Olive Tree Tavern in Islington

posto carino, si mangia bene, il personale e' molto simpatico e attento e la compagnia gradevole. Niente da criticare

Nos encanta este restaurante familiar fuera Blackstock Road en el Arsenal. La comida es fantástica y es auténticamente casera. El dueño nos dijo que había tenido el mismo chef de 13 años y que sin duda hace un trabajo increíble. Recomiendo encarecidamente el giroscopios, moussaka, Taramosalata y Souvlaki. Las raciones son enormes, así que si vas para principiantes y main asegúrate que trabajó hasta un buen apetito.

La comida aquí es increíble y la hospitalidad es muy acogedor y nada es demasiada molestia. muy auténtico, pura y fresca comida.pedimos el meze grande y no nos decepcionó. La cantidad era enorme, pero la calidad era increíble. El personal era muy amable, que hizo que nuestra experiencia y nos sentimos bienvenidos y relajados. El pitta es precioso y algunos de nuestro grupo quería muy crujiente así que esto estaba hecho a la perfección- me gustó como lo era. Volveremos pronto.

Si lo que buscas es buena comida griega, diríjase aquí. Hemos estado en este pequeño restaurante unas cuantas veces y siempre salió satisfecho. Sí, la decoración no es excepcional, pero la comida vale la pena. El pita es el mejor que hemos tenido, servido caliente con salsas caseras encantadores, platos de carne y pescado son preciosas también (la kleftico vale la pena!) y en conjunto es una especie de lugar que recuerdan a la cocina de su abuela. La vieja dama cocina viene a menudo fuera de la cocina para ver si todo está bien, pero no es molesto y siempre es una buena cosa hablar con ellos para que te prepara su comida.

The couple who runs this place would give you the best service with a warm and homey feeling. The food is delicious and the portions are huge. Mon-Fri you can get 3 course meal for 11 pounds!

Excelente comida - tradicionalmente - como lo recuerdo de nuestros viajes a Grecia. mención especial la kleftiko, que era delicioso. par griego preciosa que sirve también para nosotros. platos principales están a un precio razonable pero los aperitivos y vino eran un poco caro; de ahí el 4/5

Went for a meal to a Greek Food cooked to order. Fresh. And very tasty. Service excellent. Home feeling. Very pleasant owners. A bit off the main route .but worth the effort to go there.

Food was delicious, plentiful and excellent value. The staff were very friendly and courteous. We didn't know what to expect going in, but left very happy.

pasado este lugar varias veces y siempre me apetecía probar. Fuimos en el 28 th 2013 Nov con mi esposa y mi amiga.

Me gusta la comida griega. Donde sea que vaya en el mundo que intentar coger algunas griego comedor cuando disponibles. preferiblemente en Grecia, pero este lugar es en Islington, norte de Londres. llegamos poco después de las 6 pm y la puerta todavía estaba cerrada. Echamos un vistazo a través de las ventanas y vimos por el anciano camarero (quizás incluso propietario-camarero) que abrió la puerta y nos dejó. Hacía mucho frío dentro y no había fuentes visibles del calor de bee visto. Ya que estábamos muertos de hambre y había estado caminando por un largo tiempo decidimos hacerlo de todos modos. Los Corn campos era excelente tanto mi amigo y yo pedimos souvlaki de pollo. El pollo estaba muy seco y sin sabor, pero el arroz y tzatsiki era bueno. Durante la hora que pasé allí nadie vino en el restaurante. era bastante temprano. El anciano camarero-propietario fue educado, pero tenía un vocabulario limitado a dos palabras que era "gracias". No importa si él era aceptar algo o entrega, repitió "gracias". El lugar estaba pintado en un color verde algo que habría sido más apropiado en un hospital que en un restaurante. Si la temperatura habría sido por encima de 17 grados centígrados que quizás hubiera obtenido un 3.

