The Olive Tree Cafe

Allow me to summarize for those of us with short attention spans: fresh is good!

We'd been trying to get together with these particular friends for months, but for various reasons it never quite happened. Finally, a day was picked and they suggested we meet at The Olive Tree Cafe. I'd never heard of it, but while googling around for directions (behind Kahala Mall next to McDonalds) I stumbled across this tidbit: The Olive Tree Cafe was rated the best place to eat in Honolulu for under $20. Sounds good to me!

When we arrived at 6:30 in the evening, the small parking lot was packed, every one of the dozen tables were filled and other people were standing around waiting-- a testament to the popularity of the place. In contrast, the Subway next door was desolate and empty. I hate jockeying for tables, but fortunately by the time our order came up at the counter, we were able to snag a free table for ourselves.

Because the Olive Tree Cafe is strictly BYOB you'll notice most patrons arrive with a bottle of wine in hand. If you forget until arrival, the Greek deli next door has a selection of appropriate beer and wine. We uncorked our wine and started with the mussel ceviche ($4.80); mussels "cooked" in lime juice with cilantro, garlic and capers. The mussels were extremely fresh, and the marinade enhanced their clean flavor without overwhelming it. I don't think I've ever had mussels this good before. Moments later, our pita and hummus ($3.84) arrived. The tender pitas were still warm from the griddle, good enough to eat plain. The hummus too was good enough to scoop solo. It was silky smooth, and lightly fragrant with spices. I'm salivating just remembering the experience.

For my entree, I ordered the fish souvlaki ($9.60). Again, the still-warm pita, stuffed with moist, delicate ono and dressed with tzatziki sauce. The fish was amazingly fresh and they make their own yogurt from scratch for the tzatziki. Are you seeing the pattern here? Everything, and I mean everything, is fresh. (The recipes for this souvlaki and tzatziki are available online if
you'd like to take a stab at it yourself.)

To finish out, I ordered a square of baklava ($1.92). Yes, even the baklava was fresh. The layers of phyllo and walnuts were saturated with honey, yet still distinct. A little of this sweet treat went a long way.

This turned out to be the best Greek food I can remember having. The menu was strictly by the book, but the fresh ingredients and à la minute preparation made all the difference in the world. They don't accept credit cards, so bring cash, a bottle of wine and your appetite.

The Olive Tree Cafe
Koko Head / Makai corner of Kahala Mall
4614 Kilauea Ave