Olive Garden
New York, NY 10010
Phone: (212) 255-1240
- Price:
- $
Editorial Review for Olive Garden – by Citysearch Staff
In Short
Established in 1982, this chain gained a following for its laid-back atmosphere and generous portions. Patrons settle into comfortable booths and tables in dining rooms with plants, artwork and décor reminiscient of the villas in the Tuscan countryside. Starters include scampi, sausage or pepperoni pizza, and several soup choices, as well as a signature seafood dip (crab, shrimp, cheese and marinara). Entrees include classics like lasagna, fettuccine Alfredo and chicken parmigiana. There are also "Garden Fare" options, which promise 30 percent fewer calories.
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Insider Tips
What to DrinkWhat's spaghetti and meatballs without a glass of wine? You'll find vintages here from Italy, Australia, California and Washington.
User Reviews for Olive Garden
08/01/2008 Posted by frayne
This was some of the worst food I have ever had in NYC, and I have lived here for just shy of 20 years. Honestly, I always have wanted to come to The Olive Garden since it was mentioned in the movie "Old School" by Will Farrell. What I hoped would be a campy experience with average food was far worse. The salad was crisp and freash and fine, too heavily dressed, but not good enough to ask for more (you are allowed unlimited salad.) the bread sticks were not good, like warm wonderbread. the spinach and artichoke dip appetizer was tasteless. my boneless rib dish had frozen greenbeans over what they claimed was risotto rice, but which had a consistency more like Uncle Bens rice. The meat did have a hint of the promised wine used in the braising. My wife's Shrimp Primavera contained those tiny shrimp which are always unsatisfying, but the worst part of the dish was a completely bland tomato-ash sauce and uncooked green peppers thrown in as the only vegetable part of this prima vera. our son ordered the macaroni and cheese from the children's menu. he is three. when shells (not macaroni) and cheese arrived it was not pleasant, (3 year olds are PICKEY!) and when the cheese sauce apparantly ended up actually being a plain white sauce with no cheese, we just could not believe it. NEVER AGAIN. Our waiter was nice enough and could tell that we were used to better food and sympathisized. Also, the margarita was good. we should have spent our $50 in gift certificates at the bar only.
Pros: good margarita, kid friendly
Cons: some of the worst food i have ever tried in my life.
03/17/2008 Posted by arturobandini
A friend thought it would be fun to go to the Olive Garden on 6th Ave for his birthday and we were all game. I like fine food but, heck, I'll eat Taco Bell as well and sometimes even enjoy airline food. Everything has it's place. However, I was not ready for how terrible the food at Olive Garden was. Even after allowing for the context (it's being a chain, etc.), the food was off the scale for even "bad" food. I cannot recommend it even for camp value.
