Fig & Olive - Uptown

(212) 207-4555

808 Lexington Ave
New York, NY 10021 40.7644 -73.9669

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Neighborhoods: Upper East Side, Midtown, Lenox Hill

Price:

$$$

Last updated 11.16.09

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Brunch, Lunch Spot, Date Spot, Dine At The Bar, Notable Wine List

Cuisine:

Mediterranean

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Fig & Olive - Uptown

Featured Review

Karen Hudes

Contributor

The Scene – A few steps below the sidewalk, this Mediterranean-influenced spot has a contemporary look, spiced by amber lighting, copper fixtures and a long orange banquette--and cooled by a white marble bar. Young groups and older couples fill up the room for dinner and small bites. – – The Food – Olive oil first appears in a trio of buttery Spanish, lighter French and green Italian varieties for dipping, showcasing severa, of the types used in each dish. Smaller dishes, such as the crostini--which meld the richness of prosciutto, ricotta and walnut tapenade and the…

Editor's Tips

What to Drink:
The bar serves more than 35 wines, including 24 by the glass, most of them Italian and Spanish--such as a fruity yet dry rueda sauvignon blanc and full-bodied sardinian cannonau. Plates of vibrant olives, cheeses and meats act as perfect company.
The Extras:
A retail area up front stocks bottles of top-tier Mediterranean olive oils, some exclusive to the restaurant.
ambiance
81.94000244140625% positive
  1. “This definitely an amazing place to go if you like to enjoy good mediterranean food in a very trendy but cozy place!”
  2. “We were 6 people and after a 10 minutes wait, they let us seat in a very uncomfortable location.”
  3. “The fig and olive salad was super delicious with goat cheese, walnuts, apples, tomatoes and a bunch of other fun stuff.”
  4. “We found the menu fun with tasting style cheese plates, meat plates, and our favorite the crostinis which were small toasted breads topped with tasty morsels (our favorite was the Prosciutto, Ricotta and Fig).”
  5. “Just like Italy: delic food, bad service, great ambience”
  6. “The menu and ambiance promised an enticing experience, but the food delivers a major disappointment.”
  7. “The ambiance is nice, the food is decent, but not great.”
  8. “The restaurant has great energy, filled with people, warm & cozy and nicely decorated.”
  9. “nice atmosphere, ok food”
  10. “The ambiance is nice, and the service was good.”
  11. “The downtown location is excellent - and the staff is pleasant.”
  12. “The place is average, kinda small and lacks ambiance however, the service was great and the food was pretty good but pricey.”
dessert
66.66999816894531% positive
  1. “For desert we had a chocolate souffle which was excellent.”
  2. “The dessert of white chocolate mascapone was the most disgusting dessert I have ever tasted.”
  3. “have to say, the appetizer and dessert were FANTASTIC.”
drinks
77.77999877929688% positive
  1. “The food, service and wine is NOT worth putting up with that kind of horrible service.”
  2. “went after work with friends and had a few of the new crostini (salmon, ricotta & citrus and the Manchego cheese, fig and almonds) with a few cocktails (lots of amazing martinis, signature cocktails and amazing wine list).”
  3. “Right after we finished the main course (the organic chicken was dry), but before we finish drinking the wine the check was placed on the table, and the waitress came back and picked it up three times.”
  4. “The waitress reccommended a great Spainish wine to compliment my dinner, which was a crab pasta.”
  5. “The wait staff was very knowledgeble of the menu and recommended a great wine that complimented my meal perfectly.”
  6. “We ordered a bottle of wine from the list, a Pinot Noir which was great.”
  7. “sat at a table right near the bar, the chair was so big that everytime someone walked by they kicked my chair(accidentally), so that got annoying.”
  8. “The manager was very friendly and make me taste a couple of different wines without charging me.”
  9. “The wine list is awesome it has like 20 wines by the glass and we were allowed to try them before we ordered.”
food quality
79.36999797821045% positive
  1. “The menu is fully of tasty options.”
  2. “Even in the neighborhood we were in, the food was a great value.”
  3. “The waitress reccommended a great Spainish wine to compliment my dinner, which was a crab pasta.”
  4. “We found the menu fun with tasting style cheese plates, meat plates, and our favorite the crostinis which were small toasted breads topped with tasty morsels (our favorite was the Prosciutto, Ricotta and Fig).”
