Olive Garden chintzy?

[aprilgail2]

Whenever we go they always come back with a pile of mints with the check--if there is 3 of us there is usually 7 or 8 mints!! Guess they must think we have bad breath LOL

 

[disney1990]

I would have wanted to say, "Okay, using your logic we will deduct the 5th person's meal from your tip.". Bet you would've gotten a handful of mints then!

I'm kidding. I wouldn't have said it. But I would've thought it!

I'm not sure that I would not have said that. Really, 4 mints for 5 people - Oh my goodness!!!

 

[redlight]

As I wrote in the other thread, I like Olive Garden, though I haven't been there recently (none near me, and I'm not seeking them out). The quality of service varies so much between different branches that it's hard to make sweeping statements about chains.

 

[IDoDis]

The waiter must have been miffed that he had to calculate separate checks and then a coupon on top of that ! When we go to dinner there, we have one check, yet there are 4 people in our family. We always get 4 mints -- sometimes extra.

I do agree though that OG is getting cheap. Their portion sizes are are pretty small. One time when the waiter asked if we'd like a dipping sauce with our breadsticks? I said, "Sure." He gave us a couple of choices, so we chose alfredo sauce. It came in a tiny dish that had enough sauce in it for about 6 or 7 dips of bread. Then it was gone.

When we got the bill, we were charged $2.95 for that teeny tiny dish of sauce! I thought it was complimentary! Never again will I fall for that!

Oh, and OG is notorious for charging full price for the drinks when your kids order a kids meal, but the waiter brings it in a regular glass. So watch your bills! I have to call them on it almost every time on DS's kids meal and get them to change the bill!!!

And one other thing -- DS likes a meatball with his spaghetti. The kid's serving is absolutely tiny and does not come with a meatball. He asked for a meatball in it, and we had to pay $2.50 or some ridiculous amount for a darn meatball!!!

 

[cm8]

The waiter must have been miffed that he had to calculate separate checks and then a coupon on top of that ! When we go to dinner there, we have one check, yet there are 4 people in our family. We always get 4 mints -- sometimes extra.

I do agree though that OG is getting cheap. Their portion sizes are are pretty small. One time when the waiter asked if we'd like a dipping sauce with our breadsticks? I said, "Sure." He gave us a couple of choices, so we chose alfredo sauce. It came in a tiny dish that had enough sauce in it for about 6 or 7 dips of bread. Then it was gone.

When we got the bill, we were charged $2.95 for that teeny tiny dish of sauce! I thought it was complimentary! Never again will I fall for that!

Oh, and OG is notorious for charging full price for the drinks when your kids order a kids meal, but the waiter brings it in a regular glass. So watch your bills! I have to call them on it almost every time on DS's kids meal and get them to change the bill!!!

And one other thing -- DS likes a meatball with his spaghetti. The kid's serving is absolutely tiny and does not come with a meatball. He asked for a meatball in it, and we had to pay $2.50 or some ridiculous amount for a darn meatball!!!

, talk about nickel and dime -ing a person. I bet if you knew that in advance you would have ordered him an adult meal huh

 

[emer95]

They also won't sing anymore if it's your birthday. I know that's a minor thing, but that was always my kids' "go-to" place for their b-days, and we would order them a little cake and the waiters would sign to them and they would feel special. On my daughter's last birthday we were told, "We can't do that anymore. We've changed our policy."

It's their right to change their policy, but that's the highlight of my kids' going out to eat experience on their b-days. We go to Red Robin now. So twice a year, Olive Garden is losing out on big money from THIS family! :lol:

 

[HappyGilmore]

This doesn't surprise me at all. I ate at OG with my department at work there was only 4 of us in the both. When the waitress brought our salad there was only 3 tomatoe slices in the salad. Once the waitress returned we asked if we could have a few more tomatoes and her reply was the only give one per person. We were all like and by the way we never got our 4th tomatoe.

 

[HappyGilmore]

On the other hand, I remember when the restaurants at the Magic Kingdom and Epcot used to give out a lot of large wrapped chocolates and I haven't seen that in years.

We ate at the German place @ Epcot for our preferred dining the night we went to the Candlelight Processional. Our kids were given a round gold coin larger than silver dollar that was chocolate by the singers who called all te chidlren up for a Christmas Song and story.

 

[libraryfreak]

OP here, sorry it took so long to get back in on the conversation.

When the waiter came to take the payments, one of our group asked if we could have more mints, and when he returned he had 8. I don't think he counted this time though, it was more like a handful and that was how many he could hold in his hand.

Just think, when my friends and I are old (not too long from now), we'll be telling this story in the nursing home. Nothing like building memories together!

 

[Tikitoi]

Has to be an oversight, when it is me and DD13 we always get 2.

 

[aprilgail2]

They also won't sing anymore if it's your birthday. I know that's a minor thing, but that was always my kids' "go-to" place for their b-days, and we would order them a little cake and the waiters would sign to them and they would feel special. On my daughter's last birthday we were told, "We can't do that anymore. We've changed our policy."

:

hmmm that must vary by location because we were there on Sunday and they sang for some family for their birthday!

 

[tlbwriter]

OP here, sorry it took so long to get back in on the conversation.

When the waiter came to take the payments, one of our group asked if we could have more mints, and when he returned he had 8. I don't think he counted this time though, it was more like a handful and that was how many he could hold in his hand.

Oh, okay, I didn't realize he addressed the situation. I feel better about him now.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

OP here, sorry it took so long to get back in on the conversation.

When the waiter came to take the payments, one of our group asked if we could have more mints, and when he returned he had 8. I don't think he counted this time though, it was more like a handful and that was how many he could hold in his hand.

So much for Olive Garden being cheap. 12 mints for 5 people seems excessive.

 

[BunsenH]

I'm releved that I don't go to the Olive Garden and don't like mints (I would leave them on the table.)...........................Who needs the drama!

 

[tripletots]

We were at the OG at the end of Dec. celebrating our triplets 13th birthday. There were 7 of us and we got 14 mints. Two for each of us! They didn't even know we were celebrating birthdays.

We go there because I can get gift cards through American Express rewards program. We don't eat out often. Maybe 2 or 3 times a year. (Not counting Chick-fil-A).

 

[BuzzBiteyear]

OP, I appoligize, I think I might know what happened. About a month ago my family took my mother out for her birthday. There were only 6 of us and our server brought us at least a dozen Andes mints with our bill. Olive Garden is probably just trying to get their Andes inventory back in line due to my group getting way too many.

Seriously, that is just tacky by the server. Had you already given him his tip? I know it definitely would have affected what tip I had given him with that sort of response.

 

[Carnie]

Also, if you are a fan of the Andes, don't go on a Monay.

A lot of times the restaurant underorders the mints because of budgeting and waste, so after being busy all weekend, they tend to be out of them.

It's called "No Mint Monday".

Next time you are in an OG, ask your server if they know about No Mint Monday.