I've HAD it with Olive Garden!!

[cmitch]

Unbelievable. If these things had not happened to us during the times we dined at Olive Garden, I doubt I'd believed it. They win the foreign matter in food award.
Case #1: Discovered Plastic and Date Dots in Tour of Italy- Huntsville location
Case #2: Found Brush Bristles in Minestrone soup in Florence location. Thought they were green bean stems. No. They definitely were bristles from a stiff brush. Total of 3 found. Same length
Case #3: Wife found a rubber band in her meal at Florence location
Case #4: Found strips of napkin in Chicken Gnocci soup- Florence Location. It appeared someone tore long strips of the real tough napkins they have and put it in the soup so it was on purpose. 4 strips were found.
Case #5: This is the biggie. Was at the doctor's office in Nashville with my wife. We were very tired after a 5 hour wait. Decide to go to Red Lobster to get endless shrimp. We got seated in No-Man's land so that meant none of the wait staff knew who was supposed to take care of us. After 20 minutes, we left and went to Olive Garden in Springhill, TN. Waitress was right there, Johnny on the spot, took our order and we had salad and breadsticks in four minutes. Meal arrived about 5 minutes later. Wife ordered Chicken Scampi and I ordered Fettucine Alfredo. We shared with each other portions and i was eating the Chicken Scampi and noticed a very tough piece of pasta, dismissed it and swallowed but when I swallowed the bite, I realized it was NOT pasta. My wife stirs around in her plate and pulls out FOUR rubber bands! No sh!t! Here's pics:
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http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj103/cmitchprint/0918121923_zps23f22928.jpg
http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj103/cmitchprint/0918121924_zps4efed08a.jpg

[kelmac07]

Clayton...that's part of their new menu...rubber band pasta. :D

[Bill86]

I bet if you dig through your food at most restaurants you wouldn't like what you find. I've been to the one in Springhill TN, the food is terrible. Then and again I've been very underwhelmed by almost every restaurant in Tennessee.

[aich75013]

I found a sticker in my pasta there once. I'm guessing it was a produce sticker from a tomato.

[shilala]

That's some serious bad luck. What are date dots?

[363]

Wow that sucks major.. we have an olive garden near us and an outback and we always choose outback over olive garden

[shilala]

Outback is good. We go to Olive Garden once in a blue moon cause the boy likes the barely mediocre breadsticks. I like the salad and pasta.
Outback kicks ass, Good call, Brendon. Bahama Breeze beats them all, as far as I'm concerned, but I just happen to love Paella and Seafood Chowder and goofy Carribean stuff that they do pretty nicely.
I've never gotten rubber bands or Tonka Trucks or anything at Bahama Breeze.

[68TriShield]

We patronize a scant few chain restaurants.
We would rather patronize small business.They have more to lose than the big chains...obviously... :rolleyes:

[jjirons69]

I'd right the head office. You've got a lot to share with them. Problem is, they'd probably give you free food, so you're back to eating rubber bands.

I agree with Dave, I love the local eateries. We have a Mexican restaurant locally that I'd eat at for every one of our night's out. We eat at home 6-7 nights a week, so eating out is cherished and I don't want to spend it on mediocre grub. If it weren't for kids soccer practice on Tuesday evenings (Zaxby's with free kids meals), I'd be at home most of the time. I like to cook.

[Subvet642]

I've never been to an Olive Garden, my wife calls it "Fauxtalian". In the Boston area there are a million fantastic, authentic Italian restaurants.

[mosesbotbol]

I've never been to an Olive Garden, my wife calls it "Fauxtalian". In the Boston area there are a million fantastic, authentic Italian restaurants.

No kidding, every town has some decent Italian restaurant in MA. Never been to an Olive Garden either and no rush to go now...

[LostAbbott]

I am sorry this happened to you, but I gotta ask with a bit of shock on my face, What did you expect?

This is a chain restaurant with people working there who have as much experience as a Denny's or McDonalds employee. They are mostly kids or people who cannot get any other job, who flat out do not care about the food they serve.

Being some one who is clearly very particular about their tastes, I would think you would not go to these kind of places. I know it may be harder, but I do not go to any chain restaurants. Only locally owned, and run places do I visit. With that one rule I am able to control for people who care about their clients, the food, as well as the cleanliness and quality of their establishment.

