When I lived elsewhere, the Olive Garden Italian Restaurant was one of my favorites. It was my mother's favorite restaurant, where I would take her to dine almost every Sunday. It was one of the restaurants where I would go with my college classes to celebrate on the last day of class. So you can say I was one of Olive Garden's loyal customers, fulfilling its Mission.
Olive Garden's mission is "To make delicious, feel-good moments easy for everyone by offering a welcoming dining experience inspired by Italian generosity, with a focus on quality food, and creating memorable moments for guests." "They aim to achieve financial success by consistently delivering great food, drinks, and service in an inviting atmosphere, ultimately aiming to make every guest loyal."
While I've lived in Roanoke, my experiences dining at the Olive Garden here have not been consistent. On my first review, one which I invite you to read, I wrote about a positive and a negative experience, and wished that they all could have been good.
Today, I decided to give it another try to honestly see if there had been any change towards the better.
Once inside, a young lady host greeted me and takes me to the last dining room of the restaurant to a small table for two in a dark corner of the room. Needless to say I requested to be seated at a larger table in a brighter spot.
My server formally greeted me and took my order. To drink I ordered the Mango-Strawberry Iced Tea and to dine I ordered a New item on the menu called the Steak Gorgonzola Alfredo. It listed on the menu that the "Steak prepared medium." I asked the server if it can be prepared medium rare instead and he tells me yes. Then he asks me if I want it with soup or salad. I picked the salad because their Neverending salad is one of my favorites. In the other Olive Garden restaurants where I have eaten I always ask for another bash of salad before eating my main course.
The server brings me my Mango-Strawberry Tea and leaves right away. When I taste it I find that it was almost tasteless, I hardly could taste any of the flavors listed on the menu. When the server comes back to bring me a basket with very few bread sticks I told him about the drink and he gets upset and tells me he poured the syrup in there, and that if I want him to pour more syrup in there. I told him no, to bring me a lemonade instead. He takes away my drink and leaves with a bad attitude not even apologizing for the way my drink had come out.
He then brings me the lemonade and the salad. The salad was wonderful. As I was enjoying the salad I reach for one of the bread stick and noticed they were not hot and soft like I'm used to having them. I keep thinking of asking for some more salad. Bye, bye, Neverending Salad, my server brings me my main course without me finishing my salad nor having an opportunity to ask for some more. He lays the main dish on the table and leaves. When I start eating it I find the Grilled Sirloin Tips were cooked well done. I find that this not only takes away from its tenderness but also from its flavor. So when the server came to check on the table next to mine I call him over to tell him this and he gets all upset and tells me he pushed the medium rare button. I asked to see the manager and he goes to get him. The general managerbcame out and graciously asked me what I want him to do about it. I asked him if it could be redone with the meat cooked medium rare. While the cook was preparing my order once again, ask the server if he can bring me fresh breadsticks because the original ones he brought me were not fresh and hot but cold and hard. He argues with me and tells me they were fresh. I can't believe his defiant attitude, and ask him again to bring me the fresh breadsticks or I'll have to ask the manager for them. He finally brings them and this time they were hot and soft. By this time he brings me back my re-done main course. This time the meat is cooked medium rare although I noticed it had fewer pieces of meat. The manager came out to graciously check on me and I tell him that this time the meat was cooked medium rare and thanked him.
For dessert I had the Black Tie Mousse Cake. It was delicious.
What a nightmare dining experience I had here today. The employees of the Olive Garden, all but the manager, went against the Mission of this great restaurant. They did not deliver great food, drink, nor service. All I hope is that corporate reads this review from who was once a loyal customer, and takes action to correct the behavior of their employees of this restaurant. From the host, the cook, and the server. Teach them to be sensitive to the needs of their guests and not be disrespectful when something is brought to their attention. Have them learn that their behavior reflects in the perception that their guests and future guests have of the Olive Garden brand itself. And they could be the difference of acquiring a loyal customer or losing one. read more