My fault -just venting!

[npmommie]

Last night my family and extended family ate at Olive Garden. We were a party of 11. The bill comes at the end and I am busy with my 2 year old nephew so not paying attention at all. I look at the bottom line - add the 20% and pay cash. My dad calls me today - how much was that bill last night? I asked why and he said seemed like a lot of $ for Olive Garden. Never crossed my mind but we never eat at Olive Garden either. Sure enough the bill had an 18% gratuity added to it already. I know better with large parties just wasnt paying attention.

I have no intention of doing/saying anything and I hope the kid gets something nice with the extra $50. If it were me I would have mentioned the gratuity was added. I did thank my Dad for snapping me out of my ignorant bliss and making me aware of what I did.

Thank you - I feel better.

BTW - I thought the food quality wasnt up to par. Whats the appeal with this place?

I don't get the appeal either. it is terrible food if you ask me and way way overpriced.

being so close to Boston's north end we have no need for olive garden.

If it makes you feel better, you probably made that server's day (or week). He doesn't know you made a mistake, he just thinks you are an incredibly generous person.

yes that is what i was going to say.

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

And I used to LOVE Olive Garden it was my favorite place. But now I hate it. If I do go because others want to eat there, I only eat the salad, breadsticks and get soup...their soup is really good. Other then that it's just not good.

If you need your Olive Garden soup fix here is a recipe for Pasta Fagioli that is pretty much identical and very easy to make. I just cook the pasta separate instead of adding it in.

http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2008/10/day-305.html

 

[MushyMushy]

I confess, I do like OG once in a while. I like the soup & breadsticks. LOVE their sangria. We have a couple of restaurants where we can get "real" Italian, but once in a while OG hits the spot.

 

[DisneyBeagle]

BTW - I thought the food quality wasnt up to par. Whats the appeal with this place?

I too don't think the food at Olive Garden is that good. Here's my theory on why the Olive Garden is always packed...People like the unlimited soup or salad and breadsticks with their meals. it makes them feel like they are "getting their money's worth."

 

[Deb in IA]

Nope not surprised in the least. Just wondering what the appeal is.

I don't get the attraction to OG either. We drive by & the place is packed!!

I've never understood the appeal of Olive Garden either. I eat there once in a while when one is nearby because some family members like it. The salad is good - but it is hard to mess it up. The food is not exactly inspired!

I don't get the appeal either. it is terrible food if you ask me and way way overpriced.

I totally don't get it either.

We have an Olive Garden here. It has been open for a while now - at least 5 years. On occasion, we have tried to get in there, even at off times, like at 4 pm on a Tuesday night - and we've always been told wait times of 45 minutes to an hour!

The worst was when we tried to go at 7 pm on a Friday night at my parents' town. We were given a 2 1/2 hour wait time!! Needless to say, we went elsewhere.

What is the deal with this place??

 

[Debbie7452]

I actually like Olive Garden; then again, I'm in the South and we aren't exactly known for our Italian cuisine.

I'm kind of ashamed that I also like it. Then again, I'm also here in the South. I'll bet I would hate the Mexican food you guys have up north...

 

[tasha99]

I like Olive Garden. I don't love it, and I wouldn't wait to be seated, but I think the food is okay. I don't care all that much for their salad/breadsticks because I'm not an iceberg lettuce fan, but their pasta is edible. It's a "I don't feel like cooking" restaurant, rather than a special occasion restaurant. Of course, the Italian restaurant I love is much, much better with truly fresh, homemade pasta, but dinner for two there is 2 times as much as at the Olive Garden. If only we would get a local high quality Italian restaurant that isn't high price . . .

 

[JCJRSmith]

I'm kind of ashamed that I also like it. Then again, I'm also here in the South. I'll bet I would hate the Mexican food you guys have up north...

Well, I am not ashamed to say I like Olive Garden. I have always liked Olive Garden.

 

[mjkacmom]

I only admit to it because my 13 year old picked it! The commercials drew him in. It was his Confirmation. We tried to sway him, no such luck.

