On Sat, 16 Feb 2008 21:59:29 GMT, Sqwertz >
wrote:

>On Sat, 16 Feb 2008 17:22:42 GMT, hahabogus wrote:
>
>> I don't dislike the olive garden...for a chain it's not that bad. Some
>> folks ain't as food crazy as us and don't know it's bad and therefore
>> enjoy it. When I dine out with my son it is one of the regular choices he
>> makes.
>
>OG isn't bad the three times I've eaten there. I think most
>people here just like to jump on the bandwagon and agree with
>everyone else that thinks it's bad just because it has a bad
>reputation - perpetuated by the band wagon.
>
>I suspect many of the people here can't cook as good as good as
>food they get at OG. Side by side taste tests of their cooking
>next to a plate of OG, the OG plates would probably win the
>majority of the time.

I think there are many people here who can cook, but I'm sure there
are many posers also.

Lou

On Sat, 16 Feb 2008 15:12:13 -0800 (PST), Brawny >
wrote:

>On Feb 16, 2:32*pm, "jmcquown" > wrote:
>> "Brawny" > wrote in message
>> > to be social and drink myself silly. <eg>
>>
>>
>> gift cards to a homeless shelter benefit them? *Maybe you think they have a
>> take a homeless person to lunch day or something. *
>
>Jill, sweetie....my response was just as absurd as the original post.

Maybe next time I start a thread I'll tell a stupid joke or talk about
cats or volcanoes. Maybe try to find out which brand of disposable
razors are best?

>It was like asking what to do with fifty bucks on a Krystal gift
>card.

Hardly.

>What difference does it make to you?
>
>Regifting is a wonderful thing. Sorry that Lou got "regifted".

You assume too much.
>
>I would have graciously said "Thank you" and headed straight to the
>Capitol Grille.

Never seen one.

Lou

On Sun, 17 Feb 2008 10:46:21 -0500, The Cook >
wrote:

>>We ended up being there about 3 hours because the service was so bad and
>>unattentive.

I missed this in Kili's post, but our service was excellent.


>We are getting to the 2nd generation of families who do not know how
>to cook. When my younger son was in his teens (he is now 32) he went
>home with a friend and they were going to fix something to eat.
>Nothing to cook. No eggs, no milk, no flour, sugar. Even then my son
>knew how to fix some things from scratch, or at least call and ask me.

I know someone just like that. Her fridge has carrots, celery,
yoghurt and bottled water. The freezer has lean cuisine dinners.
Pretty sad.

Lou

In article 1>,
"Michael \"Dog3\"" > wrote:

> Steven said his pasta was passable. Can't recall what he had. We went for
> lunch and I had salad and 4, 5 or maybe it was 6 bloody marys. I napped
> lunch off the rest of the afternoon IIRC.
>
> Michael

I think the technical term for that is "passed out."

--
-Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
http://www.jamlady.eboard.com;pics of my no-knead bread posted
Laissez les bons temps rouler!

Lou Decruss said...

> On Sat, 16 Feb 2008 12:03:16 -0600, Andy <q> wrote:
>
>>Lou Decruss said...
>>
>>>
>>> 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>
>>>
>>> Thanks for and advice,
>>>
>>> Lou
>>
>>
>>Lou,
>>
>>Without an opinion, not having ate there, Olive Garden is a branch of a
>>conglomerate. I think Red Lobster is a "sister" operation. I didn't look
>>it up.
>>
>>Are your gift cards good at the other restaurants? You might ring them
>>up and ask?
>
> Yes, they're good at Dread Lobster which is 100 times worse. We went
> to one a few years ago with this same couple. It was my turn to
> spring and they got to chose the place. They love dread lobster. So
> we landed at one in an upscale Chicago suburb. Our party was 3 white
> people and a Puerterican. The staff and other patrons were 98% black.
> The obvious discrimination in the quality of our service was enough to
> make me never return.
>
> Lou


We ate at RL exactly once. While it was great decor (high ceilings,
artwork, etc), on one of the nicest stretches of Wilshire Blvd. in L.A., it
was too commercial. I guess it's typical for the brand. I'd call it fast
fish food. We only tried one dish so I could be wrong.

Andy

On Feb 17, 11:48*am, Lou Discuss > wrote:


Lou....you whine about everything!! Jewish princesses whine less
than you do! Your act is old, tired & dreadful.
I doubt that you would even know HOW to be a gracious dining
companion....bless your heart.

