Fig & Olive Restaurant

10/04/09

great girls' night out place

by ziongirl

I attended the restaurant on a Friday night with a girlfriend intending to catch up with her over dinner conversation. We were greeted at the door by the hostess who rudely said we had no reservation eventhough we made one online through Opentable. The next day I was contacted by Opentable to say that I didn't honor the reservation! Go figure. The music was so loud that we could not converse over dinner. The appetizers was delicious, mouthwatering crostinis. The fig spread with almonds and manchego cheese was a winner. Bell peppers with goat cheese equally good. The dinner salads were spectacular, gourmet cuisine with good presentation. Poor service simply because the place was packed and the poor waiters were bustling as humanly possible. I would go there again, maybe with earplugs!

• Pros: delicious food, gourmet salads
• Cons: obnoxious loud music, poor service

07/17/09

Setting Table While We're Still Sitting There?

by dm1204

I have never written a review before, but felt I had to call out the rude and aggressive service we got at Fig & Olive. I went with a group of 8, we weren't all there at our reservation time (our bad), so we waited at the bar and between the 6 of us spent about $100 on drinks. Once at the table, we ordered our appetizers (crostinis, croquettes, gazapachos, ceviche) and asked the waiter to come back for our entree order, as we hadn't decide yet. By the time he came back we were mostly through our apps (about 25 minutes later), we were pretty full on all that (about $160 worth of appetizers/wine) and not interested in more food. Had he come back in a reasonable time frame, might not have played out that way. He was so annoyed that we were done that the bus staff started aggressively clearing and resetting the table in front of us, before we had even gotten a check. It's one thing if we're lingering over an unpaid bill, but this was not the case. Even then, I have never, ever had a restaurant set a table while you're still sitting there. There were other minor annoyances like asking for plates three times so we could eat the apps. Never came. Also requested olive oil, never came. Bottle of sparkling water. Never came. We spent $330 in the restaurant/bar and were treated like we were nursing a $2 coffee for 4 hours at a diner. It's not a ton of money for that many people, but again, had he actually come back to take our order, we would have probably spent twice that amount. I have waited tables, I know servers are reliant on tips, I know they hate big parties, I know they're trying to turn over tables, but this was absolutely the rudest service I have ever received anywhere. Period. The server gave us a flick of the hand as we left, as in good riddance. For that, he got a 20% tip that the manager added to our bill. As we were leaving, I spoke to the manager. I got a nice, but transparently insincere explanation, that it's restaurant week and they were under a lot of pressure. He pretended he didn't know what table we were, but admitted that he added the service charge, probably to assuage the server who was expecting a bigger bill. Guess because the restaurant is packed (and incredibly loud), they feel they can treat guests that way. Tremendously short-sighted strategy.

• Pros: Zero
• Cons: Rude and Aggressive Service Condoned By Management

05/09/09

Get Figgy with It

by LT1175

We were there in early May, 2009 and have written a more detailed review for this restaurant. Please check it out at www.urbanherbivores.

• Pros: Lovely decor, and olive oil
• Cons: Waitstaff rushed us

04/18/09

Want the fig or Olives?

by PrincessLC

The place was beautiful: Modern, lots of open space, simple, herb topiaries, a beautiful display/storage unit for their wine. The service was also decent -- the guy was nice, not snotty (for this part of town, I expect snotty & bitchy) and knew the menu very well. The food was equally delicious. The array of oils were interesting, the crostinis were awesome, and the lamb wasn't dry. A job well done.

03/30/09

Ehhh

by anjelik32

My boyfriend and I went to Fig & Olive by recommendation of one of our friends. It was OK - nothing spectacular. I guess you are paying for the atmosphere and the fact that it's in Meatpacking. I would eat there again, but I'm not in a hurry.

• Pros: Atmosphere
• Cons: Food

02/16/09

Remarkable Valentines Day

by wonderingirl

I have been to fig and olive on many occasions, My fiance and I love it so we decided to spend valentines day there. Walking in and being greeted by a very friendly face at the door, I was accomanied to my beautiful table. A cozy and romantic enviorment and I must say that the decorations had such detail. My fiance ordered the lobster and thought it was so succulent, I ordered the "truffle rissoto" and the truffle had such an earthy flavor to it it was absolutely delicous. I am never disapointed by the way they use truffle in some of their dishes. The sea bass was perfectly cooked and savory. I recommend fig and olive to everyone who wants to walk out of a restaurant feeling completely and utterly satisfied. Its one of my favorites and Im planning to do my bridal shower there in May.

• Pros: good music, great service, tastefull food of great quality and value.
• Cons: took some time for our drinks to come

02/16/09

Best before clubbing

by Foodexp

Great place to go before party, food is perfect never heavy, nothing is fried.

My girlfriend love the "Crostini" and the seared Salmon is my favorite, everytime we can't resist to have "chocolate souffle". We go twice a month and never been disappointed, service friendly and dynamic.

Best deal in meatpacking

• Pros: Space and Ambience
• Cons: No substitution possible

12/01/08

just ok but beware of LOUD, OBNOXIOUS music

by Jodelmonte

the appetizers and salads are better than the entrees...the food tasty but nothing memorable...the service is ok...great location downtown, great space....but during our meal there was LOUD club music playing which we asked our waiter to turn down during our meal...he replied that the restaurant turns into a lounge/club atmosphere later in the evening...i'm not "in the scene" anymore but considering that we were having dinner at 6:00 with children, and hardly anyone else in the restaurant, there was no reason to blast music that loudly...

• Pros: location, space, appetizers and salads
• Cons: loud music during meal

10/25/08

Horrible service and terrible food

by mattbev

I ordered the lamb medium rare. First time it came out well and when I sent it back (which I never do but this was way over cooked) the waiter brought back raw, cold lamb that was slightly seared on the outside. Obviously intentional rebuke from the cook staff. The waiter gave me a bunch of attitude about it. Ended up paying for the meal but left it on my plate. TERRIBLE PLACE!

• Pros: NONE
• Cons: Awful food and terrible service- avoid at all costs

09/06/08

South of France Souvenirs...

by foodwinelovers

It's not only a good place to eat, but everyone is finished eating, you can drink and dance with your buds.

Wonderful. I went here last night and had a great time (high-end clientele, Excellent Music). The food was lovely and the drinks wonderful. Beautiful people in a very well designed place with a stunning interior makes the whole experience memorable. I enjoyed it and will definitely go back soon.