Usability Forum

Olive Garden anti-user attitude

By vaspers the grate aka steven e. streightvaspers88. Saturday, February 17, 2007 7:01:33 AM

anti-user, sloganeering, restaurant usability, Olive Garden, hype

The goal of a restaurant, or any business for that matter, is to (1) determine what customers want (2) satisfy that want (3) provide choices that customers prefer. Olive Garden fails on all three points.

My wife and I went to Olive Garden last night for the first, and last, time. I resisted going there, due to their horrible advertising, but we had a gift card from Christmas and it seemed like a good idea to use it.

We had a 10 minute wait. Okay. Not so bad. We sat at the bar. I ordered a Myers's rum and coke. Strong. Cost: $5.50. Pricey. I had to pay for the drink at the bar, since that was what worked best for the restaurant. I gave the bartender a $20 bill.

Suddenly our table was ready. We walk off, following the hostess.

Bartender comes after me, "Your change sir." I say, "Keep it." He says, "Okay" and hastens off. I come to my senses. I thought I gave him a $10 bill, then remembered it was a $20. Bartender does not say, "All $14.00?" Probably thought it was his lucky day, maybe figured I had been drinking elsewhere prior, so I was an easy mark.

We order our food. When it came to what salad dressing we wanted, wife said "French", I asked for blue cheese. Sorry. Only Italian and ranch. We reluctantly accept the Italian.

Salad and bread sticks arrive. Dipping sauce for the bread sticks is extra charge. Bread sticks are childish Pizza Hut style, overly buttered. Big deal.

Food arrives. Reminds me of high school cafeteria food. Sauce is bland, very American, no real flavor.

What irks me is that Olive Garden pushes "all the salad and bread sticks you want", then skimps on the quality of the main course. It seems like a scam. "Fill your bellies with cheap salad and unremarkable bread sticks, so you feel full when you're done dining."

And what's up with limiting a diner's selection of salad dressing to only two types: Italian or ranch? That's not a classy restaurant. It was like a Pizza Hut with a nicer decor. No offense to Pizza Hut, which is an innovative and customer-pleasing company that Olive Garden could learn from.

"When you're here, you're family" is a very stupid slogan. I already have a family. I don't need Olive Garden to pretend to be related to me, which they're not, since they refuse to relate to my desire for a common salad dressing.

FedEx Tracker: Confusing Forms, Vestigial Elements and Poor WordingMusic CD usability errors

Comments

1 2 Next »

WillYum # Saturday, February 17, 2007 7:59:02 AM

I must admit, I probably wouldn't have said anything about a $14 tip either. Some people are just very generous. As far as Olive Garden being overhyped... well, I thought it was common knowledge they were kinda... so-so.

Charging for the little stuff seems to be like common pratice recently but it still annoys me. It'd be like the airlines charging for a snack on air flight you just paid $500 to take. Please.

Yum

vaspers the grate aka steven e. streightvaspers88 # Saturday, February 17, 2007 8:06:52 AM

I rarely complain about such things, but it was just a rotten experience, and the Only Two Kinds of Salad Dressing is a shabby strategy. There is no way they tested this concept with typical users, er, diners.

"We are thinking about offering only two salad dressings. How many of you think that is a good idea?" I can't imagine any focus group or survey respondents agreeing that Only Two Salad Dressings is a good idea.

The atmosphere and decor was almost lavish, and I must say that the wife and I enjoyed the wheels on the chairs, but is that a safety hazard?

Kelson VibberKelson # Saturday, February 17, 2007 9:02:48 AM

I think Olive Garden has declined over the years. Either that or my tastes have gotten more demanding.

One thing that's bugged me about the one nearby is that they seem to be training their waiters to address you in first person plural: "What are we having tonight?" It's condescending. My wife and I actually overheard someone telling the waitress, "I don't know about you, but I'm having the <name of dish>"

vaspers the grate aka steven e. streightvaspers88 # Saturday, February 17, 2007 9:18:03 AM

LOL -- that sounds like something my dad would say. When a restaurant said they had no more lemons for mom's fish, my dad got really belligerent and told them the owner or manager should go to the grocery store, Right Now, and buy some damn lemons.

In all the manic hoopla about "branding" and "rich customer experience" the marketing dolts focus primarily on "superior product" and "communicating better to the target audience". What BS.

The important thing is how the front line workers, wait staff, sales clerks treat the customer, and how customer complaints are handled.

