Posted on 01/25/2012 8:25:29 PM PST by ConservativeStatement
With sales slipping, Olive Garden is trying to win back customers who have fallen out of love with the nation's largest Italian chain.
It is a major challenge for Orlando-based Darden Restaurants, which owns Olive Garden, Red Lobster and other brands.
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
Olive Garden is alright, but their food is overpriced for what one receives, imo. If I want to pay a lot for Italian food I'll go to little Italy in the city. At least then I'll get exceptional quality instead of generic, stamped out food.
You must be an eccentric!
Gosharooty, would I rather support restaurants in Orlando with charbroiled burgers, pork ribs and free samples of ice cream for about $7 to $16 for a meal for two or a restaurant chain that has a Wookie approved menu for lowering all fat, salt and sugar that’s $30-40 a meal for two?
Interesting. Of all those establishments listed, I have visited a grand total of maybe 3-4 times. I prefer Chili’s for a chain.
That aside, if you have not tried the deep fried mac-n-cheese you do need to stop in...
frankly, I’m trying to eat at local eateries that actually cook their own food.”
We traveled extensively over the Christmas holidays pledging ahead of time that when we ate out we would not eat at even one chain restaurant anywhere. One one meal in three weeks was marginal - the rest were all fabulous. Most were small family owned and operated, excellent service and surprisingly inexpensive.
A neighbor of mine works at Red Lobster part-time. She says on busy days they always run out of pasta and run to the store next door that sells generic 50 cents a pound pasta. There’s an olive garden near by, too, so I wouldn’t doubt that they resort to this. So you’re paying for a meal with pasta half the time that you probably wouldn’t even buy for yourself at home.
A neighbor of mine works at Red Lobster part-time. She says on busy days they always run out of pasta and run to the store next door that sells generic 50 cents a pound pasta. There’s an olive garden near by, too, so I wouldn’t doubt that they resort to this. So you’re paying for a meal with pasta half the time that you probably wouldn’t even buy for yourself at home.
I went to Red lobster last fall for the first time in 20 years.
IT WAS HORRIBLE!
not only was it horrible, it was NOT affordable.
never never ever going back again.
Visiting Florida, my wife and I tried Olive Garden for the first and last time. I couldn’t believe the child sized portions they served. I even asked the waitress if they were child portions, she assured me they weren’t.
I don’t know if they are all that way and am not curious enough to visit another one to find out.
My wife and I are not big eaters but we both left that place still hungry.
I posted #30 before I read your comment.
At the Olive Gardens I've been to, the waiters all affect these over-the-top Italian accents. Gimme il break-o.
That was our reason to stop going as well. Same for Red Lobster, drat it all!
My extended family and I will never set foot in that Obamessiah loving, MOOCHIELL food Nazi following Olive Garden again, EVER!
supporting gay marriage, that’s what happens
Freepers are wise and quick witted.
It’s always going to be a race to who can say it first. :)
I read through the postings and noone seems to have mentioned the obtuse decision by the Management of the Olive Garden Restaurant in Oxford, Alabama, to not allow display of an American Flag for some sort of civic club meeting (they did try some mealy mouthed excuse, but it failed to convince me). That, along with Mrs. Dear Leader sticking her nose into things, is enough to place them off limits for this family. I did read where there most recent quarterly nets were down 28% during the last reporting period. Although a couple of their employees are personal friends, in the big picture I was very pleased with that report and hope the trend continues. The friends are good folks and can quickly gain employment elsewhere.
My experience at the Cheesecake Factory wasn’t all that good as far as service and ambiance was concerned. The lighting was so poor that it was almost too dark to read the menu. The waiter also badgered us to hurry up and order. However, the food wasn’t bad.
If they hired Chef Ramsey, it might help
lol
/sarc
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