I've been here so many times, I just have to give them a review. I thought about giving 4 stars for the location, the could-use-improvement ambiance, and the slightly rough-around-the-edges wait staff. But then I thought, whenever I want to go out for a dinner that makes me happy, I go here. When my husband asks where I want to go to celebrate something, I ask to go here. When I graduated with my doctorate, I held my graduation party here! So no, despite the little things, I really love this place and it's about how food makes you feel when you're eating it. I'm also from NY originally and am outrageously picky about Italian food and this place is the best I've had anywhere in the state, in the DMV region, I kid you not. Get over your pretensions, realize this place has been around a long time, is kind of dated, and located in Linthicum Heights, and just go for a really perfect gets-to-your-soul comforting meal. They copy the Olive Garden with the salad and breadsticks. The latter is not as awesome but still great, but the dressing is much tastier here imo. The staff are not chic 5 star restaurant quality but they are really personable ladies and gents, and also really good at what they do. I say skip the crab cakes which is what a ton of people get (I like them more at G&M), and go hungrily for any of the Italian dishes. I have been thrilled with any I've tried. Hands down my favorite is the chicken marsala. I'm a try something different each time type of person, but I just can't help myself. This dish with the chicken and amazing sauce and side of fettuccine alfredo gives me so much food happys *tear*. Also try the OG house lager, it's pretty darn good! While I do a little bashful chuckle for liking this place so much given the type of fancy and inventive restaurants I like to explore, I'm definitely in the frequent diner program and I keep going back so I think that's really the most important part.
(5)
Gail B.
We were visiting family & asked the hotel for restaurant suggestions. Olive Grove was awesome. The employees are outgoing & accommodating. The hostess doesn't just seat you. She asks where you are from and how you are doing. The server was attentive and didn't miss water refills and extra requests. The chef even came out to say hello. The only detail that is better at Olive Garden is the breadsticks. Everyone was happy with their food choices. We had a great time. The tomato soup is creamy and delicious. The french onion soup had a tasty broth. The salad was fresh and delicious. The restaurant sells the dressing. It is yummy. Hubby had the crab sandwich. He enjoyed it. My cousin had the eggplant parmesan. She loved it. I had the ravioli. The sauce was rich and amazing. The only area of improvement is the layout of the restaurant. It is a bit confusing. If you need to find the bathroom, it feels like you are walking into the kitchen. I look forward to our next visit.
(4)
Meg L.
Hands down, my favorite restaurant. I can't recommend it enough! jBest italian joint outside of Little Italy! Also their crab cakes are on par with G&M (just a block away), but a couple bucks cheaper! Eat, drink, be merry, & take a box of frozen crab cakes (also cheaper & easier to cook than G&M) & a bottle of homemade italian dressing for the road! If you're like me you'll become a frequent dinner real fast! Ask your waitress/waiter about their frequent dinner program!
(5)
Stefan S.
Great place! Never had a bad meal here. Love their crab cakes, although their soft shell crabs were back on the menu as a special this past Saturday. Love their crab soup. Of course their delicious salad and breadsticks to start which comes with your meal. Large restaurant, never had to wait, but be sure to make a reservation just in case its a truly busy night. Large parking lot and relatively close to I-695. Give this place a try, you won't regret it!
(5)
Lynne S.
My boyfriend and I had just landed at BWI and wanted to kill some time to let traffic die down. We checked out the reviews here and decided to stop in for dinner. The decor was a little old and outdated, especially the carpet. Other than that, the food and service was pretty good. Our server, Tim, was awesome!!! He immediately greeted us as we were seated. He took our drink orders, ran down the specials, and allowed us sufficient time to peruse the menu. After a few minutes, he returned to take our order. He told us that unlimited salad and breadsticks, were included in our meals. My boyfriend ordered the MD crab soup and said it was a little spicy but pretty good. The salad and breadsticks was fine. The breadsticks were served with butter, which made them tastier than usual breadsticks. I ordered the seafood fettuccini, minus the scallops and crabmeat and added broccoli. Tim was super accommodating to this request and when my meal was delivered, it was exactly what I wanted. The Alfredo sauce was tasty and the shrimp was in abundance! My boyfriend ordered the stuffed rockfish and broccoli. He loved his meal! Cleaned his plate! He really enjoyed the flavor of the fish and the portion was very large. Definitely a good place to stop in for dinner. If you do, ask for TIM. He was the reason I rated this 4 stars instead of 3.
(4)
Bob M.
First time in Maryland and first time eating crab cake. Outstanding lunch choice and great experience. Glad we went. Worth trying. Thanks !
(5)
Kelly B.
The BEST pasta dish I have had in forever!!! Our waitress, Angie, was the best. She made awesome recommendations, knows the restaurant and the area like a pro! Again, the food is amazing. Come here and eat!!!!!!
(5)
Fred B.
A gem! The atmosphere is friendly, the food awesome and the bartenders amazing. From the moment you walk in the door until you get your check you will enjoy everything this local restaurant has to offer. Cheers to Lee & Pepe!
(5)
Michelle S.
I still love the crab cakes! Went today for a leisurely lunch. It was not crowded. We had Tim, who had a trainee. If she pays attention, she will be every bit as gracious as he was! Now, the meal was great as always. The salad was fresh and we always ask for extra parm. My crab cake and fries were delish. I even saved room for their triple layer chocolate cake, but ended up eating the rest of the salad and bringing the cake home. I meant to finish my meal with a glass of limoncello, but if I had, I would be asleep by now. Worth the drive and the money.
(4)
Chuck B.
Enjoyed a late dinner, very good service (Linda, I called her Glenda) blackened salmon for the entree with a small baked potato, salad was just OK, bread sticks as well. Cold Sam Adams draft to start, decent Malbec with a very good salmon and to finish, a perfectly poured short glass of Makers Mark on the rocks.
(4)
James L.
I'm really impressed with the food. The flavors dance around my taste buds. Great friendly service with a warm inviting atmosphere. Me and my wife just discovered a new place that's worth the drive and the money
(4)
Jason F.
Serviceable, but I only come here if someone else is paying. I've been here 2-3 times for work functions and once for lunch. The work functions were a buffet style of their Italian dishes. If you've ever had a Stouffer's frozen Italian meal, then you've eaten at Olive Grove. Edible, but nothing mind blowing. For lunch, I had the crab cake sandwich with fries. it comes with salad and bread sticks just like Olive Garden. The salad and bread sticks were actually pretty good surprisingly. The crab cake comes on a kaiser roll and is served with cocktail sauce on the side. I asked for tartar sauce and the server returned quickly. The kaiser roll was dry, cheap, and falls apart, hindering the crab cake. The crab cake itself had very little seasoning on it and falls apart even though its consistency was wet. I added layers of cocktail and tartar sauce to give it some flavor. The fries were ok, but you can tell they were frozen and were the cheap frozen kind at that. The decor is outdated, but the service was on point with refills and attitude. They seem to cut corners to save on costs with the quality of their food and the decor of the restaurant. I guess there is no reason to change when sheep flock this place.
(2)
Susanne R.
I think this is Olive Garden East Coast. Same salad. Not as good of breadsticks. Liked the rocket launcher birthday candle. Almost singed grandma at the next table. Okay but nothing to rave about. Our waiter Michael a Greek sort of ex pat(you will just have to ask him) was a great waiter.
(3)
Adonna T.
We absolutely love this place. Get the crab cakes!
(5)
Michele H.
Came back to this place after moving away especially for the crab cakes... Big disappointment.,, no lump meat at all and taste was off! What a shame. They are huge but taste matters more to me! Endless salad still good Nd very friendly service!
(2)
Mindy Z.
Ordinary restaurant with nothing particularly great. Feels like a coffee shop. I ordered the eggplant Parmesan and it was tasteless. Marginal service. Would not recommend it.
(3)
Lisa L.
Great place to eat casual, have a drink or have a more formal meal. Good food and service! Excellent crab cakes and soup'
(4)
Matt H.
Crab Cakes made with pastureized Southeast Asian crab meat. Not Maryland? Not Crabcakes!
(2)
Katie H.
This place is alright. The salad and breadsticks are awesome, beer is inexpensive, but the rest of the food was just OK. The crab cakes were a mix between lump and regular crab, and they were nowhere close to as good as G & M!! We only came here because the wait at G & M was an hour, and would only come here again if that were to be the same case. We definitely wouldn't order the crab cakes again; we'd probably try fish or Italian because many nearby tables ordered those items and they looked really good.
(3)
Kevin B.
First - I don't recall the last time we spent 4.5 hours eating dinner!! We were sat right away and were taken care of by the amazing, the hilarious, the charming Ms.Shanay. From the moment we sat down until 9pm she was a delight. More people in the service industry should learn from Shanay. I worked in nearby hotels for 11 years and it's rare to find someone that exudes that much love for their job and the people around them. And - dang, can she belt out some "Happy Birthday!" to nearby guests. She also skillfully mastered the table of 20+ young men for a bachelor party! Our food was wonderful as in times past. I am not a huge fish eater but had the special (name has orange in it..) stuffed with crab. I was very light and buttered to perfection. Just perfect! The other three guests had crab cake sandwiches and lasagna. All were excellent! Thanks again to Shanay for making it extra special to reconnect with our friends!
(5)
David T.
What can I say about this place? This is one of my favorite places to go to have a drink after work, watch a O's game n grab a nice dinner. You get great service no matter what part you sit at. The bar area has some of the best bartenders in the area. They are friendly knowledgeable that I have come across. During Baltimore O's games appetizers are half off. The seafood dishes are great. They have some of the best crab cakes you can find.
(4)
Bill R.
We live nearby here, so it's one of our most frequented restaurants. But there's more to it than just convenience. The food is ALWAYS good. They're known best for their crab cakes but they're so much more than just crab cakes. Excellent Italian dishes, from the tried and true lasagna, to the more adventurous Mediteranian Angel Hair pasta. They do the big salad bowl and bread sticks that their similarly named chain competitor does but the salad is always fresh and crunchy with a really nice house dressing.
(4)
scott h.
All around good dining experience. Excellent crab cakes. They were huge, filled with big lumps of crab, and cooked to perfection. Dinner salad was big and relatively fresh. Croutons were obviously homemade. And homemade bread sticks were definitely hi of the bread scale. The fries were hot and crispy, but they were those breaded fries that I'm not really much of a fan of. The breading always hold in a little bit too much grease for my liking. The best thing of all with the service. The waiter was outstanding. The drink glass never went dry. And he stopped by at just the perfect time to ask me if everything was okay. All in all, I definitely recommend this restaurant over they're very popular competitor down the street for crab cakes. As others have mentioned the service is 100 times better and parking is right outside the door in their own private lot.
(4)
Tim H.
One of the best places I've had a crab cake, anywhere. The crab cakes are made with lump back crab meat, not a lot of filler, not too salty but seasoned perfectly and are cooked until golden brown. I usually get the crab cake sandwich when I come here with a side of fries. You will also get unlimited bread sticks and salad when dining here for lunch or dinner. Most of the times I have come here it's been for lunch since it's near where I work. I ate here once for dinner with my wife and we both enjoyed what we ordered for dinner. The staff is friendly and helpful in that they know their menu items. I really don't like eating at a restaurant where I ask about a dish and the server has no clue what is in it or how it is made. Despite looking dark and out of date inside, it's a nice place to grab a meal. If you are in the area and looking for a good crab cake sandwich or crab cake entree, give this place a try. You might be surprised at how good they are. Thanks for reading my review. This review is based off of my personal point of view and experience.
(4)
Barb C.
Great crab cakes, pasta, salad, breadsticks. Everyone in our group enjoyed the food and service. One waitress can sing you happy birthday and her voice will amaze you. Highly recommend.
(4)
Mitchell S.
I was in from out of town. Seated quickly by a pleasant hostess. The server and kitchen were very accomodating when I requested Chicken Parm with grilled, not fried/breaded, chicken. I enjoyed a good meal and great service.
(4)
Juli B.
This review is for the take out or carry away, didnt know they had one, its one the side of the building. Went there last night with the break in the storms. They had a massive salad bar, stocked full, its 5.99 a pound and I got a 14" cheese pizza for 5.99. The lady at the counter was very nice and pleasant and the place sold beer and wine, prices were good as well. The place was very clean and organized they must do a huge lunch crowd. I will be back, since my regular to go place closed.
(5)
Jessica F.
I had read mixed reviews on the Olive Grove, however, I am not one to pass on a free meal, especially one I am paid to be at. I came here recently for my company's Christmas Lunch. They have a massive event room in the back that fit our sizeable group just fine. The Olive Grove isn't in the prettiest location but that didn't stop people from coming. Even on a Friday afternoon, the parking lot was packed. The salad and breadstick portion did remind me of another famous Olive but I have to say that the breadsticks at the Olive Grove are much better. We each received a crab cake and, no lie, those things are tasty. I don't really remember the other dishes after that. I had a pasta of some sort which I didn't hate. All in all, it wasn't bad.
(3)
Brad S.
This wasn't the very worst dining experience, but it wasn't even average, and I left my one visit to Olive Grove at a complete loss as to what my friends and acquaintances see in this place. My senior executive at work wished to treat our team within his division to a nice lunch for a major accomplishment with our client, and some rather vociferous coworkers talked him into this place. Many tout that it has excellent crabcakes, and tell me that they're the same as at their sister eatery (G&M) up the road. This does nothing for me, as I do not eat shellfish, so this may indeed be a redeeming value for those who covet crabcakes, and I wouldn't know. That said, this place fancies itself an Italian seafood restaurant, and while disappointment is commonplace in that genre, Olive Grove was worse. Atmosphere: mediocre. There's a fine line between the modisch "mid-century modern" and 1970s shabby and stale, and the banquet hall room is distinctly in the latter category. It seemed generally clean, so there's that, but outdated and generic motel-like decor, berber-like patterned carpet, and ill-conceived lighting make it seem like there's a multilevel marketing (pyramid scheme) selling recruitment event later in the afternoon. Service: in a word, "poor." There were several small groups in the banquet room for lunch, and ours was no bigger or smaller than most, but the service was almost what one would expect at a cafeteria--that is, non-existent. My drink order did not arrive for nearly 20min., and neither that nor the "endless" salad was recharged. My pasta entree was at room temperature when served, as was that of most of my coworkers. Food: unpleasant. Food need not be authentic in order to be good. A well-crafted, well-prepared pasta in the US can be as good as, or even better than, authetic fare, even if it bears little resemblance to Tuscan cuisine. That said, the fettuccine and lasagna dish wasn't well-crafted, well-prepared, authentic, or anything else I could appreciate. Between that, the blandness, an almost rancid smell of expired olive oil, and the fact that the entree was essentially at room temperature by the time it even reached my place-setting, it was actually offensive to eat. I rarely find an iceberg lettuce salad worth eating, but even this tasteless, wilted mass of mostly stumps and white matter proved a better option than my entree, and I would have desperately lunched on that had the server fulfilled the "endless" part of the salad offering. I am not the pickiest eater in the world; indeed, I probably risk my life when scavenging leftovers in my fridge. It isn't hard to achieve my minimum standard, especially for a free lunch from my boss. Olive Grove didn't even achieve this. Many native Marylanders (of which I am not one) seem to love it, and there's nothing wrong with that, but I've no clue as to why.
(2)
Big E.
Food is pretty average these days. Nothing spectacular. Years ago, this was the best Italian restaurant in the area. The food is decent but doesn't seem 100% fresh.
(3)
Jay F.
Similar restaurant to G & M in terms of menu and located just down the block. Better food and better service and more importantly, better crab cakes. And easier parking. They make a very good martini and have great seafood and itialian items on their menu. Great place to eat if you are staying at any of the hotels around BWI. Many hotels will refer you to G&M but give this place a look
(4)
Angela Z.
While other reviews may argue that the Olive Grove is an "Olive Garden knock-off," I can say that other than the word "Olive" in the name and the fact that both are Italian restaurants, the similarities stop there. Rather - the Olive Grove is an excellent restaurant, and has some of the best seafood around (Yes - the crab cakes are excellent). I've been here for dinner many times and have always enjoyed both the food and the atmosphere. The restaurant is clean and cozy, with a very friendly and courteous staff. They are eager to recommend their favorite dishes and they know the menu inside and out (something I've never witnessed at an Olive Garden anywhere). I've been persuaded to try many different items on the menu and all of them were delicious. My personal favorite is the stuffed shrimp, though they also make an excellent steak. The appetizers are tasty too (many of which are smaller versions of their best dishes such as the "crab balls") so you can experience great taste on a smaller budget. Recently one of the owners of my company retired. We wanted to celebrate and send him off in style, but didn't want a big catered dinner. Instead we reserved a section of the bar area and enjoyed the atmosphere, polite staff, and tasty appetizers/drinks. The happy hour specials made it an affordable evening as well - an added bonus for sure. If you're looking for a nice night out, this is a place worth trying - and then visiting often to try something else on the menu.
(5)
Rika B.
My crab cakes go to spot whenever I fly into BWI and have a layover. Tried the other place down the street and was not impressed at all. I am a diehard fan of Olive Grove. and will never go anywhere else for crab cakes again. Huge portions and awesome wine list selection. Excellent service and nice family type atmosphere. I've also called in and picked up an order. Great staff. Anyone that I have taken there has converted to Olive Grove. You must try it. You'll love it!!
(5)
Charles C.
Food is decent. Service can be quite unhelpul and decor needs an update. Their lunch takeout menu is good, but the better items they are not familiar with they have to look up in the computer when you order. They advertise that lunch special by mail flyers, they should train their people to know the specials.
(3)
Tim W.
I work in the area quite often and end up in a hotel in the general area about 3 or 4 times a year. Every trip requires a visit to the establishment. I have never left disappointed. I cannot believe that that rating is so low for it? Thank god I didnt know the Yelp rating on my first visit! The Homemade Crab Stuffed Pretzel is AWESOME. The Crab Cakes will beat anyone out in town. I have had at least 7 of their dishes and they have always been delicious. Come one people! Give this place some better reviews! It deserves it!
(5)
Carrie O.
