The olive tree fish restaurant in Southend-on-Sea

Food was lovely. Staff was rude.

I ordered 3 spring rolls, at 3 quid a piece, and they not even a spring rolls, taste nothing like spring rolls, with sweetcorn and pies in it, it tasted horrible, feeling well ripped off, and very disappointed, because fish and chips are amazing.

We always use this restaurant before going to The Cliffs Pavillion to see a show. Always had lovely meal, no complaints whatsoever, but last night was a completely different story. The young girls serving were very polite but the food was not good, the chips were all bits, like they had emptied the fryer out and my husbands half a chicken was so tiny a child could have eaten more, I really wish we had complained at the time but we didn’t. We will be looking for a different restaurant in the future and will not be returning to The Olive Tree.

Good place to go for food before a,show

Great food as usual always happy with the olive Tree

Booked this restaurant before going to a show at the pavilion. Was booked for 6pm but arrived a little early at 5.50pm. No seats available in the main restaurant and was clear that they were not concerned about honouring our booking. Was seated in the shop area which was hot and noisy due to the queue being right there next to us. Waited for the menus for 10 minutes and then finally ordered. Asked for drinks and a glass of water. Water never arrived, drinks took 15 minutes to come. Food did not arrive until 6.45 nearly an hour after we had arrived. Children's food was ok, chips were dry and small, tiniest portion of beans ever. My rock and chips were awful. I had 3 small pieces of rock with very little fish only bone, chips were dry and cool. The only good thing was the coffee. One of the waitresses was having a very bad day and kept coming out of the main restaurant and complaining loudly about people in the restaurant and how they were driving her mad! She needs to get another job! Shame about this as the children were so excited about having a meal and going to the show and this detracted from their experience. Shame on you Olive Tree. No surprise I didn't add a tip on! Would not return to this restaurant ever ......

As someone who has had surgery & can't eat large meals, I was refused as over 10 years old. I said ok I won't eat, so I sat while everyone else ate. I asked was it not bad business practice to not at least take some money from me for a child's meal rather than have me taking up a seat with just a coffee. I was told it was because old people would only order small meals all the time if they let me do it. They don't even serve just chips on their own. Very dissapointing, bad attitude too. Coffee was nice!

Lovely fish and chips. Tables a bit on the small side and close together, but as this isn't a place you would spend hours in having a three course meal we were satisfied. Will visit again.

Food was lovely and hot, staff however were not professional at all. We were left waiting for 20 minutes to order our food and drink while they stood around. Once we finally ordered our meal we had to wait for a drink. Restaurant wasn’t very busy. I hadn’t even finished my meal when they came and took the empty plate my friend had and gave her the menu back. Felt like a burden being in there. Didn’t need to wait to pay, they were over in a flash and with a card machine. Restaurant wasn’t closing for another 1hr. Very bad practice.

Lovely fish and chips will be definitely going back there

Tight with their chips and absolutely miserable service. Geezer was asleep at a table on the shop floor. Madness!!!!. Never again, ill spend my money where ppl are happy to accept.!

Really impressed with Viv from the Olive tree. I forgot to order vinegar and phoned to ask for some with my delivery. She explained that they could not take extra cash on arrival as the driver is not their staff. Upon delivery she had placed vinegar in the order with a note, saying enjoy your meal and she had paid for the vinegar for me...........exceptional experience and quality food as always

Amazing prices and amazing fish and chips for three people and the dog aswel can't grumble.

Excellent service ordered fish chips best ever had going back again excellent price thank you would definitely recommend 👍

Lovely!! Perfect pre show dinner

We ordered to arrive for 7pm. Wasn’t delivered til gone 8. Time kept being put back, last put back was to between 8.10 and 8.30(although it did arrive about 8.05) No facility to cancel. No reply when tried to ring restaurant. It’s such a shame because the food is really lovely from this restaurant but the wait with no facility to cancel as it was going to be so late was really bad service. Really if food is going to be really late, customers should be contacted to advise and asked if they wish to proceed. Unable to contact Just Eat for help, I’m sure that you used to be able too!

Got there for 6 o'clock for sit down the place was full the fishwas fantastic

We love local and walk by all the time but was the first time ordering. Fish was delicious, lovely batter and really tasty flaky thick cod. Defo recommend. Thanks very much!

