Ruined Anniversary Dinner

Hey big spender...get a life. Olive Garden did the right thing by
putting up the sign. Many places don't tell you until it's too late.
The could have used the card another night. Maybe grandma did not
want to spend another night in the trailer with the younguns!!!

Well, if the gift card lines are down (meaning there is a problem with
the online connection in processing gift cards) there is honestly
nothing they could do that night. It's not their fault and it's not
your daughter's fault.

And why on earth would they go to Red Lobster if neither one of them
like fish? There were other places they could have gone. This letter
is absolutely ridiculous.

I smell an unwarranted FREEBIE request!

Stuff Happens.

Get Over It.

Sincerely,
Darden Restaurants.

I don't typically comment on this site. Actually I rarely visit it at
all... however I would like to point out two things.

1) Darden restaurant branded gift cards may be redeemed at any Red
Lobster, Olive Garden, Bahama Breeze, Seasons 52 and Smokey Bones
location in North America (That is from the Darden website) So they
could have gone to any of those locations which a quick run on the
site shows that there are 8 locations within a 25 mile radius which
includes a total of 3 Olive Gardens.

2) I spent my anniversary last year in the hospital while my 2 year
old son had surgery to correct a birth defect. While it certainly
wasn't the most ideal way to spend it, I was surrounded by love ones
and spent the entire day holding my husband's hand... I wouldn't think
to say my anniversary was ruined. Perfect? Heck no. Ruined? No
way.

The fact of the matter is the gift cards can be redeemed at other
restaurants. Your daughter obviously knew that or she wouldn't have
gone to Red Lobster. Personally I hate sea food, even the smell of it
and would have come home before I would have gone there.

I love Olive Garden and can understand her disappointment but
seriously? Ruined?

What a sad story. It is so unfortunate that your daughter was forced
to go to a restaurant that had food they couldn't enjoy. Yep, from the
time they knew the gift cards couldn't be used at that time they had
the brilliant idea to go eat some nasty fish and blame olive garden
for their unhappy experience at a competitors restaurant. Yes, the
future waitress should pay for your daughters inconvenience and lack
of sense. Let that waitress work her butt off for nothing because we
all know they get paid so well. That'll teach em' to have technical
problems when your daughter is around!

I've worked in restaurants for a long time, and a fact of the
business is that stuff happens. Restaurants run out of things,
computer systems crash without waring, and the power/water can be
disrupted.

I guess what I'm saying is that you really can't blame OG for the
machine being down. Stuff happens. If they wanted OG so badly, they
should have paid another way. If they got mad and left, they should
have gone somewhere else (as they did) or gone home to eat.


I understand, you got them the card, they wanted to use it on their
special night, they were unable to do so, and everyone gets angry.
However, with any gift it's important to remember that it's the
thought that counts, and the most important thing is being together on
your anniversary.

In conclusion, I just don't feel that OG owes you anything. They
didn't ruin you daughter's anniversary dinner. Your daughter and
son-in-law made a choice- if it ruined their evening they have
themselves to blame. I know that sounds harsh, but really, you can't
blame a restaurant for a computer failure-it happens to the best of
us!

A happy belated anniversary to your daughter and son-in-law.

cookgirl

p.s. In case anyone was thinking of asking, I don't (nor have I ever)
worked for OG or any other Darden Restaurants concept.

Really? I mean...REALLY???? Are you kidding me lady? I hope you are
not serious! So what if the gift card machine was down, it happens!
And if you were half as smart as you probably think you are, you
should be aware of this, that sometimes machines go down for one
reason or another. It is unfortunate that it broke down on your
daughter's anniversary but really, it's not Olive Garden's fault, as
they did not try to ruin anyone's day on purpose. Your daughter could
have gone to a restaurant that didn't serve fish if that was the case.
Nobody forced them to go to Red Lobster or whatever else. Seriously,
your complaint is a joke. Please stop posting such outrageous
complaints.

I can't think of anything to say because this may be the worst letter
I've ever read. Not poorly written, just the most stupid request
ever.

Sheesh!

Still taking your meds? I think you stopped. Why do I think that?
Because of this letter! Are you serious? I sure hope not. The scary
thing is that you really are serious. How did you ever manage to
become an adult? That's a mystery all in of itself, now isn't it!

