I seriously doubt the majority of people who patronize the Olive Garden consider it to be a “healthy Mediterranean” restaurant. Not that I’m criticizing people who go to the Olive Garden. Hell, I’ve gone to the Olive Garden…just never thought of it as anything other than a fairly quick, moderately priced, chain-Italian restaurant. If I were looking for “healthy Mediterranean fare,” I’d cook it myself.
The town I live in (moderately sized in south Georgia) has been clamoring for an Olive Garden for at least 10 years. They seem to think that they’re “on the map” if they have one of every major franchise. Construction has already started on Chili’s and TGI Fridays (both are new to our town), but so far Olive Garden has remained elusive. It’s sad because there is a really good mom & pop Italian restaurant (Ironically called “Mom & Dad’s), as well as an excellent Mediterranean place that serves Greek & Italian food here that serve freshly prepared foods that are far better than Olive Garden.
Ooops…what the hell? That last sentence is SO wrong. That just shows what happens when you try to post at work and are interrupted. Can’t they see I’m trying to goof off here??
I really have a hard grasping the appeal of the mass-marketed “family restaurant” chains: Olive Garden, TGIFriday’s, Chili’s, Applebee’s, et cetera.
I do my best to not be a food snob. I’m certainly no stranger to the fast food chains, but something about these restaurants leaves me flat. There’s just something… soulless about them. The forced cheer of the wait staff, the identical decor in each one, the lurid 15+ page menus. It gives me the creeps.
3 November 2007 at 4:07 pm
I seriously doubt the majority of people who patronize the Olive Garden consider it to be a “healthy Mediterranean” restaurant. Not that I’m criticizing people who go to the Olive Garden. Hell, I’ve gone to the Olive Garden…just never thought of it as anything other than a fairly quick, moderately priced, chain-Italian restaurant. If I were looking for “healthy Mediterranean fare,” I’d cook it myself.
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5 November 2007 at 4:14 pm
I know this must speak terrible things about me and my character, but I love OG tiramisu.
I think you’d be hard pressed to find anyone at my local OG who can even spell Mediterranean. Zing! No, I kid, I kid.
7 November 2007 at 11:18 am
The town I live in (moderately sized in south Georgia) has been clamoring for an Olive Garden for at least 10 years. They seem to think that they’re “on the map” if they have one of every major franchise. Construction has already started on Chili’s and TGI Fridays (both are new to our town), but so far Olive Garden has remained elusive. It’s sad because there is a really good mom & pop Italian restaurant (Ironically called “Mom & Dad’s), as well as an excellent Mediterranean place that serves Greek & Italian food here that serve freshly prepared foods that are far better than Olive Garden.
Some days I just don’t get people.
7 November 2007 at 11:20 am
Ooops…what the hell? That last sentence is SO wrong. That just shows what happens when you try to post at work and are interrupted. Can’t they see I’m trying to goof off here??
8 November 2007 at 12:40 am
I really have a hard grasping the appeal of the mass-marketed “family restaurant” chains: Olive Garden, TGIFriday’s, Chili’s, Applebee’s, et cetera.
I do my best to not be a food snob. I’m certainly no stranger to the fast food chains, but something about these restaurants leaves me flat. There’s just something… soulless about them. The forced cheer of the wait staff, the identical decor in each one, the lurid 15+ page menus. It gives me the creeps.
9 November 2007 at 5:59 pm
This horrifies me. And also makes me think of my famous Olive Garden Story from when we were in Europe. Do you remember that old gem?
9 November 2007 at 6:51 pm
I briefly considered posting said anecdote, but seeing as it wasn’t my story, I resisted.