The tiny town of Hiram, GA looks like a back-lot movie set for Western and cowboy films. I was tempted to look behind the building façades just to make sure they weren't propped up with two-by-fours. The place is charming, and even has a railroad track that bisects the main road in and out of town.
The Olive Tree restaurant is smack in themiddle of it all, and it couldn't be more friendly and laid back. Greek & Italian is their thing, and the menu pays adequate tribute to both. Italian fare is the typical neighborhood items like piccatas, parms, lasagne and various pastas with various sauces. The Greek menu also has the top-10 favorites like souvlaki, dolmades, spanakopita, pita bread, tzatziki, etc., etc.
The rustic interior is pleasing to the eye, with a high, open-plan ceiling. Though it was crowded on the Friday night we were there, the roomy layout was still easy to navigate.
Of course, these “Foodie on the Road” articles are not reviews, as we only went once, but if you find yourself in the Powder Springs/Douglasville/Hiram area about 45 minutes from downtown Atlanta, the Olive Tree is certainly a place to soak up some of that rural Georgia charm.
When we left, we sat for about 10 minutes as a long, slow freight train crawled across the main drag. It was definitely a value-added, and I found myself humming Gladys Knight's Midnight Train to Georgia, complete with the Pips' backup vocals.
The Olive Tree is located at 37 Beatty St., on the corner by the tracks. You can call them at 770-439-0203. They are open for lunch and dinner with very reasonable prices.
