Price of Olives???

My family and I went to Shiraz on Hurstbourne Monday night. We love this place and have been going since they only had the old original location. Our favorite is the hummus. In my opinion, it is the best I have had in the city. One of my favorite parts about it is the olives they put on top. In fact, I usually ask for a few extra. When I ordered Monday and asked for extra olives, the young lady taking my order said that they did not have olives but she could put jalapenos on it. First I was shocked that they didn't have olives. Made no since to me at all. Second, I was puzzled by the suggestion of jalapenos on hummus. Maybe that's normal but seemed very weird to me. Anyway, I went up later and asked what was up with not having olives. She said that the price had gone up so much recently that they stopped carrying them. I know food costs are always rising, but has anyone else run into this problem with olives? I understand it may just be simple cost cutting, but no olives at a Mediterranean place? BTW, Allison H. the only time I was able to make it over to your other location before it closed I had a side of olives over feta cheese. I loved it and often miss being able to have it again!

Kris, I do the feta and olives app in Georgetown. I use kalamata olives $46.10 for 10lbs. I also do a feta cheese and olive gyros which has a good handful on. I concur that it is strange not to have olives in a Mediterranean restaurant. Maybe, they were just out, or didn't want to put "extra" on without charging you. When someone uses the "extra" word at my place they get charged. If it is extra toppings on a sundae or extra fruit in a shake I charge them a quarter. I don't tell them, I just do it. To my mind, i put in enough stuff to start with and there is no need to order extra. I charge people 80c when they order extra Tzatziki too.
My biggest cost at the moment is tomatoes. $32 a case. I still put the same amount on a gyros though, they will drop soon enough.

My family and I went to Shiraz on Hurstbourne Monday night. We love this place and have been going since they only had the old original location. Our favorite is the hummus. In my opinion, it is the best I have had in the city. One of my favorite parts about it is the olives they put on top. In fact, I usually ask for a few extra. When I ordered Monday and asked for extra olives, the young lady taking my order said that they did not have olives but she could put jalapenos on it. First I was shocked that they didn't have olives. Made no since to me at all. Second, I was puzzled by the suggestion of jalapenos on hummus. Maybe that's normal but seemed very weird to me. Anyway, I went up later and asked what was up with not having olives. She said that the price had gone up so much recently that they stopped carrying them. I know food costs are always rising, but has anyone else run into this problem with olives? I understand it may just be simple cost cutting, but no olives at a Mediterranean place? BTW, Allison H. the only time I was able to make it over to your other location before it closed I had a side of olives over feta cheese. I loved it and often miss being able to have it again!

I need to finally get out to Georgetown and try your falafel. I've put it off for far too long.

Allison,
I completely understand the need to charge more for extra. If I ask for more of something, I expect to be charged for it, especially at Shiraz where they are always looking for things to upcharge you for (more Tzatziki, more bread when you order hummus, etc.) Seriously they ask if you want more of stuff everytime you order in hopes of charging more. But this wasn't a case of them not wanting to do it for me. She just said they got rid of the olives about 3 weeks ago because of cost. It's fine. It's their place they can do what they want. I still love the food. I was just wondering if olive costs really had gone so high that a Mediterranean place would stop carrying them. Thanks for the reply, and someday I will head over to Georgetown to try both the giant gyro and the olive app!
Kris

Shiraz started losing their mojo a couple years ago. Used to go at least once a week. Now I can't even remember the last time.

not to be trite, but thats like no garlic at an italian restaurant.
imho

I agree, how the heck to they make a greek salad (if they do) without olives. Too too weird.

not to be trite, but thats like no garlic at an italian restaurant.
imho

Hey Kris - I've not found it cost prohibitive to continue to include kalamata olives on our hummus. In fact, I continue to add diced roma tomatos as well and they are $44 a case right now. Eliminating olives from your restaurant to reduce food cost is like trying to water a giant palm with an eye dropper. That Shiraz is their only independenty operated location and it doesn't surprise me that the owner would change a standard item to save a few pennies. If you are looking for a new place where you can even enjoy a few extra olives with your hummus at no charge come by and check us out. I've been told that our in house hummus is pretty good.

If you are looking for a new place where you can even enjoy a few extra olives with your hummus at no charge come by and check us out. I've been told that our in house hummus is pretty good.

Mike is being humble. Burning Bush hummus is delicious and much, much better than Shiraz.

Sounds like I need to make my way out! Thanks for all the responses everyone. I love this board!

Ditto on the Burning Bush's hummus - top notch!

I like Burning Bush as well. Great burger too.