Remember When the Olive Garden Was Good?

[JCMach1]

ca. 1980's-1992

They used to give you the free salad with the Olives the size of a barn!

[Rabrrrrrr]

1. Yeah, before the yuppies and the literati made it so popular, it became uncool.

[JCMach1]

2. Exactly, 1992 was the last time I had a good meal at one..

[hisownpetard]

3. No.

[JCMach1]

4. Knew that was coming

Would you like Kudzu with that? It's going places!

[MorningGlow]

5. Nope. Can't say that I do.

:rofl:

But then again, 'round these parts, we always get the chains after they start to suck, so all we get is the Age of Suckage.

I lived in Boston before Boston Market (then Boston Chicken) went nationwide, and THAT was some good eatin'. Sorry to see the demise of that eatery.

[JCMach1]

6. Or Pizza Hut in the 1970's

[IronLionZion]

7. Pizza Hut is wicked awesome now in India.

So is KFC. No one believes me until they try it. Americans would be shocked at what our fast food chains are serving in other countries. It's actually good there: fresh ingredients, local flavors, spices, better service, etc.

[JCMach1]

8. KFC is quite good in Asia... Here in the UAE

Pizza Hut is major suckage...


Best fast food burgers in UAE= Hardees of all places... won't touch them in the US.

[IronLionZion]

15. Whoa, you're actually in Sharjah. cool! nt.

[JCMach1]

16. You are located?

PM me if you like...

[IronLionZion]

17. No, I'm stateside, but I know it. nt

[MorningGlow]

9. Oh yeah...

:9

P.S. Regarding the OG salads--meant to put in my previous post that when Mr. MG and used to suffer the Olive Garden (several years ago), we'd always check to see that our salad had the requisite number of pepperocinis (two). They never deviated. We always held out hope for a little lagniappe--maybe just ONE extra one, even a small one. Nope. NEVER.
:rofl:

[Gormy Cuss]

11. Bertucci's too in Boston at that time.

I lived within walking distance to Bertucci's # 1 and it not only had great pizza with lots of great toppings, it had an antipasto that was to die for. It also had an indoor bocce court.

Bertucci's is still good enough, but not in the same league as it was back then.

I lived near one of the early Boston Chicken locations too. Loved the sides, found the chicken to be too salty.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

10. I still think it okay for a reasonably cheap meal...

Not authetic kitchen Italian, but I don't think it's bad by any means.

Flame away.

[JCMach1]

12. Cheap????

You must live in like, La Jolla

[Tommy_Carcetti]

13. Na, but close

Boca.

What I meant is if you are looking for a place to take the family after a graduation or baptism or some sort of celebration but you don't want to break the bank, Olive Garden isn't a bad choice.

[kwassa]

14. No, I don't remember when they were good.

I've been to the Olive Garden once. Everything was SOGGY with olive oil, and I like olive oil. It was gross.

[lost-in-nj]

18. I honestly did not know they have ben around that long

I went to my very first Olive Garden this year......

and it wasn't my choice....


lost

[JCMach1]

19. They were in Florida early on-- like so many other bad things... it came from Orlando...

The first Olive Garden concept store was opened in Orlando by General Mills in 1982. The chain took off, and by 1989 General Mills had opened over 145 stores, making it one of the fastest-growing units in the company's restaurant holdings. While the company did not meet critical success, it was popular, and its per-store sales soon grew to match those of sister company Red Lobster. The company eventually became the largest chain of Italian-themed full-service restaurants in the U.S.<1> Olive Garden is currently owned by Darden Restaurants, Inc., which was spun off from General Mills in 1995... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olive_Garden

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

20. Yes, but I remember when Boone's Farm was good wine.

A big step up from Ripple.

:hi: