Olive Garden Italian Restaurant — Restaurant in Augusta

Would have have given 5 stars, but the host 😬 Mixed feelings after our visit tonight. My family and I came to celebrate my MIL’s birthday. We called in advance to inquire about the wait time for 5-6 people and the host quoted 15-20min. My in-laws arrived a few minutes before we did and the host sat them at a “4 top” table and pulled up a chair. Initially it felt uncomfortable but we decided to go ahead and Order and make the best of it. We ordered Two appetizers for the 5 of us and shortly after we all ordered our meals. (My son and I had soup and everyone else had salad) Our appetizers arrived within 10 minutes of ordering as well as the soup and salad. Soon after, all of our main courses arrived.

The table was getting super full to the point where we would have to hold our plates and the payment tablet had to be moved to the floor. (By the server) We asked our server if it was at all possible to pull up a table as there was no room to enjoy our meals and comfortably fellowship with our family. She stated that she would see what she could do. After a few minutes, I finally got up from the table to find a manager and spotted our server. I complained that we were having a really hard time eating and asked for someone who could assist. The host (BRIA) walks up and my server proceeds to tell her the problem. The host had the worst attitude towards our server, so I asked to speak with her thinking it would possibly come from the customer better. (Sometimes coworkers have spats so I assumed she wouldn’t be rude to me, WRONG!! Lol)

I told the host that our table didn’t have enough room for my family. She rolled her eyes and asked me “what do you expect me to do about it!?” I was shocked at her response and tone, but I went ahead and asked if it was possible to pull up the empty table that was very close by. She rolled her eyes again and walked off and I asked the server for the manager. (Whom actually never showed up to the table)

A few of the other servers came up to me and asked what was wrong and I explained the issue. Jess, another server, helped clean the table next to us, pulled it up to ours and we were able to finally put our plates down and start to eat our meal. Apparently the host had been a problem for the staff throughout the night. All and all, we were able to eat and enjoy each other for celebrating. Our server Rraine was awesome and attentive, making the best out of an awkward situation.

My family and I have come to this location several times and don’t recall any issues from the past but TONIGHT….. it was just strange. So I felt the need to share.

Olive Garden, if you care at all about the experience and atmosphere of your restaurant, that host may need some additional training on problem solving and camaraderie. A little kindness goes a long way, however the common saying “one bad apple spoils the whole bunch” does too.

Would I come back, yes… if I see that host at the front, would I turn around and leave, absolutely. I just hope you guys read the reviews and have a nice talk with your greeting team about guest experience. And That is why I gave 4 stars instead of 5… food was really good tonight! lol Thanks Rraine, Jess and the other Sunday night serving crew for being so patient, kind...

Great experience, great food, and the best service - attentive and helpful when we needed it despite the restaurant being mad-rush busy. ALL the food my family ordered, from the calamari appetizers to bread, soup and salad were delicious, and my apple macotto sangria was so good that after sampling, several other guests at my table were ordering one. There was only a 5 minute wait at the front door - obviously the employees and management are experienced at handling and processing big rush crowds there on a Saturday night - and seating was quick and convenient. The waitress was most excellent - so much so we gave her a $35 tip on an $112 bill! - unusual for us, but we were quite impressed with her attentiveness despite being so busy - she was really hustling! and busy - but took the time to meet our every need and want with a happy, friendly and cheerful attitude! so we felt it was a tip she very well deserved. The restaurant was clean and neat overall despite there being a crowd of constantly changing customers, and the entire staff was very courteous and friendly. I know because I walked around some taking photos for this review, and interacted with several - mostly by being in their way - but all of them were sweethearts about it, which I liked. The food, of course, was delicious; the pasta al dente', and flavors rich and yummy. The salad was crisp, fresh and delicious, the bread sticks hot and soft, and everyone enjoyed their meal and our visit extremely well. I highly recommend this place if you're in love with some good Italian based dishes, good wines, and great service as well as ambiance.

If you found this review helpful for you to make your decision, please let me know that I am not wasting my time giving such a long comprehensive review by hitting the ol "thumbs-up" button below. And thank-you. Always glad if I was of some...

Been coming here since 2018. I have to say it had gone down hill to an ALARMING degree. Can't seem to hold onto any of their good staff. Waitress decided that we could wait for 20 minutes before she asked for our drinks. 15 after that before they showed up and we finally could place our order. To busy flirting with other tables occupants. 20 minutes later salad and breadsticks show up. An issue happened with our drinks...and it never got resolved.

Onto the food! Soup shows up (our lunch, didn't want anything to heavy today) and there is nothing but broth. No chunks of potato, no dumplings in the gnocchi. Nothing! The salad was wilty and tasted as if it had been sitting for quite awhile before we got it. Breadsticks were cold and hard. Honestly this is horrible service and food. Time to find a different restraunt.

Side note: writing this in the restraunt and the waitress is STILL visiting the table full of teenage boys 10 times more than ours. She is keeping their breadsticks full, drinks topped off, and we are waiting. Anytime we try to flag her down she just says, "yea i got it". Seriously!? This is horrible and my son, my wife and I will NOT be back. This is ludicrous. Get Amber back before your restaurant dies.

Edit: Finally brought my wife actual soup instead of broth. After 20 minutes of waiting. But it's here. Now there is an elderly couple across from us. Got seated 45ish minutes after us. They are already fed and trying to get some additional sauce for their food. They are being ignored and stiffed on it repeatedly! I do NOT begrudge them being served faster, I support that, but I am appalled at the horrible service all around! They are politely asking for some additional condiments and being told to just accept the tiny amount given....