On Sat, 16 Feb 2008 11:38:02 -0500, "Nancy Young" >
wrote:

>
>"Lou Decruss" > wrote
>
>> We've got $80 in gift cards for Olive Garden. It's been at least 10
>> years since I've been to one because it sucks. To use the cards up
>> we're taking another couple out tonight. I'm looking forward to
>> spending time with our friends, but not the food. Anyone know what's
>> the most edible thing on the menu? Otherwise I'll just order a salad
>> to be social and drink myself silly. <eg>
>
>It's been a long time since I've been there, too. I liked their
>artichoke dip with pasta chips. I also liked their Tuscan soup.
>Someone I know likes their pasta fagioli, I don't think I ever
>ordered that.
>
>Not much help, I know.

Sure it was helpful. We had a very nice evening. You were the first
to respond, so I'll tell the story here. Before we left I read the
posts here, but didn't have time to respond. Thanks to you and
everyone else who took the time to respond. We arrived a few minutes
after 5 and the wait was 35 minutes. No biggie.. So we had a cocktail
at the bar. They had to get up at 3am to catch a flight to the
Dominican Republic, so we talked a bit about their trip and we laughed
about a 43 year old with 38dd's on the topless beaches.

When we were seated I took basic advice from here, and had an open
mind knowing it wasn't going to be a great meal. But I was there for
the company. I noticed that the prices were much higher than they
were 10 years ago. Almost double it seems. The salad and the bread
were un-remarkable. Our friends both ordered the gorgonzola steak.
It wasn't a steak, but rather strips. I tried a sample and it was
pretty good, but they raved about it and finished their plates. It
seemed the portions didn't have much meat. But they were happy.
Louise had the portabello ravioli. She loved it. I tried one and it
was actually quite good. She finished her plate. I had some shrimp
thing with bell peppers and mushrooms. Big thumbs down. The
mushrooms seemed canned and although the peppers were fresh, there
weren't many in the dish. The shrimp were tiny and tough. I dug the
stuff out of the pasta and didn't finish the plate. I left most of
the pasta actually. We didn't have dessert.

We had a very nice evening, but we always do with these friends. The
bill with tip was about $110, so with the cards we had it was a pretty
cheap meal. But for the $30 the gift cards didn't cover we could have
gone out for some good Mexican. I'm sure we won't go back. I also
got heartburn, which I only get about once a year.

Lou