Clients reviews about The Olive House Turkish and Mediterranean Restaurant

We celebrated a milestone Birthday here and it was perfect! The food was delicious and the staff were amazing, so friendly and helpful! They were really accommodating with our requests for decorations and for food allergies and they made the whole experience relaxing and enjoyable. Everyone commented on how delicious the food was. I had Chicken Shawarma and the chicken was very succulent and tasty. The restaurant has a lovely warm atmosphere and a great selection of food, kids menu too, all cooked fresh on the premises. We had a cake as well , which they helped us with no problem and all sang Happy Birthday. I definitely recommend popping in there for your next meal! Thank you again to all the staff that helped make this celebration so perfect! :-) ~ ZIGGY G

Came here as a quick stop on our road trip for some good turkish food and it did not disappoint. The menu is large and plentiful with lots of options to suite your taste like salad, burgers and shoarmas. The food took roughly 30-40 minutes to arrive however I understand that we arrived and a very popular dinner time (7pm) and there were many large groups who had ordered before us but the quality of the food made the wait worth it. The atmosphere was warm and cheerful and we seated our self at a very nice table with a view out the window and of the lovely paintings. All in all a good experience and definitely better than stopping at fast food or a service station on our road trip. My mother says that the chicken wings were the best she’s ever had! Definitely recommend if you ar run the area and they also do lunch. ~ avery

We were dining at a local Italian Restaurant but were let down by their unfriendly rude welcome so we walked to The Olive House nearby and despite not having a reservation had a very friendly welcome. I was a little upset when we were sat down as today is our wedding anniversary and it had started off being spoilt by the other restaurant but the warmth and friendliness of The Olive House person who welcomed us was so lovely, we had the most delicious meal and were given a very special plate of Baklava with heart shapes and two lit candles making for a lovely anniversary lunch, we also had photos taken to remember our special time there. Thank you for saving our anniversary lunch, we will have lovely memories now thanks to you. ~ Debz

At last a true Turkish-home cooking! Firstly, Olive House is very high quality and not expensive. So it is very good value. Secondly, I am a vegan and Turkish. I loved Olive House because they have so many traditional Turkish dishes which are naturally vegan. In addition to that they have veganised one of my favourites "Guvec" which is as delicious as meat version (see the picture). They were also very happy to use vegetable oil instead of butter in one of the dishes (just because I asked). They have a good selection of vegan deserts. Everything tastes just so delicious. This place is wonderful in so many ways. The whole atmosphere is amazing. You are welcomed with smiles, free olives and bread. The staff is incredibly friendly and they care so much about the guests. I would recommend it hundred percent. ~ Hulya Y

My partner and I have been once before for a family birthday a couple of years ago and really enjoyed it. We booked a table for tonight, and it was nothing short of amazing. The restaurant is small but the seats are very well situated. It is very clean with beautiful decor which makes it a lovely relaxing place to eat. Upon arrival, we were greeted by a waiter, and was quickly shown to our table. We had drinks to our table within 10 mins of being seated at well as complimentary olives and bread! We ordered our starter which were perfect every way, as was our mains. There really was no complaints at all. The staff were very friendly and everything about the restaurant was above and beyond. I will be returning and highly recommend it to anyone that wishes for a quiet and delicious meal out. Thank you to all at The Olive House. ~ Sophia P

This is a family favourite restaurant. We all have a love for good Turkish food and we visit several times a year. This evening we have travelled from Tadley, Swindon and Haslemere respectively for a pre Mother’s Day celebration. Worth every mile and every minute as per usual. The welcome was warm and sincere from all the familiar faces. An obvious low staff turnover is always a good sign in a restaurant! Service of the highest standard and the food was absolutely fantastic as per usual! Great sense of humour and highly attentive. The running joke between the owners and I is that everything I order is sold out… never gets old! Always a pleasure and we look forward to coming my back again soon !! Highly recommended!! ~ Paul G

A wonderful dining experience! Had a fantastic lunch at this beautiful restaurant! The food was delicious, and the staff were incredibly friendly and attentive. A special touch was when they moved us to the same table we had shared 8 years ago when the restaurant first opened- such a thoughtful gesture that made our visit even more memorable. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, making it a perfect spot for a special lunch, a date or with friends and family, as in my case. Thoroughly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for great food and outstanding service. We enjoyed a shared mixed hot starter, shared mixed main, and to continue the sharing, ordered cheesecake in two flavours, which they split in the kitchen for us. We tried something new to the menu: Avocado and Lime cheesecake - awesome! ~ Paula H

