Olive Garden slaps. Not in a “haha I’m being ironic” way. Not in a “well, it’s okay for a chain” way. I mean it’s genuinely good. And if that makes me basic or uncultured, then fine…pass me a breadstick and let me live.
First off, the breadsticks are elite. Warm, soft, garlicky, and they just keep bringing more. You could eat six before your meal even shows up and still want more. Add that salad with the pepperoncini, olives, and crispy lettuce drowned in that signature dressing? It hits every single time. It’s not fancy, it’s not artisanal, but it’s satisfying in a way that most trendy spots wish they could be.
I get it that it’s not “authentic” Italian. Who cares? That’s not the point. It’s Italian American comfort food, and it fully owns what it is. You go there because you want pasta, sauce, cheese, and bread. That’s it. That’s the mission.
And can we talk about the Alfredo sauce? It’s ridiculous in the best way. Creamy, heavy, and addictive. Dip a breadstick in it and tell me you’re not immediately transported to a happier place. You are. It’s okay to admit it.
The soup? Zuppa Toscana is lowkey amazing. Spicy sausage, potatoes, and kale in a creamy broth…it’s warm, comforting, and weirdly satisfying. Unlimited refills too. You’re not getting that kind of deal anywhere else.
People clown on Olive Garden because it’s not cool to like big chains. It’s not trendy, it’s not exclusive, and it doesn’t pretend to be. There’s something kind of great about a place that just gives you exactly what you expect. It’s consistent. It’s cozy. And sometimes, it’s exactly what you need.
So yeah, Olive Garden is good. It doesn’t need to be authentic. It just needs to be tasty. And it is.
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I’d rather eat Olive Garden’s food than Casa Bonita’s.
I don’t think this opinion is actually that unpopular. It’s mostly just a meme. Olive Garden is a massive chain, it’s obviously liked well enough.
Olive garden is a proper restaurant. The chain that deserves criticism is Fazoli’s, which is ghetto. OG may not be “authentic” but that’s a different issue. Also I’ve had better pizza in some US places than when I went to Italy itself (though it wasn’t at Olive Garden)…
Their breadsticks & salads & dips are so good. But the last time I went there, my pasta dish had like 1/4” of oil around the whole bowl on top of the cheese sauce. I couldn’t even eat it because it was so much. The amount of calories in their food is insane. There’s a few gems, but overall, that oily pasta put me off of it.
It’s nothing more than a glorified Fazoley’s.
When you’re there… you’re family.
Their bread sticks come pre baked in a frozen bag but their spaghetti is decent
I don’t think it’s bad, but I think they can be quite expensive for the quality. Like, I like the bread sticks, but I also like crazy bread from pizza places even while thinking they’re pretty mediocre as bread. The salad is good! I also will totally be happy eating a bagged salad from the super market, I think most of those are pretty good. I’ve never actually been impressed with the food at Olive Garden, but you’re right that it’s hardly inedible.
I don’t dislike Olive Garden because it’s a chain or not hip or not authentic. I dislike Olive Garden because every dish they have is 50% salt and 40% butter.
I have been twice. The last time because it was the only place open. It was a solid C-. Everything was obviously frozen and the red sauce had little actual taste to it. I don’t begrudge anyone who likes it. But there’s not a soul alive who couldn’t make a better Italian meal with fresh ingredients and directions.
This opinion is popular with me.
I haven’t been impressed with their entrees as much the last few times I’ve gone (although I go incredibly rarely). But I do I like their breadsticks and the chicken and gnocchi soup. The salad is good too
I once melted a plastic plate in a microwave from the bread sticks.
Their Eggplant parm is goated. Also the salad and bread stick combo slaps every time
Sorry. Worst italian food of all time.
Are they good or are they just consistent? People want to go somewhere they know what to expect. That’s why franchises are so popular.
It’s microwaved food if you think Olive Garden is good you are trashy and never tasted legitimate Italian cuisine in your life. You are also getting ripped off for cheap pasta.
Last time I had Olive Garden it was okay, but it kinda tastes like freezer food which isn’t terrible, it just doesn’t taste fresh.
Their breadsticks and salad are fine, nothing to write home about, but perfectly okay. Their pasta sauces are bland and flavorless.
I love Olive Garden that chicken gnocchi soup is like crack it’s so good
I kinda always wanted to try it out 😂 i’m so curious
Who hates on it? My family it’s a once a year speciality. We look forward to it.
Taste of Italy until the day I die
First off, like any franchise restaurant the quality from franchise location to franchise location is going to vary, some times wildly so.
Second, Olive Garden has changed their menu a few different times. At one point they were only basically doing Alfredo. They recently changed back, and brought back some of their old heavy hitters.
I don’t go often, mainly because the closest one is like an hour away. There are plenty of local Italian places I’ve had that are better. However, I’ve never been dissatisfied with Olive Garden and I always leave full. They also have some good deals from time to time. If someone thinks it’s the best Italian they’ve ever had, they probably don’t go out much or try new things. Their loss, and the Garden couldn’t care less.
Olive Garden used to be better. Honestly their alfredo has changed over the years. If you want the recipe for how Olive Garden alfredo used to be I’ll give it to you because when they took the chicken alfredo pizza off the menu, I played with alfredo recipes until I got it exactly pristinely right. Once a year I used to make a chicken alfredo lasagna that was so good people would talk about it for the whole rest of the year. It’s also gotta be eaten right away because “real” American-style alfredo sauce breaks (separates) in the microwave. I don’t make it anymore because I have an empty nest and nobody to cook for anymore
My last and only time there I paid 20 dollars for a pound of pasta that they couldn’t even be bothered to heat past lukewarm. Good pasta is too easy and inexpensive to make at home to justify fast casual.
Idk man, even the breadsticks aren’t as good as they used to be. Everything is just nuked now and you can taste it.
It used to be good
i believe people make fun of it not because they hate it or that it sucks, more so as it’s way too common to pick it as a date or something, especially when you been there tons of times and want to try something more interesting
Worked for them for a few years. It’s not all that bad. There’s better Italian style food out there definitely. There’s better burgers than McDonalds too but I still eat there sometimes.
Yeah I went there a few months ago for the first time and was honestly surprised how good it was. And you get a fucking avalanche of fresh food.
It’s pretty much the whole Nickelback thing where they’re popular to hate but in reality are extremely popular
I’d eat at Olive Garden if I couldn’t get better Italian from non chain restaurants for the same price. Olive Garden has no business being as expensive as it is.
Is this an ad. If so, well, done whoever thought of the idea.
Found Brian Redban’s account