On Feb 17, 11:47*am, Lou Decruss > wrote:
> On Sat, 16 Feb 2008 16:27:10 -0800 (PST), Brawny >
>
> >George...IF you have flour, butter and crean to your access....you are
> >doing better than 90% of the people on this earth.
>
> Where do you get those statistics from? *Your ass?


http://www.globalissues.org/TradeRelated/Facts.asp

It is a pity that you can't READ more.

On Sun, 17 Feb 2008 07:26:38 -0500, "kilikini"
> wrote:

>So, as for the chain restaurants we've sworn off Chili's, Ruby Tuesday's,
>Golden Corral, Olive Garden & Carrabba's. All are overpriced and
>over-rated. Why do people go? Is it because they don't know any
>better?????

I can't speak for the general public, but I go for TGIF because they
make a dynamite Sapphire martini and we can get one of those
(semi)private rooms where your voice doesn't travel, which is good for
TGIF when we forget to use code words for where we work and certain
people's names. What we intend to do there is drink and have some
appetizers. Usually, after a couple hours we're so relaxed and
ensconced that even though we swore we wouldn't eat dinner there, we
usually do. Personally, I haven't eaten anything yet that I'm dying
to order a second time, so I keep it down to the simplest of
appetizers and a soup or salad later on if I want to "eat dinner". I
don't even like their bread sticks. They were much better when the OG
was a brand new chain. BTW: I don't find anything wrong with their
pasta, it's cooked well (not mushy as some claim). I have a problem
with what goes on top of it.

As far as price... I don't know about being over priced. It's middle
of the road. Not cheap, not expensive. Their martinis are downright
cheap though. $7 for a swimming pool sized drink.

Don't get me wrong, I'd never choose to go there with hubby for a
regular meal out. It's strictly for TGIF when a lot of people have to
reach consensus. I went to The Elephant Bar *once* for TGIF. Never
again. UGH. Poor food, poor service (too many customers, not enough
wait staff) and everything was definitely over priced.

--
See return address to reply by email
remove the smiley face first

On Sun, 17 Feb 2008 08:25:25 -0500, "jmcquown" >
wrote:

>IMHO this woman's taste must be in her ass. She's all for ruining a
>beautiful area by making it look just like every other cookie-cutter town
>with chain restaurants. There are a lot of wonderful restaurants in the
>area, she apparently just doesn't know how to recognize them.

She's probably been out in the boonies so long that she equates big
box stores and chain restaurants with being cosmopolitan.

--
See return address to reply by email
remove the smiley face first

On Sun, 17 Feb 2008 02:36:37 -0500, "Allen Prunty"
-u4g-this> wrote:

> We do have a restaurant that is a national chain
>called Bucca De Beppo (Joe's Basement in Italian) that, to me, is closer to how
>my granny cooks.

DD has one near her and she likes it.

--
See return address to reply by email
remove the smiley face first

On Feb 17, 11:48*am, Lou Decruss > wrote:
> On Sat, 16 Feb 2008 15:12:13 -0800 (PST), Brawny >

>
> >I would have graciously said "Thank you" and headed straight to the
> >Capitol Grille.
>
> Never seen one.

Just because you nave never seen one doesn't mean the rest of the
world hasn't.

Lou...you need to get out more. Capitol Grille along with Morton's,
Flemmings, Ruth Chris's Steak are nationally known, very successful
cloth napkin lunch/dinner restaurants.

> Don't get me wrong, I'd never choose to go there with hubby for a
> regular meal out. It's strictly for TGIF when a lot of people have to
> reach consensus. I went to The Elephant Bar *once* for TGIF. Never
> again. UGH. Poor food, poor service (too many customers, not enough
> wait staff) and everything was definitely over priced.


While married, the niece worked at a TGIF in the outskirts of Philadelphia
and gave us a "free pass" invite.

We went and she waited on us. I might call it decent. Nothing outstanding.
The restaurant itself was surrounded by the TV network buildings, with
helipads, pretty noisy as I recall. On City Line Ave. just next to Rte. 76.

Another upscale fast food commercial chain. Again, only dined there once.

Andy

"blake murphy" > wrote

> On Sat, 16 Feb 2008 17:34:29 -0500, "Nancy Young" >
> wrote:

>>Don't get me started on the awful bloody mary I had there.

> what did they do to the bloody mary, nancy?

