Great Middle Eastern food, large menu, with really helpful service. No alcohol, though.

During a trip to Tampa I had a craving for Middle Eastern food, so I asked my uber driver if he had any recommendations as he was Palestinian... He recommended Olive Tree. Located outside of downtown, we walked in and got seated right away by the lovely staff. Surrounded by Arab-American families, I knew this was the right spot! We were given some pita bread with a house dip (which I only got a pic of after digging in). We ordered the Olive Tree Sampler, Fatoush, and the Mansaf (as this is what I had a craving for). The sampler platter was very good, offering a wide variety of options and flavors. The Fatoush was good, but not the best I've had; I was a little disappointed by it. But the headliner, the Mansaf, was probably one of the better ones I've ever had! The lamb was cooked to perfection and the rice was delicious. The portion was good enough to feed 4-5 people, so for the two of us it was a struggle, but we gorged ourselves on the dish. The flavors made it too difficult to stop eating... If you have a craving for Middle Eastern food, or even curiosity about trying it for the first time, I would highly recommend going to the Olive Tree! read more

See all

The food is tasty here! The falafel has to be some of the best I've had in Tampa. Our table enjoyed the grape leaves and hummus as well. Another star was the warm yogurt sauce that had me wanting to eat it like soup! We also tried the beef and chicken schwarma sandwiches, the mixed grill platter and Chef Yosef's famous dish Mansaf. I wish I could have enjoyed a crisp white wine with this meal, however they do not serve alcohol here. Maybe they could consider a BYOB option in the future. We got a cute booth by the window and enjoyed the natural light and beautiful plants along the front of the restaurant. I wish our service would have been better though. Our waitress seemed distracted and maybe a bit overwhelmed by the amount of tables she had. Overall I don't think I would go back to dine in again but would consider take out. read more

See all

I feel like all my reviews are like little stories, so I apologize if they are long, but I like to give people as much detail as possible. So my friends and I decided to try this place out, but I wasn't aware there were going to be 14 of us. We first arrived around 4, so the place was a little empty. It even looked as though there were some servers/workers eating in the back. We had ONE server, Malayna, and she was struggling. She forgot to provide a fork to one of my friends that had dropped her's. She wasn't only caring for our table, but other's as well, so she should have had some help from other's working in the section. First off, they don't automatically provide ice cold water. You need to ask for it. They don't have knives, nor did they offer them to us (I had to use a spoon to try and cut up my filet). On the other hand, the food was yummy. I had the Filet Mignon Shish Kebab & my husband had the Lamb chops with Baba Ghanoush. We loved every thing we ate. And it was good portions. Two of our friends had the Mansaf w/yogurt sauce & Mandi. Both with lamb, which they found tender and delicious, but all agreed that these plates need to be shared as there is so much food. We all left with doggie bags, except for my hubs who was clearly hungry. The restaurant is a pretty good size, but it clearly gets busy quickly, especially with large families. Definitely would suggest to call for reservations, especially if you have a large group. And come with a big appetite. Would definitely return. read more

See all

I been meaning to come here for a little while ever since I discovered this place and it was everything I thought it to be. We ordered the Mixed Grill, however I would say the Chicken is the best and next time I would only get the Chicken. We got the House Salad and Fries as sides, both were very good. They give you endless Pita that comes with this pil that is mixed with spices and it is addicting. The rice and garlic sauce that came with our meal is also out of this world. The service was good, a lot of tables with large parties, I can see this place getting packed very often. Chef Yousef made his way around and greeted all the customers which is very nice of him. read more

Olive Tree By Chef Yousef - Mixed Grill - Middle Eastern Near Me - Tampa, Florida

If you're looking for authentic Turkish cuisine, Olive Tree by Chef Yousef is your place. The food is fresh & delicious. The service is great. Olive Tree is located in a shopping center next to Carraba's. There's a parking lot. Inside is very spacious and nice. Plenty of tables & booths. Each table receives hot fresh pita and an olive oil based dip with spiced & olives...so delicious. We both had chicken shawarma wraps and shared a side of fries. Very good. Hot & fresh!!! Talia was our awesome server, very attentive and friendly! read more

