What is the world coming to?

I just heard someone brag that they were going to Olive Garden.

Thats like someone bragging about ordering pizzas from Dominos.

It's the world's largest and most successful Italian restaurant chain, so you can't knock their business model. They must be doing something right.

Now that being said, I wouldn't eat there on a bet. But I respect the hell out of them for their business savvy.

It's defiantly not authentic Italian but the foods still pretty good.

Olive garden sucks

Pizza hut is the worlds largest and most successful pizza chain . What is your point? (Not trying to offend you, just asking a simple question and making a valid argument)

Being a large successful chain doesn't mean you serve food with quality ingredients. We both know that Olive Garden's stuff comes out of a can and boiled in a bag.

Pizza hut and dominoes are pizza places for non Italians who don't know good pizza if the fell over it.

And Olive Garden is a restaurant that serves spaghetti for non Italians who don't know what good pasta is if they fell over it.

We don't have them in the UK...yet. We did used to have a bar years ago called the Olive Garden, which i did go to, cos it was a bar!!!

Spaghetti was shit though

I already told you I wouldn't eat there on a bet. What more do I need to say?

My point was that from a business point of view, their marketing department should be commended for turning canned and frozen food into a a company that has grossed over a billion dollars. Because that's all that company is about: Marketing. How else could anyone explain the success of a place that sells fake Italian food?

It's remarkable, really. I don't eat McDonald's either (except for their coffee and an occasional apple pie), but the same principle applies. Pizza Hut and Dominoes I can't explain

Its cheap, and people like the theme they have.

If the food wasn't cheap, people would not spend their money at Olive Garden. That is their main selling point. Also they build Olive Gardens in places that don't have many options for pasta dishes.

What I don't understand is how an Olive Garden survives in downtown New York. I just looked at their locations and they have multiple locations in the New York city area.

You got to be kidding me?

Can you explain that?

There's actually a big one in Times Square, but that's a tourist spot area. So it's to be expected. There's also a busy one on Sixth Avenue that I can't really explain.

How do you feel about Maggiano's, I,m not sure wheather or not they have them in New York but there kinda like Olive Garden they just seems a a bit smaller.

Maggianos is very good for being a chain Italian restaurant. Way better than olive garden

The only Italian chain restaurant I ever tried was Macaroni Grill. They're big in Florida and there's one close by to us in Boca. It wasn't too bad. They do this honor system thing with their house wine. It's well intended, even if the food ain't that great.

^^^an honor system with house wine...come again?

Went over my head too, and I'm an alcoholic I should know?

I should have explained .

They put jugs of house wine, both red and white, on every table. When you're ready for your check, you're supposed to tell your server how many glasses you drank and they take you at your word. That's how the one in Boca works, anyway.

I mean, I'd never try to get over on a glass of wine like that, but there are some shady folks here (cough, cough, EHI ) who might.

Makes sense haha

I like Olive Garden, and I say that fully aware that there are much better Italian restaurants that serve real Italian food.

The same thing goes with a lot of the places I go to eat. For instance, IN-N-OUT has the best burger I've ever had from a fast food restaurant, but I still occasionally go to the McDonald's right across the street from it. I also eat PIZZA HUT and LITTLE CAESAR'S on occasion, even though I've had MUCH better pizza. Sometimes you just get one of those cravings. There's nothing wrong with it, in my most humble of opinions.

OG = NG

Although, I have gone to a Carraba's, its not real but when out of state down south for whatever reason ( golf trip, in laws , business) - deep in the sticks, its really the only decent option for going out. Its a sister company to Outback.

DP

To use an Italian word, toeachhiszone. Let's not be food snobs. Olive Garden, as it has been pointed out, is successful. Italian food in America has been mutated, convoluted, distorted and slaughtered, but hey, some people like it. Now bragging about going to Olive Garden? Probably that braggart, brags about everything. Good Italian food can be expensive. So maybe for Mr. Braggart Olive Garden is at the max for his wallet. So, Snickers, take the poor lad to good a Italian restaurant and enlighten his taste buds.

look, olive garden isn't too bad for what it is. anybody trying to compare it with real homemade italian food is being silly for even trying to equate the 2. its reasonably priced, and unless you're trying to be some bigtime food critic, the food isn't bad at all. one piece of advice though: when ordering, try the chicken, pork or steak options, as they are at least prepared fresh as opposed to some of the more processed items like the many ravioli/pasta variations.

How the fuck can anyone go to Olive Garden if they have had real Italian food prepared by real Italians at a real Italian restaurant? How could you even go through with spending your money? The only logical thing I can think of is if you live somewhere where there are no Italian Restaurants. But even then, you would be much better cooking at home. I mean it doesn't take a rocket scientist to put together an excellent pasta dish.

I don't understand the ignorance of the general public when it comes to cooking. I really don't. I find that its unexcusable.

mexicans generally cook the best italian food!

Yes at restaurants that have an Italian owner who teaches them what ingredients to use and how to prepare the dish the right way. Also those restaurants have a head guy who is usually of mexican heritage who can talk to his kitchen help in spanish and who has gone to culinary school himself to understand Italian cooking.

I think Italians are better than Mexicans at cooking Italian food. Just as Mexicans are better than Italians at making Mexican food.

its a bit of a restaurant joke, but there is some truth to it.

Hey PB east would of wine spilled all down the front of his shirt...(Table for 1 please)

You need to relax, bro! People like what they like. Don't be such a snob.

Yo bigdog where you dining tonight at the Whitehouse?