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re: Olive Garden
Posted on 8/28/23 at 5:33 pm to Mariner
Posted on 8/28/23 at 5:33 pm to Mariner
I always enjoy the extreme polarization that chain restaurants seem to cause 
The purpose of chain restaurants is to present food that will be at least somewhat palatable to the widest swath of the population possible for the lowest price possible. In 2023, that means primarily serving frozen food for not exactly cheap prices. With that said, they are great at serving two purposes: first, if every dollar truly matters to you, then it gives you the least expensive option for dining out. Second, in some smaller towns, it’s the only option, as the economies of scale are the only thing that makes it work.
But for those of us who live in cities with more options, there’s just not much reason to go to places like OG. I just googled a few different menus online for the price on the random staple of chicken parm, and the price of OG compared to a couple of other “local” places in BR were within a couple of dollars of one another. So for me, it’s worth a couple of bucks to have fresher food and support a local business. But I complete get why plenty of people fall on the other side of that equation.
The purpose of chain restaurants is to present food that will be at least somewhat palatable to the widest swath of the population possible for the lowest price possible. In 2023, that means primarily serving frozen food for not exactly cheap prices. With that said, they are great at serving two purposes: first, if every dollar truly matters to you, then it gives you the least expensive option for dining out. Second, in some smaller towns, it’s the only option, as the economies of scale are the only thing that makes it work.
But for those of us who live in cities with more options, there’s just not much reason to go to places like OG. I just googled a few different menus online for the price on the random staple of chicken parm, and the price of OG compared to a couple of other “local” places in BR were within a couple of dollars of one another. So for me, it’s worth a couple of bucks to have fresher food and support a local business. But I complete get why plenty of people fall on the other side of that equation.
4
Posted on 8/28/23 at 8:22 pm to Rotchii13
Mostly everything is overpriced for what you get. However, the soup and salad is still legit
Posted on 8/29/23 at 7:52 am to Joshjrn
quote:
I always enjoy the extreme polarization that chain restaurants seem to cause
The purpose of chain restaurants is to present food that will be at least somewhat palatable to the widest swath of the population possible for the lowest price possible. In 2023, that means primarily serving frozen food for not exactly cheap prices. With that said, they are great at serving two purposes: first, if every dollar truly matters to you, then it gives you the least expensive option for dining out. Second, in some smaller towns, it’s the only option, as the economies of scale are the only thing that makes it work.
But for those of us who live in cities with more options, there’s just not much reason to go to places like OG. I just googled a few different menus online for the price on the random staple of chicken parm, and the price of OG compared to a couple of other “local” places in BR were within a couple of dollars of one another. So for me, it’s worth a couple of bucks to have fresher food and support a local business. But I complete get why plenty of people fall on the other side of that equation.
True. Once we were traveling and were spending the night in this small town, I recognized it as the city where my niece went to college, so I called her to ask for a recommendation. I told her all I had seen so far was the Applebees, she said that's the best place in town. Ugh.
Posted on 8/29/23 at 10:49 am to Joshjrn
quote:
fresher food
Yet even a ton of "local" restaurants have the same Sysco truck delivering food to them as McDonalds and Olive Garden do.
Posted on 8/29/23 at 12:57 pm to Tigris
quote:
Thread was doing well, and then the pretentious clowns showed up.
Well we needed more opinions than just redneck white trash.
Posted on 8/29/23 at 2:26 pm to Joshjrn
quote:
But for those of us who live in cities with more options, there’s just not much reason to go to places like OG. I just googled a few different menus online for the price on the random staple of chicken parm, and the price of OG compared to a couple of other “local” places in BR were within a couple of dollars of one another. So for me, it’s worth a couple of bucks to have fresher food and support a local business. But I complete get why plenty of people fall on the other side of that equation.
I just looked at 2 Italian places near me, one was $.50 more for a chicken parm and the other was $4 more. And these places are way “nicer” than Olive Garden
Posted on 8/30/23 at 6:05 pm to Epic Cajun
quote:
I just looked at 2 Italian places near me, one was $.50 more for a chicken parm and the other was $4 more. And these places are way “nicer” than Olive Garden
Yup, and I imagine that little bit of info would surprise a lot of people. Can you blow it out ordering nice veal and fish dishes at other Italian restaurants? Of course. But dish for dish? Chains like OG and Carrabba’s aren’t that much cheaper. If it’s all you have, it’s all you have, and I won’t knock that. But if you have other options, they are worth exploring.
Now that I’m thinking about it, I think the mental disconnect is that people feel compelled to get “nice” things at “nice” restaurants. Some of my favorite lunches are relatively inexpensive items at nice local restaurants. Hell, I still miss getting a medium rare burger and a half price glass of pinot at Kalurah.
Posted on 8/30/23 at 7:07 pm to Joshjrn
When me and coworkers used to travel for work we spent much time at such places.
When you want something that is:
1: right by the hotel
2: a good understanding of what you're going to get
3: knowing they take AMEX
4: Knowing they have a bar with TV's
5: Knowing the waitress/bartender is a whore with at least a 4% chance she'll come back to your room with you
It's Applebee's, Chili's, TGIF, Olive Garden, et al.
