Italian Americans. Would you take your italian relatives to Olive Garden?

[maveric]

Like in the cheesy commercial. I've been there twice as a guest of a friend and found it to be NASTY!!! The tomato sauce tasted like sweetened tomato soup and the white cheese based sauces taste like vomit. And IMO some of the "traditional" entrees that they claim are old country favorites are what they made up.
As an Italian American I am offended by what is being marketed as "real tradional italian", and wouldnt think of bringing an old country relative or friend to that dive. :puke:

[curse10]

1. I'm not Italian

but I've always thought Olive Garden was an icon in bad taste and bad food.

[dsc]

2. I really like the bread sticks and the salad

The spaghetti is decent though I have had better. I actually make some of my own Italian food, I make a good Calzone and a pretty good homemade noodle. I am still searching for a good sauce though. I generally use Newman's.

[maveric]

5. Make your own sauce. Its better than canned or jarred.

I'll PM you later with my recipe that my sicilian grandma taught me.

[The empressof all]

10. Actually-there is a great jarred sauce

Barilla with green and black olives. Sometimes hard to find but if you contact them via the web they will let you know where to get it. It is generally in the same price range as Newmans. Both my husband and I have spent a considerable time in Italy and both grew up in Italian neighborhoods-It is really really good. Add some red pepper flakes for Puttanesca!

[Feanorcurufinwe]

26. That's my brand

only I get the plain marinara usually. But if anyone who wants to share a good recipe for homemade, I'm all ears.

[ET Awful]

34. Another good brand in a jar :)

Usually found next to Barilla is 'Five Brothers' . . . I think the company may have recently changed their name, but they make some very good sauces (as good as it's possible to be for a store bought sauce that is).

[fudge stripe cookays]

47. I like their arrabiata. Yum!

:-)

[noiretextatique]

36. pm me that recipe too...please?

or post it here? i hate canned sauce...and the olive garden sucks.

[dsc]

49. Please do

I would love it.

[coltman]

8. Try Prego and

add real garlic,basil,and mushrooms.

[DS1]

11. no no no no, screw pregu

Buy diced tomatos in cans, they aren't pre-salted that way, and you can make a MUCH tastier sauce. Trust me on this.

[tridim]

25. This homemade sauce is great, and easy..

I make a batch every two weeks. Of course I've modified it to my taste, but the recipe is a great starting point. It takes about 45 minutes, which is really quick for good tomato sauce.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_10743,00.html

[dsc]

50. Sounds good

I would have to substitute for the wine but otherwise I will try that sometime soon.

[coltman]

3. Maybe try another

Olive Garden ours in Lima Oh. serves really good food.But on the other hand my Italian wife's cooking beats it by a mile.I would be eating her spaghetti now if she hadn't lost the noodles down the disposal.Funny coincedence or what.

[Political_Junkie]

4. Not on your life!

Although it's good enough for the American relatives. Usually when we get together someone does the home cooked thing though.

[Reverend_Smitty]

6. Not sure that I'd take my Irish relatives there!

Can't handle fake Italian food...although I'm a bit of an Italian food snob, thats what you get when you grow up in Jersey

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

7. No Way.

I know what "real traditional Italian" is because it used to come home from my grandmother's house wrapped in foil and tucked into little containers.

I have ALL the recipes, and I know how to use 'em.

I've never eaten at Olive Garden but the marketing puts me off. "When you're here, you're family?" Good. In that case I'll invite my dinner guests over, cook some REAL Italian for them, and treat them like family in my home.

If you want REAL Italian, buy any cookbook you can get your hands on by this lady (Marcella Hazan):

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0060171030.01._PE30_PIdp-schmoo2,TopRight,7,-26_SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg

[SarahB]

9. Not Italian, but I got food poisoning there

10 years ago. It screwed with my birth control pills because of it (vomitting, etc.). My doctor said not to worry as it should have gotten in my system, but I ended up with an unplanned pregancy regardless. No, I wouldn't send anyone there (nor to the dopey doc).

[Blue-Jay]

16. Holy Crap!

You got pregnant because of Olive Garden!?!?

Somehow I doubt they'd want to work that in to an advertising slogan.

[Bossy Monkey]

12. But please god send them to Tuscany to check out the "Culinary Institute"!

Both these clowns and Romano's claim to have a culinary institute in Italy. (Apparently, they're researching how to get more sodium in the food.) I'd like to say that I can't believe that anybody falls for this crap, but every time I go (dragged kicking and screaming, I might add) the parking lot is full. No accounting for taste or the lack thereof, and nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the US public.

[markses]

13. What, are they out of Chef-Boyardee at the local supermarket?

(Heard a comic say that once, making fun of the Olive garden commercials).

I am an Italian American. I ate at the Olive Garden once when I was in college, only cuz friends were going. It's terrible. I mean, it's really, really bad. Here's a clue for people that have only experienced Italian food at the Olive Garden: That ain't Italian food. Shit, I don't know what Olive Garden food is.

