Dates and Olives Mediterranean Grill | Our Story
Mediterranean flavor with a bold Indian twist
Chef-Owner Renita Mendonca opened Dates and Olives in 2018 on North Main Street in Natick, bringing Eastern Mediterranean food and a bold Indian culinary perspective to the MetroWest community.
How Dates and Olives began
Renita grew up in Bombay — a city she describes as a melting pot of cuisines — and credits her mother as one of the finest cooks she's ever known. That upbringing shaped a restaurant where care and flavor are never shortcuts.
Renita's path to the kitchen
After hotel school in India, Renita cooked in luxury hotels in Dubai, Oman, and Spain before earning a scholarship to Johnson & Wales University. She then interned at The French Laundry — an experience that shows in every dish she serves.
Food sourced with intention
Every dip, wrap, and kebab is made from scratch using fresh ingredients sourced from small farms and local vendors. The hummus, babaganoush, and labneh you eat here are chosen — and made — with intention.
A table for the whole community
Whether you're grabbing a weeknight dinner on North Main Street or feeding a MetroWest crowd, Dates and Olives is your go-to. The same care that goes into a table of two goes into a spread for two hundred.