Limiting customer choices, in a bizarre and unexpected manner, is a very stupid marketing plan. It's like an automobile company only having black and red cars.

Anonymous # Sunday, February 18, 2007 3:03:04 AM

Dan writes: Man, if you were this dissatisfied with a recent visit, you really would have hated them back in the mid 90's when they first became popular. That was before they reinvented themselves with this Tuscan image and the big bottles of wine. Back then, the advertising was still ridiculous, talking about the magnifico experience or something like that, and how Uncle Giuseppe from the homeland can't believe how great the food is! I'm going to go out on a sturdy limb and say that you are not in the Olive Garden's target demographic. You seem far too sophisticated, too discriminating in your tastes, too knowledgeable about Italian food. OG might advertise themselves as authentic Italian, but they really cater to that blue collar, middle America demographic that wants to feel like they're going out for a fancy dinner without the price. It's the same as Red Lobster really. People who don't often get good, fresh seafood think it's the best. Those that live on the coast know that you can get really fantastic seafood at this dive near Pier 47, much better than some chain restaurant. I realize you had other problems unrelated to the food, but if you're sitting there the entire time unsatisfied with the food, it's going to color your interactions and memories of the place. As for your other user-related issues: The Tip: I'm sorry, but this is your fault. What did you expect the guy to do? He gave you one chance to get back your change. When you flat out refused, did you expect him to say, "But kind sir! I am not deserving of such an extravagance!" Did you go back after you realized your mistake? I'm sure he would have given back your $10. The Salad: I'm surprised you were given the option of ranch! I've been to Olive Garden dozens of times (though probably not once in the past 5 years) and never received a choice of dressing. I thought they only made one salad with the Italian dressing mixed in, with the possible exception of a caesar side salad. I think as an Italian restaurant they're within their rights to restrict their offerings to Italian or pseudo-Italian offerings. The only broken part is that the server asked what kind of salad you wanted, since Italian is the standard.

Anonymous # Sunday, February 18, 2007 3:27:54 AM

Dan writes: HAHAHAHAHA... this is funny. Don't Eat at the Olive Garden

vaspers the grate aka steven e. streightvaspers88 # Sunday, February 18, 2007 6:27:12 PM

Dan: Sure enough I used to live in NYC and ate at Dish of Salt and The Four Seasons and in Little Italy, Soho, and Chinatown, but that was back in the late 80s. I live in the Mudwest now. Peoria, IL.

But I don't judge local or chain restaurants by those lofty standards, mostly forgotten now. I try to be open minded. I try not to be fussy and picky and overly critical. I have worked in restaurants like most people working their way through college or whatever. I am very sympathetic with wait staff and cooks.

BTW, I did get my change back from the bartender.

And yes, to take the moral high ground (upon which I teeter drunkenly like an illegal alien on such noble turf), I would have said:

"But sir, your masochism cannot possibly be that over the top. This is a massive tip for my meager service. I cannot let you cower like a chump all your life. I must make you be a Man and rise to the occasion presented by this mistake. You gave me 20 grim reapers, not 10. This is an unheard of $14 tip on an overpriced $5.50 Myers's rum and coke. I shan't stand by and watch you self-flagellate in this unseemly manner!"

Eddie LopezEddie_Lopez # Sunday, February 18, 2007 9:36:33 PM

Like Kelson, I remember enjoying the breadsticks they offered, but now it all seems lower quality. I'm not sure if I've changed or they have.

Probably both. I haven't been there in awhile- if they would let my kid scribble all over the table like Macaroni Grill, then I'd go more often

I'd also point out that there is an Olive Garden that's about 1 minute from my home that I've never eaten at in the 1.5 years I've lived here.

vaspers the grate aka steven e. streightvaspers88 # Monday, February 19, 2007 12:16:01 AM

I just read that Don't Eat at the Olive Garden web page. It reminded me of an important point I left out. The waitress asked, "Would you like to try a sample of our house wine?"

I suspected that the "sample" was not free, and even if it was, I suspected the wine would not be to my liking. So we said, "No." My God, I was drinking a rum and coke. Wine would not mix well with that.

The waitress whisked our wine glasses away, in a huff it seemed.

What a shoddy, stupid restaurant. I loathe their dim wit commercials, with mafioso chortling about being "home" and with "family", that mob boss grandpa, I could eat the eyeballs right out of his ugly head.