Absolutely delicious fish and lovely crispy chips

We hadn’t visited this restaurant for quite a few years and as their hygiene rating had gone up from 1 star to 5, I hoped that our eating experience there would be good. Well, how wrong can you be! The only good thing I can honestly say about this place was that the fish and chips we both had was very nice, but that was all. I asked for tap water and was given a very small glass and when I asked for a jug of water I was told that it wasn’t possible, but when I asked for a refill they refilled it from a bottle, so why couldn’t they leave that on the table? My husband had a dirty knife which the waitress snatched away without apology, and when we had eaten we asked for two black coffees and I made it very clear it had to be filtered coffee as I am not a lover of instant coffee made in restaurants. I asked the waitress if they did filtered coffee as I did not want instant, to this she said she would go and find out. Surely anybody who works in a restaurant knows whether they supply filtered coffee or not, and maybe in hindsight I should have read the alarm bells. Shortly after the “coffee” arrived the colour didn’t look right and it didn’t taste right either, but I put it down to me being fussy making a mental note that if I returned I wouldn’t be having a coffee in there again. I let the “coffee” cool down and took another sip, but the taste definitely was not coffee as it left a very nasty aftertaste in my mouth and it was then that I realised that the so called “coffee” was in actual fact tea! I called over the waitress and told her that my so called coffee was tea and she didn’t seem at all surprised. I told her I didn’t want a replacement and that I wanted it deducted from my bill, but when the bill arrived unsurprisingly there were the 2 “coffees” included. I called her back again and demanded mine be taken off. My hubby drank his, but also conceded that both drinks were indeed tea. All in all the experience was totally unsatisfactory, so we just paid the bill without leaving a tip. Also heaven help you if you were a little on the large side because the tables were crammed that close together that to squeeze by to get to the seat near the wall you would be on intimate terms with the other customers! This will be the first and only time I will be patronising this restaurant, as I am sure there are better restaurants around to choose from. They really need to up their game.

Not oily or greasy at all which is hard to find with fish and chips! Great portions (the chips are a standard box size we got three for five adults and that was plenty for anyone wondering about size) fish (cod) was crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, battered sausage not greasy but nice and crisp. Honest the best chip shop in Southend!

This was my first time earing here and probably the last. I ordered the chicken breast burger and got a chicken breast no burger. The chicken was dry. It should be quite moist and easy to eat,it just wasn't. Chips were lovely though

Went to our daughter's flat and fancied fish and chips. First visit and was great. Food was freshly cooked and decently priced

Absolutely fantastic fish & chips. Been a few times now also had delivered. consistently delicious food, try the cod bites with chips 👌

order come without the chips so only half a dinner for me tonight, very disappointing

Fish n chips mushy peas lovely.

Booked a table, after a friend recommended The Olive Tree. It's in a great location, just a stroll from Westcliff Station and even closer to Cliffs Pavilion. Reservation is definitely recommended as we arrived and managed to swerve the people that were waiting to be seated. Service was promp and the food great.

Called in on the off chance for a table for 2 before a show at the Cliffs pavilion. We was very lucky to get a table as they were very busy. I had Cod & Chips with Mushy peas, the wife had veggie spring rolls with chips, We both had deserts. All really tasty. My wife & myself were both very impressed with the taste & quality of the food, and service was excellent. Highly Recommend & We would happily come here again.

Food is generally very good but the portions are small. We had 2 starters , scampi and garlic mushrooms @ 5.95 each The food was Ok but the portion size very questionable - 6 mushrooms without any choice of dip and 5 pieces of scampi. So each single scampi was £1.19 , I got the general feeling of being ripped off

This was our first visit to this establishment, as soon as we walked in. We were asked quite rudely have we booked , the establishment wasn't busy , and with a sigh showed us to our table , when the food came it was amazing. As our plates were empty the owner then clicked his fingers at the young waitress to move the plates , what ever your nationality you are , don't click your fingers just bloody rude , so if you were the owner apology to you staff would be a right move. We have more visit to Southend. We will be avoiding this like the plague, if you like good food , and a attitude owner then you will be ok

Food was good, although the just eat driver put the cold drinks on top of the chips which meant they were almost cold when I got them

Okay food, a little expensive for what it is and where the table is placed.

Called in on the off chance of a table for 4 before a show at the pavilion. We were lucky to get a table as they were very busy. We were all very impressed with the taste and quality of the food, and service was excellent. Between us we had Cod, Haddock, Plaice and sausages with chips and mushy peas and a couple of sides of curry sauce. All really tasty. We would happily come here again.

First visit to this lovely establishment prior to an evening at the Cliff's Pavillion. Excellent menu, reasonably priced and served quickly. They even had my favourite pan fried skate - delicious. Looking forward to a return visit when next in Southend.

The best cod and chips ever, delicious, good value and perfect before a cliffs pavilion show next door.

A great little fish restaurant, ideal for pre show food before visiting The Palace Theatre. Staff are friendly and efficient food cooked fresh and delicious. The prices are are fair. I Highly recommend.

Jus walked out the rude ignorant creepy big nosed manager, refused to serve just chip as my wife is a celiac in a chip shop you cant get chip because it ain't on the menu don't waste your time, in my 36 years of life I've never come across someone so rude.

