The Early Word on Fig & Olive in CityCenterDC

The first D.C. location of Fig & Olive opened less than a month ago. Fans of the New York-based chain flocked there right away to check it out, while other diners were simply excited to have another restaurant option inside CityCenterDC. The Mediterranean-inspired restaurant already has 35 Yelp reviews with an overall rating of three star. Read on for the early word on Fig & Olive from Yelpers and bloggers:

The Pottery Barn-esque Decor News: Diners love the vibe inside this 10,000 square foot restaurant. Yelper Christy O. writes, "The atmosphere, music, scene and decor- phenomenal. I felt like I was in NY and loved it." Yelper Nate B. calls it, "pleasingly open and Pottery Barn-esque." Blogger The Worldly Bite says, "The classic white tones... capture the essence of Provence (the only thing missing is the sound of cicadas). " [Yelp, The Worldly Bite]

The So So So Slow Service News: Several Yelpers noted slow service at the restaurant, during both busy and slow times. Yelper Israly E., who has dined there twice already, writes, "In both experiences the slow service definitely affected the whole experience. On both occasion our entrees took more than an hour to be served." Yelper Kim C. also says the service that was "so so so slow" that it detracted from her dining experience. [Yelp]

The Best Ever Crostini News: Fig & Olive serves a huge selection of crostini, and diners seem into it. Don Rockwell forum poster johndagle writes, " They are hands down the best crostini I've ever had anywhere." Yelper S.P. tried three different kinds and calls them "all delicious but small." Yelper Barbara J. recommends the pea and asparagus crostini, while Yelper Chelsea R. prefers the mushroom truffle variety. Marissa Rubenstein of Brightest Young Things urges readers, "try the Fig Jamon Goat Cheese crostini, thank me later." [DR, Yelp, BYT]

The Lamb Chops like Cardboard News: Several Yelpers complained about the lamb chops dish. Yelper Fine Trees N Cuisine writes, "Lamb chops were not evenly cooked and lacked flavor." Yelper Ssam T. says they "disappointing" and "lacked flavor." Yelper Robin H. had harsher words for the dish, likening it to "tasteless cardboard." [Yelp]

The Outstanding Octopus News: Disgruntled Yelper Robin H. says, out of everything in her entire meal, "only the octopus was good" and Yelper Barbara J. calls it "perfectly prepared." Brightest Young Things writer Marissa Rubenstein says of the dish, "I don’t even like octopus and thought this was outstanding." [Yelp, BYT]

The Pasta News: Opinions of the restaurant's selection of pasta dishes vary. Yelper Kim. C writes, "My boyfriend got a sauce less penne pasta and it was extremely dry. We had to ask for some sauce to moisten it." Yelper S.C. calls that same dish, along with the goat cheese and squash blossom ravioli, "mediocre." But Yelper Lemon C. disagrees and writes, "I tried the PENNE FUNGHI TARTUFO and ZUCCHINI BLOSSOM & GOAT CHEESE RAVIOLI and enjoyed both." [Yelp]

The Not-So-Happy-Hour News: Overall, diners like Fig & Olive's cocktails but had problems taking advantage of their happy hour specials. Yelper Alex B. was looking forward to the happy hour specials advertised on the bar menu. He was then told they weren't available during the first week of opening after placing his drink order. Yelper Anne M. went when the happy hour special were available, but she calls the bartender there "almost hostile." She writes, "The bartender never came over or acknowledged us for the rest of the evening. it was a not-so-happy happy hour." [Yelp]

The Mixed Dessert News: Like opinions on the pasta, reviews of the desserts were also mixed. Yelper Lemon C. writes, "For dessert no one at my table liked what they had and we all got different dishes." Yelper Angela B. agrees, writing "the desserts were nothing to write home about " But Yelper Abd D. calls all of the desserts he tried, "very yummy." Don Rockwell forum poster jondagle writes of the caramelized apple tart, "it was very good but merits no more discussion." [Yelp, DR]