What's good at Olive Garden?

[dngnb8]

We are planning to go to Olive Garden this week-my first time going there.

What dishes are good?

I'm in my first trimester of pregnancy, so I'm trying to avoid seafood, anything smoked, sausage, and bacon.

I love Italian food though!!

How's the pasta and marinara sauce in general? Is the meat sauce good? Lasagna? Meatballs? Chicken Parm?

Thanks!

If you truly love Italian food, go to an Italian Restaurant. OG isnt one.

The salad is okay. Other then that.... Sorry.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Me again...

Olive Garden does have a few things we like.
I tried the lasagna - never again.
It is not one of the things worth ordering.
It was just heavy and salty and 'processed' tasting.
NOT like a good homemade lasagna or one from an actual good italian restaurant.

There are many other things on the menu that are much better.

Try to stick to items that are actually put together by the chef, to order... Not something that comes out of a big pan or vat...

And, again... I wish they would PLEASE do something about those nasty store-bought hot dog bun breadsticks... the only thing that makes them edible is that they are warm and do have garlic on them.

 

[LisaR]

They have those little red peppermint candies near the exit. I think that is about as good as it gets from Olive Garden.

 

[Patience]

Olive Garden is not my favorite but I occasionally go there for lunch meetings. The zuppa toscana (soup) is good and I always order soup instead of the salad. The chicken scampi is pretty good for an entree.

 

[smitch425]

OG is one of my favorite places! I always get the lasagna rollata al forno and the zuppa toscana soup. They take the lasagna noodles and stand them up and fill them with TONS of yummy cheeses and cover it in cheesy marinara sauce. For some reason, I don't like meat in my pasta so this is the best dish for me.

 

[smitch425]

They have those little red peppermint candies near the exit. I think that is about as good as it gets from Olive Garden.

That sounds more like O'Charley's. Any OG I've ever been to gives you little chocolate mints (Andes) at the table with your check.

 

[Nancy]

That sounds more like O'Charley's. Any OG I've ever been to gives you little chocolate mints (Andes) at the table with your check.

That's what we get.

 

[LisaR]

That sounds more like O'Charley's. Any OG I've ever been to gives you little chocolate mints (Andes) at the table with your check.

OMG! You are right and I knew that. Why on earth did I write that? I was typing in the middle of that horrible Nikki Manaj performance on the Grammys and she must have clouded my thinking!

 

[smitch425]

OMG! You are right and I knew that. Why on earth did I write that? I was typing in the middle of that horrible Nikki Manaj performance on the Grammys and she must have clouded my thinking!

It IS confusing because they both start with "O" and they are both green. That performance was TOTALLY bizarre!

 

[AndreaDM]

The wine is about the only thing I can tolerate from OG. We haven't eaten there in almost 5 years and it was because we were out of town and it was the only place close to our hotel. 4 out of the 5 of us got sick before we even left the place. It's affected me for over 20 years so I rarely ate there, and after the last visit we nailed it down to the salad, my youngest didn't have any salad and she was the only one not running to the bathroom. I found out later from an ex-employee that they get their salad in HUGE bags full of a liquid preservative and that must be what we're not able to tolerate.

 

[princesspiglet]

Our family really enjoys OG and we usually go about 1x every 2 months. We also have some really great authentic Italian eateries that we frequent more often, and we don't compare OG to those. My favorite on the menu is the Tour of Italy. DH loves the Steak Gorgonzola and DD loves the Chicken Parm. We always get a refill of the salad and breadsticks. Best desert is the White Chocolate Rasberry Cheesecake or the Pumpkin Cheesecake when it is in season. The Tuxedo cake is really good too.

 

[sunsprinkle24]

DH loves their chicken marsala. I can't stand anything there but the salad. All the entrees I have ordered are covered in a thick sauce that I just don't like.

 

[photobob]

I guess my taste buds aren't are sophisticated as others, I like Olive Garden. I like the salad and breadsticks and like the chicken parm and spaghetti with meatballs. Glad to hear they have a lighter dressing.

 

[st4rrab0vemybed]

I love the Olive Garden! I haven't been in a long time, but when I used to go, I always enjoyed the food. I like when they have those limited time specials.

Just think of the OG like Taco Bell. No where near authentic, but good for whatever it is.

 

[MomofKatie]

Echoing what a lot of others have already posted- salad is good, not too much else is memorable in any way. Not at all authentic Italian, but not Chef Boyardee either. We would prefer to visit local, mom & pop places any day over OG.

When we do go, DD loves the cheese ravioli. I usually stick with the soup/salad/breadsticks and we share the bruschetta appetizer. DH won't go with us- he hates the place.

 

[rndmr2]

I LOVE the Chicken and Gnocchi soup! The breadsticks are good. There is also a Venetian Apricot chicken that is pretty good and was reasonable points value when I did weight watchers recently (I really sould go back to that but that's another post...) Their Alfredo is good too.

The little dessert shooters are good, too, bigger than you'd think so even just one is enough to satisfy a dessert craving.

I like their Bellini Peach raspberry iced tea, but it was better when they made it fresh, they used a peach syrup in the reg iced tea, I think it is a mix now.

 

[happygirl]

I think Olive Garden is doing the 4 course meal for 12.95 can't beat that deal

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

I like it when they have the never ending pasta bowl. I eat whatever I can, and then take the leftovers home for another time.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Have to say I do enjoy the salad and breadsticks. By the time I eat that, I am full.

 

[design_mom]

The Tiramisu is really good IMO.

If I don't just get the soup and salad, I get the angel hair pasta with the fresh tomatoes and basil.(I don't remember the name of it)

That's called capellini pomodoro, I think. That's what I usually get, too.

I agree with others. It's not authentic or "foodie" in any way... But my family usually has a nice time there.