Anonymous # Wednesday, February 21, 2007 2:09:48 AM

Anonymous writes: I work at the Olive Garden, in Texas. And it's really not all bad but there are some things I can't stand about it. #1... their wine sales. Olive Garden ONLY makes a profit when they sell wine or liquor. They lose money from their soup and salad. So the reason your server gets all huffy when you don't want to buy wine or liqour is because they don't want to lose their job because their SALES are too low. It's just like a retail store. Servers aren't servers, they're salespeople. I know. The waitstaff is trained with one goal, high liquor sales. As for the salad dressing, I hardly ever find anyone who rather have a different dressing, and hey, it's an "italian" place, why serve ranch or blue cheese? But if you want good italian food, don't come here. The food is decent, the prices are reasonable, and soup or salad comes with everything, as opposed to other restaurants that charge you extra for EACH one. I personally don't like the marketing or sales approach at the OG, and think that its emphasis on booze is going to cause a downfall later on, but for now, its geting me through college.

Anonymous # Monday, February 26, 2007 6:53:42 PM

Jon writes: The reason it feels so much like Red Lobster, is because it is Red Lobster, in different clothing. I tend to agree with everyone here, too, in that it is geared toward blue collar types with limited income, and it has changed over the years to accommodate this clientèle. I don't have any hard evidence of it, but they have cut way back on the use of salt and spices in everything in the last few years, leading to healthier but blander food. In any event, I'll go there when some thoughtful family member gives a gift certificate, but in the meantime, there are better places out there.

Anonymous # Wednesday, February 28, 2007 7:47:30 PM

Anonymous writes: Has anyone fallen at the Olive Garden in Mishawaka, Indiana, in the last two years? Please let me know.

Anonymous # Wednesday, April 4, 2007 12:09:37 AM

Anonymous writes: My daughter and I went to Olive Garden in New York Times Square Saturday March 31, 2007. After we had a drink at the bar our table was ready. We sat in a booth by the windows, ordered the food and started taking pictures with both the camera and camcorder. When the appetizers were served, my daughter started to feel sick. She could not touch the food. When she went to the restroom for the second time, I asked the waitress to pack our dinner to take to our hotel room upstairs. It was about 11:30pm. When my daughter remembered her red canon camera, we immediately called the restaurant but the person who answered asked us to check in the morning because all the staff were gone except for him and the cleaners. The next morning at 11am when they opened up we went to get the camera but it was not there. The waitress was on her day off so the manager on duty assured us he would talk to her. He was certain all his employees were trustworthy of course. Although I am certain it can only be one of the employees (the waitress)to have done such a thing. The camera was closer to the inside of the booth, the napkin was placed over it when my daughter left the table and the waitress was behind me as I was leaving. Unless customers at the Olive Garden are clearing the tables, it can only be the staff. When I left the manager I knew she will never return the camera and jeopardise her job. Would a thieve have morals?!! And I was right. Although it is an expensive camera, I only want my pictures. The camera needs a charger and wires in addition it needs repairing, and I am the one to have the warranty on it. If anyone has any information please respond. By the way the food quality has changed to poor although the salad and stuffed mushrooms were great. Will I return again, NEVER, it ruined our whole vacation to lose such valuable memories. Thanks.

Anonymous # Monday, April 9, 2007 11:30:20 PM

Jared writes: For those who are complaining, you people need to take your heads out of your asses. It is rather obvious to me that you are rich yuppee ass holes who complain at the slightest imperfection. The Olive Garden serves good italian food at a price that most Americans can afford. If you want to spend $300 a plate for your food then give the staff a break and don't go there. Instead, give your money to charity and move to a shanty town in China. Nothing could serve you better than to spend a year of your life in a poor country with little money leading you to live on rice, beans, and an occassional rat. I think some people are too accustomed to the seemingly permanant supply of kisses on their ass.

Eddie LopezEddie_Lopez # Tuesday, April 10, 2007 12:24:47 AM

user experience != coddling or pampering users. A good user experience and user centered design has nothing ot do with being rich, yuppies, or complaints about the slightest imperfection.

