Olive Tree Restaurant in Exeter

Business trip and in need of supper, stumbled on this. Really friendly host, rich tasty garlic mushrooms and sea bass with fresh veg. Just a fraction Oilier than I like, but lovely flavours and nice ambience

We ate here twice when we spent a couple of days at the Queens Court hotel. The food is beautifully cooked and presented. Nice dining room and excellent, friendly service

I had smoked salmon on beetroot carpaccio and confit duck leg, both with various appropriate, plentiful and extremely tasty trimmings. Lovely lady waiting staff, who brought me a huge amuse geule of a plate of prosciutto and warm focaccia with olives and balsamic vinegar. It was so big for a freebie I thought I'd been given the wrong starter! Really first class food, especially considering the price.

The breakfast was very good with perfect eggs for eggs benedict and also scrambled egg. Fresh fruit and pastries and small boxes of cereal. Quick and polite service. Really good - but need to lose the watercress - no need for it. The evening meal was steak and chicken dishes with chips and veg and all cooked well - steak medium rare as requested. Desserts were ok but the meringue was out of a box and dry dust type - homemade would have been much better. Pity they ran out of favourite gin but there were other quality ones. For a small hotel I thought it was good and not too expensive but again no need for watercress. Really good service too.

Exceptional service, fabulous food at a great price. Very clean and great atmosphere. Highly recommend.

We ate here this evening Tuesday 16th July. The food was exceptional. I had the oven roast salmon and my husband had the Chicken Supreme just what we wanted very good food. Our host was Ryan again exceptional service and excellent customer care. We would highly recommend eating here.

Great place, great choice of menu and really good service. Reasonably priced for the quality of the food and nice choice of wines,

Had an evening meal which was first class and not expensive. Had the Steak which was cooked exactly how I like it to be. Room had a nice atmosphere As I was staying at the Hotel I also had a cooked breakfast in the restaurant which also very good and value for money

I think the restaurant has changed hands recently, anyway we were told there was a new menu. The menu was somewhat limited, but I considered that a good sign that the food would be properly prepared and thought through. The hostess was a delight and when I had a question about one of the food items the chef came out to answer (it was quince jelly). We were one of the first people there and the place was still empty except for one other person. I don't know how busy it might get later in the evening or weekends. We were both very satisfied with our meals and the cheeseboard was excellent. There are steps into the restaurant and also to the toilets.

Have not been here for five years since it changed hands so thought would give it a try. Booked with QUANDOO which was a mistake as when arrived there wasn't record of our booking! Ryan soon found us a table and we had a very enjoyable meal and some nice wine in a contemporary but comfortable environment. The complementary bread and olives is a very generous portion that you probably do not need to order starters. All in all a pleasant evening made very welcoming by Ryan. Thankyou. We will return.

Abbiamo mangiato qui essendo ospiti dell'adiacente Qeens Court hotel. La cucina propone piatti di buon gusto e buona presentazione . Scarsa l'offerte delle birre per essere in Inghilterra

My daughter booked this resturant as a suprise for my wife's birthday 2 weeks before the occasion . On arriving looking forward to a nice meal we were informed by the receptionist that the kitchen was closed and that someone had tried to contact my daughter ( they had her number and there where no missed calls or texts) she said not to worry as there where plenty of other resturants to choose from. Her attitude said it all. I agreed there where plenty of other resturants to choose from and in future we will choose some where that value's our custom.

With friends we had our Christmas works meal at the Olive Tree within the Queens Court Hotel and we were amazed Our Christmas menu was exceptional and a real credit to the chef and his team There was plenty of well presented and deliciously cooked food - Complimentary home made and very tasty bread then I had the prawns to start - delicious - Turkey exceptional and with all you would expect with a home made Yorkshire Pud as a bonus followed by cheese and biscuits What made the whole evening exceptional was the friendly, professional and very helpful staff Both Claire and Trevanney Undoubtedly one of the best Christmas meals I've had and most definitely exceeded our expectations Thank you

We ate here our first night as it was our hotel's restaurant. The ambiance, food and service were all good although the menu is fairly limited.

A lovely find. Really interesting food and a great atmosphere. Extremely good value. The waitress was very attentive. We even had a free tasting board to start with. The food itself was first rate and freshly cooked.

As always the food was cooked and prepared to perfection. This was our third visit as previous visits did not fail to impress. This visit only gets three out of five purely due to staff lack of attention. When the wine arrived it wasn't properly chilled, we were not offered to taste it first. The waitress just removed the cap and walked off leaving me to pour myself! When our food arrived we just had our plates placed on the table and she left, at no pint throughout our meal were we asked if all was ok. And neither when we had finished and plates removed! Poor attention to small details makes all the difference when dining in what is claimed to be a higher ranked dining establishment. Back to point...food was very good!

