The Green Olive

[kevin]

Someone tipped me off to this place on chowhound a couple weeks back. And you know what, it's pretty damn good, even though it has no right to be conside4ring that it's situated catty-corner from a Fatburger and Jamba Juice.

But the gyro here is good, the pita is nicely toasted the hummus isn't bad, and the spicey potato chips (actually in between chips and sliced sauteed potatoes) are pretty good. And yes most dishes here are garnished with a green olive, though a pedestrian one at that. Now thinking about it the bakhlava here is pretty good too, and not too sweet, and has a nice modern touch with the pecans.

The small mostly takeout/counter joint is on Wilshire, a few blocks West of Barrington.

[Bria Silbert]

We get takeout from there often (especially since Mama Voula's closed) and I agree the food is solid and dependable.

[wilafur]

thanks for the heads up. will have to walk there for lunch one of these days. is it on the N or S side of wilshire?

[mikebietz]

N side of wilshire. Next to the Jamba Juice which is next to the Fatburger.

[wilafur]

thanks for pointing me in the right direction. =)

[mikebietz]

I actually love this place. Unfortunately, it is in a location that seems to have rotating restaurants. Their portions are large. Their prices are relatively low. I'm sure their rent is ridiculously high. When I go buy at night it looks like its pretty empty. It is a shame.

I'm being pessimistic which is not my general outlook on things. I hope I'm wrong, though, as this place is really great for quick greek.

[Xericx]

I went today..loved it.....i have bad garlic breath now though.

gyro plate....good plate of lamb gyro (i believe), nice hummus, salad, rice and two falafels for 8 bucks!!!!! Quality is surprisingly high for the price. Nice service too.

[kevin]

i concur, for some reason the quality is high, and the portions are not that big. but it's always empty. they seriously can serve terrible food in this location and get away with it.

i think the gyro is beef/lamb mixture and it's pretty darn good. yeah, the stuff here is almost cheap.

and the falafels, once again, taste very different from either the Israeli, Lebanese, or other Middle Eastern styles. maybe because it's greek falafels.

[omotosando]

I agree with another poster that they need better signage. The restaurant is virtually unnoticeable, even if you are walking right by on the street. They should also deliver. Might help them expand their business since parking is horrible.

[Xericx]

It was pretty full when I went yesterday for Lunch. I'll probably go there at least once a week. maybe even return today!

[kevin]

parking isn't bad in the complex (garage), but at lunch hour it is probably madness. usu, i'm there off hours so parking isn't too bad at all.

[yogachik]

I eat here at least twice a week, I crave it. Love love love this place!

[omotosando]

I know what you mean. I have started eating there pretty regularly and crave the chicken kabob and especially the green spicy sauce that they serve on the side (I always ask for two sides of sauce).

You have to be careful though about getting food to go. One time I picked up chicken kabob to go and it was all dried out by the time I got it home, not moist as usual. (I guess if it sits around to long after it is taken off the grill, it dries out). I also once got a chicken kabob sandwich to go, which also wasn't a good idea, because the bread was completely soggy by the time I got the sandwich home.

Still, the place is greating for eating in. I hope more people will discover it so it can stay in business. The food in the neighborhood is so, so awful and this is one of the only edible places.