Sqwertz wrote:

> Olive Garden GC's can be used at any Darden restaurant. I would
> pick Longhorn or Capital Grille, if you have those near you.
>
> http://darden.com/
>
> -sw
Capital Grille gets good reviews from what I've read on Chowhound.

Michael "Dog3" wrote:

> Lou, Steven was given a $50 OG card a couple of years ago. I've never
> liked Olive Garden much but their salad and breadsticks are good. IIRC
> 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 recall the breadsticks as being tasteless, warm, soggy and salty.
Nothing like I would serve as "garlic bread"....<shrug>

I like my garlic bread crusty, toasted under the broiler with a little
butter, a little garlic powder (if not mixed previously with the butter)
some parmesan and a bit of oregano.

George Shirley wrote:

> I've never eaten at an Olive Garden restaurant. Not for lack of trying I
> assure you. The only one we have locally has, at a minimum, a
> twenty-minute wait on any given night. Seems a lot of the local people
> here like that "never-ending" pasta bowl.
>
> George

Yeah, for some folks quantity is more important than quality or
authenticity. And for many that's all they care about.
IF I were given an $80 gift card I'm sure I could spend it. I would
splurge on a bottle of good wine and something to eat and dessert. Oh
yeah, I could survive it... but I wouldn't confuse it for great food by
any stretch.

Michael "Dog3" wrote:

> Of course the people here can cook as good as OG. Here is a recipe that
> anyone can "copycat"
>
> Olive Garden Alfredo Pasta
> Serves 2 to 3 as an entree
>
> 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
> 2 cups heavy cream
> 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
> 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
> 1 12 ounce box fettuccine pasta
> 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

garlic powder? In Alfredo?
ONLY 1/4 cup of parmesan.

Those are the two most glaring problems I'd have with the recipe...

In article >, sf wrote:

> 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.

Buca is kind of sad--it started as one really good place in Minneapolis
and is now a chain of acceptable places. But it is ten times better
than Olive Garden, and probably no more expensive. Their gimmick is
"family style" dishes instead of individual ones, and that works pretty
well for Italian.

Mike Beede

Mike Beede wrote:

>
> I haven't been to Olive Garden in around ten years. When
> I went there way back when, it was not particularly cheap
> and very puzzling-they make their own fresh pasta, then clearly
> held it on a steam table until it was mushy. Maybe it's gotten
> better since then, but I don't think the chances are high enough
> for me to check.
>
they make their own pasta? From scratch?

I'm shocked.

No, seriously.

On Sat, 16 Feb 2008 16:26:12 GMT, 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>
>
>Thanks for and advice,
>
>Lou

If they don't serve Dr. Pepper, just eat salad and breadsticks. Dr.
Pepper would go well with their cannelloni (if they still serve it). I
haven't been there in years either. I prefer our local Italian
restaurant.

MareCat wrote:
> "kilikini" > wrote in message
> ...
>> 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.
>
> At least one of the original locations of Carrabba's in Houston (on Kirby)
> is pretty decent. The other locations I've visited were not nearly as good.
>
> Mary

My son was a waiter for a time at Carrabbas. My sister rented a house
from one of the Carrabba family boys in Houston. I recall a few good
meals there before. The lamb chops stand out in my mind. It is so hard
to get lamb at chains, but I recall it being really good there. The
manager stopped at our table to talk to us and said they don't serve it
nightly but when they do serve it it always sold out.

Goomba38 > wrote:

>Sqwertz wrote:

>> Olive Garden GC's can be used at any Darden restaurant. I would
>> pick Longhorn or Capital Grille, if you have those near you.

>Capital Grille gets good reviews from what I've read on Chowhound.

I would go to the one in Dallas, back when there were about
six total. If you're happy with commercial beef they are very
good.

I have no idea how many of them there are now, or whether the
quality has held up.

Steve

Sqwertz wrote:

>> Their Dr. Pepper is pretty good.
>
> And they have Alfredo on the menu.
>
> -sw

Gawd. I went to an Italian place here in GA named "Mimmos" years ago and
ordered the Alfredo. I swear it had flour in the sauce. I was so bummed.
I've not been back since (even with new owners) because it left such a
distasteful memory in my mind.

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

>> Don't get me started on the awful bloody mary I had there.
>
> One of our party had a margarita. They used sugar on the glass
> instead of salt.