Honestly, I don't know. It sounded good, as I recall. Something
about being ... maybe ... a garden bloody mary? Sounded great,
it had actual cherry tomatoes or whatever. The flavor was horrid,
and I don't think it was the vodka.

nancy

<sf> wrote

> don't even like their bread sticks. They were much better when the OG
> was a brand new chain. BTW: I don't find anything wrong with their
> pasta, it's cooked well (not mushy as some claim).

*Yours* wasn't mushy. Mine was mushy.

nancy

Brawny said...

> Morton's and Ruth Chris's Steaks

Top notch, high priced, delicious! And high fat steaks dripping in butter!
YUM!!!

The places to go when you're impressing out of towners or business guests.
Otherwise it's a waste of money.

Imho,

Andy

Sqwertz wrote:

> On 16 Feb 2008 21:49:56 GMT, Blinky the Shark 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>
>>
>> Their Dr. Pepper is pretty good.
>
> And they have Alfredo on the menu.

But they're still happy to let you order off-menu if you want to get
creative or weird.

--
Blinky
Killing all posts from Google Groups
The Usenet Improvement Project: http://improve-usenet.org
Blinky: http://blinkynet.net

"Allen Prunty" -u4g-this> wrote in
message ...
> To: rosie
>
> > Hi Lou, OG has some ok stuff, but it is not Italian, I did have a
> > pasta and seafood dish recently, it was fine, spagetti and mussels and
> > shrimp in garlic and oil. Not much they can do to that. Salad is
> > pretty good, and Yeah, I like the hot bread. Oh almost forgot, toss
> > some hot peppers on the pasta!
>
> Well not "authentic" but they definately are Italian inspired... which is
> "Italian" to most consumers. We do have a restaurant that is a national
> chain
> called Bucca De Beppo (Joe's Basement in Italian) that, to me, is closer
> to how
> my granny cooks.
>
>
>
> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- The Derby City BBS
> -= Allen Prunty =- telnet://derbycitybbs.com
> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Where Friends Gather
> --- Synchronet 3.15a-Win32 NewsLink 1.85
> * Derby City Online - Louisville, KY - telnet://derbycitybbs.com


Bucca De Beppo was right up there among the worst restaurant meals I have
ever had. Large portions of bad food is what they specialize in.

DP

On Sun, 17 Feb 2008 09:34:14 -0800 (PST), Brawny >
wrote:

>Lou...you need to get out more. Capitol Grille along with Morton's,
>Flemmings, Ruth Chris's Steak are nationally known, very successful
>cloth napkin lunch/dinner restaurants.

Sorry, Brawny... they are *not* nationally known. The only one I knew
about is Ruth Chris's and I'd never go there. Talk about over priced
- that's it. I thought it was just another tourist trap until I found
out it was a chain. How people can be that stupid is beyond me.

--
See return address to reply by email
remove the smiley face first

On Sun, 17 Feb 2008 09:18:20 -0800 (PST), Brawny >
wrote:

>On Feb 17, 11:47*am, Lou Decruss > wrote:
>> On Sat, 16 Feb 2008 16:27:10 -0800 (PST), Brawny >
>>
>> >George...IF you have flour, butter and crean to your access....you are
>> >doing better than 90% of the people on this earth.
>>
>> Where do you get those statistics from? *Your ass?
>
>
>http://www.globalissues.org/TradeRelated/Facts.asp
>
>It is a pity that you can't READ more.

I read over 50 books a year, but I'm not going to read through all
that crap to find your statistic.

Lou

"Nexis" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Michael "Dog3"" > wrote in message
> .121...
>> hahabogus > dropped this
>> : in rec.food.cooking
>>
>>>
>>> I don't dislike the olive garden...for a chain it's not that bad.
>>> Some folks ain't as food crazy as us and don't know it's bad and
>>> therefore enjoy it. When I dine out with my son it is one of the
>>> regular choices he makes.
>>
>> Compared the The Pasta House Co. here, OG rocks. It is not a favorite of
>> mine either but if someone wants to go, sure I'll go I'll go *almost*
>> anywhere if needed... except a buffet... unless the buffet is a brunch
>> where children are scarce.
>>
>> Michael
>
> Back in the day, when my husband and I were first together (I can hardly
> say dating, since we married a week after first laying eyes on each other!
> lol)...we used to go to the Old Spaghetti Factory. Back then they had
> spaghetti served with medallions of filet for $6 or $7. It was good, the
> salad dressing was good, and the tea was free...plus it included spumoni
> ice cream for dessert. A full dinner plus tip for $20, perfect for a young
> couple just starting out!
>
> It's also where I had my first Italian Cream Soda. Ah, the memories.
>
> kimberly

Your Old Spaghetti Factory must have been much better than ours (Denver). I
went two different times many years ago (probably 25 or more) and was of the
opinion that they served lots of bad sauces over spaghetti. My comment even
then was that I could feed a whole crowd at home for what a meal cost at
OSF. We never went back.

