Olive Garden: Not what it once was

[bchris02]

Olive Garden And Its Flavorless Pasta Get Ripped Apart In 294-Page Report

I really think Olive Garden has jumped the shark. They have become a fast food joint but still market themselves as an "upscale casual" Italian restaurant and are priced accordingly. I think its time they rebrand into a Fazoli's or return to their roots and start making real food again. They need to start serving a wide variety of wines other than the cheap, sub-$10 bottles you can get at any liquor store. I am astounded by how many people think Olive Garden is the pinnacle of fine dining and how many wedding proposals happen there. It goes to show that Darden's marketing has worked but with the competition today they could see themselves left behind.

[Pete]

BTW, the OG on Memorial near Quail Springs is getting a $350K remodel.

All their locations seem to do pretty well and they are expanding, so clearly lots of people like eating there.

[bradh]

who the hell considers the OG upscale Italian dining? It is what it is, a chain. To suggest it rebrand to compete with Fazoli's is like suggesting the Thunder move to the WNBA.

[kevinpate]

OG - proof that you can in fact fool some of the people all of the time?

[SoonerDave]

I never thought OG was that good to begin with - the idea that somehow it has "fallen from grace" implies that it ever was IN a state of grace. More like a state of grease.

We used to go there (literally) 20 years ago back with our church singles group for lunch every so often, but that was out of necessity/absence of choice - surely wasn't due to some desperate need to "Get Gardened." When the prices went up and the food got worse, and we still found torn sweetener packets in the bottom of obviously unwashed dishes, we stopped going. Perhaps ten years ago (?) my wife and I succumbed to the "maybe we were too hard on the place" muse and went to Olive Garden on a pseudo datenight, but it was just as we recalled - way overpriced for way under-good food. Never been back, don't plan to, no matter how squiggly they make their logo.

[RadicalModerate]

Perhaps a New Book by this Cultural Commentator is overdue?


Maybe something along the lines of . . .
Olive Garden Schmolive Garden
(and other corporate Food Failures in Amurka)(?)

In all honesty, I haven't eaten at Olive Garden in so long that I don't know how far they have fallen.
Last time I et' thar . . . 'twarnt so bad . . . seems like . . .

I still like Johnny Carino's and ROMANOs macaroni grill. yet Vito's is somehow . . . superior?
(haven't tried the Kreb's Invasion over on 63rd yet . . . Gabriella's?)

Tomorrow morning, my SweetWife and I are going to the Farmer's Market to buy whatever is fresh, followed by a visit to Ingrid's for a light lunch. Later, I'm going to do a Local Jelly (Gigi's of Noble, OK) glazed chicken thing (local chicken, kindly raised and butchered) with a Jiffy Cornbread Casserole. While listening to a Prairie Home Companion. =)

[RadicalModerate]

I never thought OG was that good to begin with - the idea that somehow it has "fallen from grace" implies that it ever was IN a state of grace. More like a state of grease.

We used to go there (literally) 20 years ago back with our church singles group for lunch every so often, but that was out of necessity/absence of choice - surely wasn't due to some desperate need to "Get Gardened." When the prices went up and the food got worse, and we still found torn sweetener packets in the bottom of obviously unwashed dishes, we stopped going. Perhaps ten years ago (?) my wife and I succumbed to the "maybe we were too hard on the place" muse and went to Olive Garden on a pseudo datenight, but it was just as we recalled - way overpriced for way under-good food. Never been back, don't plan to, no matter how squiggly they make their logo.

I feel the same way about Bellini's in The Waterford.
Last time I was there, wandering Cassady waifs, dressed in black, looking for something to do put me off my feed.
Of course, that was under former management of the Semi-Historic Dining Location.
On the Southern Cusp of the School Zone
Known as Nichols Hills. =)

I'm sure it's better now . . .
Yet I refuse to check it out.
Obviously, I am unfair. =)

Oh! Thanks, Mr. Pate for the Barnes and Nobel and Bailey reminder =)^


^OG - proof that you can in fact fool some of the people all of the time?

[RadicalModerate]

Olive Garden And Its Flavorless Pasta Get Ripped Apart In 294-Page Report

I really think Olive Garden has jumped the shark. They have become a fast food joint but still market themselves as an "upscale casual" Italian restaurant and are priced accordingly. I think its time they rebrand into a Fazoli's or return to their roots and start making real food again. They need to start serving a wide variety of wines other than the cheap, sub-$10 bottles you can get at any liquor store. I am astounded by how many people think Olive Garden is the pinnacle of fine dining and how many wedding proposals happen there. It goes to show that Darden's marketing has worked but with the competition today they could see themselves left behind.

Darden's track record on Restaurant Management seems to indicate that they totally suck.
Doesn't it? . . . I think the correct answer is Yup.
(ok . . . that was a personal pissed off response to the closing of the local Bahama Breeze . . .) =)

[Bunty]

I quit going to Olive Garden due to its poor service and mediocre food. Service was slow. My coffee came out cold. I complained about it and was brought out another cup of coffee. It was still cold. The lasagna was mediocre at best and not as good as the lasagna at a mom and pop Italian restaurant. It didn't happen to me, but I've heard someone gave them a credit card and someone else's credit card came back.

