update: beef kebab is too dry for another visit so I guess the quality is not always consistent. Pita bread, hummus and lamb shank are still great. Something new is the sea gull walkng outside waiting for food. beautiful!
We booked a group dinner and it went really well. Hummus trios were so good that we asked for more pita. Kebob looks amazing and tastes beautiful. Lamb shanks are like volcanoes, soft meat. The only complaint is that the mock tail are too strong in sweet, sour and mint flavor but it could be a personal taste thing. Will definitely go again!
I went here the last weekend of January 2023 with my boo and best friend. We were looking to have a midday snack after a hike along the pier. We all like Mediterranean food, so we drove to Olive and Basil. It was unseasonably cold outside. I was grateful that our server allowed us to sit inside because I would not have been able to hang out on their outdoor patio for long. I'm vegan and truly appreciate when vegan items are clearly marked on a menu, as was the case here! There were at least 5 viable vegan options. I went with the Vegetable-Med Plate (which sounds basic) but was actually very satisfying. The vegetable were seasoned and grilled perfectly. The hummus was thick and smooth, exactly the way I like it. Also, our server, who's name slips my mind, was well suited for his role. He was so kind, considerate, and pleasant. Nice place to grab a snack!
Good spot to grab a bite. We were seated upstairs so we had a nice view. Our server Vinny was great! He was always around when we needed him & he had a wonderful attitude. We had the calamari & the Spanish shrimp pasta dish. Great flavor, plenty of large shrimp & the veggies on top were nice. We also wanted to try the Baklava cheesecake that our waiter suggested & my goodness, it was everything!! I also think the prices for the dishes were reasonable. If you ever find yourself in La Jolla, you should def stop by!
I ordered takeout so I can't really comment on the atmosphere very much. It did take a while to get my food done, but service was professional. Also, there's the TV entertainment 😄 In general, the food was quite good. I especially liked the calamari fritti for its well-combined crispy, tangy, and salty-savory flavors. The tacos were decent but a little small and overpriced for my liking. The fish and meat combinations did taste good though. The nachos had enticing colors representing the Mexican flag- green, red, and white, but the texture was a little too thick for my liking.
We ordered:
-Hummus Trio
Pesto Hummus was my favorite or the three, bread was soft and delicious!!
-Beef Kebab Plate
Meat was super tender, could cut with a butter knife, greatly enjoyed the vegetable variety and freshness!
-Gyros Plate
Tender meat with good seasoning, soft vegetables cooked to perfection, rice was not sticky or hard! Perfect presentation.
-Falafel Add on
Very crispy and tender! Good flavor that you didn't need sauce for (def paired great with the Hummus)
-Two Chardonnays
Can't go wrong with white wine on a gorgeous day!!
We will definitely be back, especially to try the dessert. Portions were good sized and menu is not overwhelming. Amazing view and staff. So polite, quick and attentive!
Wonderful Sunday lunch,
Thank you!
Really pretty restaurant with a great view of LA Jolla cove. Food was great plus the sun setting made for a memorable dinner in a beautiful location.
We had 25 friends and family from LA area and out of state last night Feb. 11, 2023 at this wonderful restaurant. The waiter was so friendly and accommodating and the manager we had to call with a few questions was so understanding and accommodating . The food was amazing from the lamb shank to open face gyros , calamari , mahi tacos etc. wonderful menu variety . We were treated so kindly.
Loved it, great place for quick bite or dinner. We came for a lunch and it wasn’t very busy, it was rather cloudy day so probably not many people were going to the beach and it was not overcrowded and no waiting time. The views are amazing, it was quite cold but we sat outside and had heated lamps which made pretty comfortable. Open face gyros tasted great, large portions and very fresh. Service was great too. Definitely nice place to stop by. Since I am working in the area, will definitely be back again.
Fantastic find in La Jolla CA while visiting. Dining on 3 levels. Bar on level 2. Bathrooms on levels 2 and 3. Vinny was a perfect server. Good beers and wines with the food. The shrimp tacos were excellent.
A really nice restaurant in La Jolla. We initially entered to escape the rain, but we were surprised at the high quality of the food and service. Excellent all around and definitely worth a visit.
A charming restaurant with a stunning view of La Jolla Cove. The food was excellent, and the experience was elevated by the memorable dinner set against the backdrop of the beautiful sunset.
6-26-23 -- They got our group of 20 in right away on their covered patio for lunch and we had very good service! My husband and I got the gyro sandwich platter and it was a ton of food and very very good! We also tasted the hummus platter and all were very good! Amazing views of the water depending on where you sit!
Our rehearsal dinner night before our son's wedding was exquisite there! Perfect view at top, food was so delicious, price was reasonable. Couldn't have been happier, thank the Lord!!
We tried the Calamari fretti , farm lamb shank and
the tuna salad, the food taste was amazing , Every
thing was perfect
Amazing food. veggies, lamb shanks and cheesecake were delicious and the service was excellent we were definitely taken care of! nice quiet atmosphere and good drinks.
First time visiting Olive & Basil and the food was amazing! We had the falafel wrap and lamb burger with sweet potato fries! The sweet potato fries comes with a delicious sauce...so good that we added it onto our wraps and burgers! Yuri was our server, and he provided excellent service! The restaurant is walking distance from La Jolla Cove and next to souvenir shops! Rooftop view of La Jolla Cove is awesome! I will definitely return on my next visit to San Diego!
P.S. Olive & Basil has bottomless mimosas during breakfast hours!
This place is truly a gem, has great views and the mojitos are so good! I ordered the ahi tuna tacos and they were delicious.
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