resturant review - the olive garden sucks....

[mrbill]

Have seen their commercials on tv for years but nver had been to an Olive Garden before the other night. Daughter came up with the idea.

What a pretentious place. On arrival it was 90% empty and the greeter lady said that it would be a 15 minute wait.

Ok wtf a few minutes later the seater guy came. Then our waiter for the evening, Chuck, showed up and a stuck a bottle of wine in my face.

He explained that it was the special of the evening. No thanks, menus please, Chuck seemed annoyed.

Daughter ordered chicken marsalla and mrbill went for the standard spagetti fare.

Chuck brought the breadsticks and tossed the included salad and the grated the cheese and and tried to peddle an appropiate wine. No thanks, Chuck, give it up. Wanted to ask him why there weren't any tomatoes in the salad. The oil and vinegar dressing was excellent.

Chuck brought the food and grated the cheese again.

Nice plate that drew your attention away from a small portion and really crappy spagetti with meat sauce. The mrbill kitchen could have created this dish for 87-cents and would have had some meat and tasty sauce.

What a rip off. Daughter's chicken wasn't much better, one whimpy stuffed chicken breast with a lame sauce and a tiny bit of mashed potatoes. You can buy those chicken things in a box for about a dollar each at the local wallymart.

Came out feeling like we have been to the carnival for the first time and been screwed by the carnies.

Chuck got tipped 17% even tho he was annoying, he was just following thr corporate script.

Never again, discovered too late that the Olive Garden assholes donate to the bushazoids.

Next time will drive the extra miles and go to Campisi's.

[cali]

1. Thanks for the review

Not that I ever had any intention of setting foot in the place.

[clydefrand]

2. I agree with you 100%. I'll never go there again after what

happened with our guest visitng from The Netherlands last year. He became very ill in the restroom. Once we got him outside in the fresh air, it was apparent he was in great distress. We asked that 911 be called for him. We were told to use the pay phone! Can you imagine? We did get the rescue squad there within minutes. He had a stroke precipitated by unknown elevated blood pressure. This illness left him hospitalized for weeks. Fortunately, we had a good surgeon here for him and he escaped physical damage, but his memory isn't as good. He was indeed a fortunate person. But certainly no thanks to the Olive Garden. Never will I grace their doors again.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

17. THAT was the idiot seating staff....

If it would have been here in Oklahoma, you wouldn't have had that problem. ANYWHERE
Duckie

[trotsky]

3. They used to be better.

A few years ago was the last time I was in one of them, and I had the chicken marsala. Can you believe back then it actually came with THREE chicken breasts, and a pile of noodles?

They've clearly dropped off. But they were still doing the wine-pushing back then too.

[Coyote_Bandit]

4. Haven't Been There In Years

But I actually think that Chef Boyardee has tastier food.

I've no intention of going back. And I really can't understand why anyone would want to do so.

[AmandaRuth]

5. not only do they donate to the bushazoids

they refused to pull their advertising off of Sinclair.

[bahrbearian]

12. Thanks for the info, did you hear one is going in at Bonney Lake?

[AmandaRuth]

19. yes, and i won't be going

and I plan on letting the 31st ld dems know about this, so people can make informed decisions.

Besides, there is an excellent Thai restaurant by the theaters up here, so who needs olive garden anyway.

[Jerseygirltoo]

6. It's not real Italian food

I guess if you live in a part of the country where there are no REAL Italian restaurants, it's better than nothing. But we don't have that problem in New Jersey, obviously, so I've never tried the place.
I did try another overrated chain, Lone Star Steakhouse. Never again. All the side dishes cost extra, and really amateurish service.

[Heyo]

10. Olive Garden...

...is the Denny's of Italian food.

Heyo

[mrbill]

11. denny's is giving too much credit.......

the microwave crap in a box is better than the Olive Garden and 90% cheaper.

i know better, hate to be taken in by the corporate carnies.

Campisi's Egytpian Resturant on Mockingbird in Dallas is the real thing.