[gopokes88]

Why would anyone ever eat at Olive Garden? It's the epitome of culture less chain food in America. There is literally nothing special about it. It's so average they have to practically give away their breadsticks and pasta.

[bchris02]

Why would anyone ever eat at Olive Garden? It's the epitome of culture less chain food in America. There is literally nothing special about it. It's so average they have to practically give away their breadsticks and pasta.

I agree. A lot of people however seem to think its upscale for whatever reason. I have known too many couples get engaged there.

[gopokes88]

I agree. A lot of people however seem to think its upscale for whatever reason. I have known too many couples get engaged there.

It was at one point was in the 90s. Then they expanded, sacrificed quality to keep costs low and basically became the wal mart of Italian food.

[Stew]

I haven't eaten at Olive Garden in awhile but the last time I did my general impression was I could get better Italian from a can. Okay, though, to be fair I think the same about every Italian restaurant I've ever eaten at. I came to the realization that I just don't like Italian food unless it's from a can.

[mugofbeer]

OG is like any other chain. It fills a niche. If it doesn't float your boat, look for a new boat. Its successful, they vary their menu and I like their salads. There are better Italian restaurants and occasionally I spend up for them.

[Plutonic Panda]

Went to Olive Garden the other night it wasn't that bad. Pretty place with ok food. Don't know what all the hate is about.

Are they going to serve your food with sterling silverware? No. But it's not bad to take a date or have lunch with a friend.

[mugofbeer]

The dinner I had there last week with my family was excellent. Only suggrstion I have is that they need new seating by the door. I felt like i was sitting on the floor.

[bchris02]

The thing about Olive Garden is there is much better Italian food for the price. It's not my least favorite restaurant, but if I want Italian, I would prefer to go somewhere where they actual prepare the food on-site. I will only go to Olive Garden of I'm in a group and that's where everybody wants to go.

[td25er]

I don't see the hate for chains. Chili's, OG, Outback, Texas Roadhouse and the countless others are perfectly fine. Typically they offer decent food as reasonable prices. Believe it or not some people don't expect to have some unique life-altering dining experience EVERY meal they eat out.

[Pete]

I don't see the hate for chains. Chili's, OG, Outback, Texas Roadhouse and the countless others are perfectly fine. Typically they offer decent food as reasonable prices. Believe it or not some people don't expect to have some unique life-altering dining experience EVERY meal they eat out.

I agree with this.

Chains generally aren't my thing but they have their place.

It's funny that so many people go off on places like the Olive Garden but are completely fine with fast food chains. Often, OG isn't much more expensive that a lot of fast food joints and offers a much nicer dining experience. You can certainly see the appeal to the budget conscious, families or to groups that contain people of all ages.

I feel the same about Red Robin. If you go during happy hour you can get a nice meal (and a beer ) with good table service for less than fast food.

[Stew]

The thing about Olive Garden is there is much better Italian food for the price. It's not my least favorite restaurant, but if I want Italian, I would prefer to go somewhere where they actual prepare the food on-site. I will only go to Olive Garden of I'm in a group and that's where everybody wants to go.

The hedge fund guys attempting to takeover the Darden board of directors say that OG prepares too much stuff on site. Also they give away too many breadsticks and don't salt their pasta water not to mention they own too much real estate. It'll be interesting to see what happens if Starboard gets their way. Perhaps they will start serving Italian from a can.

[warreng88]

If you don't like OG, and haven't been to Bella Vista on the southside, you are really missing out.

[kevinpate]

If you don't like OG, and haven't been to Bella Vista on the southside, you are really missing out.

Love me some Bella Vista !!
Gaberino's and Sergio's in Norman as well.

[kevinpate]

Fwiw, I don't blah on OG because it is a chain. If a mom n pop serves me up bleh grub I don't praise them either.

The greater metro has options that do things well and fit family budgets too. And some chains do fine at what they do. No question. But ask me if I want OG or Zio's or Bella Vista or another good idie, and I will go with good idie most every time. The tourists can keep the chains afloat.

[Roger S]

Believe it or not some people don't expect to have some unique life-altering dining experience EVERY meal they eat out.

Life's to short to eat mediocre food.....Trust me. Every bite of mediocre BBQ I take, doing research for my blog, shortens my life. I can feel my self die a little every time it hits my palette.

[bchris02]

I have nothing against chains in general. My criticism is more towards Olive Garden in particular. When you go to Chili's or Texas Roadhouse, you know exactly what you are getting. Those brands don't try to sell themselves as upscale nor do people think them that. Olive Garden is cheap, average food that tries to sell itself as "higher class" with wine samples, old-world decor, and higher prices. There are numerous other choices that are better than Olive Garden for the same or less money.