While I always prefer a local place over a chain, Olive Garden isn't terrible as far as it goes. It's one of those places on my list of "Great to eat at: If Someone else is Paying". Sure you get soup/salad and breadsticks, but I still think the entrees are priced a little higher than they should be.

I prefer Olive Garden the most when I do take out, the faux Italian ambiance doesn't do it for me, and some of the ones I went to had all the chairs on wheels which I found weird.