General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhat WAS the big Olive Garden thing on DU?
I was here for the Door Wars and the Drone Wars and I was on DU2 for the Great Moon Battle and I think I've seen every chapter of the Wagnerian Porn Cycle and all its numerous spin-offs (an impressive body of work...). The occasionally re-flaring Pit Bull Skirmishes seem to have died down, and Circumcision has circumnavigated the site so many times I've lost count...
Occasionally I see vague references to the Olive Garden when these subjects reappear as we reminisce fondly over the Olden Times. What was it all about? I am burning with curiosity.
onehandle
(51,122 posts)Sadly, Seasons 52 is in their portfolio.
Red Lobster
Olive Garden
LongHorn Steakhouse
Bahama Breeze
Seasons 52
The Capital Grille
Eddie V's
Yard House
dionysus
(26,467 posts)onehandle
(51,122 posts)Like Hot Pockets covered in Chef Boyardee.
That could be it.
dionysus
(26,467 posts)it's been so long since the original "controversy", I wonder if anyone still remembers what it was...
EDIT: wpitt seems to have the answer.
sendero
(28,552 posts)... it Luckily there are plenty of real Italian restaurants around here so I don't have to resort to McOlive McGarden.
Aerows
(39,961 posts)that what I've gotten at Olive Garden. Macaroni Grill is a shade better, but nothing beats a locally-owned Italian restaurant for heavenliness.
NaturalHigh
(12,778 posts)It's like they intentionally changed their recipes to make their food taste like cardboard. Twenty years or so ago, I actually liked it.
hlthe2b
(102,468 posts)exceedingly positive... That got the "professional" reviewers as well as many members of the Olive Garden-disdaining public up in arms, to which DUers were all to glad to join in--on both sides.
BTW, I believe there were multiple threads over a short span on Olive Garden...."bested" only by the famous "chicken" wars...LOL
Avalux
(35,015 posts)DUers just don't eat there. Oh and then there was the breast-feeding....
dionysus
(26,467 posts)dionysus
(26,467 posts)chugging a ton of salad and breadsticks.
haute cuisine, no. but it worked at the time.
where I'm from, we have a dearth of mom and pop restaurants other than a diner here or there, except the expensive seafood joints on the coasts.
the chains had to suffice, on the rare occasions we ate out. shit, we considered mcdonalds, burger king, or pizza "eating out".
applebies and TGIF came recently and is fancy compared to what we had before.
and we survived, too!
Logical
(22,457 posts)dionysus
(26,467 posts)Logical
(22,457 posts)Warren DeMontague
(80,708 posts)dionysus
(26,467 posts)Warren DeMontague
(80,708 posts)I'm gonna pop some tags, only got 20 dollars in my pock-et...
See, I'm hip to the jive, man.
dionysus
(26,467 posts)Spider Jerusalem
(21,786 posts)NightWatcher
(39,343 posts)penultimate
(1,110 posts)Can't say I know the reference to the chiropractor part though. I might need to get my googlefu on.
NightWatcher
(39,343 posts)sibelian
(7,804 posts)WHAT DID I MISS?
(sits down cross-legged. BIG eyes)
NightWatcher
(39,343 posts)sibelian
(7,804 posts)is NOWHERE on that thread.
Sounds like it would be right up his/her street.
JHB
(37,163 posts)It's like Deuling Banjos, but with more WooWooWoooWooo!
NuclearDem
(16,184 posts)It was pretty much nonstop for several days of Venus flytrap cancer remedies, shill gambits, reincarnation, and armchair quantum.
In fact, if you listen real closely, you can still hear the echoes: claque, claque, claque...
sibelian
(7,804 posts)I suspect I have the largest ignore list on DU. I just don't bother with crap anymore. Very likely the progenitors of the offending items are invisible to me...
(I had a look at the link to IdaBrigg's original thread (It's further upstream in this one somewhere)(I like Ida a lot but she pretty much asked a whole lot of people to put her on her ignore list if they didn't believe a certain thing, which I did, so I obeyed her instruction) and I'm not sure she and I agree on what "woo" really is.)
(No, incidentally, I am not a fan of chiromancy, or whatever it's called... )
ProdigalJunkMail
(12,017 posts)break out from time to time... always fun.
sP
NuclearDem
(16,184 posts)i.e. Fuku-woo or radiowoo.
sibelian
(7,804 posts)I'm sure there was... whoever it was was sure that some bomb had been set off to cause it.