Atmosphere and food were nice. Waited a long time to be seated/served at the bar and also to pay the bill(which resulted in missing my train). Not very happy right now

Lovely atmosphere, lovely food uses local produce. Good choice of drinks. Relaxing and no rush to get you on to your next course. Would eat there again

Vinimos aquí para cenar, ya que era el cumpleaños de mi hija y me iba de compras al día siguiente. No nos decepcionó y mucho mejor para tener una nueva gestión. La cena fue deliciosa, y el desayuno era así. Gracias por una velada encantadora.

Mi esposa y yo comimos aquí principalmente porque nos quedamos en el hotel (Queens Court). El ambiente era escaso, pero eso fue porque sólo había una pareja en el restaurante. El menú era muy limitado- una selección de sólo cuatro platos principales o en el menú de degustación. Nos pareció que el último, aunque muy bonita, probablemente sería demasiado para comer, elegimos un par de los principales campos que eran muy bonitas. También tuve un arranque muy bueno.

Nos alojamos una noche y disfrutamos de los menú de degustación organizado directamente con el hotel en vez de zoo de viaje. El servicio fue muy rápido y cortés. Me gustó el examen mostró preguntando si estábamos listos para el siguiente curso o quería un descanso. Disfrutamos de cada campo, pero el mejillones amuse bouche, Tortellini y carrillo eran excelentes. He comido menús degustación aquí antes y estaban deliciosos, pero no tan contundente. Bebimos el tinto de la casa, que estaba bien. Único punto débil era la zona del bar, que ha sido renovado y ahora le falta carácter.

Mi marido y recientemente cenamos en el Olive Tree, que era una noche de sábado, no lleno en todo y tenía un ambiente genial. El personal y el gerente era muy encantador. Tomó un poco de tiempo para las bebidas y los aperitivos para venir, pero no era demasiado esperar. La única queja fue la comida, era normal si no menos de. Mi marido y yo estábamos un poco decepcionados en nuestros platos.

A really top quality meal, warm bread with olive oil and balsamic, hot smoked chicken to start followed by a amuse-bouche of pan fried scallops pea purée and pancetta (one of best scallop dishes I've ever had, delicious) and mushroom tortellini. Couldn't fit dessert in. Service was excellent too. All at a very reasonable price.Simply faultless! If you're in Exeter you should try it.

The restaurant very well laid out and attractive . The wine list was fine and average prices . We had the taster menu which was amazing, the stuffed pasta in a yellow pepper sauce was both our favourite dish but the others were not far behind.I have to agree with another review I've read the ox main dish was slightly too large with so many other dishes but i enjoyed all of it. I;d have liked a slightly lighter desert than the sticky toffee pudding due to so much amazing food, would recommend and visit again .

We had the taster menu and each of the courses were well prepared and presented. In particular the use of herbs and seasoning was very good. Our only complaint was when it came to the main course, ox cheeks. it was a huge plate of food. Probably big enough for a meal on its own without the other 5 courses. Of course you can always leave what you don't want but that bit was not really tasting menu style.Only a minor issue I guess and we were generally very pleased with the food.

I stayed here again , lovely and welcoming as ever. Had yesterday a lovely taster meal, very well presented and very tasty. Would recommend the Queens Court Hotel to stay when you are in Exeter and definitely try in their Olive Tree Restaurant the taster menu.

A 7 course taster menu, part of a Travelzoo offer.We enjoyed every course, only let down, the 'toast' which accompanied the duck mousse. We could not cut it for fear of breaking the plates.Had a bottle of Fleurie which seemed to go reasonably well with each course, but a bit steep at £27.They normally charge around £30 for this meal, but as part of the Travelzoo deal well worth the visit, pity we don't live closer.

Joining the rest of the other Tripadvisors, we went to this restaurant as part of the Travelzoo offer. The 6 course tasting menu was delightful, a range of taste to bring joy to your tastebuds. It covers a range of items too, e.g. monk fish, neck of lamb, mackerel and etc. Service was slightly slow but that was because the reception staff was also doubling up as waitress at the restaurant.Good job to the team though for their effort in ensuring their guest are well-taken care off!

Restaurant offrant une cuisine simple mais de qualité. C'est un endroit calme , avec un cadre classique. Idéal si on ne veut pas des fast food qui pullulent dans la ville!