[Deja Q]

7. But remember, when you're there, you're family.

I hope those losers are repukes. Seems only fitting.

Thanks for the review.

[ikojo]

8. I was at an Olive Garden in North St Louis County a few

weeks ago...as my friend and I were entering the restaurant we heard a woman yell out. She had fallen. A couple of her friends ran into the restaurant to get help. My friend and I heard one of the waiters tell his co-workers, "don't help her we could be liable."

WHAT AN ASSHOLE!

Not only that but the food sucked as well...it was expensive and sucked!

[YellowRubberDuckie]

18. I got my life threatened in the parking lot...

...because I "stole" a parking spot. I had the right of way, and yes, there was a lady waiting, but I had the right of way, so it was mine. It wasactually kinda funny. She asked me what kind of car I had while I was waiting for a seat. I said, I have a black Jeep. She walked away. Then when she was seated, she walked over and said she'd be waiting for me when I was finished. I went to the hostess, handed her back the buzzy thing they give you now instead of calling your name. I said that I was just threatened over a parking spot and that I'd be leaving. So I went to the mall and had a slice of pizza. I was shaking until I got to Skip's that evening.
Duckie

[Heyo]

9. That sucks you had a bad time at Olive Garden...

.....I have one that's litteraly a snoes through my house. (Although I tend to refrain from throwing stones at the Olive Garden)

You're right, it's not that great. But sometimes when I have the house to myself on a Saturday night or something, I will order me some Penne with meat sauce (one dish they have that IS pretty good) and with extra meat sauce.

Then I'll leave the car here and walk over to pick it up, and I have a nice walk and then pop in a long movie when I get back and have a little private feast..

Eating inside the O.G. hasn't always been the greatest... (sorry "Chuck")

:9

Heyo

[phylla]

13. yummmm, Gotta admit that salad dressing is really tasty though

and so are the breadsticks.
Both are loaded with salt so it is easy to give 'em up.

[mrbill]

15. whoopee, $30 bucks for two people for some tasty salad dressing.....

took a breakstick home in a doggie bag as a science project.

bread does not turn green. usually sign of lot of preservatives.

[gollygee]

14. I really think Olive Garden used to be better than it is

When I used to go the food was better. But when I've been there in the past few years, it's been pretty bad. And it's never been *great*

So I agree, not worth the money.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

16. Instead of the Olive Garden, try Fazzoli's.

Non-Pretentious. No Wine to be had. The food is cheap, but OHOHOH so good!! Unlimited Breadsticks with the purchase of an entre. Dipping Sauces are like fifty cents for a cup. Salads are great. HUGE portions. I've not been disappointed yet and we go there a lot! Always trust a fat girl when it comes to food! LOL
Duckie

[THUNDER HANDS]

20. Your first clue should have been the waiter named Chuck

at an Italian resturant. :)

[Rowdyboy]

21. What a nightmare...Our local franchise is much better....

While its certainly not equal to a "real" Italian restaurant, the crab ravioli I had on my last visit was impressive.

Glad you didn't punish the waiter. I've been in his shoes and its no fun.

[Z_I_Peevey]

22. Once was all it took for me

and that was several years ago, before I know they supported fascists.

Lordy, that was some bad, expensive food.

[BiggJawn]

23. 90% empty? Here they give you pagers so you can sit in your car...

For your 45 minute to hour and a quarter wait.
the place is ALWAYS packed.

I used to like their food, but I will not wait an HOUR for a plate of ANYTHING, even if the waitress is blowing me under the table. Have not eaten there in almost 10 years.

It must be the "Never-ending Salad and breadsticks". Advertise "never-ending" anything around here, and the 400-pound waddle ducks come rolling in on their Rascal scooters, O2 bottles in tow...

You ought to see the crowds at the "Golden Corral" buffet, where they have "STEAK on the buffet EVERY night!"...

"Yeah, thet's good food. I git mah money's worth when I go there..."

(honesty disclosure: there's a sushi buffet in Las Vegas where I makle a fool of myself every year at NAB. Oh, well....)