Olive Garden Italian Restaurant — Restaurant in Auburn Hills

I'm sorry to leave a negative review.

We had a great experience last week on Rochester Road just north of M59. Just yesterday, my wife, four kids and I went to this location in Auburn Hills. We were greeted very professionally by an older woman - (figured manager or a hostess).

There was a woman sitting behind us and a bench seat waiting for someone. Well, turned out she was waiting for a manager for interview. The hostess told us that there was no way we could be seated and a day shift was just getting off. Most of the staff had four to five tables and they need to leave for the night. The late crew would not be there till at least 4:00.

She wasn't able to seat us until the late crew came in. Sorry, but this does not make a whole heck of a lot of sense to me. She said that we would have to wait but, she didn't know how long. My wife asked for that reason and then she explained. Hopefully, the staff will come in on time? So, she's guessing about 30 minutes or so. I appreciated her truth to that.

I have worked many restaurants over the years and also managed quite a few also. I have never heard of anything so silly as this. Servers tip out your bartender, bus staff, food runner correct? So, what is wrong with turning over a table and possibly splitting that tip? That being said, if the early crew had to really leave then........

This place is a corporate restaurant. I highly doubt corporate restaurant management would like any part of this.

Unfortunately, this is the second time something happened a little wonky within the past few months here. I even had asked about sitting at the bar area - the hostess said the same - NOT going to make it better. Maybe this location just needs better management?

Really, it's 3:30 in the afternoon and people are not knocking down the doors for some OG. Sorry we did not connect for the second time in 2 months. Should we pre-order our food and then ask for a table when we get there?

Sorry, management, looks like you need to figure this out. Might just be a training issue? 3 days after a new year, especially when it falls on a Sunday? That is simple retail, and restaurant food sunshine. I would never walk a customer and would do everything right to keep them in my store.

Hope you don't turn away too many customers in the afternoon...

We just returned home from Olive Garden and I am still so mad. My daughter turned 21 today and we hardly get to see her. We wanted to go out to dinner to celebrate and yet still be able to converse with each other. We had 6 adults and a 7 month old. I called on three different occasions and asked if that would be a problem since it was 7 people but one was an infant. The last time I called was an hour before we were going. I said that I wanted to confirm that this was still okay because I didn't want to drive out there and have a problem. I was assured by the manager that since one was an infant, it would be fine. When we got there, we were informed that it WAS NOT okay and that we would have to sit at two different tables. The hostess said that we would be close enough so that we should be able to hear one another. That was a joke because the only way to hear one another is to shout across the restaurant. The manager came out and apologized that he thought he would be able to sneak us in the back and proceeded to try and make it up by offering us appetizers on the house. We said we didn't need any (this was before the rest of the crew arrived). After our meal, the waiter was trying to offer us free dessert. No one really wanted to have dessert. My daughter did get a free birthday ice cream. It wasn't until we received the bill that we saw that our kids had ordered an appetizer, which was not taken off of the bill. We didn't say anything because it wasn't worth it. I wish that we were told no that they wouldn't be able to accommodate us and I would have ordered curbside pickup and had everyone come to the house so that we could all enjoy each others company and celebrate my daughters special day. Instead, my husband and I ate alone. I didn't even enjoy my meal. I will NEVER go to the this Olive Garden again. I want to give credit where credit is due and the waiter was good and attentive. It is because of him that I'm giving you a star. You lost a star for each time I called and was told something false and one for not taking the appetizer off...

Being sat in the back room, there was only cold air blowing from vent... In November. It was dark and freezing compared to the rest of the restaurant which was well lit, warm colored, friendly, and warm feeling. Every customer had their coats on in the back room.... My kids teeth were literally chattering, as was mine.

Back of the house did great, food was hot and delicious for about 2 minutes. It was REALLY GOOD... great taste. Then, it was hard, cold pasta because of the room temp. New, hot bread sticks were never offered. Refills of drinks were brought out. Service was slow, but the restaurant was decently busy, just not busy in our section. I am unaware of server table size.

Then.... The table top screen thing-- it was set in front of my child. Cool. We asked for another one for other kid. Cool. Get the bill-- we were charged money for the rediculous screens devices? What?? Waitress never said a thing. Supposedly we were told on the screen it was a $2 charge, but no one saw it pop up. There is nothing in writing anywhere that warns parents the cost even on the device. Wait staff should be required to tell every table verbally of cost. My toddlers, 2 and 4 years old, apparently got past that pop up screen without a delay, and without having to enter a birthday (which would solve the whole problem) and even without reading skills.... CHILDREN, toddlers, cannot enter into legally binding contracts including agreeing to pay for a horrible screen device. Our phones are much better..... We would have gladly used those and asked for the other device to be removed from table.

Upon asking the server about the device charge, we got snark. Absolutely unacceptable attitude and tone, explaining that we "knew" about the charge (false), and how hard it was to get that removed off the bill, (false). It was embarrassing to go through that during our special, holiday, extended...