Olive Tree By Chef Yousef - Menu - Middle Eastern Near Me - Tampa, Florida

See all

Good grilled food to start. This restaurant is halal food in temple terrace that serve kabab and more. The restaurant is popular with a lot of customers. The indoor capacity also big enough. Their menu has some Yemeni choices that include the menu of mansaf and mandi. My friend got that choice while we have the mixed grill. The mixed grilled has grilled chicken, shish kabab and kufta kabab. We have the sides as rice, baba ghanoush, and hummus. Their grilled technique is perfect that the meat still juicy. Most of the place we visit is meat too dry. But this place is very good. Service is good. Wait is not too long for the grilled compare to many place. read more

See all

Had a really great experience here at Olive Tree by Chef Yousef in Tampa. The atmosphere was cozy and welcoming, and from the moment we sat down, the service was excellent. We actually didn't even need to order an appetizer because they kept bringing unlimited fresh pita bread with olive oil, which was so good we kept going back for more. For the main course, we ordered the chicken shish taouk, and it came with hummus, baba ganoush, and fries--honestly way more food than we expected, and everything tasted amazing. What really stood out was how much food you get for the price--super tasty and very reasonable. Also, special mention to our server, Kim. She was incredibly cordial, attentive, and made sure we had everything we needed without us even asking. Definitely a place we'd come back to again. read more

See all

We came here for the first time for Mother's Day after reading some reviews. I wanted to try a new spot (a favorite thing of mine) but wanted to stay local. We called to try to get a reservation since it was a holiday but they only take reservations if you have a party of 8 or more I believe. We got there around 1pm and had a short wait for a table so that was lovely! The restaurant is small but they use space well and while it has quite a few tables for the size it was not overly loud and didn't feel like the tables around were too close either. The decor is demure and subtle but elegant. Our waitress seemed a little overwhelmed but she was extremely nice and friendly. They serve Jordanian sodas so two of our party got those and the rest stuck with water which is served in a large carafe and left at the table. They also brought pita with dipping sauce, not sure what they were but one was savory and the other spicy along with some pickled veggies. All very tasty even though we weren't told what type of spices/olive oil mixture they were. Appetizers we got were grape leaves (son's choice) and lamb mealaq (hubby's choice) - I stuck with the pita and dips. For meals : Me: Olive tree mixed grill (filet mignon, kufta, and chicken kabobs with rice, hummus, and salad) Hubby: lamb chops w/rice, baba ghanoush, and salad Son: Shwarma sandwich (pita sandwich) Daughter : chicken kabobs with fries Everything we got was very good! Flavors were great and leaving we were full but the food didn't leave you feeling heavy. The use of flavors was very done and everyone liked their dishes (even the picky daughter who usually doesn't like anything "new") Only opportunities were around staffing (which can be hard in the food business and especially on holidays so we understand) but the hostess was bussing and cleaning tables in between seating and setting tables, our waitress had a pretty large group of tables and it appeared there was only one, maybe two other wait staff in the building. They were working hard today and I hope the room saw their effort and rewarded that. They were earning their tips for sure. I would also recommend asking if guests had dined there before or had questions. The menu explained a lot but I did google some of the dishes to fully understand. Overall we enjoyed the meal and the restaurant and will return in the future and would love to share it with friends! read more

