Olive Garden Italian Restaurant — Restaurant in Lakeland

My husband and I had a dine in experience at this olive garden located at 1340 lakeside village circle in Lakeland. This is literally one of our favorite restaurant chains to eat out. The food was great, Michael was our server, and he was very attentive. We left happy. The problem was that right after I walked out of the door, I literally turned around and said to myself that I should use the restroom because I have an hour and a half drive to home. I knocked on the door with a continuous knock and watched the manager, who just told me to have a good night, look up at me, and then look down at what I was guessing was her phone. It wasn't until two other employees, one being Michael, came up to the front with her and heard my knock, that they all just looked and stared at me. After seeing this, my reaction then turned to anger because at this point, what are we doing?! So I threw my hands up and said out loud," what, Yall just gonna stand there and look at me?!" The manager came up to the first set of doors, with very obvious frustration, saying how she wasn't supposed to let me in. I responded that I literally just walked out the door from eating at this restaurant and I just needed to use the restroom before getting on with my long ride. She continued to stare at me through the glass now, while I guess she was thinking on whether she would let me in. I am a person of principles and of moral character. I respect policies and i tend to try not to break the rules. This lady had me ready to go upside her head! I was tight!! She finally let me in, but continued to have a very nasty face looking at me as I walked past her. I assertiveness asked Michael where the restroom was and went in and out within 3 minutes. Now I really do get that this lady, whose name is Nikki Harwell, the manager, was supposedly following policy, but she didn't even give me the benefit of the doubt on why I was standing out there. When I came from the bathroom, I asked her for her name and asked how I can leave a review. She told me that it is policy or something in that manner. I repeated my question asking how to leave a review and her name, then walked towards the door after she gave me her card. She says it loud as i walked away, that there was a sign on the door. Now I know my little review isn't going to make too much of a difference, but I felt it was necessary. There is a way you should treat people and a way you shouldn't. She didn't even give me the benefit of the doubt of maybe I left something important or anything. The sign also reads at the bottom that if you need help, to ask a manager. I don't know if this was a sign of racism and if I had been a white woman, things would've been different, but I definitely got a very nasty feeling from Nikki's vibe. I do hope she does better in the future with assisting people, being the manager...

Rather disappointing experience. Server began by telling us that they had no Chardonnay, the Red Blend or SauvignonBlanc. I asked isnt Chard one of the most popular wines and server said yes. I asked why didn’t the mgr assure that they had enough on hand. Server said they told the acting bar mgr about low levels but nothing was done.

So that’s how our meal began. Also, there was a line so we said we’ll eat in the bar. Walked in and sat at a table in the bar area. Young man came running over and asked us to leave the table because those tables in the bar were part of the overall dining room and made us sit at the bar. He was very polite but we were taken aback because we’ve done this at other Gardens with no problem.

So, again, that’s how our meal started.

We did not remember how salty the food at Olive Garden is, from their Italian dressing to their tomato sauce to the never ending bread basket. We like real Italian bread, hard crust soft center. Their bread is soft infused with a lot of salt and a weird taste of garlic.

Server was great. Service was fine. Overall very disappointing.

Oh, one more thing which speaks to the dreadful condition of corporate America.

A young woman sitting next to us wanted a glass of Sauvignon Blanc. Lo and behold, they had none because it wasn’t ordered. The woman looked up at the display of wine above her and noticed a bottle of SB in it. She asked the barkeep if they could open it. Barkeep said no, it was in the display and couldn’t touch it. What? This woman wanted a drink and the wine was there but stupid irrational corporate rules prohibited barkeep from serving the...

Yikes, what a disaster. I mean, I know Olive Garden is always hit or miss, like 50%, it's OK. But dam Olive Garden, you really outdid yourself this time. Sunday evening, 7 pm, so yeah, I know it's busy and patience is necessary. We waited in the bar, we were going to order there, but the bartender was too busy to clean off the last customers' dirty dishes for 20 min. I get it, you're busy. She finally asked what we would like to drink, we ordered. Then I politely asked if she could take away the dirty dishes. She snapped and said she was going as fast as she could. The customers on both sides of us were being served drinks and bread over the previous customers' dirty dishes and dirty napkins as well, so I knew I needed to ask or she wouldn't remove them. It would take 20 seconds to remove the dirty dishes. But she didn't want to. F- ing gross Olive garden. So we opted to wait for seating in the regular restaurant. We didn't even complain at all. Thinking,... whatever. Got seated. Took another 20 minutes for the server to come. Our server was super slow, brought the wrong soup, then forgot to bring the right one. We ordered a second soup, and she forgot that too. 1 hour and 40 min later (not exaggerating) got served our dinners. The noodles were legit "Crusty" and super dried out. They obviously had been sitting in the warmer for a long while. She never came back. Yep, had to be a Karen and talk to the manager. 2 hour ordeal and still hungry. Also, the bathrooms were filthy, literal poo and paper towels on the floor. Come on. Foul and unsanitary. This Olive Garden should just shut down....