My Thoughts and Opinions of Olive Garden

"because the service normally sucks"

Then why do you keep going back?

You could always just eat at home or elsewhere if it is that horrific
an experience time and time again.

Exactly what sound does homemade Italian food make that is so pleasing
to you?

Is it is "sploosh"? A "slurp"?

I just want to know how are new plates and decor gonna make the food
any better???

If you have so many dis-likes, then why do you go back "time and time
again"????

Ok, number one, it is a chain restaurant which means 3 things.
1. cheap, bland and sub par food.
2. consistency.. what you ordered 15 times will be exactly the
same bagged prefabricated-frozen slop, except the prices go up.
3. a frazzled yet forced to smile server will serve you your sub
standard, cheap meal in 30 minutes or less...

move you in, get your money, push you out.


isn't that the American way now?

I do not care for OG, and my co-workers always wanted to go there for
Christmas parties, and it was always lousy.

The first time I went they sat us in front of the waitress station
where 2 of us stared at booster seats and a coffee machine. We were
told no other seats available. OK, so we order and my mothers pasta
dish was cold and when they brought it back it was obviously
microwaved and all the cheese sauce or whatever was stuck to the
bottom of the dish.

My father doesn't like to make a fuss when going out to dinner so we
filled out out a customer courtesy card that they put on the tables
and mailed it in about our experience but never heard back.

So since I don't work at the place where the OG lovers are I have not
gone back, I prefer the mom and pop italian joints which are so much
better, believe it or not we still have some around where I live!

I dont know where or which that Olive Garden is located at, but it
does not seem like anything needs to change. The reason why it might
sound like you're asking for new items on the menu is because you
wern't craving for what they had on the menu. And it isnt because of
the lound noise that should bother you, but i agree that its bad
service and hosting. a good host/ess would gather all kids to one side
where a waiter/waitress is in charge of his/her tables and have
seniors sit on one end and other couples or young adults seperate with
their own waiter/waitress at another end. The main idea, is to have
families eat near other families with children, quite couples eat with
other quite couples or single customers, and young adults with young
adults. its all about predicting the noise levels and what kind of
people walk in, to see if they're having a good day, or a bad day.
even having one person sit at a booth and not a chair because that
person is loyal to the restaraunt and can be a larger person who is
not better off sitting on a chair at the table because others need to
get through.
again, this must be due to bad service, especially employees who are
not smiling, thats a big NO NO. They can be sending wrong signals to
the people that they are seving. Customer service there seems to need
more effort and understanding their what YOU want.

Is the OG that you dined at a new one or an older OG. There is a new
OG that opened up near me and the decor is very nice. It is not your
typical OG.

As far as your complaint about not having an endless supply of soup,
salad and breadsticks, did you ask for more breadsticks and they were
not delieverd? Eveytime I have asked for more breadsticks they were
brought out. Some servers will ask if you want more and others will
not.

I agree. But that's why I don't go to Olive Garden.

I have too many good italian restaurants near me to go to a chain. I
went once or twice to OG and was not impressed. Their food always
tasted like it was microwaved to me.

I laugh. I go to a local Tex-Mex restaurant all the time. The food
is excellent as is the staff. It's right across from a Chili's. Even
during the week Chili's will have a line and Pancho's will have open
tables. I commented one night that I just don't understand people
waiting for so-so Tex Mex when they can get served immediately right
across the street. We actually found this place when we headed to
Chili's and found they had an hours wait.

"The noise level is always loud because they cram so many people in a
not so big space.".... Ever been to a real Italian place??? WOW can be
very loud, kind of what is expected unless you are looking for
something romantic and quite, a few of those are around also.

I kind of like Olive Garden personally, but if mine were like yours I
don't know that I'd be a fan either. It is true that the easiest
solution to your problem would be to find another restaurant, but it's
also important that you let them know about this problem that is
keeping you (and probably others) from returning.

I absolutely agree, though, that the best way to get homemade Italian
food is to find a local Italian place (or make it yourself if you're
of a culinary bent). In our area, we are lucky to have a large
Italian population so when we want real Italian we go to one of the
local places. We only go to OG when we want something specific (I'm a
fan of their stuffed mushrooms and that steak gorgonzola pasta - maybe
not 'real' Italian, but tasty). I'd suggest checking around in your
area and finding something more authentic if you really want Italian.

Personally..I think it is a matter of location. We have two in my
area..one is better than the other. I like Olive Garden..it's where we
go when we want something "different" (we tend to go out for steak or
seafood), and we relax there. It's become "the girls are stressed out
and need to chill" type of lunch for us.

Now..I traveled to Santa Fe, Mexico.and we went to an Oive Garden
there. Our server was the best!! We never had to stop her to ask for
more bread sticks..and our salads were promptly brought out when she
noted the bowl empty!!

So, again..it's a matter of location..and you might consider speaking
to their manager..(all except for the decor thing...that's
nationwide).

Sorry you have had such poor experiences. Personally, I love the
atmosphere at Olive Garden, as well as the decor. Very casual, fun,
etc.

I do agree with you regarding bread sticks and salad. At both
locations near me, it is like pulling teeth to get these items
refilled, especially the breadsticks.

I have noticed they always seem to bring one LESS bread stick than the
number of people at the table ( unless its only two people) when you
ask for a refill.

very annoying!

The simple solution is to stop going there. End of story.

Then (unless you know someone who cooks it) you need to find an
authentic Italian restaurant. Olive Garden with its oil laden bread
sticks and sometimes broken sauces isn't it. How about some real
garlic bread?

It is the local places that you need to eat at if you want good
Italian food.

As for the host not smiling and texting on the phone, many
establishments these days have immature and inappropriately placed
staff. It is pretty shocking. At most Olive Gardens I have been to
it is pretty much the same. I think if you go to an independent
restaurant you'll be much happier.

As for bringing out more salad, I have always had that offered, and if
not it is still brought out promptly. Same with the breadsticks,
which I now avoid if I find myself in an OG. I don't know what is
going on at the one you visited.

I can't stand McDonalds. Their substandard, over processed food is
disgusting. Their restaurants are always nasty. The service is
undeniably pathetic.

But guess what? I don't go there.

I am just curious as to why you would try Olive Garden "time and time
again" if they never live up to your expectations. I might go
somewhere twice on the chance that the first time I went was an off
day or something, but more than two bad visits would just be a waste
of my time and money.

Must just be the one near you. We have been to OG Twice in the last
month. They are having their "Never-ending Pasta Bowls". YUMMY! We
have also been there several times and have ALWAYS had great service.
We get loads of bread sticks and salads. We are a bit picky about the
salad and ask them everything to take a few things off. They do with
out a problem. When we went there a few weeks ago, the General
Manager was walking around talking to people. We chatted with here a
moment. My husband mentioned that he would like a different sauce
(NOT on their list) for the Pasta Bowls. She gave us her card and
said next time we come in to ask for it and said that she said it was
all right. When we went in just this Saturday, he asked for it. The
server said "We can't do that" I piped up and said, "xxx said we
could." He then said "Not a problem then!"

Everything as ALWAYS been good and service and always been great. NO
matter what time we go.

jeannine s.,

For the most part this is good feedback.

IMHO where it falls short is it lacks specifics as to the location(s)
in question.

While the decor and menu issue might be systemwide I doubt seriously
that the other issues are present in all their locations.

BillR.