That said, there are certainly elements of that throughout the comments and what not

Anonymous # Saturday, June 2, 2007 9:22:47 AM

Anonymous writes: I felt I was ripped off for the price of the difference between the lunch menu and regular or 'dinner' menu; as I had been there with a large group for lunch but was given the regular menu and told the only differce between a lunch and dinner menu was the number of items. When I complained, after realizing the price differences by looking on their web site, by emailing the corporation's customer service, and requested my approximate $40 dollar difference refunded; I received a $20 dollar gift card. I would have thought they would have sent a few of those just to appease a regular; (my kids like to go there) I know those type of things only require a little sweat off some mid-level manager's ass for the size of the corporation they are. Oh well, I told them they can keep their feeble attempt at appeasing us and sent the card back and also mentioned my kids will just have to be happy going to the Buca De Beppo instead. When you think of the $4 or $5 differce in entree prices from the lunch menu to the dinner menu, and multiply that by the number of restaurants all over, the corporation stands to make a LOT of extra money by steering people to the regular menu. just another corporation ripping you off. So if you go there for lunch, be sure to get a lunch menu. I think they serve it until 3 pm. Or just boycott them and stay away as I'm sure they've got plenty in the bank if they do the menu switch everywhere - it's probably a company directive on some secret document somewhere. cheep corp!

Anonymous # Sunday, June 17, 2007 8:46:28 AM

Anonymous writes: The reason the dinner menu is more expensive is the entrees are larger. You act as if the Olive Garden is the only restaurant who serves smaller portions for lunch. If you're really that cheap, order a lunch portion. You can order lunch any time of day, even after they start defaulting to the dinner menu. Just don't complain that you didn't get as much pasta as last time.

Anonymous # Friday, July 20, 2007 12:43:31 AM

Anonymous writes: Olive Garden and Red Lobster are owned by the same company....Darden Restaurant Corporation who, by the way, are a multi-billion dollar corporation.

Anonymous # Saturday, July 28, 2007 8:46:03 PM

Tom writes: I agree with Jared. I love the Olive Garden. It's not the best Italian food you can get, but pretty darn good for the price! And consistent...

Anonymous # Monday, September 3, 2007 12:04:40 PM

Anonymous writes: Honestly, i think those who are ranting and complaining about the olive garden need to take out whatever it is that's stuck in their @$$. What compells you people to say these things just because you didn't enjoy your experience? Is your life that difficult to where you would have to nit pick things just to get a hard on? Sure, Olive Garden is a chain restaurant, so? It may have lost its authenticity but In my opinion, they are doing a damn good job trying to strive to satisfy their guests as in italian restaurant. I'm a 22 yr old college student, and In all my years serving for the Olive Garden i present and educate my guests on dining with wine andi must admit, i sell wine partly to increase my tip but i don't cry or bitch if they don't order it. Olive Garden is an italian restaurant for beginners, and majority of the clientele don't know anything about wine. Darden took advantage of that by having us servers educate our guests on wine. When i was being trained we were heavily taught on how to pair their wines with the meals just so we could have confidence in how to sell what we needed to sell to our guests. If its a marketing scheme so what?! everything in america is just ONE HUGE marketing scheme...We are in America, and if our version of authentic cultured foods is about mass producing it througout the country with themes and strategic sales, then live with it. because i'm sure that would just make the real authentic foods more to die for. Either way, they are making money. majority of the customers are happy, and employees are supporting their families or paying for their education....

Anonymous # Saturday, September 8, 2007 8:20:11 PM

Anonymous writes: If you want to complain about Olive Garden, complain about the company, not the employees. The company is set up for their own success and profit and they do very little to help their employees take care of and build relationships with the "guests." Those rushed and harried servers are expected to push the wine, push the liquor and specialty drinks and upsell everything. Then, they're run ragged running back and forth for "free" refills and breadsticks. Did you know that the servers have to dish up the soups themselves? They have to make the salads themselves? They have to assemble the desserts themselves? If something is missing in the kitchen they have to go find it just to put it together for the customer. Next time you find yourself wondering where your waiter is, he's probably trying to find a cake in the back of the walk in cooler, setting it up on the plate, smoothing out the icing that's been all smooshed, and trying to wrangle up a handful of other extremely busy waiters to drop everything and go sing happy birthday to a petulant 13 year old who sits with arms folded and a scowl because the server is embarassing them. Then, the poor server get stiffed on a tip at the neighboring table because he wasn't attentive and available enough even though he refilled their soups, salads, breadsticks and drinks three times. Don't go to Olive Garden if you expect a genuine "dining experience" of any kind, much less Italian. It's nothing more than fast food in a fancy atmosphere. It's profit driven, not service driven. Go support your local independent diner instead. You'll get alot more for the same money.

