My fault -just venting!

[JessicaR]

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?

 

[marcyinPA]

If it makes you feel any better, I've done the same thing once before too.

And we like to call the place the "Olive Pit"...not one of our favorites- expensive mass produced Italian food.

 

[JessicaR]

If it makes you feel any better, I've done the same thing once before too.

And we like to call the place the "Olive Pit"...not one of our favorites- expensive mass produced Italian food.

Are you kidding - that makes me feel great, misery loves company! Your definition is right on.

 

[MusiqChic99]

I have under tipped before because I read it wrong or just took a slight glance. Then I get home and DH says "did you hate the service or something". LOL

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.

 

[chuckml]

I used to tend bar at an Olive Garden many moons ago. Needless to say, I've seen the kitchen, and how the food is made/prepped. The managers instructed all waitstaff to tell customers that all pasta, including lasagna, was made fresh daily. That is absolutely not the case. They rarely threw anything out, even if it was obviously "past its prime". I would never eat at an Olive Garden again after seeing what I saw while working there. Probably the dirtiest kitchen I ever saw while I was in the restaurant biz.

 

[dngnb8]

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

Youre surprised? Um its Olive Garden! I equate the food there to Dennys

Current

Manchester United 63 pts Mah Boyz
Arsenal 58 pts
Chelsea 54 pts HA HA!

 

[FlightlessDuck]

I'm sure your server didn't mind

 

[JessicaR]

Youre surprised? Um its Olive Garden! I equate the food there to Dennys

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

 

[JessicaR]

I'm sure your server didn't mind

Exactly! it certainly didnt suck for him.

 

[DrCavin]

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

 

[dngnb8]

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

Its American Italian. I was raised on traditional Italian. There are few places that serve passable Italian food to me. The best Restaurant Italian from a chain is Buca de Beppo. Understand, its still a chain, but the food is good.

If I truly want a traditional Italian meal...... I make it. Ive always said my Grandma ruined me because I cant really eat out and get Italian.

And for those of you who are confused

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

 

[Magic Mom]

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?

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.

 

[mjkacmom]

Its American Italian. I was raised on traditional Italian. There are few places that serve passable Italian food to me. The best Restaurant Italian from a chain is Buca de Beppo. Understand, its still a chain, but the food is good.

If I truly want a traditional Italian meal...... I make it. Ive always said my Grandma ruined me because I cant really eat out and get Italian.

And for those of you who are confused

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

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).

 

[JessicaR]

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.

Thats a nice way of looking at it. Thanks I enjoy doing things like that its just that I like to know I'm doing it!

 

[dngnb8]

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).

Im in Phoenix... I have to settle for Buca di Beppo

 

[JessicaR]

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).

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!

 

[disneyquestions]

This happened to us in Disney. It happened on our first night, and we didn't realize it till our next meal (and every meal after that...) when the waitress made sure to let us know that the gratuity was already added. We were also a large party, so it was added in every time - however, the first waitress never said a thing. I'm glad to be going on the Dining Plan this time!

 

[minniecarousel]

Usually on the menu somewhere, it states that an 18% gratuity is added for parties of 6 or more. It's something to keep an eye on.

Thankfully, we don't have an Olive Garden nearby. Their commercials crack me up - they send 100 chefs to Italy every year! Too bad they don't practice at home what they learned in Italy.

 

[si-am]

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

 

[PatsMom]

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 do think I made up for the OP's overtipping one time. The only time in my life that I can remember not tipping at all - or under a dollar anyhow - was at an Olive Garden. It was a Sunday afternoon and just me and my daughter were there. She wanted pasta so I figured why not. The waiter was obviously not happy to be serving a child's meal and a plate of ravioli along with a glass of water! Back in those days I used to tip at least 30% because I recognized that my bill was not large but I was taking up a table. If the service was good I would tip even more.

This waiter was horrendously slow. Our food was cold when it arrived and it wasn't because he was busy with other tables - I could see him hanging around the kitchen door area chatting with other servers. He never came back to see if we wanted anything, never refilled my water glass, never offered grated cheese. Eventually he did come and ask if everything was OK - by then we had been done eating for 15 minutes. Took him another 20 minutes to return with the bill. I had just enough cash to cover the bill, rounded up to the next dollar. I told my daughter that if we had to wait for him to run a card, we would still be there for dinner! So he got just about what he deserved for a tip!