DP

On Sun, 17 Feb 2008 09:34:14 -0800 (PST), Brawny >
wrote:

>On Feb 17, 11:48*am, Lou Decruss > wrote:
>> On Sat, 16 Feb 2008 15:12:13 -0800 (PST), Brawny >
>
>>
>> >I would have graciously said "Thank you" and headed straight to the
>> >Capitol Grille.
>>
>> Never seen one.
>
>Just because you nave never seen one doesn't mean the rest of the
>world hasn't.

Which has nothing to do with anything.
>
>Lou...you need to get out more.

I get out too often. I'd rather stay home and cook. But thanks for
trying to be helpful.

> Capitol Grille along with Morton's,
>Flemmings, Ruth Chris's Steak are nationally known, very successful
>cloth napkin lunch/dinner restaurants.

I've heard of all except Capital grill. I've been to Morton's And
Ruth's Chris (you spelled it wrong). I've also been to countless
other steakhouses in the midwest. Actually you'll get a better steak
in a Wisconsin Supper club for about a third of the price. Does that
make any difference to my original query about Olive Garden? Does it
make me any better? I think not.

Lou

One time on Usenet, Lou Decruss > said:
> On Sun, 17 Feb 2008 04:07:44 GMT, Puester >
> wrote:

<snip>

> Thank you for adding something rational Gloria. We're far from poor,
> but I still look at $80 as a lot of money. At minimum wage it takes
> people 2 days to make that much.

Another option is to sell the card on eBay, if you'd really rather not
eat at OG. Just a thought...

--
Jani in WA

On Sun, 17 Feb 2008 09:11:53 -0800 (PST), Brawny >
wrote:

>On Feb 17, 11:48*am, Lou Discuss > wrote:
>
>
> Lou....you whine about everything!!

You're the one bitching here.

>Jewish princesses whine less
>than you do! Your act is old, tired & dreadful.

Then get a real news reader and killfile me.

>I doubt that you would even know HOW to be a gracious dining
>companion...

When we left our friends last night they requested my cooking the next
time we get together. I'm not only a good companion, but a fine host.
Do you host or just brag about the restaurants you know about?

>bless your heart.

Save it for someone who believes in that crap.

Lou

On Sun, 17 Feb 2008 19:14:54 GMT, (Little
Malice) wrote:

>One time on Usenet, Lou Decruss > said:
>> On Sun, 17 Feb 2008 04:07:44 GMT, Puester >
>> wrote:
>
><snip>
>
>> Thank you for adding something rational Gloria. We're far from poor,
>> but I still look at $80 as a lot of money. At minimum wage it takes
>> people 2 days to make that much.
>
>Another option is to sell the card on eBay, if you'd really rather not
>eat at OG. Just a thought...

Too late. Already gone. But thanks.

Lou

On Sun, 17 Feb 2008 12:03:03 -0600, Andy <q> wrote:

>Brawny said...
>
>> Morton's and Ruth Chris's Steaks
>
>Top notch, high priced, delicious! And high fat steaks dripping in butter!
>YUM!!!
>
>The places to go when you're impressing out of towners or business guests.
>Otherwise it's a waste of money.
>
>Imho,

Yep! This was not an event. Just friends getting together. Brawny
is on some sort of tangent.

Lou

One time on Usenet, Lou Decruss > said:
> On Sun, 17 Feb 2008 19:14:54 GMT, (Little
> Malice) wrote:
> >One time on Usenet, Lou Decruss > said:
> >> On Sun, 17 Feb 2008 04:07:44 GMT, Puester >
> >> wrote:
> >
> ><snip>
> >
> >> Thank you for adding something rational Gloria. We're far from poor,
> >> but I still look at $80 as a lot of money. At minimum wage it takes
> >> people 2 days to make that much.
> >
> >Another option is to sell the card on eBay, if you'd really rather not
> >eat at OG. Just a thought...
>
> Too late. Already gone. But thanks.

