Olive Garden [merged threads]
#31
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Originally Posted by Analise
Olive Garden is insult to Italian cuisine. Do what you can to get rid of them.
Last edited by andyZRH; Mar 1, 2006 at 7:59 am
#32
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Originally Posted by JS
Have you been there? It's good.
It's an insult to Italian food.
Or, it's Italian food for people who don't know what real Italian food tastes like
#33
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Originally Posted by JS
From several replies on this thread, I take this to mean that us dumb, fat, trailer trash in the South aren't fortunate enough to be able to eat out at an overpriced, snotty "real Italian" restaurant only found in such upscale locales as New York City?
Gee, last time I ate at a "real Italian" restaurant in NYC, I got half the food for the same price as Olive Garden (leaving me hungry after my meal, and I'm not a fatass BTW) served by a Mexican. You snotty New Yorkers can keep your "real Italian" crappy restaurants.
Gee, last time I ate at a "real Italian" restaurant in NYC, I got half the food for the same price as Olive Garden (leaving me hungry after my meal, and I'm not a fatass BTW) served by a Mexican. You snotty New Yorkers can keep your "real Italian" crappy restaurants.
I'm a first generation Italian that knows what "real" Italian food tastes like. It doesn't have to be from a "snooty NYC" restaurant. A mom & pop shop can serve it up just fine. As a matter of fact, my local pizzaria often will cook up special dishes for me if I just ask. Sometimes I'm too lazy to cook it myself & they're more than happy to do it for me ^^
#34
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Originally Posted by dd992emo
JS,
Don't let them get to you. All that snow makes them weird after a while...
Was in Greenville last week and ate at a Macaroni Grill out by the airport. Not one of the better MG meals I've had, but they could have been having a bad night. Also ate a nice piece of salmon at a place called "California something or other". Some nice choices for chains in Greenville. Any suggestions on local places there?
Don't let them get to you. All that snow makes them weird after a while...
Was in Greenville last week and ate at a Macaroni Grill out by the airport. Not one of the better MG meals I've had, but they could have been having a bad night. Also ate a nice piece of salmon at a place called "California something or other". Some nice choices for chains in Greenville. Any suggestions on local places there?
#35
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To take this one step further.. Most, if not all, chain Italian places as well as the local pizzarias do not server real Italian food. They serve a version of special holiday meals.
If Italians actually ate Lasagne, baked ziti, or Carbonara regularly, they would have the same high level of cholesterol and heart disease as Americans do.
At home we only ate those high fat & calorie laden foods on holidays - as in once or twice a year at Christmas & Easter.
If Italians actually ate Lasagne, baked ziti, or Carbonara regularly, they would have the same high level of cholesterol and heart disease as Americans do.
At home we only ate those high fat & calorie laden foods on holidays - as in once or twice a year at Christmas & Easter.
#36
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Originally Posted by dd992emo
JS,
Don't let them get to you. All that snow makes them weird after a while...
Was in Greenville last week and ate at a Macaroni Grill out by the airport. Not one of the better MG meals I've had, but they could have been having a bad night. Also ate a nice piece of salmon at a place called "California something or other". Some nice choices for chains in Greenville. Any suggestions on local places there?
Don't let them get to you. All that snow makes them weird after a while...
Was in Greenville last week and ate at a Macaroni Grill out by the airport. Not one of the better MG meals I've had, but they could have been having a bad night. Also ate a nice piece of salmon at a place called "California something or other". Some nice choices for chains in Greenville. Any suggestions on local places there?
The Staxa____ family have a number of restaurants in the area which are pretty decent. Stax's Grill (in the same strip center as Toys 'R Us) was the one I ate at the most when I lived in the area. Stax's Peppermill is more upscale. Stax's Original is more downscale (meat 'n three, good breakfast). I never was a big fan of Stax's Omega.
Also, I really enjoyed the Peddler Steak House (part of a regional chain). Just be aware that the steak being cut in front of your is larger that it appears. If you want a 12 oz steak, tell them. Salad bar was limited but usually fresh. Also try the Texas toast.