<sigh> the dumbing down of America... <sigh>

Lou Decruss wrote:

>> If the economic downturn we are currently in continues,
>> people won't
>> be so quick to throw money away, whatever form it takes.
>
> 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.
>
> Lou

<gasp!> You're kidding?... hmmm.. no you're not. Wow. That puts things
into persepective a bit for me.
Then again it goes back to the idea that minimum wage was never meant to
be a wage a family could necessarily live off of. <shrug>

Melba's Jammin' wrote:
> 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."
>
LOL... you don't know how funny *that* is about now...
I've been mixing the last of my killer limoncello with light orange
juice. Deadly.
<shakes head to clear fog>

Andy 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,
>
> Andy

I ate there repeatedly in one week last May. I'm kinda Ruth's Chris'd
out still. God love a salesman's expense account though!!!

MareCat wrote:

> 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

LOL... my mother in law was from PA too. She was so impressed when she
told us a new ice cream shop had opened near here and "they have 31
flavors!" LOL LOL LOL

Puester wrote:
> Pennyaline wrote:
>> Go someplace YOU like, cheapskate. Spend a couple of bucks, get food
>> you don't mind eating, have some good wine, enjoy your friends and
>> make a real night of it.
>
>
> And throw the $80 in the trash? Lou and his guests will find something
> edible there, even if it's not five star quality. Reread his post and you
> will note that he is trying to make use of the gift card he received.
>
> If the economic downturn we are currently in continues, people won't
> be so quick to throw money away, whatever form it takes.

I'm perfectly capable of understanding his post, thank you. He said loud
and clear that he doesn't like Olive Garden but that he was treating his
friends to dinner there because *he had gift cards*, that is, it's free.
That has nothing to do with economy, my dear. If he was being
economical, he'd have used some or all of the cards by now and wouldn't
be inclined to **** about it. Thrift itself has its price, and a truly
thrifty person never complains about that price. A cheapskate, however,
****es about the cost and value of everything.

As to your comprehension of MY post, who suggested that he or anyone
else "throw $80 in the trash"? Not I, hon! I told him to go to someplace
he enjoys. Not once did I advocate throwing anything away, either
literally or figuratively.

Lou Decruss wrote:
> On Sun, 17 Feb 2008 04:07:44 GMT, Puester >
> wrote:
>> And throw the $80 in the trash? Lou and his guests will
>> find something
>> edible there, even if it's not five star quality. Reread
>> his post and you
>> will note that he is trying to make use of the gift card he
>> received.
>>
>> If the economic downturn we are currently in continues,
>> people won't
>> be so quick to throw money away, whatever form it takes.
>
> Thank you for adding something rational Gloria.

<Gack!! Choort!!> Rational? What was rational about it? Chiding me for
saying something I didn't say is in no way rational.



> We're far from poor,
> but I still look at $80 as a lot of money.

I sure as shit hope everyone views $80 as a lot of money.



> At minimum wage it takes
> people 2 days to make that much.

Which has what to do with MY post, the one Gloria was responding to?

Lou Decruss wrote:
> On Sat, 16 Feb 2008 19:48:08 -0700, Pennyaline
> > 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>
>>>
>>> Thanks for and advice,
>> Since you've already thanked me:
>
> My thanks were for any advice. Humor would even have worked. You
> provided neither. So I didn't thank you.

Holy shit. What a DUMB ASS!!


>> Dumb ass!

See?


>> Why would you take another couple out to Olive Garden for a nice time
>> when you think the food there sucks? How much enjoyment is there is
>> sitting staring at food you dislike because you've got gift cards to use
>> up, and already grousing about it before it even gets that far. What a
>> great friend you are. Does the other couple know that they are the
>> beneficiaries of unwanted gift cards? Gee, what a great time!
>>
>> Go someplace YOU like, cheapskate. Spend a couple of bucks, get food you
>> don't mind eating, have some good wine, enjoy your friends and make a
>> real night of it.
>
> One of the dumbest posts I've seen here.

Really? Could you pull your head out of your cheapskate ass and explain why?

CAPITAL GRILLE is part of the Olive Garden/Red Lobster family?
Shocking.
I was taken there on a business dinner and was quite impressed by the
steak.
I had a Top Sirloin that was prepared with a porcini mushroom rub and
garnished with 8 year old balsamic vinegar. It truly was outstanding.
The steak was about 2 inches thick. Dry Aged. Unbelievably tasty.
We had sides for the table. Mac and cheese with lobster. Heavenly. A
nice, light steamed asparagus with hollandaise on the side. The
lyonnaise potatoes were outstanding. And the key lime pie was the best
I ever had. Only, $80 will only buy you dinner for one at Capital
Grille, with dessert, sides and wine. My sirloin was in the
neighborhood of $40-45. Sides and salad were a la carte.
But it was a dining experience to remember. I was stunned to learn it
was a chain. Doubly stunned that its from the same people who bring us
lousy seafood and fake italian at RL and OG.

