Olive Garden Italian Restaurant

Olive Garden endless pasta seems to be a fantastic deal although the pasta is not the best. It’s filling though and they pack it up and send you home with leftovers for an extra meal. About $21 with protein although the meatballs or Italian sausage weren’t amazing. Still the service is great and the unlimited soup and breadsticks are fantastic.

To Go service is exceptional. Dine-in service, not so much.nUnfortunately it was the manager who made us feel the most unwelcome.nnI always say that the easiest and most simple thing to do is to welcome the customer when they enter your business. It makes a difference. Neither the manager nor the two hosts that were seating yesterday were able to do such a simple thing when we walked in the door. Instead, we were met by three straight faced people, the manager did not smile, the host next to her did not smile they did not say hi they did not say welcome. There was no welcome at all. Instead, the hostess on the far right said. “Two”?nnI smiled and said yes, as I noticed the manager had moved to my left side and was now looking down at my feet and looking at my shoes huaraches I bought in Mexico. Still, she never said one word to us. I believe her name tag said “Rob”.nnNow, I have been going to this restaurant since the 90s. Yesterday I took my daughter with me. My daughter has been going there with me since she was born and she’s now in her 20s. I wasn’t going to say anything about our cold reception, but it was my daughter who said “wow the service just isn’t what it used to be anymore”. And bless her heart because she was absolutely right. I just didn’t want to be the one to say it because we were having a nice day. But it’s true.nnWe walked past an open table near the window and the two of us were set up at a table for six in the very back in the section of a server, who did not want another table. His face said it all and he ignored us. We sat at the table, and the server came and talked to the table next to us, and I saw him see us, but he also did not greet us or anything like that. He did not acknowledge us in anyway.nnWe asked to move to another table because the upper level in which we were seated, felt stuffy and was warming up quickly and it smelled bad. It smelled dirty back there.nnWe were happy to wait for something a little more comfortable. It was about 1:30 in the afternoon. It was not a very busy time so waiting was OK.nnAt that point, the manager did come talk to us to let us know that it was going to be 15 to 20 minutes wait for them to clear a table for us. She seemed more than happy to tell us that. In fact, I considered leaving when she said that. And in a way, I think she expected us to leave. Our table was ready in about six or seven minutes.nnI’m not sure what the managers deal was.nnShe said did say goodbye when we were on our way out the door. This lack of reception is trickling into the staff and it’s noticeable not only to my self but to my daughter. It really starts with management. It really starts with the front of the house management. They set the tone for what the energy is going to be like in the front of the house.nnAfter almost thirty years, I’m over The Olive Garden. We’re not going back.nnThe good news is that now I can start my search for the best Italian restaurant in Beaverton !

Had a great experience here. The service was quick and our waiter/bartender, Nick H., was excellent. Being far away from home, I’ve missed our sweet tea being up here in the Pacific Northwest. Nick made a special effort to make me some sweet tea and even brought me a pitcher. It was really kind and he really didn’t have to do that. I also noticed that he was running around like a headless chicken, quite literally running circles around everyone else, but seemed unbothered and didn’t neglect us at all. Very impressed.

I think it is safe to say this place is one of the worst Olive Garden stores in the US. The place is very old and slightly lower than ground level which means even your windows are blocked by woods and soil and makes the place dim. But this is the best thing about the place! The service is awful, for an empty time at restaurant we have waited more than 15 minutes with no one to show up at table to take drinks or welcome. I had to go and find someone at the front door to take our order. Turns out this makes pur server so mad to show us attitude and kind of trowing drinks on the table with out any introduction of herself or being sorry of not showing up or saying a word or anything. Shortly after showed up with the salad and when I asked if this is normal to have empty bowl like this she Responses that she made it special! Which clearly was tight if you would compare it with other tables. After long enough the food comes and we finished it and only when I reached to pay myself and leave she comes to table to see if we want dessert. Overall I love Olive Garden but this place was a disgrace for the name! Quality of the food was bad as well but it didn’t matter compared to the total package.

Was in town visiting from out of state and decided to stop by for lunch. Our server Nick gave the best service I have received in a while. She was friendly and attentive to our table. Definitely wish I lived near this location to come again! Management and staff are highly trained and respectful.