This is a really lovely restaurant. The food is tasty and to a good high standard. There are plenty of waiting staff who are very good at what they do and never leave you waiting for long. The restaurant itself is in the center of town but down over of the streets that you might not naturally wander past, that said it is right next to festival place so couldn't really get more central. Plenty of parking at the top of town and a minute or two walk to the restaurant. Inside it's really nicely decorated, there are a couple of seconds that join together nicely and I think probably contribute a lot to the fact that it is a reasonably quiet place to sit and have a conversation without having to shout above the noise. I do hope the restaurant keep the same number of front of house staff, they give a warm welcome and really so look after you. I'll certainly be returning. ~ John F

We were looking for a good Turkish cuisine restaurant in Basingstoke and came across this one. Nice ambience, spacious, courteous staff. For drinks we had mandarins and seville orange jigger and elderflower juice. Coming to food, we ordered tabbouleh, falafels, lahmacun and iskender kababs that comes with yoghurt on which they pour melted butter when it comes to the table, which makes it even more mouth watering. The gap between serving drinks and food was a bit longer, but they make it up by serving their traditional bread with hummus and cacik dips. Overall, good value for money and you can have a fulfilling meal between £30-40 for 2 people. ~ Disha S

The Olive House is a fantastic restaurant serving authentic and delicious Turkish cuisine in Basingstoke. The cozy ambiance and warm decor make you feel like you’ve been transported to Turkey, adding to the overall dining experience. The service was quick, friendly, and attentive. I ordered the köfte, which was perfectly seasoned and cooked to perfection. The lamb guvec was rich and flavorful, while the Adana kebab had just the right amount of spice. To finish, I had the baklava and a traditional Turkish coffee—both were an absolute treat! If you're looking for a great Turkish dining experience, The Olive House is definitely worth a visit! ~ Skye S

Absolutely fantastic could have been in the middle of London in a swanky restaurant and not Basingstoke. Atmosphere fantastic. We were celebrating our son's 20th. There was a little mistake with the main course but it was quickly acknowledged when we pointed it out and it was very obvious they were anxious and stressed by the mistake and wanting to rectify it which only gave us a positive impression. Staff were so lovely, so refreshing to see such a fantastic caring service which is very rare these days. I felt like they genuinly cared. Food is obviously freshly cooked. First visit and we will be back. We had a wonderful time. Thank you. ~ Anon N

We had a wonderful meal and the service was great because it seems everyone who works there cares about the customers. You don't feel like there is only one waiter assigned to your table. The menu had some great options and we all enjoyed our very tasty meals! I reckon the portions could be made bigger but the awesome taste of the food meant you could even enjoy an extra portion! I felt the prices were slightly higher but again the atmosphere, service and quality of food meant you didn't feel hard done by. The complementary olives and never ending supply of pitta bread was also a nice touch. I would certainly recommend this restaurant. ~ Nana A

I can't repeat enough how GOOD the food is in this place - I brought my friends here and they've been amazed by it from the first to the last bite! The mixed kebab (sort of a seasoned Turkish-style mixed grill) has to be my favourite, those lamb cutlets were incredible! The venue is decorated to a high standard, which is a very pleasant variation from the usual chains nearby. Service was also great, the head waiter Gianfranco made us feel very welcome by explaining the story of the restaurant and advising on wine and dishes. I can't recommend this place enough and we will definitely visit again! ~ Marco R

Olive House is easily my favourite restaurant in Basingstoke. I’ve been many times with my wife, and recently took some work colleagues there as well. It was just as good as ever. I usually have the Shoarma, which is excellent, I’ve also tried most of the starters over the years and genuinely haven’t found a bad one. The Hot Baklava is amazing and definitely worth saving room for. The staff are always friendly and welcoming, and the food is consistently fantastic. I almost don’t want to leave such a good review in case too many other people discover it and I can’t get a table ~ Craig W

