Olive Garden Conducts Test with Breadsticks - Orlando Sentinel

Sandra Pedicini is the reporter.  Basically, what Darden is going to do with their flagship operation is a test at 62 units.  They are calling it "Enhanced Breadstick Service."  Servers will continue to bring out their first breadstick refill within minutes of the inital basket.  After that, the servers wil go back to asking, if you want anymore.  The intial breadstick basket at the chosen 62 will have one per person..At the other locations, they give you one extra... 
The 62 locations have not been identified so please, if you are concerned, just relax.  What will be will be.  There will be 5 in Central Florida.  Yikes.  Ok, I am somewhat worried. 
 
Now I've reported this story despite knowing full well that we might have the typical cast of characters trashing on this and the Olive Garden.  You all know who the haters are..No need to identify them again.  Clarence Otis is laughing all the way to the bank so he could care less......
 
I just felt it would be rather disingenuous of me not to report this newsworthy event that I read about.  Afterall, I support chains and non-road food operations' rights on this site.  I like food and if it's good, I don't care who the hell the owner is!  I've eaten at Mo B's Piggy Park in Columbia, SC many times to prove that point.  Let's just say Mo hasn't surrendered to the North yet.... 
 
So, have a field day with this, if you must.  Tell us again how you will never step foot in an Olive Garden..But, lots of people here do making it one of the two or three highest grossing restaurants in the Daytona Beach area....year after year after year.....I know I know.  Their customers are all fools. 
 
 

I do love the cheese buns or what ever they are at Red Lobster.

Cheese biscuits.  Best thing on their menu....

Indubitably.

Someone's feeling a little paranoid.

Got one of the haters to come out of the woodwork already..That didn't take long.  What a surprise. 

I love the breadsticks from OG.

I like em, don't love em, which is good for  my weight loss, lol!  I have not been to OG in 4 months, but will be interesting to see if my local OG is installing this service.

I haven't been there in over two decades but my sweetie keeps bringing home leftovers from OG - some of which I actually find edible - their desserts are not half bad but they are  outsourced.

 

Hey Pops...Relax.  I know you don't like OG....that's why I felt it important to bring this article to everyone's attention.  It's been slow on this board.

NY - At least you are flexible.  I commend you for that.  Maybe one day you'll find yourself there and it won't be so bad. 

I don't like the OG's bread sticks...I just reported the story; I found it interesting.  Why would you even publicize something so negative?  Maybe it was leaked to the press?  Who knows.  Just seems counter productive where people are looking for value in their dining out experiences.  Maybe it's a "green" thing.  Saving the earth, etc.  Less uneaten breadsticks in the land fills? 

I love the OG salad; the dishes are ok; far from great.  But, I have had a hell of a lot worse in this town!  I'm still waiting for that list of "great indy Italian" here in DAB that surpasses OG and Carrabba's (hope I spelled this correctly).  

  

Baah Ben


Got one of the haters to come out of the woodwork already..That didn't take long.  What a surprise. 

A hater? Gee, you must really be having problems.

Baah Ben




NY - At least you are flexible.  I commend you for that.  Maybe one day you'll find yourself there and it won't be so bad. 



  

Being retired, and the cook in the family, you have to be flexible - I hate slaving over a hot stove in the summer especially - so leftovers from OG that can get nuked and taste palatable - with mebbe some improvement with herbs or spices or sauces I love - do not get pitched usually.

I had some leftover OG spaghetti with green peppers and chicken last night as a matter of fact, whilst watching the Reds kick Brewers butt, and the spaghetti appeared nude - so I added some olive oil and garlic to it and it was passable.

Michael only hates catsup on a hot dog.
 

MH - Very Creative..The shoe fit......and you wore it......

NY...Olive Garden use to have these commercial spots showing them going to Italy for their menu ideas.  Maybe all they need to do is come to Sardinia;sounds like an Italian town

MilwFoodlovers


Michael only hates catsup on a hot dog.
 

Not true. Not true at all. I hate it on everything other than corned beef hash with eggs, and when mixed with lots of horseradish to make a cocktail sauce.

^^hear, hear. I do eat it on pasties though.

Why doesn't OG just offer as many breadsticks as you want all the time at all their restaurants? Fazoli's does that & it really works for them. They have a Breadstick Fairy if you will, who comes around with the basket while you're eating. My mother & cousins think this is the best thing ever.

I mean, if you know this is half the reason why people come in, why wouldn't you capitalize on that as a business?

Baah Ben


MH - Very Creative..The shoe fit......and you wore it......

NY...Olive Garden use to have these commercial spots showing them going to Italy for their menu ideas.  Maybe all they need to do is come to Sardinia;sounds like an Italian town

Italian in name only unfortunately.  