Anonymous # Friday, September 21, 2007 5:37:16 PM

Seriously here writes: Get over yourself!

Anonymous # Saturday, November 3, 2007 10:04:59 AM

Anonymous writes: 1- complaining about it not being italian and authentic, then complaining about a wine offer. have you been to italy? there is a wine bottle at every table. 2- italian restaurant....signature italian dressing...makes sense? there is also a low-fat italian, ranch, and ceasar. all of this information is clearly written on the menu for those of us who are literate. 3- olive garden is casual dining.... it gives great value for the money.... it is NOT fine dining, nor is it meant to be 4- if the food quality is supposedly going down, its because they have units that are serving 9000 guests a week. in order to do that effectively, prep and cook times need to go down. sorry :/ 5- only 30% of og guests get an alcohalic beverage. the majority of its competitors report that almost 70% of its guests get an alc bev. I dont think og is profit dependent on its wine. if you dont like the og or cant find something you like there, dont go back. the one near me has an hour wait time during peak times.... they really can afford you not to come back again just to complain.

Anonymous # Saturday, July 19, 2008 10:50:18 PM

Anonymous writes: i cant believe people waste their writing about stuff like this.

Anonymous # Tuesday, September 23, 2008 7:06:35 AM

oliviaharis writes: My husband used to work at the olive garden and the dressing has cheese and egg whites in it so it's not vegan. The breadsticks are if you have them leave the butter off. ------------ oliviaharis http://www.drivenwide.com

Anonymous # Thursday, November 6, 2008 9:11:04 PM

Anonymous writes: If you think OG skimps on the main course, you are probably extremely overweight. It's unlimited salad and breadsticks...not unlimited salad, breadsticks, and dipping sauce. You pay extra for cheese sauce at Mexican restaurants. You gave the bartender a $20 and said, "Keep the change". He did as instructed. You don't look a gift horse in the mouth. You had to pay at the bar for YOUR convenience, whether you believe it or not. It is ridiculous to assume the bartender should remember your order, track down your new server, transfer the tab over (so he forfeits his tip, because I'm FAIRLY sure you wouldn't waddle back after the meal to tip him out for the drink he made), etc. This wastes time. You could have eaten at the bar. You can ask for the breadsticks to be unbuttered. The OG developed its menu at an institute in Tuscany. Many older items were removed in the last two years because they were not authentically Italian. As far as your complaint about the salad dressing...wtf? They have oil and vinegar, low-fat Italian, Caesar, ranch, and the house dressing. That's FIVE choices. If you are going to bitch about OG being too "American" with their sauces, imagine what you'd infer from double-bacon-honey-mustard dressing? Finally, you knew the slogan before you went. If it bothered you that much, don't go.

Anonymous # Friday, January 2, 2009 8:54:30 PM

Anonymous writes: Olive Garden is one of the most expensive Italian restaurant in our area. They charge TWICE the price of the authentic Italian owned restaurants and unfortunately provide 1/2 the service. Even if I buy bread sticks and salad from the other restaurant, I still cannot equal my Olive Garden bill. Every time I request something different there, I always hear "It's Corporate Policy" that we can't do that. The worst part about going to the Olive Garden is the staff. They don't look very happy. Yes, they do serve me well as long as within "Corporate Policy" but their spirits are gone. They aren't joyful. It's like the walking dead. I'm not even sure why they work there. The workers I find at the authentic restaurant are very happy and they are hiring!! The only thing nice though about Olive Garden is that they have more fancy decorations. I just can't figure out Olive Garden though. More people want to work there and more people want to eat there. I guess Olive Garden figure out how to get more money for less quality.

Anonymous # Saturday, June 6, 2009 7:21:26 AM

Anonymous writes: LOL! are you freaking kidding me!? YOU made the mistake on giving the bartender the $20...so that was just plain dumb of you to complain about. Secondly, it's an ITALIAN restaurant...guess what that means when it comes to salad dressing...hmmm it probably comes with Italian dressing. SHOCKING!

Anonymous # Sunday, June 7, 2009 4:23:40 PM

Anonymous writes: People like you are the reason we hate serving sometimes! you are going to order the soup and salad, run our ass off for three refills of soup... and when your bills comes, its $15 dollars and you leave a $3 dollar tip and sit there for another hour thinking you just left the biggest tip ever for your server! not worth our time! stay home and make your own salad!