I've been eating at the Olive Tree for years. It is by and far my most favourite restaurant. The quality and care that Yialta puts into every dish, shows that she loves what she does. I have read other reviews on here I they have mentioned the decor being a bit dated.Personally I like the decor, and frankly I have have eaten at some of the more upmarket restaurants on upper st and the west end. And although the decor in these establishments are beautiful I always left feeling that the £100+ that me and my partner have paid left us feeling we had been ripped off.Not so with the Olive Tree, the food is top draw. Like others on here if was to complain it would be that the portions are massive. But we always take home a doggy bag for our dog Smartie.

I adore Greek food and it's so difficult to find a proper Greek restaurant where the cooking and ingredients are authentic.After being recommended this place by a Greek colleague, we decided to visit.We opted for the full meze which starts with dips and homemade flatbread which was fresh out the oven. The tastes were beautiful. Then came some appetisers such as beautifully light spanokopita (spinach and cheese pie), soutszoukakia (meatballs in tomato sauce) amongst others. Wonderfully flavoured. Then came the meat course consisting of souvlaki, keftedes, lamb chops and a greek salad. The meat was tender and juicy with lovely chargrilled flavours. Finally came the fish course, which was our least favourite course, yet still enjoyable. We had sea bass, calamari, whitebait and mussels.For dessert we had the best galaktoboureko i have ever had (custard filo pastry pie). Absolutely divine. It wasn't on the menu but as with most Greek places, it's worth asking if they have a dish you like that's not on the menu. they normally have a stash for their own families or for patrons they know request them.Portions are generous and they are more than happy for you to take a doggy bag home, which we did.I want to express that all the food here is homemade, from the tzatziki to the baklava and you can certainly taste it. The resturant itself is nothing special to look at, but that doesn't seem to matter. This place is popular with Greeks (always a good sign) and regulars. The food very much speaks for itself here, it is made with love and it shows.Yialta (the Mother and chef) comes out from the kitchen and speaks to you each individually to make sure you are enjoying your food and get to know her customers and she remembers you if you have visited before.All in all, great homemade authentic Greek food (trust me, I know my Greek food). This restaurant should be rated far above The Real Greek chain for it's authenticity alone, let alone quality and care that goes into the food.If you are off to see an Arsenal match, then go. It's only a 15 minute walk from the stadium opposite the Arsenal Pub. You won't be dissappointed. We will be back many more times I am sure.

A friend of us insisted to visit and dine in this restaurant.So we did..I'm very fond and at the same time demanding, when it comes to Mediterranean cuisine and especially Greek cuisine which is one of the most interesting in the world!..The atmosphere and the whole design is more modern London style than traditional Greek..Of course we are in London but you expect something more, or something different..It's ok though, no complains.The menu it's not huge, thing that is a good sign, covering all the basics from the Greek cuisine.We had the Greek salad and the aubergine dip to start.The Greek salad is very decent, in comparison with what you can get elsewhere, and the aubergine one is quite good but a bit more oily than it should be.Then we had a selection of sea food, calamari, octopus and mussels.Well, they are good but nothing special.. The presentation of the dishes is very simple and the taste is quite juicy and savory but lacking this freshness and taste explosion that you can have in a good taverna at Greece...That's why I put the title ''pretty close''..I have to stress that the wine list is a bit disappointing..They have to update it. I'm wondering if they know what Greece has to offer with her wines today (?)..Service is acceptable.Overall I will not agree with my friend that he was claiming this is the best Greek food ever, (we had a long conversation on that after our visit) but definitely it's not a bad choice. Closing I have to say that the value is very good for what you are getting.

We have eaten at this restaurant 5 times over the last 4 years. We have never been disappointed. The food is absolutely delicious, cooked fresh while you wait. Nothing is too much trouble for the staff. Very friendly service and always remember us every time we have been there even though we are not regular customers. Would highly recommend this restaurant and wish we lived nearer to it so we can visit more often.

