Olive Garden Italian Restaurant — Restaurant in Everett

We go to this location in Everett regularly - once or twice a month - and it's usually very good in all aspects. But not this time. We arrived Sunday, May 5 for dinner, at 6:15 pm. Waiting room was empty but we were told it would be a bit before we could be seated, even though we could see there were empty booths. We did get seated just a few minutes later, though. The hostess who sat us gave us menus and - oddly enough - rolled up paper napkins, instead of the cloth napkins they always give. We didn't think too much about it, figuring they just ran out of cloth napkins.

Server came quickly to take our order. I ordered ice tea and he said they were out and were brewing more. That was fine and I said I'd wait. It took about 10 minutes before he brought the salad and bread, and we then opened up the napkins. To our surprise, there was only one fork in it and...a package of crayons - they had given us the child napkin and place setting of one fork. Also, the bread sticks were hard and barely warm, meaning they were either stale or over cooked (again, a first for this Olive Garden). We asked the server for an adult napkin and place setting and started on the salad. We pointed out that the bread was hard and he brought more, which was a least warm but still hard.

About half way through the salad, the entrees were delivered because it took so long to get the salad. Still no napkins delivered and still no ice tea. Ice tea finally came after the food was delivered and we flagged down another server to get the real napkins, which were delivered but with no additional fork or knife. Oh well, we just continued with the same fork. After a bit, our server finally delivered the napkins we had already gotten, again with no silverware.

Our server didn't come back for refills and we didn't see him again until we were almost done eating, when he returned and asked if everything was okay. At this point, we just said everything was fine, paid, and left.

Now, some of this was on the server (late salad, non responsive to requests, no checking back) and some was on the restaurant (waiting to be seated when not busy, giving us child place settings, taking so long to make the ice tea, bad bread stick quality). Overall, it was a pretty bad experience and we suspect that perhaps this location has new management. We may return, but in all probability will likely go to another location in the future.

UPDATE - MAY 8

Wow! I changed my one star rating to a five star. Not only did Olive Garden respond to my review, they sent me an email asking for additional details, gave me the name of the manager, and said the regional manager will get involved and ensure that the concerns are addressed. It's unusual for big companies to even pay attention to individual complaints, much less actually respond in detail. My hat if off to Olive Garden and we are once again fans and will most assuredly be back to the Everett Location. If only all companies were as responsive and as customer focused as...

By now you should know that when it comes to food /restaurants, I am a bit difficult and always have high expectations and I always say it as I see it. I Went with the kids and grandma last night to Olive Garden and it was the first time I go there. From the reputation I thought the place is really good and serves excellent food but I was wrong. As an Italian family restaurant I expected a much higher quality food but it was disappointing. I am giving the two stars for the fantastic atmosphere, workers and waitress that were doing their best and they did well. Here's a few issues that I had: I asked if they have fresh juices, the waiter said - orange juice and I responded yes please - I think either they do not understand what is fresh orange juice or they really beleive minute maid I believe is fresh orange juice 🤔 nevertheless it was pretty disappointing. I like to try a variety of food items so I ordered the appetizer sampler, mushroom stuffed with seafood, lasagna fritta and calamari and a bowl of chicken gnocchi soup, they sent me mozzarella sticks instead of the lasagna but they brought the lasagna later. The Calamari was one of the worst I've had? What on earth is that breading? It was also rubbery. The lasagna fritta sounded great, who doesn't like fried stuff, it was extremely oily and I was not able to consume it. The mozzarella sticks where also horrible and rubbery - are they using real ingredients? The soup was ok but pretty watery and the potato gnocchi was tasteless. Kids had spaghetti and cheese pizza, they ate most of their spaghetti and I decided to try it out! Yeah, I probably shouldn't have because who ads sugar to red tomato sauce but then again this is not fresh tomato sauce and most likely not even tomatoes. Grandma ordered the eggplant Parmigiana and I took a bite and it was ok. I didn't dare to venture and try the pizza that was left, the highlight of this whole dinner was the bread sticks - honestly the only thing other than the chocolate fudge brownie that was great! I am in awe of how many reviews show that olive gardens food is great with this experience, maybe I choose the worst 5 items on the menu? It's a shame because if they cared about quality ingredients and quality food it would be night and day difference because the menu items are good. Overall, I will not take my family to Olive Garden and would certainly not recommend...

Came in today @5:03 when greeted at the door I was told there was at 15 min wait time to be seated at a booth I asked if we could sit at the bar because it was empty I was told yes. I waited for my bf to come inside to meet me at the middle of the bar, Amy first encounter with the waitress was a bit odd I sat directly in front of her as she was wiping the bar top she didn’t address me or greet me at all. I had my ID out prior to sitting down she picked it up from the table got it completely wet because she had whatever type of liquid on her hands from wiping the bar down. I immediately got a feeling that maybe I made the wrong decision by dining in, as time goes by about 5 minutes later “still waiting to be greeted by the waitress” other people arrive and sit at the bar at this point there’s about 3 groups of people at the bar keep in mind I sat down first, she brought us water and my bf said politely we already knew what we wanted to order, she then proceeds to tell him she will come back and take our order. She goes to the next group of people and gives them water then asks then what would they like to order!!!!!!! I then KNEW we were obviously being discriminated against. I asked her is she serious after my bf tried to give her our order prior to even walking to the next customer…… She then says she’s going to enter all the orders at the same time. 30 minutes go by and everyone ELSE BUT US HAVE GOTTEN THERE FOOD AND ALMOST FINISHED AND WE STILL WERE WAITING ON OUR ORDER. Never have I ever experienced this type of customer in Olive Garden people are very sick these days and I pray for you and the person who RAISED YOU…. Lord knows this situation could of went way left but we respectfully just left the restaurant. The women of course was caucasian wears glasses has tattoos on her face which is so unprofessional and blondish brown hair. Baby girl missed out on a big TIP tonight. Mostly don’t recommend this Olive Garden if you’re any shade other than white.it’s...