See all

We had an absolutely stellar meal here, and I can't wait to go back. Located in a strip mall near USF there was plenty of parking in the lot out front. Very unassuming business from the outside, but big and warmly decorated on the inside, with large tables and comfortable seating. While I was waiting for the rest of my party to arrive, I chatted with the hostess who told me her favorite thing on the menu, which I actually ended up ordering. I love that they bring out water, pita bread and olive oil dip right from the get-go. Our table also ordered hummus as a starter, and it was truthfully some of the best hummus I have had in my life. Entrees took a little time to come out, but they were worth the wait. My three lamb shish kabobs (kufta kabobs) were moist and tender, and incredibly flavorful. The house specialty rice was excellent. My side dish of french fries was nice and hot. The only thing I didn't love was the side of tomatoes and cucumber salad. It was actually frozen, and thus inedible. Not sure what happened there, but the rest of the food was so delicious it didn't matter. Service was efficient, even though the restaurant got incredibly busy. No dessert because we were all too stuffed, although I happily had plenty of leftovers. I can't wait to eat here again! read more

See all

We had the pleasure of trying local gem last Friday, after touring the local Amazon warehouse. Thanks @Boon and @Grace for hosting us! Your company is exceptional but your taste in restaurants and cuisine exceeds that! Kyla, our waitress, was gracious, knowledgeable, on point and patient. She made sure my meal was dairy free and had great recommendations! Plus, she let us take our time with our meal, giving us space to chat and enjoy while being available if we needed anything. I'm not an expert but my food was excellent. The hummus was creamy, light, flavorful, fresh and not oily. I'm usually not a huge fan of this item but this was the best! My mixed grill was meaty and delicious and featured actual steak, grilled perfectly medium! Not overcooked! We enjoyed our meals and look forward to returning! Life is good with a comfortable, unhurried, delicious meal! read more

Lived in Tampa for 3+ years. Drove by this place all the time and always wanted to try. I moved away and was back in town. I regret not trying this place earlier. The food was so good that I forgot to take a picture of the food. But my empty plate should give an indication of how delicious the food is. Had the Mixed Grill Plate. read more

Olive Tree By Chef Yousef - Mixed Grill Plate, so good, forgot to take a picture. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Tampa, Florida

This was our first time and everything we ordered was delicious. The waitress was super sweet. We drove all the way from Orlando and would definitely make the drive again. A must try. read more

See all

We have eaten here before though the first time it was simply catering for my sisters gender reveal party. When you walk in it is very spacious and comfortable. The service was quite slow. The drinks took quite a while to arrive and the ap for the table was a bit small for 4 but... Food wise the meat; Lamb, Kefta, Kibbeh, chicken and steak all so tender and delicious. Was a very satisfying dinner! read more

See all

We stopped in after attending a funeral, and although the restaurant was very busy and the service a bit slow, the food absolutely made up for it. We had the pleasure of meeting Chef Yousef, and you can really taste the freshness and care in every dish. A few things could be improved -- the bathrooms were quite dirty, the back seating area was uncomfortably warm, and there were no dessert options available. Overall, though, it was definitely worth the visit for the meal alone. read more

Olive Tree By Chef Yousef - 43. Olive Tree Mixed Grill - Middle Eastern Near Me - Tampa, Florida

See all

This was our first time trying Olive by Chef Yousef, after wanting to try it for several months. My parents had highly recommended the spot as they have been multiple times whenever they visit Tampa. Upon our arrival, we noticed that the restaurant was packed, which was a great sign. We decided to order a variety of dishes to try different things and share with our group. The food was absolutely phenomenal, tasting authentic and homemade. The chef even walked around and checked on us during our meal to ensure that everything was up to our likings. We were also very impressed with the pricing and found the food to be great value. We will definitely be back and cannot wait to try their brunch as well. read more

See all

In the section of Tampa where I was staying there are many Mediterranean choices. You won't go wrong if you choose Olive tree. The service was great. I had the beef shawarma wrap and a side of the seasoned rice. Plus a Chebek??? I spelled it wrong. All the food was very good and wow the portions are enormous. The dining area isn't bad but it's kind of mediocre. The do accommodate large groups and the atmosphere was very up beat and family oriented. I enjoyed this place but can't give it 5 stars. It's a 4 star place. read more