I hope this does not sounds like I am blaming you or even being down on that, I am just surprised that we have people on here who regularly visit such poor quality places...

[pektel]

Agreed on locally owned restaurants. Pretty much the only places I stop at while travelling. When at home, I RARELY go out to eat. Most of the time, I like my cooking better anyways.

[icehog3]

Why in the name of all things holy were you in an Olive Garden for cases 3, 4 and 5? :confused:

[never_enough]

Damn, thats terrible.

One thing I love since I moved to the northeast is that I will never eat at a chain again! So many local places that are really good, there is no point.

[maninblack]

I'm with Tom. Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.

[GreekGodX]

Why in the name of all things holy were you in an Olive Garden for cases 3, 4 and 5? :confused:

My thoughts exactly :tu

[replicant_argent]

Why in the name of all things holy were you in an Olive Garden for cases 3, 4 and 5? :confused:

:tpd:


That is the first thing that came to mind for me. One bad sanitation/debris situation is enough for me. Lots of gift cards need using up? Like playing "chunk of glass" lottery? While giving someone the benefit of the doubt is a (dubiously) notable attribute, masochism is quite another.

[cmitch]

That's some serious bad luck. What are date dots?

This:
I found a sticker in my pasta there once. I'm guessing it was a produce sticker from a tomato.

Round stickers that dates are written on for expiration. Red, Yellow, Blue or Green.

[cmitch]

Why in the name of all things holy were you in an Olive Garden for cases 3, 4 and 5? :confused:
Case #3 happened to my wife while she dined there with her mother. When case #4 happened, I didn't know about case 3. We had sworn off the Florence, AL location after #4, especially since we realized they had disgruntled employees tainting food with God knows what else besides napkins. Apparently location doesn't matter since it must be a common problem every-frickin'-where.

I shiver to think what else may be in that gnocci soup.

[Ogre]

I have not been in an Olive Garden in a few years. We have a number of "GOOD" restaurants in our area.

[Zane]

wow. I have never had anything like that happen in my life... and for it to happen so many times is beyond crazy.

[czerbe]

Darden Restaurants are all the Same, Poor food, long waits, and pushy staff, I have been in the business for over 15 years at a Family owned Rest. and I'm hear to tell you chains are all the same. Prefab food for the Friday night crowed support your local family owned business.

[cmitch]

Olive Garden is involved in a Class Action Lawsuit with their employees over improper wages. The Florence, AL store is on the 'Rescue' list according to a former manager from Birmingham. This means that they will employ every means possible to regroup the place or close it. I haven't eaten in our local location since last year and have no plans to return.

Corporate has been contacted. Interesting to see what their response is. Probably more :bs

[icehog3]

Probably would have had a lot more luck complaining/documenting at the time of the incident?

[bobarian]

What did the restaurant manager say after you showed him the items in Case #1? :sh

[cmitch]

What did the restaurant manager say after you showed him the items in Case #1? :sh
She was apologetic but acted like always that it was something that regretfully happened and not a big deal. The torn pieces of napkins in the gnocci soup was the final straw in the Florence location. I guess now I realize that it seems all locations seem to have the same careless behavior.

[Bill86]

The problem with Olive Garden and restaurants like it is cheap food, low paid cooks...they never care. It's a safe bet that buying nice food at the store and cooking it yourself is the way to go. Or eat out occasionally at a nice steak house. I've pretty much given up out food. I use to do it all the time but frankly I've been so unimpressed with everywhere I've gone to in the past 6-12 months.

Went to a Lenny's sub shop maybe a week ago and I swear there was probably 4-6oz's of meat in the subs, my cat could have ate 2 of them.

[Boz]

Outback is good. We go to Olive Garden once in a blue moon cause the boy likes the barely mediocre breadsticks. I like the salad and pasta.
Outback kicks ass, Good call, Brendon. Bahama Breeze beats them all, as far as I'm concerned, but I just happen to love Paella and Seafood Chowder and goofy Carribean stuff that they do pretty nicely.
I've never gotten rubber bands or Tonka Trucks or anything at Bahama Breeze.

In my case Outback does not kick ass. I've pretty much had cmitch's luck at Outback. The last time we went, we hardly ever saw our waiter and when they cooked my wife's Medium Rare prime rib to Well Done and proceeded to tell us they were all out of prime rib I decided I was never going back. I have never, in my life, had bad luck at Olive Garden (though I havent been in a while) and I've been there many more times than Outback. Just my experience, your mileage may vary.

