Traffic Slump at Olive Garden, Red Lobster, LongHorn; Smaller Plates, Cheaper Items at Olive Garden

Townhall.com ^ | March 4, 2013 | Mike Shedlock

[familyop]

Smarter former restaurant customers preparing for bond collapse, skyrocketing interest rates, “haircuts” for both bond investors and pensioners, repudiation of debt, huge downward currency adjustments, being laid off, foreclosures, etc. The USA won’t be able to afford pork for most government and government-linked employees then.

[Haddit]

Sorry, I’m just in the mood to gross you people out with the illegal aliens serving and handling your food.

[onyx]

I just wish we had one good restaurant! LOL.

Closest good Mexican restaurant is in Clinton, so I get there once a year.

[martin_fierro]

Seems like every Olive Garden I've gone to has seen fit to saddle us with some waiter whose real name is Tony Martinez but who feels compelled to call himself "Antonio Martino" and to obnoxiously a-play-a uppa da Italiano accento, capiche?

[1217Chic]

I don’t know how some people consider Olive Garden “real” Italian food????

[Kaslin]

I went once with my daughter to our Olive garden, but we left because I couldn’t decide what to order

[BooBoo1000]

Go to ‘ In and Out” Burger

[redgolum]

We have a place like that here.

Funny thing is they buy mainly local produce and meat (in season) so you have an old Mexican man and an old Iowan of Norwegian stock trying to discuss prices.

I have seen it a few times. It seems to end with them both having a beer and laughing.

[1217Chic]

I think the only thing I would enjoy would be the soup,salad and the fake breadsticks...LOL

[Political Junkie Too]

...coupled with 2% payroll tax hikes...

I'm sure they meant to say "coupled with the restoration of President Obama's 2% payroll tax reduction in advance of the 2010 election..."

-PJ

[aegiscg47]

I was also at a Red Lobster in Utah recently, but up in the Sugarhouse area of SLC, where it was standing room only. Some places(and maybe states) seem to be doing well, but I've noticed a lack of traffic in other establishments. They recently opened a Black Bear Diner in Sandy and you get a ton of food on your plate for the price! I don't think any of the selections are healthy, but it is good!

[Hoffer Rand]

Went to Red Lobster last week. It is worse than swill.

I'll second that. I went a couple weeks ago for a coworker's birthday. It's her favorite restaurant. I hadn't been in one in more than a decade. Portions were tiny, prices exhorbitant, quality lousy.

[petitfour]

We have learned to make some really good salsa and pico de gallo with fresh ingredients via the Mexican groceries here. Our problem is finding good chips that compare to restaurant style chips. The grocery that caters to the Mexican population sells ok chips that we heat, but they are just not the same.

I am surprised there are no Mexican restaurants there. Everywhere we have lived, we have found decent Mexican places. It has been so long since I was in your area that I can’t think of ANY restaurants much less good ones.

[sportutegrl]

I miss the veal piccatta

[morphing libertarian]

Salad bowl and pasta figioli suits my diet and my taste

[knittnmom]

Nice strategy! :-)

[MrB]

Did someone say "picatta"?

[morphing libertarian]

As in Richard m. Nixon?

[morphing libertarian]

I recommend flour tortilla chips. Only place I’ve had them.......caballo blanco sacramento