No prob -- so how did it go? Who ate what and did they like it?
Enquiring minds... ;-)

--
Jani in WA

One time on Usenet, "Dale P" > said:
> "Nexis" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> > "Michael "Dog3"" > wrote in message
> > .121...
> >> hahabogus > dropped this
> >> : in rec.food.cooking
> >>
> >>>
> >>> I don't dislike the olive garden...for a chain it's not that bad.
> >>> Some folks ain't as food crazy as us and don't know it's bad and
> >>> therefore enjoy it. When I dine out with my son it is one of the
> >>> regular choices he makes.
> >>
> >> Compared the The Pasta House Co. here, OG rocks. It is not a favorite of
> >> mine either but if someone wants to go, sure I'll go I'll go *almost*
> >> anywhere if needed... except a buffet... unless the buffet is a brunch
> >> where children are scarce.
> >>
> >> Michael
> >
> > Back in the day, when my husband and I were first together (I can hardly
> > say dating, since we married a week after first laying eyes on each other!
> > lol)...we used to go to the Old Spaghetti Factory. Back then they had
> > spaghetti served with medallions of filet for $6 or $7. It was good, the
> > salad dressing was good, and the tea was free...plus it included spumoni
> > ice cream for dessert. A full dinner plus tip for $20, perfect for a young
> > couple just starting out!
> >
> > It's also where I had my first Italian Cream Soda. Ah, the memories.
> >
> > kimberly
>
> Your Old Spaghetti Factory must have been much better than ours (Denver). I
> went two different times many years ago (probably 25 or more) and was of the
> opinion that they served lots of bad sauces over spaghetti. My comment even
> then was that I could feed a whole crowd at home for what a meal cost at
> OSF. We never went back.

Oh yes, the OSFs vary wildly. I've eaten at one in Tacoma that was
vastly superiour to the one in Seattle. Or it's the other way around;
it's been a very long time... :-)

--
Jani in WA

<sf> wrote in message ...
> On Sun, 17 Feb 2008 08:25:25 -0500, "jmcquown" >
> wrote:
>
>>IMHO this woman's taste must be in her ass. She's all for ruining a
>>beautiful area by making it look just like every other cookie-cutter town
>>with chain restaurants. There are a lot of wonderful restaurants in the
>>area, she apparently just doesn't know how to recognize them.
>
> She's probably been out in the boonies so long that she equates big
> box stores and chain restaurants with being cosmopolitan.

That's my mom, who lives in a very small town in PA (the town where I grew
up)--population of about 4,000. There are some family-owned restaurants, a
McD's, a Pizza Hut, a Subway, a Dunkin Donuts, a couple of local chains,
some hotel/motel restaurants, and that's about it as far as restaurants in
town go. She (and many others who live there) think that places like OG, RL,
TGIF's, Applebee's, Chili's, etc. are *wonderful*. None of these chains are
less than an hour away from the town, either north (Elmira/Corning, NY area)
or south (Williamsport, PA area). It's a real treat for my mom to head to a
mall (also an hour away), then out to dinner at an OG or equivalent place.

Mary

On Sun, 17 Feb 2008 19:43:45 GMT, (Little
Malice) wrote:

>One time on Usenet, Lou Decruss > said:
>> On Sun, 17 Feb 2008 19:14:54 GMT, (Little
>> Malice) wrote:
>> >One time on Usenet, Lou Decruss > said:
>> >> On Sun, 17 Feb 2008 04:07:44 GMT, Puester >
>> >> wrote:
>> >
>> ><snip>
>> >
>> >> Thank you for adding something rational Gloria. We're far from poor,
>> >> but I still look at $80 as a lot of money. At minimum wage it takes
>> >> people 2 days to make that much.
>> >
>> >Another option is to sell the card on eBay, if you'd really rather not
>> >eat at OG. Just a thought...
>>
>> Too late. Already gone. But thanks.
>
>No prob -- so how did it go? Who ate what and did they like it?
>Enquiring minds... ;-)

Thanks. My reply to nancy pretty much sums it up. Edible food and a
nice time.