I'm sorry to hear about the food poisoning, BamaVol; I know what that's like. I've gotten it twice after eating at Red Lobsters (different restaurants, different grilled meats). While I'm a fan of Outback, that chain seems to be one of the most consistent for undercooking their meats. I have ordered beef medium well (say an 8 on a 1 to 10 scale) on a number of occasions only to have it served medium rare (4) to medium (6); of course, ordering it well done usually results in a very overcooked piece of meat (say a 12). Until the state agencies who regulate restaurants require the use of temperature probes to determine at least minimal doneness, some unlucky souls are occasionally going to get hit with the consequences of undercooking in any of these restaurants who may be using inexperienced cooks. While I don't know that either your son's situation or mine were the result of undercooking, it wouldn't surprise me.
#37
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Originally Posted by TRRed
I'm sorry to hear about the food poisoning, BamaVol; I know what that's like. I've gotten it twice after eating at Red Lobsters (different restaurants, different grilled meats). While I'm a fan of Outback, that chain seems to be one of the most consistent for undercooking their meats. I have ordered beef medium well (say an 8 on a 1 to 10 scale) on a number of occasions only to have it served medium rare (4) to medium (6); of course, ordering it well done usually results in a very overcooked piece of meat (say a 12). Until the state agencies who regulate restaurants require the use of temperature probes to determine at least minimal doneness, some unlucky souls are occasionally going to get hit with the consequences of undercooking in any of these restaurants who may be using inexperienced cooks. While I don't know that either your son's situation or mine were the result of undercooking, it wouldn't surprise me.
Hard to prove anything, especially since I wasn't present for the meal. But, he and the others present said it was ordered medium and served very bloody.
His older brother has been a grill cook. I always defer to him on the grill. He tests doneness by pressing on the steak and is always correct, but has been doing this for several years. A probe thermometer would be a good substitute for experience I would imagine.
#38
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Originally Posted by JS
From several replies on this thread, I take this to mean that us dumb, fat, trailer trash in the South aren't fortunate enough to be able to eat out at an overpriced, snotty "real Italian" restaurant only found in such upscale locales as New York City?
Gee, last time I ate at a "real Italian" restaurant in NYC, I got half the food for the same price as Olive Garden (leaving me hungry after my meal, and I'm not a fatass BTW) served by a Mexican. You snotty New Yorkers can keep your "real Italian" crappy restaurants.
Gee, last time I ate at a "real Italian" restaurant in NYC, I got half the food for the same price as Olive Garden (leaving me hungry after my meal, and I'm not a fatass BTW) served by a Mexican. You snotty New Yorkers can keep your "real Italian" crappy restaurants.
JS, if all you're eating at is the overpriced, snotty Italian resturants when you come to the Metro NYC area, then you're missing out on quite a bit.
And I'll match any of what you refer to as our "crappy restaurants" against any other Italian restaurants in the country. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.
#39
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Originally Posted by TRRed
I seem to remember that it's name is California Dreamin.
The Staxa____ family have a number of restaurants in the area which are pretty decent. Stax's Grill (in the same strip center as Toys 'R Us) was the one I ate at the most when I lived in the area. Stax's Peppermill is more upscale. Stax's Original is more downscale (meat 'n three, good breakfast). I never was a big fan of Stax's Omega.
The Staxa____ family have a number of restaurants in the area which are pretty decent. Stax's Grill (in the same strip center as Toys 'R Us) was the one I ate at the most when I lived in the area. Stax's Peppermill is more upscale. Stax's Original is more downscale (meat 'n three, good breakfast). I never was a big fan of Stax's Omega.
#40
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Originally Posted by JS
From several replies on this thread, I take this to mean that us dumb, fat, trailer trash in the South aren't fortunate enough to be able to eat out at an overpriced, snotty "real Italian" restaurant only found in such upscale locales as New York City?
Gee, last time I ate at a "real Italian" restaurant in NYC, I got half the food for the same price as Olive Garden (leaving me hungry after my meal, and I'm not a fatass BTW) served by a Mexican. You snotty New Yorkers can keep your "real Italian" crappy restaurants.
Gee, last time I ate at a "real Italian" restaurant in NYC, I got half the food for the same price as Olive Garden (leaving me hungry after my meal, and I'm not a fatass BTW) served by a Mexican. You snotty New Yorkers can keep your "real Italian" crappy restaurants.
And while I'm here, comparing Italian restaurants in NYC to Italian restaurants in some parts of the country is like comparing BBQ restaurants in some parts of the country to those in NYC. I've eaten in great BBQ places in Atlanta, Birmingham and Memphis, among others. I've also eaten in "Authentic Southern BBQ" restaurants in the NYC area, including my own suburb. And they all can't compare to those Southern BBQ places I've eaten at.
