Olive Tree Restaurant Bedford in Bedford

Sadly had a very disappointing evening at the Olive Tree. Very poor customer service, will not be back.

Tables are ridiculously small, can’t fit 2 plates on them , we were 2 and asked for another table to be able to put our food on them ! Couches are worn out and they need to be refurbished, you sink in them . We ordered mezza for 2 , its was way over priced and very cheap quality . Food was good otherwise but I felt portions were small And a bit pricey .

The food, service and atmosphere were amazing. The staff were lovely and provided a very speedy service without you feeling rushed.

Love the bread they serve for starter. Food has always been great and we turned up a few times without reservations and it was OK x

Great food. But the meat portions have shrunk over time. The prices have gone the other way.

Food amazing, busy even on a Monday night. Friendly relaxed pace service.

Very nice calming place, kids and babies friendly. The food is very nice so far we have been to 2 franchises. Both are very good.

Amazing atmosphere, attentive staff and an extensive Gluten Free Menu. Highly recommend, particularly if it's your birthday!

First time here, Saturday lunchtime. All our food was great!

My companion had not experienced Turkish cuisine so we opted for a light lunch of warm vegetarian mezze followed by Backlava coffee and black tea. Everything was delicious, my friend would though have appreciated more humus. Service was quick friendly and engaging. Always good to see well appointed bathrooms.

Such a lovely lunch, what a treat! Great attentive service, we were served quickly and our food all came at the same time. I can recommend the Ali Nazik which was delicious.

Very buzzy, verging on too loud but really nice food and friendly service. Huge portions!

The food was amazing loved everything

Excellent lunch today for 10 of us celebrating a seniors birthday food was superb, service brilliant will definitely return again

Repeat customer, gorgeous food and friendly staff and atmosphere 👍

Booked for 7 guests! Had to pay a £35 deposit which was taken off our bill,our server (didn’t catch her name unfortunately) was so lovely and despite it being busy she (along with all the other staff) we’re very attentive and made sure we had everything we wanted! Didn’t have to flag a server down for a single drink 🙏🏾 The food is absolutely amazing! we waited less than 30 mins for the food to come out which is great for a busy Saturday night. I had a platter for one and it could’ve easily fed 2 people! Along with a side of halloumi fries.The platter came with various meats which were all so well seasoned.all the meats were so well cooked and juicy,the lamb chops are to die for!!! only think I would ask is for the rice to have a little bit more flavour (but that’s personal preference) and to add an option to purchase extra garlic sauce as its absolutely delicious! Cocktails were lovely and were presented beautifully! They didn’t taste watered down or anything along those lines! to summarise would definitely go again as it was my first time dining there! Would highly recommend 🫶🏾

Wow! We had booked here for a family get together before Christmas. From the moment we arrived the staff were very attentive and the restaurant had a warm, friendly atmosphere. We had pre ordered from the set Christmas menu noting that one of our group is gluten free. The starter platters were amazing and I'd have been happy with just that, but there was more, mains were a fantastic addition to what we'd already eaten. As a gluten free diner I can honestly say I felt very well looked after, as were all others in our group. Would highly recommend for food, service, atmosphere and of course the birthday celebrations that are very uplifting. Thank you all.

I really recommend this restaurant. Fine food in a magnificent location. The staff is dedicated.

Not the same Olive Tree to when they first opened.. Service is extremely bad and portion sizes are gone smaller.

The restaurant was completely empty, yet they refused to seat us. The bald Turkish server’s behavior was extremely rude.

I had the pleasure of dining at Olive Tree Restaurant, and it was an unforgettable experience! The service was impeccable, with staff who were warm, attentive, and truly made me feel welcome. The food was nothing short of exceptional — every bite was a delight! The highlight of my meal was definitely the Ali Nazir dish. The flavors were absolutely amazing, and the quality of the ingredients shone through in every bite. I was genuinely blown away by how delicious everything tasted. I wholeheartedly recommend Olive Tree Restaurant to anyone looking for an authentic Turkish dining experience. I will most definitely be back soon!

Another great night in here this evening. Food, service, atmosphere are always 5 star. I would recommend to anyone. The hot meze, hummus, goats cheese, calamari etc are amazing. The sharing platters are also lovely but the staff are all fantastic and you will be well looked after. Not one complaint. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Thank you!