Okay let me get this straight they went to the restraunt they werent
able to accept gift cards, notice was properly posted, they left. Went
some were else but didnt wanna eat there, and then paid with the gift
cards. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! If they didnt like red lobster why did
they eat there? and your outta your mind if you think your getting
anything.

This could not be anymore obvious that you are just trying to get free
stuff. They don't like fish, but went to Red Lobster? Why are you
writing this letter? Apparently they did not think it bad enough to
do it themselves. I think if your daughter is having an anniversary,
then she is old enough to write her own letters.

Why do they deserve a free dinner because the gift card line is down?
If they love Olive Garden sooooo much, as you say, odds are they will
be coming more than once a year, so they could have paid with their
credit card this time, and used the gift card another time.

I am also not a seafood eater, however my husband is. When we go to
Red Lobster I always order steak. So I believe you daughter had
reasonable options while dining there. Which by the way was totally
her choice.

you said they used the gift cards at red lobster. if they were visa
gift cards then they could've used them at olive garden.

Machines break down. It is a fact of this world.

If your daughter and son-in-law REALLY wanted Olive Garden, but could
not afford dinner on their own, all they had to do was to be adults
and decide to go back another night. Many couples celebrate
anniversaries on a weekend rather than the actual wedding date. It
has more to do with their being happy than having to go out on one
specific night. An adult understands that the world is not always
perfect and plans sometimes have to change because of circumstances no
one can change.

Did your offer to babysit the grandkids apply to the one night only?

The same company that owns Olive Garden also owns Red Lobster and
Smokey Bones. IIRC, that was mentioned early on in the thread. A gift
card purchased for any of these restaurants is also able to be used at
any of the other two restaurants, which is probably why the OP's
daughter and son-on-law chose to visit Red Lobster when Olive Garden
was not a viable choice (in their opinion).

Why would your daughter and her husband elect to eat at Red Lobster if
they don't like seafood?

I'm sorry but I don't think any compensation is in order with this one
as I'm sure there were other restaurants they could have selected and
they still have the gift cards for Olive Garden, right?

Entitlement Issues Alert!

Since you wrote this, I'm hoping your daughter doesn't have the
feelings. Geesh.

Was there another Olive Garden close by that they could have called to
see if they were accepting gift cards? I'm sorry that they couldn't
eat at their favorite restaurant on their anniversary but something as
simple as that shouldn't ruin the day. They should be thankful that
they had a chance to celebrate another wonderful year of marriage and
that they have family members that love them and are willing to treat
them to dinner and a night of babysitting.

Just to add to what others are saying--at least they were kind enough
to put up the signs saying the computers were down. I'm pretty sure
they weren't under any obligation to do that. Your daughter would
have been a whole lot more dissappointed if she'd had to pay. And why
in the world did they go to Red Lobster if they don't like seafood???
That's just not smart.

Okay, they do not enjoy seafood but they go to Red Lobster of their
own free will? I mean, it's not like the name is misleading in any
way.

Gimmie Grab alert!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, #1-your daughter is a big girl, she can write this letter herself.
#2-computers go down sometimes.. thats what sucks about technology.
They don't owe your daughter anything. I would think an anniversary
dinner would be ruined if you weren't with the person you love.. not
over a stupid meal.......but hey.. I'm just sayin!

Nice, Faye. Real nice. Looks like you passed your lovely manners and
tact onto your daughter (who complains to their parents about
something like this? How ungracious!). Let's hope it finally skips a
generation and your grandchildren turn out to be more polite and
reasonable.

What a blatant gimme grab! Your daughter CHOSE to go to Red Lobster,
which, by the way, serves more than just fish. Olive Garden was
upfront about the technical issue and owes your daughter nothing.

One year my husband had to work second shift on our anniversary which
in not usual. We settled for a quick late lunch. By your thinking, I
guess his employer owes us dinner out.

Sorry but Olive Garden did not ruin their anniversary. What it ruined
was your idea of what their anniversary dinner should have been.
While I understand that you wanted them to spend the gift cards on
their anniversary at Olive Garden, they could not. So it was their
choice to change restaurants at that time.
What I question is what stopped them from either paying for the meal
@ Olive Garden or using the gift cards another time?

