Olive Garden gets a solid three stars from me cause they are nothing if not consistent. I am usually never disappointed in the food. For someone as picky as myself they actually have quite a few dishes that meet my favorites criteria. Starch. Check. Meat. Check. Cheese. Check. What's not to like?
Admittedly it's a rather mundane restaurant chain but it delivers on what I need it to - enjoyable meals with my mom. Their calamari is crunchy, the toasted ravioli appropriately fun finger food, and the soup is surprising. Why? Because my number one soup there is minestrone. And it's vegetarian and I am not. Not in the slightest. But there is something about dunking those warm breadsticks into that tomatoey broth that makes me slurp it up with abandon. Of course they have all the classics, and my favorite is chicken fettucine alfredo. Big white sauce fan (it's cheese!) Sometimes the pasta is a bit over cooked, but I am not expecting Mario Batali-like exactness from a chain restaurant.
I don't think I have ever had a bad experience at this Olive Garden. Mostly long waits on F/S nights. Our servers to date have all been pleasant and enthusiastic. Also nice that they are enthusiastic about having us "taste" the proffered wine ... several times.