Hehehe. I think it's funny all the "foodies" out there will won't mind going to a P.F.Chang's, but won't step foot in an Olive Garden. To me, it's the same...Americanized ethnic food. And I'm a genuine HKG-born-naturalized-American, so I know the difference between real Chinese/Asian and Americanized versions. But guess what? I like it all...just like millions of other average Joe Shmoes. It doesn't have to be authentic to be tasty. Trust me, the majority of P.F.Chang fans won't want to eat fish cheeks, bird's nest, chicken feet, pork feet or beef tendons...that's about as authentic as it gets (and also pretty tasty if you ask me)!

I can't speak about PF Chang's as I've never been there. I assume it's an expensive chain restaurant? Money has never been a variable in this very interesting thread.

As someone who grew up eating macaroni & Grandmom's sunday gravy, I find Olive Garden a culinary wasteland. However when I have talked to friends of Chinese descent they find Pei-Wei or PF Changs an abomination and I'm sure if any of my Mexican friends went to a Chi-Chi's they would be equally unimpressed.

But for those who do not have their preferences fixed by earlier experiences with these kinds of food - especailly when they are accompanied by memories of specail times with family and friends (I have given up eating red sauces in restaurants because they always fall short of my Grandmothers) - these restaurants offer a chance for some exposure to a different cuisine and can easily become personal favorites.

One quick note on Italian restaurants - I often find the experience and food is inversely related to price (and snootiness). I can not tell you how many times I have gone to some "hot" yuppy Italian restaurant - OC is littered with them - and been disappointed. My best Italian meals have invariably been at family run restaurants - usually run by someone of Italian heritage - where a full meal could be had for less then $10/person.

One other note -

OC's rule of restaurants when traveling:

North East - Eat Italian or Jewish
West Coast - Chinese or Mexican
Northwest - Asian or Seafood
Texas - Steaks or BBQ
Southeast - BBQ

Always avoid:

North east - Mexican
South - Italian or Jewish
West Coast - Italian - particularly pizza (CPK gets a pass because it does'nt even try to be authentic)
Texas - Chinese

You forgot one in Texas, at least, far west Texas

Incredibly enough there is excellent Chinese food in Juarez

If you avoid Chinese in Texas, you can be missing out. When the long railroad line was built through the wilds of west Texas from Abileneto El Paso, little towns sprang up all along the way. Lots of the laborers building that railroad were Chinese and ended up staying in those towns and starting restaurants that can be remarkably decent.

And Fried Ravioli when in the St. Louis area. ^ ^

[QUOTE=Analise]Sorry, but I can give my opinion just like Mary2e, tonypct, rec, and HobokenFlyer have. No TOS rules were broken. ^

Speak for your own experience not everybody else. I don't know where you live but one can get the most authentic, and inexpensive Chinese food right in Flushing. I forgot....only "snobs" take the 7 to Flushing.

QUOTE]

No TOS, but you have insulted many many people who might happen to like Olive Garden, and the countless who work there or have any interest in it's success.

I have yet to see a "1000 year old egg" anywhere in Flushing.....

[moderator hat on]

Everyone, let's keep this focused (or as focused as this thread seems to be) on Olive Garden etc., and et al, and refrain from discussing individual posters? OK?

Thanks

cblaisd
Senior Moderator

[/hat off]

P.F.Changs is about as expensive as Olive Garden. As I've stated previously, it's Americanized Chinese/Asian food...never mentioned money or expenses. Dishes range between $10 to $15 for most items, maybe $20 for seafood.

If you are coming to the Gayla in Palm Springs, please do not say this out loud!

Dissed by Olive Garden? Lucky you.

I wish my area had been so fortunate. Why couldn't we have a CPK instead?

I don't think that's a problem unique to Phoenix. It is more a problem with the lack of taste/sophistication/etc. of the voters.

Here in San Antonio, Outback typically places first as the best steakhouse in the annual Express-News readers' choice awards, ahead of Ruth's Chris and much superior non-chain steakhouses.

Which really goes to show that you should take newspaper "best of" ratings with a grain of salt.

Olive Garden has great breadsticks. The chicken alfredo pizza is not bad. But as for the other entrees, you can do just as well by microwaving your own packaged Italian food.

Olive Garden is like TGI Fridays for pasta or "Italian" food.

I don't think it's snobby to think that a chain that serves 10s of thousands of people every day all over the country makes good Italian food. They're too busy responding to focus groups and surveys to actually pay attention to what is "italian food"

That said, the last (and final) time I was at Olive Garden, the dumb-a&& waiter didn't bother to serve our salad or bread until we finished our entrees. No thanks, I'll try somewhere else next time.

I spent my last two years on the road doing my bit for 9/11. Military towns are not exactly culinary Meccas. In fact, OG was usually the best the locale had to offer. Noe, almost a year after I am starting to recover my health.