  5. “Delicious food, great value”
  6. “was there 2 days ago service horrible i order the salmon benedict in a fougasse the plate come and off course the eggs are hard boiled so call the manager they replace my plate but surprise!”
  7. “The food is good here, in particular the fish, the vegetables, and all the crostinis -- and the olive oils are fantastic.”
  8. “We definitely will go back, this people are amazing, the food good and healthy.”
  9. “went after work with friends and had a few of the new crostini (salmon, ricotta & citrus and the Manchego cheese, fig and almonds) with a few cocktails (lots of amazing martinis, signature cocktails and amazing wine list).”
  10. “It was the worst food I have ever eaten & the nastiest service I have ever encountered in a restaurant.”
  11. “they are well done again they replace them and they come almost boilled the bread was hard and good look finding the hollandaise so i just eat them the crazy think the owner i guess is eating next to me and do not care at all i was not happy last time to ”
  12. “Never in my life have I ever eaten food so cold & bland!”
  13. “had the organic chicken, which was a bit dry.”
  14. “The crostini is incredible, the carpaccio is, too; the lamb main dish is excellent.”
  15. “Don't come here if you want to wait forever for small portions of GROSS, BLAND & COLD food that isn't worth a cent of it's expensive price, bad service & leering, rude, ignorant, crass, retarded waiters!”
  16. “The crostini;s were good and the Fig & olive salad my wife had was tasty.”
  17. “Three samosa arrived with a tasty yogurt cilantro dipping sauce.”
  18. “The ambiance is nice, the food is decent, but not great.”
  19. “Just like Italy: delic food, bad service, great ambience”
  20. “The bread is freshly made daily and the combination of olive oils they bring you for the tasting is incredibly tasty and a delight to your palate.”
  21. “The wait staff was very knowledgeble of the menu and recommended a great wine that complimented my meal perfectly.”
  22. “Good food, rude manager”
  23. “The food, service and wine is NOT worth putting up with that kind of horrible service.”
  24. “The fig and olive salad was super delicious with goat cheese, walnuts, apples, tomatoes and a bunch of other fun stuff.”
  25. “nice atmosphere, ok food”
  26. “The pasta was so delicious that the patrons next to me ordered the same thing, The ingrediants are high quality.”
  27. “Awesome food with attentive service.”
  28. “am a big fan of the food in Fig and Olive.”
  29. “Extremely Bland food and HORRIBLE service!”
  30. “The place is average, kinda small and lacks ambiance however, the service was great and the food was pretty good but pricey.”
  31. “The menu offers a good variety of dishes each of them cooked with a different type of olive oil taking you to different countries of the mediterranean coast each time!”
  32. “This restaurant is so good, the food is great, the service is impeccable.”
  33. “We asked him a question about a dish & his rude response was simply, "I have no idea.”
  34. “The food was delicious.”
  35. “The food is sensational, good prices, good quality.”
  36. “Right after we finished the main course (the organic chicken was dry), but before we finish drinking the wine the check was placed on the table, and the waitress came back and picked it up three times.”
  37. “Great food.”
  38. “This definitely an amazing place to go if you like to enjoy good mediterranean food in a very trendy but cozy place!”
  39. “All in all Fig & Olive is a great restaurant and i would recommend it to anyone looking for a nice meal.”
  40. “The food was great, however, I am not sure the price is worth the meal there.”
  41. “The food is delicious, healthy and simple.”
  42. “The menu and ambiance promised an enticing experience, but the food delivers a major disappointment.”
menu variety
83.33000183105469% positive
  1. “We found the menu fun with tasting style cheese plates, meat plates, and our favorite the crostinis which were small toasted breads topped with tasty morsels (our favorite was the Prosciutto, Ricotta and Fig).”
  2. “Starting with the vegtables (4 for $16) - the artichoke lacks the infusion of basil and thyme indicated on the menu, moreover, the paring with parmesan cheese was not only not an interesting pairing, but rather a distraction.”
  3. “The wait staff was very knowledgeble of the menu and recommended a great wine that complimented my meal perfectly.”
  4. “The menu and ambiance promised an enticing experience, but the food delivers a major disappointment.”
