Olive

It is the second time I have been to Olive for dinner and I must say I am still impressed. The food is lovely, healthy and fresh and good size portions. The staff are friendly and tentative. The wine is reasonably priced and the ambience relaxing. There is a certain personal space about the place i.e. its not an overcrowded, loud and racey restuarant but somewhere where you can go to catch up with friends, have a good laugh, lovely food and take your time without being rushed out.

I believe this restuarant is underated. People should check it out!!. I wish I had something like it in my area which served good food at a good price. Definitely value for money. Keep the good dishes coming Olive ... yum ... yum and lets hope that more people come through the door!!

Penge may not be top of everyone's list for a dining out in South East London but that shouldn't stop you from visiting Olive. If you don't fancy a pre-dinner drink in the local hostelries just have one at your table, very drinkable wine starts here at just £10 a bottle.

The restaurant describes itself as "Mediterranean" but think more Greece and Turkey than Italy or the French Riviera. The food is mostly freshly cooked in sight of the diners (casseroles may be the exception) and there is plenty of it. Meat, apart from anything from the pig, appears frequently on the menu. This comes in the form of suasages, kebabs, steaks and casseroles all accompanied with rice, salad, vegetables or chips.

Seafood lovers are also well catered for with a choice including prawns and squid and my personal recommendation, grilled sea bream.

The service is friendly without being fussy, but if you are in a rush either go up the road to McDonalds or tell the staff you need to be out by a certain time. This is really a place to linger and enjoy the variety and fresh flavours of well cooked food along with a few glasses of wine or beer.

Dinner for two with a bottle of wine each can be had here for under £50.