Real Italians Go to Olive Garden

Youtube ^ | 06/19/21 | Culture Discovery

[max americana]

Havent been to one in more than 15 years and the last was 2006, in Vancouver BC. I know the “legit” Italian restos here in L.A. and even in my hometown Vancouver.

[Larry Lucido]

Nice!

[The MAGA-Deplorian]

AS a 3rd gen Sicilian, Olive Garden is Italian, is like saying James Caan was Italian in the Godfather

Caan loves telling the story on how after the Godfather he was honored twice as Italian of the Year by the Sons of Italy. High honors for a Jewish actor.

[caww]

Well about as close as I get to enjoying mexican is a Taco salad. Perhaps that’s why I don’t care for it.

[max americana]

He deserves it and I’ve actually met him here in L.A. He’s a real man, old-school and a proud Deplorable.

[Larry Lucido]

They could improve if they had Frank Costanza in the kitchen.

[digger48]

our small town has a plant that provides a LOT of the entrees and sauces for major chain restaurants

i avoid those places

[Noumenon]

Sysco italian, bagged and tagged.

And that's the name of that tune...

[Salamander]

We only eat potatoes, *if* we’re lucky and can find them.

;)

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Well, that one opened my eyes. I’ve had Olive Garden. I thought it was OK, albeit a little bland. But after this, I think I’ll just go to a trattoria instead.

I’ve been to actual Italian restaurants, and I seem to recall the food being more flavorful.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

The trouble with Olive Garden is you’ll easily pack away 5,000 calories before you know it.

[leaning conservative]

I’m a lover of food. My husband is Italian. His father is Sicilian. My mother in law is an amazing cook! For my retirement party a few weeks ago a bunch of my girlfriends & my supervisor took me to Olive garden. It was on my bucket list & my choice. I thought the food was delicious. And I was with people I really enjoy, so your last sentence hit a note with me. It also made me not judge something I’ve never experienced.

And James Caan......be still my heart.

[Fiji Hill]

I think the most underappreciated restaurants and form of cooking is Portuguese.

You'll have to go to a Portuguese community such as New Bedford, Mass. to find that cuisine.

[AnglePark]

“...I am not a lofty purist on such things.”

Yeah, me either. If it’s good, it’s good, and I enjoy the Olive Garden. Even found one of our all-time favorite wines there. From four and five star restaurants to dairy bars with soft serve and a good hot dog, I enjoy it all.

[max americana]

“And I was with people I really enjoy, so your last sentence hit a note with me. “

Most Italian-Americans who grew up with Italian and Sicilian grandfathers and Grandmothers, know this. Because it’s a teaching from the old country. It was hammered into my head at a young age. It makes sense. What use is it getting the best dish in the world if your table company is as rotten as Nazi pelosi? Flip it, and you’re eating a $1 pizza slice but your having a great conversation with great company. That $1 pizza slice may be the best pizza you tasted.

BTW Lucky Luciano ia a relative of mine, in our family LOL , really..

[LIConFem]

” However I prefer true Chinese dishes over the Americanized versions..”

I agree. Best Chinese i’ve ever had was in a restaurant in Chnatown, NYC called Big Wong’s (no joke). No one spoke English, and you couldn’t get a plate of Kung Pow or Lo Mein. But order some lamb Congee, sweet bread (not offal), bok choy, some chicken and duck with dipping sauces and you’ll never order Chinese takeout again.

As for the Olive Garden, … mushy pasta, flavorless or hyper-salty sauces and ridiculously high prices keep me away. Besides, if I want pretty much any dish on their menu, I’ll make it myself.

[CGASMIA68]

I took a job at ECO Lab just after retirement, thought it would be a good gig, for a while till SS kicked in.
My 1st assignment was to meet a crew at the Olive Garden in Manchester Ct at 1AM for a routine spray job.

Holly Crap

Bottom line is the place was infested with roaches, they were in the planters, grills, oven back planes,telephones, sinks everywhere.

I went out got in my vehicle and left.
Never went to an OG after that and never did B4 but would tell people the place was disgusting

[Copernicus]

Wow! Amazing!

[Fiji Hill]

If you're in Southern California and want to eat real Italian food at a restaurant owned by a courageous Italian family, visit Basilico's Pasta e Vino in Huntington Beach. The owner, Tony Roman kept his restaurant open all during the lockdown, successfully defying state and local government efforts to shut it down, and he even forbade patrons from wearing masks. These efforts generated death threats, but he has survived and thrived.

I plan to have lunch there on Tuesday.

[PJ-Comix]

Can anybody tell me why Irish cuisine is limited to almost nothing? I mean what is AUTHENTIC Irish food and don’t tell me corned beef and cabbage because it isn’t. It’s just strange that Italy would have such a wide variety of food dishes yet from Ireland...basically nothing.