Lou

"sf" wrote in message ...
> On Sun, 17 Feb 2008 08:25:25 -0500, "jmcquown" >
> wrote:
>
>>IMHO this woman's taste must be in her ass. She's all for ruining a
>>beautiful area by making it look just like every other cookie-cutter town
>>with chain restaurants. There are a lot of wonderful restaurants in the
>>area, she apparently just doesn't know how to recognize them.
>
> She's probably been out in the boonies so long that she equates big
> box stores and chain restaurants with being cosmopolitan.
>
She may well think these things equate with "cosmopolitan". But if she
wants chain restaurants all she has to do is head across the bridge to
Beaufort. The chain restaurants are 15, maybe 20 miles? (Same area as the
Wal-Mart, Best Buy and other big boxers.) There's an Outback, Golden
Corral, Ruby Tuesday, Atlanta Bread Company, Carraba's, Rosie O'Grady's...

Jill

Lou Decruss wrote:
> "Nancy Young" wrote:
> >"Lou Decruss" wrote
>
> >> We've got $80 in gift cards for Olive Garden.
>
> >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. �
>
> 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. �


Whaddaya 'spect... shellfish n' 'shrooms... you would pick the onliest
taste-in-ass dish on the menu... anyone wanna bet he sprinkled it with
parmasean cheese too. hehe Good you had coupons, a better eatery
would be wasted on you.

"Lou Decruss" > wrote in message
...
> On Sun, 17 Feb 2008 09:34:14 -0800 (PST), Brawny >
> wrote:
>
>>On Feb 17, 11:48 am, Lou Decruss > wrote:
>>> On Sat, 16 Feb 2008 15:12:13 -0800 (PST), Brawny >
>>
>>>
>>> >I would have graciously said "Thank you" and headed straight to the
>>> >Capitol Grille.
>>>
>>> Never seen one.
>>
I've never seen (or heard of) one either. The only one I've heard of is
Ruth's Chris and I can't imagine paying that much for a steak; I make great
steaks at home

Jill

Allen Prunty wrote:

>
> The olive garden here in Louisville, KY has gotten a lot better through the
> years. At one time they had an awesome grilled italian sausage that was served
> with an assortment of grilled veggies on a bed of wonderfully marinated
> capellini. They don't have that on the menu anymore.
>



The first time we went to Olive Garden they had real veal and
shrimp on the menu. The third time we went they had neither.
Their place had been usurped by chicken dishes. It's the
last time we were there, quite a few years ago.

gloria p

MareCat wrote:

>
> At least one of the original locations of Carrabba's in Houston (on Kirby)
> is pretty decent.
>



I'll agree about Carrabbas. Our local one is quite good,
we've never had a
bad meal or bad service there. We have almost nothing but
chain restaurants
(and MANY of them!) unless you want to drive 20+ miles and
spend lots
of cash for dinner. I say "almost" nothing because we do
have some good
Indian and Chinese nearby and lots of Viet and Thai across
town..

gloria p

>
> "Lou Decruss" > wrote in message
> ...
>> On Sun, 17 Feb 2008 09:34:14 -0800 (PST), Brawny >
>> wrote:
>>
>>>On Feb 17, 11:48 am, Lou Decruss > wrote:
>>>> On Sat, 16 Feb 2008 15:12:13 -0800 (PST), Brawny >
>>>
>>>>
>>>> >I would have graciously said "Thank you" and headed straight to the
>>>> >Capitol Grille.
>>>>
>>>> Never seen one.
>>>
> I've never seen (or heard of) one either. The only one I've heard of is
> Ruth's Chris and I can't imagine paying that much for a steak; I make
> great steaks at home
>
> Jill

Jill.

Here are the locations for Capital Grille. We still have an used gift
certificate for the restaurant.

http://www.thecapitalgrille.com/locations/Main.asp

OT: I noticed you're using Comcast (I guess while you're helping your
parents). What is your impression of it?

A private message to me would be fine if you don't want to post here (or not
at all) if you don't want to talk about it.

I'm



Chris in Pearland, TX

One time on Usenet, Lou Decruss > said:
> On Sun, 17 Feb 2008 19:43:45 GMT, (Little
> Malice) wrote:
>
> >One time on Usenet, Lou Decruss > said:
> >> On Sun, 17 Feb 2008 19:14:54 GMT, (Little
> >> Malice) wrote:
> >> >One time on Usenet, Lou Decruss > said:
> >> >> On Sun, 17 Feb 2008 04:07:44 GMT, Puester >
> >> >> wrote:
> >> >
> >> ><snip>
> >> >
> >> >> Thank you for adding something rational Gloria. We're far from poor,
> >> >> but I still look at $80 as a lot of money. At minimum wage it takes
> >> >> people 2 days to make that much.
> >> >
> >> >Another option is to sell the card on eBay, if you'd really rather not
> >> >eat at OG. Just a thought...
> >>
> >> Too late. Already gone. But thanks.
> >
> >No prob -- so how did it go? Who ate what and did they like it?
> >Enquiring minds... ;-)
>
> Thanks. My reply to nancy pretty much sums it up. Edible food and a
> nice time.

