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Post by gorgeouskid on Feb 22, 2023 0:54:59 GMT
So when I was a poor college student, I frequented the Olive Garden near the department store where I worked (I graduated in 1991, for reference).
Lately (maybe the last three years), I've been craving some pasta e fagioli, salad, and breadsticks. Yesterday, I was near an Olive Garden (haven't been there in maybe 25+ years?) and got that order to go.
Salad and breadsticks were exactly as remembered. Soup not so much. Has it changed, or has my taste become more refined (this is what I'm thinking). Soup wasn't awful (confirmed by DH), but not something I would ever order again.
$11 even for 2 not so awesome meals (1 order, but it fed both of us) was worth it, I think.
I did find some OG pasta e fagioli copycat recipes that I might try.
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Post by Merge on Feb 22, 2023 1:03:35 GMT
It’s bad food. Your tastebuds have evolved.
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Post by mom on Feb 22, 2023 1:21:54 GMT
I vote that you've evolved.
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Post by Tearisci on Feb 22, 2023 2:52:43 GMT
My elderly parents love the Olive Garden so I take them for soup, salad, and breadsticks.
I usually get the chicken gnocchi soup and I like it well enough.
It's not gourmet but I am willing to go with them.
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Post by librarylady on Feb 22, 2023 3:12:21 GMT
IMO breadsticks are the only thing tasty there.
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pilcas
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Post by pilcas on Feb 22, 2023 3:15:25 GMT
I actually think it’s the quality of the restaurant food that went down. Olive Garden, at least in my area, had good food when it opened. It went downhill after a few years.
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iluvpink
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Jul 13, 2014 12:40:31 GMT
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Post by iluvpink on Feb 22, 2023 11:21:30 GMT
I think your tastes have evolved. It's been years since I've enjoyed Olive Garden. We only very occasionally go because my parents love it. I do enjoy the salad. I don't recall ever thinking the soup was that great and we have MUCH better breadsticks at a couple of local places.
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keithurbanlovinpea
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Flowing with the go...
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Jun 29, 2014 3:29:30 GMT
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Post by keithurbanlovinpea on Feb 22, 2023 11:32:13 GMT
Can confirm that your taste buds have evolved past pre-prepared soup in a 5 gallon bag
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Post by rymeswithpurple on Feb 22, 2023 13:14:34 GMT
Yeah, it's definitely you evolving.
We have a hole in the wall Italian restaurant near us. We took my in-laws once when they came to visit. God love my late mother in law. She was something, and decided that this place "was just like Olive Garden in Pennsylvania!" (Because, you know, no other states have OG locations.) We still quote it to this day.
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Post by bbkeef on Feb 22, 2023 14:52:57 GMT
It’s bad food. Your tastebuds have evolved. The only thing worth it there is the salad and breadsticks. I used to love it 20 years ago, last time I had it (5 years ago) the pasta was so salty I could barely eat it. My favorite was the portobello ravioli with sun dried tomato cream sauce. I now make it at home. I make the copy cat version of their soups in my Instant Pot. I can at least control the salt!
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Deleted
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Jul 3, 2024 3:47:05 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 22, 2023 14:57:28 GMT
Such good memories of Olive Garden and I'll also vote your taste has evolved. I've gone maybe 3-4 times in the past 10 years and it tastes pretty processed to me now. Their tiramisu is what would get me back in there, though! And we use their store brand Italian dressing for pasta salads and it's num! Here is the Pasta E Fagioli recipe I use and it is AMAZING! It's on the list of things DH asks me to make. I make homemade French bread (sometimes made into breadsticks and brushed with garlic butter) with it every time. It's an instant pot recipe, but I just make it in my big enameled cast iron pot and simmer the broth probably 3-4 hours at a minimum. Modifications I make are to skip a lot of the fresh herbs (since it's costly and requires a special trip to the store for me), no bacon and leave out the garbanzo beans (we prefer with slightly less beans). I also usually add a bit of tomato paste (about 3 oz). And be careful not to overcook the pasta; the pasta basically turns any leftovers into a casserole ![(rofl)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/rofl.png) but the flavor is so good! Pasta E Fagioli recipe
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Post by disneypal on Feb 22, 2023 15:16:21 GMT
I vote that you've evolved. I agree
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lavawalker1
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Post by lavawalker1 on Feb 22, 2023 15:38:13 GMT
We used to eat there in the 90’s once in awhile, and we still have to eat there twice a year when we visit MIL, as she loves it. I just get the soup, salad, bread sticks. It’s never been great, but the soups are not as good. The minestrone is watery now 🙁
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Post by smalltowngirlie on Feb 22, 2023 15:49:27 GMT
I very rarely ever went to Olive Garden. The last time I asked what kind of soups they had, they had some special AYCE, soup, salad, and breadsticks, maybe they still do. The waitress said, "The usual" I replied, "If I knew your usuals I would not have asked." Yeah, so not worth it for me.
