Olive Garden [merged threads]
Mar 2, 2006, 12:43 pm
#61
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Gulf Coast/Ventura County/Somewhere in between
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What I do notice in BHM, as I wander around the Summit, are all the thin middle aged blondes with with their noses in the air and a pinched look on their faces as if they perpetually smell something bad. I'd rather dine with the chubbies in Oxford.
Now THAT's funny! The ones that migrated down here all live in Fairhope...my wife calls them The Mercedes Ladies.
Next time you're there, though, notice one other thing. They all have small mouths, and you know what they say...
Now THAT's funny! The ones that migrated down here all live in Fairhope...my wife calls them The Mercedes Ladies.
Next time you're there, though, notice one other thing. They all have small mouths, and you know what they say...
Mar 2, 2006, 2:21 pm
#62
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Rochester, MN
Programs: UA GS, AA PLT, HH Diamond
Posts: 1,437
Originally Posted by dd992emo
What I do notice in BHM, as I wander around the Summit, are all the thin middle aged blondes with with their noses in the air and a pinched look on their faces as if they perpetually smell something bad. I'd rather dine with the chubbies in Oxford.
Now THAT's funny! The ones that migrated down here all live in Fairhope...my wife calls them The Mercedes Ladies.
Next time you're there, though, notice one other thing. They all have small mouths, and you know what they say...
Now THAT's funny! The ones that migrated down here all live in Fairhope...my wife calls them The Mercedes Ladies.
Next time you're there, though, notice one other thing. They all have small mouths, and you know what they say...
Now somewhere earlier someone suggested Bucca de Pepa as a place to get a good Italian meal from a chain. Bucca is good if you go with a group of 4 or more. It isn't really a good place to go if you are alone or with one other. The meals are just too big, and if I ate one whole "meal" there on a regular basis I would definately be a customer of size.
I don't have a problem with the chain restraunts or as I call them institutionalized slow food. The advantage they have is that I usually know what I am getting when I order the meal. It is the familiarity that makes them work. However, for a chain to work it is necessary to reduce the meals to the lowest common denominator. Thus you trade "authenticity" for consistency. Sure you can usually find a better local restraunt in almost any place, but sometimes when you are on the road in a strange place you don't want to risk it.
Mar 2, 2006, 3:38 pm
#64
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Originally Posted by Mary2e
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.
Mar 3, 2006, 7:18 am
#65
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: NY
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Olive Garden is great for the soup, salad & breadsticks.
Olive Garden certainly is not what I consider to be Italian food. Of course, I'm from Utica, New York (central New York area), where there are family-owned Italian restaurants on every corner, so I know what Italian food is suppose to be. I live in a small rural city at present, and they do not have an Olive Garden, but I know many people who are dying for one to locate here. These people, of course, are the ones who go to Ponderosa for a great steak dinner. There are a few family-owned Italian restaurants; some are okay and some aren't, but nothing like what I can get in my hometown.
Olive Garden certainly is not what I consider to be Italian food. Of course, I'm from Utica, New York (central New York area), where there are family-owned Italian restaurants on every corner, so I know what Italian food is suppose to be. I live in a small rural city at present, and they do not have an Olive Garden, but I know many people who are dying for one to locate here. These people, of course, are the ones who go to Ponderosa for a great steak dinner. There are a few family-owned Italian restaurants; some are okay and some aren't, but nothing like what I can get in my hometown.
Mar 3, 2006, 7:57 am
#66
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Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: El Paso, TX, USA
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Last time I went (actually it was take out) to Olive Garden was this past Valentine's Day
I can make better pasta than they do, but my wife didn't want to deal with a dirty kitchen (I am a rather messy cook
)
The salad, dressing and breadsticks are good, pasta is OK, but I ordered dessert.
BIG MISTAKE
Their desserts taste like cold lard, very tasteless, and just plain awful
Next year I am cooking and hiring Merry Maids instead
I can make better pasta than they do, but my wife didn't want to deal with a dirty kitchen (I am a rather messy cook
)The salad, dressing and breadsticks are good, pasta is OK, but I ordered dessert.
