No, the Olive Garden is a put down a NOT a joke.
When the USS Ronald Reagan sailed into her home port of San Diego on her maiden voyage, Jim and a whole lot of CA FReepers came to San Diego to meet our San Diego Chapter.
The Olive Garden Restaurant was selected because of its location and its willingness to accommodate the very large group of us. They graciously put several tables together so that all of us could be seated at one very long table with Jim at the head of the table. Also because it had a cocktail lounge for those who cared to enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail.
Joseph Perkins, the San Diego Union Tribune syndicated writer attended with his wife and all of us had the grandest time.
For unknown reasons, anti-FReepers decided the Olive Garden was unfit, so FReep em.
People can be so cruel.