See all

I was craving Mediterranean food, so I searched the area and found Olive Tree by Chef Yousef, which had great reviews and ratings. I decided to order the Chicken Shawarma Plate with baba ghanoush and a side salad. I picked up my order in about 25 minutes and headed home to enjoy dinner. The chicken shawarma was perfectly cooked, flavorful, and well-seasoned, while the baba ghanoush was delicious and paired perfectly with the fresh bread. Overall, the meal was satisfying and hit the spot for my Mediterranean food craving. I'll be back to try more from Olive Tree by Chef Yousef. read more

See all

Wow. Amazing. Totally had a great meal with family. Lucky able to get a table of ten during a Sunday lunch. Place was packed. Place was even busy with to go orders as well- didn't stop the service from running smoothly. Great selection of middle eastern food. For starter they give you pita bread to dip on olive oil with zaatar and red pepper. They have non alcoholic beer and soda for drinks. They give you a cold pitcher of water. We totally enjoyed every dish we ordered- if you can't decide- try the grilled mixed meat- which has chicken, lamb kafta, shish kabob steak. All were flavored perfectly. Chicken was brined and cooked perfectly. The fried fish was delicious. Hummus and babagonoush were smooth and so good. They give you a big portion of rice with the meal. Definitely will come back when we are in town. read more

See all

Great restaurant in the temple terrace area. Nice to see they expanded and they have a mix grill that's perfect for larger groups for a $100. Great experience. Service a bit slower than we'd like but the food trumps the service here. read more

Olive Tree By Chef Yousef - 43. Olive Tree Mixed Grill - Middle Eastern Near Me - Tampa, Florida

The food, service, and environment were excellent! Also I have to point this out - THEY HAVE THE BEST HUMMUS I HAVE EVER TASTED IN MY LIFE (and I have tried a lot of restaurant hummus). This food was tasty! I got the 3 meat platter which was chicken kebab, beef kebab, and I forgot the other meat. With rice and salad. Also the chef Yousef stopped by the table to make sure we were ok. The staff were excellent. We will be back again! read more

Olive Tree By Chef Yousef - Kebab Platter - Middle Eastern Near Me - Tampa, Florida

I wish I would have tried this place sooner. This is my new favorite restaurant. They are extremely busy because they are extremely amazing! That being said, if you call when you are on the way, they will add you to their wait list. The staff were friendly and attentive. Everyone. All the wait staff and the chef. We were well taken care of even on a busy and bustling Saturday night. All of the dips, bread, falafel, and kibbeh were top notch. The labneh was smooth and refreshing. The falafel is the best in the Tampa Bay Area. I was so full because I couldn't stop eating the appetizers. I tried the chicken Mandi, and it was seasoned perfectly. The skin was crispy. It comes with a really tasty fresh and spicy sauce. The rice was flavorful. The salad is so good. We loved 100% of what we tried here. read more

See all

Great food and excellent service. Ambiance outstanding. Would go again soon. Chef Yousef is great!!

If I could rate this higher than 5 I would. Absolutely amazing and authentic middle eastern food. My wife is middle eastern and she has been wanting to try this restaurant for a very long time and we ended up coming in when one of our friends was in town. I forget if we ordered bread and oil, but that was one of the appetizers that we got along with the Olive Tree sample platter. Each of these were incredible, packed with flavor. For the main my wife and I ordered the bbq plate and Mensaf. Unbeknownst to us, was that the Mensaf was large enough for 2 people to share. We enjoyed it so much that we barely touched the bbq plate (but trust me, I still at half the bbq plate). At the end we had almost half of each entre left over and got it in a to-go box. All around amazing food, probably the best Mensaf we have had (at a restaurant - still can't beat the aunties cooking, i have to say that for my safety). Also the prices are great, 3 people, with food enough for 4 or 5 people, only a little over 130. I wish the Chef nothing but success. We have made this place a mainstay and will be coming back here again and again. read more