Delightful Turkish restaurant with exemplary staff who define customer service. Everyone was smiling and very happy to help. It's a popular destination, so it is worth getting a reservation. It is almost too loud at times, but only with the customer chit-chat. And that is much better than being quiet. The restaurant is decorated with various pictures, mirrors and traditional Turkish lights. It is clean and tidy, with tables properly wiped down once they're cleared. The food is wonderful, perfectly prepared and nicely presented. The calamari rings were lovely and tender. ~ Paul G

It was the first visit to the Olive House but it won't be the last. There was a good buzz and very busy but that didn't mean the service was slow ; on the contrary it was excellent. The menu was extensive but not overwhelming. I chose the Imam Bayaldi, which was tasty and served attractively with a mould of rice. The dish was subtley spiced and was a pleasure to eat. The interior of the Olive Tree was quaintly Turkish with pretty coloured lamps and views of Turkey on the walls. The toilets were clean and roomy as well. All in all, I would recommend the Olive Tree. I will go there again. ~ Cynthia A

We had a wonderful experience celebrating our anniversary here. From start to finish, everything was perfect. The food was excellent — in particular, the lamb was absolutely lovely and tender, cooked to perfection. The service was truly top grade. Joanne and GianFranco went above and beyond to make our evening special, even taking the time to recognise our anniversary, which was a really thoughtful touch. We never felt rushed at any point, allowing us to relax and fully enjoy the atmosphere. A memorable evening all around — we’ll definitely be returning! ~ Sharon W

We went to Basingstoke’s The Olive House for my partners birthday and wish we’d gone there MUCH sooner!! 😄 We were greeted like old friends, and the manager, Gianfranco, couldn’t have made us feel more welcome or comfortable. The food was excellent! Incredibly tasty and great portions, it felt value for money. Great atmosphere, the “hubub” of a family restaurant 🥰 We would definitely recommend The Olive House the next time you’re in Basingstoke - for great food, great company and a great atmosphere 👍🏻😊 ~ Rowan M

We had a meal last night. Table was booked for 8 but due to bomb fear in town they were running quite late. Staff were great though and acknowledged out situation. We waited approx 40 mins and it would gave been good to have had a seating area to wait but that aside It was was well worth the wait. The food was 'spot on'. Well presented tasty fresh well cooked. I had grilled bass and it was probably the best I've had. The food all came out together for a party of 4 and we did not wait long for our food. Staff were friendly . ~ Karen E

Went here for a meal before going to the theatre. Clean and really nicely presented restaurant with friendly and attentive staff. Good food. Overall we enjoyed it and would go back. Only criticism would be lack of allergy information and vegan or vegetarian options on the menu. We had to park and walk to the restaurant as it is in the pedestrianised area of Basingstoke town centre. Not a particularly picturesque location but once inside we had a very good experience and therefore happy to recommend. ~ Michelle D

Went to the Olive House before going to see the brilliant Graham Nash at the Anvil...which is conveniently close. Never been to the OH before but we'll definitely be going back. We ate traditional Turkish food and had a great meal. The staff were friendly and nothing was too much trouble. They also had a good sense of humour. As for the atmosphere and decor, we couldn't fault it...and that includes the loos! We live 40 miles away and wished this excellent, value for money restaurant was closer. ~ Jeff W

We’ve had our wedding reception here and couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Gianfranco and his team were welcoming, professional, accommodating and very friendly. They rearranged the tables for us all (30 people with 4 kids), took pre-orders and were ready with all the food. They also brought out the kids food early so they didn’t have to wait while we ate our starters. The food was outstanding and great value for money! Cannot recommend them highly enough. Thank you Gianfranco! ~ Dóri C

Bellissimo locale accogliente e tradizionale. La simpatia e la cordialità di Gianfranco sono uniche. E che dire del servizio e del cibo? Semplicemente superlativi. Ogni volta che mi trovo a Londra e mi fermo volentieri a cena in questo locale. ~ Camillo I

We had the most amazing time at Olive House Basingstoke celebrating a birthday. Gian Franco was such and amazing host, who gave us a warm reception and attended to our requests. The restaurant played the birthday song for our daughter and gifted her and her sibling cupcakes and gifts. We also had some good chats about Italy. The food was the best Turkish we’d had. Tasted like well prepared homemade meals. We’re definitely going back. I’d highly recommend. ~ Asher C

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