Going to Olive Garden now...bye-bye.

It's now been 5 years since I've been to an Olive Garden, but only because I don't live closer to one. My partner and I got braised veal shanks at the Olive Garden that we went to in Virginia that were great. And, we had a very decent bottle of wine to go with it. Honestly, the main reason we went there was it was the only restaurant we could find when we were starving, but it more than sufficed.

They've offered this trip promo before. I've entered on-line every year but haven't won anything...yet!

I have to chuckle anytime I hear the mention of The Olive Garden. Several years ago, I went to a conference for work in Atlanta. My husband tagged along, and we ended up eating at a TGIFridays at the airport on the way home. Seated next to us was a couple on a layover on their way back from Italy. The wife commented that she was so glad to be back in the U.S. because the food in Italy was awful. She went on to say that she couldn't find any restaurant that served "real Italian like The Olive Garden."

Maybe it's just me, but I think that Olive Garden makes up Italian words. Fonduta???

Speaking of skewed gustatory standards, does anyone (LV?) have any update to the rumor I first heard here that Olive Garden was considering moving in to the long-shuttered, much-auctioned and quite checkered Vellagio's site in Little Italy?

Yeah, RayRay, fonduta makes me giggle. I think Pizza Hut makes up Italian words too. Or seems too. And Taco Bell.

An Olive Garden in Little Italy? Hilarious. I think there might be some small objections.

I've always thought it would be perfect for that space. Why? Because tourists are morons. Tourists love chains and would go there because the neighborhood would give it false credibility. I think it would actually be good for the 'hood since it would get boots on the ground.

Not gonna happen.

Turns out, fonduta is real.

Oh, let's not forget Starbucks... Frappuccino?

Let's not forget that this is the second half of the actual offer: "an insider’s look at Olive Garden’s Culinary Institute of Tuscany."

It does NOT say "Culinary Institute IN Tuscany." It says "OF Tuscany." It could be anywhere. Does KFC need to be in Kentucky? Do you need to go to Chicago to go to Pizzeria Uno?

Besides, what's an "insider's look?" They might just show you a corporate training film from your integrated chair/desk combo at the Darden Restaurants' (owners of the Olive Garden) "training room-iano" in Orlando, FL.

I don't buy it.

scarton:

"Sweepstakes Prizes: FOUR (4) GRAND PRIZES: A trip for winner and one (1) guest to Italy. Trip package includes roundtrip, coach-class air transportation for two (2) from a major airport near winner’s home to a major airport in Italy (airports determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion); eight (8) days and seven (7) nights standard hotel accommodations (single room, double occupancy); all guided tours, 2 meals per day, all ground transportation in Italy; and excursions to the following cities: Florence, Rome, San Gimignano, and Riserva di Fizzano, near Castellina in Chianti to visit Olive Garden’s Culinary Institute of Tuscany."

Perhaps the residents of Little italy would be more receptive to an Olive Garden if it were located in Milan.

I would support the Olive Garden's new ultra-lounge division opening a Club OG there. Because when I got a jones for formaggio and some extra chedda, I dig kickin it at Ciub OG and gettin down with the fonduta all night long. Parola alla vostra mamma!

I keep picturing a pair of tourists, staggering over from having "done" the Inner Harbor, some kind local having directed them to Little Italy just across the JF ... and their gushing, "Oh look, Honey! They have an Olive Garden! Just like we have back home! Let's go there!"

Exactly, BS. It would kill in that location. It has an attractive modern facade and is the first thing people see coming up Pratt from the IH. Yeah, it's not great food, but it's wallets in the hood. Maybe they trickle down to Vaccaro's for some dessert. Maybe they walk around and think Hey there is a lot more here. Tomorrow or next item we will try out Rocco's or Aldo's. Hey, what's an empanada? etc etc etc.

Right now that space is an empty embarrassment to LI because of its visibility. I don't think they would steal business from good places in LI; most likely they would initially be competing with boil-in-bag dumps like the Cheesecake Factory or 80s retro-schlock CA Pizza Kitchen (Mmm .. sun-dried tomatoes)

A rising tide lifts all boats (and that' why I think Milan (The Restaurant) is a great thing, but Club Milan not so much).

sean:

Oh good grief! I was just joking! I read the press release too.

I still think it's kind of silly. However, in the interests of chain restaurant full disclosure, I used to wait tables and bartend at the Security Mall Bennigans back a long, long time ago.

Maybe that's why I'm bitter... :)

scarton:

Oh good grief! Ok.

But see, your comment actually made me wonder, so I had to check it out for myself.

As a side note, whenever the idea of going to Olive Garden creeps into my head, I just gargle with salt water. Kinda has the same effect.

Scarton, you're just bitter because you were rejected by thye Bennigan's Culinary Institute of Dublin.

Dublin, Iowa, that is.

The word fonduta is the Italian translation of the French fondue.