Right restaurant wrong day. The lady server.. came on a Friday 2pm. They took about 7 minutes to notice us and seat us. No lie 7 long minutes. It was about 5 other occupied tables at the time. Food on the floor and 2 uncleaned tables.This lady waitress was the worse! I'm pretty patient but she is horrible! When we ordered, literally 5 minutes going through the order repeatedly again because for some reason she kept saying chicken and NO ONE ORDERED CHICKEN! The waitress stated her mind wasn't right today..well honestly she may need a mental break from work.It gets worse. Ordered a beef patty TO GO! She brought it on a plate. So she stated she'll bring us a fresh one to go. By the time we got the check she said there's no more fresh ones. Ma'am you were to get it when it was first coming out! No silverware had to ask 3x. The stewed fish is supposed to be just that STEWED just like I seen in prior pics. So why I get it all dry?? I asked for the brown stew sauce 5x! She didnt bring it until we were fed up and asking for the check (& to go box for my food).While we're paying for the check she noticed her sister from out of town & left us there with the tablet and ran to her. She proceeded to seat her sister, forgetting she was finishing our transaction. We had to flag her down, and she had the nerve to say her sister was disrespectful. No, its you!I'm an out of towner & a friend in town recommended this place. If ditzy waitress is there, I'd advise not to go! The service will have you leaving irritated & needing to eat elsewhere. I'm heading to a bbq joint now smh
My husband was celebrating his 40th birthday and Evelyn & Olive was very accommodating to our large party.The food and drinks were delicious!! I highly recommend the beef patty as an appetizer. I felt like I was back in the islands once I took a bite.Darrin is an incredible host. He took the time to thoroughly explain my options for making a reservation for a large party. He took care of us the day of our reservation and everyone loved him.
Located on Madison Avenue headed towards downtown Memphis i’ve heard a lot about Evelyn and Olive and decided to give it a try. This is a Jamaican restaurant which is my first time eating Caribbean food so definitely kept an open minded of the menu. Upon arriving I walked in it’s just a simple restaurant nothing fancy about it at all. We waited for a good 5 to 7 minutes to be seated due to there was only one hostess which was the bartender and the server. She was really nice overall. So we decided to order a little bit of everything I received the Caribbean fried chicken which was a 30 minute wait because it was cooked to order with a side of cabbage and a cucumber and tomato salad. My sister got the jerk chicken with the rice and peas and the cabbage. We both split a beef patty as an appetizer. Let’s start off with the appetizer the beef patty it was pretty good I never tasted anything like that I can’t tell you what it taste like but it was a very interesting taste I wish they had some type of dipping sauce because it became a tad bit dry but overall it was pretty tasty. The Caribbean chicken like I stayed there earlier I waited 30 minutes because it was cooked to order and I didn’t get anything Caribbean about it it was just fried chicken with light seasoning and it is not the best fried chicken that I’ve ever had. So that was definitely a disappointment the cabbage was amazing it gave me a vegetable stew type of vibe. it taste so good it has green beans ,Corn and peppers . it was amazing!! taste out of this world. The cucumber and tomato salad it was OK they could have used a tad more of Italian dressing in it but you got what you ask for tomatoes and cucumbers. The other meal we receive was the jerk chicken which was super dry they did not have any sauce on it so it taste OK but it taste like they over cooked it for sure the rice and peas were very tasty they were warm wish they were hot but you can’t expect hot I guess at this restaurant. Overall experience was OK definitely three stars would have gave it two but the cabbage was so good it deserve three. Will not be returning back here unfortunately it really not worth a revisit. FYI there is a 20% gratuity which is not an issue with me but it might be issues to others
I was very annoyed that I had to wait another 40 minutes post my pickup time, but I was willing to show grace because many small restaurants are understaffed. But my food wasn't worth the wait, unfortunately. I heard good things about the oxtails, but I guess I went on the wrong day. They tasted like they had been reheated several times or cooked too long. The fried green tomatoes were not good. The wings were just okay. I might try again in the late future, but right now it's a no for me.
The food is delicious but be prepared to wait for a second before being acknowledged. There’s a guy there who never speaks and you wouldn’t even know that he worked there until you see him go behind the bar. He doesn’t assist at all whatsoever and often sits and chats with certain customers. I’ve gone on 2 separate occasions and each time it was the same and both time he was coming off of break and then would take another (I’m assuming ) another break without helping his colleagues. On the two occasions I visited I was helped by lady bartenders ( I don’t remember their names) but they were extremely helpful, patient, and nice. On my second visit which was 4/23/22 I came in to place a Togo order for my mom and I. The female bartender asked that I give a homeless man that walked in her tip that I was going to give her. I did as she asked and then still tipped her additional just for having a kind heart. I feel that those two women are over worked as they are left to bartend, plus leave their station to greet and sit customers, take order, perform waitress duties, clean, and check in with the kitchen to serve food. I had patience with them because I could clearly see it was a one man show and they were trying their best. Through the stress of managing a crowded restaurant I would say alone, they still managed to be polite and have a smile. I’m giving 3 stars because I feel they need help otherwise I would do 5. I will visit again and on my third visit I hope to see a better attitude from the dread head male who never speaks or help those overworked ladies.
Ordered the Jamaican Run Punch and Tun Up Pasta, both were thumbs down!! The pasta is oily and the drink is flavored water. I only finished it because of their strict no refund no exchange policy.Disgusting. Will not return.
Love Love Love Evelyn & Olive!! I love authentic Jamaican cuisine and they never disappoint! My friend never tried oxtails before so I suggested E&O to her, so we went on a Wednesday evening about 6:30 the vibe is always chill the music good, and the food was top tier!! I love Jamaican food so I had my friend try the oxtails and curry goat both were Bomb very well seasoned, nice portions to have you full, just overall comfort food! Love their cabbage so delicious they didn’t have any brown stew chicken today but if you come please try it, it’s so good! The curry goat is spicy but I love it, the oxtails were falling off the bone good all the food we ordered was great! Their drinks are on point, My friend had a Jamaican Rum Punch and I had an Island Lemonade(the silent killer) it’s the strongest drink they have soooooooo amazing! If you’re looking for authentic Jamaican Cuisine you have to try Evelyn Olive!!!! The waitress/bartender was sooo cool and funny!!
Food is excellent!!!! Staff very hospitable!!! Have eaten here several times (business, entertaining, getaway with the wife). One of downtowns best kept secrets. P. Poindexter
2/8/22 walked in for lunch, wanted the jerk wings but noticed someone else sent theirs back. Ordered cabbage and a beer. Food was good. My friend ordered jerk pasta. Hardly any meat in pasta. One waitress. Took a while to get our food,20 percent added to all orders regardless of how many people. Watiress Bf or whoever he was;was served before us even though we were there before him. Tried to take extra tip stateing not having any change. That service charge is all you get. Try to support my people but you must do better! I know you guys got your PPP loan and no upgrades. Do better!! They charge you different prices versus what's on menu. Think I'll try Island Paradise next.
Went today for some oxtails and curry goat and was not disappointed! Excuse my language but that food was so damn good! I'll be back soon. Everyone was nice and welcoming, if you're looking for some good homemade style Caribbean food you'll find it here! 10 out of 10 definitely recommend!