Olive Garden Italian Restaurant — Restaurant in Albuquerque

We arrived at Olive Garden at 4:30pm and were sat in the top area in one of the booths - After waiting for a few minutes, we started getting antsy and I turned on the stopwatch on my phone. I train servers, and turning on my stopwatch is a habit if I feel we've been sitting for a while. SIX MINUTES after I turned on the stopwatch (probably a total of 10 minutes), I went and asked for a different server. The host tried to tell me they couldn't do anything until I asked if they wanted me to spend my money there or not? I didn't want special treatment, just to be acknowledged. We asked for Mr. J, and he gladly said he'd take care of us. Meanwhile, the server that was supposed to take care of us, a heavyset woman with an attitude, tries to tell me she "just went to your table". I thanked her and told her J would take care of us. I got to the table and found out the server had been arguing with my dining companion. "I saw you when you came in" she told him. My question: If she saw us when we came in, why didn't she greet the table? Oh, that's right...you see, Olive Garden has round mirrors for safety at the kitchen doors, and I had a great view of the woman we found out was supposed to be our server, standing there on her PHONE. Mr. J came to get our drink order, and that's when the hostess decided to make a (small) scene at our table about how he now has to give the other server one of his tables to even it out...blah, blah, blah...this was done to make us uncomfortable...a childish manipulation...We then received glares from the rest of the serving staff, so the inconsiderate server who ignored us for approximately 10 minutes was obviously spreading something about us. The only person who helped us was Mr. J...even other servers, when seeing our drinks were empty, etc., ignored the table. Correct me if I'm wrong, but Darden standards are that the server is to greet the table within one minute of sitting, and that the ENTIRE team is supposed to ensure the comfort of the guest. That's why each server is supposed to receive no more than three tables, so that there is a backup in case a server falls in the weeds.

We asked one woman if we could speak to the manager, but either the manager didn't care or the message was never delivered. Either way, it solidified the apathetic nature of this staff.

On the bright side: Mr. J is an amazing server. We have had the pleasure of sitting at his table before, and he is always attentive and empathetic to the guests. We felt bad that he had to run from one side of the top tier to the other, but left gratuity to compensate for his inconvenience of taking care of us.

Would I recommend your restaurant? I would simply say "If you're eating at that location, ask for Mr. J, otherwise, it's just another failing...

Would definitely NOT recommend going to this Olive Garden. I went to eat, order a lot of food and was there around 7 tonight, 1-30-22. The service was not good and they where rushing to close early for a game. I was done eating, paid, and walked out of the restaurant not even a second after walking out of the door a server that was not mine ran outside and yelled at a couple in the parking lot that they forgot their phone. I then realized I did not have my phone and ran inside to get it from the booth. My phone was gone and the guests next to me said the server gave my phone away to someone. I confirmed with my server, the server that gave it away and the manager that they had given my phone to a random person and they left immediately after. My food was not good, the service was not good, and I waited a while to get it even though there was more workers then customers in the restaurant. Then the second I leave the building a random server gives away my phone to a random person. They where rushing to close and swept a table that was not theirs to get people out. That was a high valued person belonging that should have been picked up by the server serving that table and put in a secure place so the correct customer can be identified and it can be given back. It was extremely unprofessional and I was told that the general manager would not be called because it was her day off. Having to deal with this extremely in convinced me and could have been avoided with proper training. I still do not have my phone and am waiting for the other customer to hopefully be a good person and give the phone back. I was not offered any type of compensation or resolution other then this person giving me my phone back. Victor, Bell, and Dominic are the Olive Garden employees that participated in...

Just had a really disappointing experience here. Service was pretty decent other than long wait times to check on me but it's also mothers day so I completely understand it was busy and I still tipped 30% of my bill. I ordered the tour of Italy and paid extra for chicken on my fettuccine. Breadsticks were pale white and almost soggy and I ordered the Alfredo to dip which saved them. All my chicken was severely overcooked and dry. The parm actually being burnt in some areas. Was crazy how they even allowed it to be served. Fettuccine was also dry. I did ask for ALL chicken to be replaced but I'd take it to go as I'd already waited a while. Was told the manager would be over but then the waiter returned around 7 mins later saying the manager comped the chicken I'd asked to be remade which didn't make sense because how do you comp something that was already in my meal? They comped the to go chicken which wouldn't have had to happen if they didn't overcook it in the first place. They also didn't replace the chicken on my fettuccine which I paid extra for which was also over cooked and dry. Waited forever for to go containers and had to ask and wait extra for a bag or was I expected to hand carry out 3 containers and breadsticks? Happy Mothers day to me I guess. Oh and I was eating alone so didn't have a ton of people with me making requests etc. And the cherry on top, get home and the to go parm is overcooked too! I guess avoid this place...