Olive Garden Italian Restaurant — Restaurant in Columbus

Food: I hate to rate a place based on a single thing that I think they do really well, but that's the case for Olive garden. They're unlimited soup and salad. Lunch is a pretty decent deal and is filling and very tasty. I'm not a fan of their Italian dressing, but they're happy to make the salad naked and do what customizations you want, whether it's extra olives and onions or no croutons or peppers. I've never been a fan of pasta fajole, but their chicken gnocchi soup is my all-time favorite. Now I have to say it's Hit or Miss, just because I went there the other day with a girlfriend and she got a bowl of soup that was filled with the little gnocchi dumplings and mine did not have a single dumpling in it. Disappointing but the soup itself is good so it was still a good lunch. They also have a sausage, kale and potato soup that I like, but not nearly as much as the gnocchi. However, it is an absolute taste treat to dip your breadsticks in that soup broth!

I have had other things on their menu and they're pretty decent but I truly come here for the soup and salad!

Atmosphere: Olive garden like a lot of other places has gotten as many tables in as small place as possible. This means that when you have in a row over an overly boisterous server talking to a table of overly boisterous customers, you can't focus on anything at your table because it's...

While waiting for our table I proceeded to the bar to get a beer while we waited. I noticed a beer on draft that I have never seen or tried before, so I was curious and asked for a sample. The bartender denied my request and proceeded to ignore me. Once our table was ready, we were seated and moments later greeted by our waitress. I then asked the waitress for a sample of the same beer, she accepted my request but returned with a sample of wine instead. I then cleared up the confusion and she went to the bar with my request only to come back to the table to deny my request as well, she then offered to get the manager. The manager came and I thought surely he would grant my simple request but I was denied yet once again. So we decided to leave based on the ridiculous attitude of the manager and the fact that my request was denied so firmly. I remained calm and informed the manager of my decision to leave instead of having a nice meal with my daughter. The manager felt the need to escort me from the table all the way to the front door as if I had been making a scene and he was kicking me out. That part may have been the most offensive part of the whole situation, not to mention embarrassing. I will not be going to olive garden for my future Italian cravings, there are plenty of other options with better food and service. Sad to say this will be...

Update please read till the end of post.

I am normally very happy when I go to Olive Garden but the server we had was not the best. He came and took our drink order and then brought them and then took our meal order and at this time I asked him for extra napkins. After he left we didn't see him until after I talked to a manager, and I only did that because we need refills on our drinks and our server was no where to be found. Now I gave them three stars only because a young man who appeared the be the kitchen manager came out and offered us a free dessert. We didn't take the free dessert for two reasons, one we was full and two because I didn't make a complaint to get free food I didn't it because if the manager doesn't know about a problem then they can't fix the problem. The food was good as normal.

As you can see I was contacted by someone from their corporate office and I emailed them our experience per their request. Not long after sending an email to them about our dinning that evening they sent me a gift card. Now I will state this again I didn't go to the manager or make this post to get something in return. The only reason I told the manager is so they could fix the problem and the post is to let others know what they might have to expect when dinning at...