The cast of characters for today's sojourn to the Olive Grove are myself, the Love of My Life, and Carrie's Momma, since this was her day and this is the place she had selected for dinner. Apparently this restaurant was a big favorite of my late grandmother's, and Momma wanted to be here to feel just a little closer to her own mom. I can grok with that. So the Olive Grove it is. I don't know how packed it is on a normal business day, but it was absolutely MOBBED when we got there, no doubt for the holiday. People of every size, shape, color and hue were waiting outside, inside, you name it. I don't know how the hostess(es!) didn't go stark raving mad. Despite this, we only waited about 10 minutes before we were seated and ready to go with our orders. (Note: if you dine here on a major holiday like this, CALL AHEAD. They'll accommodate you if you don't, but be prepared to wait until Armageddon to be served.) They had a special Mother's Day menu, from which we ordered the following: To share: crab dip, mozzerella sticks (didn't try these personally) For myself: Land and Sea (filet mignon and crab cake - comes with a baked potato and string beans) LoML: jumbo shrimp scampi Carrie's Momma: Sausage fettucine And three coffees for afterward. :p Unlimited salads and breadsticks come with the meal. I'll start with the salad dressing - it's well worth getting an individual bottle, because this dressing is the bomb diggity. It's tart without being too vinegary and packed full of flavor. I actually wanted more salad than I had, but had to control myself because I knew there was going to be a lot more coming. The breadstick (only had one) was soft, very hot out of the oven, and buttery... absolutely delicious. I think I could have just eaten the salad alone and I would have been satisfied. Little did I know that more delights were to come. The crab dip was packed full of jumbo lump crab meat, layered with a huge amount of cheese. This was really the only portion of the meal that I wasn't really wild about - the texture was a little bit too creamy for my personal taste, though everyone else at the table enjoyed it greatly. The big crab meat pieces saved a good deal of it, though! My Land and Sea was, in a word, unbelievable. The green beans, mixed in with soft buttery carrots, were a delight - steamed, crunchy and just the right flavor. The baked potato was a generous size and came with plenty of butter and sour cream for my consumption. And the filet mignon? Oh, my word, let's talk about that. It was cooked to a perfect medium-rare and was so....freaking....tender. It practically melted in my mouth! This was the first time I've ever had filet mignon and now I see why people rave about it so much. Last but not least, the crabcake. Let's discuss the crabcake. All you need to know about this is JUMBO. LUMP. CRAB. MEAT. No filler - absolutely NONE. This is how Maryland crab cakes should be. The "test" that I use is that of cocktail sauce - if it needs cocktail sauce, it's not as good as it can be. The Olive Grove's crabcake needs NO ADORNMENT WHATSOEVER. Yes. It is THAT freaking good. As a matter of fact, the one bite I had with cocktail sauce on it, it RUINED the beautiful flavors washing over my tongue. Our server was nice, polite, very efficient and was more than happy to describe the food, make recommendations, etc. They were absolutely PACKED today, but no one was impatient or even seemed ruffled by the crowds - on the contrary, they were all smiling and happy and very welcoming. LoML liked the place, too, saying that their shrimp scampi beat his recipe by miles. And, of course, Momma was happy, which is all that really mattered to us today. Sorry, but I didn't experience anything weird or out of the ordinary. No objects in our food, no urine smell, none of the nonsense of the previous reviews that I've been reading. On the contrary - the Olive Grove has satisfied all of my expectations and more of what a restaurant should be. It IS a bit pricey - our bill came to 140 dollars for three people!!! - but it's a once in a while thing, not an everyday dinner. And that works for me, in this case. Don't let the previous negative reviews sway you. Come down to OG and see for yourself. We really did have a terrific experience here.
(4)
Tierra H.
I got a Living Social deal to come here. So after Wine in the Woods, boyfriend and I showered and dressed and came here. Stepping into this place is like going back in time. It's got this funky old school look that I kinda liked. We had a short wait for a table, but that was fine. It was less than 10 minutes. We were seated at a booth before long. Our waitress was a little odd. She was about as interesting as a dial tone and had zero personality. She just seemed like she was annoyed with doing her job. She kept getting our drinks wrong and not bringing things as well. Anyhoo, onto the food. We both got the crab cakes. First off, these things are massive! I award them kudos for putting that much crab on a plate. Buuuuuuuuut, where they lost me was how much egg they put into the crab cakes. I really don't like eggs. This was like scrambled eggs and crab. Ick! Also, the crab lacked seasoning. (We were in Maryland. I'd totally expect some Old Bay). Boyfriend asked for some tartar sauce for his crab cakes and it was delivered in a to-go ramekin -- which was kind of weird. I feel like I'd want to come back here, but definitely NOT for crab cakes. I just have this thing for old school Italian restaurants. I guess next time I'd get some pasta, which I'm sure I'd like a lot better than their crab cakes.
(3)
Colleen B.
This review is long overdue. We spent a delightful evening here in May 2014. I was in the position of planning a wedding rehearsal dinner for my son & daughter-in-law from out of state. The location of the Olive Grove was perfect for us, as many of our guests were staying at the Airport Holiday Inn. I found the restaurant through the wonderful reviews of fellow Yelpers and made the arrangements sight unseen. I am forever gratefu to people's reviews. . I was able to iron out all details of planning the dinner via email & phone with Spyros, Elaine & Yuri. They were all accomodating and made the planning a breeze. I am still receiving compliments from guests from that evening for the setting (we had a private dining area) and especially the food. One guest swears she will never eat another crab cake because none will compare with how delicious the one served that evening at the Olive Grove Restaurant was. I would also like to give a shout out to the fantastic service we received from Brittany & Farooq, they added to the overall enjoyment with their attentiveness. Everything came together to make this not only a wonderful dining experience but a memory of a lifetime.
(5)
Matt M.
The Crab Cakes are above average, maybe not as good as G&M, but I would return just for that one item. The Maryland Crab Soup needs to have more crab meat in it. The draft beer selection is very limited, and the wait staff could use a tune up. The facility is clean, but outdated. The prices are acceptable. Next time, if I am really hungry for an excellent crab cake, I'll go to G&M if they are not so crowded, otherwise, I'll be back.
(3)
Kathy M.
Olive Grove is wonderful. I stopped by for lunch today and got the crabcakes with mashed potatoes and a salad. YUM. Everything was delicious and the service was outstanding. Don't read the negative reviews here....no doubt some of them are placed here by the competition. Go try Olive Grove for yourself. You won't be dissapointed.
(5)
Kate D.
My wife had fond memories of this restaurant from many years ago, and was excited to introduce me to the establishment now that we have moved nearby. The bread sticks were good. I'll give them that. Otherwise, a forgettable experience would be an improvement. I ordered the chicken skewers over orzo with vodka sauce. The chicken was so overcooked it was nearly the consistency of jerky. The orzo was so overcooked it had the consistency of baby food. The vodka sauce had no flavor what-so-ever, and aside from giving the dish from color, I would not have known it was even on there. My wife and children were happier with their meals than was I; however, we won't be back as the price and value are far too disparate.
(1)
Mike H.
I have been here nurmerous times. I really can say each time I have been the food has been very good. I did not give this restaurant a 5 out of 5 because the food isn't top notch. If you want a place that has reliable food and good service come here.....you might actually end up seeing me haha
(4)
Rika D.
I was there this past weekend with my family for dinner and I can say that the food was very good. I think that they need the guy from the food network to come in and remodel the joint. The decor is very outdated and it smelled like a crowded bingo hall. Besides that the service was excellent and I must single out my waitress who went by the name of Shanea her service was at least 5 stars. She was on point. I most definitely would dine there again.
(4)
Michele W.
First of all, the service is on point. The family style salad is great but, I thought that it was more leafy greens when I went there years ago. Still it was very fresh but, appeared to be a bag salad. The waiter offers table side freshly grated Parmesan. They are famous for their creamy Italian salad dressing. It can be purchased by the bottle. Bread sticks are also offered. Portions are huge. The seafood in both of our entrees was cooked perfectly although I found a few crab shells. The wine list and beer selections are adequate(Friday night they were offering $5 off any bottle of wine). Olive Grove is also currently offering a frequent diner program. I think that it was once you spend $250 you get $20 off your next meal. I will definitely dine here again. The overall experience was great
(4)
Joe K.
This local restaurant has a long history and is located right down the street from the famous G & M, so for a place to be open this long, something has be good. The setting at, The Olive Grove, makes you think of a more classy, but not really, version of Olive Garden. A decor of white table cloths, wood paneling, and a semi-formally placed dining ware , may make you think your about to have a classy meal ; looks here maybe deceiving. First off, i was a little casually dressed, and was comparable to the family who was waiting, and though there isn't a dress code I didn't feel under dressed but was treated that way. Wait time was less than a minute before being seated. We were walked into the bar, made sure we were okay sitting at the bar, after agreeing, we then were placed at a high table and was forced to listen to the locals at their watering hole. Minus 2 stars, automatically, I am unsure why we were sat here, there was plenty of seats in the dining room .... ? As for our 'waitress' or lack of a better term, She visited us gave us that Balmer' Hon'ed charm and took our orders. She was nice and listed the chef's specials with a little bit of a suggestion from the menu. While we waited and people watched, there were several tv's throughout the bar and some music in the background. Though it was mainly filtered through someone's muttering while in the sauce. We watched as people moved in and out, kind of unnerving feeling since i was expecting something a bit more romantic. Our food came: I ordered shrimp scampi, larger shrimp were used, but the sauce left me wanting more out of my dish, though it was light ; I still felt like there was more I should get , for my money. As for my girlfriend and her crab cake, let's just say there is a lot more options better in town, and frankly McDonald's had a better crab cake sandwich years ago, than they do today. At the end of the day, I felt a little disappointed, and I am not likely to return. I have had a lot of experiences with Olive Grove, when i was younger, to try the food here as an adult i feel like i am missing something. Maybe it was the dish, the time I ordered, or my mood, but I would advise against a return and suggest taking a drive down the hill to G & M. - Lunch specials - Carry out - Catering and Banquet event's are offered on site. - Home shipping - This applies to their Crab cakes and Salad Dressing ( really ???) . Olive Grove makes a lot of their cakes and sends them to local restaurants and national restaurants and you can have them sent to your home. Please visit their website for details. - Average Wine selection, with some local winery options. - Full Bar - Miller, Coors and Bud on tap, Sam Adams seasonal and Boston Lager and the possibility of Blue Moon or Shock Top.
(2)
Bill B.
My brother took us here. We loved it! This place is like an Olive Garden...serving salads and breadsticks first. They had a great assortment of Italian dishes...and then even more selection of dishes like ribs and, of course, crab cakes! The crab cakes were so full of lump meat that I'm still wondering how they kept them together! Who would have thought that the best crab cakes I've ever had would come from Olive Grove? Not Phillips..not Moe's! And the fresh green beans were great! Highly recommended!
(4)
Becky H.
Olive Grove was recommended by the hotel I am staying at, and I am glad they did! I drove past G & M and it was so packed, I had no desire to fight for a parking spot. On arrival, I was directed to the bar to place my to-go order and was immediately greeted by the friendly bartender. The bar was packed. The decor is very old fashioned, but warm and inviting. The waitress informed me of their special of the night, offered me a beverage and left me to glance at the menu. A couple of guys sitting at the bar suggested I try the crab cakes. They told me they are better than G & M and that the staff at the Olive is way nicer. I went ahead and ordered a cannoli for my dessert and took my goodies back to the hotel to pig out in private. My dinner came with a baked potato and salad. Both were enormous. The crab cake was delish! Huge, flaky pieces of crab with very little filler taking up valuable tummy space. By the time I finished the crab cake, the potato was left to see another day. I had to save room for that cannoli. The cannoli was awesome! Crispy shell, creamy filling and just enough chocolate chips to add sweetness. By the end of my meal, I was glad to be in my hotel already so I could just roll over and go to sleep. I recommend this to anyone looking for a great meal and friendly service.
(4)
Tara H.
Horrible! We went as a recommendation from our shuttle driver. We had to wait a long time to be seated at lunch. Then we placed our order for food and it took forever . When Our food came it was dry and stale. Even my salad was gross. I will never eat here again.
(1)
Petteri V.
I have had lunch at Olive Grove two times. First time I ate Maryland crab soup with salad. The soup was ok but the salad was just very large portion of salad and some croutons. The salad also had some weird dressing which I didn't really like. Second time I got the same salad(???) and shrimp sandwich. I don't know why I got the salad again but I didn't really enjoy the sandwich. There really wasn't any taste and shrimp was, well not cold but not warm either.
(3)
Jack F.
I had heard their crab cakes were good, but not my night. It was lump and large enough, but mealy and way too salty. It came with a nice large salad comprised of many ingredients, albeit mostly iceburg lettuce, to which they automatically add a cream dressing; why don't they ask what dressing one wants? You may get bread but no butter as i did. Friendly service.
(2)
Leo H.
I've been going to Olive Grove for 15+ years. All of you people who don't like their crab cakes or food are out of your mind. This place is great and has always been great. Yea the appearance is a little dated but the food is awesome. Seafood fettucinni is the best. Comparing it to Olive Garden is a SIN. Not even close to the same level. Olive Garden is a filthy chain restaurant. Olive Grove is local and buys local everything. You people need to realize what real food is. Not chain restaurant food. IDIOTS!!!!
(5)
Barry B.
Okay I am going to try and be fair. I slept on this one and thought about it some before getting started. I have to make sure that I don't let my great companion and the fun time we had talking too greatly influence the actual review of this establishment. Scene Setter: Wednesday about 4:15 PM. (in order to be fair to this restaurant and to help people that know restaurant cycles and how they work) The very first impression is dated. I mean dated. Big gilded frames on bad art, plastic flowers (not even exciting arrangements) and furniture and carpets that I know are no longer manufactured. Speaking of the carpet I will give Olive Grove the benefit of the doubt and accept that the bad mixture of odors (old grease, seafood waste, seafood proteins, tomato paste, old lady perfume, cleaner, candle wax, dust) is the nature of 20 year old carpet and not a reflection on their cleaning efforts. If Restaurant Impossible showed up the very first thing they would do is gut the place and rip up that carpet. Rather the show comes to their rescue or not they will have to do this. The patrons (with exceptions of us) must average 65 in age. That is literally a dying client base. If they are going to keep going they will have to make those decor, and odor changes. We stuck to appetizers (based on Kitchen Confidential book advice about showing up at restaurants between "service peaks".) The calamari was nicely breaded if a little bland-the tomato sauce is thick and lively but a bit much for calamari. The portion was nice but some pieces were a little big which lead to uneven textures (some slightly raw, others chewy and tough). The sampler plate (zucchini, poppers, mozzarella sticks) seemed to be from a bag "frozen", fried a little inattentively [too long]. My dining mate had stuffed mushrooms. I am allergic so didn't taste them. They looked well prepared and she said they were good. They serve a family style salad and bread sticks, nice touch (you pay for it in overall prices-nothing is really free). That was done well with a good Italian dressing and freshly grated cheese. The breadstick was good but you could tell it was from lunch (knew that going in based on time so not a knock-just an example of the advice from book being accurate) Most of the positive reviews seem to be entree (crab cake) related. It is okay to be a one trick pony but dangerous in the light of all the other deficiencies. This could be a hidden gem, but it will take a new "setting" and a modernization for me to come back.
(2)
Diane G.
Came here for 4th of July dinner. The service was good. Loved the crab cakes but my hubby's steak was a disappointment. He ordered the delmonico steak but it was rubbery and not a good cut. I will come back but I will stick to the sea foods.
(4)
Dave A.
No doubt, this is a strange restaurant, but exactly what you would expect in Linthicum. I will admit that the breadsticks are really good, but the rest of the food is pretty low quality. I ordered a lasagna that had a piece of unidentified cheese melted across the top. Also, the waitress was super weird.
(2)
Deb H.
We were in the area looking for hotels to block off for our wedding next may. We were recommended by the olive grove by two hotels to have our rehearsal. It was awful! I would never recommend this place. Olive garden is so much better and classy! The food network needs to do a make over on this place just awful!
(1)
Robin R.
My review is for 7/11, I got caught up in something and didn't think about it again until today when the smell of oregano reminded me. I'll tell you why,but first, a little walk down memory lane. My first experience was roughly 15 yrs ago when I worked in an industrial park close by. Back then we would hit the Olive Grove for happy hour from time to time. What I remember from then was the restaurant was rather dark and there was a cheap gaudy garland weaving around the tops of booths being support by dark wood. It made the restaurant feel smaller. Back then there was a violin player who would walk around playing tunes. Since then there was a remodel although I am sure they went the cheaper route and already could use a face lift. Lunch time offered a grill chicken Cesar salad which was the bomb. I remembered the salad when I was typing this....I wish I had for dinner. I can't vouch for the crab cakes and will not bother to try them. The best I have had have been made by myself or family members. On my recent trip I had the stuffed mushrooms. They were simply ok, the filling had a good taste but the mushrooms were a bit cold as if some one forgot to toss them under the broiler. Things I really disliked: The sound of a vacuum humming as we walked into the dining room, the subsequent stale smell I assumed was from the vacuum exhaust, the spent blooms in the containers in front of the restaurant. It seems to me Olive Grove has a captive clientele and they aren't putting much effort into the details because they figure they don't have to. In this economy no one can afford to under impress folks. Things I really liked: The server and enjoyable conversation with my companion. Now....why the smell of oregano as a reminder. I was thinking while gardening today how the Olive Garden could put fresh oregano in the vacuum to stay off the stale smell.Maybe even rosemary.
(2)
Elizabeth H.
I went to this location to redeem a voucher. The service at this restaurant is excellent. My friend and I enjoyed talking with the waiter. He was knowledgeable and honest. However, the quality of the food was somewhere between the Olive Garden (which this place clearly modeled their menu after) and Applebees. On a side note, there are not a lot of restaurants available around this location. If I was rating it based on location I'd probably give it 3 stars instead, of 2.
(2)
Ieesha J.
Olive Garden watch out!!! I went with a coworker for lunch and was pleasantly surprised on how great the food was. We started off with the open faced Goat Cheese Panini and it was freaking delicious!! I'm so lad we shared because I would have felt a tad bit greedy eating the entire thing and still wanting to order my lunch. Speaking of the lunch entrees, which were pretty large for the inexpensive price. I ordered the Chicken Scallopini (its not on the regular menu), and OMG I had to stop myself yet again! I wouldn't visit this place too often for lunch...just because it will have me passed out at the office. However, I will definitely be back for dinner!
(4)
Heather P.
I meet my mom here every now and then for lunch and I've mostly had pleasant experiences. I quite like their salad and bread sticks and their crab cakes are good. I do feel that the inside is a little dated and their prices are a little high but overall it is a good place to go for lunch. I've never been disappointed with my food and although I've never tried them their desserts look really good!
(3)
Joie T.