Abbiamo cenato in questo ristorante seguendo le indicazioni su Tripadvisor. Le recensioni non ci hanno mentito e abbiamo trovato un'ottima accoglienza e fantastiche pietanze... su tutte la "grigliata di vari tipi di carne" veramente ottima! Stesso vale per i dolci. Ottimo rapporto qualità/ prezzo! Assolutamente da non perdere!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The food was superb, the only thing I could complain about was the quantity, too much! With the free home made pitta bread and dips to start with and generous portions of everything else we had to take half the main course home in a doggy bag. I'm looking forward to having it for lunch tomorrow.

Had lunch here last Saturday en route to a gig at the Emirates. This place never ceases to please (fourth visit). The food is lovely. The pitta is wonderful for a start. Could eat that all day long! I had kleftiko, it was beautiful and such a large portion! My companion had the stifado. It was his first attempt at Greek food, he loved it. The Greek lady who runs it was really friendly and I can't fault the place. TRY it!(there was even a slight mix-up with our order and it was rectified immediately with a huge apology, not that it mattered to us)

I'd echo the majority of the other reviews.When we moved the area in 2008, the previous owners left a list of local tips, one of which was to definitely try the Olive Tree, and not be deceived by it's slightly shabby appearance (not horrible, just not fancy looking).Took us 3yrs to do it, but very glad we did; have been back a dozen times since and often bring friends when they're visiting.Portions are very generous, I don't think we've ever not taken some home (to be fair, this is also because we always over-order and fill up on starters).Service is friendly and relaxed, to the point where my wife is prepared to lower her usual requirements and not complain when they occasionally deliver a bonus/random starter which we didn't order.Favourite exchange on most recent visit: "red wine please". "[nods, writes] white wine".

I'm afraid I can't repeat the praise in the other reviews on Trip Advisor. Perhaps we ordered badly. We did order off the set menu. As everyone says, the pitta bread is lovely. Unfortunately my starter was tzatziki. That's right the dip! That's what I got for a starter on the fixed price menu. My partner got two pieces of grilled halloumi. He enjoyed his main course of fish, I didn't really like my main of spinach and cheese pie (served with chips - how Greek!). Dessert was chocolate cake from a shop. So as I said maybe we ordered badly and shouldn't have gone for the fixed price menu. But what isn't going to improve is the decor and atmosphere. Chairs and tables are from a conference centre and the whole place is completely lacking in charm. It feels like it's stuck in a timewarp. So I might give the food another go - it clearly was all home made (with the exception of the dessert) but the atmosphere means I'm unlikely to hurry back.

Went there for the first time today after several recommendations from friends. Absolutely delicious! We went for the £10.90 meal deal (3 courses) and the house wine and the food came out homemade and fresh which was completely unexpected for such great value. The pitta bread which accompanied the starters was amazing - tasted straight from the oven. I had the pork souvlaki for main which was once again fresh and tender and my friend had the spinach and feta pie which was wonderfully flavoursome with lovely flakey filo pastry. For dessert we went for the Greek yoghurt with lemon curd and digestive biscuit which was like a delicious light cheesecake. All in all a lovely experience with friendly staff and fantastic food for an excellent price. Will definitely be going back!