On Feb 16, 1:35*pm, arthur alexander >
wrote:
> On Sat, 16 Feb 2008 12:03:16 -0600, Andy <q> wrote:
> >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?
>
> You're right. The conclomerate is Darden restaurants, which includes
> OG, Red Lobster, Bahama Breeze, Capitol Grill, Lobghorn Steakhouse
> and Seasons 2.
>
> A-
>
> 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!"

In article
>,
wrote:

> CAPITAL GRILLE is part of the Olive Garden/Red Lobster family?

Yes, the company is called Darden.


> was a chain. Doubly stunned that its from the same people who bring us
> lousy seafood and fake italian at RL and OG.


It's not like Darden started Capital Grille, they just bought the
company that owns it. It was quite a recent purchase. The announcement
that they were planning on buying it was made six months ago.

Perhaps that fine Darden quality hasn't filtered down to Capital Grille
yet.

--
Dan Abel
Petaluma, California USA

jmcquown wrote:
>
> "Arri London" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> >
> > 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.
> >>
> >> Lou
> >
> > Stick with the soup, salad and breadsticks. A friend took us there a
> > couple of weeks ago as a well-meant 'treat' and that's what I ate. There
> > is no Italian food at Olive Garden.
>
> I don't think anyone here believes the food at OG is "Italian"
>
> Jill

This very kind woman certainly did. That's why she wanted to eat there;
she 'loves' Italian food.

The company does well for a reason...

On Sun, 17 Feb 2008 15:06:48 -0500, "MareCat"
> wrote:

><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
>
I fully understand. Really! I lived in the boonies at one time in my
life and if that sort of restaurant was an hour away, it would have
been considered fine dining. Now, I can turn my nose up at them and
scoff....

We didn't have many real restaurants within 30 minutes, but we had a
few "coffee shops" (which people today might call "diners") that
served wholesome food, however plainly it was served.

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"Goomba38" > wrote in message
. ..
> Sqwertz wrote:
>
>> Olive Garden GC's can be used at any Darden restaurant. I would
>> pick Longhorn or Capital Grille, if you have those near you.
>>
>> http://darden.com/
>>
>> -sw
> Capital Grille gets good reviews from what I've read on Chowhound.

DH ate at the one in Houston a few years back and thought it was good.
Pretty much on par with places like Ruth's Chris, Morton's, Flemings, etc.
(they all seem the same to me).

Mary

On Sun, 17 Feb 2008 22:00:49 -0500, Goomba38 >
wrote:

>MareCat wrote:
>
>> 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
>
>LOL... my mother in law was from PA too. She was so impressed when she
>told us a new ice cream shop had opened near here and "they have 31
>flavors!" LOL LOL LOL

She's never been to a Howard Johnson's? They had (have?) 28 flavors of
ice cream! I remember road trips (from Michigan to Florida) where my
mom planned at least one break per day at a HJ like people do with
McDonald's today. Air conditioning was a major reason for it. In any
case, IMO, Baskin Robbins 31 is just a weak replication of the HJ of
olden daze.

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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!! 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.
>
Lou wasn't whining, he was telling a story about an experience. Sorry
your reading comprehension is so low.

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On Sun, 17 Feb 2008 20:32:09 -0600, Mike Beede > wrote:

>In article >, sf wrote:
>
>> 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.
>
>Buca is kind of sad--it started as one really good place in Minneapolis
>and is now a chain of acceptable places. But it is ten times better
>than Olive Garden, and probably no more expensive. Their gimmick is
>"family style" dishes instead of individual ones, and that works pretty
>well for Italian.
>
So, why is that sad? My DD knows decent food when it's served to her.
10 times better than OG would be pretty good in my book.

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On Sun, 17 Feb 2008 11:26:18 -0700, "Dale P" > wrote:

>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.

What makes it bad to you? I hate lightly seasoned food. What is it
that you didn't like?

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On Sun, 17 Feb 2008 19:26:25 -0800 (PST), wrote:

>I had a Top Sirloin that was prepared with a porcini mushroom rub and
>garnished with 8 year old balsamic vinegar. It truly was outstanding.
>The steak was about 2 inches thick. Dry Aged. Unbelievably tasty.

Wow! Thanks... now I have another idea about what to do with the
powdered porcini I bought last December. I don't think balsamic is up
my alley for a steak garnish though.

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On Sun, 17 Feb 2008 19:47:09 -0800, Dan Abel > wrote:

>Perhaps that fine Darden quality hasn't filtered down to Capital Grille
>yet.

I don't keep up on chain acquisitions, but I certainly hope *not*.