If you have never had the crabcakes here, you need an intervention! I've tried crabcakes all over the DMV, and I'd have to say that these are my favourite! Big on crabby meat, and low to non-existent "fillers". the cakes are savoury, sweet, juicy and creamy and melts in your mouth! You can get 1 crabcake for $16.95, or 2 for $23.95. The crabcakes are deceivingly small looking. Trust me, I have a BIG appetite, and I can only finish one! We always order 2 (EACH), and take the second one home to make for breakfast, to mix into our omlettes! (BEST OMLETTES EVER!!!). The crabcakes come with 2 side orders, (green beans OR pasta OR fries), and you get unlimited garden salad AND unlimited garlic bread. Hence the reason we always have leftovers! Said to have a nicer ambiance than it's sister chain down the road (G&M), we came here once, and got hooked in! It is also on our "guest list" (for guests are visiting from out-of-town). It's always a hit with them! The decor and atmosphere reminds me of Olive Garden. Service is always great, and the food always delicious! Now, if I only I could convince them to deliver to Toronto!
(3)
Toya D.
It's a cross between Olive Garden - Macaroni Grill - Maggiano's...or any other Italian "chain" restaurant. Good for locals who don't want to venture out for the real deal.
(3)
D S.
Tried to go to another joint but it had a long wait. The Olive Grove could seat us right away. They greeted us warmly, served us promptly,and the food was great. Had the stuffed mushroom which were amazing. Solid crab cakes and pasta dishes.
(4)
William G.
I travel to Baltimore once or twice each year for meetings at hotels near BWI. Since most of the participants are not from the Baltimore area and want crab cakes, we inevitably end up at the Olive Grove because of its proximity. Eating here is a step back into the 1970's both in terms of the decor and the food. The food here is not terrible but everything sort of tastes the same. Main courses are heavy and lack any subtlety whatsoever. Sides are mediocre at best as pasta and vegetables are generally overcooked. The salad bowl is mostly ice burg lettuce. You do get a lot of food, however. Service is ok. Last time we were there we were seated in the bar area because of the size of our party. The noise level was incredible and the multiple television screen distracting. All in all not a place I would go on my own.
(2)
Donald P.
Best Buy!! Portions are generous and enough to take home next day dinner!!! We had the Calamari appetizer, soft Shell Crabs, Chicken Catchatorie?, side of pasta meat sauce. Only the chicken was dissapointing since it was more stirred fried with tomatoes & peppers over rice. i'm use to it being slow cooked and simmered for hours. Howeve, r would order again since the dish had great texture and different! Salad was included with the meal. OG is a typical Baltimore Locals Restaurant .. Good food , Not exceptional, Abundant, Average Atmosphere, good drinks & reeasonable prices. Try it for yourself ... PS The crabcakes looked devine!! Next rip
(4)
Joe S.
Food is mediocre and service is OK at best. I ate here a few times for dinner and it was alright, nothing that special. However, I ate here for a work luncheon and it was awful. We were not treated very well at all. They had the audacity to try to tell people who they could sit with, by who ordered soda and who only wanted water. They didn't want to risk people that didn't order soda drinking from the pitchers that were on the table. I guess the couple of cents that each pitcher costs them was worth pissing everyone off. We paid them close to $15 a person for this luncheon, and they gave us a hard time about soda. The food also came out cold and was not ready on time. I wouldn't recommend having any kind of event here.
(2)
Jennifer P.
This has actually been one of the worst places I've ever been to eat. The food here is completely bland, the servers incompetent, and the place smells...really bad. Going in, it's obvious the place needs some redecorating. I wasn't sure if I was eating at an Italian or seafood place. However, this doesn't matter much as all you can focus on when entering the dining room is the horrible moldy cheese/urine scent emanating from somewhere in the restaurant. Ugh. Oh and the hostess was not friendly and very short with us. Never a good sign. I had a Yelp special for checking in and when I asked the server about it and showed him the special on my phone, he said they didn't have Wi-fi. What??? Uh, no, that's not what I asked you. I asked you about the special. On my phone. LISTEN. READ. Oh, well he doesn't know anything about that and had to speak to a manager. Anyhow, so we order the barbecue shrimp for an appetizer. $8.95 for a plate of 6 shrimp smothered in barbecue sauce. Wow. 6 whole shrimp. I took one bite of one and had to put it down. It tasted so disgusting...it didn't even taste like shrimp. It tasted as if it had been soaking in chlorine overnight. Then I ordered the chicken parm. This didn't taste or look like chicken, much less chicken parm. The sauce? Wasn't even sauce. It was some vegetables covered in red stuff. Straight up disgusting. Had absolutely no flavor. The rest of my family agreed that the food was horrible and wasn't worth $5, however our bill, for FOUR people for this disgusting food came to $68!!! We all ordered water and at one point our waiter came and filled our glasses with sprite! WTF!!!! I point this out to the waiter, who of course, doesn't speak very good English, and is very confused. He finally gets it and he has to bring us all new glasses. In the front lobby they have all these "awards" for their food...I honestly have no idea how this place came about them. There was a line out the door when we left for people wanting to eat dinner. One thing they all had in common? They were senior citizens. I guess when you get older, you lose the sensitivity in your olfactory glands and your taste buds. Anyhow, if you are in the BWI airport area, don't waste your time or money. Go to Quiznos, or drive out a little further to Catonsville.
(1)
CindyLou D.
Disappointed and embarrassed are two words to sum up my feelings for this place. I made the mistake of choosing the Olive Grove for a get together with some dear friends the night before a reunion. (We were a group of 10.) Because I've enjoyed their crab cakes and pasta dishes, as well as their unlimited house salad and warm bread sticks from previous visits, I raved about this place. Well, we chose the wrong night. One person in our group found an acrylic (gel, fake or what have you) fingernail in her pasta dish. And the service was just plain bad. I found myself apologizing to my friends the next day at our reunion for suggesting the Olive Grove. Now, whenever I'm craving a delicious crab cake, I go to Hellas in Millersville, MD. I'm giving the Olive Grove two stars -- only because I have had good experiences there in the past. This last time was it for me - fini.
(2)
Emily P.
Hugely disappointing - im not sure which resonated with me more, the terribly lazy but overbearing service or the extremely bland and salty dishes. Server reported to the table which practically felt every 10 mins of the meal, which felt very overbearing for the whole table. The server would wait till we cleared the table ourselves, pass our appetizers and entrees for us to distribute ourselves, and make us pass all the empty water cups around the table for him to refill. I tried their claim to fame crab cakes...and they are probably something I would not return for.
(1)
Christopher S.
I believe they have decline in food quality that matches the current economy. I have dined here before and would have rated the restaurant a 3 star at that time. There were four of us and we ordered chicken, and two types of seafood (fish) entrees and a crab cake. No one was real thrilled with their meal. Fish and chicken were way over cooked. Sauces had been sitting awhile under the warming lamps and became brittle. Salad and bread was very good. The crab cake had to much filler, a cost cutting technique and perhaps a sign of the times. My take is this place has way to many offerings on their menu (the menu is unbelievably large) and are unable to perfect many of them. I would stick with the pasta dishes. You just cannot be all things to all people in the restaurant business and expect frequent compliments and high ratings. Poor price/value relationship.
(2)
Marissa L.
Definitely a great place to have some food. Had the crabcakes last time I visited. They not only tasted better than they did about 2 years ago, but they've gotten substantially bigger. Definitely worth what I paid. Great salad and breadsticks and delicious sangria.
(4)
Todd K.
After reading the reviews, I was expecting the greatest crabcake ever. It was ok and the fries were cold. The service at the bar was excellent and the salad and breadstick was decent. I would go back if this was the only place with an empty bar. Otherwise, G and M would get the business. As for the best crabcake.....go to Jerry's in Bowie. it is going to be expensive but worth every penny!
(3)
April P.
Thank you Olive Grove for making our wedding so special! If you are thinking of having your wedding here, check out this place. And if you were the bride like me, you wouldn't mind a detailed review like this one as you search for a place to have your wedding =) We had our wedding in the banquet area of the restaurant and it was perfect size to have a sweet and intimate wedding with our close family and friends. There were a little over 100 of us. A warm recognition to Ms. Elaine who helped organize the wedding details we needed such as putting together details for the wedding. She should be a wedding coordinator! They provided our color choice in linen, center pieces, our head table center piece, etc. We wanted a white lily and red rose center piece. OG went and ordered one for us and it looked so beautiful! Did I say we were planning our wedding in 1.5 months?! In such a short amount of time to plan a wedding, Elaine and many other OG workers assisted in the details. It was a lot of fun working with them and they were very professional and friendly. There was an excellent sound system w/ a portable mic which allowed us to MC the wedding. There were speakers that allowed us to play our own music overhead. We decided to have a seated style menu which worked out so great! It was $30 a person which was great considering we weren't doing buffet style but seated dinner. With this option, OG provided a large fruit and veggie platter as appetizers for our guests. They served salad and breadsticks before the meal. Our guests were able to choose from a 6 choice menu. They were impressed by the menu selection of Jumbo Crab Cake, 10oz Steak, Crab Stuffed Chicken Breast, Shrimp New Orleans pasta dish, Lasagna, and Chicken Italiano with Shrimp. And the food came out delicious! They were very generous in their portions! Afterwards when we cut our wedding cake, OG provided the most delicious Tiramisu, Baklava and Mini Cannoli s platter. It's safe to say no one left hungry! The waiters were so friendly and efficient in their work. The food did not take long to come out, especially when they were taking 100 orders all at once! Ms. Elaine made sure Jon and I were doing okay throughout our wedding and that everything was on schedule. It all went so smoothly. It seemed as though Ms. Elaine and staff had everything handled and all we had to do was enjoy our special day! There was another party coming after our wedding but we never felt rushed. It begun and ended so perfectly. This is a long review because we are very appreciative of their service and we wish them much success! Thank you Olive Grove! 5 Stars! It really is as good as it gets!
(5)
Ma-e M.
It's the worst Italian food I ever had. The beverage served was a generic cola that tasted like a baby formula. The pasta was soggy and the dining chairs, carpet need updates. Big place for party but not big enough to impress everybody.
(2)
Edward S.
This place is a staple for the area. As one of the few sit-down options in the area between Hammonds Ferry Road and Nursery Road, this place always seems busy. And if you try to roll in at lunchtime on a weekday, you could be waiting for a bit since everyone in the business parks nearby either go here or to G&M. Honestly, I don't why I keep coming back here besides the fact that there are limited options. That, and the salad, are the only things that really stand out. I've eaten here many times and never had a "great" experience. Typically, I will go with a classic Italian dish or a crabcake platter. The crabcakes are decent, but no different than what you would get at G&M or Snyder's. It doesn't stand out as special and different. The Italian dishes are always par for the course or slightly below. If you are looking for a "hot" plate and "luke-warm" food, this is the place for you. To sum it all up: Salad = good Service = variable, depends on who you get and what time of day Entrees = average, at best Basically, you will keep coming back to the place out of convenience, not because you can't survive without the food.
(2)
Daniel H.
Another work-trip stop... The $20 4-course meal came with HUGE portions. Salad and breadsticks, crab dip in a bread bowl, Fruitte de mare (great seafood on penne pasta... Shrimp, mussels, octopus, scallops, crab) and coconut cake. The service was excellent, but the atmosphere was a little blah. By the time I was done eating, I had to be rolled out. Great price, great food.
(4)
Nathan C.
This review *is* for the Crab Cakes. I was there recently and got the lunch Crab Cake sandwich, with fries, natch. Getting in was an adventure, though, because I busted my fibula (that's the little leg bone). Upon hobbling in, I was immediately greeted by the hostess, who was also sporting crutches and a giant Darth Vader boot. The wait staff immediately suggested we go on a date (where? dancing?) which probably would result in more broken bones once my wife found out. But I digress. They offer a choice of bread for the cake, and anything but Kaiser is 'un-Maryland'. The free salad & breadsticks arrived quickly and were consumed with dispatch. When the sandwich showed up, it was (as rumored) enormous. And, the people in the kitchen apparently understand the meaning of 'jumbo lump' and the difference between 'filler' and 'binder'. The cake was sizable, chunky, tender, and not overspiced, which let the crabmeat shine forth in all its... um... crabbiness. Only down-note was the Ken's Cocktail Sauce & Ken's Tartar Sauce sealed cups served on the side. Come on. If you've got a great seafood entree, develop your own condiments. Plus tartar sauce tastes like feet. By the end of lunch, I was stuffed. And happy to report that the Olive Grove crab cake is among the tops in Maryland. As to weighing in on the Timbuktu vs. Olive Grove vs. G&M crab cake debate, I think I would need to try them all side by side to really tell. And I'm not sure my gut could take that much crab. I suppose I owe Snyder's a try, too.
(5)
Andrew F.
My boss picked this place based on our hotel's recommendation. When I opened the menu, I was shocked at the prices for what was basically and Olive Garden knockoff - most everything with meat or seafood was over $20. I was only in the mood for a salad anyway so I asked the menu whether I should get the Cobb or Mediterranean. Turns out the best answer would have been "neither". This was the worst Cobb salad I have ever had, and quite possibly the worst salad I have ever had in my life. There was very little in it except lots of lettuce, lots of bone-dry overcooked chicken, and oil & vinegar to kill the taste of anything else. A Cobb is supposed to have gorgonzola cheese - I think I spotted some in one bite I took. Bacon? None to be found. It was horrible. My boss thought his meal was bland and not worth the price as well. The service was good, but not particularly distinctive. Overall - and I can't believe I would ever say this in my life - you're probably better off at a real Olive Garden.
(1)
Nathaniel A.
We had a great dinning experience at Olive Grove. The meal (crab cakes) was excellent. The service was super. I would recommend it.
(4)
S K.
Very disappointed after only hearing great things about the place. The dining experience is actually very nice, and the staff is also very nice. My HUGE hangup is that I ordered a seafood medley plate and they dare give me FAKE crab. How can a fancy restaurant in Maryland serve FAKE crab!!!! This is unacceptable. You can charge more for real crab but NEVER serve FAKE crab. The rest of the seafood was great, shrimp, octopus, squid, mussels, etc. as was the sauce. They also give you a HUGE all you want to eat salad with a great house dressing. The Cream of Crab soup was also very good. FAKE crab?!?!!? how could you let me down like this...
(2)
Magnus S.
A little poetry for my review today... The red sauce is yum The white sauce is yuck. The Seattle beer is yum. An Olive Garden knockoff with less than spectacular salad. CHECK IN FOR FREE ALCOHOL! WOOOOOOOOO! (sorry you can't bribe me for stars). SERVICE: 5/10 AMBIANCE: 3/10 FOOD: 4/10 PRICE: 4/10 UNIQUENESS: 1/10 OVERALL SCORE: 34 Service: Graded by the "Keep my cup full principle". Ambiance: Pretty self-explanatory Food: A high food score does not always indicate it is a place for foodies. It is weighted based upon the establishment - thus bar food can receive a high score Price: Price is graded based upon what I believe is fair value for the food you are receiving. A high score does not necessarily indicate the establishment is cheap. Uniqueness: Higher scores indicate desire to return.
(1)
Bill O.
I don't understand why this place was busy on a Saturday night because the food is mediocre at best. Waitress told us: "We're like Olive Garden, but better." Not so! Now, I'm not a huge Olive Garden fan, but Olive Grove is really a lousy knock-off. My veal parmigiana was barely edible. The side of pasta was way overcooked and the sauce was disgusting...completely inedible. The homemade breadsticks and homemade salad dressing were both tasteless. My companions did say the crab cakes were pretty good. I tried the unusual deep fried creamed corn bites appetizer...pretty good...but served with a very strange "duck" sauce that you should skip. Bottom line...go elsewhere .
(1)
Josh T.
I met my brother and his wife here for dinner as I was in town on business, there is a limited number of Restaurants in the BWI hotel district so we figured we would give Olive Grove a shot. We were hugely disappointed. We were greeted immediately and shown to our table, as we passed the service area halfway through the rest. it began to reek of cat piss. That should have been our first indicator to leave. We were sat at our table and it took about 15 minutes for our waiter to come over and greet us. It had been a while since I had visited with my brother so I wasn't to irked. Our waiter was prompt the rest of the evening and while he was very friendly, he had an extremely thick foreign accent which made it very difficult to understand what he was saying/asking us. On to the food... we started with Mozzarella sticks, pretty basic and fine. Then the salad and bread sticks arrived. Salad was fine, the bread sticks were hard and dense... we joked that they could be used for stickball bats. For my entree, I had the Fruitte De Mare, it lacked any flavor at all and had sort of a weird, slimy consistency to it. I had to salt it heavily to get any flavor in the dish. I was very disappointed. Also, and this is huge to me, I had several shrimp that had not been deveined, so I got shrimp shit as an added bonus. My brother had the Chicken New Orleans (Chicken, shrimp, and noodles with a cajun-inspired sauce). The chicken was overcooked and the sauce was underseasoned. My sister-in-law had the much loved, crab cakes. Horrbile!!! like the rest of the entrees, the crab cakes were bland and flavorless. They also had a strange, "wet" consistency to them as if the mayo had not been adequately cooked in with the crab cake. She/we didn't finish them and probably left a single crab cake to be tossed... that is sacrilege in the great state of MD!
(2)
Courtney C.
We had a craving for crab cakes on a random Sunday afternoon and decided to give this place a shot. It was about 3:00 so the parking lot was pretty much empty. When we walked in it smelled like a fish market and not in a good way. We were seated right away and the hostess and waitress were very friendly and efficient. I heard they had good fresh sangria so, we had to try it. Well, I had my first and last sip. Don't order the sangria. Go buy a bottle of Boordy sangria and cut up an orange. Cheaper and tastes better. The salad was just like Olive Garden. We got the dressing on the side. If you actually want to eat the salad dressing, I don't recommend this. It looks like lard and that is their only dressing option. Hubby like the bread stick and his MD crab soup was pretty descent. The crab cakes arrived right after the soup and salad. They looked promising. We each ordered broccoli and string beans on the side. We try to eat healthy even when we eat out. Broccoli was steamed to perfection and sadly the best part of my meal. The soup was the highlight of my husband's dinner. The string beans are drenched in butter so I didn't even bother trying them. They looked mushy and way over cooked. Now, for the crab cakes. Well, it was like you mix big pieces of crab with cream of crab soup, make a ball, sprinkle some break crumbs on top and broil it. I don't think a crab cake should be creamy. It wasn't bad, just wasn't my idea of authentic MD crab cakes. It lacked spice and was mushy in the middle. Yes, there is lots of lump crab meat and the outside of the crab cake was good with that yummy crust. I just don't see myself coming back. I think my husband agrees. I preferred Timbuktu's crab cake (and smell). Next stop-G&M to give theirs a shot.
(2)
Amanda K.
