Originally Posted By Donny I hope so <a href="http://bottomline.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/24/10225794-can-olive-garden-be-fixed-quit-snickering-foodies" target="_blank">http://bottomline.msnbc.msn.co...-foodies</a>
Originally Posted By dagobert I hope so too. We loved that restaurant during our time in the US. We have been to Olice garden in Pittsburgh, Toledo, OH, and Columbus, OH.
Originally Posted By ecdc I can't tell if this whole thread is ironic or not. I sure hope it is, cause Olive Garden, deserved butt of many late night jokes, is just bloody awful.
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder First thing that occurs to, me- this is a World Event? But hey, since this was put here.... Second thing- their commercials were so horribly unrealistic I wanted to puke. Third thing- if we're ever in the mood for Italian food, the last place we'd go is to some faux Italian place like Olive Garden. Been to one twice, which was two times too many. Fourth thing- I'm sorry people would lose their jobs if the place goes under, but if they can turn it around and ditch those asinine commercials, more power to them.
Originally Posted By gurgitoy2 I didn't realize that Olive Garden and Red Lobster were owned by the same company. In my opinion, Red Lobster has gone downhill over the years too. I only go there when I have to (I have friends who love it...) So, I've seen the downfall. I also have foodie friends who tear Olive Garden and Red Lobster (and most big chain restaurants) apart. I'm somewhere in the middle. They are not my favorite places to go, but when forced to eat at either one, I can usually find something edible...or at least not god-awful.
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder I challenge anyone to go to a Red Lobster and actually find lobster. They'll throw shrimp at you bythe shovel full, but lobster? It's there, but it's well, ..........
Originally Posted By Rsey103 >>Second thing- their commercials were so horribly unrealistic I wanted to puke. << agree
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan It's amazing to me how much people hate Olive Garden. I'm not sure why, the food tastes good to me. We've really never had bad service at the one near home. On the other hand, Red Lobster isn't appealing to me. It always tastes greasy and heavy. And yet, there's almost always a wait to get a table, lots of people clearly love it.
Originally Posted By skinnerbox Red Lobster and Olive Garden are nothing but glorified fast food restaurants in a sit down setting. There are far better chain restaurants to patronize than these places, such as Applebee's, which I'm not particularly a fan of, either. But at least restaurant chains like Applebee's are attempting to address the 'hidden calories' conundrum for diners who have health concerns and/or are trying to eat less junk. As for 2oony's comment that lots of people love Red Lobster, it's because of the fat content. Fat tastes good. And if you ever knew just how many calories are in their entrees (mostly from fat), you'd blow out an artery right there at the table.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>But at least restaurant chains like Applebee's are attempting to address the 'hidden calories' conundrum for diners who have health concerns and/or are trying to eat less junk.<< The have some lighter Weight Watchers offerings, but like all restaurants, they are lawfully now required to list the calorie content of their meals. I just don't get why Olive Garden is singled out as being worse than other chain restaurants. They all play by the same rules in regards to revealing calorie information -- because they're forced to.
Originally Posted By ecdc >>It's amazing to me how much people hate Olive Garden. I'm not sure why, the food tastes good to me.<< Now you know how I feel about you hating Goonies. This'll sound snobbish but I'm really not a foodie. I don't watch Food Network, I think plenty of the food at Disneyland is just fine. But I despise the big chain restaurants. I do not get how anyone can chew that food and not taste that they just thawed and reheated it in the back. Chilis, Olive Garden, TGI Fridays, Red Robin, Applebees, Cheesecake Factory...I better stop. This'll be a long list. I'll take my chances on an empty hole in the wall than one of these places.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan There are some great little hole-in-the-wall places. But some of those are plopping stuff out of cans to a greater degree than the chains you mentioned. Ah, well. Some people think Taste Pilot's Grill is delicious. To each their own.
Originally Posted By hopemax When Olive Gardens first started popping up in the 90's. Loved it. Breadsticks, food was decent, and I used to get a chocolate lasagna to go. But, the couple of times in this millennium when I've eaten there, breadsticks have still been good. But the entree does seem like something that has been pre-plated and reheated when someone ordered it. That's our biggest problem, the food doesn't seem fresh. We find ourselves eating at Macaroni Grill if we want chain Italian food. Red Lobster, never been that big of a fan except for the cheesy biscuits. But a few months ago, I stumbled upon a "make it at home" recipe that tastes pretty good, even if it isn't really that close to ones from Red Lobster.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Olive Garden isn't great Italian, but it is at least as good as the fare available from other national chains like Applebee's or Ruby Tuesday. My main problem with Olive Garden is the way their prices have increased over the years... $15 per entree is just too much to pay for mass-produced pasta. As for Red Lobster... they used to be good 30 years ago. Then someone bought a damned deep-fryer and it has been downhill ever since!!
Originally Posted By DyGDisney Olive Garden has become too pricey. In fact, all of the big chain restaurants ecdc mentioned have become way too expensive. My family of 4 used to be able to go out for $30, including the tip. Now it's more like $50 and we almost always have horrible service. We don't even bother with that type of restaurant anymore. For a chain restaurant I'd rather go to someplace like Rubios, which is quick, inexpensive and consistent.
Originally Posted By DyGDisney I did eat at Red Lobster once, about 5 years ago (I don't like seafood). I had a chicken fettucine dish and it was one of the best things I've ever eaten. I'm sure it was super bad for me, but tasted so good!
Originally Posted By vbdad55 OLive Garden is horrific - grossly overpriced 'Italian inspired' food. They run these commercials about how their chefs train in Italy. The people cooking in these places couldn't spell Italy. In cities like Chicago where there are so many really good Italian restaurants- at far better prices- Olive Garden is not an option.
Originally Posted By Sara Tonin Since when is a restaurant chain closing a WOrld Event...Community at best...Idgaf. I think my local mini chains are more important to my local economy. (Lolita's and Roberto's, I love you.)
