The Olive Tree

Some quite mixed reviews on this site.

I have to say that I have been to the Olive Tree quite a few times since it opened for just drinks and also for dinner and it has always been great.

The food is always nice and the staff smiley and polite.
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Jake Jones
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Thursday, June 07, 2007

These reviews make interesting reading. I live round the corner from the Olive Tree and was looking forward to it opening. I went there to eat a couple of times in the first few months that the place was open as i wanted to support the place in the face of some local displeasure at it opening.

The wine list is poor and massively overpriced. £14 a bottle for a cheap, young Rioja you'd pay less than a fiver for in the shops. In addition, they must have stored the wine next to the heating pipe as it was served at a lukewarm temperature. The service wasn't that hot either, to be honest.

I thought the food was OK but just that. Had the mains been priced at around the £10 mark you would probably say that the food was good but the mains are not £15 a dish standard. All in all it is an overpriced restaurant where the money seems to have gone in to decor at the expense of the food & wine presentation & service.

I have a drink there from time to time but just can't bear to risk another disappointing £40 a head meal, given the wide range of excellent restaurants a walk away.
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P
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 1
Wednesday, May 02, 2007

I have been here countless times and have always had good food. In my opinion this is one of the best places to eat in the area.
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Cris Germanos - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Saturday, March 10, 2007

I went to the Olive Tree on Saturday night to celebrate my birthday. I've been before so had high hopes - unfortunately we were well and truly let down. I ordered minestrone soup to start (from the specials menu). It looked wonderful when it arrived but after a few mouthfuls I realised I was eating meat - not ideal for a vegetarian. Chorizo was included in the soup - but not on the menu! Our waitress was clearly mortified and frantically changed all the blackboards. However when the bill came they charged us for the starters and the manager was entirely dismissive of the situation. It would be fair to say he was rude. I will not be going back and I would urge anyone to avoid it on special occassions when you need to guarantee good service and polite staff.
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Tracey Jaques
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 3
Monday, November 06, 2006

The Olive Tree offers a different dining experience with its unique interior (you must take a moment to appreciate the bathrooms) to the varied dishes on offer. The staff were friendly and happy to accomodate requests for cocktails not offered on the menu. The dessert menu was innovative offered something for all tastes. I was a little disappointed that the menu shown on their website did not match the menu in the restaurant, but was able to find a tasty alternative to my much anticipated selection.
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Emily
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7
Monday, October 30, 2006

Eight of us went there for dinner last night. They couldn't cope, the service was appalling we waited one and quarter hours for our starters and another 40 minutes for our mains. The liver and oninon rings were inedible. The risotto was completely tasteless. They appologised and didn't charge us for the main courses but we will not be returning.
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Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 1
Wednesday, September 27, 2006

I agree that the Olive Tree has potential. The decor is nice, the waiting staff friendly and attentive, and the food pretty decent (apart from some overly fried onion rings I had with my starter) but service needs to be improved. I went there for my boyfriend's birthday. We ordered cocktails with our meal but had hardly touched them before the waitress came over with the starters. Then, immediately after we'd finished our starters, our mains arrived. It would have been nice to be able to sit back and relax with our drinks for a while. The restaurant wasn't busy so there was no need for such haste. Also, the waitress neglected to show us the specials board - we saw it at the end of our meal.
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Mees P - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 4
Monday, August 14, 2006

The Olive Tree has the potential to be a great little restaurant. Situated in the pretty brackenbury village area it has a great decor and exciting menu choices. However, the service is not great and some of the dishes could be improved. I haven't been put off going in the hope that next time I go it will be just that little bit better. So a message to the managers, come on guys The Olive Tree could be fantastic restaurant rather than just being ok.
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Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Thursday, June 08, 2006

My bf and I ate there last week and had a great time. Service was brilliant and the food was lovely - I had the lamb roast which was the best I have had over in London and the desserts were sensational! I don't usually have a sweet tooth however managed to get through mine and my boyfriends!
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Nicki
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Friday, May 26, 2006

Was looking forward to lunch at the Olive Tree after reading reviews but, I am afraid it was a let down. The decor was not to my liking the atmosphere none existent and the service was inattentive. The food presented nicely but not value for money. I had minted burger with chips,the bun was hard and burnt the chips were cold. I would have shared my dissatisfaction with the waitress if I thought they cared. I'm afraid I will not be returning to eat here
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Jan
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 0
Thursday, May 25, 2006