Came here after being stuck overnight in Baltimore due to a flight cancellation on December 14. Decided on it due to the good reviews on Yelp and Google. Poor choice. I was already in a bad mood, and a glass of wine in a decent amount of time would have brightened up my mood just fine. Unfortunately, once we were seated, nobody came to us for ten minutes. The restaurant was not very busy and there were at least 5 servers on in addition to a few bartenders. After ten minutes, a server came up to us and asked if we had been helped. We said no. She said she would check the rotation to see who was up next, and it could have been her (this is server speak for I know I have you as a table but I need more time. As a bartender, I am keenly aware of these things). After ten more minutes, my boyfriend and I had already made up our minds and closed our menu when the server came up to us. It was clearly her first night. She took our drink order and we told her we were ready to order. She took out the back of a receipt that had clearly been written on many times (couldn't you just grab a sheet of paper out of the printer?) and wrote our order in the top corner of the paper on the table. We watched our drinks sit on the service bar for another 15 minutes (not exaggerating, I wanted to get up and get them myself). She had walked by the bar a few times and did not grab them, nor did she ask the 4 other servers to run them for her, who were all not busy. When she finally brought us our drinks, she brought the wrong order, but at that point, we didn't care as long as we had drinks. My sauvignon blanc was flat. One minute after we got our drinks, our bread and salad came. The salad dressing was good. Probably the only saving grace of the meal. One minute after the salad our food came. I ordered the linguini and clams. It had olives and red peppers in it which really threw off the taste. Wouldn't suggest it. The server also never brought the water I had asked for until the 3rd time I asked. When the bill came, we still tipped 15% based on the principle. However, I am very confused as to where the good reviews came from. Wouldn't suggest this restaurant.
(1)
Jayson H.
Had a really nice meal here recently. The crab cakes are as good if not better than G&M. Service was top notch, and the free salad and breadsticks were excellent. Baked potato was big and had a good flavor, but could have / should have been hotter (might have been leftover from lunch). The parking lot is busy and the spaces are tight. Other than that, awesome experience!
(4)
Lyndell W.
This is one of our favorites spots to go for lunch when I'm visiting my Mom. We always get the same thing everytime we go . . . double crabcake platter w/ rice pilaf and green beans or fries. We really enjoy the crabcakes here. They make good use of the lump crabmeat. Very flavorful and filling! The staff was very friendly and we can't wait to go back :)
(3)
Kristina M.
I love it here! I have eaten here numerous times with my family. They also have a great banquet room you can rent that I used for a shower and a birthday party. The staff is awesome!
(5)
Deborah H.
this restaureant is boring but the food is ok..the salad is worth coming for the soups are excellant..crabcakes are the same as timbuktu and g and m restaurants cant go wrong there!! The restaurant has no sense of style and the tables are ridiculously too close..its seems to me its been labeled a retirement restaraunt...with some business men form the area at lunch..def not a tourst kind of restaurant..great for funerals..I wouldnt have a party here thats for shure..its diner style food and service ..sans the soups and salads crabcake..the rest is very pedestrian mediocore at best..The bar seems like a local waterhole with the restarant being the afterthought
(2)
Pete D.
In a nutshell, this place mimics Olive Garden, which is not a bad thing at all. Real simple Italian basics and unlimited salad and delicious breadsticks. Stopped by for a quick lunch and it sure was satisfying. They had about a dozen items to choose from under $10, from just simple pastas, vegetarian dishes, and even seafood items. I had the seafood fettuccine alfredo, recommended by the server, which had scallops, shrimp, and lump crab meat, tossed in a creamy sauce. My dish was $10.95, but worth it to me. The sauce needed a little more taste besides just cream and butter, although I know that's a base alfredo sauce, but overall, still good. The salad had a variety of goods in it besides romaine lettuce, from olives, croutons, red onions, grape tomatoes, cucumbers, and banana peppers. The breadsticks were served warm and taste fresh. If you're looking for quick bite for lunch and in the area, I recommend this place. Even if you're in the area for dinner, their dinner selection was pretty extensive. The restaurant is pretty large and there's a bar are for those interested.
(3)
Norman P.
Disappointing. My wife and I ordered a $25 crab cake platter for lunch only to be charged a $5 fee because we split the platter--really!? Plus, we constantly had to ask for refills on iced tea and water, and then we received the wrong tea (unsweetened). Wait staff either forgot about us or didn't care. (G&M did not charge extra to share a crab cake platter, and the same folks own both places). Poor service and a tired interior make this a second-rate eatery, and not inexpensive.
(2)
Patrick H.
I love the Olive Grove, but I can't in good conscience give it a full 5 Stars. Yes the crab cakes are great, as are the homemade breadsticks and endless salad bowl and heaping mounds of pasta but it's just not the full FIVE. The Olive Grove is sort of a "Time Warp" experience. As you pass through their doors, you will instantly be transported to the 1980's. That's not necessarily a bad thing. Where else can you find a twin crab cake dinner for $23 that includes, salad, vegetable, pasta and breadsticks? I wouldn't say these are the finest crabcakes I've ever tasted, but they're up there. The Italian-American dishes all rank well, too (Chicken Parm, Veal Piccatta and the like) If carrot cake is on the dessert tray, it's worth it. Tall, moist and not too sweet.
(4)
Garth O.
We've been here several times and it is always good. While I can't claim to be a gourmet or food taster, the food is tasty (especially the salads!) and the waiters and waitresses are accommodating and friendly. It's not too pricey, and they have a decent selection of wines and beers. To sum up, I would recommend to eat here at least once! If you have a party of two you may be seated immediately even when there is a wait for larger parties... I think this is because they have a number of two-person booths/tables. If it's Lent, you can even find a good shrimp or crab dish with no cheese or butter if you want to go out to eat with some friends who are not fasting.
(4)
Jim S.
We wanted to get into G&M but it was just to croweded so we settled on this dump. We were seated in this dark gloomy room that had sticky seats. The waiter brought out this really good salad and ok bread so things were on the up, until I got my main meal which was Chicken and Capers the chicken was so hard I couldn't even cut it!
(1)
Matthew L.
Another restaurant with great crab cakes. I believe it's owned by the same people that own G & M and Timbuktu's. The Italian food is so so, but you can get the great crab cake without the wait. That alone gives it the 4th star.
(4)
Judy G.
I love all styles of traditional Maryland Style Crab Cakes.... Unless they come from a national chain style restaurant where they try too hard to make 'em either esoteric or exotic, which then maybe they are just Crab Cakes as opposed to Maryland Style. I live in the desert, I don't great crab cakes often....Here, I was seduced by the sheer size and abundance of the Olive Grove offering as I passed by other diners tables.We were ushered all the way to the back of the huge room packed with other diners, therefore the atmosphere was a little cafeteria-ish for lack of a better description but I didn't come here for ambiance.... I ordered the 2 crab cake entree, they were huge and delicious. Happy, happy... Leftovers for lunch the next day. Perfect! Our party was very large and the service was splendid.
(4)
Julie H.
They use frozen veggies that taste liked they've been frozen and runny spaghetti. It was gross. Don't order anything with vegetables. Just get the crabcakes.
(1)
Danny Q.
Good place, I had the crab platter and was not disappointed. Last year I decided to see what all this crab cake business was all about. After visiting this and G&M's I would call them both about even with eachother. I want to say that G&M's was slightly better but it could be a heavy case of nostalgia. The service was nothing short of phenomenal. I get the feeling that if I asked the waiter to chew my food for me he would have done it. They were very attentive and helpful without being too annoying. One annoying thing was that the booth I was in had a weird tilt to it and it made my back hurt. Of course that has nothing to do with the food or the service. Check them out if you're in town.
(4)
Reality B.
Overall good food n friendly service.
(4)
Biff Y.
First of all, I really enjoyed the crab cakes here. And I think they're a tiny step away from being a whole lot better. I'm not exactly a crab cake aficionado, but they clearly used nice chunks (not the big lump chunks) and it had a nice sweet flavor. These guys really know what they're doing. If I was rating just the crab cake, I easily give it 4 stars. So the disappointment - considering the how well they make the crab cakes, it seems like they can take the simple step of making their own sauces. Even I make my own tartare sauce and cocktail sauce, and when you make it fresh (especially the tartare sauce), it makes a huge difference. Scraping sauces from those single serving sauce containers was terribly disappointing. They seemed to make their own sauce for the coconut shrimp - this makes it even more of a wonder. The rest of the food was okay, not great. The sauce on the pasta was somewhat ordinary. The coconut shrimp was marginal, and I think that Outback does a better job of it. It was, however, nice to get the salad right off the bat. The service was average, but then again, it's not unusual for me to get marginal service when I eat alone. Next time, I'm going to make my own tartare sauce and have the food to go.
(3)
John J.
We go to Olive Grove regularly and it is a good restaurant. The staff is always friendly and we have found the food to be excellent. I can't think of a bad meal I've had there. The decor is older but that is ok. You may see a lot of negative reviews, but the place is always packed, also, so it can't be THAT bad lol. The crab cakes are the best in Baltimore, IMHO, and are huge. The unlimited salad and bread sticks are great. We often get a crab cake dinner and split it because the portions are so big. There is a $5.00 charge for sharing a meal, but remember that two are eating the unlimited salad and bread, so that is a fair charge. You also get frequent diner points and we have received a couple of free meals so far and have enough points for another free meal (for both of us) but are waiting until we bring guests with us. I didn't give it a 5 since it isn't super elegant or anything, though it is nice and spacious. I don't think you will be dissapointed.
(4)
Erica N.
My husband came out to Maryland on business and I tagged along. His boss and co-worker took us here specifically for the crab cakes. Sigh....this was quite possibly one of the best meals I've ever had. That crab cake is indescribable and I will crave it everyday until I get to come back here and have it again. HUGE lump crab meat is incorporated into this fluffy breading mixture....its seasoned and cooked perfectly. If I weren't wearing jeans and a belt that evening, I probably would've tried to eat 6 of them to get my fill. Alas, I was only able to eat one whole crab cake because they are rather big. So so good! I'll be dreaming of those crab cakes for a long time!!
(5)
Jennifer G.
This place is pretty bad. Canned spinach, mushrooms and chewy chicken. I have not been back. One time was more than enough!
(1)
Casey C.
We started off with the stuffed mushrooms for appetizers and the calamari plate. I could have eaten them all day. Then we went to the crabcakes. They weren't the best I've had but still real good. I would definitely recommend trying this place out.
(4)
Clint U.
Balitmore's and possibly the country's three greatest crabcake places are within a half mile circle of each other.....G & M , Olive Grove, and Snyder's.... Olive Grove is 5 stars for the crabcake. Their crabcake has the most filling of the 3 places I mentioned, but the seasonings are great. It just depends on what your expectations are....G & M has nearly no filler and seasonings....just crabcake....Olive Grove and Snyder's have more filler and seasonings. All three places are great. The rest of the food on the menu is very good. Its a nice place to go for a date or business meeting. You will feel comfortable in both casual (jeans) and a business suit here. ... umm I didn't mean both at the same time.... Olive Grove caters and serve a crabcake and filet steak dinner with veggies and twice cooked potatoes with dessert for $19.....needless to say, we have ordered alot of these for catered events... If you are traveling and staying near the BWI airport area...you will gain weight if you hover in this neighborhood...... 8/22/07 I owe it to everyone to up date my crab cake ratings in Baltimore.......I recently had a chance to eat crabcakes from G&M and Olive Grove (half mile apart) on consecutive days this week....and what I discovered even shocked me. Crab season is bascially gone, and crab prices are horrifically high if you can find them. So each company has to respond to this differently to keep their prices stable. G & M I discovered has started to add more bread filler in their crab cakes. My guess is about 20%? This is the most I have ever seen from this place. But it's still tasty and good...but just has more breading now and you notice you are eating filling...but is still less than most restaurants. The pros are two factors. The lump meat is huge....some lumps are half inch or more in size....so the still use the primo lump crab meat. The next big factor is price. Sandwich with large crab cake is $12. That's less than some burgers I've seen in Wash DC. Olive Grove crab cakes have more of a creamy, less bread type of filling. It was very tasty, and you had less of a sense you were eating filling. In this week's sampling, I like Olive Grove the best. They use real crab but not the huge lumpmeat like G&M...more like 1/8 inch sized. For a Tuesday special I had all you can eat salad, 6 oz beef filet, crab cake and two sides for $19. Normally its about $25. Jerry's Seafood in Lanham...(you will pass it on your ice cream trip).....has a great reputation. I havent tried it yet and will try it as soon as my cholesterol levels go down from this week. The noticeable difference is that Jerry has more of the Wash DC pricing. $33 for crab cakes. Unless you are at the inner harbor, a $33 crab cake place will be soon out of business in the blue collar Baltimore area.
(4)
Jessica L.
Outstanding! The food was great! When they use crab they use LARGE CHUNCKS! Crab cakes were wonderful!!!
(4)
Mary P.
Olive Grove is our go-to restaurant. We love the crab cakes, salad and the bread sticks. The yummy salad dressing is for sale. The menu has a decent variety for those non- crab eaters in your party. The front room is nicer than the back which feels too open. The wait staff is friendly and efficient. I'm sorry other folks are not happy in these reviews. Every time we go, the tables are full, so many folks are very pleased with Olive Grove. I think you will be also.
(5)
Taylor G.
I stayed in Linthicum Heights before flying out of BWI the next morning... this little place for dinner was fantastic! You say you've had a great crabcake? Even a "Maryland crabcake" you say?? NO YOU HAVEN'T!! Unless you've eaten here. I grew up eating great crabcakes, and in my 25 years on this beautiful planet I have never had a crabcake as tasty as the one I ordered at the Olive Grove. At first I was thinking... Olive GROVE... Like a take off of the ever-so-popular chain restaurant Olive GARDEN??? Give me a break! But soon I stood corrected as this place may have changed my life forever. Nothing about the place said chain restaurant. The staff are all friendly and *gasp* mature unlike service at the aforementioned chain. The menu is much better and more authentic than the ghastly chain as well. But what takes this place off the charts is the crabcake. You can order one or two as a meal, but if you order two you better plan on taking at least one home, unless you yourself are a small army... or a lumberjack. That being said, besides the size of the thing, the taste is out of this world. It is seasoned with just the right amount of Old Bay (as it should be!). The best part though is the giant pieces of crab you will find tucked inside of this wondrous treasure. I've never seen a lump crab cake have lumps this big (my lumps my lumps my lovely lady lumps...) You will drool over this tempting and delicious meal. Oh yeah, and the prices are incredibly reasonable... how's it get any better? (OK fine, I took one star off because I didn't care for the salad... so sue me... my mom loved it)
(4)
Lee P.
When in Baltimore, I stop here. The veal is good, the combo platters are really good b/c they afford you the opportunity to sample different flavors. Good wine list, their chianti selections are nice. Portions are huge. The minestrone soup is delicious, as is the garden salad. As far as crab cakes, I never tried them at Olive Grove. Would be hard to beat the place one block away and across the street. (follow the crowds). All in all, Olive Grove is a nice place to enjoy a large italian meal.
(4)
Dad F.
Went there with my son because I had heard about the crab-cakes. We ordered 2 double crabcakes and broiled salmon. The salmon was mostly bland and overcooked except for one corner which was almost raw and smelled! The crabcakes were huge, but not a single lump in them. Lots of shredded crab, or what I assume was crab and too seasoned to actually taste crab meat! The salad was good but the sides were HORRIBLE. The bartender was friendly but at times was not around. The lady next to me was there for here first crabcake and she commented that she probably would not get crabcakes again. I told her that there are places close by that have terrific crabcakes and these were not representative of a good crabcake. On a value scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the best. I give them a 2.
(1)
Dallas T.
This would have been a 1-star review but for the great service. The food was just not good at all. Find an Olive Garden after eating here, and you'll feel like you've traveled to Tuscany. Sorry, but the food is just not up to snuff.
(2)
Eric S.
I went here for the first time this past Saturday. We had a reservation and arrived early (we live far away and had no idea what traffic would be like). We were seated right away- as it was just past 5pm this was almost expected. This was my first time here- however I had been to G&M down the street for a work lunch. The decor of this place is horrible. It is way out dated and grungy old school cliche Italian restaurant. The service was almost perfect- great and friendly wait staff. Make no mistake- this is not a high end restaurant. I live in Northern VA and this could be equal to one of the thousands of Mediterranean places we have here- paper menu take out style. However the bill was equal to a more upscale place that we would go here locally. The food was just OK. - Crab cakes- very good- very large- full of crab and not much filler. - Salad is good - Bread sticks were good - Children ravioli was obviously frozen and gross- our 3 year old ate mostly bread (but he normally does anyway so whatever) Although I enjoyed the service and the crab cakes the side dishes were not good and the dessert tasted frozen as well. I live 63 miles away from this place and would not go again unless I happened to be in the area and craving a crab cake. * I happen to love Remoulade sauce- this place had no idea what it was and could not serve it (since they did not offer it I expected no special treatment)- G&M I had the same issue- what is up with MD places not understanding that even with the best crab cake in the world a little sauce makes it that much better! FYI- if you work at Olive grove you can read what it is and get a recipe here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Re… foodnetwork.com/recipes/…
(3)
Kellie S.
I have been here a few times and each visit I try to get something different. The place is not fancy, yet not trashy and the people in there are usually a bit on the older side (so I have noticed). It is a big restaurant with lots of seating so every time I have gone there has not been a wait ( I usually go on weekday evenings). The service is always friendly and efficient. Last time I indulged myself with a 22 oz sangria (i did not realize at the time of ordering how huge it was), it was good a little more tart than i would have liked but for 22 oz for $8.95 I could not complain. I was definitely tipsy by the end of my meal. I have had a couple bites (I have never ordered them myself) of the wonderful crab cakes that I see everyone is talking about, they are quite tasty and they are huge! I am always in the mood for pasta when I go to these Italian restaurants, so I have tried the clam linguine in the white wine sauce which is good but a little plain. Just this past visit I could not make up my mind (perhaps the sangria was already working its magic). I finally did eeny meeny miny moe and decided upon the shrimp Julienne. It was a hefty portion of large butterflied shrimp (at least 10) with carrots, mushrooms, and asparagus over linguine in a white garlic sauce. I thought it was great, I would have liked a bit more seasoning to it, but the shrimp was a great size and the vegetables were fresh and cooked just right. I always have to have a take home box, for the portions are big enough for two meals. The prices are decent for what you get, plus you get free endless salad bowl with bread sticks. I will continue to give them service and if your around you should too!
(4)
Fazoli's is an Italian-American fast casual restaurant chain headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky. It was founded in 1988and is now owned by Sentinel Capital Partners. As of 2015, there are 213 Fazoli's located nationwide. The restaurant chain specializes in Italian cuisine and dishes. Carl Howard is the company's president and CEO. Fazoli's offers a menu of traditional Italian favorites — highlighted by our famous, mouthwatering, garlic bread sticks — combined with a service experience not typically found in the QSR industry and served in a newly re-imagined restaurant environment. And it's all available to our guests at a great price and value. With over 200 restaurants, explosive growth and a booming sales trajectory, Fazoli's has established itself as a leader in the Quick-Service Restaurant segment.
