Olive Branch

I’ve always heard great things about this place and finally made it this weekend. Extremely small family owned/​operated restaurant in Cahaba Heights/​maybe 10 – 12 tables small with a bar area. The tables are close and unfortunately my wife and I heard far more of our neighbors conversation than we wanted. Worse yet the two couples behind us were apparently in a heated competition to see who had the loudest most obnoxious laugh. (4 way tie for those wondering) Cramped quarters and all that aside the service was exemplary. The lady waiting on us had the entire dining area and handled it well. She was very friendly and personable as were the owner and her mother in law who all made it a point to speak to everyone. The food was excellent! Some of the best Mediterranean food I’ve had. We started with some first-​rate caliber hummus, my wife had a chicken gyro with a side salad, and I had the traditional gyro with wild rice. The gyros we ordered were the amped up versions with peppers onions and feta which I originally was a bit concerned I should have remained pure… glad I didn’t. Excellent! Highly recommend! One thing I liked in particular is they had an ala carte menu so I was able to convince my wife to try stuffed grape leaves and falafel in a very inexpensive manner. We quite enjoyed them both. The falafel in particular was perfectly crisp and delicious and it will be a portion of my next order from the Olive Branch which I intend to make frequently. I’ll battle 280/​and a crowded seating area in a heartbeat for that place.

Absolutely fabulous food in a wonderful, friendly atmosphere. amazing service and people. Win win.

This place gave me good vibes and a full stomach tonight. The Olive Branch checked every mark on my list:
Low key atmosphere
Fantastic service
Food
Great food
Lots of food
This restaurant has great atmosphere without being snobby. My server gave our table constant attention– I don’t think my glass was ever empty.
I ordered the lamb kabob, which is $ 18.99 and comes with a salad, wild rice, vegetables, fruit, pita, hummus dip, and Taziki sauce.
The kitchen staff cook behind a counter in the main part of the restaurant, which gives the whole place a fun and upbeat feel.

If you haven’t found this hidden gem, you must go. My mouth is watering just thinking about this place. Such great food! Great service also. You won’t be disappointed.

I love love LOVE the Olive Branch. On every visit the staff has been THE nicest and the services is super fast. I’m extremely particular about hummus and falafel & both are the best I’ve ever experienced. They also have the softest pita bread around. I’m not a fan of rice but their wild rice side is the softest, creamiest, warmest & I eat every bit on my visits. The dining room is small & fills up fast. They also have an outdoor uncovered patio if the weather is nice enough.

Goodness, I was pleasantly surprised by the authentic Mediterranean quality of this joint in the middle of Birmingham Alabama. Make sure to get either the gyro with a kebab and also a Greek side salad. They’re both die for and then some.

Delicious homemade food. Incredible spices and tastes. Wonderful outdoor patio. Great service. Had the chicken soup — so savory — and lamb kabob with hummus made perfectly. Came back two nights later for the stuffed squash — mouth watering. And then the baklava — perfect!

I have to say I was a little skeptical about this place, but I was so wrong. The food is absolutely incredible. The gyro is my favorite. It is not fatty or too dry. The tilapia special is also one of my go to meals! It’s a great little restaurant to have a glass of wine and have a small family meal!

Best Greek food in Birmingham. The portions are large and I throughly enjoyed my gyro wrap on their patio.

Without a doubt, Olive Branch has the best middle eastern food. Everything’s exceptional and the quality’s always superb.

Lamb Kabobs and the Stuffed Grape Leaves were wonderful.
The staff are very friendly and very relaxed. It feels like a family diner.
I don’t know how or why I haven’t eaten here before now, but I will be back.

This is a great little hidden gem in Cahaba Heights. Great Mediterranean food at reasonable prices with good service and decent wine selection. Most dishes come out in large Pyrex dishes and are big enough to share with another person. The lamb is delicious and the hummus is very good. The kafka balls are especially good and the tabouli is excellent.
Birmingham doesn’t have many good patio spots, and this one is better than most of the others — even though the view is less than fantastic. I’ve been going there for years and I’ve never had a bad experience. A must!

The falafel is great and fresh. Great place perfect for vegetarians.
Sad the dolmas had meat, so I didn’t try. The tabuleh salad was needing more parsley and some added cracked wheat, however, very tasty.
The Greek salad was very good,

Very good fresh food. I had the lentil soup, it was made by the owners grandmother, and you could taste the love inside it. My friends had the lamb kebabs and were greatly pleased. A very nice place to enjoy some Mediterranean food. We enjoyed it on the outside deck and the fresh air made everything better.

The best salads and kabobs in Birmingham… YUM!!!

My friends and I absolutely loved this place! We loved that it was local and the food was exceptional! I got the gyro salad and it was fantastic!

Summary: Great great food under a modest roof
Ambiance/​Service: This place totally reminds me of a diner. You have a bar with stools to the right and maybe 10 – 12 tables to the left. On week nights, you can find people dressed up like they are going to a fancy dinner and even though this may seem odd, it’s kinda cute. All the waitstaff are very friendly and helpful with the menu. Great location that I hit up each time I need to go to the Summit.
Food: Come here for the food. It’s exceptional. I’ve been here twice now and being vegetarian, have gotten the falafel which is really friggin good. It’s got a very thin crunchy outside with perfectly cooked, warm and perfectly textured inside. They’re slightly flattened, I assume to ensure that it cooks through and I think that’s what lets them keep the crunchy breading pretty thin and delightful. The tabouli is really friggin good too, with the perfect amount of herbs for flavor and crunch from the cucumber. It’s not too vinegar-​y and doesn’t get runny from all the water content. I’ve also had their fried cauliflower appetizer which was also delicious. I’m a fan of cauliflower but they make a simple dish taste great. Presentation isn’t anything fancy in the food, which mirrors their restaurant but with food this good, I don’t really care.
Overall: Great place that seems like it’s family run with exceptional food and great staff. 4 stars is the best I’ll give a restaurant in Birmingham and there are few around for vegetarians but this is definitely one I’ll keep coming back to.

The Olive Branch Mediterranean Cuisine
3236 Cahaba Heights Rd
Vestavia Hills, AL 35 243
205.967.4600
We had a lovely dinner at The Olive Branch last night. They are located right on Cahaba Heights Rd and while parking in front is limited there is extra parking behind.
Olive Branch has a large outdoor deck with umbrellas so outdoor dining is available. Our server was Kara and she was attentive, friendly and quick to reply to requests. The food was great. We had a party of five and after we ordered it was only a few minutes until all our food came out together. We both had the Gyro salad which basically their rendition of a greek salad topped with sliced gyro meat. For less than $ 9 it is a bargain. It also comes with pita bread. Our other guests had Franks philly and said it was also good and plenty.
They also have a good selection of wines and bottled beer. We had the Meiomi, a California Pinot Noir that was very smooth and light.
We will definitely be going back, they are also open for lunch.
Urban Cowgill

I am sure I’ve said it before, but the Olive Branch is some of the best Mediterranean food in the city. The kafta, gyro, chicken, and tabouli are all fantastic. You can have your protein over rice with a salad (I always substitute tabouli) or in a pita. Of course the stuffed squash and grape leaves for two is a big hit, as well. The dining room is small, but there’s outdoor dining as well for clear days. The owner is friendly and really knows her cooking! A can’t miss.

Stopped in for lunch and ordered the falafel plate. It was a great portion: 4 falafel, rice, pita and hummus. I washed it all down with mint tea. Can’t wait to go back some time soon.