I missed your reply to Nancy -- I'll look for it...

--
Jani in WA

On Sun, 17 Feb 2008 12:35:32 -0800 (PST), Sheldon >
wrote:

>Whaddaya 'spect... shellfish n' 'shrooms... you would pick the onliest
>taste-in-ass dish on the menu... anyone wanna bet he sprinkled it with
>parmasean cheese too. hehe Good you had coupons, a better eatery
>would be wasted on you.

Thanks for the input Shemp.

Lou

On Sun, 17 Feb 2008 16:08:46 -0500, "jmcquown" >
wrote:

>
>"Lou Decruss" > wrote in message
.. .
>> On Sun, 17 Feb 2008 09:34:14 -0800 (PST), Brawny >
>> wrote:
>>
>>>On Feb 17, 11:48 am, Lou Decruss > wrote:
>>>> On Sat, 16 Feb 2008 15:12:13 -0800 (PST), Brawny >
>>>
>>>>
>>>> >I would have graciously said "Thank you" and headed straight to the
>>>> >Capitol Grille.
>>>>
>>>> Never seen one.
>>>
>I've never seen (or heard of) one either. The only one I've heard of is
>Ruth's Chris and I can't imagine paying that much for a steak; I make great
>steaks at home

It's called status in overpaying. A very strange phenomenon that
exists in peoples minds making them feel affluent. I'd rather have a
refrigerator full of food than brag about how much I got ripped off
for dinner last night.

Lou

On Sun, 17 Feb 2008 21:38:24 GMT, (Little
Malice) wrote:

>One time on Usenet, Lou Decruss > said:
>> On Sun, 17 Feb 2008 19:43:45 GMT, (Little
>> Malice) wrote:
>>
>> >One time on Usenet, Lou Decruss > said:
>> >> On Sun, 17 Feb 2008 19:14:54 GMT, (Little
>> >> Malice) wrote:
>> >> >One time on Usenet, Lou Decruss > said:
>> >> >> On Sun, 17 Feb 2008 04:07:44 GMT, Puester >
>> >> >> wrote:
>> >> >
>> >> ><snip>
>> >> >
>> >> >> Thank you for adding something rational Gloria. We're far from poor,
>> >> >> but I still look at $80 as a lot of money. At minimum wage it takes
>> >> >> people 2 days to make that much.
>> >> >
>> >> >Another option is to sell the card on eBay, if you'd really rather not
>> >> >eat at OG. Just a thought...
>> >>
>> >> Too late. Already gone. But thanks.
>> >
>> >No prob -- so how did it go? Who ate what and did they like it?
>> >Enquiring minds... ;-)
>>
>> Thanks. My reply to nancy pretty much sums it up. Edible food and a
>> nice time.
>
>I missed your reply to Nancy -- I'll look for it...

Here's what I said:

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

arthur alexander wrote:

>> Are your gift cards good at the other restaurants? You might ring them up
>> and ask?
>
> You're right. The conclomerate is Darden restaurants, which includes
> OG, Red Lobster, Bahama Breeze, Capitol Grill, Lobghorn Steakhouse
> and Seasons 2.
>
> BTW: There is a story about Marcella Hazan and her hubby eating
> at the OG on someone else's dime. She sampled a number of
> dishes, including a pasta with ragu bolognese. When she complained
> that the sauce was not bolognese, she was assured that it
> certainly was the genuine article. She is reported to have replied:
>
> "Poor Bologna!"

I imagine they really don't cook anything other than the pasta there as
much as heat up industrial sized vats of pre-made (elsewhere) sauce, and
then cook the pasta up in advance to reheat en masse. Last time I ate
there it seemed the salad actually had sugar in the dressing? I dunno..?
It is free food (to the OP) so I'm sure he'll find something to serve
him there.
No it isn't great food, nor hardly Italian, but it won't kill him either.
Free is free!