We ate at this restaurant as part of a travelzoo offer which included a night in the hotel. The tasting menu was excellent. Each course was very tasty but all a little small. I was still very hungry by the time the main course was served so I asked for a basket of bread which made the meal perfect. Very friendly waiting staff. The wine was very expensive for what it was though.

Restaurant is part of Queens Court Hotel where we stayed (6 old friends). Following pre drinks we were accommodated by the window, this meant rearranging the tables, which was kindly done - we were v grateful as the room was a little hot and we could open the window/door. The menu is quite small, with only 4 mains to select from...this however was a positive and all dishes were superb. We had a complimentary pea and mint soup, which was v tasty, followed by starters ....which were presented excellently and tasted great - our dishes included pigeon and smoked salmon (not together!). For mains we had, cod, lamb and mushroom risotto, again, all well cooked, tasty and excellently presented. All six plates were left clean! We did not sample the pudding menu but shared 3 cheese platters between us - which was more than plenty and included garnishes of grapes, salty/caramel walnuts, celery and good quality crackers. For wine we choose an Italian dry rose and a Chilean Merlot, both reasonably priced and enjoyable. The restaurant kindly gave us a bottle of fizz to add to our celebration.The staff were excellent, informative, knowledgeable and v helpful and for one of the party were able to provide rearrange regarding possible allergens by checking with the chef.Overall, a great little restaurant - would highly recommend for an occasion.

We tried their tasting menu and it was really first class, creative, tasty and well presented in an understated dining room. Service was friendly and helpful, just don't stay at the hotel!

I bought the Travel Zoo overnight stay with tasting menu for my parents and joined them for dinner. Cannot fault the food and thanks to Alfie we had fantastic service! I would highly recommend this restaurant and I will definitely be returning. The food was presented beautifully and the taste was faultless. We were fortunate to have Alfie mostly to ourselves which meant fabulous service, he was very knowledgeable about the food and wine to accompany it, he also spoiled us with some extras from the kitchen. Thank you for making my parents anniversary special.

The food in this restaurant is excellent and I would highly recommend it for couples or small groups.

Went with friends hoping for a decent evening of food and wine and it's fair to say my expectations were exceeded. Not to say I had a reason to think it wouldn't be good, just that for the price I didn't anticipate the food being quite as good as it was.Also, as a vegetarian I find taster menus are often disappointing, not here though, good alternatives wherever required.Wines were fairly priced and a decent range was available, good service, wouldn't hesitate to go again.

We had the six course taster menu and it was lovely, very tasty. The atmosphere could have been better as unfortunately there were not many diners but everything else was excellent.

Excellent taster menu. Beautifully presented. Delicate flavours. Imaginative dishes. No bread or melba toast which may have be required. A wonderful evening out

We stayed overnight as part of a Travelzoo deal and were really impressed with the standard of the food and the service. Good ambience and interesting design, and an extensive drinks menu at reasonable prices.

A friend and I visited yesterday via a Travelzoo deal for the taster menu. We weren't disappointed at the recently renovated beautiful decor, nor the lovely food.They took my dietary issues in their stride, and with suitable notice, swopped the main course as well as I don't like venison.Only slight niggles were the long wait to receive a glass of wine for our aperitif from the ordered bottle of wine, and there being no bread served with the soup element of the menu. Otherwise a very pleasant evening.

Lovely restaurant and upon a warm welcome, I had good expectations. The food was fine, although the cod main was a bit bland, but the service was awful. Every table was occupied, with two tables doing the 7 course taster meals, but there were about 4-5 waiting staff who did not seem to be able to handle it. We weren't offered bread after we ordered and when we asked for it, it took about 15 minutes to come out and arrived as we were finishing our starters. It was only when our mains were served - 1h 30m after ordering them - that one of the waiting staff actually apologised for the delay. Two of our group ordered the cheeseboard as a desert and the piece of Brie that was served was comical. We were told that it was very expensive and had been imported from France, but it was so small that blink and it was gone.Being understaffed on a busy night doesn't fly with me - you check your books, you see all your tables are occupied and you bring in the extra staff so that your diners don't have to suffer.Would not recommend and would definitely not return.

Excellent food fantastic service (thank you Alfie) 10 out of 10 !! Would highly recommend this restaurant the food was presented beautifully and tasted delicious. Will definitely be going back in the future.

We had an absolutely fantastic time this weekend at the Olive Tree. We reserved the Terrace room for 15 people for a birthday meal, and everyone left incredibly impressed with the food and service.We were all very well looked after, and the food was delicious and all served on time. The waiters were attentive and looked after us all evening.It was an absolutely perfect evening and I would recommend it to anyone!