We also have many excellent Italian restaurants in the vicinity and I am an every Sunday sauce makin good Italian girl! Mostly anyway - all the good parts!

Lol - just noticed your location! Dd14 talked us into Red Lobster a few years ago - gross!

 

[Debbie7452]

Congrats on the Confirmation! My DD is being confirmed this year. You confirm young there. We do it here in 11th grade. I wonder if she will pick Olive Garden??

 

[avgeek81]

I was staying at Planet Hollywood in Vegas and almost every night we would stop at the resteraunt and get coffe and a sandwich to share. They make you sit at table and someone brings you your food even if you are just getting take out. Since someone brougt us the food we left a couple dollars tip. So after like the third or fourth day my cousin went there for lunch while the rest of us were on a tour and noticed that they charged a take out fee so we were paying a take out fee and leaving a tip and wondering why the food was so expensive

 

[Mrs.Toad]

Italian is not pronounced... Eye'-tal-yen. The country isnt Eye-tal-lee

This is one of my pet peeves!

I can take or leave Olive Garden. I can make better Italian food, or get better at other restaurants, but it's not that bad. Funny, a lot of people like their breadsticks, but I think they are awful. Too hard and dry. I think Fazoli's makes a better breadstick, but I like them soft!

Another funny thing. My dad was born and raised in Sicily, lived only there and in Florence until moving to the U.S. when he was 38. He loved the Olive Garden!

 

[mjkacmom]

Congrats on the Confirmation! My DD is being confirmed this year. You confirm young there. We do it here in 11th grade. I wonder if she will pick Olive Garden??

11th grade? My kids are bummed they have to wait until 9th! I made my in middle school.

 

[rigs32]

I remember when Buca de Beppo was just a great Italian place in Minneapolis. A favorite special occasion place for groups, since the food was family style.

Then I moved across the country and was excited that a franchise opened in my new place. They didn't do so well, but also didn't really explain the family style concept so people just thought the food was really expensive when they looked at the menu.

 

[Agri]

Carraba's is the only Italian chain that I like. I can't stand Olive Garden!!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I do like the salad and breadsticks. I don't HATE it but it is not my first choice for sure.

I am still waiting to try Maggiano's.

Here in St. Louis we have many Italian restaurants, esp. on "The Hill".

 

[deedeecee]

Not a big Olive Garden fan. It seems like every time I try it, I am disappointed, unless I get the soup. Love the soup.
I remember going back to New Orleans to visit friends and family. New Orleans is the place to be if you've got an appetite -- so many fabulous restaurants. I was with my friend, and she mentioned that she wanted me to go to this great restaurant that she had just discovered. It sounded great ... until we rounded the corner and an Olive Garden loomed in the distance.
So many great places to eat and she chooses Olive Garden? Just my luck.

 

[LilyWDW]

Carraba's is the only Italian chain that I like. I can't stand Olive Garden!!

Agreed. My boyfriend always would complain how expensive Carrabba's is... then I pulled out the Olive Garden Menu. Carrabba's was only like $2 or so more then Olive Garden and their food is much much better.

Dang it... now I want Carrabba's.

 

[klacey1]

I'm lucky that there are literally over 100 restaurants within 15 minutes where I can get good Italian food, from all regions. No one I know would ever admit to going to Olive Garden, or any chain Italian restaurants. And I can't you how many times people I know here have complained about Italian restaurants on vacations like cruises (and yes, WDW).

Gotta love living in the tristate
I do think your waiter should have mentioned that gratuity was included. However, chalk it up to spreading some pixie dust. I'm sure it made their week!
I don't get the appeal of OG either. We have soooo many amazing Italian restaurants close by and yet, the wait at Olive Garden can reach 2+ hours on a Saturday night.

 

[JessicaR]

Congrats on the Confirmation! My DD is being confirmed this year. You confirm young there. We do it here in 11th grade. I wonder if she will pick Olive Garden??

hahaha just say NO!

I remember making mine when I was older too. Not sure when they changed the age around here. Thanks for the congrats.