Anyone who goes to Olive Garden to eat has no idea what Italian food tastes like. They get what they go for. Mediocre food, prepared in a way that middle America will chow down, if for no other reason than they have no idea what the hell they’re eating.
Horse hockey! I have lived in Italy and been to a variety of restaurants there. Olive Garden is above average compared to most of the locations along the Dolomites down to Venice.
I have also been to Carrabba's and find that a bit closer to local fare but prefer the Garden. Both have been Americanized but are comparable to what I have had in Italia.
Yes, because flyover country is full of hicks who don't know good food; only the East & West coasts are so enlightened. /S
I have no use for snobs of any stripe, including food snobs.
The first time I went to Olive Garden, I noticed that the food was much more authentic than Italian food in a small restaurant in Firenza or Roma. Real Italians could learn a thing or too about Italian cuisine from Olive Garden.
I always smile a little when people talk about real Italian food.
I suspect traditional Italian food is really seafood based, originally.
All the tomato dishes we associate with Italy, recent additions. They had to wait for the Americas to be discovered first.