Can't comment on the quality of the meal as arrived on Saturday night at 7.30pm for a table that we had booked for 4 people only to find the restaurant and Hotel in total darkness and doors shut. Despite leaving phone number when booking they didn't have the courtesy to contact us to let us know they were not open. We assume they have stopped trading.

We go to the olive tree every year on our anniversary- returning because it's where we had our first date :) it's as lovely now as it was 4 years ago. Food is beautiful, atmosphere is special, staff are prompt and professional. 5 stars.

I attended The Olive Tree as part of a travel zoo deal and had their 'tasting' menu. My partner and I were very disappointed. The waiter could not have been more dismissive and clearly wanted to 'get em in and ship em out' asap. The food was average at best. It was edible but unexciting and poorly presented. A tasting menu us the opportunity for the chef to show off his or her skill and this was what we expected. It wasn't what we received. The restaurant would have been much better off giving a good quality simple meal than trying to over reach itself.I'm afraid my advice would be to avoid this place and try one of Exeter's other amazing restaurants.

My wife, son, and I went to the Olive Tree for the first time despite living in Exeter over ten years. It was to celebrate my birthday and it generally has good reviews.Let me start by saying the food itself was very good and decent size portions, but outside of that the whole experience can best be described as amateurish.We arrived about twenty minutes earlier than our booking time of seven-thirty, courtesy of very prompt taxi, and walked in expecting to be greeted, our first mistake. There was no sign of any staff and we wandered through the restaurant into the area beyond where the bar was being manned by someone who told us he was only standing in and couldn't organise anything complicated. We sat down and eventually the real server appeared and we ordered three drinks which arrived promptly - they were reasonably priced too :)We were then invited to go to our table and were presented with the menus.The choice is somewhat limited, only four or five dishes for both starters and main courses and my wife, who is vegetarian, knew her options would be few. However she was somewhat disappointed to find that both the starter and the main course were mushroom based, a stuffed one followed by a risotto, the chef needs to put more thought into this. A bread basket and amuse-bouches were advertised on the menu as accompanying all meals but my wife was a little put out when the former turned out to be a cream of mushroom soup, perhaps we had stumbled in on the Exeter Mushroom Fancier's annual Christmas get together?Our wine arrived, or rather it didn't as they had brought the wrong one, we had chosen a Chablis at about £30, something had got lost in translation but this was easily remedied.Our starters arrived with no sign of the bread and when I asked about this was told by the waitress that she would ask the chef. Not sure what there was to ask, but the answer was positive and it duly arrived.My son had ordered a chicken and tiger prawn salad, sounded good, but when it arrived there was no sign of the prawns, just three slices of chicken. See if you can spot the prawns on the attached photo, there were embedded in the chicken slices and are visible at the top, there was possibly half a prawn tail in total. In other news my scallops and black pudding and my wife's stuffed mushroom were good.The restaurant is quite intimate, darkly lit and tables close together so you don't want to bellow to attract the servers' attention. But it was frustrating that all three staff have developed that only-too-common trait of managing to avoid eye contact and pointedly missing any attempt to a get their attention.The main course arrived after a suitable pause, again good quality, my son had steak, my good lady yet more mushrooms and I had duck.We all had desserts, the usual sort of stuff with an emphasis on a good cheese selection which suited me. The chef suggested a glass of port with this and as it was my birthday...Predictably, when the cheeses arrived I was told that they were out of port, this is a hotel as well as a restaurant! Someone seriously needs to work on stock control. As a consolation I was offered a dessert wine at the same price which meant I got a good deal on a glass of Sauternes.The price of the meal was £140 including one bottle of wine, one pint, three singles and the aforementioned dessert wine. Service was not included.We left sated but not exactly content, it would be mean to compare them to Fawlty Towers but it did bring back memories of that classic comedy series.

We were staying on a one night deal including a "tasting menu" dinner. We didn't have high expectations but their Romanian chef is a real star. Every course was inventive and a joy to eat and the quantities a nice balance between ending up still hungry or feeling stuffed before the last course.The house wines could do with upgrading to reflect the quality of the food but it's hard otherwise to fault it. I have had poorer meals at double the price in high end Michelin Guide places.Is this the best food in Exeter? Maybe.

Best food again, big compliment to the chef! Alfie is as attentive and lovely as ever. Love his cocktails. Love coming here, as all staff members are so nice, especially Alfie. Thanks a lot

Went to this restaurant as part of a Travelzoo deal staying at the a Queens Court Hotel.The hotel is very basic - needs lots of investment and TLC but has friendly helpful staff.Restaurant food, ambiance and service is excellent.As Arnold Schwarzenegger said "I'LL BE BACK" !