Most likely a combo, quality went down a bit, but your tastes have evolved also.
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Post by workingclassdog on Feb 22, 2023 15:50:54 GMT
While I don't frequent OG very much. (We have a local place that we would rather go to than any Italian restaurant) we might go to OG once a year or once every two years. I don't mind it really but I do have a kid's stomach. I don't mind it.. lol.. I am picky about sauce and I don't like their red sauce so I always order something that has white sauce... I got this last time and thought it was SO good.. Ravioli Carbonara I would go back frequently for this dish. ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/images/MNrJDkDuSwqIMVw33MdD.jpg) and I won't apologize!
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Post by wrongwayfeldman on Feb 22, 2023 16:20:46 GMT
I always feel a little bit weird for sometimes craving Olive Garden, since I know there's so much better food out there, but maybe it's a comfort thing. What's odd is that every breadstick, even though I want to love them, is always hard and never has enough garlic butter. They're dry and overcooked, and I really want to ask the wait staff to undercook them just a bit and coat them with more butter, but I never do because I don't want to be that customer. Then the salad- that's a mystery to me. It's seriously just iceberg lettuce and romaine, like one of those bagged salads, with a couple olives and tomato slices tossed in, and some red onions and pepperoncini peppers, right? Nothing life changing, but when I eat it at the restaurant, I absolutely love it, yet when I make it at home it's never the same.
I love the zuppa toscano soup, and it's the easiest copycat recipe to duplicate. I always add more red pepper flakes, and it's foolproof. Yet, even though I can create that exact same soup at home, when I'm at OG, I order it every time. Every. Time.
I have a love-hate relationship with Olive Garden.
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Post by epeanymous on Feb 22, 2023 16:27:33 GMT
NGL, I went there a ton when the kids were tiny because they were *so kind* to us. If you have two glasses of chianti with lunch and fill up on salad the food is fine ![:P](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/images/OrTI4SBmZ2ZYSFv6ag4f.jpg) .
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anniebeth24
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Jun 26, 2014 14:12:17 GMT
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Post by anniebeth24 on Feb 22, 2023 18:12:14 GMT
While I'm not much of an Olive Garden fan, I will own up to a special love for Applebee's.
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RosieKat
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Post by RosieKat on Feb 22, 2023 18:14:38 GMT
You've evolved, AND it's gotten worse. We used to go occasionally when the kids were young. Never thought it was great, but it was edible. Now whenever I've had to go there (think team dinners or the similar, so I don't have a choice), it has been absolutely horrible, all but inedible. And I'm not overly snobby. (I am a little bit, lol.)
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snyder
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Apr 26, 2017 6:14:47 GMT
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Post by snyder on Feb 22, 2023 18:19:22 GMT
Back in the day OG wasn't bad, but over the years, I think they have done a lot of short cuts that cut in to the quality and flavor of their foods. Their salads use to be completely from scratch, but now they use the base of the bag salad that has iceburg lettuce, a little bit of shredded purple cabbage and carrots. To that, they add the peppers, olives, tomatoes. Just not as fresh tasting. Ravioli appear to be frozen Costco ones instead of fresh in house made. And I can't believe the prices. $19.99 for a plate of so-so pasta to me is unreal.
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Post by mayceesgranny on Feb 22, 2023 18:34:12 GMT
Your taste has definitely evolved - whatever you do stay away from Fazoli's!
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Post by refugeepea on Feb 22, 2023 18:46:37 GMT
I'm not picky, especially when I don't have to make a meal. I've had the soup. I agree. Not terrible or great. I don't have great REAL Italian restaurant as an option near me, so Olive Garden is fine.
