Losing sales - answer is raise prices!

Well, yes the management will be partially at fault, but it’s also the take over by private equity hedge funds. Once that happens all the companies assets are stripped leaving them with nothing. Yes the private equity is ‘management’ of a sort, but there’s no choices a corporate manager at Olive Garden can make right now that will save Olive Garden. They can only find themselves a new job or go down with the ship & hope they are high enough up the ladder to have equity in the equity firm that bought them.

Once one of these businesses is bought by these hedge fund companies the goal IS to strip the assets & move on. Time is limited and the business will not survive. I mean the name might survive as that will be the last remaining ‘asset’ to sell, but it won’t be the business you knew.

we used to order take out and the portions seemed HUGE. But i've always felt that it was too expensive for what it was - reheated pasta.

I agree. We eat out less than once a week. Maybe 3 times a month, at most. We want a good meal, fair price and to support local.  Our favorite places are all local.  Italian, Mexican, steakhouse, Fish shop and Pub are all locally owned and operated. They are all only “chains” in the fact that they have more than one location within our area only. 

Before someone says it, I’m aware the large restaurant chains employ all local individuals. I hate that because the way these equity firms are managing restaurants and stores and running them into the ground that so many jobs are going away.

With that said, if I’m only occasionally eating out, I like to have a nice experience with good food.

We went out to eat last weekend and the prices shocked us. We fully know how much more things cost now, and the need to compensate for that. But this was an eye opener.

We went out for Prime Rib, which is higher end cost anyway, so we were prepared for that. But the prices of it had really increased since we had last been there a few months ago. And the portion size of it was really small. I ordered a 10 oz, and it was very thin. Not the normal cut I used to get. The hash browns were way over done. If I had thought about how much it was costing me, I'd have sent them back until I got them like I wanted them.

We got smacked with an automatic 20% tip on top of it, since we had 8 people at the table (paying separate). I get that, I really do. But she got at least an $80 tip from our table. We were there about an hour. Had to flag her down twice for drinks. She only brought us our food, no other service, no waters, etc. We basically bussed our table by stacking dishes and placing them at the end so her busser could just walk by and pick them up at the end. I said if/when we go next time I will not so much as lift a fork to help clear the table.

I always tip generously, with a minimum of 10% for really poor service. I would have done at least 15% for her, even though it wasn't stellar service.

This is a local owned place. But it just priced us out as regulars.

So funny I prefer eating prime rib at home knowing I can make it the way I like. I follow this more cooking method and definitely need a thermometer. It is perfection!
www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/foolproof-prime-rib-recipe/

We don’t go any longer since we can make their food better at home! Yep, copycat recipes on the internet are better. And self serve is better than service at the Olive Garden near us plus less expensive!

I use to stop at an Olive Garden on my way to work and get their Shrimp Fritto (?), it was on the appetizer portion of the menu.  Then they changed that item to a similar but different and I did not like it.  And then a pandemic happened and I work from home most of the time and do not get over that way or need something quick and easy to pick up on the way to work. There weren’t a lot of options around that area that weren’t chains/fast food.  While I am a big supporter of local places and are my most frequented places, sometimes a chain is the most convenient or needed.

I will say prices are high and especially in small, local or farm to table type places.  I enjoy trying all of our interesting local restaurants around (and we have a ton) and kind of consider it more of my entertainment budget than food…or probably both.  😄.   A friend and I try a local place for lunch at least once a week. I also get take out at least once a week if not more.  Everything from snack bars, delis, diners, to mid range and all different cuisines. Usually two people and basic lunch/meals and maybe a shared appetizer. Water or soda for drinks. And the bills (without tip) range from 40 to 80 for lunch, pretty much across the board.  Dinners are more expensive.

I remember the first time I went to Olive Garden in the 90s everything was delicious. Later when my kids were little it was not as good but is was an ok place to go with young kids. Still the salad and breadsticks were great. The last time I went several years ago it had gone way down. We rarely eat in chain restaurants, we usually go to local places.

We have eaten there a few times but it was always just ok not great. I think it’s been 10-15 years since we have been maybe more. I honestly think I have eaten there less than 10 times in my life probably closer to five times. The food just didn’t seem that good that in addition to their high prices are keeping people from eating there. I would much rather pay a couple bucks more to go to one of our local places that are really good.

I'll be a little sad as I get their soup, salad and breadsticks for lunch ($8.99 currently) at least once a week. It's close to work and easy to order online and go grab it. I usually eat on it 2 to 3 days in a row though. I eat half the salad one day, the other half for dinner, half the soup the next day and sometimes the other half of soup the 3rd day for lunch. Granted I eat like a bird with very small portions each meal.