I would sooner take the Queen of England to a Taco Bell drivethru than I would take my Italian relatives to the Olive Garden.

[NoPasaran]

20. Princess Di used to be a big fan of their encherito

Dine in only though; royalty doesn't do drive-thru.

[Rabrrrrrr]

14. I wouldn't even take * to Olive Garden

[put out]

15. No. I don't have Italian relatives.

Ba-da-bing! But I do not like that place. Fake, phony, what some corporate whistle-ass thinks stupid Merkins might actually believe to be authentic. The pasta is overcooked and not drained. The shrimp tastes like it has been through a Lysol wash. The chicken is rubbery. The white sauce, well, I don't know how to describe it. The red sauce doesn't seem to be acquainted with tomatoes. The bread is O.K., but get me some olive oil and basil to dip it into, please, and not some chemical margarine-like food spread. Yuck, yuck, all of it. I have been coerced into going two or three times. I learned after the first time that the secret is to get drunk and eat a lot of salad.

[Melsky]

54. That's my secret for everything

Get drunk and eat a lot of salad. My new motto.

[Zomby Woof]

17. hard to say

I don't have any Italian relatives, and I have never dined at the Olive Garden.

[mitchtv]

18. wnt there once- the first and last time

took my sister in law and husband. they treated us like shit- bypassed us on waiting list; didn't give us enough salad for 4; and I forget what more- they are Mex Am and were fuming, I thought it was just thoughtless gringo teens serving- they were more cynical. The food sucked.- we stiffed them.

[burythehatchet]

19. Olive Garden is GREAT

but to save money I get the same great Olive Garden taste by tearing open a can of Chef Boy-R-Dee ravioli

[Zomby Woof]

21. whew

I was prepared for a Triumph joke.

[Arugula Latte]

22. Hah! Great question.

My spouse and I have a running joke about Olive Garden. The food even looks disgusting on the commercials, where it should look delicious.

I don't know why some people who have access to small local eateries serving authentic food insist on eating at these corporate monstrosities like Olive Garden. Usually you get a much better deal on the food at the non-chain places, too.

Does anyone remember the "Old School" scene where the suburbanized Will Ferrell recounts his big day which included going to Bed, Bath and Beyond and eating at the Olive Garden?

[flamingyouth]

23. Their "chicken scampi" ad cracks me up

I always thought scampi was Italian for shrimp. But apparently they've just taken it to mean "cooked in butter and garlic.":eyes:

[Autobot77]

24. but I used to work there....not authentic at all : "McItalian"

A lot of their sauces and stuff arrived frozen along with other items like chicken and noodles. Its basically a fancy fastfood restaurant. I doubt any of their food is authentic.

[smirkymonkey]

27. NO - I've never been there myself and

have no plans to ever do so. My father's parents were off the boat Italians who made everything from scratch and everything was fresh from their garden.

In fact, I can't even find any Italian restaurants that I am impressed with - there is nothing like homemade! I am a very good cook myself, but I still can't replicate the incredible dishes my Italian relatives served at home!

[tridim]

28. Americanized Chinese food is good though

I know it's not 100% authentic, but that can often be a good thing. At least most of it is cooked by Asians. IMO there's no reason to modify Italian food from the original, because authentic Italian is a somewhat simple (as in basic) food. It's not hard to make, but it's easy to cheapen it by cutting corners and using crappy ingredients. Olive Garden sucks because it's pre-fab frozen Italian style food. I'd rather go to the small Italian bistro down the street or make my own.

[Bridget Burke]

29. This Irish American remembers the taste of Garlic Powder....

In the tomato sauce--from my first & only visit to Olive Garden. Even down here in Texas, there are many better Italian restaurants.

[Kat45]

30. We have the North End (Italian neighborhood) here in Boston.

There would be no need to go to an Olive Garden for Italian food. Perhaps that's why there is no Olive Garden in the area. Never seen one; never eaten at one. After being annoyed at the commercials, don't think I would.

[neverborn]

31. I like Olive Garden :(

[dawg]

37. Me too.

I know it isn't that authentic, but for what it is - I like it alot!

[Redleg]

38. DU appears to have some Italian food snobs.

I like the Olive Garden in my neighborhood. Being a chain, some are better than others. Is it the best Italian food I have ever eaten? Of course not but it is not that bad, either.

[Whitacre D_WI]

39. What is snobbish about not wanting overcooked pasta...

...and flavorless sauce?

If you want fake Italian, I recommend Fazoli's. Sure, it's not great; but it's faster, cheaper, and better than Olive Garden. And you sure as hell can't be mistaken for a "snob" there.

[Redleg]

55. Have you eaten at every Olive Garden?

Have you even eaten at the majority of them? Have you eaten at enough Olive Gardens so that the sample of food is statistically meaningful? If you have had bad experiences at Olive Garden I don't blame you for not wanting to eat there. Besides, I wasn't calling your opinion an example of "snobbery." I was referring to some of the other opinions given here.