NuclearDem
(16,184 posts)penultimate
(1,110 posts)WilliamPitt
(58,179 posts)...and there was a pig pile of OMG SO MANY GOOD RESTAURANTS IN NEW YOUR AND YOU EAT AT OLIVE GARDEN WHAAAAAARGARBL comments.
It kind of spiraled from there, but that's how it started.
tkmorris
(11,138 posts)That's where it all started as near as I remember.
Gidney N Cloyd
(19,847 posts)reddread
(6,896 posts)So many good restaurants?
Not in my experience.
Lucky to find one half decent place in a week of looking.
The worst part of being there is trying to find a decent meal.
Then trying to get by on a slice of bad pizza.
the horror.
HERVEPA
(6,107 posts)reddread
(6,896 posts)I wouldnt say extremely choosy, but extremely disappointed.
Life is too short and decent food isnt that hard to do.
I cant handle that town for more than 4 days anymore.
Upstate is far too alluring.
aquart
(69,014 posts)Start at Joe Allen's (I adore their calve's liver.) Work your way up to 9th Avenue.
WONDERFUL restaurants.
HERVEPA
(6,107 posts)and Candle Cafe and Blossom on Upper West Side
elleng
(131,265 posts)I've never known either!
murielm99
(30,779 posts)lovemydog
(11,833 posts)When I lived in NYC I felt that same way. Actually, now that I no longer live in Manhattan, I still feel that way. But I don't think I'd take the time to post something like that to someone who already said they ate at an Olive Garden.
Warpy
(111,407 posts)I've always considered chain restaurants to be boring dreck you can count on when you're in an unfamiliar part of the country, good when the parents came to visit but that's about it.
I'm really lost as to what the controversy over that could have been beyond so-so food and a soul sucking corporate owner.
tammywammy
(26,582 posts)Yep.
sibelian
(7,804 posts)half buried in snow.
Lex
(34,108 posts)no snow
sibelian
(7,804 posts)hiding as doesn't want to go to the vet
Can it really be that bad, I wonder.
Raine1967
(11,589 posts)I remember reading that thread at the time...
I just sat there, reading and
sibelian
(7,804 posts)tammywammy
(26,582 posts)Plus, Radio Lady...man she said some doozies.
(I can remember that thread from years ago, yet I cannot retain my class lectures from a week ago....)
laundry_queen
(8,646 posts)I remember shit from DU from eons ago and which posters said what, but try and remember anything for upcoming exams...nope. WTF is up with that?
tammywammy
(26,582 posts)That was the happiest I've ever been to get a B.
Pretzel_Warrior
(8,361 posts)classic Jewish Deli's, Italian diners, Greek (Mr. Souvlaki's) restaurants, Irish Pubs, French cafes (Bar Felix)...but I've also eaten a quick breakfast at McDonalds or Pret a Manger, and we ate at TGI Friday's once in Times Square because we were wiped out when we arrived that evening and had no desire to figure out something more original.
tammywammy
(26,582 posts)My dad likes Olive Garden, so if that's where he wants to go that's where we go. Not the end of the world, and even here in the DFW area there are a lot better Italian places.
OriginalGeek
(12,132 posts)lol, I used to LOVE that place as a kid...
tammywammy
(26,582 posts)I haven't been there in probably 15 years at least. I go out with a friend on Fridays, we should go there this weekend.
OriginalGeek
(12,132 posts)and found there's one in Tampa too - It's about a hour and change drive for me but I'm gonna try and go there soon - I get down to Tampa several times a year and I'm not above driving there just for fun so I'm going to see if it's _really_ good or if my adolescent palate was just easily amused.
I remember the 2 floors of spaghetti and meatball love - I had no idea that the Dallas location was the original one until I looked them up just now.
If you go please take pictures! I miss my Dallas.
tammywammy
(26,582 posts)At I-20 & Cooper, it's near the Hallmark I shop at. If I go I'll send you a pic.
OriginalGeek
(12,132 posts)Cooper is more nostalgia - my very first apartment was near there after I moved out of my mother and step-father's house.
Thanks!
WilliamPitt
(58,179 posts)...should serve to throw some cold water on the idea that there was a better, politer, less-spaztastic DU in some idealized pre-DU3 past.
LanternWaste
(37,748 posts)I remember DU1 with nostalgia. I'd come home after a long day and DU would have a martini ready-made for me and would ask me what I wanted for dinner. I'd kiss the kids and DU would put them to bed for me.
I really miss the laugh-track and the innocent black & white kodachrome cinematography. The flame wars so innocently contrived regarding undocumented workers stealing public water during a regional fire to the very first time I was called Hitler because I showed my receipt while leaving Circuit City.
