How many think Olive Garden is Italian Food?
 

LOL! Not!

Processed dough with ketchup, and a hint of garlic. Nasty! Nasty!:Oh crap

I understand some people may not have access to authentic Italian, but when you do you will know what I am talking about.

Someone had a get together at an Olive Garden yesterday, I ordered the bottled water and it was not half bad.:winkwink:

I think Carrabas is more Italian, i'm not too big on pastas but they have a few good things.

I got stuck eating there once when I was on tour many years ago(the tour bus stops and you only have a couple places to choose from-so it was that or fast food.) I can't say it was awful because it didn't really have any taste. Nothing like Italion food(I grew up eating the real deal-my mother is from Italy.)

Why not just eat at East Side Mario's... That's pretty Italian... Ha...
I've never eaten at the Garden... Normally, that wouldn't stop me from cutting something up... but I'm feeling fair today...

xXx

I've been there once, and I thought it was crap food. I thought it was just because I was in the only Canadian Olive Garden.. but I guess it's just as good as the american ones.

For some great Italian food...

Go to a little place on Mullberry St in little Italy New York City.
It's called "La Mela"

I remember going to the Olive Garden several years ago and it wasn't too bad, not authentic but what I ordered was pretty good.
Went there earlier this year and I'm pretty sure I ordered the same thing (I always order mushroom ravioli) and it was not good at all. And it was served luke warm at best. Even their salad tasted crappy.

Maybe my tastes have changed, or maybe like every other big chain restaurant they have just don't care anymore. Who knows.

I just eat the potato soup there

It's and "Italian like" substance at best :)

It is real Italian like Taco Bell is real Mexican...

Olive Garden is the McDonald's of Italian Food.

Never been there once... their logo looks like an appliance store

The Olive Garden in Abbotsford/Mission?

Not a bad place considering... You are in Abbotsford.

It's fast food Italian, or about as fast food as Italian can get. It's good to take your screaming kids to join in with other screaming kids.

Nothing will ever replace the little dive Italian restaurants, they produce sparks of heaven in your mouth.

There are more than a couple great spots to hit on Mulberry.

Olive Garden is the McDonald's of Italian food.

:1orglaugh Looks like Anthony and I are thinking alike.

Speaking of McDonald's, does anyone remember when they tried to do Italian and would actually serve you at your table?

My goodness no, that is NOT what I would consider Italian. I ate their once many many years ago and couldn't believe the place had repeat patrons and still operating.

I grew up in an Italian family so an Italian chain restaurant was unheard of to me until college. When I tried Olive Garden I couldn't get past the first bite.

It SUCKS.

If you want great Italian food, skip the Mulberry St. tourist traps and go to the REAL Little Italy in NYC...Belmont-Arthur District in the Bronx.

I am not an olive garden fan

Olive Garden is like the McDonald's of Italian food.


Edit: looks like that's been said a few times already. That confirms it. :D

in Langley, yes :) that's a good point, but there is some nice stuff coming up in the area. I always just wanted to try it out.


Btw, is this normal for olive garden to do? My gf wanted to take her food home, and they dump the food into the takehome box right in front of your table? It was the strangest thing to me...

Alot of places do that. Some just give you the box, and you do it yourself.

Natch! :)

Have you started training?!

Its the McDonalds of Italian restaurants

Italian or not, it's not half bad... beats eating at McDonalds, lol...

No way. Only the mom and pop Italian restaurants are real authentic Italian food.

I'm Italian so definitely not :1orglaugh

I've been there a few times. Best Italian dining experience you can get... IMO. :thumbsup

It is mass market Americanized Italian food.
Just like black Angus is not really a good steak house.
Nor does hooters have good wings.
Wienersnitzel isnt a hot dog place.
Taco bell is just Americanized Mexican food.
Red Lobster is not really a seafood place of quality.

Yet keep in mind if Chef Boyardee did not start canning and selling ravioli most would not have a damn clue about Italian food anyways.

Wow, I missed this post when I made my 1st reply. I could not agree more. I had La Mela the first time I went to NYC and ended up dining there 2 out of the 4 nights of my stay. You have no idea what is on the menu from night to night.. they just start bring out courses. Yum.

My parents bought their first house from the original founders of Chef Boyardee.

I agree with everything you said. That;s also what saddens me most about the area we live in. Mainly commercialized, chains... not many mom and pop places :disgust

Anthony if your Italian and have used McDonald's and Olive Garden in the same sentence, you are hereby sentenced to 1 year back in the old country for punishment.:winkwink:

Please stop making so much logical sense in your comparisons, people may catch on and then know the difference between good and bad food.:1orglaugh

That was my first job ever, Thank you Olive garden for giving me free breadsticks and Pasta Fagouli

Try the "Tour of Italy"

It's not that bad. Fazzolis is way worse

no, it's ALL bad.

agreed. I go there once in a while with my daughter and have found a dish or two that is okay as long as you have wine to wash it down with

The Olive Garden's a lot closer to real "Italian Food" than most of the places we refer to as "Chinese" are to real "Chinese Food."

:2 cents:

I like their breadsticks and house salad:hitit

:throwup

the bread sticks is where it's at. Go there once a year probs to get down with those.

I thought it was authenitic :winkwink:

all u can eat salad!! yum!

Now your talking wine always enhances anything that is bad, in fact if you have enough you might even think White Castle burgers are 5 star food.

No kidding.. its like the Red Lobster of Italian restaurants. Its for people who dont know any better, and think they are eating at an upscale place, with good food.

I don't mind doing it my self.. just weird when they come and do it infront of you. I'm used to them taking it into the back.

I insist on doing it myself. I am not sending my food back and have it handled unnecessarily.

then you have never had real Italian food

I hate ketchup. !!!