Bleu Olive

4.8

1277 Reviews

$31 to $50

Mediterranean

Make a reservation

2 people

Jan 2, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 11 times today

Neighborhood gem
Good for special occasions
Good for business meals

For parties of 5 or more, pease give us a call.

A family operated - Mediterranean Bistro serving a fresh & local ingredient inspired menu.

The Papanikas family first opened the doors at this location in 1994 under the name Papas Grille, a fine dining Greek and Mediterranean restaurant. With “Papa” and Sam in the kitchen and Angelika, Chris & Yianni running the front of the house, Papas Grille turned into one of the finest and well-respected restaurants in the Durham food scene. After eighteen successful years as Papas Grille, it was time for a makeover and with that came a new brand as well. The reconstruction took place in 2012 in which the changes brought a more casual setting and modern feel. With “Papa” retiring during the changeover, Sam took over the realms in the kitchen fine-tuning his craft which is highly focused on quality ingredients and consistent execution. The front of the house continues to be overseen by Angelika and Yianni.

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Mediterranean, Greek
Hours of operation
Lunch Mon–Fri 11:30 am–2:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–9:30 pm
Phone number
(919) 383-8502
Website
http://www.bleuolivebistro.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Business Casual
Executive chef
Sam Papanikas
Catering
Catering available.
Private party facilities
Private Dining room for any occassion.

Location
1821 Hillandale Road, Durham, NC 27705
Neighborhood
Durham
Cross street
Front Street
Parking details
Public Lot
Public transit
Yes
Additional
Banquet, Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Full Bar, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Popular dishes

Croissant$9.00
Fried egg, applewood bacon, ashe county cheddar
Breakfast B.L.T.$9.00
Egg, bacon, green leaf, tomatoes, herb mayo
Applewood Bacon & Gruyere Omelet$9.00
Caramelized onions
Mediterranean Omelet$10.00
Peppers, onions, spinach, olives, feta
Florentine Benedict$10.00
Poached eggs, spinach, feta, hollandaise
Corned Beef Benedict$10.00
House cured brisket, poached eggs, gruyere
Bleu Benedict$10.00
Bacon, tomatoes, poached eggs, hollandaise

Mezze

Spreads$11.00
Hummus, tsatsiki, tirosalata, baba ghanoush, pita
Mussels "Krasata"$11.00
Shallots, fennel, capers, white wine
Bleu Mussels$12.00
Bacon lardons, leeks, gorgonzola butter
Garlic Shrimp$15.00
Shallots, capers, garlic lemon butter
Crispy Fried Cuttlefish$11.00
Spiced pepper marmalade, smoked onion aïoli
Avgolemono$4.00
Egg lemon broth, pulled chicken, rice
Wedge$8.00
Baby romaine, tomatoes, bacon crumble, olive relish, bleu cheese dressing
Beet Tartare$8.00
"Prodigal farm" chèvre, pistachio, baby arugula, lemon sesame vinaigrette
Greek$9.00
Tomatoes, beets, peppers, cucumbers, onions, olives, feta, lettuces, balsamic vinaigrette

Sandwiches & Entrees

Chicken Salad Croissant$7.00
Roasted chicken, green leaf, tomatoes, fresh herb mayo
Spanakopita$9.00
Crispy baked phyllo pastry, braised spinach & feta filling, greek salad
Lamb Burger$13.00
Red beet preserved lemon relish, arugula | "prodigal farm" chèvre, charmoula
B.O.M.B. Burger$10.00
Ashe county cheddar, green leaf, tomatoes, smoked onion aioli
Muffaletta Wrap$11.00
House cured local brisket, prosciutto di parma, gruyere, arugula, olive relish
Blackened Salmon "Plaki Style"$14.00
Fennel, red peppers, capers, spinach, parmesan orzo
Spiced Lamb Bolognese$14.00
Mushrooms, roasted garlic tomato puree, linguine, grana padano
Mushroom Linguine$12.00
Maitake, shiitake, cremini, broccoli rabe, mushroom broth

Brunch Cocktails

Mimosa$5.00
Prosseco, orange or grapefruit
Peach Bellini$5.00
Prosseco, peach schnapps
Bloody Mary$5.00
Vodka, zing zang
Italian Coffee$6.50
Amaretto, frangelico, coffee
Nutty Irishman$6.50
Bailey's, frangelico, coffee

Extras

Belgium Waffle$9.00
Caramelized apples, walnuts pure maple syrup
Applewood Bacon$4.00
Home Fries$4.00
Warm Croissant$2.00
Whole Grain Toast$2.00

What 1,277 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8

4.8 based on recent ratings

4.9Food
4.8Service
4.6Ambience
4.7Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Raleigh / Durham / Chapel Hill
Best Value
Raleigh / Durham / Chapel Hill
Neighborhood gem
Durham
Best Overall
Durham
Best Food
Durham
Best Value
Durham
Healthy
Durham
Neighborhood gem

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Bleu Olive is a hidden gem, offering "wonderful food prepared to perfection" and a "lovely neighborhood atmosphere." Diners rave about standout dishes like moussaka, calamari, and salmon, complemented by attentive service. While the noise level varies, the consistently delicious Mediterranean cuisine and "excellent service" make it a favorite for locals and visitors alike.

