Olive Garden Italian Restaurant — Restaurant in Lubbock

Our party of six and a half (Six adults🐥& a baby 🍼) arrived at approximately 5:30PM. The wait to be seated was very minimal (less than a minute). Our waitress did take a while to get to us. Approximately ten minutes. As we all know staffing of such positions during COVID-19 has been difficult. The waitress promptly took our drink orders which did take a little longer than expected. This was about another 7 minutes. She took our order for appetizers and returned with them promptly in approximately 5 minutes. We ordered one Never Ending Three Cheese Marinara Boat and and two Alfredo Boats. Not realizing that although the Alfredo Boat was "never ending" and provides an all you can eat platform if it is served in an additional boat (dish) it's considered a second appetizer. So to avoid being charged for an additional appetizer just pass the boat around the table. The regular Marinara was served instead of the three cheese Marinara. With the misunderstanding about the additional Alfredo Boat and the incorrect Marinara served in the second appetizer Boat we were only charged for one appetizer. Our waitress was competent enough to catch this at the beginning of the meal. So I believe that's why that was such an easy no fuss fix. We ordered soups salads and entrees as our table received our appetizers. The salads and soups made it out approximately 7 minutes. Then the entrees came in an additional 9 minutes later. There were only two dishes with issues. One Three Cheese Stuffed Pasta Shells that had sat under the heat lamp too long and one undercooked steak. The waitress was made aware of both issues. The waitress offered to remake the steak or put it back on the grill. The put it back on the grill option was taken. The steak was returned and to satisfaction in approximately 7 minutes. The waitress offered for the Three Cheese Stuffed Pasta Shells (that were under a heat lamp too long) to be remade but the option was not taken due to the time a remake involved. The remaining four meals were enjoyable and pleasing as they were. The convenience of paying by card at the table was nice. However also a nuisance, as the printer paper was out. Getting the attention of the waitress was difficult after it was assumed we no longer required her services. It worked out fine though. The structure of payment is a little rigid. So if you have a designated tipper as we do the tip can not be ran separately. So be aware of that and work out something beforehand. Perhaps Zelle or cash and have someone include that tip in the transaction.

BE AWARE OF THE AVERAGE DINNER PRICE!!! It's closer to $15+ on average. The $10-$20 leaves it...

First time back to this chain in over 10 years. Let's start this by explaining, this was to be a date night for my wife and me, first in a few months.

Arrived, 5 minute wait to be seated. Was taken to a side of the restaurant which had about 20 tables, 2 were occupied then us, no others in line before or after us.

Ordered drinks and appetizers, received 1 round of sodas, mixed drinks were not served until appetizer was brought out.

Soda's empty 5 minutes before waiter comes by to check on drinks. We asked for refills, waiter departed. 5 more minutes go by and then he brings out our dinner. Along with my soup which should have been a pre meal food. After leaving all foods, waiter departed and returned with the drinks.

Half way through the meal we get round 3 of the drinks and was advised to check bbn out on a kiosk unit at the table. We asked for To go boxes and the waiter was quick to deliver to us. After dropping off the to go box, we never saw our waiter again, despite still being seated for 15 additional minutes.

During this meal I received 3 dirty cups, 2 with food on the outside which I could pick off with some pressure and a fingernail. 1 cup had something stuck to the inside of the cup which I was unable to take off with a fingernail. Iij also received a spoon for the soup which had food on the handle. Please not we entered on football Thursday at 400PM game time, there are no TV's or game coverage provided at this place. There were only 5 cars outside and only 3 tables with customers.

For two middle aged parents, a bill of 80 bucks for poor service, dirty cups and dirty spoon, we both agreed, we most likely will not be coming back here again.

The food itself and ambiance were awesome. We may have had a bad experience, that does not mean everyone else will as well. Based on the tables in eye shot, the issue was only with my server. We observed 2 other tables near us, services by another person, were maintained and the guest were able t ok sit, order, eat, and pay before we...

We decided to eat here after driving for 8 hours in post Thanksgiving traffic from Houston. It was fairly close to our hotel and after a long day on the road the idea of some satisfying Italian themed food just sounded like a good idea.

We pulled into the parking lot and found a space to park the truck and went in, it was quite busy and 15 people or so were waiting for a table. We were greeted by the hostess and we told her we would like a quiet table for 2. She said it would be a 20 minute wait but within 8=10 minutes we were called and taken to our table.

We were quickly greeted by our server who was a young college age young man. We ordered some water and a bottle of wine. We also ordered an appetizer of the Frito Misto. Our water arrived and soon the Frito Misto but no wine. Our server got flagged by some customers at a table nearby who wanted 2-go boxes and to pay. We were half way through the appetizer when he showed up with our salad wanting to serve us. I insisted he get the wine, or we might not have it at all. He went off and after 10 minutes or so showed up and poured some. I asked that he not rush us and not bring the entrees so quickly. He said he would try but I know how these places are, they want to turn tables and get the food out as quickly as possible.

The appetizer was ok, very nice and hot but a bit salty for my tastes. The salad was ok, only 2 small tomato slices and 2 black olives over chopped iceberg lettuce.

The entrees came, my wife had the meat tomato sauce over angel hair pasta and I had the grilled salmon and broccoli. It was all good, nice and hot and fresh.

We didn't get dessert and asked for the bill. We had half a bottle of wine so they corked and bagged it up to go.

The meal was fine, it was what we needed to relax a bit. Our server was young and said he had only been serving for 3 weeks. We tipped him nicely as he tried...