I have had good food at some Olive Gardens and mediocre food at others. I have also had mediocre food at "authentic" Italian restaurants.

[Whitacre D_WI]

32. Well, I'm German-Irish, like Tom Hagen.

But if I took Michael to Olive Garden, I bet I'd end up like Fredo.

Hail Mary,
Full of grace...

[nuxvomica]

33. They used to not be so bad but they got worse

When the local OG opened, they made their own pasta, which is a terrific idea that they soon abandoned. I could never get past their using dried basil in pesto. Imagine that, they call themselves an Italian restaurant and they don't use fresh basil!

[Momgonepostal]

51. You touched on a key issue...

with the dried herbs. To me, authentic Italian food is fresh. If I see uniformly cut dried herbs in a sauce, I know it's not that great.

I think Olive Garden is decent Americanized Italian food. If you want the great stuff, find some mom and pop place. OG really caters to Americans who don't know the difference. I've been there a couple of times and was not that impressed. I'd NEVER take an actually Italian there. LOL

[lpbk2713]

35. Read this before you take your money to Olive Garden.

I haven't been there in years and don't ever expect to. Check this link to read an article about how a turncoat (D to R) Congressman talked Olive Garden in to firing a waitress just a few days before Christmas 1999 because he took offense to her point of view.

Link: http://www.pww.org/past-weeks-1999/Spunky%20waitress%20fired.html

[Kellanved]

41. nice

And people ask why I'm against legalizing "hire and fire" here (note: an employee who screws up can and will be fired here as well).

<european-snob>
"hospitaliano" :wtf: bwhahaha
"chicken scampi"

Wow, and I thought places serving pasta as main dish were classless...
</european-snob>

[FarLeftRage]

40. I've never been there

So, I can't make a judgement here...

But I guess it would like a comparison between taco-bell and any fine Mexican restaurant.

No, I probably would not.

[AngryAmish]

42. I think I smell food snobs

I live in Chicago, which has more great Italian restaurants per square mile than anywhere else. There is no need to go to Olive Garden where I live (including the suburbs.)

However, in my travels throughout the Midwest I have been to some bad Italian joints that everyone claimed to be the best in town. Olive Garden is better than those places.

My theory (and I am never wrong) there needs to be a critical mass of a certain type of restaurant for competition to kick in and make them all better. When there really is little competition, nobody will get better.

Olive Garden is relatively inexpensive, too.

[Bridget Burke]

48. Houston is not famous for Italian food...

Although some of the finer restaurants in town are upscale Italian, we lost our traditional Italian neighborhood. The freeway cut through many years ago & everybody moved to the suburbs. Such cities as New York & San Francisco are far ahead of us.

But we have local pizza places offering good old Italian-American spaghetti & meatballs in a more honest sauce than I tasted at The Olive Garden. There's no excuse for garlic powder!

[LoZoccolo]

43. Hahahaha now I feel special...

...being asked for my specific opinion.

The answer is "no". There are plenty of other Italian places in Chicago. If it were somewhere else where there weren't many other options I might.

I don't really mind it myself though; I rather like their zuppa toscana.

[SOteric]

44. In a word, no.

But then there are several classically trained professional chefs in my family and most of my immediate family was actually born and lived most of their lives in Italy.

[NightTrain]

45. That's "Dago-American" to you.

:evilgrin:

[PartyPooper]

46. My partner and I used to take his Italian-born mother there.

We always enjoyed the food. It wasn't exactly pure and authentic "Italian" like she'd cook...or, like the food you'd get in Italy or even in London...but, it was okay and we enjoyed it. It was convenient and good.

Besides, as I always say, order spaghetti...it's difficult to f*** up pasta! And, making salads isn't rocket science!

And, remember, "When you're here...you're family."

*sigh*

:D

[PartyPooper]

52. A culinary kick.

:D

[Endangered Specie]

53. Not a chance in hell.

That be about as bad as a Chinese American taking his relatives to a "chinese" (American run) buffet

[MrsMatt]

56. Olive Garden is NASTY

I've been there about four times, and have been supremely unimpressed by the quality of their culinary offerings.

My husband and I ate there one time (because we'd gotten a gift certificate for Christmas) and my order had big frozen clumps of pasta in the middle. I filled out a complaint form, and we received more gift certificates from company about four weeks later as an apology - we ended up giving them away. That was the very last time we ate there.

[Lavender Brown]

57. I'd rather have Spaghetti-Os

Even though its pasta-with-ketchup in a can. The two times I went to the Olive Garden I hated it.

[GOPisEvil]

58. I eat there from time to time for work birthday lunches, etc.

The breadsticks taste good. The salad isn't bad. And they have a chicken and veggies with pasta dish that tastes ok. Other than that, it's all crap. I'd rather make my own Italian-inspired cuisine than eat there.