[j.havenfarm]

And the food is wretched.

[stands2reason]

I've never had the desire to eat there. I doubt their lasagna is any better than Prego's...

[goodieD]

Olive Garden food is about as Italian as Taco Bell is Mexican.. there is even a corporate edict that prevents the chef from using too much garlic in their dishes... I do go to both those places...but not when I want "authentic" food.
Of course it's possible to have too much of a good thing. We live in a Hispanic saturated area (central valley of California), and I kid you not..there are 4 true authentic Mexican food places within one block...4.. all good, all authentic... I'd kill for a really good Jewish deli!!!

[Remole]

And don't get me started on the Wine: the "house" wine, whether red, white or rose, is a diluted mixture of fruit juice, water and bitters. Horrible. What passes for Chianti would not be used for vinegar in the poorest sections of Rome. And believe me: I lived in Rome for 5 years.

[demnomo]

And the food is wretched.

I agree. I have been to the Olive Garden three times. Each time, I was disappointed by the poor qauality of food. My husband ate some dried out, crusty lasagna once. Ugh. I ordered a steak that tasted like shoe leather done in garlic butter. (Contrary to a popular belief, not everything tastes good cooked in garlic butter!) The salad served was drenched in oily dressing and the bread sticks were even worse than the ones served at Wendys. Grease city. (And not good grease!) Everytime I see those commercials and remember the fantastic meals that I have eaten in Italian homes, I am insulted. (And I'm not Italian!) The parking lot is always full. Go figure.

[Redcloak]

The food is HORRID! Calling The Olive Garden the "McDonalds of Italian cuisine" is an insult to burger-flippers everywhere. It's a vile restaurant. I'd pick a Big Mac over their slop any day of the week.

[driftless]

I've eaten there once, and the chow was pretty good. And it wasn't the first time I've eaten Italian. I love Italian.

[geege]

It's no Molto Mario....and dosen't come close to my cooking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dirtboy]

And the food is wretched.

Guess what? My former girlfriend was half Sicilian. But did her family shun Olive Garden? Heck no, they went there for every occasion, because the food was cheap. I'm not quite sure what the lesson is here, but I would venture it is that ... if you sell it cheap enought, some folks will come...