[LostAbbott]

In my case Outback does not kick ass. I've pretty much had cmitch's luck at Outback. The last time we went, we hardly ever saw our waiter and when they cooked my wife's Medium Rare prime rib to Well Done and proceeded to tell us they were all out of prime rib I decided I was never going back. I have never, in my life, had bad luck at Olive Garden (though I havent been in a while) and I've been there many more times than Outback. Just my experience, your mileage may vary.

They are all the same, just a different sales pitch. Eat local, kill the chains!

[Bill86]

In my case Outback does not kick ass. I've pretty much had cmitch's luck at Outback. The last time we went, we hardly ever saw our waiter and when they cooked my wife's Medium Rare prime rib to Well Done and proceeded to tell us they were all out of prime rib I decided I was never going back. I have never, in my life, had bad luck at Olive Garden (though I havent been in a while) and I've been there many more times than Outback. Just my experience, your mileage may vary.

That the one in Cool Springs? I've been there as well, actually last month...holy disappointment Batman! Worst Outback ever. They are definitely shoddy at best.

[icehog3]

I love Outback. Nothing but good experiences in Chicagoland, Louisville, Indiana and more.

[cmitch]

I love Outback. Nothing but good experiences in Chicagoland, Louisville, Indiana and more.

Our Outback sucks. Eaten there twice and will never go again. We've cut way back on going out anyway and now that we have a generation of ingrate clods fixing food for the public, I doubt I'll eat at any of them anymore. Around here, the bad employees just make their rounds hopping from one joint to another until they have frigged up every restaurant in town. Home owned, home operated establishments are definitely the way to go.

[icehog3]

Or learn to cook.

Glad I don't live in Alabama. :r

[cmitch]

Or learn to cook.

Glad I don't live in Alabama. :r
Those who KNOW how to cook, stay at home to cook. Those who can't, work for pre-package chain joints. We have some great places we still go to around here that are home owned and operated.

[PCR]

Olive Garden to an Italian (me) sucks. I make my own homemade pasta. Best Italian restaurant for me is my kitchen. Clayton, you should really talk with a regional manager (or higher) about this. Eating out is expensive enough without having to deal with this bullsh!t. Sorry it happened to you.

[omowasu]

Doesn't surprise me - the chains seem to have most of their food pre-made in a factory (pre-washed lettuce, pre-cooked pasta, pre-boiled eggs, etc) so the debris could have come from anywhere.

One time at a large chain synonymous with a pepper, I had a salad and when I was about 3/4 done, I saw what appeared to be a large piece of wilted lettuce. Upon closer inspection, it was a large tropical dragonfly.

The manager explained that all of their veggies are "pre-washed" somewhere else and these things happen. She did comp the meal, but it was a little too late...

[icehog3]

I can cook, and I still hit the Outback occassionally. :)

[Bill86]

I can cook, and I still hit the Outback occassionally. :)

For some odd reason I recall having much better experiences with Outbacks up north. There were a few really good ones in Michigan, not so much since I got down here though. Terrible food quality, clearly they get their food from somewhere else. It's nowhere near as good. The cooks suck at preparing it too so that doesn't help.

[jjirons69]

There's a strip club locally that has a lunch buffet. Never been, but the food has to be good, right? I know the cook has to wash his hands, it's code. :hm

[replicant_argent]

Stay away from the porky tacos.

[cmitch]

I was also reminded of a friend who broke a tooth biting into a large metal clasp that was in her salad.

[jluck]

I have been to olive garden probably 10-12 times and I have never had a issue,I wonder if the west coast is managed differently or I was extremely lucky.

[Hem]

Ugh, that sounds terrible. I usually never head out to an OG, unless it's for soup and salad with the in-laws. I'd much rather give my money to a locally owned small business than a large chain...plus the wife hates Italian lol. Sorry to hear about your luck though!

[Boz]

That the one in Cool Springs? I've been there as well, actually last month...holy disappointment Batman! Worst Outback ever. They are definitely shoddy at best.

That be the one :td

[oooo35980]

I used to love the Olive Garden when I was a kid, my grandmother remembers that and likes to take me there whenever I'm in Nashville. I don't have the heart to tell her that I can barely stand the place now. I just get the fettucini alfredo and it isn't any worse than boiling some dried fettucini and pouring Ragu or Classico alfredo sauce over it.