Saw this advertised on a discount site and booked not knowing what to expect. Very pleasantly surprised. Situated in what was once a beautiful square, easily parked right outside and inside was a lovely, quirky town house with slightly wonky stairs. Lovely large room with huuuge old fashioned bathroom suiting the quirky style. Very friendly staff. Nice tasting menu, even better breakfast! Small lounge area for pre-dinner drinks but we went to the pub across the square to watch the rugby!

As soon as my partner and I walked through the door we were greeted by the most polite waiter I have ever experienced, he showed us to our pre booked table and brought us over our menus and drinks very quickly. It was a lovely touch to have a jug of refreshing water with lime on the table.There was not a long wait at all for the food, there isn't a huge choice of food but what they do have has been perfected. In terms of presentation and taste the chef deserves 5 stars!I was so impressed by our waiters, Ryan and Alfie, I had to make the point to them it was the best service I had ever received.We even stayed for a few cocktails in the lounge area.An amazing start to our very pleasant evening!Also it didnt break the bank!!! Definitely returning.

Visited as part of a Travelzoo deal and had 6 course tasting menu which was superb. Each course was explained by a young waiter who obviously enjoyed his job. The restaurant is part of a hotel which we were staying in so want there for breakfast the following day and that again was superb.

We went here because of the good reviews for the tasting menu for £30 per person. Then we found out that there were better prices thru Travelzoo for £99 per couple which included a room, the tasting menu and breakfast. It looked like everybody but us had this deal. And, to top it off there was a big group in the next room with no door that was making a lot of noise which made it hard to hear. But, I can tell for the people on the Travelzoo package and without the noise from the group that this is a very good deal and meal. For £99 this package would be hard to beat and much better than staying at a B&B where breakfast only is included.

Hade läst på hemsidan att det var en prisbelönt fine dining-restaurang. Undrar hur länge sedan det var? Maten var OK, inte mer än så. Personalen var trevliga men ovana och lite tafatta.

We really enjoyed the taster menu in this restaurant. I was worried after I looked at the menu that my partner would not like it, but I was wrong. Different courses included duck breast with red currant and big cous cous salad, scollops with black pudding, raspberry granita and pea soup. All dishes were beautifully presented and tasted great. After all 6 courses we were definitely not hungry. The waiter was very nice, although quite young and he sometimes could not explain the dish well. The only thing, that I can complain was breakfast. The food was of great quality, however one of the waitresses seemed to be annoyed with us. When we asked for a highchair for our son, she clearly was not happy with our request and it took her ages to actually find one. Then, we asked if we could put it at the side of the table, so that it would be slightly in waiters way, but we were told not to worry. Unfortunately, when she tried to get past us she just squashed through without any apology, which left us feeling bad. The rest of the waiters did a great job.

We enjoyed an interesting taster menu in this beautifully furnished and well laid out restaurant with a good balance of courses which were well prepared and presented and tasted superb. We would thoroughly recommend this restaurant for anyone looking for professional gourmet food in very pleasant surroundings.

Our group of 13 totally enjoyed dinner. Good food. Reasonable prices for the excellent food dishes available. You can also order drinks at the bar to go with your meal.

Loved it, stayed at the hotel and had the taster menu, really good value and wonderfully presented. The main meals looked good that I saw being served

I was here for a business dinner and the idea was to go to a posh place to make the guests feel welcomed. The waiters were a bit young and inexperienced, but also eager to do their job, so we had no problem at all on that side. The ambient is also nice and formal as you would expect.My main problem with this place begin and ends with the food. Mind me, it is nicely presented and everything, but it is NOT high quality cuisine as the prices on the menu would make you expect. It doesn't make a lot of sense to have a chicken cooked 4 ways if none of them is particularly tasty. And no, making each piece looking good on the plate does not substitute for taste.

We took our Son for a special 18th Birthday meal at the Olive Tree after a Friend had given us a recommendation about the place for its award winning style of fine dining.The restaurant is part of the Queens Court Hotel so accommodates guests & paying visitors alike to dine in their charming peaceful surroundings.We chose three of the 6 coarse taster menus plus one off the a la carte menu all of which were done to a magnificent standard, I can say that as my Wife herself is a Chef of more than 30 years experience, so knows good quality food when she has it. We had a wonderful night for our Son, the staff were very friendly & attentive and all the food was fantastic.Look forward to another visit in the near future!!

