Olive Garden Italian Restaurant — Restaurant in Mishawaka

I have always liked Olive Garden's food, but, tonight was exceptional! After celebrating my son's annual "adoption day" at Build-a-bear, we had dinner at one of his favorite restaurants; Olive Garden.

Olive Garden can be a bit pricey with some of their dishes, but, they also have dishes which are frugal, but, you still have an over abundance of food. Being on a Christmas budget, my wife and I ordered from the "build your own pasta" menu. I ordered the rigatoni with meat sauce and sausage and my wife had corkscrew pasta in creamy mushroom sauce with chicken strips while my son ordered shells with plain marinara and French fries. All the food was fantastic and as usual, we could not finish and had plenty to bring home. Olive Garden also has an offer, for an additional $5 per dish, you could bring home an additional full serving. However, being on a budget, we did not utilize this offer at this time.

When we were seated, which was a nominal wait due to time and being the Christmas season, we were cared for by a young lady who was probably one of the most polite and attentive people I have encountered at a restaurant. After ordering, she brought out bread sticks and salad. Being Italian and also wanting to show off a little, I thanked her by saying "gratzi". She immediately responded by saying "wow, impressive! Is that French"? I replied; "No", she then asked; "Spanish"? I replied; "No, it's Italian". However, I think I embarrassed her slightly by not recognizing the Italian "thank you". The service she exhibited pretty much made us feel like we were the only patrons in the entire restaurant. Every few minutes she came over to see how we were doing and if we needed anything. She even took extra time to talk with my 6yo son who shared his day with her. She even apologized for not being more attentive due to picking up more tables in another zone.

At checkout, she assisted with showing us how to pay using the table payment center. This young lady is a true gem and Olive Garden should be grateful for having such a wonderful person on...

First time ever sitting in a segregated business. Tuesday May 27, 2025 at 4:05pm. We arrived as party of 4 adults and 2 children. We were visiting our daughter, son-in-law, and 2 grandchildren from 18 hours away. We were seated in the far back around the corner. We didn't think anything of it. By the time we finished our meal, we noticed 4 parties of Black and Hispanic customers all in one small corner out of sight from other patrons. We were the only table with kids in that back area. We paid $212.24, which includes a 30% tip. Then, upon leaving, we noticed not 1 single table anywhere else in the restaurant were there any other people of color dining anywhere else. Yes, I did look because I wanted to know. AND there were plenty of tables available to accommodate the size of our group. I immediately felt sick to my stomach in disgust and the same with every adult in our group. This is not who we thought Olive Garden was. We frequent this restaurant all the time in Florida, and never have we ever felt this way. It was blatant, and there isn’t anything anyone can say that would change my mind or anyone in my party's mind. It's absolutely gross and hateful to the fullest extent. So, any person of color going to this restaurant pay attention to the signs of respect, and if their spirit doesn't feel right, find another place to dine because they are handling your food and drinks. Oh, and the hostess was extremely rude. She did not want to give us a highchair for our 2 year old grandson. She was very argumentative and only would offer a...

Never had problem here in the past but now will not go back. They were busy, yet we were sat in just 10 min. Waiter greeted us and started off fine. He left to place order and we rang for service, he never came. Asked three more wait staff in area to get him, he never came. Finally shows with soups and salads and leaves to grab a refill for my husbands drink, returns with refill but leaves empty glass. Passes by to tell us food on way and take "some" plates, never asking how it was or if we wanted more. Food runner brings food (no room on table) I ask her to take empty salad bowl two plates and the empty glass and she flat out said "no" I said excuse me there is no room to put the food you have and she says "not my job, that's on your server to clear the table" squeezes the plates around the edges of table (we had children there that could've easily knocked it off) so I put the dirty plates in the floor. That got the attention enough for the waiter to come and make a remark "I see you made the plates disappear" and again didn't clear those in table or ask how the food was. The food was definitely not as good as it normally is. Meat on both adult entrees was dry and not sure what happened with one of my sons but he ended up puking three times after lunch.

When the waiter delivered the check his attitude changed and he started smiling and asking if we needed anything but by then we were ready to leave.

Plenty of other Italian choices...