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sf wrote:

> She's never been to a Howard Johnson's? They had (have?) 28 flavors of
> ice cream! I remember road trips (from Michigan to Florida) where my
> mom planned at least one break per day at a HJ like people do with
> McDonald's today. Air conditioning was a major reason for it. In any
> case, IMO, Baskin Robbins 31 is just a weak replication of the HJ of
> olden daze.
>
<shrug> no clue if she had ever gone to HJ before. I'm sure she musta...?
I just remember being so shocked at her naive belief that 31 flavors was
something novel and unique?
I recall as a very young child that HJ was known for their fried clams
or something?

"sf" wrote in message ...
> On Sun, 17 Feb 2008 11:26:18 -0700, "Dale P" > wrote:
>
>>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.
>
> What makes it bad to you? I hate lightly seasoned food. What is it
> that you didn't like?
>
> --
There was just the two of us, and we went for lunch. We were aware
beforehand that the meals were large and are to be shared, family style.
Not a problem. We ordered a salad, and a chicken and pasta dish (penne, I
think). The salad was set in front of us. It was a very large bowl of very
tired and turning brown iceberg lettuce. Not at all what I would call a
good salad. We ate what we could of it, and then they brought the main
dish. My first comment was "where is the piece of chicken?". Well, we did
find it buried in a pile of pasta with very little sauce. There was
literally one small piece of chicken. The rest was bits of chicken (like it
had been in the food processor) in the sauce. I could certainly have
whipped up a better lunch than this for next to nothing in cost. Of course,
they packed the extra food into containers for us to take home. It was
promptly disposed of when we got home.

I did think the decor was fun. Kind of tacky, overdone Italian.

We do not eat out often, and I certainly want something better than that
when we do. Maggiano's Little Italy is a much better chain with decent
entrees that we enjoy sharing. Plus it is a much classier joint!!

DP

On Mon, 18 Feb 2008 00:25:33 -0500, Goomba38 >
wrote:

>sf wrote:
>
>> She's never been to a Howard Johnson's? They had (have?) 28 flavors of
>> ice cream! I remember road trips (from Michigan to Florida) where my
>> mom planned at least one break per day at a HJ like people do with
>> McDonald's today. Air conditioning was a major reason for it. In any
>> case, IMO, Baskin Robbins 31 is just a weak replication of the HJ of
>> olden daze.
>>
><shrug> no clue if she had ever gone to HJ before. I'm sure she musta...?
>I just remember being so shocked at her naive belief that 31 flavors was
>something novel and unique?
>I recall as a very young child that HJ was known for their fried clams
>or something?

OH YEAH!.... I deleted the part about eating fried shrimp as a kid and
graduating to that humongous plate of fried clams. If I get a chance
to order fried clams these days I do. What my husband and I do now
for our version of surf and turf is order the appetizer plate of fried
clams (you know how big that is) and a steak to share. Odd combo, but
good all the same.

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On Sun, 17 Feb 2008 23:15:58 -0700, "Dale P" > wrote:

>"sf" wrote in message ...
>> On Sun, 17 Feb 2008 11:26:18 -0700, "Dale P" > wrote:
>>
>>>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.
>>
>> What makes it bad to you? I hate lightly seasoned food. What is it
>> that you didn't like?
>>
>> --
>There was just the two of us, and we went for lunch. We were aware
>beforehand that the meals were large and are to be shared, family style.
>Not a problem. We ordered a salad, and a chicken and pasta dish (penne, I
>think). The salad was set in front of us. It was a very large bowl of very
>tired and turning brown iceberg lettuce. Not at all what I would call a
>good salad. We ate what we could of it, and then they brought the main
>dish. My first comment was "where is the piece of chicken?". Well, we did
>find it buried in a pile of pasta with very little sauce. There was
>literally one small piece of chicken. The rest was bits of chicken (like it
>had been in the food processor) in the sauce. I could certainly have
>whipped up a better lunch than this for next to nothing in cost. Of course,
>they packed the extra food into containers for us to take home. It was
>promptly disposed of when we got home.
>
>I did think the decor was fun. Kind of tacky, overdone Italian.
>
OMG, it sounds perfectly awful! If my DD didn't say how much she
liked it I'd think it was a horrible place (I didn't know it was a
chain when she told me about it). I guess it's one of those
establishments that varies from location to location.

>We do not eat out often, and I certainly want something better than that
>when we do. Maggiano's Little Italy is a much better chain with decent
>entrees that we enjoy sharing. Plus it is a much classier joint!!

I've been to the Maggiano's in Santana Row... it was good, IMO.
Didn't know it was a chain either. Thanks for the info.