See all

The food here is so clean and delicious. During Ramadan they have a buffet with so much delicious entrees. I highly recommend this place if you want to try the authentic Arabic cuisine. The ambience is a little loud here but it's because it's Ramadan. The meat and everything is cooked to perfection. Customer service is also excellent. read more

Olive Tree By Chef Yousef - Middle Eastern Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Came here on quick trip to Tampa...would never have thought there is section of town that is middle eastern ..Jordanian food that was incredible ...ordered a mixed platter..lamb chops and the filet ...each dish came with several sides and all shared family style ..more than enough food didn't need to order appetizers.::the hummus is amazing ..all meats even though cooked to near well done were juicy ..great taste ...fast service and prices are decent for quality and quantity of food ...highly recommend! read more

See all

Food and atmosphere are phenomenal. Chicken and beef shawarma plate is one of my favs, hummus is amazing, baba ganoush- amazing, starter plate with herbs in olive oil served with pita and olives -wonderful. The rice is also very good here- this is worth noting as most places have it as a dry or tasteless filler- this one you'll want to eat. Have tried several other dishes and all good. read more

Very disappointing experience. I called ahead and informed the restaurant that my party would arrive at 9:45 PM. The person on the phone confirmed that we would still be accommodated and allowed to dine. When we arrived at 9:45 PM as discussed, the staff refused to seat us and would not take our order. Had we been told on the phone that the kitchen was closing or that they could not serve us, we would have made other plans. Driving all the way there based on the information provided, only to be turned away upon arrival, was extremely frustrating and unprofessional. Restaurants should honor the commitments they make to customers or at least communicate accurately over the phone. Unfortunately, this experience left a very negative impression, and I will not be returning. read more

I really wanted to like this restaurant after reading such great reviews. I was truly looking forward to it, but ultimately felt that staff miscommunication, service, and the flavor of the food just wasn't there. I hope that it was an off day, given the amount of great reviews I've read. The other food in the restaurant (kebabs and the daily special Maqlubeh) looked great and a lot of customers were ordering these larger plates. Service: Despite all waitresses being kind, from the moment we walked in it felt like there was a miscommunication between staff regarding the table we were supposed to sit at and as if our waitress didn't have proper training on the ordering system. It's also a pretty intimate restaurant which I enjoyed, but it was unsettling to have the waitresses stand in one area and almost stare at us eat. Felt a bit like I was in the spot light lol. Our server was attentive though and checked in during the different phases of the meal and brought more pita. Also as I was leaving I saw a staff member leave the restroom and not pick up any of the paper on the ground. Food: We ordered the Baba Ghanoush, Fattoush Salad, Chicken Shawarma and Beef Shawarma. These are all some of my fav lunch time dishes and I've tried them at multiple restaurants all over. The Baba Ghanoush had too much tahini for my taste and the Fattoush Salad was just too sour and seemed like there was too much pomegranate syrup. Both of the Shawarma's were good and I really loved the garlic dipping sauce. Chicken shawarma was the favorite of the two. We do wish they were slightly bigger or served with a side. Enjoyed the complimentary pita served with oil sesame and herb blend. Drinks: We tried the Laziza malt beverages in pomegranate and apple and enjoyed them a lot! Overall not sure if I'd return. If so it would potentially be try out one of the larger meat and rice dishes. read more

See all

Ladies and gentlemen I may have found the best restaurant in temple terrace. I knew I was going to enjoy the food the moment I walked in. The beautiful aromas of various spices lingered in the air and I felt a sense of excitement building up. The complimentary bread with olive oil, olives, and zaatar absolutely amazing and a perfect start off for our meal. Very fresh Mansaf - it's roti style bread, aromatic yellow rice with lamb and toasted almonds, it comes with a yogurt dipping sauce. The lamb itself is very fragrant with less salt than I expected , this is probably due to the fact that we should mix all the ingredients together for a balanced bite. It was excellent and the portions are awesome Olive tree platter - all your favorite appetizers in one platter , the falafel was top tier and the kibbeh just as much. The dips were perfect and highlighted how versatile chef yousef is. This is one of my new favorite restaurants and I can't wait to be back read more

