Olive

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743 Larkin St (at Ofarrell Street)
San Francisco, CA 94109

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(415) 776-9814
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Olive - San Francisco, CA
Olive - San Francisco, CA
Olive - San Francisco, CA
Olive - San Francisco, CA
Olive - San Francisco, CA
Olive - San Francisco, CA
Reviews
( 20 )
( 15 )
( 4 )
( 4 )
( 1 )

Best

I simply love Olive. Living in the neighborhood, I am there a lot. The staff is so friendly and the service immeasurable. It's the ONLY place in the Loin to go if you want grea...

Worst

Olive has some right tasty eats and good drinks, but it can be rather difficult getting a server to get you these. The server was nice enough, but not very attentive. The place is...

Martinis and Mo! 2/13/2004

Olives is a great spot to grab a quick bite and a drink before catching a movie or show in the area. The small plates are all quite good, I've tried the chicken pate with fig jam, mini-calzones, sausage pizza, fries with red pepper aioli and calamari. They are all under $10 and pretty large. The decor is very colorful with nice art pieces and the music is good. Service is relaxed and the whole place has a good neighborly feel to it with a mixed crowd of locals. Overall a very nice spot in a not so nice location! Pros: Cheap eats, Relaxed Feel, Cute Decor Cons: Location near TLoin more
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keep coming back to "Olive" 11/24/2003

this place just amazes me!! I was here a couple months back, when i thought it couldn't get any better - but to my dismay - it has!! There are new menu items and cocktails (BlueBerry Babe) that are just fabulous. The staff are super friendly. It boasts a lively, hip, cool crowd. Highly, highly recommend "Olive". Pros: food & drinks, service, friendly staff more
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anything less than 10 is a joke 10/8/2003

Me and my boyfriend went here and couldn't wait to come back! We ate enough for a group of people and even though we were stuffed, the food was so good we ordered more. The service was just as good as the food . . . amazing experience" Pros: food , cocktails, service more
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Excellent place... a gem! 9/25/2003

I went to Olive for the first time few nights ago with a large group of people. Although it's not in a great neighborhood, it's definately worth making the trip. The servers are extra-friendly, the food is delicious (don't miss the mushroom pizza) and the drinks are excellent. I highly recommend it for big groups and parties. Pros: Atmosphere, Service, Food Cons: Neighborhood more
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yummy yummy yummy... 9/19/2003

If you have not tried the spicy prawns, you are missing out! Not to mention their pizza's (which are a great deal during happy hour) and their calamari...yummy! We had a party of 8 for a birthday and they took great care of us! Pros: Food, Drinks, Service Cons: no parking more
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Amazing food, cocktails and people 9/8/2003

I was on my way to see a band at the great american music hall and stumbled across "Olive". What an amazing spot! The food is absolutely delicious and the cocktails are simply great. There's lots of variety on the menu of both food and cocktails to delight your palette. Music is good too and the wait staff a delight. If you have not been there - try it! You will be pleased. Pros: great food, very friendly, decoration more
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Good food / slow service 8/26/2003

Olive has some right tasty eats and good drinks, but it can be rather difficult getting a server to get you these. The server was nice enough, but not very attentive. The place is well setup and the art work is excellent. Pros: Food, Art Cons: Location, Service Speed more
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Well kept secret, but shouldn't be! 8/21/2003

Yes, it's in a bad neighborhood. Yes, sometimes it's loud and crowded. BUT - the rotating artwork is cool, the drinks are strong, tasty and pretty, and the bartenders are attitude-free, friendly and fun! The mushroom truffle oil pizza rivals ANY 5 star pizza appetizer in town! Pros: food, inexpensive, friendly Cons: neighborhood more
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Super Find 7/21/2003

Great place to meet up before going to Great American Music Hall or even before a flick at AMC Theatres. I've been to Olive on a number of occassions and the staff have always been very friendly, food is great and cocktails - Yummy! Check out Happy Hour - cheap pizzas and cocktails. Be sure to try the mushroom pizza - it's to die for. Pros: Great Music, friendly staff, hip ambiance Cons: parking more
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Rating -- one olive. 6/22/2003

Good concept, trendy neighborhood (if you care to go into crime-ridden rundown neighborhoods for your edgy nighttime drinking), weak execution, bad snack food. Pros: fun, reasonable prices Cons: kind of dumpy, food not good more
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UPSET 6/12/2003

I amquite upset. We went during happy hour, but none of our items were charged at happy hour prices. The bill was partially corrected when we complained, meaning we had to complain again. This has happened to one other person I know. Obviously Olive is attempting to rip off its customers. Cons: Dishonest more
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waiting 4/15/2003

