No, We're Not That Family (Italian-Americans mad at Olive Garden)

Opnionjournal ^ | July 26, 2002 | Victorino Matus

[stands2reason]

Italian-Americans have a problem, and it's not "The Sopranos."

Italian-Americans are speaking out. They are complaining about a stereotype they just can't stand. One that they find inaccurate and misleading. One that is constantly shown on television, much to their disgust. They are unhappy. They are at their wit's end. They are fed up.

[stylin_geek]

Hagis House, no, I do not think that one will ever catch on. As for complaints about OG marketing, it is an obnoxious ad campaign which does more to keep me from them than the food. As a rule of thumb, a product being sold has to be absolutely superior, otherwise, I will buy a competitors product, because the competitor has a less obnoxious advertising campaign.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

The food at the Olive Garden is brutal. That said, however, they are trying to market an image to unsophisticated diners that they are authentic. Many choose to go there. So be it.

(If you live in an area with any real Italian restaurants, one trip to an Olive Garden is one too many.)

[alisasny]

The food is pretty lame. Went a few times and was very disappointed both times. One time was horrid service and we left after the salad came and refused to pay. ( we did pay for our drinks but that is only because I am honest, others would have refused to pay that too)

Second we actually ate the food and it was not Italian food. Frankly I don't know what kind of food it was.

[JimSEA]

I like the food at "Mon & Pop" restaurants as well. However, Americans have voted with their dollars for plastic Italian, Mexican, Chinese, and Thai Food (Probably others too but I have no knowledge of how "others" are supposed to taste). A friend of mine has a Mexican restaurant here in Oregon and tells me they try to copy sucessful restaurant's food. They are in business and want to make money.

[jjm2111]

the mob thing is more than truthful. Many italians I know (including me) have more than one relative who is ahem "different". Many wops are proud of their "relations" (If I have to hear that Gotti was a good man one more time I think I'll slit my own wrists.) The stereotype will go away as time goes on though, I'm sure.

I'm like, 25 and not much of a chef, but I can cook better Italian than the olive garden. It's a question of ingredients.

[FixitGuy]

A side issue:

Three times now the wife and I have gone to Olive Garden early to beat the evening crowd.

They put on a short crew and make you wait at the bar, thinking you'll suck up their booze while you wait.

The majority of the guests wait like sheep with their little beepers(made in the shape of glass coasters) FOR A CALL THAT NEVER COMES. We waited for 20 min. twice and once over an hour.

Needless to say, we don't want to be treated like THEIR FAMILY again.

We left for the last time.

A pity that they spend thousands trying to lure in people like us who were there all along, waiting to be served!

[nutmeg]

When, oh when will someone create a theme restaurant with offensive commericials for us Scottish-Americans?

Maybe Haggis House?

ROTFLOL!

[Orual]

[Hemingway's Ghost]

Amen, and a Saraceno's bump. You wonder why there's no Olive Garden near metro Boston? Because the worst restaurant in the North End is a hundred thousand times better than the Olive Garden on its best night ever.

I didn't know the Olive Garden and Red Lobster were one in the same company. But that explains everything . . . they are by far the worst chain "restaurants" in America. Except for Applebey's, or however the eff you spell it. Now that place truly sucks dog farts.

[Sally II]

I wonder what the Italians think of Buca de Bepo. There was only one dish I ever liked at the Olive Garden. It was some chichen fettuchini with some kind of spinach and (I think) cheese sause. Yummm. They stopped serving it, and I stopped going. I did like their salads though. As for the menu, we'll the majority of Italian restaurants, even the little places, are usually not much better... spagetti, lasagna, fettucini alfredo, etc. All over-over priced and not much better than staying at home and cracking open a $2 jar of Ragu. Don't get me wrong though, I do enjoy Italian food. But Olive Garden is just one of a million middle class Italian joints.

[kaktuskid]

At least it ain't Fazoli's "fast" italian food.

[Salgak]

Well, first, you'd have to get people to agree that Haggis is food. . . .

[morjon]

The worst commercials on TV are for Carl's JR. I'd like to smack that sloppy eating punk in the fried onion mouth!

[Fedupwithit]

I agree with you BB...my post was more of an observation..I am Italian and I have never thought the ads were anything more than just that...ads..

If you get the chance though, you need to make a trip to the Northeast for the food...thats about the only thing the Northeast is good for,anyway...

..and screw the bistro places...the mom and pops are unbelievably good!

[Larry Lucido]

The only time I go to Olive Garden is when non-Italian friends want to go. Otherwise, there are a million better places for decent Italian food. If a relative visited from Italy, I would take them to a good steak house.

That said, the critics of Olive Garden commercials need to lighten up.

[Dialup Llama]

Of course it's not a real Italian family because they are not having a big argument.

[alisasny]

There are some good chain restaurants. We like Fridays and Outback...however..it is amazing how they get the people down there to wait for an hour when they could find a much better restaurant that is truly family owned a few feet away...

[southern rock]

Never go to a restaurant that doesn't offer a "value" meal And if it doesn't have a drive thru window, keep on going until you find one that does.
Sit down restaurants always cost twice as much (unless it's Denny's) And if the menu's got a fancy tassel hanging from it, add ten dollars per person, per tassel inch.
Here's another way to spot expensive restaurants: The name is always mispelled. Never eat at any place that says Ristorante or Centre or Olde on the sign outside. You will be overcharged. :P

[nutmeg]

A pity that they spend thousands trying to lure in people like us who were there all along, waiting to be served!

I know, isn't it incredible that Olive Garden and many other big-chain restaurants spend thousands (probably millions) in advertising, only to have the whole thing break down at the 'front lines', like in your experience?

[stands2reason]

I live in West Texas. That should tell you everything you want to know about my access to authentic Italian. And I still won't go to the Olive Garden. The local restaurant here is awful, but of course, everybody here "loves" it. Even the Olive Garden is doing well, here. That's pretty sad, because we at least had the sense to kick Black-eyed Pea and Red Lobster out of town.