I've HAD it with Olive Garden!! - Page 3

replicant_argent · 09-19-2012, 10:08 PM

Stay away from the porky tacos.

cmitch · 09-20-2012, 07:07 AM

I was also reminded of a friend who broke a tooth biting into a large metal clasp that was in her salad.

jluck · 09-20-2012, 07:40 AM

I have been to olive garden probably 10-12 times and I have never had a issue,I wonder if the west coast is managed differently or I was extremely lucky.

Hem · 09-20-2012, 07:42 AM

Ugh, that sounds terrible. I usually never head out to an OG, unless it's for soup and salad with the in-laws. I'd much rather give my money to a locally owned small business than a large chain...plus the wife hates Italian lol. Sorry to hear about your luck though!

Boz · 09-24-2012, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill86

That the one in Cool Springs? I've been there as well, actually last month...holy disappointment Batman! Worst Outback ever. They are definitely shoddy at best.

That be the one

oooo35980 · 09-24-2012, 11:00 AM

I used to love the Olive Garden when I was a kid, my grandmother remembers that and likes to take me there whenever I'm in Nashville. I don't have the heart to tell her that I can barely stand the place now. I just get the fettucini alfredo and it isn't any worse than boiling some dried fettucini and pouring Ragu or Classico alfredo sauce over it.

There were two good locally owned italian restaurants in Charleston when I lived there, I haven't found any good ones since I moved back to Alabama. Huntsville is all about chain restaurants.

CigarNut · 09-24-2012, 01:20 PM

We don't go to Olive Garden except for takeout -- and the only thing we get is their deep-fried (beef) ravioli and marinara sauce. Great snack while watching a game

iaMkcK · 10-27-2012, 03:08 AM

I will say one thing.. I love the hell out of Olive Garden. I was surprised to see so many horrible things happen to you. I know this is an old thread, but I was just digging deep into older threads and this popped up. I've been to about 4 different Olive Garden locations in California, and most if not all have been super sanitary and on top of things. Sorry for your bad luck.

Speaking of Olive Garden, I'll be at one in 12 hours, before going to my local B&M to introduce a buddy of mine to Cigars.

mahtofire14 · 10-27-2012, 03:15 AM

Had a whole tray of food, like 9 full plates dumped on my at an Olive Garden. Will never go again. Didn't even have a manager come up and apologize.

icehog3 · 10-27-2012, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mahtofire14

Had a whole tray of food, like 9 full plates dumped on my at an Olive Garden. Will never go again. Didn't even have a manager come up and apologize.

Did you get some pictures?

mahtofire14 · 10-27-2012, 01:35 PM

Nope, I was 13. Still haven't set foot in one 13 years later.

AlohaStyle · 10-27-2012, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LostAbbott

I am sorry this happened to you, but I gotta ask with a bit of shock on my face, What did you expect?

This is a chain restaurant with people working there who have as much experience as a Denny's or McDonalds employee. They are mostly kids or people who cannot get any other job, who flat out do not care about the food they serve.

Being some one who is clearly very particular about their tastes, I would think you would not go to these kind of places. I know it may be harder, but I do not go to any chain restaurants. Only locally owned, and run places do I visit. With that one rule I am able to control for people who care about their clients, the food, as well as the cleanliness and quality of their establishment.

I hope this does not sounds like I am blaming you or even being down on that, I am just surprised that we have people on here who regularly visit such poor quality places...

I was gonna bite my tongue and just say sorry it happened, but my local bro above hit the nail on the head... won't catch me in those places.

omowasu · 10-27-2012, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlohaStyle

I was gonna bite my tongue and just say sorry it happened, but my local bro above hit the nail on the head... won't catch me in those places.

I did some network installs for those places (WiFi, LAN for registers and PCs, etc) a few years ago... If you think what is in the dining room is questionable, you should see the back rooms where food is prepped. I wont name any chains, but there are a few places I will never eat again because of what I saw.

icehog3 · 10-27-2012, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mahtofire14

Nope, I was 13. Still haven't set foot in one 13 years later.

13 -13. You're due. It's fate.

TGI Fridays sucks donkey nads.

Sauer Grapes · 10-27-2012, 03:12 PM

These chain restaurants are nothing more than fast food that you have to wait on and pay more for. Actually, I'd bet most fast food places are slightly better in a lot of cases.

