Olive Garden Italian Restaurant — Restaurant in Cherry Hill Township

I hope that yesterday when I visited the restaurant that it was just an off day. For starters, when I came in, there was no host. We waited for a couple minutes and had to go ask the "to go" section for seats. When the "to go " gentlemen sat us, we waited upwards of 10 minutes for a waiter to come. After about 5 min I was using the digital device to order an app and drinks. When I was finishing putting in drinks the waiter finally showed up. He asked what we wanted for drinks and I showed him what I was putting into the device. He confirmed that was what we wanted about 3 times. We already knew what we wanted to eat so we ordered our meals as well. We didnt want soup or salad, just breadsticks. The waiter read the order back to us, and I let him know we also ordered an app prior to him getting to us. He goes away, and comes back with drinks, then reconfirms our food order. Shortly after he arrives with the app and breadsticks. He asked if we wanted cheese on the app, so we said sure, and he proceeded to shred cheese from a position above the height of his head over the food on the table, cheese got everywhere. Never saw that one before. The breadsticks were cold and stale, worse than taking them home and keeping in the fridge for a few days. The waiter comes back after we finished the app and said "the kitchen has your order, but usually there are better timed courses, would you like soup or salad? It's free." Well I certainly hope the kitchen had our order after we confirmed it 3 times with the waiter. And no, we don't want soup or salad, even if it's free, we just want pasta. Keep in mind the wait for food wasn't long, the waiter brought this up. We had "bread sticks" and he was awkwardly concerned we might starve with no food in front of us. Food came out as ordered, cheese grating continued to be weird from the waiter, pasta tasted yummy. Never once was offered drink refills. Sat empty for most of my meal. When done we asked for a box, and confirmed we could pay at the table device. I paid, the green light came on, and we waited. Ten minutes later the waiter looked at us sitting there, darted back to the back, and arrived seconds later with a box. He placed his hand on the green light and asked "did you get the check figured out?" Dude, why do you think the green light is on. At this point we have out box, we are paid, we are ready to get up and leave, and the waited asked if he could get anything out of the way for us. NO! You can get out of the way so I can get up and leave this nightmare of an experience , but instead he bussed the table. I wish I knew his name, please get better help at this restaurant . Food is mostly good, just need...

Worked at this establishment for 2 days; came from a different location after 6 months with no issues. I have worked in or with over a dozen different restaurants; both fine dining and casual. This was the single worst managed business I have ever seen in my entire life, let alone worked for. Multiple health code violations at any given moment being committed in the kitchen; from silverware visibly having food from previous guests being brushed off BY HAND before being given to other unknowing guests, to employees eating off of guests dishes prior to serving them. No verification process for employees who claimed to be vaccinated not wearing masks, as in no proof of vaccination requested upon beginning to work without a mask either in the kitchen or front of the house. Regardless of whether or not these things are company policy, or STATE LAW, they were ignored completely during the time I spent there. Furthermore, management became belligerent upon requesting to verify a dispute in tips at the end of a shift; resulting in personal insults and attacks when asked to explain how and why the specific amount of money was owed to the restaurant.

Olive Garden has consistently been the single most disgusting, foul and unclean establishments I have ever dined in and/or worked for. This is not to mention instances that I witnessed while working at another nearby location that included management being made aware of LIVE COCKROACHES in the actual salad mix, REMOVING THE COCKROACHES, and then SERVING THAT SAME FOOD TO CUSTOMERS; this happened on multiple occasions and there were other employees present to witness.

Needless to say, I recommend never ever giving your business or time to any Olive Garden establishment, as the management, cleanliness, and overall culture could not have been more appalling during my 6+ months with the company as a server who never one time accrued a customer or management complaint.

Put simply, the company in my opinion is trash, and although there are exceptions; managed by trash people. My only regret is that I did not record the disgusting conditions as proof. I assure you, any research into other former Olive Garden employees' testimonies will result in similar stories...

If i could rate this with no star, I would. I haven't been to this olive garden in 6 years, (since I moved to Florida) I just came back to visit family whom I haven't seen, yesterday for a few days. My aunt called a wk ago to make reservations for a group of 25 ppl. We were informed that they don't do reservations, but to call 2hrs in advanced. Ok, no problem, we called 3 hours in advanced. We get there, they sit us at 3 separate tables. How is a group of 25 ppl (family) supposed to converse sitting at 3 different tables. We have to get up, walk over to the next to talk to them? Some of us that was there were grandparents, and can't get up and down. Meanwhile standing near another table of customers eating there food feeling uncomfortable because we're standing near them as they eat. Me and my mother suggested that they put the tables in the shape of a square to make it easy on everyone. The waitresses can walk around and take orders, we could all see and talk to one another, and everything wouldve been good. The manager there would not accommodate us at all she looked like she had an attitude and just didn't want to make any changes what so ever. If that was the case, they shouldve said they don't take parties that size. Then on top of that we were told that we had to pay on 3 checks total. 🤯🤯since when can't we pay for our own food separately? We can pay on as many checks as we need to. Had we all came in separately at different times, we would've gotten separate checks right? Because im pretty sure some other restaurant wouldve loved to have had our business tonight. My family was not satisfied tonight at this olive garden, but we made the best of it because we haven't seen each other in a while. As for myself I wanted to say something in person, but everyone knows you don't argue with restaurant workers before you get your food. But for the future, I will not be back at this restaurant for NOTHING. I don't care how important the event is, whats happening, even if they're giving away free food. This location is not for the customers nor making them feel welcome or...