See all

I highly recommend this restaurant. It was delicious! We ordered the Mansaf and the veggie platter appetizer. Everything came out quickly and it tasted very fresh and well-prepared. This was my first time trying Mansaf, and I am glad I tried it at Olive Tree. The lamb was very tender and the yogurt sauce paired very well. Eating this dish made me feel very homey and warm. The veggie platter was good as well. It was essentially a sampler of the hummus, baba ganoush, tabouli, falafel, and yogurt. Our waitress also brought us complimentary pita. Loved the pita. The food we ordered was more than filling for 2 people. Service was good. And the inside of the restaurant was well-kept. I would come again. read more

Olive Tree By Chef Yousef - Middle Eastern Near Me - Tampa, Florida

See all

Great food, service and ambiance. All meats are tender, rice soft. Very pleasant atmosphere and staff read more

Olive Tree By Chef Yousef - Mixed grill with chicken, filet mignon and ground lamb and beef shaped like a log, rice and extra side. Very tender and good - Middle Eastern Near Me - Tampa, Florida

This place is a total disappointment. Food was dry and too salty. We ordered mixed grill. The salad was very bland like lemon water in salad. No oil no salt. The chicken was very dry. Filet mignon was overcooked well done (what a shame) and salty. The lamb was okay. The service was slow. Our server was nice but clearly overwhelmed. The hostess who is a young girl was extremely rude and not helpful. She could have helped even get more water, to go boxes, or tea, but she kept saying they didn't have enough servers. She seemed to upset other customers. I did tell our server about our food and she immediately helped. However, by the time she asked and checked on us, we were over the meal. They still made some replacement steak to go. For this reason, they get 2 stars. If the server wasn't so nice, it would be one star. read more

80-90% carbs - mostly rice and bread. Service was good and prices were okay. Just the tables are a bit close to each other read more

Absolutely delicious! I had the chicken kebabs and my husband got the shawarma and it was some of the best middle eastern food we've had in a while. I definitely recommend ordering the hummus as an appetizer! read more

Two thumbs up, enthusiastically. From the bread and dip upon seating to the entrees and dessert, the Mediterranean food was fresh, healthy, and delicious. Service was with a smile. You know a restaurant is good when it's busy daily and you see people leaving their tables saying that they're stuffed from a good meal. read more

Always fresh and hot. So much flavor and nothing needed. Every stop to Tampa area, we eat here. Best flavors. read more

Wow talk about amazing food!! The bread and olive oil with olives and seasonings was the perfect way to get our meal started. The service was incredible. Water was brought by the table before the glasses were even close to being half empty. The lamb and filet skewers were amazing. The rice warm and full of flavor and t was light and fluffy not dense in the lease. Very fresh flavors and though it was busy the server was more than able to keep up with our questions. The food came quickly and was hot so we know it was fresh! Great interior with plenty of space between tables so you didn't feel like you were on top of one another. Easy for groups to gather or intimate for a business meeting. I'll eat here again for sure!! read more

See all

So worth it. Place gets very busy so plan on waiting! The food is amazing and the service is friendly and fast! We will be back for sure! read more

See all

From the moment we walked in, we were greeted by Michelle, who was incredibly friendly and attentive--she constantly checked in on our group to make sure everything was perfect. The decor is simple, elegant, and beautifully designed, creating a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere. The food was fresh, hot, and absolutely delicious. I ordered the mixed grill, and every type of meat was cooked to perfection--juicy, flavorful, and seasoned just right. If you're in Tampa and craving Middle Eastern cuisine, this is the place to visit. Chef Yousef and the team truly deliver a dining experience that's both refined and heartwarming. read more