Good times, good times...
Pretzel_Warrior
(8,361 posts)Pretzel_Warrior
(8,361 posts)madinmaryland
(64,933 posts)tammywammy
(26,582 posts)My favorite flamefest of all time is moon bombing. The MENSES!!!!
Frank Cannon
(7,570 posts)Those were good times.
TBF
(32,116 posts)Gidney N Cloyd
(19,847 posts)...was the one that blew it open. Poor ol' Radio Lady tended to step in it a lot in the lounge, as I recall.
JHB
(37,163 posts)Not really planned, just decided to get a late lunch, looked at what was around, saw an OG and thought "what the hell, might as well see what the fuss was about".
Meh. Haven't been back, but feel no need to actively despise it either.
cyberswede
(26,117 posts)38. LOL.
I'd blow out some sarcastic snobbery, but *some people* might take it for serious and immediately begin branding me as a food snob.
This place has gone mad!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=5279955#5284658
DrDan
(20,411 posts)a particular Olive Garden where they had just eaten . . . . and enjoyed.
That sparked a barrage of elitist, insulting posts deriding the DUer for their plebian recommendation. It was relentless and brutal.
Blue_Adept
(6,402 posts)DrDan
(20,411 posts)Blue_Adept
(6,402 posts)I'm not a McD fan myself, prefer Burger King. And a bi-weekly family dinner to Papa Gino's too. But I'm absolute evil, I get delivery from Papa Johns as I love the stuff.
DrDan
(20,411 posts)never could understand why a business owner would take a public stand on personal politics
its just going to offend half their potential customer-base
Blue_Adept
(6,402 posts)And it bugs me too. But I also realize that the majority of the things that I have to purchase in a normal day or deal with has some connection to people that work similar feelings with other subjects as well. I sorta allow this as my one big guilty pleasure.
I do hit up other local pizza joints, but sometimes I just get a craving. The worst part is that when I go to Boston on business once or twice a year, I have to hit Uno's. There's none near me but going there gets me that chain craving. ~drool~
snooper2
(30,151 posts)They loved Olive Garden and ate there every weekend-
Then someone said, "no, they are fucking evil!"
Then a bunch of replies to that saying, "And their food sucks ass!"
Then somebody posted, "Freedom to eat where you want"
Then somebody replied, "I had sex in an Olive Garden once"
Then, they wouldn't provide the location-
Then nobody wanted to eat there because sex leaves a mess
Then somebody posted that they love their breadsticks
Then it was a sex and breadsticks thread
Or, it's just all in my head
Dr. Strange
(25,927 posts)I predict DU will explode on that day.
A HERETIC I AM
(24,380 posts)The new Weightless Olive Garden.
On the Champs-Élysées
They allow dogs.
And breast feeding.
And smoking.
And Hooters waitresses. Who are all uncircumcised.
DU won't just explode, there will be a black hole created - a DU Singularity.
sharp_stick
(14,400 posts)in NYC and way too many people had to chime in and tell them how evil they were for actually not finding a better place. It was truly pathetic.
alcibiades_mystery
(36,437 posts)Stupid.
Pretzel_Warrior
(8,361 posts)reddread
(6,896 posts)Only ONE "Pho" joint was decent enough not to walk out of.
And it was about as tasty as boiled water.
I literally walked for miles and miles in circles trying to relocate a Brazilian joint in Brooklyn that had remodeled and changed hands.
It was so damn good the first night that I was ever out there, I did my best to always go back,
crying shame it disappeared. That is one town I would not recommend for the food.
A no win scenario.
jmowreader
(50,572 posts)If you are Not From New York like 90 percent of the American people are, Olive Garden is at least a known quantity.
Atman
(31,464 posts)That is, neither offers anything remotely like nationality of the foods they claim to sell, but Americans absolutely love them.
Our town has no fewer than three of the best, most authentic Mexican restaurants I've eaten in this side of South LA (all the Mexican food I ate in Mexico had been Americanized). The restaurants in town consist of three little bodega-type place, little hole-in-the-wall joints with limited offerings, but unbelievably authentic food. One includes a little Mexican convenience store. One of them is actually a pretty nice sit-down restaurant with real Mexican dinners, not just tacos and enchiladas. And yet, half a mile down the road is a Taco Bell. And it's always packed. I don't get it.
Common Sense Party
(14,139 posts)to what is actually eaten in China.
It's not that difficult.
If you like it, and can afford it, enjoy it.