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Post by dewryce on Feb 22, 2023 20:28:03 GMT
I always feel a little bit weird for sometimes craving Olive Garden, since I know there's so much better food out there, but maybe it's a comfort thing. What's odd is that every breadstick, even though I want to love them, is always hard and never has enough garlic butter. They're dry and overcooked, and I really want to ask the wait staff to undercook them just a bit and coat them with more butter, but I never do because I don't want to be that customer. Then the salad- that's a mystery to me. It's seriously just iceberg lettuce and romaine, like one of those bagged salads, with a couple olives and tomato slices tossed in, and some red onions and pepperoncini peppers, right? Nothing life changing, but when I eat it at the restaurant, I absolutely love it, yet when I make it at home it's never the same. I love the zuppa toscano soup, and it's the easiest copycat recipe to duplicate. I always add more red pepper flakes, and it's foolproof. Yet, even though I can create that exact same soup at home, when I'm at OG, I order it every time. Every. Time. I have a love-hate relationship with Olive Garden. Try making your salad and keeping it in the very coldest part of your fridge for a while. One of the things I noticed was that the salad was always super cold when we got it, and it made a big difference for me. Also, if you like their dressing, it’s available to purchase in some grocery stores. (We use it to marinate black olives and mushrooms).
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Post by crazy4scraps on Feb 22, 2023 23:26:13 GMT
You’re probably not imagining it. They were bought out in 1995 by Darden Restaurants. Before that they were owned by General Mills. Darden owns several other chain restaurant brands too.
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casii
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Post by casii on Feb 23, 2023 1:00:00 GMT
I think it's a combo of your evolved tastebuds and Olive Garden declining quality. EVERYTHING has gone downhill from fast food to fast casual to chain table service. My adult middle DD and her BFF still go there for their girlfriend lunch dates though because they love the breadsticks and salad. If it makes them happy, I'm good with it.
I used to love their spinach artichoke dip, but I've made a dupe recipes for years that I love, so I can avoid OG.
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Post by littlemama on Feb 23, 2023 1:31:55 GMT
I think Olive Garden is as close to Italian as Taco Bell is to Mexican.
There are a few things that I like at Olive Garden, but I certainly dont go there thinking Im having Italian food.
Hmmm, maybe that will be my choice for Friday night dinner this week. I could go for some toasted ravioli. 😂😂
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Post by chaosisapony on Feb 23, 2023 2:05:11 GMT
I think it's probably a combo. Food quality has gone way down at most chain restaurants in the last several years. Our Olive Garden opened in 2019 and I refuse to set foot in that place since they opened across the parking lot from a local Italian place that has been in the community for over 20 years. They could have built their restaurant anywhere but it just had to be less than 100 feet from a local spot? Oh hell no, it was a dick move and I won't support it. There's always a giant line so I'm sure my little one man boycott doesn't matter to them but still, it's important to me LOL.
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maryannscraps
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Post by maryannscraps on Feb 23, 2023 13:14:12 GMT
I took my mom there now and then — she had a stack of Darden GCs that she wanted to use up. We always have fun, because I like going to lunch with my mom. The breadsticks are so incredibly salty to me that I just don’t eat them. I like the salad and they had a marinated chicken dish with roasted vegetables that was pretty tasty.
In my small town, we have four local Italian restaurants, so without mom’s GC I would never bother with OG.
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Post by bluebird71 on Feb 23, 2023 14:48:34 GMT
I have only eaten inside there a few times, years ago. I don't like the salad. But I'm all for pasta. The only one near me is next to a Bakers Square [which closed last year] so if I'm driving out there... I go to the Bakers Square. Because... pie!
I go to a lot of locally owned little places, and those are good too, but sometimes a place that has parking, and booths instead of cafe tables, with a familiar menu, is nice when you are just hungry.
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Post by katlady on Feb 23, 2023 20:37:19 GMT
When my family from Hawaii used to come visit, they always had to go to Olive Garden! I would cringe inside, but take them there. I mean, the food wasn’t terrible, but we had better Italian restaurants in the area. Now, they have their own OG in Hawaii. Yay me! 😆
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