Stayed at the hotel during a business trip and decided to try the restaurant. Delicious meal friendly Staff and an inviting atmosphere! Looking to return soon!

We ate here and stayed in the hotel We had a voucher from Travel Zoo a nights stay, evening meal and breakfast very good value for moneyFor food we had the six course taste meal which we both enjoyed, the waiter was so helpful nothing was a problem just wanted us to enjoy the evening which we did. The food was cooked and presented perfectly. Some people have said the place is a bit tired it is in places, they could do with tidying up the reception area, some old mats rolled up against the counter and the carpet at the base of the stairs had a big old stain on it, so it needs replacing.The room was very clean and tidy, nice new comfy bed lovely powerful shower clean fresh white towels all provided. Breakfast had ever thing you wanted. For the money it was very good value for money, I would stay and eat here again.Parking outside in the street you need a permit which you can purchase from the hotel £3 for 24 hours or park in the at park if you can get a space and it's more expensive

I first dined at the Olive Tree two years ago with my partner and loved it, the food and ambiance were lovely. However, we dined again a few weeks ago and it was such a shame to see how downhill the Olive Tree has gone.There was no ambiance and only one other table were dining. Several people (i'm not sure whether they were staying in the hotel as they weren't dining) were walking right through the restaurant and the door kept slamming behind them - this happened at least 5 times. I know the hotel staff can't help customers using the door but perhaps they could put a door stop so it doesn't bang quite so loudly.To use the toilet you had to go down a corridor right next to the kitchen where management was leaning against a work table and, when seeing me, just looked away without even acknowledging me. The lights in the toilets did not work.The starters were average at best and the mains were dry, bland and really nothing special. We didn't bother with desert and left feeling unsatisfied.The Olive Tree has the potential to become brilliant again but the current menu and food really was a let down. We will not be dining there again.

Friendly staff and a reasonable menu, but the decor was odd and the cutlery, glasses, etc all tired. Which wouldn't matter if the food was good, but it just didn't live up to its fine dining billing. I had a fish starter and a steak main, and although i try to see the best in things, i'm afraid i can't list any highlights. Both courses were bland and over seasoned; some food under cooked, some over. Sorry guys, nothing good to say. At least it wasn't expensive.

We prebooked and requested some kind of sole as a main course. This was totally ignored and for a so called fish restaurant had a disappointing menu.My spinich soup, a favourite was thin.None of the starters appealed to my wife and they promised fresh breads ete. We had to remind the waiter twice. It was ok.Our mains were also not that good. The wine and deserts were good.All in all a high price for a poor meal on a specialoccasion

We had the 6 course tasting menu and it was quite good but with a couple of dodgy touches. Soup was served with no bread and when we asked for some got a few slices of sliced brown with worrying red stains! Other guests got some different Italian bread with their soup so I think ours was just missed. The pigeon breast with chorizo was really good - the salty/savory mix working really well with the pak choi. The pork was OK and the pudding would have been lovely warm but was served fridge cold with ice cream. All in all a fairly good effort.

Visited the restaurant during a 2 night stay at the Queens hotel. Promised a lot but did not really deliver. We had pre drinks in the bar whilst we made our meal choices and I went for the highly recommended garlic soup. We where show to our table which had a single dead rose in a vase and a dirty knife. Not a great start. The soup was basically potato soup with not even a hint of garlic so very disappointing. We opted to share the cheese board rather than have a pudding and were presented with 5 crackers to share and some grapes which were well past their best. With drinks it came to £95 and we definitely felt they/we could have done better.

Very very disappointed. My wife sat by the window and froze.The duck was raw and when this was mentioned the staff argued and said this is how it comes. After that the whole approach became very cool. No apology even though the meal was returned hardly eaten. The following course was no better than a pudding from a supermarket. Certainly we would not go there again as there was no concern that we had not enjoyed our visit or any reduction in the bill. The only positive was that the wine was not overpriced and was good.

try the taster menu....at £29 for 5 courses, it is fantastic. Great atmosphere and service and reasonably priced wines!

Amazing tasting menu, very good value.Fresh, delicious, well cooked and presented food.Reasonable wine list and pleasant ambience in restaurant.

I didn't really know about this place but glad I went.The food ultimately is very good, well executed and the chef obviously cares. I had Scallops, and steak. Was all very nice and looked lovely. The wine was fantastic. The service was excellent and very attentive from the barman. I had a fantastic night and am pleased I went. The little taster soup was a lovely touch as well.However the reason for the lower score is a few minor things. It's an odd layout of the place and just felt odd. The table lovely. And for me the let down was a very small menu, very small portions. So lack of choice. I do understand that a fresh menu well executed needs a small menu but this small? And after 2 bottles of wine and 3 courses each I found it necessary to get a take away walking home! I was starving! The seriousness of the food a little too serious and all of staff weren't in uniform? One had a scruffy jumper on, just doesn't match up.