Always enjoyed my visits to this place. Dishes are well executed, staff are friendly and helpful. Very reasonably priced for the quality of the product.

Food lovely, but don't allow to stay and relax to eat as want you to leave for other bookings later on

For me it's nice here but not great. Food ok but not great and not that cheap either, service was also ok but not great. Highlight was if ur having a birthday then they all sing along and bring a small desert with sparkler which was Good. All in all it was ok. 7/10

Not the best restaurant for me and my family to go. My mum thinks this place is expensive, food has small amounts, and more.

I’m a repeat consumer and love the food. Table services were great. Friendly staffs and timely service . Just a quick comment on food hygiene . A kitchen staff kept kicking her finger while preparing the customer order in the main restaurant area. It dint feel good to be watching that and then being served with the same plates.

Truly one of the best in Bedford! The food was amazing from the bread to the dessert and although it was extra busy Alix, Denisa and Vishnu all took such good care of me throughout. Highly recommend!!

First time eating at Olive Tree Bedford tonight and will not hesitate to a) go back and b) highly recommend. Yes we had to wait for our table but they were extremely busy but the staff were amazing. Nothing was too much trouble and Martyna our waitress was always smiling and making sure we were looked after. An amazing place with amazing food and staff and will most definitely be going back. Thank you everyone for making our night special and a special thank you to Martyna for being so lovely.

Went for lunch today and it was very very good Great service from Volkan and such delicious food The lunchtime menu is good value too. Really recommended.

The food, atmosphere and service were amazing. Very friendly, kind and pleasant staff. A great place to go out for a meal.

Really lovely food, professional and quick service

Amazing food, brilliant attentive staff, great atmosphere! Loved it!

We had a lovely meal here today at The Olive Tree. The food was delicious especially the Mediterranean wrap with fries and salad as well as the bread and the waiter Volkan was lovely. He was very friendly, attentive and accommodating and my needs were met as I asked for a quiet, corner table as I have autism and this restaurant is accessible and welcoming so thank you for your exceptional service and being so helpful. Thank you too for the chocolate brownie for my partner's birthday. You made our visit very good 😊

Wishing a friend good luck with her new Job

Honestly one of my favourite restaurants, I've been here a couple of times and the food is so good LOL I'd be silly not to leave a review. The food is always hot and cooked well, the staff are super friendly and overall it's just amazing!!! Definitely recommend it

As per an normal an excellent restaurant serving up excellent food. A great place for a good meal with the family.

Salmon was cremated sent it back, bit better second time round. Thought it was a tidy place to go for a full dining experience. The WC was a joke. Paint spilled down the walls masking tape still on tiles and a paint job stevie wonder had done. Discraceful bad experience will not go back !!!!! A shame on the managers behalf! Waitresses wonderful but can only imagine what they have to put up with, concerning management!

Absolutely amazing food and lovely service. Recommend 100%

Had a take-away as staying at the hotel next door. The service was 10/10. Manager offered Turkish tea whilst I waited. Didn't realise I needed it until I had it! Food was fantastic too

Busy. Birthday song not to be missed* *unless it's your birthday, in which case you'll die of embarrassment.

If it’s one place that has had me in a chokehold since I first visited, its this place. Jesus Christ 🤯. I've traveled to many destinations, and I can honestly say you won't find a better Turkish restaurant anywhere else. The bald manager—sorry, I don't know his name—and his entire team are incredibly kind and attentive. The food is delicious, and the atmosphere is fantastic!

Delicious Turkish cuisine, would have liked a bit more description of what the food really was for a novice like me. Save room for dessert.

We have just come back from an amazing meal here ! We had a large Saturday night booking of 28 people... we were in , sat down , starters and a main all served within 1.5 hours.... with a packed out restaurant... all our dishes were hot and served to a fantastic standard 👌 10 /10

It used to be our favourite Turkish, but chefs have changed, which has impacted the food. Lovely staff.

Delicious food and lovely staff

Food, service and atmosphere was excellent 👌 👍

Go there often love the food, service is not bad but they can improve on it had to wait for staff to come around so I could request for drinks.

I can’t believe it took me this long to discover Olive Tree! As a self-proclaimed foodie, I’m always on the hunt for amazing dining experiences, and this place exceeded all my expectations. The food was incredible—each dish more flavorful than the last, perfectly seasoned and beautifully presented. But what really made the evening unforgettable was our waiter, Volkan. He was a gem! Volkan’s knowledge of the menu was impressive, and his passion for great food was contagious. He gave the best recommendations, pairing wines with our dishes like a pro sommelier. His friendly demeanor and professional service made us feel like VIPs. We’ll definitely be back—thanks to Volkan and the whole team at Olive Tree!