1,277 Reviews

K
Kyle
Raleigh
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
I found this restaurant looking for a place for my wife and I to have our 25th anniversary dinner. Right at the start, they offered us a quiet table because there were no parties reserved for the time we were there. We shared the octopus appetizer, then I had their moussaka while my wife ate their samon dish, all outstanding. Surprisingly, we didn't even have a long wait time for our food, but it also didn't seem rushed or cooked in a hurry either. Like the food, the service was amazing, I would say it was much better than we have experienced in many other restaurants, especially chains. Bleu Olive is most certainly a gem, and we are adding it to our list of nice places to eat for special occasions. 5 out of 5, and if we could rate it higher, we would.
Is this helpful?
T
Tim
Raleigh
24 reviews
5.0
24 reviews
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We had a memorable New Years Eve dinner at Bleu Olive.
Is this helpful?
L
Lynn
VIP
Raleigh
3 reviews
4.0
3 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Consistent excellent quality food. This place is a real gem
Is this helpful?
m
mary kay
Wilmington
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined 5 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We love Bleu Olive and have for nearly 30 years! The food is always so good and the atmosphere is very enjoyable! I love that it’s family owned and so well managed.
Is this helpful?
l
linda
VIP
Raleigh
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on December 25, 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 3
I love Bleu Olive and eat here frequently. The food is consistently excellent and I normally really enjoy the ambiance. However, the last two times I’ve eaten here (once for lunch, once for dinner, both in December) my guests and I were rushed through our meals. Most recently, we had 8:00 pm reservations, arrived on time, and had the lights turned off on us at 9:00 pm. I’m saddened, because the quality of the food and service doesn’t matter if there isn’t time to enjoy the meal.
Is this helpful?
k
kate
VIP
Western NC
10 reviews
4.0
10 reviews
Dined on December 24, 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 3
Our meal was exquisite. Both of us had the salmon which was served on a bed of different roasted vegetables in a delicious lightly seasoned flavorful sauce alongside rectangles of roasted polenta. Our server initially rushed at first (asking to take our order almost as soon as we sat down), and once our meal was served (by someone else), we didn’t see her again and had to flag her down as she was quickly walking by, to ask for a second glass of wine, before we had nearly finished the entire dish. She was abrupt and not very personable. Once we got the check, we sat waiting for about 15 minutes and had to flag her down again to pay. Honestly, neither of us are usually that picky but it just wasn’t the best experience. With that being said, the food was so good as it has always been.
Is this helpful?
S
Sharon D.
VIP
Raleigh
74 reviews
5.0
74 reviews
Dined on December 24, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We have a wonderful Christmas Eve lunch with excellent food and service. It's definitely one of the best restaurants in the RTP area.
Is this helpful?
B
Barbara
VIP
New York City
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on December 18, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
First time here for 4 of us and we loved everything about the place. The Greek salad was the best ever and the best salad was super, and big. The dishes were well flavored . We were too full to try dessert.
Is this helpful?
S
Sandra
VIP
Western NC
61 reviews
5.0
61 reviews
Dined on December 18, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Another wonderful evening at Bleu Olive. The lamb loin was cooked to perfection and they accommodate food allergies very well. The staff is professional and caring. We had a lovely dinner and will definitely return.
Is this helpful?
B
Billie
VIP
Raleigh
23 reviews
5.0
23 reviews
Dined on December 18, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Bleu Olive is one of my favorite restaurants. The food is consistently delicious and the service is warm and friendly. Today everyone was in a Christmas mood and it was delightful.
Is this helpful?

FAQs

Bleu Olive offers delivery in partnership with Uber Eats. Bleu Olive also offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (919) 383-8502.

Bleu Olive is rated 4.8 stars by 1277 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Jan 2, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 11 times today

Order delivery or takeout

1821 Hillandale Road, Durham, NC 27705

Additional information

Cross street
Front Street
Neighborhood
Durham
Hours of operation
Lunch Mon–Fri 11:30 am–2:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–9:30 pm
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Mediterranean, Greek
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Business Casual
Parking details
Public Lot
Public transit
Yes
Payment options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Sam Papanikas
Additional
Banquet, Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Full Bar, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.bleuolivebistro.com/
Phone number
(919) 383-8502
Catering
Catering available.
Private party facilities
Private Dining room for any occassion.

Bleu Olive

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Herb Roasted Lamb Loin

Steak Frites

Moussaka

Eggs

Croissant$9.00

Breakfast B.L.T.$9.00

Applewood Bacon & Gruyere Omelet$9.00

Mediterranean Omelet$10.00

Florentine Benedict$10.00

Corned Beef Benedict$10.00

Bleu Benedict$10.00

Mezze

Spreads$11.00

Mussels "Krasata"$11.00

Bleu Mussels$12.00

Garlic Shrimp$15.00

Crispy Fried Cuttlefish$11.00

Avgolemono$4.00

Wedge$8.00

Beet Tartare$8.00

Greek$9.00

Sandwiches & Entrees

Chicken Salad Croissant$7.00

Spanakopita$9.00

Lamb Burger$13.00

B.O.M.B. Burger$10.00

Muffaletta Wrap$11.00

Blackened Salmon "Plaki Style"$14.00

Spiced Lamb Bolognese$14.00

Mushroom Linguine$12.00

Brunch Cocktails

Mimosa$5.00

Peach Bellini$5.00

Bloody Mary$5.00

Italian Coffee$6.50

Nutty Irishman$6.50

Extras

Belgium Waffle$9.00

Applewood Bacon$4.00

Home Fries$4.00

Warm Croissant$2.00

Whole Grain Toast$2.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

Does Bleu Olive offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Bleu Olive restaurant rated?

Is Bleu Olive currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information