In the South Charleston neighborhood of West Virginia’s capital city, a one-of-a-kind cafe has been quietly rewriting the rules of what a neighborhood restaurant can be since 2015.
The Olive Tree Cafe & Catering is a deliciously unpredictable blend of old-world Philadelphia deli, Mediterranean kitchen, and Southern hospitality — a family-run gem where a legendary Philly cheesesteak on an Amoroso roll shares menu space with house-made hummus, fire-roasted lamb, and a baklava cheesecake bananas foster. 🫒
With its Mediterranean cuisine Charleston WV identity, scratch-made recipes rooted in a rich Syrian and Caribbean heritage, The Olive Tree has built one of the most fiercely loyal followings in all of West Virginia. 🌟
How The Olive Tree Cafe Won Charleston’s Hearts
Owner and head chef Michael Jarrouj grew up in a Syrian and Caribbean family where cooking wasn’t just a hobby — it was a ritual, a love language, and a way of bringing people together.
His grandmother, he says, was “incredible” and the single greatest culinary inspiration of his life — a woman who once sent a young Michael into the kitchen to prepare stuffed grape leaves, fried kibbeh, hummus, and roasted lamb for a full family gathering, then cheerfully took credit for the whole spread.
That formative experience planted a seed that Jarrouj carried for decades, as he worked his way up through the restaurant industry — from dishwasher to host to server to kitchen — always knowing that one day he would open a place of his own, built on the flavors and warmth of his family table. 🍽️
In 2015, he opened a modest, counter-service sandwich shop with strong Mediterranean leanings — hummus, stuffed grape leaves, and an already-exceptional housemade shawarma alongside Boar’s Head deli sandwiches.
Locals caught on fast, and the restaurant expanded — first to a full sit-down dining room, then to an entire building, adding a full evening entree menu, an impressive bar with 18 craft beers on draft, a carefully curated bourbon selection, an outdoor dining facility, and a banquet room that transformed The Olive Tree into a full-service event destination. 🏆
Food Highlights
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The Real Philly: Shaved roasted ribeye on an authentic Amoroso roll with a thin band of marinara, grilled onions, picante provolone, and cheese whiz. 🥩
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Loaded Hummus: Chickpeas and tahini blended with garlic, lemon, and extra virgin olive oil, then topped with fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, Kalamata olives, spices, and a drizzle of olive oil, served with a housemade spinach flatbread. 🫒
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Olive Tree Shawarma: Marinated, slow-roasted steak loaded with housemade garlic sauce, shredded pickles, onion, tomato, and tahini, all wrapped in a fresh pita.
- Olive Tree Gyro: Served on a fresh 10-inch Syrian bread with ruby red Arabic pickles made from beets, turnips, and spices, and finished with the house habibi sauce — a garlic mayo aioli infused with sumac spice — a deeply personal twist on a Greek classic. 🥙
- The Legit Reuben: A towering stack of corned beef, shredded sauerkraut, and Russian dressing on pumpernickel rye.
- Baba Ghanoush: Roasted eggplant blended with tahini, garlic, lemon, and olive oil into a silky, smoky dip.
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Falafel Wrap: Crispy, herb-packed falafel wrapped in a fresh pita with bright, fresh Mediterranean accompaniments — a beloved vegetarian staple. 🌿
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Iron Mike Porterhouse: A 32-ounce black Angus porterhouse — fire-roasted and finished in brown butter in an iron skillet with local Hernshaw Farms bella mushrooms. 🥩🔥
Atmosphere
The Olive Tree Cafe & Catering has grown from a small counter-service sandwich shop into a sprawling, multi-room dining destination that now encompasses an entire building on Second Avenue — complete with a warmly decorated interior dining room, a lively full bar, and a patio for warm-weather dining al fresco. 🌿
Diners consistently describe the atmosphere as casually elegant and genuinely welcoming — the kind of space that feels equally comfortable for a quick weekday lunch, a leisurely date night, or a full-scale private event in the banquet room.
The bar is a destination in itself, with 18 craft beers on draft, an impressive bourbon collection, and signature cocktails that regulars say are creative, well-balanced, and the perfect companion to an evening entree. 🍺
Bottom Line
The Olive Tree Cafe & Catering is the rare restaurant that defies every category and exceeds every expectation.
A Syrian-Caribbean heritage, a Philadelphia deli soul, and a fire-roasted evening menu that rivals any fine dining destination in the state — all of it brought together by an owner who treats every guest like a member of his own family.
From the 150-pounds-a-week hummus to the legendary Iron Mike Porterhouse, this is South Charleston dining at its most soulful, creative, and utterly memorable. Do not pass through West Virginia without stopping here. 🫒🌟
Address:
333 2nd Ave, South Charleston, WV 25303
📞 (681) 265-9158
🕔 Mon: 10 AM–9 PM | Tue–Thu: 10 AM–9 PM | Fri–Sat: 10 AM–10 PM (closed Sunday)