Just had a meal inside. Gave me chicken and veg pie where I wanted steak and kidney pie. Don't cater for people with autism. Daughter wanted just chips but said if all she wants to have takeaway as not allowed. Had to buy a chicken burger with meal that she can't eat so can eat inside. They expected me to get the bill for 2 strangers on table then deduct what they owe after. Disgusting place.

Very very rude waitress and the waiter not much better. Customer service 0. Restaurant was nit busy as the pantomine rush was over, we were a but late. Ordered 4 childrens meals and one adult only wanted chips and a cup of tea. Was rudely told could not have just chips !!! Other 2 adults were having meals. Unbelievable. We walked out

This is my Go To restaurant every time we are in Southend Amazing Fish and Chips every time. Staff make you so welcome .

Good place to eat before going to the Cliffs

I ordered takeaway of fish and chips there. Fish was freshly fried and price was relatively reasonable in that zone.

Good quality food. Very convenient for the Cliffs Pavilion.

Cold and very rubbery Savaloy threw it away

Great food as usual good potions always good value

Despite the negative reviews I actually enjoyed my meal here. We had the garlic breaded mushrooms for starters but these were awful and overcooked. It was almost impossible to eat them. However the fish and chips certainly made up for it as it was lovely and cooked to perfection. The house wine was a bit yuk but on the whole the main meal was lovely and I would go back.

Excellent quality and prompt delivery as usual

Was over an hour late was very disappointed as everyone who I was going to eat with had to have there dinner as they wasn’t eating the same as me

Sorry to say but won’t be using again, I’ve been using here for the last 10 yrs or so as the food has always been good, but the service I received today from the young person behind the counter was awful, a dispute over the new boxes to put chips into which are tiny and the fact they’ve stopped doing large chips has made me never to use here again a shame as I know the owners

We did not have a reservation but they were very accommodating and we had an enjoyable meal before our visit to the theatre

Lovely fish and chips will definitely order again

Tiny large chips portion, lovely staff serving as well 🙄. Better chip shops about.

Very poor customer service. I’m very conscious about the space a wheelchair takes up and although my sister can walk short distances the manager was insistent she walk I to the back of the restaurant as people would have to move their chairs if I pushed her . I refused to sit next to the door and there was absolutely no where to put the wheelchair. I pushed her to the back and people were very happy to shuffle their chairs in a bit. I wasn’t offered any help and I managed to fold the wheelchair and store it near the loo. Food came quickly, bill even quicker and card machine even quicker than that. I hadn’t even looked at the bill before he was shoving the machine in front of my face. My sister was so worried about what he’d say if we tried to push trough the tables again that she painfully walked to the door and I followed with the chair and had to settle her into it on the pavement. Appalling customer service. Never again.

Best fish and chips I've had for a while

Be careful, charge more than in the menu.

Great salmon and cod meals. I would recommend if your in westcliff. 5 out of 5. Food was served quickly and to a good standard.

Very tasty, fresh and good portions for the price

One of the best chippies in Essex with everything being cooked fresh and I've seen local fishermen bring in their catches to sell to the shop. Really friendly service.

cold food and box looked like it had been left out in rain for a while

Olive Tree is close by but my meal arrived promptly and was piping hot. The Just Eat courier was smart and very pleasant Was a good experience

The quality of the food was of a high standard. The speed of the service was quick and efficient. Staff were friendly and made sure that the food was good. They put the air-conditioning on. The prices were very reasonable for fish and chips. A good choice of menu.

My family were here for the day, didn’t book we found the food excellent, service was great too. Would definitely return, keep up the good work. Thank You

My wife and i had a takeaway sausage in batter & chips twice. Both sausages in batters was chewy and had been reheated, and most of the chips were black. I was recommended to come here but I would not recommend at all.

This restaurant is in an ideal place for folk who are going to the local theatre and we always use it pre-show when possible. They serve pretty decent fish and chips as well as several specials like lamb shanks. The drinks list isn't huge but it'll do. My only gripe is with the sauces on the table. For one, the ketchup is runny and the colour is a very pale shade of red. That said, they're free and available on each table. Although the place was quite empty when we got there at 6pm, I would suggest phoning and booking a table - it gets quite busy in the hour before an event. All in all, a very enjoyable meal before moving on to the theatre.

not too busy for a Saturday afternoon,quickly served ,good sized portions and nicely presented, overall a good experience and would recommend to anyone passing there way

Had a nice meal staff really friendly service good will go again soon

Great food excellent staff good prices worth a visit

Overall very good. Incredibly busy and quite well organised. Ordered and mains arrived within 5 minutes! Others had to wait a lot longer. Our fish were beautifully cooked chips hot.