An excellent evening. This was the first of I'm certain many visits to this charming restaurant. We were personally welcomed by Yialta, the owner and shown to our seats. Great care was taken to describe the range of Greek food available, but we opted for the Full Meze. We were not disappointed.We have eaten in several Greek restaurants before and enjoyed Mezes. Howevere this one was different. It was obvious the starters were home made - no mass produced fare like we have had elsewhere. The pitta bread is quite simply amazing - forget the heated up stuff you can buy from Tescos - this was light, fluffy and very, very freshly baked. Perhaps not quite the same quantity of starters as in other Greek Mezes, but the quality more than makes up for it. (Don't panic you will still need a doggy bag by the end!) Aside the pitta bread, other highlights included the taramasalata and the feta cheese & chilli dip..... mmmm!After that there was various meaty bits - ham, meatballs, sausage, chicken livers and a few other bits, such as haloumi & mushrooms in red wine.Then we moved onto a selection of fish - mussels, white bait, calamari and a decent sized sea bream. The calamari was amazing. Again none of the factory stuff. This was whole squid which had been cut up and coated in a delicious and light batter - the best I've ever tasted and I love my calamari! The sea bream was beautifully cooked. (Yialta's husband made a point of telling us he he took a lot of interest and pride in sourcing the fish - I wouldn't disagree with him.Finally, we had a decent selection of cooked meats - lamb chops, sausage, and kebab together with a delicious Greek salad.This was all accompanied by a decent wine at a fair price.The price was very reasonable given the quantity and more importantly quality of the food.We left very happy and will be back.I mentioned the personal touch on our arrival. It extended to the next day, Yialta rang me to apologise for not having said good-bye. in fairness she had been cooking for a party of 27 so was a bit busy!She was keen to point out there was more to her restaurant than the Meze. Looking at other diners and what they had, I would agree - but that will be for our return visit.Anything negative - if the place was empty, I think it could be a bit soulless as the decor and layout is uninspiring. But perhaps Yialta lets the high standard of her cuisine speak for itself.

Unless it's an Arsenal match day this place always seems far quieter than it should be. It's now been around for a few years and the hospitable owner produces a ranges of tasty, traditional dishes. Don't be afraid to ask for a doggy bag as I don't think that we've ever left without one - the portions are always very generous.

Without a doubt the best greek food I've ever tasted. Been there several times now and each time the food has been nothing short of incredible. Would recommend to anyone.

Great homely food which is fresh and tasty, excellent value for money. A real shame it is not busier - go on try it!

My sister and I stumbled upon this place by accident... We'd booked a table in a restaurant on Blackstock road, but didn't realise how far down it was walking from Finsbury Park station. By the time we were half way to the booked place, we were too hungry and irritable to continue walking and plumped for the closest restaurant at the time - which just happened to be Olive Tree Tavern. After an extremely brief look at the special offer on the board outside (a dirt cheap £10 for 3 courses won us over instantly) we sauntered right in. -The Good-Staff were instantly accommodating; you could tell this was a family run establishment as the typical Greek chubby granny wearing black - reminiscent of the ones that you meet in Greece - was talking to all the customers individually as if they were old friends. The young waitress, another family member, was extremely chatty and familiar... overall it felt as if I was back in Greece dining at a boyfriend's family home. The food itself we expected to be slap-dash and made with poor ingredients, which is common whenever one sees a set menu for so cheap. Not so! The food tasted fresh, authentic and was well seasoned, rivalling some of the meals I've eaten in Greece. surprisingly, the house wine was lovely and sweet, perfectly drinkable. We were so stuffed by the end we couldn't move. All that for a tenner?!? Unbelievable.-The Bad-The only tiny criticism that I have is that the place was pretty empty. The punters seemed to be regulars that have discovered how cheap and delicious the food is. Come on people, you need to get your hungry bellies down to this place!!!

Food and service in this restaurant was very good, we ordered the full Meze for two people, there was so much food that we did not even make it to the last course, so they wrapped it up for us to take home. The flavours were so tasty, very authentic, every dish was fresh, full of flavour and cooked to perfection. Will definately be returning.

I picked this restaurant from tripadvisor as my niece specifically requested Greek food. 3 of us went on Thursday night, we were the only ones there. A great shame as it is a nice restaurant family run and they are so friendly. The food was excellent. We ordered 2 full mezes between the 3 of us. 4 of us would have struggled with the vast quantity that arrived. 4 courses, cold starters then hot starters a grilled meat course and finally fish. All faultless. I recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a good Greek meal.