However, eating at local places doesn't guarantee you'll have better luck. Local places can still be horribly run and still serve bad food due to cutting corners. They all have a bottom line.

I tend to think local chains have the highest success rate for me.

jluck · 10-27-2012, 03:35 PM

Questionable food handleing behind the scenes can be and is consern for any and all forms of food service.

It's the chance one takes for convenience, don't like the notion? Stay home and belly up to that stove. Sheeh its only food.

thebayratt · 10-28-2012, 12:58 PM

Never did like Olive Garden. "Overpriced Top Ramen" is what I call it. Every time I get drug there by the GF, they don't have any meat on the menu. Then when they do, its a "seasonal item", so the next time I go, its not on the menu... How is chicken seasonal???

shark · 10-28-2012, 03:30 PM

Ponderosa comes to mind as really low quality. One time I ate there, it was taking a long time for me to get my food. In fact, everyone else was almost done by the time someone came out and told me they had accidentally dropped my steak on the floor, and had to start over...

10-28-2012, 06:29 PM

I have to say I pretty much hate the olive garden... but I attribute that to the fact a friend of mine worked there and he said that a majority of there entree's come in a bag that they either boil or microwave... maybe that is the source of your rubber bands....

PearlS4 · 10-28-2012, 06:40 PM

Ah, Olive Garden, the "Denny's" of Italian food. I always have to bite my tongue when a co-worker says he went out to a "nice" Italian dinner with his wife, and then mentions "Olive Garden". I don't understand why people like it so much, there a plenty of real Italian restaurants around. Maybe it's the free bread sticks?

09-19-2012, 10:08 PM	#41
replicant_argent Gravy Boat Winnah. Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Pete Location: my attorney has advised against giving this information to insane people Posts: 5,326 Trading: (22)	Re: I've HAD it with Olive Garden!! Stay away from the porky tacos. __________________ www.stogietorch.com Some days call for a stiff Pomade.

09-20-2012, 07:07 AM	#42
cmitch Heads up get down Join Date: Oct 2010 First Name: Clayton Location: NW Alabama by the river Posts: 2,720 Trading: (25)	Re: I've HAD it with Olive Garden!! I was also reminded of a friend who broke a tooth biting into a large metal clasp that was in her salad. __________________ No matter what one's status is in society, cigars are the great equalizer where the affluent and common share a love for the leaf. - Me.

09-20-2012, 07:40 AM	#43
jluck Way out there Join Date: Jan 2012 First Name: Jared Location: Oregon Posts: 1,289 Trading: (12)	Re: I've HAD it with Olive Garden!! I have been to olive garden probably 10-12 times and I have never had a issue,I wonder if the west coast is managed differently or I was extremely lucky.

09-20-2012, 07:42 AM	#44
Hem Feeling at Home Join Date: Jan 2012 First Name: Bill Location: Tampa (Cigar City) Posts: 826 Trading: (13)	Re: I've HAD it with Olive Garden!! Ugh, that sounds terrible. I usually never head out to an OG, unless it's for soup and salad with the in-laws. I'd much rather give my money to a locally owned small business than a large chain...plus the wife hates Italian lol. Sorry to hear about your luck though!

09-24-2012, 11:00 AM	#46
oooo35980 Feeling at Home Join Date: Mar 2011 First Name: Isaiah Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 569 Trading: (3)	Re: I've HAD it with Olive Garden!! I used to love the Olive Garden when I was a kid, my grandmother remembers that and likes to take me there whenever I'm in Nashville. I don't have the heart to tell her that I can barely stand the place now. I just get the fettucini alfredo and it isn't any worse than boiling some dried fettucini and pouring Ragu or Classico alfredo sauce over it. There were two good locally owned italian restaurants in Charleston when I lived there, I haven't found any good ones since I moved back to Alabama. Huntsville is all about chain restaurants.

09-24-2012, 01:20 PM	#47
CigarNut Fck Cancer! Join Date: Jan 2009 First Name: Michael Location: Clermont, Florida Posts: 18,042 Trading: (111*)	Re: I've HAD it with Olive Garden!! We don't go to Olive Garden except for takeout -- and the only thing we get is their deep-fried (beef) ravioli and marinara sauce. Great snack while watching a game __________________ Need Beads? Need Five Finger Bags? 2 of 3 Requirements for use of the CA Rolodex: 100 posts/ 60 day membership/ participation in trade (trader rating). New members can be added at any time.

