Olive Garden Italian Restaurant — Restaurant in Columbus

I rated this restaurant high for food and atmosphere because it was not crowded and we had a lovely semi private table for our group of 7 people meet & greet. The food is the same as it is at every location, love the salad, pasta is basic but good, etc. But the service was TERRIBLE. Our server took over 5 minutes to get to the table. We considered ordering through the table top device but couldn't figure out the soft drinks and gave up. So we were frustrated when he took so long. I ordered an unsweet iced tea and another person ordered a sweet tea, and another person ordered a diet coke with no ice. When he brought our drinks they all had almost no ice. Mine looked dark so I asked if it was unsweet and the server said it was. I took a sip, while he was still at the table, and it was not unsweet. I said, "Oh no, this is sweet yuck." But he ignored me and walked away. The sweet tea person, sipped theirs and discovered it was unsweet. We both put our tasted drinks aside (we are strangers) but the server never came back and we ended up just trading tasted drinks eventually. A food runner brought out our food and the server brought out our salads but didnt bring the parm and after a while we got tired of waiting and just served the salad. Then he never refilled our drinks and we needed to eventually ask someone if they could refill our drinks for us. As we finished eating we began to pile our dirty plates at the end of the table as a hint that we were finished but he never came to clear them. A friendly manager did stop by and ask if everything was okay, and because I was at a table with people that I had just met I didnt want to complain about anything but even she only took one plate and left the other dirty plates there. The server brought the bill and wordlessly handed it to me. AND finally he decided to give me his undivided attention but standing over my shoulder, without saying a word, No thank you for coming, how was your meal, etc. but loomed over me waiting until I signed it. And I am embarrassed to admit that I felt pressured into adding a 20% tip because he was standing over me. I am a coward who only gives my honest reviews on the...

The food is always great! The service is always fantastic! I would love to give this restaurant five stars but there was an issue on our last visit. My husband was offered the initial tasting pour ($0.25 for 1 oz.) of the Moscato wine that was offered that evening. He liked the wine and opted to purchase a glass. Our server came often and offered glass after glass for purchase. She was really on her toes. However , towards the end of our meal she offered a 9 ounce carafe and said that it was cheaper than buying it by the glass. We purchased the 9-ounce. Upon paying our check she let us know that they sold this by the bottle ($25.00)to take home for later. We found out the next morning through the internet that although this wine is not sold locally it can be ordered on line and shipped directly to our home. For the price of $7.99 a bottle. Everywhere we have looked for this particular brand offered at $25 by Olive Garden is sold and shipped at $7.99 to $9.99 depending. Finding that Olive Garden is selling this wine to patrons without letting them know it's three times the cost they can get it anywhere else seems a bit Shady to me. And in effect I have lost a little of the admiration I have for Olive Garden. So by all means, go to the Olive Garden they do have great food and service. But buyer beware of the opportunity to take a bottle of ANY wines that you are offered there. Check for those being sold somewhere else while you are at your table then make an informed decision as to whether you want to pay three times the price before you leave the...

First of all I never write reviews!!! However, I had to on this issue. My fiancé and me went to Olive Garden for dinner. I have no complaints about the meal that was served that evening. In addition when the bill came our waitress gave my fiancé the bill. So, I asked my fiancé for the bill since I had his money in my purse. The total came up to $53.88. I placed an $100.00 bill in the folder for payment. The waitress took the payment folder off the table and said she will be right back. Needless to say she took forever to come back with our change. So, eventually the waitress came back and said "Is there anything else she can do for us"? My fiancé said, Yes our change please! The waitress had the nerve to say "There was nothing in the payment folder"! I was in total disbelief!!!! The manager was "Apologetic", but I paid the bill with my credit card. The manager gave me a gift card which was an insult. I DONT EVER WANT ANYTHING FOR FREE!!!!! Deal with your staff that is stealing!!!! I remained calm and left. I went outside with tears in my eyes, because it is disheartening. I gave the $53.88 gift card to a beautiful family that was on there way in for dinner....