Leyendo las opiniones de otros viajeros ya esperábamos encontrarnos con un buen restaurante. No salimos defraudados. La comida excelente y el trato familiar. Era la primera vez que íbamos a ese restaurante y, al no vivir en Londres, las posibilidades de convertirnos en clientes habituales eran escasas. Aún así nos dispensaron un trato como si fuésemos unos clientes de toda la vida. Totalmente recomendable.

I had visited this restaurant many time over the years since its initial opening. It was always the place where frinds and I would choose for a celebration because the quality of food and wine and unique atmosphere never waned.It was also a place where I could go to with colleagues and talk shop( if only this place had ears!) whilst eating superb food, and quaffing copious amount of Greek wine. The prices were always astonishingly good value. I lived nearby but left some years ago. As someone who spends a great deal of time in Greece I understand just how difficult it is to achieve the unique flavours, tastes and delightful Greek hospitality of 'Filoxenia'.Friends and family alike have laughed and cried in here over the years - it has a unique atmosphere which is a result of the dedication of the owners. Yiotta's laugh is a joy to behold and Vassilis has quiet wisdom in spades....I have never heard a bad review of this restaurant from anyone - the slow cooked meats are alway done to perfection and simply melt in the mouth. Fresh fish dishes abound among the more traditional moussaka,pastitsio and souvlakia. There are also so many meze dishes to try and the portions are generous from a lady who knows how to feed her family. The delightful Yiotta and Vassilis have created an outstanding and unique place here. They also have a good selection of very good Greek wines including a superb organic variety.Recently, I had occasion to visit London and decided to see if the Olive Tree was still there and run by the owners who I remembered so fondly.The outside of the taverna was dark and as it was early evening there was no one else in there. I gingerly entered and uttered Yiotta's name. There was a shriek from the kitchen as both Yiotta and Vassilis came out to greet me after an absence of some 7 years.I had the most amazing trip down memory lane, ate outstanding Kleftico accompanied by delightful wine. If you have never been here - go- it is a decision you won't regret. This is authentic Greek cuisine,lovingly prepared from the heart and expert hands of Yiotta.If you yearn for quality Greek food and that amazing Hellenic generosity of spirit - go while you can. I can't wait to return again and again and again. Kalo Vradi !

Having lived in the local area for many years, I was surprised to have not found this absolute gem before. Tucked away just off Blackstock Road in N5, the Olive Tree Taverna is an authentic a Greek experience you can have without paying EasyJet your hard-earned cash to fly you to Greece!Family owned and run for over ten years, the food and welcome here are simply second-to-none. Enormous portion sizes, freshly cooked and incredibly well flavoured food, if you like Greek food then you simply have to pay the Olive Tree Taverna a visit. Unlike other Greek-style restaurants in London, this establishment benefits enormously from the quality, attention to detail and wonderful flavours that can only come from recipes that have been passed from generation to generation. Simple touches like cooking all meat over a wood-burning grill and baking pitta breads on-site all add up to a tremendously authentic experience. The quality of the food, and the wonderful welcome you will receive, are not diluted by any high prices, either. The Olive Tree Taverna offers exceptional value for money on all of their meals and they also have a regularly-changed specials menu where a three course meal can be had for little more than the price of a cinema ticket. If you like real Greek food, and a real Greek welcome, then this is the place to be. And if you're exceptionally hungry, then try their full meze - a meal of truly gargantuan size and offering a cacophony of incredible tastes!

Okay, so the decor may be a little lacklustre but this family-run restaurant offers a wide traditional Greek menu serving enormous portions of incredibly delicious Greek food, as well as the most genuinely friendly (but unobtrusive) service of any restaurant I know. It has won awards in the Islington Gazette on numerous occasions but remains inexplicably quiet, possibly because it is on a sidestreet off Blackstock Rd so misses the passing trade. Locals seem to pop in loyally for takeaways.