So you see, it goes both ways.
#41
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Originally Posted by Mary2e
Uhhh, no JS.
I'm a first generation Italian that knows what "real" Italian food tastes like. It doesn't have to be from a "snooty NYC" restaurant. A mom & pop shop can serve it up just fine. As a matter of fact, my local pizzaria often will cook up special dishes for me if I just ask. Sometimes I'm too lazy to cook it myself & they're more than happy to do it for me ^^
I'm a first generation Italian that knows what "real" Italian food tastes like. It doesn't have to be from a "snooty NYC" restaurant. A mom & pop shop can serve it up just fine. As a matter of fact, my local pizzaria often will cook up special dishes for me if I just ask. Sometimes I'm too lazy to cook it myself & they're more than happy to do it for me ^^
#42
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Originally Posted by JS
From several replies on this thread, I take this to mean that us dumb, fat, trailer trash in the South aren't fortunate enough to be able to eat out at an overpriced, snotty "real Italian" restaurant only found in such upscale locales as New York City?
For real Italian cuisine, you go where the Italian immigrants spread their roots--to New York (much of Brooklyn), Boston (the North End), Philly (south Philly), and Chicago. These areas I put in parentheses aren't exactly in the high-rent districts. So those of you with axes to grind against NYC and italian food, think again. Try a family owned restaurant in Bensonhurst. Ask anyone here who has been on dhammer's Brooklyn Reality Tour about authentic italian cuisine they enjoyed with Dan as their leader.
Last edited by Analise; Mar 1, 2006 at 12:20 pm
#43
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The best italian food I've had was in EZE.
Olive Garden is good comfort food. It along with Red Lobster is just good food for the general masses. Moderately priced, with large portions. I'm against giving *any* company special tax breaks just to come in. If they want to enter the marketplace, then let them compete on a level playing field with the other restaurants.
America does it's "thang" with most food that comes in. Chinese, Mexican and Italian are all changed to match what the locals want. Many people don't even know the truth behind many of the restaurants they go to. Thinking that Outback is a real Ozzie restaurant, or Carrabas is a family run restaurant.
Olive Garden is good comfort food. It along with Red Lobster is just good food for the general masses. Moderately priced, with large portions. I'm against giving *any* company special tax breaks just to come in. If they want to enter the marketplace, then let them compete on a level playing field with the other restaurants.
America does it's "thang" with most food that comes in. Chinese, Mexican and Italian are all changed to match what the locals want. Many people don't even know the truth behind many of the restaurants they go to. Thinking that Outback is a real Ozzie restaurant, or Carrabas is a family run restaurant.
#44
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Originally Posted by tonypct
One other thing. The snotty, uptight New Yorkers that you and others run into are usually not native New Yorkers. They move there for the glamour, night life and the money. The city changes them. Native New Yorkers have grown up in that environment and are used to it, so they, shall I see we, don't get sucked into the "NYC" life.
And while I'm here, comparing Italian restaurants in NYC to Italian restaurants in some parts of the country is like comparing BBQ restaurants in some parts of the country to those in NYC. I've eaten in great BBQ places in Atlanta, Birmingham and Memphis, among others. I've also eaten in "Authentic Southern BBQ" restaurants in the NYC area, including my own suburb. And they all can't compare to those Southern BBQ places I've eaten at.
So you see, it goes both ways.
And while I'm here, comparing Italian restaurants in NYC to Italian restaurants in some parts of the country is like comparing BBQ restaurants in some parts of the country to those in NYC. I've eaten in great BBQ places in Atlanta, Birmingham and Memphis, among others. I've also eaten in "Authentic Southern BBQ" restaurants in the NYC area, including my own suburb. And they all can't compare to those Southern BBQ places I've eaten at.
So you see, it goes both ways.
That said, your comparison with barbeque is a good one. You can't find good bbq in New York. In fact, smoking pits aren't even legal in the city. So how can anything be authentic. Likewise, you aren't going to Olive Garden for any remote sense of authentic Italian cooking. In terms of "cuisine" it's on par with the likes of Applebee's.
#45
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Originally Posted by Jaimito Cartero
It along with Red Lobster is just good food for the general masses.