Why do people rip on Olive Garden?

Question

Ok really for the price the food is amazing and even if it was expensive the food is still great. I mean its not like the same stuff you would find in Italy but for America its great and the endless breadsticks and salad. I am a busser at Olive Garden and before every shift we always have a meeting where we talk about the great service we are going to give and how we must strive to have a clean eating area and make things a bussed quickly and quietly. I personally think people rip on it too much what do you thing.

Answer 1

I love Olive Garden! And I am 100% Italian! The service is usually excellent and everything is very clean. The breadsticks are to die for and the cheese ravioli rocks. Honestly, I don't know why people complain about it. But now I'm hungry!

Answer 2

I love Olive Garden but don't go there often because I hate waiting in line to get in. There food is always great. That's why it is always crowded.

Answer 3

Yeah good querstion.  I work there too and it's such a good place to work.  I hate how people think the food is so bad but we make all our sauces and soups from scratch...it's all fresh.  I live in Canada where we don't have many and I tell people I work there and most of them are amazed lol.  And it's always Crazy busy!!  So people must be coming for something they like!  

Answer 4

I love Olive Garden and agree with you.  

Answer 5

I like the Olive Garden. I prefer Macaroni Grill, but that doesn't mean I don't like Olive Garden. Their salad and bread sticks are incredible and I love their pizzas and Tour of Italy. I don't think the prices are unreasonable for the serving sizes. I always take mine home and make another meal out of it.

  

Answer 6

I have never really heard people rip on it...perhaps that is just in your area?

Answer 7

i've never heard any one rip on it. it's probably cause you work there.  

Answer 8

Personally, I love the food. If I go there, I tend to get stuff I wouldn't make at home because I excel at cooking a lot of Italian dishes, home-make everything. If I have the time, and energy, I do prefer to cook at home..but if I want someone else to cook my Italian, I go there.

Answer 9

I actually just answered a question on this.

I like Olive Garden, and I like the prices.

Answer 10

I love Olive Garden and don't personally know anyone who complains about it. great restaurant, great food and great service. My kids love the mac n cheese

Answer 11

I love Olive Garden.

people rip on everything whether it's warranted or not.

let's face it, if you want authentic italian get on a plane and go over there.  Olive Garden is great american italian

Answer 12

Olive Garden is okay. I would only go in when I really crave for something to fill up my appetite. But honestly, the only good thing is probably the house salad. Pasta and all those stuff are too obvious that they just put them in the microwave and serve you. But I can't complain much since it's the American way of Italian cooking. Guess, that's what the people are used to.  

Answer 13

You hear the ripping because not all Olive Gardens are like yours.

I go to Olive Gardens in many cities and there are a few I'll never go back to again. Some are just horrible. Most of the ones I go to are great.

The food is good, price is good, ...It's a bunch of very basic Italian fare and it's fairly inexpensive to prepare making it very desirable to budget minded families. Most OG's I go to are wonderful and the service is above average overall.

They even have a culinary school in Italy.

http://www.olivegarden.com/culinary/cit/

Answer 14

People rip on it because it tries to be really classy but is really just a little trashy when compared to small, fancy Italian restaurants. Kind of like how Red Lobster is with sea food. It's hard to be a big chain and keep that 'intimate' local restaurant feel. So it just feels sterile.

I love Olive Garden though. Great food.

Answer 15

I think people rip on any chain restaurant.  I like Olive Garden.  It isn't the same as the family owned Italian places we have in our area but it still is a place we go to from time to time esp. for lunch.  You are right, all the ones I have gone to are very clean so that is a plus : )

Answer 16

I think its primarily because to many people (in comparison to many other upscale Italian restaurants) its seen as the McDonald's of Italian food. My friends and I LOVE Olive Garden, esp because not only are we  college students (and broke) but its delicious and near our campus. Lots of hidden calories though ladies, watch out!