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Olive Garden Is Not What It Used to Be
Dinner - Complaint
Review by Lbaddour21 on 2012-05-12
Rating: 
EASTON, MARYLAND -- Today my husband and I had dinner at Olive Garden in Easton MD.
This a brand new location and we were happy to try it.
We have frequented Olive Garden restaurants for many years and always enjoyed salad, soup and entrees.
Today I ordered the Parmesan crusted Talapia it was the equivalent to a child's portion. In a way it was a blessing because the fish was tasteless and not fully cooked. They served the fish with a handful of pasta and vegetables, that too was tasteless.
Olive Garden is losing it's reputation of being a family restaurant.
Someone really hungry will have to order a double portion to be satisfied. My husband's chicken Parmesan the portion also drastically shrunk in size.
This a brand new location and we were happy to try it.
We have frequented Olive Garden restaurants for many years and always enjoyed salad, soup and entrees.
Today I ordered the Parmesan crusted Talapia it was the equivalent to a child's portion. In a way it was a blessing because the fish was tasteless and not fully cooked. They served the fish with a handful of pasta and vegetables, that too was tasteless.
Olive Garden is losing it's reputation of being a family restaurant.
Someone really hungry will have to order a double portion to be satisfied. My husband's chicken Parmesan the portion also drastically shrunk in size.
Comments:
Posted by trmn8r on 2012-05-12:
This is beginning to sound like a theme.
Posted by ok4now on 2012-05-13:
I just posted a similar review about the small portions. The word is getting out about the Olive Garden. When I go out for dinner I expect a good meal for my money. I don't want to fill up on soup and bread sticks to compensate for the small portions they want to serve me.
Posted by Bete Noir on 2012-05-13:
portions notwithstanding... was Olive Garden ever a place one should eat at? Eeeww
Posted by DIRM74 on 2012-05-13:
I have never dined at an Olive Garden, and I've been dying to try the one that recently opened in our city. However, the continuously negative reviews are somewhat putting a damper on that anticipation. I suppose I will have to go out of mere morbid curiosity.
Posted by old fart on 2012-05-13:
I'm not a pasta freak so I have rarely used Olive Garden. The last time was 2004. Apparently I have missed nothing!
Posted by ok4now on 2012-05-13:
Let me be fair here. Olive Garden up until recently offered good food and portions at a fair price. There was always a waiting line to get in. In the past year I have tried them at various locations and the portions have gotten much smaller while the prices went up. They no longer offer value for your money. With great regret I now place them with Applebee's, at the bottom of of the chain restaurants. Don't waste your money.
Posted by whythelongfaces on 2012-05-13:
I have the opposite experience. I love Olive Garden. The soup, salad and bread special is worth having, and their lasagna is good.
As for portions, people have gotten spoiled on eating large amounts of food that they do not realize the portions that are being served now are actually the size that are dietary recommended servings. People really do not need to gorge themselves. But in this economy when everything is so expensive, gas being the main price driver, restaurants can no longer afford to load down the plate. I wish people would sometimes remember when they did load up your plate for a small charge, and say THANK YOU for the times when they COULD, and be understanding now that they can't.
As for portions, people have gotten spoiled on eating large amounts of food that they do not realize the portions that are being served now are actually the size that are dietary recommended servings. People really do not need to gorge themselves. But in this economy when everything is so expensive, gas being the main price driver, restaurants can no longer afford to load down the plate. I wish people would sometimes remember when they did load up your plate for a small charge, and say THANK YOU for the times when they COULD, and be understanding now that they can't.
Posted by ok4now on 2012-05-13:
When I want dietary recommended servings I'll join weight watchers. When I'm hungry and go out for dinner I want the large portion that I'm paying for. If restaurants can no longer afford to load the plate down they should lower the price to reflect this. I'm very understanding that I can still do this, just not at Olive Garden.
Posted by whythelongfaces on 2012-05-13:
I was just saying OK. Think about how much your portions cost you in your grocery bill. It ain't no cheaper for you than for them.
Posted by Churro on 2012-05-13:
Food costs have skyrocketed in the last few years. These plastic corporate chain restaurants have already squeezed every last penny out of their supply chain so they're left with two options. Either significantly raise menu prices or reduce portions (or a combination of the two). We got used to ridiculously low food prices but those days are gone. This is the future for all restaurants. Sucks I know but what can you do.
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