Today, Fazoli's menu consists of classic Italian dishes, baked pastas, their signature Submarinos sandwiches, and other foods, such as:
Twice Baked Lasagna Chicken Parmigiano Italian Deli Trio seasonal salads Turkey Mozzarella Fresco Meatball da Vinci The Primo Italiano Cheese or Pepperoni Pizza New York Style Cheesecake Baked Spaghetti Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo
Address :705 N Hammonds Ferry Rd
Linthicum Heights, MD, 21090
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
PandaLoo T.
I've been here so many times, I just have to give them a review. I thought about giving 4 stars for the location, the could-use-improvement ambiance, and the slightly rough-around-the-edges wait staff. But then I thought, whenever I want to go out for a dinner that makes me happy, I go here. When my husband asks where I want to go to celebrate something, I ask to go here. When I graduated with my doctorate, I held my graduation party here! So no, despite the little things, I really love this place and it's about how food makes you feel when you're eating it. I'm also from NY originally and am outrageously picky about Italian food and this place is the best I've had anywhere in the state, in the DMV region, I kid you not. Get over your pretensions, realize this place has been around a long time, is kind of dated, and located in Linthicum Heights, and just go for a really perfect gets-to-your-soul comforting meal. They copy the Olive Garden with the salad and breadsticks. The latter is not as awesome but still great, but the dressing is much tastier here imo. The staff are not chic 5 star restaurant quality but they are really personable ladies and gents, and also really good at what they do. I say skip the crab cakes which is what a ton of people get (I like them more at G&M), and go hungrily for any of the Italian dishes. I have been thrilled with any I've tried. Hands down my favorite is the chicken marsala. I'm a try something different each time type of person, but I just can't help myself. This dish with the chicken and amazing sauce and side of fettuccine alfredo gives me so much food happys *tear*. Also try the OG house lager, it's pretty darn good! While I do a little bashful chuckle for liking this place so much given the type of fancy and inventive restaurants I like to explore, I'm definitely in the frequent diner program and I keep going back so I think that's really the most important part.
(5)Gail B.
We were visiting family & asked the hotel for restaurant suggestions. Olive Grove was awesome. The employees are outgoing & accommodating. The hostess doesn't just seat you. She asks where you are from and how you are doing. The server was attentive and didn't miss water refills and extra requests. The chef even came out to say hello. The only detail that is better at Olive Garden is the breadsticks. Everyone was happy with their food choices. We had a great time. The tomato soup is creamy and delicious. The french onion soup had a tasty broth. The salad was fresh and delicious. The restaurant sells the dressing. It is yummy. Hubby had the crab sandwich. He enjoyed it. My cousin had the eggplant parmesan. She loved it. I had the ravioli. The sauce was rich and amazing. The only area of improvement is the layout of the restaurant. It is a bit confusing. If you need to find the bathroom, it feels like you are walking into the kitchen. I look forward to our next visit.
(4)Meg L.
Hands down, my favorite restaurant. I can't recommend it enough! jBest italian joint outside of Little Italy! Also their crab cakes are on par with G&M (just a block away), but a couple bucks cheaper! Eat, drink, be merry, & take a box of frozen crab cakes (also cheaper & easier to cook than G&M) & a bottle of homemade italian dressing for the road! If you're like me you'll become a frequent dinner real fast! Ask your waitress/waiter about their frequent dinner program!
(5)Stefan S.
Great place! Never had a bad meal here. Love their crab cakes, although their soft shell crabs were back on the menu as a special this past Saturday. Love their crab soup. Of course their delicious salad and breadsticks to start which comes with your meal. Large restaurant, never had to wait, but be sure to make a reservation just in case its a truly busy night. Large parking lot and relatively close to I-695. Give this place a try, you won't regret it!
(5)Lynne S.
My boyfriend and I had just landed at BWI and wanted to kill some time to let traffic die down. We checked out the reviews here and decided to stop in for dinner. The decor was a little old and outdated, especially the carpet. Other than that, the food and service was pretty good. Our server, Tim, was awesome!!! He immediately greeted us as we were seated. He took our drink orders, ran down the specials, and allowed us sufficient time to peruse the menu. After a few minutes, he returned to take our order. He told us that unlimited salad and breadsticks, were included in our meals. My boyfriend ordered the MD crab soup and said it was a little spicy but pretty good. The salad and breadsticks was fine. The breadsticks were served with butter, which made them tastier than usual breadsticks. I ordered the seafood fettuccini, minus the scallops and crabmeat and added broccoli. Tim was super accommodating to this request and when my meal was delivered, it was exactly what I wanted. The Alfredo sauce was tasty and the shrimp was in abundance! My boyfriend ordered the stuffed rockfish and broccoli. He loved his meal! Cleaned his plate! He really enjoyed the flavor of the fish and the portion was very large. Definitely a good place to stop in for dinner. If you do, ask for TIM. He was the reason I rated this 4 stars instead of 3.
(4)Bob M.
First time in Maryland and first time eating crab cake. Outstanding lunch choice and great experience. Glad we went. Worth trying. Thanks !
(5)Kelly B.
The BEST pasta dish I have had in forever!!! Our waitress, Angie, was the best. She made awesome recommendations, knows the restaurant and the area like a pro! Again, the food is amazing. Come here and eat!!!!!!
(5)Fred B.
A gem! The atmosphere is friendly, the food awesome and the bartenders amazing. From the moment you walk in the door until you get your check you will enjoy everything this local restaurant has to offer. Cheers to Lee & Pepe!
(5)Michelle S.
I still love the crab cakes! Went today for a leisurely lunch. It was not crowded. We had Tim, who had a trainee. If she pays attention, she will be every bit as gracious as he was! Now, the meal was great as always. The salad was fresh and we always ask for extra parm. My crab cake and fries were delish. I even saved room for their triple layer chocolate cake, but ended up eating the rest of the salad and bringing the cake home. I meant to finish my meal with a glass of limoncello, but if I had, I would be asleep by now. Worth the drive and the money.
(4)Chuck B.
Enjoyed a late dinner, very good service (Linda, I called her Glenda) blackened salmon for the entree with a small baked potato, salad was just OK, bread sticks as well. Cold Sam Adams draft to start, decent Malbec with a very good salmon and to finish, a perfectly poured short glass of Makers Mark on the rocks.
(4)James L.
I'm really impressed with the food. The flavors dance around my taste buds. Great friendly service with a warm inviting atmosphere. Me and my wife just discovered a new place that's worth the drive and the money
(4)Jason F.
Serviceable, but I only come here if someone else is paying. I've been here 2-3 times for work functions and once for lunch. The work functions were a buffet style of their Italian dishes. If you've ever had a Stouffer's frozen Italian meal, then you've eaten at Olive Grove. Edible, but nothing mind blowing. For lunch, I had the crab cake sandwich with fries. it comes with salad and bread sticks just like Olive Garden. The salad and bread sticks were actually pretty good surprisingly. The crab cake comes on a kaiser roll and is served with cocktail sauce on the side. I asked for tartar sauce and the server returned quickly. The kaiser roll was dry, cheap, and falls apart, hindering the crab cake. The crab cake itself had very little seasoning on it and falls apart even though its consistency was wet. I added layers of cocktail and tartar sauce to give it some flavor. The fries were ok, but you can tell they were frozen and were the cheap frozen kind at that. The decor is outdated, but the service was on point with refills and attitude. They seem to cut corners to save on costs with the quality of their food and the decor of the restaurant. I guess there is no reason to change when sheep flock this place.
(2)Susanne R.
I think this is Olive Garden East Coast. Same salad. Not as good of breadsticks. Liked the rocket launcher birthday candle. Almost singed grandma at the next table. Okay but nothing to rave about. Our waiter Michael a Greek sort of ex pat(you will just have to ask him) was a great waiter.
(3)Adonna T.
We absolutely love this place. Get the crab cakes!
(5)Michele H.
Came back to this place after moving away especially for the crab cakes... Big disappointment.,, no lump meat at all and taste was off! What a shame. They are huge but taste matters more to me! Endless salad still good Nd very friendly service!
(2)Mindy Z.
Ordinary restaurant with nothing particularly great. Feels like a coffee shop. I ordered the eggplant Parmesan and it was tasteless. Marginal service. Would not recommend it.
(3)Lisa L.
Great place to eat casual, have a drink or have a more formal meal. Good food and service! Excellent crab cakes and soup'
(4)Matt H.
Crab Cakes made with pastureized Southeast Asian crab meat. Not Maryland? Not Crabcakes!
(2)Katie H.
This place is alright. The salad and breadsticks are awesome, beer is inexpensive, but the rest of the food was just OK. The crab cakes were a mix between lump and regular crab, and they were nowhere close to as good as G & M!! We only came here because the wait at G & M was an hour, and would only come here again if that were to be the same case. We definitely wouldn't order the crab cakes again; we'd probably try fish or Italian because many nearby tables ordered those items and they looked really good.
(3)Kevin B.
First - I don't recall the last time we spent 4.5 hours eating dinner!! We were sat right away and were taken care of by the amazing, the hilarious, the charming Ms.Shanay. From the moment we sat down until 9pm she was a delight. More people in the service industry should learn from Shanay. I worked in nearby hotels for 11 years and it's rare to find someone that exudes that much love for their job and the people around them. And - dang, can she belt out some "Happy Birthday!" to nearby guests. She also skillfully mastered the table of 20+ young men for a bachelor party! Our food was wonderful as in times past. I am not a huge fish eater but had the special (name has orange in it..) stuffed with crab. I was very light and buttered to perfection. Just perfect! The other three guests had crab cake sandwiches and lasagna. All were excellent! Thanks again to Shanay for making it extra special to reconnect with our friends!
(5)David T.
What can I say about this place? This is one of my favorite places to go to have a drink after work, watch a O's game n grab a nice dinner. You get great service no matter what part you sit at. The bar area has some of the best bartenders in the area. They are friendly knowledgeable that I have come across. During Baltimore O's games appetizers are half off. The seafood dishes are great. They have some of the best crab cakes you can find.
(4)Bill R.
We live nearby here, so it's one of our most frequented restaurants. But there's more to it than just convenience. The food is ALWAYS good. They're known best for their crab cakes but they're so much more than just crab cakes. Excellent Italian dishes, from the tried and true lasagna, to the more adventurous Mediteranian Angel Hair pasta. They do the big salad bowl and bread sticks that their similarly named chain competitor does but the salad is always fresh and crunchy with a really nice house dressing.
(4)scott h.
All around good dining experience. Excellent crab cakes. They were huge, filled with big lumps of crab, and cooked to perfection. Dinner salad was big and relatively fresh. Croutons were obviously homemade. And homemade bread sticks were definitely hi of the bread scale. The fries were hot and crispy, but they were those breaded fries that I'm not really much of a fan of. The breading always hold in a little bit too much grease for my liking. The best thing of all with the service. The waiter was outstanding. The drink glass never went dry. And he stopped by at just the perfect time to ask me if everything was okay. All in all, I definitely recommend this restaurant over they're very popular competitor down the street for crab cakes. As others have mentioned the service is 100 times better and parking is right outside the door in their own private lot.
(4)Tim H.
One of the best places I've had a crab cake, anywhere. The crab cakes are made with lump back crab meat, not a lot of filler, not too salty but seasoned perfectly and are cooked until golden brown. I usually get the crab cake sandwich when I come here with a side of fries. You will also get unlimited bread sticks and salad when dining here for lunch or dinner. Most of the times I have come here it's been for lunch since it's near where I work. I ate here once for dinner with my wife and we both enjoyed what we ordered for dinner. The staff is friendly and helpful in that they know their menu items. I really don't like eating at a restaurant where I ask about a dish and the server has no clue what is in it or how it is made. Despite looking dark and out of date inside, it's a nice place to grab a meal. If you are in the area and looking for a good crab cake sandwich or crab cake entree, give this place a try. You might be surprised at how good they are. Thanks for reading my review. This review is based off of my personal point of view and experience.
(4)Barb C.
Great crab cakes, pasta, salad, breadsticks. Everyone in our group enjoyed the food and service. One waitress can sing you happy birthday and her voice will amaze you. Highly recommend.
(4)Mitchell S.
I was in from out of town. Seated quickly by a pleasant hostess. The server and kitchen were very accomodating when I requested Chicken Parm with grilled, not fried/breaded, chicken. I enjoyed a good meal and great service.
(4)Juli B.
This review is for the take out or carry away, didnt know they had one, its one the side of the building. Went there last night with the break in the storms. They had a massive salad bar, stocked full, its 5.99 a pound and I got a 14" cheese pizza for 5.99. The lady at the counter was very nice and pleasant and the place sold beer and wine, prices were good as well. The place was very clean and organized they must do a huge lunch crowd. I will be back, since my regular to go place closed.
(5)Jessica F.
I had read mixed reviews on the Olive Grove, however, I am not one to pass on a free meal, especially one I am paid to be at. I came here recently for my company's Christmas Lunch. They have a massive event room in the back that fit our sizeable group just fine. The Olive Grove isn't in the prettiest location but that didn't stop people from coming. Even on a Friday afternoon, the parking lot was packed. The salad and breadstick portion did remind me of another famous Olive but I have to say that the breadsticks at the Olive Grove are much better. We each received a crab cake and, no lie, those things are tasty. I don't really remember the other dishes after that. I had a pasta of some sort which I didn't hate. All in all, it wasn't bad.
(3)Brad S.
This wasn't the very worst dining experience, but it wasn't even average, and I left my one visit to Olive Grove at a complete loss as to what my friends and acquaintances see in this place. My senior executive at work wished to treat our team within his division to a nice lunch for a major accomplishment with our client, and some rather vociferous coworkers talked him into this place. Many tout that it has excellent crabcakes, and tell me that they're the same as at their sister eatery (G&M) up the road. This does nothing for me, as I do not eat shellfish, so this may indeed be a redeeming value for those who covet crabcakes, and I wouldn't know. That said, this place fancies itself an Italian seafood restaurant, and while disappointment is commonplace in that genre, Olive Grove was worse. Atmosphere: mediocre. There's a fine line between the modisch "mid-century modern" and 1970s shabby and stale, and the banquet hall room is distinctly in the latter category. It seemed generally clean, so there's that, but outdated and generic motel-like decor, berber-like patterned carpet, and ill-conceived lighting make it seem like there's a multilevel marketing (pyramid scheme) selling recruitment event later in the afternoon. Service: in a word, "poor." There were several small groups in the banquet room for lunch, and ours was no bigger or smaller than most, but the service was almost what one would expect at a cafeteria--that is, non-existent. My drink order did not arrive for nearly 20min., and neither that nor the "endless" salad was recharged. My pasta entree was at room temperature when served, as was that of most of my coworkers. Food: unpleasant. Food need not be authentic in order to be good. A well-crafted, well-prepared pasta in the US can be as good as, or even better than, authetic fare, even if it bears little resemblance to Tuscan cuisine. That said, the fettuccine and lasagna dish wasn't well-crafted, well-prepared, authentic, or anything else I could appreciate. Between that, the blandness, an almost rancid smell of expired olive oil, and the fact that the entree was essentially at room temperature by the time it even reached my place-setting, it was actually offensive to eat. I rarely find an iceberg lettuce salad worth eating, but even this tasteless, wilted mass of mostly stumps and white matter proved a better option than my entree, and I would have desperately lunched on that had the server fulfilled the "endless" part of the salad offering. I am not the pickiest eater in the world; indeed, I probably risk my life when scavenging leftovers in my fridge. It isn't hard to achieve my minimum standard, especially for a free lunch from my boss. Olive Grove didn't even achieve this. Many native Marylanders (of which I am not one) seem to love it, and there's nothing wrong with that, but I've no clue as to why.
(2)Big E.
Food is pretty average these days. Nothing spectacular. Years ago, this was the best Italian restaurant in the area. The food is decent but doesn't seem 100% fresh.
(3)Jay F.
Similar restaurant to G & M in terms of menu and located just down the block. Better food and better service and more importantly, better crab cakes. And easier parking. They make a very good martini and have great seafood and itialian items on their menu. Great place to eat if you are staying at any of the hotels around BWI. Many hotels will refer you to G&M but give this place a look
(4)Angela Z.
While other reviews may argue that the Olive Grove is an "Olive Garden knock-off," I can say that other than the word "Olive" in the name and the fact that both are Italian restaurants, the similarities stop there. Rather - the Olive Grove is an excellent restaurant, and has some of the best seafood around (Yes - the crab cakes are excellent). I've been here for dinner many times and have always enjoyed both the food and the atmosphere. The restaurant is clean and cozy, with a very friendly and courteous staff. They are eager to recommend their favorite dishes and they know the menu inside and out (something I've never witnessed at an Olive Garden anywhere). I've been persuaded to try many different items on the menu and all of them were delicious. My personal favorite is the stuffed shrimp, though they also make an excellent steak. The appetizers are tasty too (many of which are smaller versions of their best dishes such as the "crab balls") so you can experience great taste on a smaller budget. Recently one of the owners of my company retired. We wanted to celebrate and send him off in style, but didn't want a big catered dinner. Instead we reserved a section of the bar area and enjoyed the atmosphere, polite staff, and tasty appetizers/drinks. The happy hour specials made it an affordable evening as well - an added bonus for sure. If you're looking for a nice night out, this is a place worth trying - and then visiting often to try something else on the menu.
(5)Rika B.
My crab cakes go to spot whenever I fly into BWI and have a layover. Tried the other place down the street and was not impressed at all. I am a diehard fan of Olive Grove. and will never go anywhere else for crab cakes again. Huge portions and awesome wine list selection. Excellent service and nice family type atmosphere. I've also called in and picked up an order. Great staff. Anyone that I have taken there has converted to Olive Grove. You must try it. You'll love it!!
(5)Charles C.
Food is decent. Service can be quite unhelpul and decor needs an update. Their lunch takeout menu is good, but the better items they are not familiar with they have to look up in the computer when you order. They advertise that lunch special by mail flyers, they should train their people to know the specials.
(3)Tim W.
I work in the area quite often and end up in a hotel in the general area about 3 or 4 times a year. Every trip requires a visit to the establishment. I have never left disappointed. I cannot believe that that rating is so low for it? Thank god I didnt know the Yelp rating on my first visit! The Homemade Crab Stuffed Pretzel is AWESOME. The Crab Cakes will beat anyone out in town. I have had at least 7 of their dishes and they have always been delicious. Come one people! Give this place some better reviews! It deserves it!
(5)Carrie O.
