Olive Garden Italian Restaurant — Restaurant in El Paso

My family and I have been going to Olive Garden for years and we have always had wonderful experiences. In fact, growing up, it was reserved for premier events/celebrations because we never had much money. Never have we ever experienced as horrible service as we did today. 2 of us arrived and got seated at 5:00. We did not receive our meals until about 5:50 even though other small tables around us received theirs (they arrived at least 20 minutes after us). I am typically not the type to bash service because I understand how hard it can be to be a waiter. However, we feel that our waiter (I believe by the name of Ivan), purposefully ignored us throughout the night because he possibly assumed we were poor (we were not fancily dressed)? He was so attentive and kind to the other tables around us, but when he got to our table, he was very brief, cold, and distant. He never came to refill our drinks even as he refilled those around us. He never came to check on our table even as he checked on those around us. The way he interacted with us made us feel less than and it hurts to feel that way as a human. After we ate, we ordered a to-go order (which I know, looking back was a mistake). We ordered the order at 5:50 and he brought the final until about 6:30 even as other tables continued to come in and he attended them. I wish I could show you all, but the diner was not busy at all (I would understand if it was and that could be a possible explanation, but it was not). We hope that the server can do better because we ourselves have family members in this line of work and related lines of work. However, I heavily recommend against ever going to this place because even though we did complain to the manager, very little was done to offer an apology (we did not even want a monetary apology, we simply wanted a genuine sorry for...

Food was great, so was the service, and so was the atmosphere, just what you would expect from Olive Garden. The problem was Hanna the lady who sits you down and chooses your seating arrangements. She sat us in a really dark part of the restaurant, it felt like a dungeon, so we asked to be moved. This really bothered her as she was in control of seating. She gave us attitude and was really rude to us during our table move. Then the waitresses got involved, I could hear murmurs and stares our way....it was evident we messed up their plans and tipping arrangements or whatever. Our drinks took a really long time to be moved, our food came in the wrong order and one plate at a time....the order and serving process was completely wrong. I complained to our server who got really nervous and she didn't know what happened. It wasn't our server though it was Hanna. So I called the manager but he was protecting Hanna and I could tell. Hanna is probably a very bright person and a great employee I could tell she was competent, its just her attitude and her unwillingness to serve the customer the way the customer wants. Needless to say she semi ruined our meal. The food was really good though, however she made us wait for 20 minutes longer than we should have, we got salad after food, and everyone got their food at different times. It wasn't the experience you would expect from Olive Garden which I love and have been patronizing for the last 30 years or so. She needs a lesson in manners and in customer service, she needs an attitude adjustment. Even the table next to us noticed her attitude gone wrong and commented to us on it. They said "Feisty"!!!! One bad employee ruins it for everyone, I know, I work in a service industry too. She doesn't need to be fired, she needs...

Extremely disappointing tonight!!!! This place is usually a good place to treat ourselves to a nice dinner out. I understand that we came about an hour an a half before closing, but the staff obviously was more concerned about completing there closing duties than helping their customers. The pasta was crunchy as though it had sat under a heat lamp. Service was poor/ inattentive. Drinks were never refilled or even offered. Server came to table twice after food brought to the table without checking on it. Upon leaving the restaurant my wife saw the manager and server standing by the door. She informed him that the visit was really disappointing. He responded “ oh you should’ve told me. I could’ve discounted the meal.” The discount is not what we were commenting for. He stated “well next time we go ask for him for a discount.” To his response I hope the management looks into the poor performance of the manager, and his staff. Managers are expected to visit tables during walk through’s of the restaurant. In the more than an hour we did not once see a manager talk to tables. An attentive staff does not wait for a customer to tell them that they are not happy. I’m not sure that I will be giving this restaurant another opportunity to earn my patronage anytime soon!! I truly hope that this is addressed with the staff.

After this post I was contacted by the regional manager, and they apologized for the situation. They also replaced my meal at a later time. That time the food/ service...