Italian Grandmas Try Olive Garden For The First Time

Some liked it, some didn't. Why would we expect "Italian Grandmas" to be monolithic in their opinion? Different parts of Italy do things differently and everyone has their own family traditions and recipes.

I personally enjoy Olive Garden. It's maybe not the absolute best but it's good. Of course, I'm not Italian.

And the breast feeders?
It's not a proper Olive Garden thread without them

But they'll be back after their circumcisions.

After the 'smoke' break:

...her Sambuca.

as long as they didn't tutch the but.

cornflake chicken!

How bad could it be ?

it started because a DUer asked for restaurant suggestions for a visit to New York City.

Of course that city is filled with vibrant, unique, interesting cafes and restaurants right? Well one (controversial and later banned) DUer named RadioLady suggested Olive Garden which set off howls of protest.

Howls!

A chain restaurant?! For a trip to NYC?

Collective explosion here on DU.

I haven't been to Olive Garden in many years because I don't have one nearby and I have a tiny authentic Italian restaurant closer, but I don't remember it as bad. Don't let the food snobs run you off. I always say I'll try anything!

my dad is retired, but does work for the Red Cross. He was in San Antonio- they have TONS of great Mexican restaurants there. He went Joe's Crab Shack

I am always getting dragged there. I drink the wine

I have to say however, that their breadsticks are nowhere NEAR as garlicky as they used to be and that annoys me. It is not my favorite place, but since those I love like to go there, hey, what can I do?

I just order the items I know aren't "doctored" like the crab legs etc with extra veggies which are always fresh and tasty.

And lots of wine!



I actually really like the Olive Garden house Pinot Grigio (Kris).

I am more of a red wine drinker, but I will try your suggestion next time!

She wants the soup/salad/breadsticks. The salad is terrible, the soup mediocre, and the breadsticks...salty, oily carbs. I breadstick my way into a carb coma and play with everything else.

May she rest in peace, and I hope she's chuckling somewhere

So do I. Growing up in the 'burbs of Cleveland, I had several Italian-American friends who were 1st or 2nd generation Americans. When you went to eat at their house you didn't wear a belt. No matter what you look like, you are always too skinny for Italian mothers

They would invite us for dinner, ply us with food and drink, and we'd thank them for the delicious meal. They would be shocked. "WHAT? We just started! That was just the antipasti!" Then they'd proceed to bring out about four more courses. We were stuffed like canolis.