Fabulous Fish and Chips, and lovely welcoming Staff. ❤️

Very good food, well cooked and well presented. Incredibly busy, well worth booking, with proximity to cliffs pavilion

Over crowded and noisy Basically a fish and chip restaurant next to Cliffs Can't go wrong with food.

We've been to The Olive Tree a few times and been happy but last night (08/04/2023) was a bad night. As there were 6 of us and knowing how busy they get when there is a show at the Cliffs Pavilion I booked a table on 15th January. I rang to double check the booking 3 days before and was told "yes it was ok". We turned up to be told we didn't have a booking. Try getting a table for 6 on a Saturday night impossible had to settle for a sandwich in the Cliffs Pavalion. 😡

We were recommended by local people. Lovely cod and chips, they even lightly battered my fish on request, the apple pie was incredible. Superb and efficient service from Viviene, what a credit to the team she is. It was a pleasure to leave a big tip. Thank you!

It's was all too busy at anytime to get an meal with others housemates and with a drink.

Lovely food and friendly staff.

Enjoyable experience, excellent choice of food, we dined in. Highly recommended.

Friendly staff, meal though was disappointing some of the chips were black and saveloy was barely warm and when chewed just tasted of water. Very disappointing

Had Saveloy & chips! Saveloy was barely warm and tasted of water

We saw the restaurant and thought . Quick evening meal before our show . We walked in didn't know we had to book but the lovely lady who greated us and said we are fully booked but she had a table for 30 instead if it was OK. It was fine . The cod and chips was amazing one of the best I have had (I am very fussy). The service was quick but they all checked everyone was OK. We will visit again and book next time. We'll done to all the staff . Thank you for squeezing us in .

Great food, service and ambiance!

Very disappointed with the olive tree restaurant. We hadn't been there for quite a few years & couldn't believe how mu h it has increased the prices. They used to ha e different sizes of fish dishes, but now it's one standard price which is far too much. Would not go to this restaurant again.

This is my local chippy and I go pretty regularly. 9 times in 10 they are excellent, quick and efficient even when I turn up at odd times, the food is good and the staff are fine. However, once in a while they do have an off day.

Chips were dry and not very nice. Spring rolls full of onion. Staff weren't that interested and cleared plates before we had finished. Wouldn't go again. A lot better fish and chip shops around.

A little manic, the tables are very close together however that’s what you get when somewhere is as popular as The olive tree is. The food was lovely, the staff were lovely and it’s a perfect little restaurant for a before the show meal. Would definitely go there again !

Not what expected with the name Olive Tree. It’s pretty much a fish and chip shop with tables. Service not the greatest either. Won’t rush back.

Sent the wrong food and wouldn't send right stuff out.

Bog standard fish and chips place and other dishes, all you can get from local chippy but probably better quality. The staff are soooo rude, act like you’re an inconvenience and that they don’t want to be there. Only went as the other 2 restaurants next to cliffs Pavillion had bad reviews also. Don’t think they could be much worse… should’ve eaten elsewhere. Would be better with better staff but still bog standard chippy food

Superb fish n chips. The best I’ve had in the area.

Missing items yet again. Spoils our take out treat.

Visited here without a booking during a very busy time just before our theatre booking. We asked to be served quickly and they kindly obliged. The chips were amazing! Bill was brought as soon as we asked for it. We got in and out at the speed we wanted. Highly recommended

Excellent fish again (me skate, my wife salmon). Great "Chip-shop" chips. Lovely, friendly staff. House wine was nice too (if a tad expensive).

A good meal at a reasonable price. I enjoyed the ribs and would recommend them.

Can't say what the food was like "looked nice" but was placed by a constantly opening door during -2 degrees, there was a constant arctic blast, when we asked to move we were told we had only booked a table for two, even though there were spare tables, disgraceful

Can't say what the food was like "looked nice" but was placed by a constantly opening door during -2 degrees, there was a constant arctic blast, when we asked to move we were told we had only booked a table for two, even though there...

Right by the Cliffs Theatre this cafe /restaurant needs to be booked especially in summer. Huge pieces of fish and they do have some specials. The chips are well cooked (not swimming in grease. They have wine and beer on drinks menu.

Delicious, succulent and hot. Definitely order again.

Just great food and service. Highly recommended...

Ideal for a bit of scoff before going to the Theatre 🎭 food was good as well as the price. Service wasn’t to slow and you can have a beer

Went I here for a meal before a show at the cliffs, we were asked if we had booked a table and we said no but we saw online it does not take bookings. Food was OK the chips seemed abit cold and mushy. Desert...

Great food, if it turns up. Service via Just Eat is a lottery. Ordered from here twice - first time it arrived 1.5 hours late, second time the restaurant cancelled the order 2.5 hours after accepting it.