There were two good locally owned italian restaurants in Charleston when I lived there, I haven't found any good ones since I moved back to Alabama. Huntsville is all about chain restaurants.

[CigarNut]

We don't go to Olive Garden except for takeout -- and the only thing we get is their deep-fried (beef) ravioli and marinara sauce. Great snack while watching a game :D

[iaMkcK]

I will say one thing.. I love the hell out of Olive Garden. I was surprised to see so many horrible things happen to you. I know this is an old thread, but I was just digging deep into older threads and this popped up. I've been to about 4 different Olive Garden locations in California, and most if not all have been super sanitary and on top of things. Sorry for your bad luck.

Speaking of Olive Garden, I'll be at one in 12 hours, before going to my local B&M to introduce a buddy of mine to Cigars.

[mahtofire14]

Had a whole tray of food, like 9 full plates dumped on my at an Olive Garden. Will never go again. Didn't even have a manager come up and apologize. :sl

[icehog3]

Had a whole tray of food, like 9 full plates dumped on my at an Olive Garden. Will never go again. Didn't even have a manager come up and apologize. :sl

Did you get some pictures?

[mahtofire14]

Nope, I was 13. Still haven't set foot in one 13 years later.

[AlohaStyle]

I am sorry this happened to you, but I gotta ask with a bit of shock on my face, What did you expect?

This is a chain restaurant with people working there who have as much experience as a Denny's or McDonalds employee. They are mostly kids or people who cannot get any other job, who flat out do not care about the food they serve.

Being some one who is clearly very particular about their tastes, I would think you would not go to these kind of places. I know it may be harder, but I do not go to any chain restaurants. Only locally owned, and run places do I visit. With that one rule I am able to control for people who care about their clients, the food, as well as the cleanliness and quality of their establishment.

I hope this does not sounds like I am blaming you or even being down on that, I am just surprised that we have people on here who regularly visit such poor quality places...

I was gonna bite my tongue and just say sorry it happened, but my local bro above hit the nail on the head... won't catch me in those places.

[omowasu]

I was gonna bite my tongue and just say sorry it happened, but my local bro above hit the nail on the head... won't catch me in those places.

I did some network installs for those places (WiFi, LAN for registers and PCs, etc) a few years ago... If you think what is in the dining room is questionable, you should see the back rooms where food is prepped. I wont name any chains, but there are a few places I will never eat again because of what I saw.

[icehog3]

Nope, I was 13. Still haven't set foot in one 13 years later.

13 -13. You're due. It's fate.

TGI Fridays sucks donkey nads.

[Sauer Grapes]

These chain restaurants are nothing more than fast food that you have to wait on and pay more for. Actually, I'd bet most fast food places are slightly better in a lot of cases.

However, eating at local places doesn't guarantee you'll have better luck. Local places can still be horribly run and still serve bad food due to cutting corners. They all have a bottom line.

I tend to think local chains have the highest success rate for me.

[jluck]

Questionable food handleing behind the scenes can be and is consern for any and all forms of food service.

It's the chance one takes for convenience, don't like the notion? Stay home and belly up to that stove. Sheeh its only food.:)

[thebayratt]

Never did like Olive Garden. "Overpriced Top Ramen" is what I call it. Every time I get drug there by the GF, they don't have any meat on the menu. Then when they do, its a "seasonal item", so the next time I go, its not on the menu... How is chicken seasonal???

[shark]

Ponderosa comes to mind as really low quality. One time I ate there, it was taking a long time for me to get my food. In fact, everyone else was almost done by the time someone came out and told me they had accidentally dropped my steak on the floor, and had to start over... :sl

[Robulous78]

I have to say I pretty much hate the olive garden... but I attribute that to the fact a friend of mine worked there and he said that a majority of there entree's come in a bag that they either boil or microwave... maybe that is the source of your rubber bands....

[PearlS4]

Ah, Olive Garden, the "Denny's" of Italian food. I always have to bite my tongue when a co-worker says he went out to a "nice" Italian dinner with his wife, and then mentions "Olive Garden". I don't understand why people like it so much, there a plenty of real Italian restaurants around. Maybe it's the free bread sticks?

[icehog3]

Did somebody say "free breadsticks?"

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa73/icehog3/Homerdrool.jpg

[emopunker2004]

Bertucci's FTW!