Olive Tree Restaurant

Great little mom and pops with excellent home style food. Pork tenderloin is fantastic. French dip is very good. Tasty appetizers and friendly service.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Breaded Tenderloin, Mozz Sticks

Not a chicken breast fan, Their fried chicken dinner was/is delicious. I tried the breast first, Crispy bit through skin, hot and juicy inside. The best in town. 4 piece chicken dinner, 11.00. Home fries, cottage cheese, corn and bread and butter.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Breaded Tenderloin, Pancake, Corned Beef Hash, French Toast, Three Eggs, Steak, American Fries, Bacon Cheeseburger, Chocolate Chip Pancakes, Fish, Cheeseburger, Stuffed Pancake, 2 Pancakes, Cheese Burger and Fries, Bacon Eggs and Hasbrowns, Hash Browns, French Fries, Bowl of Chili, Mozz Sticks, Toast

Some places have a feel, like the place itself has a specific character. Such a place is the Olive Tree. It is not a hipster vibe. It is not trendy or even cool, it is comfortable. The ambiance of the place is subtle. It is unassuming, quiet.
I walked in at 6:40 am. on a Tuesday. Unsurprisingly, the restaurant was fairly subdued, with a few groups of three to four retired gentlemen discussing matters of state amongst themselves. I stood for only a moment at the front of the dining room when one of the patrons glanced up at me and kindly offered, “sit anywhere you’d like”. Right away, I began to get the mood of the place, personal and relaxed. I took up residence in the nearest booth and waited for perhaps 10 seconds before a waitress offered coffee and a menu. So far, so good, but let me digress for a for a few words about the waitress. I asked her name and asked if she would be okay with being mentioned in my review, as is my custom. She was thoughtful for a moment and then informed me that she was just filling in, just helping out, and offered up the name of a hard-working waitress who was a member of staff. Again, that feeling, the personal nature of this place. Here was a competent individual, taking care of the diners present with a smooth practiced hand, and she didn't even work there. She was “just helping out”. Another subtle but defining clue as to the friendly, member-of-the-family atmosphere.
The menu is not elaborate in any way. It is, in fact, a distillation of the classic diner breakfast offerings. One, two, or three eggs, with ham, bacon, or sausage. A shipwreck of eggs scrambled with potatoes, meat a dollar more. Steak and eggs, a breakfast sandwich, and a few omelets, with the most exotic being the Western. Also, an assortment of pancakes and French toast, which, as many of my readers might know, mean little to me.
I chose the sausage and cheese omelet, plated with American fries and toast, a steal at $7.25. Not being one to leave well enough alone, I added griddled onions to the omelet and cheese to the ‘fries.
I had written only a few sentences when my food arrived, piping hot and ready to devour. The American fries were well crisped, with melty squares of American cheese on top. For some reason, completely unknown to me, a melted square of cheese always brings a smile to my face. And I was smiling broadly as I took in the slightly browned, perfectly done folded omelet. There are a few different ways of constructing an omelet, one of those involves using a fair amount of flat-top real estate to pour out the egg mixture to a relatively thin layer, then using a spatula (or two) to fold this up into a package around the filling. I have a deep fondness for this method as it creates thin, perfectly cooked layers of egg, which one’s fork seems to glide through. The sausage was plentiful, the onions were perfectly done, and the cheese was in just the right amount.
Simply delightful. I took my time, savoring bites of the yummy, cheesy fried potatoes, and enjoying the texture of the eggs.
As it is with every delicious breakfast, it was over far too soon. As I finished my cup of coffee and scribbled a few more notes, I took a minute to look around. The place had begun to fill, being now about 10 minutes ‘til eight, and every single customer, with no exception, was happily chatting away, quite comfortable in their favorite neighborhood place.
@RickiGoesOut

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: American Fries, Bacon Eggs and Hasbrowns, Hash Browns

My kids and I loved it!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Nice small restaurant good breakfast

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

Visited on Sunday, July 7th. Waited 45 minutes for food and waitress kept forgetting things and kept going back and forth. Put down the check and didn't come back to see if we needed to go boxes, etc. Bathrooms were out of toilet paper and soap. Typically, not like this but this day was bad.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 3

Service: 1

Very good meal!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

The only waitress they have and she rocks! Each time I go here she remembers my drink , extra butter, she does an amazing job!!

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 4

Service: 5

I love breakfast and this was my first meal here. Nice atmosphere, there were a lot of choices, service was super, a good value and very tasty. I will definitely eat here again!

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Bacon Eggs and Hasbrowns

Absolutely delicious! Real shredded potato hash browns & large omelets. My husband got lunch, Tenderloin & fries also delicious. Definitely recommend.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Bacon Eggs and Hasbrowns

I discovered this restaurant about 8 months ago and it is easily my favorite restaurant in town. Delicious home cooked meals with large servings of everything. The service is friendly and top notch! And it's clean with a homey atmosphere. And best of all, the prices are reasonable and you always get your money's worth! Try it, you won't be disappointed!!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Bacon Eggs and Hasbrowns

Great food. Nice clean place. Very

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: French Toast

A very nice family restaurant. We had a holiday dinner for the Cedar Rapids Stamp Club. The staff pushed tables together for our 16 people. All the orders came out hot and everyone enjoyed their meals. All of the split checks were correct without a mandatory gratuity. Our waitress was very efficient and pleasant to all in our party. We will return in the future.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Breaded Tenderloin, American Fries, French Fries, Salisbury Steak American Fries

The food!!! Good portions for a great price.

Wonderful atmosphere Great Food & waitress is Awesome

Kid-friendliness: Chairs for children.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Breaded Tenderloin, Grilled Tenderloin, French Toast, Steak, Bacon Cheeseburger, Fish, Bacon Eggs and Hasbrowns, French Fries, Mozz Sticks