I also remember my home town bars were all roughneck type bars with chain smokers, pool tables, fights, diareah from dirty beer lines, illegible tattoes, zero females, etc. When an applebee's finally opened up, that applebee's bar was packed 7 nights a week, there'd be standing room only, because it was the one bar that wasn't something out of a pee wee herman movie.
Someone earlier mentioned Carabba's. I haven't been to one in probably 20 years, but 20 years ago, I was a bus boy there and the food was legit good. The Sirloin Marsala, and the mussels app, with the bread, chef's kiss.
When you want something that is:
1: right by the hotel
2: a good understanding of what you're going to get
3: knowing they take AMEX
4: Knowing they have a bar with TV's
5: Knowing the waitress/bartender is a whore with at least a 4% chance she'll come back to your room with you
It's Applebee's, Chili's, TGIF, Olive Garden, et al.
I also remember my home town bars were all roughneck type bars with chain smokers, pool tables, fights, diareah from dirty beer lines, illegible tattoes, zero females, etc. When an applebee's finally opened up, that applebee's bar was packed 7 nights a week, there'd be standing room only, because it was the one bar that wasn't something out of a pee wee herman movie.
Someone earlier mentioned Carabba's. I haven't been to one in probably 20 years, but 20 years ago, I was a bus boy there and the food was legit good. The Sirloin Marsala, and the mussels app, with the bread, chef's kiss.
This post was edited on 8/30/23 at 7:09 pm
Posted on 8/30/23 at 7:14 pm to LemmyLives
quote:
Yet even a ton of "local" restaurants have the same Sysco truck delivering food to them as McDonalds and Olive Garden do.
Of course.
I assume you’re aware that the type and quality of ingredients offered by a giant like Sysco varies wildly? And that different restaurants are inclined to order different tiers of quality, even if from the same provider?
Posted on 8/31/23 at 10:47 am to Mariner
The stuffed mushrooms were the best thing they had on the menu and they fricking took them off
Posted on 8/31/23 at 11:12 am to LemmyLives
quote:
Yet even a ton of "local" restaurants have the same Sysco truck delivering food to them as McDonalds and Olive Garden do.
And yet the local restaurants may be receiving fresh eggs as opposed to chains that receive "egg product" or "egg loaf."
Sysco delivers Wagyu beef to some places as well. It's not a "slam" to get food delivery from Sysco.
Posted on 8/31/23 at 2:50 pm to Mariner
Steak Gorgonzola pasta…. Money.
Posted on 8/31/23 at 3:41 pm to Mariner
quote:was it lovely?
Lat night I went to Olive Garden for the first time in over 20 years.
Posted on 8/31/23 at 6:44 pm to Mariner
quote:They haven't, they just moved to the next generation like Texas Roadhouse and Cheesecake Factory.
I am trying to figure out why we have transitioned away from these places.
Posted on 8/31/23 at 11:46 pm to BigDropper
quote:
Took the family to OG while on vacation a couple years back because I had a gift card for presenting at a conference.
You took time out of your day to present at a conference…and they gifted you with a gift card from Olive Garden?
Were they trying to tell you something?
Posted on 9/1/23 at 5:55 am to liz18lsu
I find Olive Garden hit or miss. Really depends on the location.
I don't go there to often, but their chicken parm is pretty decent. Much better than better than that over cooked hockey Puck with burnt mozzarella I got at Dguillo bros on Perkins a couple weeks back.
Their to go service is one of the better ones I've used.
I don't go there to often, but their chicken parm is pretty decent. Much better than better than that over cooked hockey Puck with burnt mozzarella I got at Dguillo bros on Perkins a couple weeks back.
Their to go service is one of the better ones I've used.
Posted on 9/2/23 at 9:10 am to LSUGUMBO
quote:
we prefer Monjuni’s for Italian
One would not think that a great shrimp poboy would come from an Italian restaurant but Monjuni’s shrimp poboy has always been a fav. Spicy boiled shrimp dressed in a creamy spicy sauce (like a remoulade but diff) on great bread is so good. Also their Shrimp Aurora is amazing! L’italiano’s is solid too!
The Monjuni’s in Bossier and the original on Louisiana in Shreveport are the only two that use the original recipes. The others were bought out by David Alvis (owner of SilverStar) and are not the same.
This post was edited on 9/2/23 at 9:12 am
Posted on 9/2/23 at 10:02 am to LSUFanstukinGA
Well this board sure has changed.
Posted on 9/2/23 at 11:11 am to liz18lsu
My mom used to go out with her coworkers from the nursing home. They called them selves the "Members of the Bored".
They went to Olive Garden in Kenner. As my mom lifted her chair, the seat separated from the frame. She got her finger caught in it and lost the tip of her finger right there in the dining room.
They went to Olive Garden in Kenner. As my mom lifted her chair, the seat separated from the frame. She got her finger caught in it and lost the tip of her finger right there in the dining room.
Posted on 9/20/23 at 5:34 pm to AFistfulof$
Born the same year and thought the same thing when my family passed a Reb Lobster the other day
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