Olive Garden Italian Restaurant — Restaurant in New York

January 5, 2025, between 645 and 730pm. I had the worst experience at the Olive Garden in the Bronx near the mall. I attended the Olive Garden with my boyfriend as we decided to sit at the bar to wait for our table to be ready. My boyfriend then went to the bathroom as I waited at the bar to be served. The young lady that worked at the bar stated that she would be right with me when she came back and tossed two menus on the table and then left again to do something else. When I finally received her attention, I stated that I would like to order a drink while I wait for my table to be ready. I explained to her that I would like tequila, tonic, lemon and lime. When she came back, she stated that they didn’t have any tonic. I said, “Well, seltzer would be fine.” As I watched her make my drink, I saw that she made vodka, lemon and seltzer with ice. When she gave it to me, I just drank it cause at this point I’ve been walking for some time in the mall and I was thirsty, and just needed something cold right away. I just knew I wasn’t going to order any more drinks from her. When my boyfriend came back to the table, she was punctual with her time, began to laugh and smile and joke with him, and proceeded to take his order, and he also received his order in a timely manner. I let my boyfriend have his drink because I knew he was thirsty as well, but after a while, I told him that I do not want to eat here, and I would like to leave. He proceeded to try and find our waitress, but she was eating at the side of the bar. She then said sorry I’m eating. I just looked at her and proceeded to get ready to leave. She then begins to laugh with a closed palm against her mouth, with her head tilted back and then proceeds to go back to laugh some more, privately. One of the managers closed us out since the young lady that was supposed to be working at the bar was sitting on the side eating. I couldn’t believe how I was treated so horribly; I was very disgusted and disrespected etc. Before I came to the Olive Garden that night, I was happy, smiling, and excited to have a good time with the man that I love. I kissed my man before he went to the bathroom as I sat down and waited to be served a drink at the bar. I could not believe this person deprived me of having an extraordinary night. I would rather leave the premises, than to be...

"Happy Birthday," they sang - and brought out a piece of still-rock-hard-frozen pumpkin-flavored cheesecake with a candle on it. It was a fun and unexpected surprise for my 40th birthday, that I didn't ask for. And then I saw the $8.25 on my bill for it. Really?

This was the tip of the iceberg for a dismal birthday dinner with 6 of my closest friends. The server brought our drinks once, then disappeared for the rest of the meal. She never once checked on us, refilled drinks or anything. We could see her in the next dining room over, sitting at a table and counting her tips. My "Chicken and Gnocchi" soup had exactly one piece of chicken in it, and exactly zero gnocchi. Trust me, I counted.

The icing on the proverbial birthday cake was when she brought the bill to me. She stood next to me and hovered over me, close enough that her thigh was literally touching the back of my arm near the shoulder as if she was "leaning" into me. She watched while I wrote the tip, then swiped the bill away as quickly as she had set it down. Perhaps she was afraid we would not tip her, or not tip her well, because we were somewhat vocal during the meal about how terrible the service was - and I'll bet she could hear us from the next room over while she feverishly counted her tips. Never in my life have I had a server stand over me and watch while I wrote and signed the bill. My friends were dumbfounded.. and I was offended.

The ONLY bright spot -and the reason this review gets 2 stars instead of 1.. was the hostess at the front stand. She was sweet enough that I remember her name - Katelynn. She is an absolute treasure. Friendly, charming and very quick with taking our reservation and finding us an available table. Every time we interacted with Katelynn, it was a joy. I wish Katelynn had been our server. She is a model employee who should be used as an example of what everyone else should do.

I love Olive Garden as a chain. I love the food. But I have been to the Bay Plaza location time and again - and each time I walk out disappointed. The food is okay (when you can actually get some chicken and gnocchi in your soup), but the service has repeatedly been a horrible miss. Unfortunately I don't think I...

Horrible. Don’t ever cater your food from Olive Garden! We catered from Olive Garden a few years ago and had a great experience but this year it was terrible. Will never do it again. This year we ordered over $200 So many things went wrong:

1. They told me over the phone when I placed the order that the food would be ready between 3 and 5pm.
2. I sent my daughter and nephew to pick up the food at 4:00. The food was NOT ready. They kept telling my nephew 10 more minutes....so my nephew and daughter waited.
3. An HOUR AND A HALF later they were still waiting. Instead of telling them the food was not made and would take two more hours, they made them wait there. Our family was sitting around waiting for the food and missing these kids. At the very least, they could have told them it was not ready and to come back in a couple of hours. Instead they kept them there waiting. Family had flown in to spend XMAS eve together and these kids were waiting there for TWO hours!
4. I tried calling multiple times to find out what was going on. They put me on hold for over 10 minutes on one call, over 20 minutes on another.
5. The manager (Matthew) instead accepting responsibility, LIED and said he had informed my nephew that there would be a two hour wait and he CHOSE to wait. That was not true. My nephew and daughter kept being told “the food was coming” “just 10 minutes more"
6. When the food arrived, the salads were wilted and gray. There were no serving utensils, paper napkins or paper plates..all of which were supposed to be included.
7. Instead of ice tea, they sent lemonade.

VERY BAD. DO NOT CATER YOUR FOOD FROM OLIVE GARDEN. If there was a lower rating, I would use it. I forgot to add that my order was over $200 and they were still going to charge a...