Hot Tip: Black Olive Mediterranean Cuisine

Hot Tip came in from Ashley Simms about the newly opened Black Olive Mediterranean Cuisine (thanks Ashley!).

And a hot tip it was. I recently stopped by for lunch and had the pleasure of meeting the owner, Ramin. He shared that they just opened in mid-march, and so things were still a bit slow as word is still getting out.

Across from the post office // Garret Hunt

Ramin was friendly and happy to help give me ideas that could accommodate my meat-free preferences. Chatting with him made me even more excited to try the food. He has another restaurant in Monroe, Bella Balducci’s which has been open since 2009.

He really seems to know his stuff.

Black Olive Mediterranean Cuisine owner Ramin // Garret Hunt

When I asked about his inspiration to open Black Olive Mediterranean Cuisine in Everett, he shared, “Greek and Persian food seemed to be missing from the area.”

I ordered at the counter then checked out the space while I waited for my food. They have a handful of tables to eat-in and the environment is comfortable and casual.

I overheard Ramin call one customer by name as they were finishing their food and standing up from their table about to start clearing their dishes, “don’t worry about it “John,” I can get it,” said Ramin.

I always appreciate it when local businesses are on a first-name basis with customers.

Ramin brought my food out after a short wait; an order of greek fries and even a piece of baklava to wash down my falafel gyro. I raced my meal home and couldn’t resist trying a couple greek fries before I finished snapping some photos.

Eat fries or take a photo first? // Garret Hunt

Now I’m certainly not an aficionado in Mediterranean cuisine, but I know what tastes good. And the greek fries had great flavor. They were well-seasoned and the feta added a nice dimension.

The gyro was so massive with the pita bread stuffed full of deep fried garbanzo beans and vegetables with tomato, lettuce, onions, cucumbers, tzatziki, and feta cheese. Fillings fell to my plate as I dove in. Everything was super fresh and flavorful.

I put some dallops on, of what I thought was sauce for my gyro before realizing the tzatziki was already on the gyro and the extra sauce was meant for my fries. I think Ramin said it was the baba ganoush sauce ... might just have to go back for another round to double check! But either way it had great flavor, both on my gyro and greek fries.

I want to say I’ve tried baklava years ago, but my memory of it is faint. Black Olives’ is made in house. I did enjoy a few bites, but I’m just not a huge fan of sweet flavors, and this stuff is sweet! I think I’ll save a few bites for my toddler, I’m sure she’ll love it (spoiler alert: she did).

Too sweet for you? Someone else will happily eat it // Garret Hunt

Prices are on the more affordable end of the spectrum. Currently, with many small plates, gyro sandwiches (yes, they call them sandwiches), salads, soups, and desserts for well under $10.

Plates and kabobs are actually the only items currently over $10, and not by much.

Ramin did share, he feels they have the best kabobs. I could tell he was proud of them. He made me even tempted to break my meat-fast. But you know what? They’ve got plenty to try.

Stop on by and say “hi”, and see for yourself. Your palette will thank you for introducing the new addition.