REP
(21,691 posts)alcibiades_mystery
(36,437 posts)No apologies and no remorse!
That was all REAL TALK!
Pretzel_Warrior
(8,361 posts)Solly Mack
(90,795 posts)but wanted to eat lunch first, so the pooch went to Olive Garden where it dined upon circumcised porn stars in drone shaped dishes while eyeing the room for breast feeders and Agent Mike.
sibelian
(7,804 posts)The End.
What a lovely story!
Thank you, Solly Mack...
yawn.... beddie byes...
Solly Mack
(90,795 posts)Sweet dreams!
murielm99
(30,779 posts)I thought we were going to fight over whose favorite bands suck or do not suck.
One of the silliest things on DU I've ever seen...
suffragette
(12,232 posts)Especially Agent Mike!
Solly Mack
(90,795 posts)LMAO. Pretty sure that's a no-no topic. lololol
suffragette
(12,232 posts)Don't want to step in it so I'll edit that part.
Solly Mack
(90,795 posts)I'm was just having fun with it.
LanternWaste
(37,748 posts)I think you get the gist from the thread. A couple of third-grade kids pretended to know more about what others like; and to this day, maintain the self-validation with a pretentious fist in the air, a righteous fart in the wind, and mouths that never (ever) shut up...
maintain the self-validation with a pretentious fist in the air, a righteous fart in the wind, and mouths that never (ever) shut up...
That's..... uncomfortably familiar.
REP
(21,691 posts)There was a busy little troll named RadioLady, who posted numerous racist things, as well as inappropriate tales of skinny dipping within sight of her stepchildren (etc - lots about her nudity) and reposted every press release that crossed her threshold. If you disagreed with anything she posted, she was sure to send a nasty PM your way.
Another DUer posted, 'I'm going to NYC, where's a good place to eat?' and RL replied "Olive Garden in Times Square."
And then the fun began.
Sognefjord
(229 posts)I wish I knew more about the moon bombings and I miss Random Thoughts who was always not very focused in his posts.
REP
(21,691 posts)Lots and lots of slinky nighties and how much nude lounging was going on plus lots and lots of really offensive and stupid racist shit. When she got called on the racism, she'd double down and send a nasty gram. And yes, way too much about her.
RandomThoughts got tossed, I think, because he wouldn't trim his ginormous .sig and then got really nasty to admin. I'm pretty sure OmegaMinima visits from time to time.
Sognefjord
(229 posts)fishwax
(29,149 posts)She was always including irrelevant details about race, and was very defensive when people pointed out that those details were irrelevant.
sibelian
(7,804 posts)http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x6712126
That's just one of them.
Some of them were even more epic...
Sognefjord
(229 posts)La Lioness Priyanka
(53,866 posts)tammywammy
(26,582 posts)LiberalAndProud
(12,799 posts)But it made me feel bad, because she really didn't know that she was a racist little troll. She thought her racism was beneficence. Tragic.
La Lioness Priyanka
(53,866 posts)Rex
(65,616 posts)struggle4progress
(118,379 posts)no matter how many free kudzu refills you get
tularetom
(23,664 posts)Yeah, the food isn't great, but the portions are fairly generous and the prices comparable to any low priced sit down restaurant.
And if you want to avoid places owned by evil corporations, you're gonna limit your choices considerably.
"It doesn't suck" would be my assessment of OG. If that doesn't sound like a ringing endorsement, it's the same thing I'd say about many places that cost a lot more.
La Lioness Priyanka
(53,866 posts)i think that's what everyone's issue was. not so much OG, but that it was OG in NYC where there are a lot of options. Also she was well disliked so I think people just wanted a reason to snark at her.
Sognefjord
(229 posts)La Lioness Priyanka
(53,866 posts)Aerows
(39,961 posts)breast-feeding, smoking pit bulls eating corn flake covered chicken and railing about drones. Or possibly circumcision and just chicken. But breast feeding, chicken and pit bulls were always all there.
The Olive Garden has it all!
Skittles
(153,254 posts)Niceguy1
(2,467 posts)For people to feel better than everyone else.
Deep13
(39,154 posts)I'm sorry, I guess I still have a hard time talking about it.
dembotoz
(16,864 posts)and so since then as it has always been.
muntrv
(14,505 posts)Omaha Steve
(99,818 posts)Owned by Darden that was boycotted for being the largest Canadian seafood buyer. IF Darden had stopped buying Canadian seafood, hundreds of thousands of seals would still be alive today.
sibelian
(7,804 posts)Figures.