We had a wonderful family dinner at Olive Tree last night, and I can’t say enough good things about it. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with warm smiles, but it was our waiter, Volkan, who really made our night special. He was fantastic with our kids—patient, attentive, and even helped us pick out some kid-friendly options that they absolutely loved. He made sure our meals came out quickly and that everything was perfect, checking in just the right amount. Volkan’s friendliness and professionalism were top-notch, making us feel right at home. If you’re looking for a family-friendly restaurant with exceptional service, Olive Tree is it! We’ll be back soon, for sure.

As a solo traveller, finding a restaurant where I feel comfortable dining alone can be challenging, but Olive Tree hit all the right notes. My experience here was fantastic, and it was all thanks to my waiter, Volkan. From the moment I sat down, Volkan made me feel incredibly welcome. He was friendly and engaging without being overbearing, which I really appreciated. He recommended the perfect dishes and even gave me some great tips for exploring the city. His professionalism and genuine warmth made my solo dining experience one of the best I’ve had in a long time. If you’re in town, do yourself a favour and ask for Volkan. You won’t regret it!

Had a business dinner at Olive Tree, and I must say, this place is outstanding. The ambiance is perfect for a professional setting—quiet enough for conversation, yet lively enough to feel relaxed. What truly stood out was our waiter, Volkan. His professionalism was unparalleled. He was attentive without being intrusive, ensured our orders were precise, and even remembered all of our special requests without missing a beat. His friendly attitude and impeccable service made the evening smooth and enjoyable. Volkan’s attention to detail and commitment to excellence are what every waiter should aspire to. Highly recommend Olive Tree for any business meeting or professional gathering.

Great Turkish food and great service all for a reasonable price. 👍🏾

You just gotta go some of the most original and good food I ve come across, get there while you've got the chance

Myself and my peers really looked forward to eating here! Until we were faced with a passive aggressive waiter. We sat in a booth and was approached a few minutes later by a waiter (tall male, dark curly hair in his early 20s) questioning why we are sitting in a booth when we should be on a 4 seater table. I asked if it was ok to be seated here as the majority of the restaurant was empty. He huffed and forcefully said ‘sure it’s fine’. When he asked us which drinks we would like to order, I politely asked for a couple more minutes to decide. He left with a sigh and did not return! We were hungry, and waited for a while before a lovely lady took our order. Once we had eaten, the plates had been taken and we waited for the bill. The male waiter returned yet again after just a couple minutes and asked us in a passive aggressive tone if we were finished - explicitly hinting for us to take our leave. As a well mannered, paying customer who spent £80 at Olive Tree I certainly do not expect to feel tense and rushed by a passive aggressive waiter in an environment where I am to enjoy myself. It makes me question whether to come here again - I WILL be telling others of this negative experience. Very disappointed.

Some people nearly didn't get their orders. Staff impolite

Had a 60th Birthday booking of over 100 people this past Sunday from 1:30 to 5 PM. As the owner requested we created a seating plan we shared with the restaurant, agreed with the restaurant that we could decorate the place, took orders from every individual attending and shared the list with the restaurant weeks in advance. Despite this, the day was a shambles. The restaurant changed the seating arrangements on the day causing confusion, took down the decorations they had already agreed we could put up, split the party across two sections of the restaurant. Despite meals being pre-ordered (and the owner telling us not to arrive 'on African time') many people had to wait over 1 hour for their food despite arriving at 1:30pm sharp, with the restaurant not knowing which table had ordered what when we came to pay. Some guests were turned away at the door. Others left due to how chaotic the space was. It seemed like most of the waitstaff were pointedly ignoring us, treating us with a strange disdain (only the young Palestinian waiter went above and beyond - several members of the party tipped him as he was truly excellent and patient). Me and my aunt had spent hours building spreadsheets, calling and visiting the restaurant multiple times in the previous weeks, checking and double checking what we agreed to avoid precisely the kind of chaos that unfolded on Sunday. The food was excellent once it arrived, but I didn't enjoy a moment of the party due to the stress. It was incredibly unfair.

Completely ruined a birthday celebration. Not honourable.