Enjoyed the 6 course taster menu. Terrific flavours in interesting combinations - e.g. pigeon and chorizo - against romantic setting. Highly recommend.

We stayed in the Queens Court Hotel which has as its dining the restaurant Olive Tree for an overnight stay with a 6 course taster menu as our evening meal. The meal started well and continued to get better, allowing us to have a terrific pigeons breast course, pork belly and ending in sticky toffee pudding which was a great ending to a well presented, well served meal

I booked this restaurant on NYE 2014 for myself and my partner. As I work as a nurse and don't finish until 8pm I booked for 21.15 and received an email confirming my booking. We turned up on NYE only to find the restaurant in darkness and very clearly closed! If that wasn't bad enough, after ruining our night we received an email the next day asking how out meal was! When we rung for an explanation the manager refused to believe he had done anything wrong as he states he tried to ring me at 3pm NYE to warn me. Since I was at work I did not receive the call. Even if I had I would have been left trying to book a table at 3pm on NYE!! Manager finally stated he would send me a formal apology via email. No such email has been received. Very disappointed.

Great menu with locally sourced food in an atmospheric surrounding and friendly service. I will be back.

Attended a large Christmas function on Sat, the food and service was excellent. We will return in the new year. Thank you all for a great night you deserve a round of applause.

The food was excellent and memorable! Most definitely will be coming back. The chef was really very talented and we enjoyed the local produce which was beautifully presented and simply delicious. Dinner was above average price, but we didn't mind as we enjoyed our meal. The Traditional breakfast, on the other hand, we thought was very good value and tasteful! Service was polite and friendly. We think our waitress may have been new, as she did not know the daily specials. Nevertheless, she was very apologetic. Overall, a fabulous restaurant and lovely staff.

There were 10 in our party and we travelled from Cornwall, Bath and Bristol to meet up at the Olive Tree Restaurant as we did last year. We were given a room to ourselves and had a wonderful time together. The setting was delightful as was the ambiance and the food really good. The young staff were very attentive, polite and helpful and helped to make this a great occasion for us all. We arranged our Christmas gathering here last year as well so we will probably be back again.This was a lunch time meal so the restaurant was quite quiet which suited us well.

Nice food shame about the service (older women very rude indeed and embarrassing). the young staff were very pleasant and sweet

Our University society had a wonderful Christmas dinner here! We arrived at 6PM, were seated by 7PM- food followed shortly. Food was served promptly and all orders were filled correctly. Following the dinner the tables were moved aside to allow us to dance and have after dinner drinks. The staff were great, helpful, and very quick to solve any issues. Overall a great way to celebrate Christmas! We hope to come back to the Olive Tree again! Great value, great food, great atmosphere!

Had a weekend in Exeter and met some relatives in the Olive Tree.Had a delicious meal with nice lot of time between courses so we could have a good chat. Lovely atmosphere as well.

I stayed in their hotel Queens Court and enjoyed a few night love food. Very nice staff, nice setting and the food is fantastic and even if you have a special wish it will be done. Recommend strongly to invite friends and have a very special evening there

The Olive TreePart of the Queens Court Hotel, great place, great food , fine dining without the pretentious approach of other restaurants in town, I've eaten here many times, never disappointed and always get a great deal when staying in the hotel too.

A very good six course taster meal. Nicely presented and good service. Interesting décor in the restaurant.

Better late than never for this review as we went on October 18th and we did a have a super evening at The Olive Tree. Taking some family out for a birthday can be awful if you chose the wrong place. We got exactly what we hoped for, good atmosphere, relaxed surroundings, attentive, friendly staff and much better than average food. The place has always interested me as its so pretty outside, it tells you that inside they are going to try and give you a good experience. They were happy to email the menu, happy for me to see the restaurant in advance and discuss the table and also very helpful when I mentioned that one of the party may be in need of extra space after foot surgery. All in all it seemed great. It was then a really lovely surprise to have the food taste so good. It was very nicely presented, served by very smilie staff and the courses were well spaced. Pre dinner there is a small but nice bar and sitting area, when you are having an evening which is more than just dinner out, this felt like a great start to our evening. Be sure and enter the restaurant via its own door. The hotel reception is small and a bit tired so this could put you off. No complaints about the value.