10-27-2012, 03:08 AM	#48
iaMkcK Feeling at Home Join Date: Oct 2012 First Name: Jarrett Location: SoCal Posts: 570 Trading: (8)	Re: I've HAD it with Olive Garden!! I will say one thing.. I love the hell out of Olive Garden. I was surprised to see so many horrible things happen to you. I know this is an old thread, but I was just digging deep into older threads and this popped up. I've been to about 4 different Olive Garden locations in California, and most if not all have been super sanitary and on top of things. Sorry for your bad luck. Speaking of Olive Garden, I'll be at one in 12 hours, before going to my local B&M to introduce a buddy of mine to Cigars.

10-27-2012, 03:15 AM	#49
mahtofire14 Chillin in the Aging Room Join Date: Oct 2012 First Name: Pete Location: St. Paul, MN Posts: 1,588 Trading: (16)	Re: I've HAD it with Olive Garden!! Had a whole tray of food, like 9 full plates dumped on my at an Olive Garden. Will never go again. Didn't even have a manager come up and apologize. __________________ Saving basements in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

10-27-2012, 01:35 PM	#51
mahtofire14 Chillin in the Aging Room Join Date: Oct 2012 First Name: Pete Location: St. Paul, MN Posts: 1,588 Trading: (16)	Re: I've HAD it with Olive Garden!! Nope, I was 13. Still haven't set foot in one 13 years later. __________________ Saving basements in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

10-27-2012, 03:12 PM	#55
Sauer Grapes Snatchin' yo people up Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 2,235 Trading: (44)	Re: I've HAD it with Olive Garden!! These chain restaurants are nothing more than fast food that you have to wait on and pay more for. Actually, I'd bet most fast food places are slightly better in a lot of cases. However, eating at local places doesn't guarantee you'll have better luck. Local places can still be horribly run and still serve bad food due to cutting corners. They all have a bottom line. I tend to think local chains have the highest success rate for me.

10-27-2012, 03:35 PM	#56
jluck Way out there Join Date: Jan 2012 First Name: Jared Location: Oregon Posts: 1,289 Trading: (12)	Re: I've HAD it with Olive Garden!! Questionable food handleing behind the scenes can be and is consern for any and all forms of food service. It's the chance one takes for convenience, don't like the notion? Stay home and belly up to that stove. Sheeh its only food.

10-28-2012, 12:58 PM	#57
thebayratt Still Watching My Ash Join Date: Jan 2010 First Name: Shawn Location: Mississippi Posts: 1,326 Trading: (11)	Re: I've HAD it with Olive Garden!! Never did like Olive Garden. "Overpriced Top Ramen" is what I call it. Every time I get drug there by the GF, they don't have any meat on the menu. Then when they do, its a "seasonal item", so the next time I go, its not on the menu... How is chicken seasonal??? __________________ Keep on smoking my friends! http://nicetightash.com/

10-28-2012, 03:30 PM	#58
shark Cigar Smokin' Patriot Join Date: Sep 2009 First Name: Ron Location: Michigan Posts: 3,563 Trading: (0)	Re: I've HAD it with Olive Garden!! Ponderosa comes to mind as really low quality. One time I ate there, it was taking a long time for me to get my food. In fact, everyone else was almost done by the time someone came out and told me they had accidentally dropped my steak on the floor, and had to start over... __________________ Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery None but ourselves can free our minds

10-28-2012, 06:29 PM	#59
Robulous78 Guest Posts: n/a	Re: I've HAD it with Olive Garden!! I have to say I pretty much hate the olive garden... but I attribute that to the fact a friend of mine worked there and he said that a majority of there entree's come in a bag that they either boil or microwave... maybe that is the source of your rubber bands....

10-28-2012, 06:40 PM	#60
PearlS4 Entering the fray Join Date: Oct 2012 First Name: James Location: NW WA Posts: 123 Trading: (2)	Re: I've HAD it with Olive Garden!! Ah, Olive Garden, the "Denny's" of Italian food. I always have to bite my tongue when a co-worker says he went out to a "nice" Italian dinner with his wife, and then mentions "Olive Garden". I don't understand why people like it so much, there a plenty of real Italian restaurants around. Maybe it's the free bread sticks?