Anonymous # Tuesday, July 7, 2009 8:21:10 PM

Anonymous writes: Addressing your first concern regarding the $20 bill used to pay for your drink: Yes, drinks can be pricey, not only at Olive Garden but at many restaurants (and poorly made). After paying your tab with a $20 bill, sadly it is your responsibility to make sure that you not only receive change, but the correct amount. Bartenders, like waitresses, are VERY busy and it is not necessarily their job to track you down to make sure that you receive your change once you leave. The bartender that waited on you however did. Grasping the concept that everyone is different, some people tip far more than what is necessary and some do not tip at all. Understanding this, it is reasonable to say that the bartender is not at fault- you are. Secondly, when going to Olive Garden, you really don't have that many choices for your complimentary appetizers. Then again, you're not going to a five star restaurant. What did you expect? There are very few restaurants that I have found that are both inexpensive (considerably) and have delicious food. Typically, they are mom and pop stores. Consider this a lesson. Most chain restaurants such as Olive Garden are not extravagant places to dine. If you are searching for such places, I suggest that you look in the yellow pages or "google it". And hopefully then you will receive an optimal dining experience. If not- maybe it's not the restaurant, maybe it's you.

Anonymous # Monday, September 21, 2009 3:46:23 PM

RestaurantZoom writes: Our family loves Olive Garden. In fact, we have never had anything but an enjoyable time there. We love the salad and breasticks and seldom get wine or other alcohol libations. Maybe you should consider another try. I know from experience that they survey, survey and survey to ensure that guests enjoy their food, service and the overall visit.

Anonymous # Friday, October 2, 2009 5:37:28 PM

Anonymous writes: It is true that people don't understand how much the servers are running, esp. with the soup and salad refills. I was a server for 4 yrs there. People expected us to be there the split second they finished their soup! Really, cause I had 3-4 more tables who needed my attention as well. And the parents were the worst...I can't tell you how many children I've told to sit back down cause they were about to run into the kitchen, a major no-no. And the parents don't care? If you don't tip your server, you are also not tipping the bar, bussers and in other restaurants..the food runner...servers only make $4.81/hr in Illinois! At least the bar makes minimum wage...geez. And yes, we have to offer you wine, an alternative beverage, an appetizer and point out the feature items before you can get a word in or we will be written up. We have to use the table tent, or we will be written up. We have to stock, run each others' food and help other servers all while serving you. Servers work very hard for their money, while guests get bent over the smallest, most stupid things. People don't know how to be gracious guests anymore...it's all a temper tantrum.

Anonymous # Friday, October 2, 2009 5:43:56 PM

Anonymous writes: Since when is $5 for drink pricey? I would say that's about average at a chain restaurant...and nothing compared to downtown Chicago. Now your local dive bar might have it for $3.50, but you should expect restaurants to have more of a markup. And yes, the food is bland, because most Americans are unadventurous. I'm amazed that anyone is eating the calamari. They like the same foods they did when they were 4-yrs-old! And OG is granting their wishes.

Anonymous # Tuesday, January 5, 2010 4:58:45 PM

Anonymous writes: Yo Gomer, 5.50 is a steal for a mixed drink, decent restaurants (no, olive garden is not one) don't give you a choice of dressings. Don't go to Olive Garden and expect it not to suck.

Anonymous # Tuesday, January 26, 2010 3:12:38 PM

Anonymous writes: I work at the og and it is really hard when guests order soup, because the soups are heavy with the liners and it takes alot of space, so then we have to make another tray and ask another waiter to stop what they are doing to help follow out to the tables. It kills us to rush that out, and almost everytime the soups are empty and they have to make more, and that goes the same for the breadsticks. we are lucky if they are not empty. I hate when the guest dont put into consideration that we are doing everythin we can to bring it out as quickly as possible, and they have this pissy look on their faces like were neglecting them. and they have already need a refill on their drinks, so we get refills and then they need soup, salad, and breadstick refills again. sometiems the tables get over demanding that they dont even let you check on the other 3-4 tables. I they looked pissed that we are behind with them. I dont know about other og's but the one i work at, our bosses yell at us to stop and run hot food out to other tables and that adds more time taken away. so there you have it... it is alot of work and after that we get a 2 or 3 dollar tip. which just makes me feel like I ran my ass off for nothing. 3 dollars is like 3 pennies. 8-10 is more realistic. but when i have a table that is so kind, patient, and understanding, 2-3 dollars is totally fine... but when you run us ragged and are hateful and expect us to perform miracles in seconds, we expect alot more. I am happy with waiting on kind tables and no tips. but the mean ones.. c'mon... tip more since you are being unrealistic with the timing. Nice people are soo worth waiting on for no tip...