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On Sun, 17 Feb 2008 21:22:27 -0500, Goomba38 >
wrote:

>Michael "Dog3" wrote:
>
>> Lou, Steven was given a $50 OG card a couple of years ago. I've never
>> liked Olive Garden much but their salad and breadsticks are good. IIRC
>> 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 recall the breadsticks as being tasteless, warm, soggy and salty.
>Nothing like I would serve as "garlic bread"....<shrug>
>
>I like my garlic bread crusty, toasted under the broiler with a little
>butter, a little garlic powder (if not mixed previously with the butter)
>some parmesan and a bit of oregano.

If their bread sticks were salty at least they would have some taste.

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sf wrote:

>> I like my garlic bread crusty, toasted under the broiler with a little
>> butter, a little garlic powder (if not mixed previously with the butter)
>> some parmesan and a bit of oregano.
>
> If their bread sticks were salty at least they would have some taste.
>
LOL, true.. sad but true.
Olive Garden has lousy bread. No yeasty bread flavor or anything
remarkable. Just a kind of oily, soft garlic flavored bit of nothing.
I'm seriously UNimpressed.

Lou Decruss wrote:

> On Sat, 16 Feb 2008 10:39:49 -0800 (PST), Brawny >
> wrote:
>
> >On Feb 16, 11:26*am, Lou Decruss > wrote:
> >> to be social and drink myself silly. <eg>
>
> >Lou...why don't you donate the cards to a homeless shelter and then
> >contact AA for help with your drinking problem?
>
> Why don't you donate your computer to AA and drive your car into a
> brick wall at 100 MPH.


Lol...

And who is this "Brawny"? Never saw 'im before...


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Greg

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



IIRC the original Capitol Grille was in DC, just across the way from
Union Station (thus near the Capitol). Ate there back in the 90's
when it was new, very good. So I can honestly say "I remember it
before it was a chain...". I also remember the very first Starbuck's
in Chicago c. 1992 or so, it was down in the Loop and I'd make special
trips down there for their coffee and mugs and junk to give as gifts.
Man, I'm feelin' *old*, lol...and I haven't been in a Starbuck's since
then.


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Greg

"Arri London" > wrote in message
...
>
>
> jmcquown wrote:
>>
>> "Arri London" > wrote in message
>> ...
>> >
>> >
>> > 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.
>> >>
>> >> Lou
>> >
>> > Stick with the soup, salad and breadsticks. A friend took us there a
>> > couple of weeks ago as a well-meant 'treat' and that's what I ate.
>> > There
>> > is no Italian food at Olive Garden.
>>
>> I don't think anyone here believes the food at OG is "Italian"
>>
>> Jill
>
> This very kind woman certainly did. That's why she wanted to eat there;
> she 'loves' Italian food.
>
Yabbut... she's not an rfc'r! That's what I meant by "here".

> The company does well for a reason...

Sure they do. So does McDonald's but I don't want to eat there

Jill

Puester wrote:

> 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.


The shrimp at those chain joints tends to be more along the line of
processed shrimp *bits* or tiny brine shrimp. A few years back the
most awful meal I ever had was at a Joe's Crab Shack here in Chicawgo
(now mercifully gone); ordered a fried shrimp thingie, it was a few
breaded bits 'o shrimp on top of a HUGE bed of greasy french
fries...it got sent back in disgust (I had them make me a hamburger,
lol).

If I have a fried shrimp jones I go to a cheap Chinese BBQ place near
me (Sun Wah BBQ in Chicago's Uptown nabe) and order the fried shrimp
appetizer for $5.25. you get eight nicely done shrimp in a light
batter, I'll often add the fried scallop app too, $5.25 gets you a
nice serving, add an order of stir - fried Chinese veg in oyster sauce
for $3.75 and with a coupla beers and tip two can gorge for just over
$20.00. By myself the shrimp along with a big bowl of $4.00 wonton or
noodle soup or lo mein noodles is less than $10.00. They have all
kinds of cheap and delish seafood and fish. Puts any chain place to
shame...


IIRC a year or so ago someone on a food board mentioned that Red
Lobster was now using surimi in some of it's "lobster" dishes, it
figures...


--
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Greg

Lou Decruss wrote:

> 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. *


Oh gawd, remember that Dread Lobbedsteer was Sheryl Rosen's favorite
place for her annual birthday dinner with the "girlfriends"...

<chuckle>

I think the last time I ate at one was in Bloomington Illannoy c.
1978, and even then I thought it sucked (or maybe I just hated it
because *everything* in Bloomington sucked, lol). And I was a kid from
the prairie sticks who knew *nothing* about seafood...


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Greg