki from the falafel bowl. Also, the pita doesn't seem to be homemade. Falafel Bowl 4/5 - It comes with 6 delicious well seasoned pieces of Falafel, Basmati Rice, Tabuleh, Onion and Tzatziki. For $13 this meal is a far better value than the Gyro Pita Wrap for $10. Our takeout bag was missing cutlery, and napkins. But we let them know, and they were quick to correct the mistake. If the gyro gained weight, tzatziki, and was wrapped in homemade pita + If the falafel bowl had come with a few pieces of homemade pita and pickled banana pepper I would have given 5 stars. read more

I wanted to start by saying a big thank you to Chris, the wonderful Manager at the Olive Lounge & Grill. I had the opportunity to work with Chris for the Grand Opening of Takoma Music School last weekend. Not only did Chris make sure we stayed within our client's budget, but he also went above and beyond to make sure our 200+ guests' were well taken care of with food. We were able to break the delivery times into two to accommodate guests coming at different times between the 8-hour event. We loved the food, the service, and the attention to detail. I highly recommend this amazing restaurant with friendly staff for your catering needs. read more

Four or us enjoyed dinner here this evening. All food items were excellent and courteous service was provided promptly by our wait person. Happy Hour specials were appreciated and the restaurant did not feel a need to hurry us from the establishment immediately after finishing our meal . We all agree that we would return another time... read more

I finally tried this place for the first time yesterday. My family and I sat inside. First, I really like the interior of the restaurant. It's small, but clean with a lot of interesting lighting to stare at. Second, the service was exceptional. Third (but most importantly), the food was great! The pita is thin and crispy, the chicken shawarma sandwich is well seasoned and satisfying, and the Greek salad was fresh and delicious. I'll be coming back soon! read more