Anonymous # Tuesday, January 26, 2010 3:16:23 PM

Anonymous writes: but seriously... we are totally living off the tips. be realistic people!!!~ ... but more importantly... jus be understanding... we want you to be happy with your visit!!~

Anonymous # Friday, April 9, 2010 6:25:11 AM

Anonymous writes: the olive garden employees bust their asses and get little respect from management or corporate absolutely my worst job we all try and please you customers but you think you have a reason to bitch and for that we could get fired so isyour complaint valid or are you another cheap ignorant sob thats wants a gc to feed your trailer trash fat family yet another meal at the hands of someones job this is whats wrong with the world today think twice enjoy your diner and watch the og girl on youtube,com for dessert

Anonymous # Friday, April 9, 2010 6:26:42 AM

Anonymous # Friday, April 9, 2010 6:28:11 AM

Anonymous # Wednesday, April 28, 2010 12:32:58 AM

Anonymous writes: The truth is the Olive Garden should come to their senses and realize FAT IS NOT BEAUTIFUL. What is going to happen in 10 years when their customer base dies of FATNESS

Anonymous # Wednesday, April 28, 2010 12:37:37 AM

Anonymous writes: Olive Gardens are dirty sty's. I have worked at two different Olive Gardens and they are always full of garbage. They are so lazy they only take the trash out once a day. We walk on garbage and no one cleans anything except at close. If the QA came at 7pm the place would be closed.

Anonymous # Tuesday, June 29, 2010 1:11:17 AM

Sam writes: In Lancaster, Ohio, at OG Most of us got our food, my mother did not get her food until we all finished eating, no apology from restaurant, then the waitress refused to bring big enough box she said they have them but the manager is a jerk and they don’t allow us to bring big boxes, you will have to use multiple small boxes. There are other olive gardens which we will go to from now on, but where a manager is a jerk and even employees tell that to customers I rather not visit. I hope Olive Garden should get a better manager at that location.

Anonymous # Friday, August 6, 2010 3:15:53 AM

Anonymous writes: I have worked in seven olive gardens over the past 6 years. Olive garden has some of the freshest food in the industry. They get in fresh produce to make the soups and sauces 5 days a week. Breadsticks are bought daily from local bakeries. Olive garden also stives to be the cleanest and safest restaurant in the industry. Their standards go FAR above and beyond health dept regulations. The team members are extremely important and the og believes the guest experience should never exceed the team member experience. Olive garden managers are in the people business not the restaurant business. Please don't let a few bad apples tarnish your view of them. The culinary institute in italy is real and they send tem members as well as guests there every year, all expenses paid. Olive gardens across the country give thousands of pounds of food to shelters and food banks every week. It is an amazing company. Please do your research on them before slamming them.

Anonymous # Tuesday, August 17, 2010 4:12:48 AM

Anonymous writes: OMG!! olive garden is probably one of the best middle-classed companies to work for EVER! i love it here, we get practically everything fresh and yes, as one person said, if you're a good employee and do great at your job, they'll send you to Italy, for FREE, to have fun and enjoy a vacation. what company that you know does that? come on. they treat us, the employee's, so amazingly its just ridiculous. during training they paid for us to taste food and drink wine! yum! and ya, the food isnt AMAZING, but what do you expect from such a great price and plus, our servers here in fort worth, tx are spectacular. they study the menu so hard, i cant even ask a question they dont know. and about the wine: yes, we HAVE to shove wine and alcohol down the guest's throat because OG shoves wine down our throat, and that's where our tips come from. some ppl come in and eat salad and breadsticks, get full and leave with a 10-20 buck check and leave us with a $2 tip for over an hour of constant refills of breadsticks and salad. and im a busser, so i get %1.5 of that sale, so....ya, that's $0.15! really guys? come on. stop complaining or go pay $20 for a salad elsewhere.

Anonymous # Tuesday, October 12, 2010 1:59:59 AM

Anonymous writes: I can't believe people actually take advantage of the endless breadsticks and salad and then leave a tip that's not commensurate with the amount of hustling the waiter's doing to get them the endless breadsticks, salad. That's not the point of the promotion and it shows lack of self-awareness.

