The recent closing of The Gyro Shop on Tuscaloosa Street has left some students craving more and wondering where they could get a delicious Greek meal. Look no further than Olive’s Torch. The restaurant is located on Cloverdale Road, definitely further than walking distance at four miles away.

Walking into the restaurant at 5 p.m., it was surprisingly quiet. A kind server greeted us and led us to a table in the spacious dining room. She handed us menus and let us look around. There was a tiny window to the back kitchen and a couple in the back corner was the only company to our party of eight.

After discussion, we ordered the Pikita for four. Hummus, Tzatziki, Dolmades, olives, boiled eggs and Keftedakia (meatballs) were served with Spanakopita (spinach pie) and pitas for dipping. The food was delicious and there was definitely enough for all eight of us to have a decent appetizer. At a price of $20, it’s not something I would recommend for the average date — try sampling just one of the appetizers. I would recommend their Spanakopita; it is light, yet thick with a strong spinach flavor.

Next was the main course. It can be confusing ordering for eight people, however, my meal didn’t come to me until after everyone at the table was finished eating. Perhaps a mix-up, one of the owners brought out some food to-go and asked us if we ordered it, to which the server promptly yelled across the restaurant that it was her to-go order, not for a table. I was a little shocked to see the behavior between server and boss, considering it was almost condescending, but saw no other signs of condescension the rest of my time there.

My chicken gyro arrived with fries, pita bread, tzatziki and a Greek salad of feta, olives and an oil dressing. It was delicious, and I have to say better than what I’d tasted at The Gyro Shop. The meal was, however, significantly more expensive for significantly more food. One gyro plate is $10.25, but I had leftovers. 

Following the meal we had to sample the Baklava, which is delectably sweet with a heavy layer of nuts. I have tasted several baklavas, from a tiny store in Virginia to a local restaurant in Huntsville, and this baklava is the best I’ve had. 

Despite the shaky behavior noted between server and owner, Olive’s Torch serves high-quality food at a high-quality price. The owners are very friendly and can explain anything to you if you don’t know what it is. While it may not be ideal for the everyday lunch break, it’s definitely date-night material that won’t leave you disappointed.

Olive’s Torch is located at 3370 Cloverdale Rd. and is open Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Descriptions of their meals are available online at their website.