The cast of characters for today's sojourn to the Olive Grove are myself, the Love of My Life, and Carrie's Momma, since this was her day and this is the place she had selected for dinner. Apparently this restaurant was a big favorite of my late grandmother's, and Momma wanted to be here to feel just a little closer to her own mom. I can grok with that. So the Olive Grove it is. I don't know how packed it is on a normal business day, but it was absolutely MOBBED when we got there, no doubt for the holiday. People of every size, shape, color and hue were waiting outside, inside, you name it. I don't know how the hostess(es!) didn't go stark raving mad. Despite this, we only waited about 10 minutes before we were seated and ready to go with our orders. (Note: if you dine here on a major holiday like this, CALL AHEAD. They'll accommodate you if you don't, but be prepared to wait until Armageddon to be served.) They had a special Mother's Day menu, from which we ordered the following: To share: crab dip, mozzerella sticks (didn't try these personally) For myself: Land and Sea (filet mignon and crab cake - comes with a baked potato and string beans) LoML: jumbo shrimp scampi Carrie's Momma: Sausage fettucine And three coffees for afterward. :p Unlimited salads and breadsticks come with the meal. I'll start with the salad dressing - it's well worth getting an individual bottle, because this dressing is the bomb diggity. It's tart without being too vinegary and packed full of flavor. I actually wanted more salad than I had, but had to control myself because I knew there was going to be a lot more coming. The breadstick (only had one) was soft, very hot out of the oven, and buttery... absolutely delicious. I think I could have just eaten the salad alone and I would have been satisfied. Little did I know that more delights were to come. The crab dip was packed full of jumbo lump crab meat, layered with a huge amount of cheese. This was really the only portion of the meal that I wasn't really wild about - the texture was a little bit too creamy for my personal taste, though everyone else at the table enjoyed it greatly. The big crab meat pieces saved a good deal of it, though! My Land and Sea was, in a word, unbelievable. The green beans, mixed in with soft buttery carrots, were a delight - steamed, crunchy and just the right flavor. The baked potato was a generous size and came with plenty of butter and sour cream for my consumption. And the filet mignon? Oh, my word, let's talk about that. It was cooked to a perfect medium-rare and was so....freaking....tender. It practically melted in my mouth! This was the first time I've ever had filet mignon and now I see why people rave about it so much. Last but not least, the crabcake. Let's discuss the crabcake. All you need to know about this is JUMBO. LUMP. CRAB. MEAT. No filler - absolutely NONE. This is how Maryland crab cakes should be. The "test" that I use is that of cocktail sauce - if it needs cocktail sauce, it's not as good as it can be. The Olive Grove's crabcake needs NO ADORNMENT WHATSOEVER. Yes. It is THAT freaking good. As a matter of fact, the one bite I had with cocktail sauce on it, it RUINED the beautiful flavors washing over my tongue. Our server was nice, polite, very efficient and was more than happy to describe the food, make recommendations, etc. They were absolutely PACKED today, but no one was impatient or even seemed ruffled by the crowds - on the contrary, they were all smiling and happy and very welcoming. LoML liked the place, too, saying that their shrimp scampi beat his recipe by miles. And, of course, Momma was happy, which is all that really mattered to us today. Sorry, but I didn't experience anything weird or out of the ordinary. No objects in our food, no urine smell, none of the nonsense of the previous reviews that I've been reading. On the contrary - the Olive Grove has satisfied all of my expectations and more of what a restaurant should be. It IS a bit pricey - our bill came to 140 dollars for three people!!! - but it's a once in a while thing, not an everyday dinner. And that works for me, in this case. Don't let the previous negative reviews sway you. Come down to OG and see for yourself. We really did have a terrific experience here.
(4)Tierra H.
I got a Living Social deal to come here. So after Wine in the Woods, boyfriend and I showered and dressed and came here. Stepping into this place is like going back in time. It's got this funky old school look that I kinda liked. We had a short wait for a table, but that was fine. It was less than 10 minutes. We were seated at a booth before long. Our waitress was a little odd. She was about as interesting as a dial tone and had zero personality. She just seemed like she was annoyed with doing her job. She kept getting our drinks wrong and not bringing things as well. Anyhoo, onto the food. We both got the crab cakes. First off, these things are massive! I award them kudos for putting that much crab on a plate. Buuuuuuuuut, where they lost me was how much egg they put into the crab cakes. I really don't like eggs. This was like scrambled eggs and crab. Ick! Also, the crab lacked seasoning. (We were in Maryland. I'd totally expect some Old Bay). Boyfriend asked for some tartar sauce for his crab cakes and it was delivered in a to-go ramekin -- which was kind of weird. I feel like I'd want to come back here, but definitely NOT for crab cakes. I just have this thing for old school Italian restaurants. I guess next time I'd get some pasta, which I'm sure I'd like a lot better than their crab cakes.
(3)Colleen B.
This review is long overdue. We spent a delightful evening here in May 2014. I was in the position of planning a wedding rehearsal dinner for my son & daughter-in-law from out of state. The location of the Olive Grove was perfect for us, as many of our guests were staying at the Airport Holiday Inn. I found the restaurant through the wonderful reviews of fellow Yelpers and made the arrangements sight unseen. I am forever gratefu to people's reviews. . I was able to iron out all details of planning the dinner via email & phone with Spyros, Elaine & Yuri. They were all accomodating and made the planning a breeze. I am still receiving compliments from guests from that evening for the setting (we had a private dining area) and especially the food. One guest swears she will never eat another crab cake because none will compare with how delicious the one served that evening at the Olive Grove Restaurant was. I would also like to give a shout out to the fantastic service we received from Brittany & Farooq, they added to the overall enjoyment with their attentiveness. Everything came together to make this not only a wonderful dining experience but a memory of a lifetime.
(5)Matt M.
The Crab Cakes are above average, maybe not as good as G&M, but I would return just for that one item. The Maryland Crab Soup needs to have more crab meat in it. The draft beer selection is very limited, and the wait staff could use a tune up. The facility is clean, but outdated. The prices are acceptable. Next time, if I am really hungry for an excellent crab cake, I'll go to G&M if they are not so crowded, otherwise, I'll be back.
(3)Kathy M.
Olive Grove is wonderful. I stopped by for lunch today and got the crabcakes with mashed potatoes and a salad. YUM. Everything was delicious and the service was outstanding. Don't read the negative reviews here....no doubt some of them are placed here by the competition. Go try Olive Grove for yourself. You won't be dissapointed.
(5)Kate D.
My wife had fond memories of this restaurant from many years ago, and was excited to introduce me to the establishment now that we have moved nearby. The bread sticks were good. I'll give them that. Otherwise, a forgettable experience would be an improvement. I ordered the chicken skewers over orzo with vodka sauce. The chicken was so overcooked it was nearly the consistency of jerky. The orzo was so overcooked it had the consistency of baby food. The vodka sauce had no flavor what-so-ever, and aside from giving the dish from color, I would not have known it was even on there. My wife and children were happier with their meals than was I; however, we won't be back as the price and value are far too disparate.
(1)Mike H.
I have been here nurmerous times. I really can say each time I have been the food has been very good. I did not give this restaurant a 5 out of 5 because the food isn't top notch. If you want a place that has reliable food and good service come here.....you might actually end up seeing me haha
(4)Rika D.
I was there this past weekend with my family for dinner and I can say that the food was very good. I think that they need the guy from the food network to come in and remodel the joint. The decor is very outdated and it smelled like a crowded bingo hall. Besides that the service was excellent and I must single out my waitress who went by the name of Shanea her service was at least 5 stars. She was on point. I most definitely would dine there again.
(4)Michele W.
First of all, the service is on point. The family style salad is great but, I thought that it was more leafy greens when I went there years ago. Still it was very fresh but, appeared to be a bag salad. The waiter offers table side freshly grated Parmesan. They are famous for their creamy Italian salad dressing. It can be purchased by the bottle. Bread sticks are also offered. Portions are huge. The seafood in both of our entrees was cooked perfectly although I found a few crab shells. The wine list and beer selections are adequate(Friday night they were offering $5 off any bottle of wine). Olive Grove is also currently offering a frequent diner program. I think that it was once you spend $250 you get $20 off your next meal. I will definitely dine here again. The overall experience was great
(4)Joe K.
This local restaurant has a long history and is located right down the street from the famous G & M, so for a place to be open this long, something has be good. The setting at, The Olive Grove, makes you think of a more classy, but not really, version of Olive Garden. A decor of white table cloths, wood paneling, and a semi-formally placed dining ware , may make you think your about to have a classy meal ; looks here maybe deceiving. First off, i was a little casually dressed, and was comparable to the family who was waiting, and though there isn't a dress code I didn't feel under dressed but was treated that way. Wait time was less than a minute before being seated. We were walked into the bar, made sure we were okay sitting at the bar, after agreeing, we then were placed at a high table and was forced to listen to the locals at their watering hole. Minus 2 stars, automatically, I am unsure why we were sat here, there was plenty of seats in the dining room .... ? As for our 'waitress' or lack of a better term, She visited us gave us that Balmer' Hon'ed charm and took our orders. She was nice and listed the chef's specials with a little bit of a suggestion from the menu. While we waited and people watched, there were several tv's throughout the bar and some music in the background. Though it was mainly filtered through someone's muttering while in the sauce. We watched as people moved in and out, kind of unnerving feeling since i was expecting something a bit more romantic. Our food came: I ordered shrimp scampi, larger shrimp were used, but the sauce left me wanting more out of my dish, though it was light ; I still felt like there was more I should get , for my money. As for my girlfriend and her crab cake, let's just say there is a lot more options better in town, and frankly McDonald's had a better crab cake sandwich years ago, than they do today. At the end of the day, I felt a little disappointed, and I am not likely to return. I have had a lot of experiences with Olive Grove, when i was younger, to try the food here as an adult i feel like i am missing something. Maybe it was the dish, the time I ordered, or my mood, but I would advise against a return and suggest taking a drive down the hill to G & M. - Lunch specials - Carry out - Catering and Banquet event's are offered on site. - Home shipping - This applies to their Crab cakes and Salad Dressing ( really ???) . Olive Grove makes a lot of their cakes and sends them to local restaurants and national restaurants and you can have them sent to your home. Please visit their website for details. - Average Wine selection, with some local winery options. - Full Bar - Miller, Coors and Bud on tap, Sam Adams seasonal and Boston Lager and the possibility of Blue Moon or Shock Top.
(2)Bill B.
My brother took us here. We loved it! This place is like an Olive Garden...serving salads and breadsticks first. They had a great assortment of Italian dishes...and then even more selection of dishes like ribs and, of course, crab cakes! The crab cakes were so full of lump meat that I'm still wondering how they kept them together! Who would have thought that the best crab cakes I've ever had would come from Olive Grove? Not Phillips..not Moe's! And the fresh green beans were great! Highly recommended!
(4)Becky H.
Olive Grove was recommended by the hotel I am staying at, and I am glad they did! I drove past G & M and it was so packed, I had no desire to fight for a parking spot. On arrival, I was directed to the bar to place my to-go order and was immediately greeted by the friendly bartender. The bar was packed. The decor is very old fashioned, but warm and inviting. The waitress informed me of their special of the night, offered me a beverage and left me to glance at the menu. A couple of guys sitting at the bar suggested I try the crab cakes. They told me they are better than G & M and that the staff at the Olive is way nicer. I went ahead and ordered a cannoli for my dessert and took my goodies back to the hotel to pig out in private. My dinner came with a baked potato and salad. Both were enormous. The crab cake was delish! Huge, flaky pieces of crab with very little filler taking up valuable tummy space. By the time I finished the crab cake, the potato was left to see another day. I had to save room for that cannoli. The cannoli was awesome! Crispy shell, creamy filling and just enough chocolate chips to add sweetness. By the end of my meal, I was glad to be in my hotel already so I could just roll over and go to sleep. I recommend this to anyone looking for a great meal and friendly service.
(4)Tara H.
Horrible! We went as a recommendation from our shuttle driver. We had to wait a long time to be seated at lunch. Then we placed our order for food and it took forever . When Our food came it was dry and stale. Even my salad was gross. I will never eat here again.
(1)Petteri V.
I have had lunch at Olive Grove two times. First time I ate Maryland crab soup with salad. The soup was ok but the salad was just very large portion of salad and some croutons. The salad also had some weird dressing which I didn't really like. Second time I got the same salad(???) and shrimp sandwich. I don't know why I got the salad again but I didn't really enjoy the sandwich. There really wasn't any taste and shrimp was, well not cold but not warm either.
(3)Jack F.
I had heard their crab cakes were good, but not my night. It was lump and large enough, but mealy and way too salty. It came with a nice large salad comprised of many ingredients, albeit mostly iceburg lettuce, to which they automatically add a cream dressing; why don't they ask what dressing one wants? You may get bread but no butter as i did. Friendly service.
(2)Leo H.
I've been going to Olive Grove for 15+ years. All of you people who don't like their crab cakes or food are out of your mind. This place is great and has always been great. Yea the appearance is a little dated but the food is awesome. Seafood fettucinni is the best. Comparing it to Olive Garden is a SIN. Not even close to the same level. Olive Garden is a filthy chain restaurant. Olive Grove is local and buys local everything. You people need to realize what real food is. Not chain restaurant food. IDIOTS!!!!
(5)Barry B.
Okay I am going to try and be fair. I slept on this one and thought about it some before getting started. I have to make sure that I don't let my great companion and the fun time we had talking too greatly influence the actual review of this establishment. Scene Setter: Wednesday about 4:15 PM. (in order to be fair to this restaurant and to help people that know restaurant cycles and how they work) The very first impression is dated. I mean dated. Big gilded frames on bad art, plastic flowers (not even exciting arrangements) and furniture and carpets that I know are no longer manufactured. Speaking of the carpet I will give Olive Grove the benefit of the doubt and accept that the bad mixture of odors (old grease, seafood waste, seafood proteins, tomato paste, old lady perfume, cleaner, candle wax, dust) is the nature of 20 year old carpet and not a reflection on their cleaning efforts. If Restaurant Impossible showed up the very first thing they would do is gut the place and rip up that carpet. Rather the show comes to their rescue or not they will have to do this. The patrons (with exceptions of us) must average 65 in age. That is literally a dying client base. If they are going to keep going they will have to make those decor, and odor changes. We stuck to appetizers (based on Kitchen Confidential book advice about showing up at restaurants between "service peaks".) The calamari was nicely breaded if a little bland-the tomato sauce is thick and lively but a bit much for calamari. The portion was nice but some pieces were a little big which lead to uneven textures (some slightly raw, others chewy and tough). The sampler plate (zucchini, poppers, mozzarella sticks) seemed to be from a bag "frozen", fried a little inattentively [too long]. My dining mate had stuffed mushrooms. I am allergic so didn't taste them. They looked well prepared and she said they were good. They serve a family style salad and bread sticks, nice touch (you pay for it in overall prices-nothing is really free). That was done well with a good Italian dressing and freshly grated cheese. The breadstick was good but you could tell it was from lunch (knew that going in based on time so not a knock-just an example of the advice from book being accurate) Most of the positive reviews seem to be entree (crab cake) related. It is okay to be a one trick pony but dangerous in the light of all the other deficiencies. This could be a hidden gem, but it will take a new "setting" and a modernization for me to come back.
(2)Diane G.
Came here for 4th of July dinner. The service was good. Loved the crab cakes but my hubby's steak was a disappointment. He ordered the delmonico steak but it was rubbery and not a good cut. I will come back but I will stick to the sea foods.
(4)Dave A.
No doubt, this is a strange restaurant, but exactly what you would expect in Linthicum. I will admit that the breadsticks are really good, but the rest of the food is pretty low quality. I ordered a lasagna that had a piece of unidentified cheese melted across the top. Also, the waitress was super weird.
(2)Deb H.
We were in the area looking for hotels to block off for our wedding next may. We were recommended by the olive grove by two hotels to have our rehearsal. It was awful! I would never recommend this place. Olive garden is so much better and classy! The food network needs to do a make over on this place just awful!
(1)Robin R.
My review is for 7/11, I got caught up in something and didn't think about it again until today when the smell of oregano reminded me. I'll tell you why,but first, a little walk down memory lane. My first experience was roughly 15 yrs ago when I worked in an industrial park close by. Back then we would hit the Olive Grove for happy hour from time to time. What I remember from then was the restaurant was rather dark and there was a cheap gaudy garland weaving around the tops of booths being support by dark wood. It made the restaurant feel smaller. Back then there was a violin player who would walk around playing tunes. Since then there was a remodel although I am sure they went the cheaper route and already could use a face lift. Lunch time offered a grill chicken Cesar salad which was the bomb. I remembered the salad when I was typing this....I wish I had for dinner. I can't vouch for the crab cakes and will not bother to try them. The best I have had have been made by myself or family members. On my recent trip I had the stuffed mushrooms. They were simply ok, the filling had a good taste but the mushrooms were a bit cold as if some one forgot to toss them under the broiler. Things I really disliked: The sound of a vacuum humming as we walked into the dining room, the subsequent stale smell I assumed was from the vacuum exhaust, the spent blooms in the containers in front of the restaurant. It seems to me Olive Grove has a captive clientele and they aren't putting much effort into the details because they figure they don't have to. In this economy no one can afford to under impress folks. Things I really liked: The server and enjoyable conversation with my companion. Now....why the smell of oregano as a reminder. I was thinking while gardening today how the Olive Garden could put fresh oregano in the vacuum to stay off the stale smell.Maybe even rosemary.
(2)Elizabeth H.
I went to this location to redeem a voucher. The service at this restaurant is excellent. My friend and I enjoyed talking with the waiter. He was knowledgeable and honest. However, the quality of the food was somewhere between the Olive Garden (which this place clearly modeled their menu after) and Applebees. On a side note, there are not a lot of restaurants available around this location. If I was rating it based on location I'd probably give it 3 stars instead, of 2.
(2)Ieesha J.
Olive Garden watch out!!! I went with a coworker for lunch and was pleasantly surprised on how great the food was. We started off with the open faced Goat Cheese Panini and it was freaking delicious!! I'm so lad we shared because I would have felt a tad bit greedy eating the entire thing and still wanting to order my lunch. Speaking of the lunch entrees, which were pretty large for the inexpensive price. I ordered the Chicken Scallopini (its not on the regular menu), and OMG I had to stop myself yet again! I wouldn't visit this place too often for lunch...just because it will have me passed out at the office. However, I will definitely be back for dinner!
(4)Heather P.
I meet my mom here every now and then for lunch and I've mostly had pleasant experiences. I quite like their salad and bread sticks and their crab cakes are good. I do feel that the inside is a little dated and their prices are a little high but overall it is a good place to go for lunch. I've never been disappointed with my food and although I've never tried them their desserts look really good!