I just think that this is being blown out of proportion and while it
was very important to you that they spend your gift on that night at
that particular restaurant, circumstances prevented them from doing
this.
But asking for another $35 to offset their meal at REd Lobster is
wrong. Again, there were other options available.

Red Lobster serves steak and chicken, and various salads, potatoes,
biscuits, a kids menu and some soups. Your daughter and family were
not stuck with just fish.

If they did not enjoy themselves at Red Lobster, it should be they who
write a letter to Red Lobster, and not you to write one to Olive
Garden about their disappointment in Red Lobster. One restaurant has
nothing to do with the other.

Your daughter and her husband could have paid and saved the gift card
for another day. It's not the restaurants fault that the gift card
lines were down, or that your daughter and her husband chose to walk
out and go to a restaurant they didn't like. We all have to take
responsibility for our own choices in life.

Ok, the gift card lines were down. They were told upfront via signage.
If they really wanted Olive Garden that bad, they could've paid for it
and saved the gift card for another day. If they don't like Red
Lobster then they shouldn't have eaten there. Who on earth eats at a
place where they know they will not enjoy the food? That makes
absolutely no sense to me. Either way, the only people who ruined
dinner was your daughter and her husband. They could've eaten at Olive
Garden but didn't. That's no one's fault but their own and Olive
Garden owes them nothing.

How thoughtful of your daughter to relay this "ordeal" to the gift
giver, and how thoughtful of the gift giver to write a complaint!

Why would someone choose Red Lobster if neither of them are fish
eaters? And how is their choice the responsibility of Olive Garden?

I think dinner would have been "Ruined" regardless of the gift
certificate issue.

Considering that just a meat dinner costs about fifteen to twenty
dollars, not including drinks, appetizers, desserts, tax and gratuity
at Olive Garden, chances are, they'd have to add to a 35 dollar check,
or do the truly "romantic thing" and split one dinner (as in Disney's
movie "Lady and the Tramp" (no offence intended).

The OG was nice enough to post signs that the gift cards could not be
used. What I would do, if it was important to spend my anniversary at
The OG, is use a credit card and come back another time with the gift
cards. But that is just me.

Did someone at The OG pull out a gun and demand they go to the Red
Lobster? I doubt it. Your daughter chose to use the gift card that
night. Done deal. No freebies deserved.

Just as an FYI, Olive Garden is owned by Darden Restaurants, which
also owns Smokey Bones and LongHorn Steakhouse, both of which have
locations in Lakeland. So if your daughter and s.i.l. wanted to avoid
a seafood place, they had other options. They also could have waited
and used their gift card another night - and I'm sure you wouldn't
have minded babysitting while they did that.

It's unfortunate that they were unable to eat at their chosen
restaurant on their special day, but I've always felt that the best
part of an anniversary isn't where you eat, but who you eat with.

Oh, for crying out loud. They can go another time.

What a dumb complaint.

First, it was very nice of you to give a gift to your daughter and
son-in-law.

Personally, I think that it's possible to do better than Olive Garden.
However, I'll trust that the "kids" really do find this place to be
of anniversary quality.

The Olive Garden was responsible: they posted a sign letter people
know that they were having technical difficulties. Yes, this meant
that the Olive Garden lost customers that evening. However, it's
beyond me why they deserve a free meal.

You do realize that you're asking TOG to PAY your daughter NOT to eat
at their restaurant.

Are you one of those people that'd demand free food from a place that
was closed due to arson? Seems like you would be.

Who forced them to go to Red Lobster? If they had gift cards, used
them at a valid restaurant, and received a meal, they have received
their value from the cards.

Stop whining.

Also, you might want to tell your daughter to start saving some money,
because kids are expensive and if she can't afford dinner at Olive
Garden without someone else paying for it, she's going to have a rude
shock trying to pay for all of a child's needs.

You have got to be kidding me.

No one forced them to go to a place they didn't like. If they truly
wanted to eat at the Olive Garden, they should have just used their
credit/debit card and saved the giftcards for a later date. It's not
like they wouldn't ever go back.

And if this were truly important to your daughter, she should have
written the letter.