Aren't Olive Garden and Red Lobster all the same?

Well, obviously the people that enjoy eating there do not think it
sucks.

I love the Olive Garden. Sure there are plenty of other restaurants in
the area, but I would still prefer the Olive Garden over most of them.


That is just my preference. Would you prefer I go to real Italian
restaurant even if I prefer the Olive Garden? Why would I do that?

Since you mentioned the manager was Jewish (no clue how you would know
that) I think there might be more to this story. For the record, I
was sort of with you until that comment

If the card said Red Lobster, did you ask your server if you could use
it at Olive Garden before the meal?This would have saved a lot of
embarassment later on. Just because you used it the week before at a
Longhorn doesnt mean this particular Olive Garden would have accepted
it.

I do agree the manager handled the situation poorly even though the
card was accepted.

Management may have the right to refuse paper ones.

From the sounds of it, he doesn't like those certificates.

While I respect the decision of management to participate or not, he
should not have treated you that way, coming back to your table to rub
it in.

However, you almost had me until you described him as Jewish. While he
was badgering and embarassing you, he really happened to mention that
he was Jewish.

Did he really tell you that?

Just curious, but how did you know the mgr was jewish?

Back in the day when I worked at OG, the only gift cards we SOLD were
plastic cards that said "Olive Garden" in some way. BUT, even these
gift cards were good at any Darden chain, so you could use them at Red
Lobster, etc. In addition to these cards, we would get numerous
pieces of paper that were discount coupons or "dollars off" that folks
obtained via school fundraisers, cooperate events, etc. I cannot
count the number of times I had to call over a manager because each
one looked different, said different things, etc. MANY of those
certificates said "at participating locations only". Did yours say
that? I assume yours was paper since the manager "ripped them up".
We ended up taking them most of the time to please customers, but
people sure did get defensive when it took a minute or two to process
their paper certificate. And yes, most of these were good at any
chain.

As for the GM tearing them up in front of you, that was certainly in
bad taste- my mangers NEVER would have done that! I actually cannot
believe that the GM was there when you asked for him or her and am
wondering if you just got a different manager.

I'm sorry for the way the management treated you and hope you receive
an apology.

On the one hand, you had a gift card so I suppose using it is a good
idea. On the other hand, you get better food and better service in a
locally owned restaurant. Sometimes there are exceptions, the odds
are better.

I've eaten in Olive Garden a few times, but only when someone else
picked the place. There never seemed to be a point in going back.

Thats odd, if its the same giftcard I got for Xmas last year it had
all the restaurants listed on it.

I refuse to eat at red lobster and thats what the card said on the
front, but it also listed olive garden among others.

The Olive Garden in Port Charlotte Fl, didnt have an issue taking it.

Think that manager needs a few customer service lessons.