(3)Joie T.
If you have never had the crabcakes here, you need an intervention! I've tried crabcakes all over the DMV, and I'd have to say that these are my favourite! Big on crabby meat, and low to non-existent "fillers". the cakes are savoury, sweet, juicy and creamy and melts in your mouth! You can get 1 crabcake for $16.95, or 2 for $23.95. The crabcakes are deceivingly small looking. Trust me, I have a BIG appetite, and I can only finish one! We always order 2 (EACH), and take the second one home to make for breakfast, to mix into our omlettes! (BEST OMLETTES EVER!!!). The crabcakes come with 2 side orders, (green beans OR pasta OR fries), and you get unlimited garden salad AND unlimited garlic bread. Hence the reason we always have leftovers! Said to have a nicer ambiance than it's sister chain down the road (G&M), we came here once, and got hooked in! It is also on our "guest list" (for guests are visiting from out-of-town). It's always a hit with them! The decor and atmosphere reminds me of Olive Garden. Service is always great, and the food always delicious! Now, if I only I could convince them to deliver to Toronto!
(3)Toya D.
It's a cross between Olive Garden - Macaroni Grill - Maggiano's...or any other Italian "chain" restaurant. Good for locals who don't want to venture out for the real deal.
(3)D S.
Tried to go to another joint but it had a long wait. The Olive Grove could seat us right away. They greeted us warmly, served us promptly,and the food was great. Had the stuffed mushroom which were amazing. Solid crab cakes and pasta dishes.
(4)William G.
I travel to Baltimore once or twice each year for meetings at hotels near BWI. Since most of the participants are not from the Baltimore area and want crab cakes, we inevitably end up at the Olive Grove because of its proximity. Eating here is a step back into the 1970's both in terms of the decor and the food. The food here is not terrible but everything sort of tastes the same. Main courses are heavy and lack any subtlety whatsoever. Sides are mediocre at best as pasta and vegetables are generally overcooked. The salad bowl is mostly ice burg lettuce. You do get a lot of food, however. Service is ok. Last time we were there we were seated in the bar area because of the size of our party. The noise level was incredible and the multiple television screen distracting. All in all not a place I would go on my own.
(2)Donald P.
Best Buy!! Portions are generous and enough to take home next day dinner!!! We had the Calamari appetizer, soft Shell Crabs, Chicken Catchatorie?, side of pasta meat sauce. Only the chicken was dissapointing since it was more stirred fried with tomatoes & peppers over rice. i'm use to it being slow cooked and simmered for hours. Howeve, r would order again since the dish had great texture and different! Salad was included with the meal. OG is a typical Baltimore Locals Restaurant .. Good food , Not exceptional, Abundant, Average Atmosphere, good drinks & reeasonable prices. Try it for yourself ... PS The crabcakes looked devine!! Next rip
(4)Joe S.
Food is mediocre and service is OK at best. I ate here a few times for dinner and it was alright, nothing that special. However, I ate here for a work luncheon and it was awful. We were not treated very well at all. They had the audacity to try to tell people who they could sit with, by who ordered soda and who only wanted water. They didn't want to risk people that didn't order soda drinking from the pitchers that were on the table. I guess the couple of cents that each pitcher costs them was worth pissing everyone off. We paid them close to $15 a person for this luncheon, and they gave us a hard time about soda. The food also came out cold and was not ready on time. I wouldn't recommend having any kind of event here.
(2)Jennifer P.
This has actually been one of the worst places I've ever been to eat. The food here is completely bland, the servers incompetent, and the place smells...really bad. Going in, it's obvious the place needs some redecorating. I wasn't sure if I was eating at an Italian or seafood place. However, this doesn't matter much as all you can focus on when entering the dining room is the horrible moldy cheese/urine scent emanating from somewhere in the restaurant. Ugh. Oh and the hostess was not friendly and very short with us. Never a good sign. I had a Yelp special for checking in and when I asked the server about it and showed him the special on my phone, he said they didn't have Wi-fi. What??? Uh, no, that's not what I asked you. I asked you about the special. On my phone. LISTEN. READ. Oh, well he doesn't know anything about that and had to speak to a manager. Anyhow, so we order the barbecue shrimp for an appetizer. $8.95 for a plate of 6 shrimp smothered in barbecue sauce. Wow. 6 whole shrimp. I took one bite of one and had to put it down. It tasted so disgusting...it didn't even taste like shrimp. It tasted as if it had been soaking in chlorine overnight. Then I ordered the chicken parm. This didn't taste or look like chicken, much less chicken parm. The sauce? Wasn't even sauce. It was some vegetables covered in red stuff. Straight up disgusting. Had absolutely no flavor. The rest of my family agreed that the food was horrible and wasn't worth $5, however our bill, for FOUR people for this disgusting food came to $68!!! We all ordered water and at one point our waiter came and filled our glasses with sprite! WTF!!!! I point this out to the waiter, who of course, doesn't speak very good English, and is very confused. He finally gets it and he has to bring us all new glasses. In the front lobby they have all these "awards" for their food...I honestly have no idea how this place came about them. There was a line out the door when we left for people wanting to eat dinner. One thing they all had in common? They were senior citizens. I guess when you get older, you lose the sensitivity in your olfactory glands and your taste buds. Anyhow, if you are in the BWI airport area, don't waste your time or money. Go to Quiznos, or drive out a little further to Catonsville.
(1)CindyLou D.
Disappointed and embarrassed are two words to sum up my feelings for this place. I made the mistake of choosing the Olive Grove for a get together with some dear friends the night before a reunion. (We were a group of 10.) Because I've enjoyed their crab cakes and pasta dishes, as well as their unlimited house salad and warm bread sticks from previous visits, I raved about this place. Well, we chose the wrong night. One person in our group found an acrylic (gel, fake or what have you) fingernail in her pasta dish. And the service was just plain bad. I found myself apologizing to my friends the next day at our reunion for suggesting the Olive Grove. Now, whenever I'm craving a delicious crab cake, I go to Hellas in Millersville, MD. I'm giving the Olive Grove two stars -- only because I have had good experiences there in the past. This last time was it for me - fini.
(2)Emily P.
Hugely disappointing - im not sure which resonated with me more, the terribly lazy but overbearing service or the extremely bland and salty dishes. Server reported to the table which practically felt every 10 mins of the meal, which felt very overbearing for the whole table. The server would wait till we cleared the table ourselves, pass our appetizers and entrees for us to distribute ourselves, and make us pass all the empty water cups around the table for him to refill. I tried their claim to fame crab cakes...and they are probably something I would not return for.
(1)Christopher S.
I believe they have decline in food quality that matches the current economy. I have dined here before and would have rated the restaurant a 3 star at that time. There were four of us and we ordered chicken, and two types of seafood (fish) entrees and a crab cake. No one was real thrilled with their meal. Fish and chicken were way over cooked. Sauces had been sitting awhile under the warming lamps and became brittle. Salad and bread was very good. The crab cake had to much filler, a cost cutting technique and perhaps a sign of the times. My take is this place has way to many offerings on their menu (the menu is unbelievably large) and are unable to perfect many of them. I would stick with the pasta dishes. You just cannot be all things to all people in the restaurant business and expect frequent compliments and high ratings. Poor price/value relationship.
(2)Marissa L.
Definitely a great place to have some food. Had the crabcakes last time I visited. They not only tasted better than they did about 2 years ago, but they've gotten substantially bigger. Definitely worth what I paid. Great salad and breadsticks and delicious sangria.
(4)Todd K.
After reading the reviews, I was expecting the greatest crabcake ever. It was ok and the fries were cold. The service at the bar was excellent and the salad and breadstick was decent. I would go back if this was the only place with an empty bar. Otherwise, G and M would get the business. As for the best crabcake.....go to Jerry's in Bowie. it is going to be expensive but worth every penny!
(3)April P.
Thank you Olive Grove for making our wedding so special! If you are thinking of having your wedding here, check out this place. And if you were the bride like me, you wouldn't mind a detailed review like this one as you search for a place to have your wedding =) We had our wedding in the banquet area of the restaurant and it was perfect size to have a sweet and intimate wedding with our close family and friends. There were a little over 100 of us. A warm recognition to Ms. Elaine who helped organize the wedding details we needed such as putting together details for the wedding. She should be a wedding coordinator! They provided our color choice in linen, center pieces, our head table center piece, etc. We wanted a white lily and red rose center piece. OG went and ordered one for us and it looked so beautiful! Did I say we were planning our wedding in 1.5 months?! In such a short amount of time to plan a wedding, Elaine and many other OG workers assisted in the details. It was a lot of fun working with them and they were very professional and friendly. There was an excellent sound system w/ a portable mic which allowed us to MC the wedding. There were speakers that allowed us to play our own music overhead. We decided to have a seated style menu which worked out so great! It was $30 a person which was great considering we weren't doing buffet style but seated dinner. With this option, OG provided a large fruit and veggie platter as appetizers for our guests. They served salad and breadsticks before the meal. Our guests were able to choose from a 6 choice menu. They were impressed by the menu selection of Jumbo Crab Cake, 10oz Steak, Crab Stuffed Chicken Breast, Shrimp New Orleans pasta dish, Lasagna, and Chicken Italiano with Shrimp. And the food came out delicious! They were very generous in their portions! Afterwards when we cut our wedding cake, OG provided the most delicious Tiramisu, Baklava and Mini Cannoli s platter. It's safe to say no one left hungry! The waiters were so friendly and efficient in their work. The food did not take long to come out, especially when they were taking 100 orders all at once! Ms. Elaine made sure Jon and I were doing okay throughout our wedding and that everything was on schedule. It all went so smoothly. It seemed as though Ms. Elaine and staff had everything handled and all we had to do was enjoy our special day! There was another party coming after our wedding but we never felt rushed. It begun and ended so perfectly. This is a long review because we are very appreciative of their service and we wish them much success! Thank you Olive Grove! 5 Stars! It really is as good as it gets!
(5)Ma-e M.
It's the worst Italian food I ever had. The beverage served was a generic cola that tasted like a baby formula. The pasta was soggy and the dining chairs, carpet need updates. Big place for party but not big enough to impress everybody.
(2)Edward S.
This place is a staple for the area. As one of the few sit-down options in the area between Hammonds Ferry Road and Nursery Road, this place always seems busy. And if you try to roll in at lunchtime on a weekday, you could be waiting for a bit since everyone in the business parks nearby either go here or to G&M. Honestly, I don't why I keep coming back here besides the fact that there are limited options. That, and the salad, are the only things that really stand out. I've eaten here many times and never had a "great" experience. Typically, I will go with a classic Italian dish or a crabcake platter. The crabcakes are decent, but no different than what you would get at G&M or Snyder's. It doesn't stand out as special and different. The Italian dishes are always par for the course or slightly below. If you are looking for a "hot" plate and "luke-warm" food, this is the place for you. To sum it all up: Salad = good Service = variable, depends on who you get and what time of day Entrees = average, at best Basically, you will keep coming back to the place out of convenience, not because you can't survive without the food.
(2)Daniel H.
Another work-trip stop... The $20 4-course meal came with HUGE portions. Salad and breadsticks, crab dip in a bread bowl, Fruitte de mare (great seafood on penne pasta... Shrimp, mussels, octopus, scallops, crab) and coconut cake. The service was excellent, but the atmosphere was a little blah. By the time I was done eating, I had to be rolled out. Great price, great food.
(4)Nathan C.
This review *is* for the Crab Cakes. I was there recently and got the lunch Crab Cake sandwich, with fries, natch. Getting in was an adventure, though, because I busted my fibula (that's the little leg bone). Upon hobbling in, I was immediately greeted by the hostess, who was also sporting crutches and a giant Darth Vader boot. The wait staff immediately suggested we go on a date (where? dancing?) which probably would result in more broken bones once my wife found out. But I digress. They offer a choice of bread for the cake, and anything but Kaiser is 'un-Maryland'. The free salad & breadsticks arrived quickly and were consumed with dispatch. When the sandwich showed up, it was (as rumored) enormous. And, the people in the kitchen apparently understand the meaning of 'jumbo lump' and the difference between 'filler' and 'binder'. The cake was sizable, chunky, tender, and not overspiced, which let the crabmeat shine forth in all its... um... crabbiness. Only down-note was the Ken's Cocktail Sauce & Ken's Tartar Sauce sealed cups served on the side. Come on. If you've got a great seafood entree, develop your own condiments. Plus tartar sauce tastes like feet. By the end of lunch, I was stuffed. And happy to report that the Olive Grove crab cake is among the tops in Maryland. As to weighing in on the Timbuktu vs. Olive Grove vs. G&M crab cake debate, I think I would need to try them all side by side to really tell. And I'm not sure my gut could take that much crab. I suppose I owe Snyder's a try, too.
(5)Andrew F.
My boss picked this place based on our hotel's recommendation. When I opened the menu, I was shocked at the prices for what was basically and Olive Garden knockoff - most everything with meat or seafood was over $20. I was only in the mood for a salad anyway so I asked the menu whether I should get the Cobb or Mediterranean. Turns out the best answer would have been "neither". This was the worst Cobb salad I have ever had, and quite possibly the worst salad I have ever had in my life. There was very little in it except lots of lettuce, lots of bone-dry overcooked chicken, and oil & vinegar to kill the taste of anything else. A Cobb is supposed to have gorgonzola cheese - I think I spotted some in one bite I took. Bacon? None to be found. It was horrible. My boss thought his meal was bland and not worth the price as well. The service was good, but not particularly distinctive. Overall - and I can't believe I would ever say this in my life - you're probably better off at a real Olive Garden.
(1)Nathaniel A.
We had a great dinning experience at Olive Grove. The meal (crab cakes) was excellent. The service was super. I would recommend it.
(4)S K.
Very disappointed after only hearing great things about the place. The dining experience is actually very nice, and the staff is also very nice. My HUGE hangup is that I ordered a seafood medley plate and they dare give me FAKE crab. How can a fancy restaurant in Maryland serve FAKE crab!!!! This is unacceptable. You can charge more for real crab but NEVER serve FAKE crab. The rest of the seafood was great, shrimp, octopus, squid, mussels, etc. as was the sauce. They also give you a HUGE all you want to eat salad with a great house dressing. The Cream of Crab soup was also very good. FAKE crab?!?!!? how could you let me down like this...
(2)Magnus S.
A little poetry for my review today... The red sauce is yum The white sauce is yuck. The Seattle beer is yum. An Olive Garden knockoff with less than spectacular salad. CHECK IN FOR FREE ALCOHOL! WOOOOOOOOO! (sorry you can't bribe me for stars). SERVICE: 5/10 AMBIANCE: 3/10 FOOD: 4/10 PRICE: 4/10 UNIQUENESS: 1/10 OVERALL SCORE: 34 Service: Graded by the "Keep my cup full principle". Ambiance: Pretty self-explanatory Food: A high food score does not always indicate it is a place for foodies. It is weighted based upon the establishment - thus bar food can receive a high score Price: Price is graded based upon what I believe is fair value for the food you are receiving. A high score does not necessarily indicate the establishment is cheap. Uniqueness: Higher scores indicate desire to return.
(1)Bill O.
I don't understand why this place was busy on a Saturday night because the food is mediocre at best. Waitress told us: "We're like Olive Garden, but better." Not so! Now, I'm not a huge Olive Garden fan, but Olive Grove is really a lousy knock-off. My veal parmigiana was barely edible. The side of pasta was way overcooked and the sauce was disgusting...completely inedible. The homemade breadsticks and homemade salad dressing were both tasteless. My companions did say the crab cakes were pretty good. I tried the unusual deep fried creamed corn bites appetizer...pretty good...but served with a very strange "duck" sauce that you should skip. Bottom line...go elsewhere .
(1)Josh T.
I met my brother and his wife here for dinner as I was in town on business, there is a limited number of Restaurants in the BWI hotel district so we figured we would give Olive Grove a shot. We were hugely disappointed. We were greeted immediately and shown to our table, as we passed the service area halfway through the rest. it began to reek of cat piss. That should have been our first indicator to leave. We were sat at our table and it took about 15 minutes for our waiter to come over and greet us. It had been a while since I had visited with my brother so I wasn't to irked. Our waiter was prompt the rest of the evening and while he was very friendly, he had an extremely thick foreign accent which made it very difficult to understand what he was saying/asking us. On to the food... we started with Mozzarella sticks, pretty basic and fine. Then the salad and bread sticks arrived. Salad was fine, the bread sticks were hard and dense... we joked that they could be used for stickball bats. For my entree, I had the Fruitte De Mare, it lacked any flavor at all and had sort of a weird, slimy consistency to it. I had to salt it heavily to get any flavor in the dish. I was very disappointed. Also, and this is huge to me, I had several shrimp that had not been deveined, so I got shrimp shit as an added bonus. My brother had the Chicken New Orleans (Chicken, shrimp, and noodles with a cajun-inspired sauce). The chicken was overcooked and the sauce was underseasoned. My sister-in-law had the much loved, crab cakes. Horrbile!!! like the rest of the entrees, the crab cakes were bland and flavorless. They also had a strange, "wet" consistency to them as if the mayo had not been adequately cooked in with the crab cake. She/we didn't finish them and probably left a single crab cake to be tossed... that is sacrilege in the great state of MD!
(2)Courtney C.
We had a craving for crab cakes on a random Sunday afternoon and decided to give this place a shot. It was about 3:00 so the parking lot was pretty much empty. When we walked in it smelled like a fish market and not in a good way. We were seated right away and the hostess and waitress were very friendly and efficient. I heard they had good fresh sangria so, we had to try it. Well, I had my first and last sip. Don't order the sangria. Go buy a bottle of Boordy sangria and cut up an orange. Cheaper and tastes better. The salad was just like Olive Garden. We got the dressing on the side. If you actually want to eat the salad dressing, I don't recommend this. It looks like lard and that is their only dressing option. Hubby like the bread stick and his MD crab soup was pretty descent. The crab cakes arrived right after the soup and salad. They looked promising. We each ordered broccoli and string beans on the side. We try to eat healthy even when we eat out. Broccoli was steamed to perfection and sadly the best part of my meal. The soup was the highlight of my husband's dinner. The string beans are drenched in butter so I didn't even bother trying them. They looked mushy and way over cooked. Now, for the crab cakes. Well, it was like you mix big pieces of crab with cream of crab soup, make a ball, sprinkle some break crumbs on top and broil it. I don't think a crab cake should be creamy. It wasn't bad, just wasn't my idea of authentic MD crab cakes. It lacked spice and was mushy in the middle. Yes, there is lots of lump crab meat and the outside of the crab cake was good with that yummy crust. I just don't see myself coming back. I think my husband agrees. I preferred Timbuktu's crab cake (and smell). Next stop-G&M to give theirs a shot.