Booked for a birthday party. They completely botched the booking for greed. 120 people was not enough to secure the pre arranged commitments. A real shame

Food was so nice but waiters are not kind to men. They were always trying to give us worst table. Owner was so kind.

Staff are really friendly and food is amazing the sharing starter is delicious and the plater for 2 was amazing too definitely recommend and we will definitely be back again

Fantastic food friendly welcoming staff they are credit to olive tree I suffer from social anxiety and find it very difficult to go into places with big crowds but they went above and beyond to make sure that I felt that is I felt at ease and nothing was too much for them to help me with very understanding highly recommend

Absolutely love it here. A great selection of food that meets the needs of all the age range and taste buds. Have celebrated a few birthdays here and everyone has had a really good time. The presentation of the cake from the staff is really enjoyed by all- love a sing along, really adds to the fun atmosphere.

I love this place. Really good food. Generous portions. Fair price in modern day. Staff all helpful and welcoming. Accessibility good. Just maybe make it easier to get to accessible w/c. No complaints. Mixed grill is good!!! Bread lovely.

Great lovely restaurant, unbelievably the best chicken shish around.

I just wanted to take time out to say a huge thank you to Salah who served us on my daughter’s 7th birthday ! We had an amazing time at the restaurant thanks to Salahs expertise & warm hospitality. The food and ambiance was amazing as usual. Thank you Team for the magical experience! When you go there, ask to be served by Sallah and thank me later guys😁

Beautiful people and amazing food, service is always great!

I’m sure the best restaurant experience I’ve ever had in Bedford. It was my moms birthday and the host asked me about it and they prepared a surprise piece of cake for my mom it’s was very sweet from them all the time they used to come and ask how we feel and if everything is okay. Best service, good job 🤗❤️

Nice place to visit. Always frendly staff - high recomend Martyna as she provides great service every time. Fab food 5*

Excellent food and such lovely service, the staff are all exceptional 👌 👏 😀

We had lunch there. Well worth the money, we had Lamb moussaka. It was delicious. Very friendly staff too. Well worth a visit if in Bedford town

Great service, amazing food and the atmosphere was nice, not quiet so you can have a good conversation. Very amusing if it’s someone’s birthday, best Turkish restaurant I’ve been to and the waiter Salah was very attentive, he deserves extra credit!

Excellent Mediterranean food with good service by Salah. Friendly and attentive and the food was very well prepared would come back.

Celebrated a birthday. Meal, staff and service was outstanding. Staff gave a rendition of the birthday song and surprised us with a cake

Amazing experience first time eating Turkish food, it was delicious and the service amazing. Everyone is so welcoming and Martyna the lady that served us was so attentive and patient with us explaining everything and giving tips! I do recommend very much!

Fabulous lunch at the Olive Tree today. The food was delicious and the staff were very welcoming.

We ordered the Lamb Sheesh and the Chicken Sheesh. Both were perfect and tasty!! The bread and sauces - complimentary appetizer - were fresh and super too.

Absolutely love eating here! The staff are welcoming and friendly! The food is bursting with flavour and its always full of life! Recommend! Great value for money too! Thank you

The food and service are excellent. 5/5

Had a fantastic meal here tonight! Heard good things and it lived up to the expectations. The food is incredible enjoyed all the starters and my olive tree special which is a great portion of various meats! Staff friendly and it’s reasonably priced. Can’t wait to come back

Had birthday party yesterday with my family great food great atmosphere great staff expecially our waiter very friendly regularly contact if required more drinks or anything great customer leadership skills she's going places would be a great team leader/manager 1 day great food drinks choices would recommend to all for a great Turkish experience 5 🌟

Amazing food, and excellent service! All of us went away with nothing but good things to say about the food and the restaurant. I would definitely recommend a visit if you haven't been.

I have been to Olive Tree a few times but this recent visit was appalling. The customer service was abysmal. It felt as if we were forgotten. No one was checking on us and we had asked for water and plates which we never received. The staff weren’t accommodating and the manager didn’t even apologise! We had kids with us, who were growing very restless. The drink that came with the kids meal didn’t come until the end of our meal. And the dessert took a while to come, which was definitely not not worth the wait. After reading through other reviews about this restaurant, I came to the conclusion that poor customer service is a recurring theme. For the price that you’re paying and the fact that there are multiple locations, you would expect decent customer service!