We spent the majority of our time waiting while at this bar last saturday night. We got there around 11 and although the servers were very nice and entertaining, you literally had to wave your hands in the air to get attention. There werent too many people there, we came in and had chairs available at a table as well as at the bar...so business isnt the excuse. The waiter and the bartender were busy chatting it up....ignoring us. The drinks were great, the food was great. It was purely the service that made us decide to leave. I agree with others that the location is a bit sketchy, we saw multiple cross-dressers or similar prostitutes on the streets...we recommend taking a taxi! more
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Hidden Jewel 2/13/2003

Stopped in for the first time with some work friends last week. Very good waitress service, excellent drinks. We had a selection of appetizers and small pizzas, all quite good! Pros: Delicious appetizers, Excellent drinks, Reasonable prices Cons: location not the best more
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Martina's Yummy Martini's 12/19/2002

Olive is one of the best late night stops for a bite to eat and some excellent Martini's. Martina (the owner) makes a fabulous chocolate martini. The food is great - varied and very tasty, the staff are super cool and friendly, the service is excellent. I have recommended, and will continue to recommend, this restaurant to my friends and colleagues. As for the person who wrote the previous review, not only are you inaccurate about what you wrote but it's inconceivable to me how you could find these people rude - why do you keep returning if you find it so distasteful? Pros: Martina's Martini's, great food/drinks, cool ambiance Cons: sketchy hood, parking more
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Mojitos Mojitos Mojitos 12/7/2002

Best Mojitos in the City - If you can handle the location - this is the most unpretentious trendy bar in the city. Hard to beleive for San Francisco, but either way, the Mojitos are worth it.... Pros: Mojitos, Mojitos, Mojitos Cons: Location, Location, Location more
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great drinks, horrible bartender 11/21/2002

I loved all the different martinis, each one was wonderful, however they were served with a scowl. It seemed to me that the bartender wished he were elsewhere. more
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Great atmosphere & people 10/24/2002

The most beautiful gems are always hidden among the deepest darkest areas. No exception here, in the middle of the tenderloin, this place is radiant. Very plesant atmosphere and the people there are really fun. Their martinis are delicious and their appetizers (Ahi tuna) to die for. The smile of the Irish bartender lady just is the cherry on top of this unique composition. Go there just when they open and relax after work! Pros: Atmosphere, People, Food&Drinks Cons: PArking, Seating, Size more
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Great food, bad neighborhood... 9/14/2002

On a Friday night, it was busy but wasn't crowded. We were able to get a comfortable corner booth. The I was surprised to find a cool space like this in the neighborhood. The menu offered an interesting variety of items. Definitely something for everyone. Everything I ordered was delicious and prepared well. Garlic prawns were served sizzling in olive oil and disappeared instantly. Foie gras terrine was hearty and served with a great nutty bread. And the smoked chicken pizza had the wonderful thin, crispy crust that I love. Service was limited, more of a bar-level of service than restaurant, but was polite and efficient. Overall, if you are in the neighborhood, this is definitely a cool spot for a casual bite to eat and a drink before hitting a show at GAMH. Pros: Delicious food, Cool interior, Reasonably priced Cons: Limited service, Sketchy neighborhood more
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The Olive in the Loin 9/13/2002

Olive Bar is a jewel hidden in the lion's den. I am an olive lover, not a snob so when I get to eat olive, drink olive martinis and enjoy all this with a couple of my great pals, new and old it is definitely a treat! Happy hour is such a steal because not only do you get to sample great pizzas(mushroom and smoked salmon are my favs.) you get it at a pretty nice price! Chiat and D, you are the best, see you two at the loin soon! Also, OSB across the street is a sweet place to continue your drinking afterwards! Until next time... Pros: chocolate martinis, watermelon martinis, overall package more
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Terrible Service 9/12/2002

I have been to Olive several times and every time I have gone the service has absolutely been the rudest I have ever experienced in San Francisco. The waitresses and bartenders seem to be too cool to be providing adequate service. The food, drinks, and atmosphere are really great. And it is a wonderful addition to the Tenderloin but the staff really needs to work on their attitudes. more
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Menu for Olive


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Editorial

  • The Scene
    From the outside, this hideaway looks like a wood cabin. Inside, there are no windows, but considering the less-than-scenic surroundings, it's a good thing. The overall vibe is fun, artsy lounge. Sultry music pours out of seakers, while candles and dim lamps illuminate the small, high-ceilinged space. Paintings of mostly olives dot the walls--including a simple, Warholian-like print over the bar.

    The Draw
    Drinks are expertly prepared, like the chocolate martini, which is served with tasty shavings lining the rim. Rotating vodka infusions, like wheat grass-kiwi or mango-plum, are served with a wedge of fruit (which alone packs enough punch to get a lightweight loaded). Light fare includes tuna with wonton chips and a wild mushroom and truffle oil pizza.

  • 11/29/2006 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Mon-Fri 5pm-2am Sat-Sun 6pm-2am
  • Payments: Master Card, American Express, Visa
  • Neighborhoods: Civic Center, Northeast
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