(2)Amanda K.
Came here after being stuck overnight in Baltimore due to a flight cancellation on December 14. Decided on it due to the good reviews on Yelp and Google. Poor choice. I was already in a bad mood, and a glass of wine in a decent amount of time would have brightened up my mood just fine. Unfortunately, once we were seated, nobody came to us for ten minutes. The restaurant was not very busy and there were at least 5 servers on in addition to a few bartenders. After ten minutes, a server came up to us and asked if we had been helped. We said no. She said she would check the rotation to see who was up next, and it could have been her (this is server speak for I know I have you as a table but I need more time. As a bartender, I am keenly aware of these things). After ten more minutes, my boyfriend and I had already made up our minds and closed our menu when the server came up to us. It was clearly her first night. She took our drink order and we told her we were ready to order. She took out the back of a receipt that had clearly been written on many times (couldn't you just grab a sheet of paper out of the printer?) and wrote our order in the top corner of the paper on the table. We watched our drinks sit on the service bar for another 15 minutes (not exaggerating, I wanted to get up and get them myself). She had walked by the bar a few times and did not grab them, nor did she ask the 4 other servers to run them for her, who were all not busy. When she finally brought us our drinks, she brought the wrong order, but at that point, we didn't care as long as we had drinks. My sauvignon blanc was flat. One minute after we got our drinks, our bread and salad came. The salad dressing was good. Probably the only saving grace of the meal. One minute after the salad our food came. I ordered the linguini and clams. It had olives and red peppers in it which really threw off the taste. Wouldn't suggest it. The server also never brought the water I had asked for until the 3rd time I asked. When the bill came, we still tipped 15% based on the principle. However, I am very confused as to where the good reviews came from. Wouldn't suggest this restaurant.
(1)Jayson H.
Had a really nice meal here recently. The crab cakes are as good if not better than G&M. Service was top notch, and the free salad and breadsticks were excellent. Baked potato was big and had a good flavor, but could have / should have been hotter (might have been leftover from lunch). The parking lot is busy and the spaces are tight. Other than that, awesome experience!
(4)Lyndell W.
This is one of our favorites spots to go for lunch when I'm visiting my Mom. We always get the same thing everytime we go . . . double crabcake platter w/ rice pilaf and green beans or fries. We really enjoy the crabcakes here. They make good use of the lump crabmeat. Very flavorful and filling! The staff was very friendly and we can't wait to go back :)
(3)Kristina M.
I love it here! I have eaten here numerous times with my family. They also have a great banquet room you can rent that I used for a shower and a birthday party. The staff is awesome!
(5)Deborah H.
this restaureant is boring but the food is ok..the salad is worth coming for the soups are excellant..crabcakes are the same as timbuktu and g and m restaurants cant go wrong there!! The restaurant has no sense of style and the tables are ridiculously too close..its seems to me its been labeled a retirement restaraunt...with some business men form the area at lunch..def not a tourst kind of restaurant..great for funerals..I wouldnt have a party here thats for shure..its diner style food and service ..sans the soups and salads crabcake..the rest is very pedestrian mediocore at best..The bar seems like a local waterhole with the restarant being the afterthought
(2)Pete D.
In a nutshell, this place mimics Olive Garden, which is not a bad thing at all. Real simple Italian basics and unlimited salad and delicious breadsticks. Stopped by for a quick lunch and it sure was satisfying. They had about a dozen items to choose from under $10, from just simple pastas, vegetarian dishes, and even seafood items. I had the seafood fettuccine alfredo, recommended by the server, which had scallops, shrimp, and lump crab meat, tossed in a creamy sauce. My dish was $10.95, but worth it to me. The sauce needed a little more taste besides just cream and butter, although I know that's a base alfredo sauce, but overall, still good. The salad had a variety of goods in it besides romaine lettuce, from olives, croutons, red onions, grape tomatoes, cucumbers, and banana peppers. The breadsticks were served warm and taste fresh. If you're looking for quick bite for lunch and in the area, I recommend this place. Even if you're in the area for dinner, their dinner selection was pretty extensive. The restaurant is pretty large and there's a bar are for those interested.
(3)Norman P.
Disappointing. My wife and I ordered a $25 crab cake platter for lunch only to be charged a $5 fee because we split the platter--really!? Plus, we constantly had to ask for refills on iced tea and water, and then we received the wrong tea (unsweetened). Wait staff either forgot about us or didn't care. (G&M did not charge extra to share a crab cake platter, and the same folks own both places). Poor service and a tired interior make this a second-rate eatery, and not inexpensive.
(2)Patrick H.
I love the Olive Grove, but I can't in good conscience give it a full 5 Stars. Yes the crab cakes are great, as are the homemade breadsticks and endless salad bowl and heaping mounds of pasta but it's just not the full FIVE. The Olive Grove is sort of a "Time Warp" experience. As you pass through their doors, you will instantly be transported to the 1980's. That's not necessarily a bad thing. Where else can you find a twin crab cake dinner for $23 that includes, salad, vegetable, pasta and breadsticks? I wouldn't say these are the finest crabcakes I've ever tasted, but they're up there. The Italian-American dishes all rank well, too (Chicken Parm, Veal Piccatta and the like) If carrot cake is on the dessert tray, it's worth it. Tall, moist and not too sweet.
(4)Garth O.
We've been here several times and it is always good. While I can't claim to be a gourmet or food taster, the food is tasty (especially the salads!) and the waiters and waitresses are accommodating and friendly. It's not too pricey, and they have a decent selection of wines and beers. To sum up, I would recommend to eat here at least once! If you have a party of two you may be seated immediately even when there is a wait for larger parties... I think this is because they have a number of two-person booths/tables. If it's Lent, you can even find a good shrimp or crab dish with no cheese or butter if you want to go out to eat with some friends who are not fasting.
(4)Jim S.
We wanted to get into G&M but it was just to croweded so we settled on this dump. We were seated in this dark gloomy room that had sticky seats. The waiter brought out this really good salad and ok bread so things were on the up, until I got my main meal which was Chicken and Capers the chicken was so hard I couldn't even cut it!
(1)Matthew L.
Another restaurant with great crab cakes. I believe it's owned by the same people that own G & M and Timbuktu's. The Italian food is so so, but you can get the great crab cake without the wait. That alone gives it the 4th star.
(4)Judy G.
I love all styles of traditional Maryland Style Crab Cakes.... Unless they come from a national chain style restaurant where they try too hard to make 'em either esoteric or exotic, which then maybe they are just Crab Cakes as opposed to Maryland Style. I live in the desert, I don't great crab cakes often....Here, I was seduced by the sheer size and abundance of the Olive Grove offering as I passed by other diners tables.We were ushered all the way to the back of the huge room packed with other diners, therefore the atmosphere was a little cafeteria-ish for lack of a better description but I didn't come here for ambiance.... I ordered the 2 crab cake entree, they were huge and delicious. Happy, happy... Leftovers for lunch the next day. Perfect! Our party was very large and the service was splendid.
(4)Julie H.
They use frozen veggies that taste liked they've been frozen and runny spaghetti. It was gross. Don't order anything with vegetables. Just get the crabcakes.
(1)Danny Q.
Good place, I had the crab platter and was not disappointed. Last year I decided to see what all this crab cake business was all about. After visiting this and G&M's I would call them both about even with eachother. I want to say that G&M's was slightly better but it could be a heavy case of nostalgia. The service was nothing short of phenomenal. I get the feeling that if I asked the waiter to chew my food for me he would have done it. They were very attentive and helpful without being too annoying. One annoying thing was that the booth I was in had a weird tilt to it and it made my back hurt. Of course that has nothing to do with the food or the service. Check them out if you're in town.
(4)Reality B.
Overall good food n friendly service.
(4)Biff Y.
First of all, I really enjoyed the crab cakes here. And I think they're a tiny step away from being a whole lot better. I'm not exactly a crab cake aficionado, but they clearly used nice chunks (not the big lump chunks) and it had a nice sweet flavor. These guys really know what they're doing. If I was rating just the crab cake, I easily give it 4 stars. So the disappointment - considering the how well they make the crab cakes, it seems like they can take the simple step of making their own sauces. Even I make my own tartare sauce and cocktail sauce, and when you make it fresh (especially the tartare sauce), it makes a huge difference. Scraping sauces from those single serving sauce containers was terribly disappointing. They seemed to make their own sauce for the coconut shrimp - this makes it even more of a wonder. The rest of the food was okay, not great. The sauce on the pasta was somewhat ordinary. The coconut shrimp was marginal, and I think that Outback does a better job of it. It was, however, nice to get the salad right off the bat. The service was average, but then again, it's not unusual for me to get marginal service when I eat alone. Next time, I'm going to make my own tartare sauce and have the food to go.
(3)John J.
We go to Olive Grove regularly and it is a good restaurant. The staff is always friendly and we have found the food to be excellent. I can't think of a bad meal I've had there. The decor is older but that is ok. You may see a lot of negative reviews, but the place is always packed, also, so it can't be THAT bad lol. The crab cakes are the best in Baltimore, IMHO, and are huge. The unlimited salad and bread sticks are great. We often get a crab cake dinner and split it because the portions are so big. There is a $5.00 charge for sharing a meal, but remember that two are eating the unlimited salad and bread, so that is a fair charge. You also get frequent diner points and we have received a couple of free meals so far and have enough points for another free meal (for both of us) but are waiting until we bring guests with us. I didn't give it a 5 since it isn't super elegant or anything, though it is nice and spacious. I don't think you will be dissapointed.
(4)Erica N.
My husband came out to Maryland on business and I tagged along. His boss and co-worker took us here specifically for the crab cakes. Sigh....this was quite possibly one of the best meals I've ever had. That crab cake is indescribable and I will crave it everyday until I get to come back here and have it again. HUGE lump crab meat is incorporated into this fluffy breading mixture....its seasoned and cooked perfectly. If I weren't wearing jeans and a belt that evening, I probably would've tried to eat 6 of them to get my fill. Alas, I was only able to eat one whole crab cake because they are rather big. So so good! I'll be dreaming of those crab cakes for a long time!!
(5)Jennifer G.
This place is pretty bad. Canned spinach, mushrooms and chewy chicken. I have not been back. One time was more than enough!
(1)Casey C.
We started off with the stuffed mushrooms for appetizers and the calamari plate. I could have eaten them all day. Then we went to the crabcakes. They weren't the best I've had but still real good. I would definitely recommend trying this place out.
(4)Clint U.
Balitmore's and possibly the country's three greatest crabcake places are within a half mile circle of each other.....G & M , Olive Grove, and Snyder's.... Olive Grove is 5 stars for the crabcake. Their crabcake has the most filling of the 3 places I mentioned, but the seasonings are great. It just depends on what your expectations are....G & M has nearly no filler and seasonings....just crabcake....Olive Grove and Snyder's have more filler and seasonings. All three places are great. The rest of the food on the menu is very good. Its a nice place to go for a date or business meeting. You will feel comfortable in both casual (jeans) and a business suit here. ... umm I didn't mean both at the same time.... Olive Grove caters and serve a crabcake and filet steak dinner with veggies and twice cooked potatoes with dessert for $19.....needless to say, we have ordered alot of these for catered events... If you are traveling and staying near the BWI airport area...you will gain weight if you hover in this neighborhood...... 8/22/07 I owe it to everyone to up date my crab cake ratings in Baltimore.......I recently had a chance to eat crabcakes from G&M and Olive Grove (half mile apart) on consecutive days this week....and what I discovered even shocked me. Crab season is bascially gone, and crab prices are horrifically high if you can find them. So each company has to respond to this differently to keep their prices stable. G & M I discovered has started to add more bread filler in their crab cakes. My guess is about 20%? This is the most I have ever seen from this place. But it's still tasty and good...but just has more breading now and you notice you are eating filling...but is still less than most restaurants. The pros are two factors. The lump meat is huge....some lumps are half inch or more in size....so the still use the primo lump crab meat. The next big factor is price. Sandwich with large crab cake is $12. That's less than some burgers I've seen in Wash DC. Olive Grove crab cakes have more of a creamy, less bread type of filling. It was very tasty, and you had less of a sense you were eating filling. In this week's sampling, I like Olive Grove the best. They use real crab but not the huge lumpmeat like G&M...more like 1/8 inch sized. For a Tuesday special I had all you can eat salad, 6 oz beef filet, crab cake and two sides for $19. Normally its about $25. Jerry's Seafood in Lanham...(you will pass it on your ice cream trip).....has a great reputation. I havent tried it yet and will try it as soon as my cholesterol levels go down from this week. The noticeable difference is that Jerry has more of the Wash DC pricing. $33 for crab cakes. Unless you are at the inner harbor, a $33 crab cake place will be soon out of business in the blue collar Baltimore area.
(4)Jessica L.
Outstanding! The food was great! When they use crab they use LARGE CHUNCKS! Crab cakes were wonderful!!!
(4)Mary P.
Olive Grove is our go-to restaurant. We love the crab cakes, salad and the bread sticks. The yummy salad dressing is for sale. The menu has a decent variety for those non- crab eaters in your party. The front room is nicer than the back which feels too open. The wait staff is friendly and efficient. I'm sorry other folks are not happy in these reviews. Every time we go, the tables are full, so many folks are very pleased with Olive Grove. I think you will be also.
(5)Taylor G.
I stayed in Linthicum Heights before flying out of BWI the next morning... this little place for dinner was fantastic! You say you've had a great crabcake? Even a "Maryland crabcake" you say?? NO YOU HAVEN'T!! Unless you've eaten here. I grew up eating great crabcakes, and in my 25 years on this beautiful planet I have never had a crabcake as tasty as the one I ordered at the Olive Grove. At first I was thinking... Olive GROVE... Like a take off of the ever-so-popular chain restaurant Olive GARDEN??? Give me a break! But soon I stood corrected as this place may have changed my life forever. Nothing about the place said chain restaurant. The staff are all friendly and *gasp* mature unlike service at the aforementioned chain. The menu is much better and more authentic than the ghastly chain as well. But what takes this place off the charts is the crabcake. You can order one or two as a meal, but if you order two you better plan on taking at least one home, unless you yourself are a small army... or a lumberjack. That being said, besides the size of the thing, the taste is out of this world. It is seasoned with just the right amount of Old Bay (as it should be!). The best part though is the giant pieces of crab you will find tucked inside of this wondrous treasure. I've never seen a lump crab cake have lumps this big (my lumps my lumps my lovely lady lumps...) You will drool over this tempting and delicious meal. Oh yeah, and the prices are incredibly reasonable... how's it get any better? (OK fine, I took one star off because I didn't care for the salad... so sue me... my mom loved it)
(4)Lee P.
When in Baltimore, I stop here. The veal is good, the combo platters are really good b/c they afford you the opportunity to sample different flavors. Good wine list, their chianti selections are nice. Portions are huge. The minestrone soup is delicious, as is the garden salad. As far as crab cakes, I never tried them at Olive Grove. Would be hard to beat the place one block away and across the street. (follow the crowds). All in all, Olive Grove is a nice place to enjoy a large italian meal.
(4)Dad F.
Went there with my son because I had heard about the crab-cakes. We ordered 2 double crabcakes and broiled salmon. The salmon was mostly bland and overcooked except for one corner which was almost raw and smelled! The crabcakes were huge, but not a single lump in them. Lots of shredded crab, or what I assume was crab and too seasoned to actually taste crab meat! The salad was good but the sides were HORRIBLE. The bartender was friendly but at times was not around. The lady next to me was there for here first crabcake and she commented that she probably would not get crabcakes again. I told her that there are places close by that have terrific crabcakes and these were not representative of a good crabcake. On a value scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the best. I give them a 2.
(1)Dallas T.
This would have been a 1-star review but for the great service. The food was just not good at all. Find an Olive Garden after eating here, and you'll feel like you've traveled to Tuscany. Sorry, but the food is just not up to snuff.
(2)Eric S.
I went here for the first time this past Saturday. We had a reservation and arrived early (we live far away and had no idea what traffic would be like). We were seated right away- as it was just past 5pm this was almost expected. This was my first time here- however I had been to G&M down the street for a work lunch. The decor of this place is horrible. It is way out dated and grungy old school cliche Italian restaurant. The service was almost perfect- great and friendly wait staff. Make no mistake- this is not a high end restaurant. I live in Northern VA and this could be equal to one of the thousands of Mediterranean places we have here- paper menu take out style. However the bill was equal to a more upscale place that we would go here locally. The food was just OK. - Crab cakes- very good- very large- full of crab and not much filler. - Salad is good - Bread sticks were good - Children ravioli was obviously frozen and gross- our 3 year old ate mostly bread (but he normally does anyway so whatever) Although I enjoyed the service and the crab cakes the side dishes were not good and the dessert tasted frozen as well. I live 63 miles away from this place and would not go again unless I happened to be in the area and craving a crab cake. * I happen to love Remoulade sauce- this place had no idea what it was and could not serve it (since they did not offer it I expected no special treatment)- G&M I had the same issue- what is up with MD places not understanding that even with the best crab cake in the world a little sauce makes it that much better! FYI- if you work at Olive grove you can read what it is and get a recipe here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Re… foodnetwork.com/recipes/…
(3)Kellie S.
I have been here a few times and each visit I try to get something different. The place is not fancy, yet not trashy and the people in there are usually a bit on the older side (so I have noticed). It is a big restaurant with lots of seating so every time I have gone there has not been a wait ( I usually go on weekday evenings). The service is always friendly and efficient. Last time I indulged myself with a 22 oz sangria (i did not realize at the time of ordering how huge it was), it was good a little more tart than i would have liked but for 22 oz for $8.95 I could not complain. I was definitely tipsy by the end of my meal. I have had a couple bites (I have never ordered them myself) of the wonderful crab cakes that I see everyone is talking about, they are quite tasty and they are huge! I am always in the mood for pasta when I go to these Italian restaurants, so I have tried the clam linguine in the white wine sauce which is good but a little plain. Just this past visit I could not make up my mind (perhaps the sangria was already working its magic). I finally did eeny meeny miny moe and decided upon the shrimp Julienne. It was a hefty portion of large butterflied shrimp (at least 10) with carrots, mushrooms, and asparagus over linguine in a white garlic sauce. I thought it was great, I would have liked a bit more seasoning to it, but the shrimp was a great size and the vegetables were fresh and cooked just right. I always have to have a take home box, for the portions are big enough for two meals. The prices are decent for what you get, plus you get free endless salad bowl with bread sticks. I will continue to give them service and if your around you should too!
(4)