Olive Garden Italian Restaurant — Restaurant in Arlington

Olive Garden RUINED my dear friend's birthday party!!!!!

Tonight a group of us gathered at Olive Garden for the birthday celebration of a dear friend. My friend requested that we eat at Olive Garden because she went there for her last birthday in Houston and really had a wonderful server and a great birthday celebration with her mother.

The server we had (Monica) was HORRIBLE! She started out okay, but quickly became extremely rude to our group. We received our food, and about twenty minutes into eating realized that one of the girls didn't get her steak. We explained the situation to Monica, and asked for a steak politely. Monica brought back a burned steak - obviously we were aware that it wasn't her fault that the steak was burned, and our friend said she was just going to eat it anyway, but we insisted that for $17 she should receive a good steak. We politely requested another steak. The third time was a charm, and the steak was okay, unfortunately our server was not.

We requested refills on bread and salad, and were refused. The cake we brought and which was kept in the back was brought out very late without silverware or a knife...Our tickets were completely mixed up, and I had to swipe my card twice just to buy my friend's birthday dinner because our server couldn't combine the tickets. Additionally, one of the girls in our group worked at an affiliation to the restaurant and was supposed to get us all 25% off our tickets... The server forgot to give us the discount and additionally said that our friend would have to prove where she worked with the manager.

Once the Manager (I was told her name was Karla, but I am not sure if that is true or not) came over, she too had a sour face and requested the necessary information. After seeing proof of our friend's job, she then stated that she would be unable to give the 25% off discount unless it was all one ticket (why was this not explained in the beginning when we hadn't gotten our tickets???). We declined the discount since it was crazy to change the tickets around like that, and then the manager demanded our friend's name and what location she was employed at (as if she was going to get her in trouble???). It was appalling. Our friend was completely taken back by the reaction, and paid her tab and left the restaurant, with our birthday friend following to say goodbye.

THEN, after ALL of this (and us overhearing the server complaining about us), the manager comes over asking for our friend's purse. One on of the girls in our group pointed to her purse, and I asked why she needed it. The manager then informed us that our friend, the one who we were celebrating her birthday for, was locked outside, and she needed her purse. I told the manager that I would give my friend her purse, and the manager GRABBED my friend's purse, and while walking away with it shouted back "no, that's MY job". I followed her out the door to find my friend ALONE outside in the cold! The manager went on to state that she was not able to come back in the restaurant because it was past closing hours.

Both my friend and I notified the manager of how unprofessional the situation was, but she just gave us a blank look. We never received ONE apology from Karla nor Monica, and we didn't even get a discount or any accommodations for messed up food orders, and all of the other disastrous items. We were treated in such a hostile way, I still can't believe I didn't dream it. Olive Garden RUINED our birthday celebration, and they didn't even care. They didn't sing happy birthday to my friend, offer her a free dessert, or even give us a half-way decent experience for a regular day.

Olive Garden, where is the customer service? How can guests be treated so badly like this? Several of us have had lots of experience in the waitress and food industry, and we were completely patient and understanding knowing how it feels to have hard to deal with customers, but this is just outrageous!

Please note that we are UTA students, and word catches around very quickly - I won't be coming...

I usually love Olive garden!! I have been to lots of different locations but this one is below company standards. (At least this night) only reason I am giving two stars is because the other staff tried to assist the salads are good and I was in good company.

The time to be seated was instantaneous. As soon as we walked in they showed us to our seats. After what seemed like eternity I had just started to stood up to get a manager because the waitress missing in action for at least 10 minutes. (Being generous with that number) Then she took care of another table right next to ours that had just been seated before she approached us. Trying not to let anyone see the vein on my forehead burst; I ordered the brisket pasta (which I have had 3 times before) it had waay too much ginger in it. (Not sure the recipe even requires Ginger. I think they may have added it to get people in the holiday spirits. Perhaps a Sly tactic to get people in the spending mood to buy their seasonal desserts). I decided to keep my complaints to myself and fill up on the salad because the salads are always amazing! Afterward I ordered two of their macchiatos and a cheesecake. Cheesecake was not worth the money. (About as good as grocery store cheesecakes, which you can get whole for cheaper) Macchiatos came out waay too sweet. They remade one of them for us (which I had to get up and go to the kitchen and ask a random waiter standing there) because I decided to order coffee instead to try to doctor the butchered one they gave me. (The coffee they handed me in the entrance to the kitchen was watered down and the remade one that came out later was too bitter. I was able to drink mine after experimenting and mixing in empty wine glasses but was overall very disappointed. They did not offer to comp beverages though I did not ask. Mainly because waitress didn't check to see if we were satisfied. I think all in all she was at our table a total of three times. After finishing my over sweetened, macchiato coffee wine glass blended beverage; we waited around for an additional 10 minutes as she had disappeared yet again. I decided to pay and leave to avoid any further frustration and embarrass my date and just bookmarked this location as definitely...

The Chef: Maggie Juarez

The Dish: Asiago Cheese Portabella Mushroom Stuffed Ravioli with Alfredo Sauce and Grilled Shrimp and Scallops

I decided to have lunch at Olive Garden in Honor and Memory of my husband Victor O. Landron, to whom I had to say a final goodnight, My Love, on February 19, 2018.

The pasta was an absolute dream. Perfectly cooked from the filling to the shell of the ravioli itself. The seasoning of the mushroom filling, the Alfredo sauce and the sauteed shrimp and scallops was nothing short of perfection as well. It paired well with the Moscato wine my waitress had suggested for a tasting when I was seated.

Over all my Memorial Luncheon for my husband, was nothing I had expected it to be as this particular location of Olive Garden's restaurants was Victor's favorite. I had expected my trip to end in tears of sadness and had fully expected as well to not be able to even stay long enough to even order the meal.

However; on that score I was completely wrong. Not only was I able to stay and order a meal. But I was able to share my memories and my views of the meal with my waitress and the chef as well.

Thank you both for allowing me to tell you of My Love and for one of the most enjoyable meals I have had in the year since Victor died.

I will share this now with anyone who reads this review. Chef Maggie Juarez possesses the skill of and better than some 5 Star rated chefs that I have had the opportunity of sampling some of those dishes.

I have and will continue to not only come for the food and employees, but recommend to friends...