I haven't eaten at an Olive Garden in at least 20 years but I was meeting a friend over her lunch hour and craving pasta, so off we went.
The place was packed but we were seated quickly and our server was very nice, helping us to decide which items to order.
I appreciated that there were side items that could be ordered ala carte. This made for a more varied lunch but also helped with portion control.
We ordered soup, salad, a tiny side of spaghetti and roasted asparagus, along with some yummy meatballs. I also tried one of their lemon desserts, which was yummy!
So overall, this was a good meal. It wasn't haute cuisine but the price was right. I get why chain restaurants do well...consistency and no surprises are comforting for some diners.
Olive Garden appears to be moving to attract a slightly different diner. They now offer happy hour items and pricing. The ability to customize by ordering add-on items is another value add for diners.
I don't eat pasta often but this lunch was good. When OG adds more variety to the menu (sauces, specials, appetizers), I'll consider eating there more often.