Bread & Olive (CLOSED)

If you've been around as long as I have in this neighborhood, you know that this retaurant has changed hands a few times in the last 10 years. The good news is that although the name and management changes, the food really doesn't-other than a few small additions. The new owners seem really nice and are dedicated to making the place a stable establishment with great food and service. The new restaurant also has a Brooklyn location and have been in business for many years. Long story short, if you liked Bread & Olive in it's prime, it's worth giving this new restaurant a try.

This used to be the best lebanese place in NYC along with AL Bustan. I am sad to see the management let go of it because now they are missing crucial elements of the menu on any given day. Also the quality has gone down. Not on the sandwiches but on the mezzes. I wish someone would take notice and take back control. It is so sad to see my favorite place on a downhill spiral.

I used to live in California where ARAX felafel was thee best in all of Cali and everyone who has ever had one knows that as they were the best in Lebannon before they came here. In New York however I have tried many felafel places and most recently Crisp because of the rave reviews. I paid way too much for two felafel sandwiches and two sides of hummus. The felafel were COLD the hummus was tahnini with chick pea not the other way around which made it impossible to actually eat. I had bought these to eat with my friend from Lebannon to compare out of curiosity. I had read on the Crisp reviews that the portions were 1.5 to 2.0 bigger than any other portions and this was absolutely not true. The bag containing only the two felafels was so light I had no doubt that I had to make a stop at Bread & Olive if we were going to enjoy eating anything at all this afternoon. I got two freshly made felafels while I waited along with REAL Hummus and a Roasted Cauliflower salad with Roasted Tomatoes and Carrots in a vinargrette that I still can't stop thinking about and when we sat down to eat we both tried one felafel ball from Crisp and then took one bite of Crisps Hummus and both agreed to give the Crisp order of food to a homeless person sitting outside and that is no lie. We enjoyed the felafel from Bread & Olive and were satisfied that outside of Cali this is the best felafel you can find it is authenic as well as the rest of the food from Bread & Olive which makes it ten tmes more worth the trip there then any other place in the city. Bread & Olive is a destination felafel as well as authentic middle eastern foods. I'm stunned at the volume of positive press that Crisp recieved after trying their felafel I concluded that either those leaving the comments have either never had a traditional felafel period or they were paid by Crisp to write those comments or maybe both. It's just not right to get peoples hopes up like that and then empty their wallets and leave them hungry and dissatisfied. So for those of you who took the time to read this spare your self all the trouble and monetary loss and go to Bread & Olive and eat they will do right by your stomach and wallet.

I just finished lunch from Bread & Olive and it was HEAVENLY! I usually order falafel or hummus from Middle Eastern restaurants but today I decided to try something new! I ordered ZATAR BREAD with LABNE and VEGETABLES (tomato and kalamata olives) and it comes with hot sauce and tahini. OMG, so freaking delicious! Perhaps my favorite mid-town lunch of all time? Seriously, it is heaven. I can't wait to order again. I'm going to be fantasizing about it all weekend. :-) Quick delivery too.

Been here twice now. Didn't like it the first time but I thought I would give it another try. I was dispappointed that the platter was just hummus, shredded lettuce and a pita. For 7 bucks, you are no where near of being full. You are way better off going elsewhere.

I would still give this restaurant quite decent marks. The lunch crowds can't be wrong, and the food is fresh and plentiful and inexpensive. I will say though that I made a mistake in ordering the falafel platter. The sides of salad and baba ghanush were just fine, but the falafel balls (a generous serving) were hard, and cold and not very tasty. The back room seating was hard to get, and not very scenic. However, I had a nice lunch with a friend, and I would return (not at the busy lunch hour) and order something other than the falafel.

Food is yummy and fresh. The value is superb and you get plenty for the value. Definitely a must!