Olive Garden Italian Restaurant — Restaurant in Salem

Went there and my server ignored my husband and myself because we’re white. I say this because not only were we patient for 20 minutes waiting for water, the server got the order wrong and then she charged us for an additional drinks, an appetizer (which we didn’t order) and it was another server had to bring the correct order after asking her which she never corrected. I felt bad wasting food so I said I’d take the incorrect order but if I could get my shrimp instead of making a new entire meal? Never got it until I asked another server about it and he brought it out. My original server spoke Spanish the entire time at the side table ignoring my husband and newborn baby. The restaurant wasn’t busy and felt ignored unless we asked the male server who attended to the tables on the other end. Never again will I go somewhere that isn’t family friendly and people who don’t speak English. My order wasn’t complicated either. But at the end is what set me off. She added 2 items that I NEVER ordered. I had brought to her attention, she rolled her eyes and said “oops” like I didn’t feel offended and conned. I honestly felt she hated us by her tone, manners and oblivious ignoring and adding items to the check. Salem I love because of the diversity but stop hating on White people. Ignoring a family for over 20 minutes just for water proves this staff treats people like second class citizens. To the male server who helped us and it was his first day back since covid, thank you for attending to us. Even though it...

Visited at 6:30 pm on a Saturday night.

Ordered calamari appetizer, kids' spaghetti with a meatball, stuffed chicken marsala, and ravioli Carbonara with chicken.

Food: calamari was limp, with some big clusters still stuck together as though dumped from the freezer straight into the fryer with no effort to break up the clumps. A bus boy plopped it down on the table without a word and left. No plates or silverware provided. We had to wave him down to ask for plates and silverware.

Entrees Kids' Spaghetti and meatball: My daughter thought her spaghetti was bland and the meatball tasted like "a gray sponge."

Stuffed Chicken Marsala: gluey mashed potato, mushy broccolini, and dry chicken. The sauce and mushrooms were fine.

Ravioli Carbonara: Pasta and sauce were fine. Portion was huge. Chicken fritto on top was overcooked and leathery.

Service was very slow but friendly. That's understandable on a busy night.

Other issues Drinks: refills served out of a pitcher with no confirmation of what the drink is supposed to be. Consequently, my wife's Sprite was refilled with water, and my mango-peach iced tea was refilled with plain tea.

Honestly, though, it's Olive Garden. You're not coming here expecting a high-quality experience, are you? It's pretty much what I've come to expect from this chain. I guess I just need the occasional reminder not to waste my...

We ordered Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo with extra sauce and Zuppa Toscana soup, Five Cheese Ziti Al Forno with salad, Kid’s chicken strips with spaghetti and drink, 8 breadsticks with Alfredo dipping sauce, and 3 $6 take home meals. We got all that for $88 before tip. It was absolutely delicious!! They didn’t mess up one single thing, which is saying a lot. We order take out 5-6 times a week, sometimes more, and they always mess something up or forget something. So much in fact, that I’m now paranoid about it. We never used to get take out but during the pandemic we got used to it and now prefer it over dining in. However, that comes with certain problems. But they were spot on, everything was piping hot, and the service was excellent.

I normally take pictures but we were all so hungry I didn’t realize until after we were done eating. Everything we had was amazing!! They followed all our special directions and we really appreciate the fact they have a spot for special directions when ordering online. I just wish they allowed for more characters. Sometimes you have to get creative. Lol.

There was so much food, we actually got 3 meals out of it. There $6 take home meals are the best value!!!

We highly recommend them. And for those who say this isn’t authentic Italian food, who cares, it’s delicious.

Well done...