Thanks to Laura for convincing me to try the 6 course evening meal.Superb food and presentation - congratulations to the chef

Good food and service and we were not troubled by staff asking whether or not we liked it every two minutes

We enjoyed the taster menu dinner as part of a Travelzoo deal. It was "excellent" (ie value) as part of the deal, but only "good" if one had paid the full price. Wine was disappointing. Service was excellent and we would definitely return, deal or no - deal !! N.B We also had breakfast here which we would rate as "very good"

This meal was a birthday present from the family and I must say that the selection was very good. My wife and I have in the past taken part in the Taster Menu's offered by hotels and the standard from the Olive Tree has been the best by far. Everything was well presented and cooked perfectly our only regret that some of the courses we could have eaten more of especially the scallops with pea puree. All in all a very enjoyable meal complemented with a decent bottle of Pinot Noir. As we were staying in the Queens Court Hotel breakfast was taken in the restaurant the following day and I would recommend that you partake in the full English as it was excellent.

Our second visit to the Olive Tree was again a pleasant evening in a stylishly decorated restaurant featuring fabulous Venetian masks. The staff were efficient, welcoming and friendly and the service was good. The Chilean sauvignon was good. The tasting menu was not as enjoyable as our previous visit. The soup of the day was excellent (not sure why it was served in coffee cups though). The small slices of stuffed chicken breast were pleasant. The 3-4 scallops were tiny but tasty. The main, of roast pork belly, was disappointing. It was tasty, but the meat was swamped by layers of congealed fat and the tiny slivers of pork crackling were a let-down. I've tasted far better roasted belly of pork in a Yorkshire pub. After the artery-clogging main came a sickly sweet sorbet. The end of the meal was saved by a fairly decent vanilla Panna Cotta! So, not the best tasting menu compared to our previous visit but, as part of a package, it was good value and would appeal to customers. I would like to return for a meal when the restaurant offer offers an alternative table d'hote or a la carte menu with some choice before I can reach a conclusion. Maybe they could also consider up-sizing the tiny, black, paper napkins too?

We had the taster menu which was delicious and excellent value. The restaurant has a great atmosphere and would suit groups and couples alike.

Well, we had not been here for a while as we do like to try new places, but decided it was time for a revisit.We booked on the same day and got a table at the time that we wanted.We were greeted and seated and served drinks before being taken through to our table.I decided to try the tater menu, 6 courses and the wife had a starter and main course.The food was yet again, outstanding.The waitress was on her own, but managed perfectly well, although there were only 6 others in the restaurant.Another very nice evening, i love the ambiance of this place. Love it.£63 for the two of us with 2 rounds of drinks.

I booked a table for my family last Saturday at the Olive Tree after having read all the good reviews on Trip Adviser and regret to say that our experience was a disaster.Our starter, the Brixham hand caught scallops were so small and overcooked which was a precursor for main course. My wife and myself had Seafood Laksa which was supposed to be a an aromatic and spicy broth, what we had was a bowl of warm cream with overcooked fish in it. We did complain and the waiter agreed that it was at best too bland and offered a replacement meal but having seen my family members meals (belly of pork) it was also sub standard so we decided to call it a night.Real shame for a double rosette chef!

returned yet again and this restaurant is well worth a visit if you are in Exeter as does not disappoint and menu is excellent and taster menu is superb - well done chef and all your staff - you have got it right and it is a pleasure to return for a pleasant evening as the ambience is just right -

I have been here twice for dinner and it is definitely my favourite place in Exeter. The ambience is spot on, beautifully set tables and just enough quirkiness to the decor to give it some personality and make it stand out. The service is excellent, very tentative and friendly but not in your face all of the time. The food is delicious, beautifully presented and thoughtfully done. I really can't recommend this place enough, it is a first class restaurant, perfect for a special occasion or just a quality evening out. My recommendation, go for the cheese board!

This is the second time I have eaten at this restaurant. The food was lovely. Small portions but beautifully presented and extremely tasty. Compliments to the chef.

The taster menu was excellent, great presentation, excellent food, professional and friendly service. Definitely would recommend

Absolutely wonderful food, beautifully presented and just fabulous. Reasonably priced for what you get!

We were travelling to Devon and stopped off for the evening in Exeter, staying at the Hotel which had The Olive Tree as its restaurant. It was a wonderful evening and consisted of 6 courses beautifully presented, fabulous detail and each course had its own distinguished flavour. Attentive staff, particular reference to Lauren who was friendly, helpful and professional.Well worth the stop over: through a Group on deal.Excellent value for the money.

Try the taster menu. Wonderfully presented, tasty food with generous portions prepared by a chef who appreciates good food.