Olive Garden is great for what it is. Reasonable food, good prices, large portions. We went yesterday, while visiting the new college student and they were giving out samples of Sangria, that actually tasted good. I rarely drink, so this is amazing that I actually liked it.

I personally hate when people get all snobby about chain restaurants, Olive Garden in particular. I eat at plenty of higher end places, including lots of Italian in NYC (Michael White and Batali restaurants), yet can still appreciate Olive Garden for what it is.

There are constantly waits for them, even in NYC. People like them. No big deal.

Funny though how the most recent posts have all stated it is at least getting a little better.

After a great dinner in a better restaurant, Mrs. Deubster is occasionally known to say, "You know what would be great for dessert? Cheesecake at the Olive Garden." So Mrs. Deubster & I go to OG about 3 times a year. At our local one, they serve a very tall wedge of very delicious NY style cheesecake, better than any available elsewhere in this area.

I really didn't like Olive Garden i don't know if it was the decor or what but whenever we eat Italian it is usually Buca because of the pizza which is just amazing!

Delta747

I'll go there every once in a while for the soup & salad lunch. It's priced right, and the food isn't awful.

It's nice to see that this thread still has legs.

We traded our small town in Alabama for a smaller town in Tennessee. We have a local independent restaurant within walking distance. The owners are ItAms like me and feature some family recipes, but I don't find them any more exciting than my own family recipes.

I still crave OG occasionally, but have discovered Carrabbas and like it better (after one visit). I liked the option of whole wheat pasta and thought there was far more garlic (I like that) in my dish than anything OG offers. I still prefer OG for salad, soup and dessert.

I grew up in a 3rd gen Italian American household, have eaten in loads of independent Italian restaurants in the Northeast as well as places in Rome & Naples, but I still like Olive Garden and will continue to eat there unless it gets much worse.

OG is still a great place to carbo load before a marathon or other endurance events cheaply....breadsticks and never-ending pasta bowls do the trick for me.

It's not Babbo, Rao's, or even Scarpetta (best spaghetti in NYC) but it has its place.

I am proudly an Italian food snob and would never set foot in OG or a Bertuccis or any other similar type restaurant.

Carabbas is a lot better than OG. The way I like to think about it is, 'If I had Italian relatives come visit me in the States, would I take them to Olive Garden?'. I can't imagine anybody would. The only Indian restaurants we frequent here in the UK are those that we are proud to show off to foreign and local guests

Only reason I go to OG a couple times a year are random cravings for a lot of salad and pasta e fagioli soup

I think what puzzles me is that so many locals, both where I live, and in cities I used to live go here and pass up much better food at much better prices.
I'll eat at Olive garden on the road occasionally...and it's fine for what it is...consistent mid priced mediocre italian food.

The only thing I order on the few occasions I find myself at Olive Garden (along with the ubiquitous and fairly decent salad, no dressing, please) is the toasted ravioli.

When I can't afford to doing a Toasted Ravioli Run to STL, it's better than no toasted ravioli at all.

I live in a small city where Olive Garden is one of the fancier places in town and their parking lot is always jammed.

Fully understand.... where I grew up, the fanciest seafood restaurant was Long John Silvers.... guess that is why I do not eat seafood to this day! :)

I love the hush puppies at Long John Silver's!

Do you mean Carrabba's? They're okay, but none are that close to me. No free refills on soup, which sucks, too.

I do take relatives from other countries to Olive Garden, and they like it. Shrug. Fairly cheap. Decent quality. Usually not much of a wait. All of these work for me.