Where to start, well we entered this place with great enthusiasm. This dropped quickly, we placed our order and i was told that the dish i order was best with rice but it really wasn’t it was served in a large dish with no space for the rice. Which leads onto the bad level of service the elder man who was one of the main waiters really couldn’t care about the customers after giving the food i asked for a side plate, 40 mins later no sign of the waiters or side plate. This was not only an issue in terms of service but practically, the waiter could see i had two kids to feed and needed to place their food on a separate plate, it was clear and he still didn’t feel the need to accommodate. The need for water was another ask that was not seen to. At the end of the meal we paid the full price and i mentioned to the staff at that point really bad service she said speak to a manager. The manager was one of two that evening he was the tall man with a belly. I add this description to be able to differentiate, not to be impolite. The waitress referred me to him, i spoke to him he listened and said this is not the level of service we aim to deliver. His responses were very much defensive and he asserted that they are the best place in town according to their google reviews. That’s inaccurate as there are far more places in bedford that deliver decent service. The worst part of this experience was that he failed to acknowledge and apologise or even have a genuine care for the customer. Lucky for them we shall not be spending anymore money at their establishment and that £100 spent was a huge waste. I do truly hope that no other customer has such a bad experience after paying such a price. My honest review would be minus and you seriously should think about improving customer service, it’s not a matter of ego but providing a service that people are coming into your place of business and paying for.

Great friendly staff very attentive and tasty food

on multiple occasions I have ordered the mixed grilled with a side of bread and garlic sauce. The food tasted home made and fresh every time. Absolutely lovely.

I’m still in here and I’m so impressed that I just had to review. Very tasty food and well made drinks, cannot recommend this place enough! Lovely staff also, Harun & Volkon were very accommodating and delivered excellent customer service.

A lovely place to eat in Bedford. As you are taken to your table all the staff greet you with a smile making you feel immediately very welcome. We started off with the hot Meze mix giving us a good variety of flavours. The Chicken Guvec was lovely and served hot. We finished off with desserts, one thing we both noticed was that the portion sizes were not only filling but we both finished each course at the same time. The toilets were immaculately clean and for want of a better phrase they looked like you could eat your dinner off them. We’ll be going back there.

Great atmosphere, hot meze was lush and the chicken shish were amazing, deffo coming back :)

The atmosphere was absolutely amazing. This night was for my birthday. And for your birthday, they play music, and bring out a cake with sparklers, and the whole restaurant claps along with the music to help you celebrate. One of the servers 'Harun', made it a very pleasant and entertaining evening. He was hilarious.

Quaint little Turkish resto, delicious food at generous portions. Would def make a trip back

Very limited vegetarian options. Very loud, limited wine variety.

Amazing food .. amazing atmosphere... Amazing service.. Especially from G.. what a guy

Amazing gem of Bedford. It quaint place with amazing food, great ambience and excellent service. A must visit place.

Delicious and authentic food coupled with prompt service. We will definitely be back.

First time visiting but certainly won't be the last. Food quality was outstanding from the first bite to the last. Service was amazing all staff were attentive, courteous and friendly. Have been to Turkiye for many years so feel well qualified to rate this amongst some of the best Turkish food I've ever eaten

I didn't find it very tasty. We Turks are fond of our tastes, so it wasn't very tasty, it wasn't cooked well and it was cold. But I liked the employees, they were friendly.

Variety of food available, was delicious and service was good.

Absolutely fabulous little find x it like a tardis... It looks like nobody is in it then the lovely concierge takes you passed the very busy friendly kitchen where you can clearly see the chefs busy working. Then all of a sudden you're on the heart of the restaurant and what a buzz there is in there. Full of people who obviously are repeat customers and well, why wouldn't you be! The staff are so incredibly attentive, absolutely nothing was a trouble, nice friendly people and so professional. The food is magic on a plate and so delightful to the eye and full of flavour even the salad was a taste explosion!! So, the folk in the kitchen were obviously Wizards with what they can do with salad and meat!! So nice to be able to say thanks and Bye to them on the way out! Just Wonderful Definitely would highly recommend... Hunt it out!! With a bottle of wine and a 2 course meal with more than enough food for two - £25 per head. A special Gem of a place 🫶

Great food, great atmosphere, and friendly staff. Management's very accommodating and can try to fit you in, but I would recommend booking first. Very popular place and you are guaranteed a fantastic meal.