  5. “The menu offers a good variety of dishes each of them cooked with a different type of olive oil taking you to different countries of the mediterranean coast each time!”
  6. “The menu is fully of tasty options.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “It is now one of my favorite restaurant in the city and recommand it to everybody.”
  2. “This definitely an amazing place to go if you like to enjoy good mediterranean food in a very trendy but cozy place!”
  3. “All in all Fig & Olive is a great restaurant and i would recommend it to anyone looking for a nice meal.”
  4. “Its a nice place for lunch or dinner.”
return potential
50.0% positive
  1. “will definitively have to go back for a full dinner to try their entrees.”
  2. “We definitely will go back, this people are amazing, the food good and healthy.”
service
54.32000160217285% positive
  1. “Awesome food with attentive service.”
  2. “The place is average, kinda small and lacks ambiance however, the service was great and the food was pretty good but pricey.”
  3. “We asked him a question about a dish & his rude response was simply, "I have no idea.”
  4. “The food, service and wine is NOT worth putting up with that kind of horrible service.”
  5. “The rude manager came over and started to tell us that.”
  6. “The manager was very friendly and make me taste a couple of different wines without charging me.”
  7. “We definitely will go back, this people are amazing, the food good and healthy.”
  8. “was there 2 days ago service horrible i order the salmon benedict in a fougasse the plate come and off course the eggs are hard boiled so call the manager they replace my plate but surprise!”
  9. “The service is friendly and very careful.”
  10. “When you walk in there is a friendly hostess to greet you and bring you to a table, behind her is a wall of olive oils that they sell.”
  11. “Don't come here if you want to wait forever for small portions of GROSS, BLAND & COLD food that isn't worth a cent of it's expensive price, bad service & leering, rude, ignorant, crass, retarded waiters!”
  12. “The waiter was extremely rude, my friends could not believe it was happening to us.”
  13. “The waitress reccommended a great Spainish wine to compliment my dinner, which was a crab pasta.”
  14. “The wait staff was very knowledgeble of the menu and recommended a great wine that complimented my meal perfectly.”
  15. “The downtown location is excellent - and the staff is pleasant.”
  16. “Sometimes in Los Angeles we have those snooty waiters that think they are better that the patrons & that they are the next Tom Cruise, its so sad.”
  17. “The restaurant has great energy, filled with people, warm & cozy and nicely decorated.”
  18. “have one thing to say to this obnoxious and rude manager.”
  19. “Good food, rude manager”
  20. “This restaurant is so good, the food is great, the service is impeccable.”
  21. “The ambiance is nice, and the service was good.”
  22. “It was the worst food I have ever eaten & the nastiest service I have ever encountered in a restaurant.”
  23. “the service was just good though.”
  24. “We were 6 people and after a 10 minutes wait, they let us seat in a very uncomfortable location.”
  25. “Right after we finished the main course (the organic chicken was dry), but before we finish drinking the wine the check was placed on the table, and the waitress came back and picked it up three times.”
  26. “Extremely Bland food and HORRIBLE service!”
  27. “Just like Italy: delic food, bad service, great ambience”
value
70.83000183105469% positive
  1. “The food is sensational, good prices, good quality.”
  2. “loved it so much I brought my fiancee back for dinner the same week (try the caramelized cod, one of the huge salads or the grilled Branzino- only $19!”
  3. “The place is average, kinda small and lacks ambiance however, the service was great and the food was pretty good but pricey.”
  4. “Delicious food, great value”
  5. “Don't come here if you want to wait forever for small portions of GROSS, BLAND & COLD food that isn't worth a cent of it's expensive price, bad service & leering, rude, ignorant, crass, retarded waiters!”
  6. “The food, service and wine is NOT worth putting up with that kind of horrible service.”
  7. “The food was great, however, I am not sure the price is worth the meal there.”
  8. “Even in the neighborhood we were in, the food was a great value.”
wait time
0.0% positive
  1. “We were 6 people and after a 10 minutes wait, they let us seat in a very uncomfortable location.”
3 Star Rating: Average

