Current Events > When did Olive Garden get so bad

(+) Yeah! (+)

We went the other day, and it was one of my worst trips anywhere in recent memory lol

Drinks took like 45 minutes, water never came.
Chicken was rubbery
Hair in her food
No gnocchi in the soup
Waitress never checked in after the food came
Screaming kids everywhere
Noodles were dry

We ended up complaining, and they gave us a gift card, but I dont really want to go back.

when was it good? any chain is a gamble now it seems. that place always seemed bad to just ok.

Frankly it always has been

It was always bad. True story, I once got dysentery from eating there.

Microwave Garden

Yeah it tastes so bland as well. In 2017 I was one of those lucky few that got that pasta pass. Food is way overpriced and theyre skimpy on good stuff. My wife usually only likes the gnocchi soup and it basically a broth last time we went

It's ok but I'd rather get pasta from the local pizza joint

Bread sticks are fire

they even kinda burnt those. We had to soak them in sauce a little bit to soften them up smh

I only go for the endless soup for lunch, but I havent been in a while.

darkprince45 posted...

Yeah it tastes so bland as well. In 2017 I was one of those lucky few that got that pasta pass. Food is way overpriced and theyre skimpy on good stuff. My wife usually only likes the gnocchi soup and it basically a broth last time we went

Yeah we love that soup, even enjoy making it at home lol.

But both of ours just had chicken and broth, not a gnocchi in sight.

gimme the dumplings bitch!

lww99 posted...

Yeah we love that soup, even enjoy making it at home lol.

But both of ours just had chicken and broth, not a gnocchi in sight.

gimme the dumplings bitch!

Do you have a recipe for it you wouldnt mind sharing?

The bread and salad are the best part... but even those aren't as good as one remembers them being. Don't know what happened to the chain but yeah they're not good anymore.

Mistere Man posted...

Do you have a recipe for it you wouldnt mind sharing?

Roughly 3 large chicken breasts, I like to pan sear them but you can also bake them. Fully cook and set aside.
1/2 cup diced celery
1 shallot finely chopped
1/2 to 1 cup matchstick carrots, chopped in half for better bite sized pieces.
1 cup roughly chopped spinach
2 cloves garlic, minced.
4 cups chicken broth
1/2 to 1 teaspoon fresh thyme.
16oz potato gnocchi or 2 bags of the green giant cauliflower gnocchi
Salt and pepper to taste (heavy on the pepper IMO)
1 tablespoon olive oil or butter

Heat the butter or oil in a soup pot Saut the shallot, celery, carrots and garlic until the onions are translucent.
Add the chicken brother, chicken, seasonings (thyme, salt, pepper etc) and bring to a boil. Add in the gnocchi and boil for roughly 4-5 minutes. Bring it down to a simmer and add in 1.5cup of heavy cream and the spinach. Once the spinach is cooked, add more salt and pepper and some fresh parmesan.

My local one still is alright. I actually get the gnocchi in my soup, lol.

Thank you lww99!

I genuinely cant believe people go to Olive Garden. I can make a pretty decent chicken alfredo at home and i dont have to pay a gigantic amount to do it. Idk.

*puts on astronaut suit*

*loads pistol*

Trumpo posted...

Microwave Garden

You can get the same experience for a lot less picking stuff up from the frozen section of your grocery store.

It was never good

I always hear bad stuff about Red Lobster, Olive Garden, and Applebees but anytime I go to these places there's always a long ass line just to get in.

Right around when COVID started, honestly

On top of being mediocre, they're probably affected by staffing shortages now too.

Best breadsticks

Prestoff posted...

I always hear bad stuff about Red Lobster, Olive Garden, and Applebees but anytime I go to these places there's always a long ass line just to get in.

They all have big menus that can satisfy parties of any size which is why people always go. Plus since they're cheaper than most sit downs they're a popular choice

Zappa Toscana is a delightful soup.

But otherwise it's usually pretty bad. I only go there when I get gift cards. Super expensive for a plate of basic pasta and the sauces are usually way too greasy/buttery to be palatable

Prestoff posted...

I always hear bad stuff about Red Lobster, Olive Garden, and Applebees but anytime I go to these places there's always a long ass line just to get in.

They're the Big Bang Theory of the restaurant world

BuckVanHammer posted...

when was it good?

ScazarMeltex posted...

It was always bad.

These.

Olive Garden is like Applebee's. Just relentlessly mediocre.

The gimmick of Olive Garden and Red Lobster is they sell themselves as upscale restaurants to poor people

theyre able to do this by having low quality food, but the marketing has been extremely successful at pushing this image, and poor people like to eat at restaurants too.

Theyre filling a niche and thats okay, but I can get better food for cheaper at local places so I dont eat there.

Ill def still smash on some boneless wings from

No astronaut pic. I am disappoint

They have been bad since I was a kid

BuckVanHammer posted...

when was it good?

In the 80's, early 90's. It was always a popular birthday spot for my family growing up. Chicken Parmesan because my favorite dish as a kid, because of OG. Last time I went though, it tasted like my meal was cooked in a microwave.

Carabba's is much better. I just love the Chicken Bryan!