Anonymous # Saturday, November 13, 2010 4:49:17 PM

Star writes: I think you are all full of hogwash I loved working for the Olive Garden and I remember during that bad blizzard in the 90s trucks got pulled into the parking lot of the adjacent mall ...and stranded! Though the mall court had many many selections (workers who were also stranded) ALL THE TRUCKERS were welcomed with opened arms to Olive Garden/RedLobster/ChinaTown (all owned by General Mills) NOT ONE TRUCKER complained , believe me, they were all so grateful! And I might add..not a single trucker ate at the mall court

Anonymous # Friday, December 31, 2010 10:22:36 PM

Anonymous writes: Old post I realize, but since I came across it I want to point out that you sound like the biggest cry baby ever! Blaming other's for your overtipping! Jackass!

Anonymous # Wednesday, March 9, 2011 1:24:56 AM

Kev writes: Are you kidding.....you were not an easy mark, you told him to keep the change....the fact is that sometimes people do leave that much...not often, but sometimes..........as far as the dressing goes...well, it's an italian restaurant...go to and American home-style restaurant if you want more of an American selection....I guess you probably wanted a Greek salad...you would probably try and order perogies and a chinese place and then complain when they didn't have any.....Olive Garden isn't the finest dinning....but Pizza Hut? Really...You think that is better...I suppose you go to Mc D's for a really high class meal..........Really though....you sound like you would complain if someone walked up to you and gave you $10000...."don't you have any bigger bills"......you're hard to take seriously

Anonymous # Saturday, July 2, 2011 12:43:19 AM

Anonymous writes: Has anyone noticed lately that Olive Garden is serving wine in larger glasses (supposedly) and only filling the glass half full (or half empty)? I complained at an OG about this and the owner/general manager said that they switched to larger glasses so that the wine can breathe and the customer can swirl/swish the wine around and enjoy the bouquet better. I told him that that was a line of Bull. I also told him that serving the customer a half glass of wine is not a very good marketing idea especially when you consider what a glass of wine costs. He tried the breathing line again on me and I told him to knock it off -- that was just a hookie corporate line. He said that he was sorry and that "he would cover my bill", and had the audacity to come back before I left and gave me a $10 gift card. I did not say Thanks, but instead said that if this is the way Olive Garden is going to treat their customers then I'll never be in one again. By the way, this wasn't the only OG that pulled this stunt. This was the second one. I told this to the manager and then emphatically said that there wouldn't be a third time. If you don't like the portion of wine that you get, you must argue this with management. Look for glasses with a little etched grape on them. The servers are told to fill up to the bottom of the grape stem and no more. If I'm paying for a glass of wine, then I expect to get a FULL glass, not a half one.

Anonymous # Monday, July 25, 2011 12:52:28 AM

Anonymous writes: You are the kind of person that servers hate. What do you expect him to do, get out a torch and MAKE you a new wine glass? If they got new glasses that are bigger, they are PROBABLY giving you the same amount you would have gotten in your smaller glass. That server/manager probably had SO many things to do at that very moment, but instead of being able to do them, he had to sit there and listen to you complain and complain about your wine glass, while they stood there smiling saying "i'm sorry but there's nothing i can do" because literally, there isnt. He is TOLD to fill the glass that much, he is TOLD to give that reply, and you people act like if the customer isnt happy, any server can just decide to take a discount off of your food. Sorry, but they cant do that. A restaurant's whole purpose is to make money. Why should they take 20% off of your meal just because you arent happy with your cup size? If you don't like it, why do you KEEP GOING BACK. It's not like specific people are out to get you, trying to piss you off by filling your glass half full. They are told to do it that way, and while they are pouring, they are praying that you wont complain about it because they probably think its embarassing that they have to do that. Yes, it is the servers job to please their customers. But that doesnt mean that they will sit on a stool at your feet and wait for you to ask for something just so they can jump up and run to get it without LOOKING like they are running like an idiot. They also have other tables at the same time as you. People need to learn to share their servers. They arent there to please you and only you. Stop being so selfish and ignorant to other people, PLEASE. You arent the only one who matters in the whole restaurant. Would you like a red carpet rolled out for you and trumpets played as well?

1 2 Next »

Showing comments 1 - 50 of 58.