I'm still not seeing how this is newsworthy and OG breadsticks taste like Wonder bread to me, and that's not a complement.  Not to be labeled a chain hater, oh I couldn't live with the shame, I think Bertucci's rolls are a million times better than OG.

Is there a stigma attached to chain haters?

Poor Ben.  He really has no idea of what real Roadfood is  and he just loves to bring up  all these huge chains because he admires their operation so much............................too bad.

RD - Bertucci's...Is it a chain?

I think OG bread sticks are pretty bad, but the article was very interesting in that they decided this was a possible way to save some $.  I don't think it's a good idea.  The story made the financial section of the Orlando Sentinel.

Greymo - I don't need to know what roadfood is.  I just love food and if I go someplace to eat and it tastes good to me and is fairly priced, I love it!  I don't care who is making it for me.  A chain or an indy. 

And yes, efficient operations are something I love to see.  But, I am just as impressed with indy operators who run efficient operations and serve food I like.  It makes no difference to me.... Why should it to you?   

Baah Ben


RD - Bertucci's...Is it a chain?

I think OG bread sticks are pretty bad, but the article was very interesting in that they decided this was a possible way to save some $.  I don't think it's a good idea.  The story made the financial section of the Orlando Sentinel.

Greymo - I don't need to know what roadfood is.  I just love food and if I go someplace to eat and it tastes good to me and is fairly priced, I love it!  I don't care who is making it for me.  A chain or an indy. 

And yes, efficient operations are something I love to see.  But, I am just as impressed with indy operators who run efficient operations and serve food I like.  It makes no difference to me.... Why should it to you?   

Works for me.. I swear by White Castle and the Original Pancake House..I used to think highly of IHOP til they closed a lot of stores and disappeared from the scene for a while and came back again with crappy food beyond the wildest imagination..

RC51Mike


I'm still not seeing how this is newsworthy and OG breadsticks taste like Wonder bread to me, and that's not a complement.  Not to be labeled a chain hater, oh I couldn't live with the shame, I think Bertucci's rolls are a million times better than OG.

You read my mind....those Bertucci rolls are amazing....the OG's bread, not so much....those breadsticks taste like undercooked lumps of dough with an unpleasant coating.

In OG's defense, I'll have to add that I have eaten a couple of specialty pasta dishes that were pretty decent..but most of their food I find to be meh...and the salad dressing is far too sharp and bitter for my tastes.  The vinegar is way too overpowering.

stricken_detective




Why doesn't OG just offer as many breadsticks as you want all the time at all their restaurants? Fazoli's does that & it really works for them.

do you have knowledge of Fazoli's finances to know this?

I mean, if you know this is half the reason why people come in, why wouldn't you capitalize on that as a business?

their business, like any mom and pop's, isn't to give away and waste food.  it's to maximize profit, by many means, one of which is by minimizing waste.  presumably that is what this test is about.

tacchino

RC51Mike


I'm still not seeing how this is newsworthy and OG breadsticks taste like Wonder bread to me, and that's not a complement.  Not to be labeled a chain hater, oh I couldn't live with the shame, I think Bertucci's rolls are a million times better than OG.

You read my mind....those Bertucci rolls are amazing....the OG's bread, not so much....those breadsticks taste like undercooked lumps of dough with an unpleasant coating.

In OG's defense, I'll have to add that I have eaten a couple of specialty pasta dishes that were pretty decent..but most of their food I find to be meh...and the salad dressing is far too sharp and bitter for my tastes.  The vinegar is way too overpowering.

..don't they offer many salad dressings?

Greymo


Poor Ben.  He really has no idea of what real Roadfood is  and he just loves to bring up  all these huge chains because he admires their operation so much............................too bad.

"De gustibus non disputandum est," 

You're right. There is no accounting for taste.

NYPIzzaNut

tacchino

RC51Mike


I'm still not seeing how this is newsworthy and OG breadsticks taste like Wonder bread to me, and that's not a complement.  Not to be labeled a chain hater, oh I couldn't live with the shame, I think Bertucci's rolls are a million times better than OG.

You read my mind....those Bertucci rolls are amazing....the OG's bread, not so much....those breadsticks taste like undercooked lumps of dough with an unpleasant coating.

In OG's defense, I'll have to add that I have eaten a couple of specialty pasta dishes that were pretty decent..but most of their food I find to be meh...and the salad dressing is far too sharp and bitter for my tastes.  The vinegar is way too overpowering.

..don't they offer many salad dressings?

No....apart from a special entree item like a chicken caesar salad that you can get occasionally, the only salad they serve is that unlimited garden salad, which only comes with that "signature Italian dressing," which to me always tastes loaded with salt and vinegar.  But it does have its fans.

Why don't you ask them to add more  olive oil to make it palatable to your taste buds?

Or complain to the manager about not having any other dressings available and reject the salad? 

I never heard of a chain restaurant giving you no choice in salad dressing.