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Olive Garden promises Cheaper Food, More options.
NBC News ^ | 28 Feb 2013 | by Isolde Raftery

Posted on 03/01/2013 7:11:20 AM PST by US Navy Vet

Fret not, Olive Garden lovers: The “endless” breadsticks aren’t going away.

But new management has big changes in store for the casual dining chain, which touts family-style Italian food and has struggled with declining sales.

The chain's president, Dave George told investors on Tuesday the changes include creating a new logo and toning down its the “Old World Style," the Tuscan-style stonework and wooden archways that have been a signature part of Olive Garden restaurants since 2000.

"You're not going to see stainless steel showing up tomorrow in a Tuscan Farmhouse," George said, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

(Excerpt) Read more at nbcnews.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: darden; obama; olivegarden
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To: Slump Tester
If you want GREAT Italian food, find a Carrabbas!

Not the two I've been to. One in Cary, NC and one in Canton, OH. Both left me, and in the case of the Canton location, my family wanting.

41 posted on 03/01/2013 8:10:47 AM PST by Vinnie (A)
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To: Boogieman

Your grandma made processed foods for mass consumption? Who would’ve known...


42 posted on 03/01/2013 8:12:04 AM PST by Hotlanta Mike ("Governing a great natiorn is like cooking a small fish - too much handling will spoil it." Lao Tzu)
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To: Vinnie

Sorry to hear that. We have a great one in Columbus Oh. Never a bad experience in the 4 years we’ve been going there.


43 posted on 03/01/2013 8:14:13 AM PST by Slump Tester (What if I'm pregnant Teddy? Errr-ahh -Calm down Mary Jo, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it)
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To: needmorePaine
Isn't it paisano?

Sì! Hai ragione!

44 posted on 03/01/2013 8:16:26 AM PST by Fiji Hill
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To: needmorePaine; buffaloguy
Oops, you're right. Here's my Paisano card, buffaloguy, lol!

Hey, what do I know? I'm only part Italian. Never could be a made guy. But I know what scrumptious Italian food tastes like since I've eaten some of it and Olive Garden ain't it! Never has been. Never. Will. Be. imo. Especially now that they've gotten this hare-brained idea that they'll attract more lovers of Italian cuisine by using cheaper ingredients. Bleah!

45 posted on 03/01/2013 8:16:26 AM PST by LibWhacker
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To: US Navy Vet
..my wife and I ate there on a gift card the other day--for the last time

bad service, mediocre food at best

Calling OG Italian food is like calling Taco Bell authentic Mexican Food

No Darden restaurants for us...

46 posted on 03/01/2013 8:17:44 AM PST by WalterSkinner ( In Memory of My Father--WWII Vet and Patriot 1926-2007)
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To: US Navy Vet

If you want to make some great sauce quickly:

Get your favorite sauce, pour into pan for heating.
Pour in a good deal of red wine (do not use cooking wine)
Add fresh chopped garlic

Simmer until the sauce is back to sauce consistency.

Taste. Add garlic and more red wine to taste (this is the fine tuning phase)

Serve over Fettucine cooked only to the point of toothiness.

You can thank me later.


47 posted on 03/01/2013 8:18:23 AM PST by buffaloguy
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To: Jmouse007
I can tell you for certain that the frozen part you speak of is true. I ordered Lasagna the other day and it was frozen in the middle. I walked out!
48 posted on 03/01/2013 8:18:42 AM PST by StayoutdaBushesWay (Every man dies, but not every man really lives.)
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To: buffaloguy

“toothiness” WHAT IS THAT?


49 posted on 03/01/2013 8:19:56 AM PST by US Navy Vet (Go Packers! Go Rockies! Go Boston Bruins! See, I'm "Diverse"!)
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To: Pontiac

To me, O.G. is Chuck-E-Cheez with added oregano, higher prices & prententious waiters with pepper mills.


50 posted on 03/01/2013 8:22:15 AM PST by elcid1970 ("The Second Amendment is more important than Islam.")
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To: US Navy Vet

Meaning “al dente”, not cooked to mush like canned spaghetti.


51 posted on 03/01/2013 8:25:38 AM PST by elcid1970 ("The Second Amendment is more important than Islam.")
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To: LibWhacker
Oops, you're right. Here's my Paisano card, buffaloguy, lol!
Hey, what do I know? I'm only part Italian. Never could be a made guy.


Same here. Only Italian on my mother's side. German/Irish on my father's side. Me, you, and Henry Hill, We can never get our buttons.
52 posted on 03/01/2013 8:27:47 AM PST by needmorePaine
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To: US Navy Vet

al dente


53 posted on 03/01/2013 8:29:55 AM PST by surrey
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To: US Navy Vet

These changes will STILL not get me into an Olive Garden, especially when there are so many good Italian restaurants in my area. Sadly, my favorite Italian restaurant, the one where I proposed to Mrs. Tweezers, is no longer in business.

OTOH, it was replaced by a barbecue joint, so maybe I should check it out. :)


54 posted on 03/01/2013 8:32:02 AM PST by ZirconEncrustedTweezers (I'll stop being a cynic when the world stops giving me reasons to be cynical.)
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To: fatnotlazy

I have good Italian close by in Texas. Luigi’s in Rockwall, Valentino’s in Rowlett. Good food and service at reasonable prices.


55 posted on 03/01/2013 8:32:38 AM PST by showme_the_Glory (ILLEGAL: prohibited by law. ALIEN: Owing political allegiance to another country or government)
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To: Slump Tester

Come to Cleveland. Walk in any restaurant in Murray Hill. Enjoy!


56 posted on 03/01/2013 8:35:32 AM PST by Dr. Bogus Pachysandra ( Ya can't pick up a turd by the clean end!)
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To: Red Badger

The “endless” breadsticks aren’t going away...

but nutrious potatotes, high in potasium, require a parent’s permission before a child is allowed to eat them.


57 posted on 03/01/2013 8:36:52 AM PST by stars & stripes forever ((Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord!))
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To: US Navy Vet

In before the Anti-Freepers.


58 posted on 03/01/2013 8:37:02 AM PST by Lazamataz (Republicans have the same policies as the Democrats, except for the part where they win elections.)
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To: elcid1970
I don’t think I would go so far as to compare OG to Chucky-Cheese.

The OG doesn’t have kids running wild and drunken parents getting in fist fights. At least not as far as my experience.

I am fortunate that in my area I have a good number of family owned wineries that have much better food at similar prices. And even the worst wines made locally here are better than what OG passes off as their house wine.

59 posted on 03/01/2013 8:38:08 AM PST by Pontiac (The welfare state must fail because it is contrary to human nature and diminishes the human spirit.)
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To: needmorePaine
Only Italian on my mother's side. German/Irish on my father's side.

Wow, very similar. Mom's a NYC Italian girl, born and raised. Dad's German/French/Welsh.

Here's a classic! Love it.

60 posted on 03/01/2013 8:39:51 AM PST by LibWhacker
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