BIG MISTAKE
Their desserts taste like cold lard, very tasteless, and just plain awful
Next year I am cooking and hiring Merry Maids instead
Mar 3, 2006, 8:41 am
#67
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: BWI
Programs: AA PLT and that's that!
Posts: 8,349
Originally Posted by Cookie Jarvis
Olive Garden is great for the soup, salad & breadsticks.
Mar 3, 2006, 8:51 am
#68
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: SJC/SFO/OAK
Programs: DL PM, SW, Hilton, , UAL PM, AA Gold-skeptic
Posts: 1,632
Food snob
Originally Posted by Analise
Olive Garden is insult to Italian cuisine. Do what you can to get rid of them.
True Chinese food bears no resemblance to what is offered here. Americans buy what Americans like, and if it ain't exactly authentic.
It's clear that the community wants it and likes it, and is willing to pay for it. That means JOBS and all of the goodies associated with it.
Mar 3, 2006, 9:39 am
#69
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Originally Posted by jfe
BIG MISTAKE
Their desserts taste like cold lard, very tasteless, and just plain awful
Their desserts taste like cold lard, very tasteless, and just plain awful
Mar 3, 2006, 9:42 am
#70
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Originally Posted by BamaVol
What did you order? Last visit, Mrs BamaVol ordered some sort of lemon cake. I snuck a bite and thought it was pretty good. I don't know that I've had anything else off their dessert menu.
Mar 3, 2006, 10:48 am
#71
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Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 55,189
Originally Posted by rrz518
Who cares? If you don't like it, then don't go. But dont' be a food snob with the hordes who do like it, even if you don't approve.
True Chinese food bears no resemblance to what is offered here.
It's clear that the community wants it and likes it, and is willing to pay for it. That means JOBS and all of the goodies associated with it.
Last edited by Analise; Mar 3, 2006 at 1:51 pm
Mar 3, 2006, 12:59 pm
#72
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Southwest CT
Programs: DL Diamond and Million Miler, Marriott Titanium Elite, Hertz Pres Circle
Posts: 7,618
Originally Posted by Cookie Jarvis
Olive Garden is great for the soup, salad & breadsticks.
Olive Garden certainly is not what I consider to be Italian food. Of course, I'm from Utica, New York (central New York area), where there are family-owned Italian restaurants on every corner, so I know what Italian food is suppose to be. I live in a small rural city at present, and they do not have an Olive Garden, but I know many people who are dying for one to locate here. These people, of course, are the ones who go to Ponderosa for a great steak dinner. There are a few family-owned Italian restaurants; some are okay and some aren't, but nothing like what I can get in my hometown.
Olive Garden certainly is not what I consider to be Italian food. Of course, I'm from Utica, New York (central New York area), where there are family-owned Italian restaurants on every corner, so I know what Italian food is suppose to be. I live in a small rural city at present, and they do not have an Olive Garden, but I know many people who are dying for one to locate here. These people, of course, are the ones who go to Ponderosa for a great steak dinner. There are a few family-owned Italian restaurants; some are okay and some aren't, but nothing like what I can get in my hometown.
Mar 3, 2006, 1:01 pm
#73
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Southwest CT
Programs: DL Diamond and Million Miler, Marriott Titanium Elite, Hertz Pres Circle
Posts: 7,618
Originally Posted by rrz518
Who cares? If you don't like it, then don't go. But dont' be a food snob with the hordes who do like it, even if you don't approve.
True Chinese food bears no resemblance to what is offered here. Americans buy what Americans like, and if it ain't exactly authentic.
It's clear that the community wants it and likes it, and is willing to pay for it. That means JOBS and all of the goodies associated with it.
True Chinese food bears no resemblance to what is offered here. Americans buy what Americans like, and if it ain't exactly authentic.
It's clear that the community wants it and likes it, and is willing to pay for it. That means JOBS and all of the goodies associated with it.
Mar 3, 2006, 1:05 pm
#74
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 512
I love eating at Olive Garden. The soup and salad deal is the best. Service varies. Was there this past Sat and my 2nd bowl of minestrone soup had hardly anything in it for the 1st time. Experience mostly good. Best tiramisu as well. Some may not agreee but that's okay. Hope Olive Garden and your city can work something out.