05/21/10

Cute place

by prlgirl , Citysearch Contributor at Citysearch

Close enough to Bloomies and the trains, this makes for a nice catch up spot with girlfriends. When you walk in, other than the high top tables, the bar is a bit small and the hostess is awkwardly in the middle of the bar, but they are very pleasant and accomodating here. Met my friend and they started us off with 3 samplings of olive oil which were very tasty. We then split a bunch of things. The 3 crostini were good, our favorite being the prosciutto with ricotta which was decadent. The samosas were really good but my friend found an odd bone in hers. The fig and olive salad was super delicious with goat cheese, walnuts, apples, tomatoes and a bunch of other fun stuff. We finished up with the pot de creme which was great. I usually like the communal tables here but am always a fan of their dining room seating as well. Its a nice place for lunch or dinner.

  • Pros: Olive oils, good food
  • Cons: Small bar
4 Star Rating: Recommended

02/19/09

Yummy during Restuarant Week

by onesushi2go at Citysearch

I had the mushroom/truffle soup, fish, and the tiramisu and chocolate flan for dessert. I have to say, the appetizer and dessert were FANTASTIC. The main course..not so much. The ambiance is nice, and the service was good. Overall, I would go back here. Not to mention their bread with olive oil was delicious. They have imported Olive Oils from Italy, Spain and France...all very delicious.

  • Pros: appetizers, dessert and olive oil, ambiance
  • Cons: main dishes
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

02/18/09

Amazing Experience!!

by Cooking101 at Citysearch

There is something very special about this place! To be honest with you I am a fan of Fig and Olive and to tell you the truth this one is my favorite of all three locations. This definitely an amazing place to go if you like to enjoy good mediterranean food in a very trendy but cozy place!

The menu offers a good variety of dishes each of them cooked with a different type of olive oil taking you to different countries of the mediterranean coast each time!! I would also recommend you to ask the waiters about the types of olive oils (which are very knowledgable by the way), it gives a good kick to your dining experience. Oh! Almost forgot! They also sell these olive oils in retail at the entrance!

Highly recommended!!

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

02/17/09

Yum and fun!!

by ukinnj at Citysearch

Found Fig & Olive by pure luck (it is a step below street level) after shopping at Bloomingdales with a friend. What a gem...the space is fairly small but has a very inviting and warm feel and decor. We sat at a high marble communal table which was perfect since we wanted a snack and some wine. We found the menu fun with tasting style cheese plates, meat plates, and our favorite the crostinis which were small toasted breads topped with tasty morsels (our favorite was the Prosciutto, Ricotta and Fig). They have a nice selection of wines by the glass as well. I will definitively have to go back for a full dinner to try their entrees.

  • Pros: ambience & food
  • Cons: can't think of any
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

02/17/09

Best mediterraneen in NY

by foodwinelovers at Citysearch

My GF and I had a last minute opening in both our schedules, so on a whim we celebrated Valentines Day on Saturday night. We ended up at Fig & Olive Uptown. We only had a 10 minute wait. (Not bad for no reservations)

We ordered a Samosa Appetizer while we waited for our meals to be prepared. Three samosa arrived with a tasty yogurt cilantro dipping sauce. Out of this world!

For dinner I ordered Seared Salmon and my GF had the Branzino. Both were delicious, tasty and we were very pleased. Sooooo good!! The best part of all was the amazing quality of their Wine list. They have a limited choice but among the best wine list in the city. The manager was very friendly and make me taste a couple of different wines without charging me. If i could say, they should offer wine tasting size by the glass and give us more advises on pairing with the food. The service is friendly and very careful.

Recap: The cuisine is one step up from the usual offering, the wine list is one of the best. It is now one of my favorite restaurant in the city and recommand it to everybody. (5 Stars)

The Details on Fig & Olive - Uptown

Place Categories:

  • good mediterranean food
  • good service
  • horrible nastiest service
  • rude manager
  • huge salad
  • great spainish wine
  • snooty waiters
  • worst food
  • nice few different olive oils
  • big stunning space
  • fantastic dessert
  • great value
  • dry organic chicken
  • cold cheese
  • amazing quality
  • nice ambiance
  • incredible crostini
  • good price
  • tasteless vegetables
  • nice place
  • nice ok food
  • great pinot noir
  • great date spot
  • great neighborhood restaurant
  • amazing experience