Olive Garden Italian Restaurant — Restaurant in San Diego

Hello- I am writing to the manager of this location about my visit last night on Mothers Day 5/14/23. Normally I would not reach out because I completely understand it was a holiday probably one of the busiest days of the year for you. First off- I called to check on your policy of reserving a table for our family of 8. The young lady who answered was nice- she did not however take my name which i thought was off but i did not think to double check since she had my number. She told me the wait was around an hour and we had to be there in order for the hour to begin- that was expected. When we arrived I checked in and they did not have my reservation and the next young lady was very nice i showed her my phone and she assured me that i would still have a place on the waitlist and apologized. We waited and then i went back inside to check after 40 minutes only to find out there again would be another 40 minute wait? I asked why she said oh your party is too large and your not in the line that called in!? So i reminded her she was who i spoke with when i checked in and she assured me she would note that other girl had messed up. She went to a manager who found us a table in 5 minutes. Now we went to site down and our waitress was very nice- attentive and we were happy with her. What we were not happy with and which i mainly why i am writing to you is we had 8 meals total. 6 of the meals were delicious and the right portion including the childs menu which in fact was quite large. My husband and I ordered the shrimp scampi and quite frankly we were more than disapointed in our meal. The portion was less than our 4 year old son!? The taste was not enjoyable and had there been more pasta on the plate instead of shrimp swiming in mostly wine flavored sauce with almost less than a handfull of pasta - I am very sorry to say we say after paying our bill over $200 We truly feel that was upsetting to have to pay for two meals which were awful. I have the receipt and really hope we are contacted to have those two...

SInce the early 90's I've been going here. The drinks are good, the pasta, salad and sauces are yummy and the prices assure that it's an easy choice for lunch or dinner.

More recently, however, since becoming homeless, I've had occasion to panhandle out on the median of busy Carmel Mt. Road (directly in front of the Olive Garden's entrance). I never considered the toil and grind of panhandling on the median to be such a captivating and highly entertaining spectator sport as it apparently is until I did it here!! While the OG patrons gather on the outside patio 50 yards away to await their party or for seating, they notice me. Once they notice me they begin to ponder, to speculate and chat about my activities. Some seem to really enjoy watching me. while others watch with angst and bitter disdain. In either case, Its a curious thing to me and it's also quite amusing to see. I like watching them watching me.They're watching me watching them watching me! :D

"Look at his new running shoes...jeez, he dresses better than I do." "I doubt that he's really homeless...he's too clean, too uhh... "sober"." "Why isn't he working? That's NOT working...that's just BEGGING." "Lets give him our doggie bag (leftovers) when we leave here."" 'Yeah Id rather give him food than money...ya know most of these homeless people are on drugs." "Drugs... it's all bad...Come on let's go inside and slug down a couple Martini's before we're' seated." I don't get as many donations of leftovers from their patrons as I do from other places, but that's because OG's leftovers are too yummy to give away. Instead I've gotten OG gift...

5/5 Stars - Exceptional Dining Experience at Olive Garden Carmel Mountain!

We recently dined at Olive Garden Carmel Mountain, and it exceeded our expectations in every way. The ambiance was warm and inviting, with attentive staff and impeccable service.

Standout Dishes:

1.⁠ ⁠Egg Plant Parmigiano: Crispy, flavorful, and tender - a masterpiece. The breading was perfect, and the melted mozzarella added a creamy touch. 2.⁠ ⁠Cheese Ravioli: Pillowy soft, filled with rich, velvety cheese. The sauce complemented the dish beautifully. 3.⁠ ⁠Shrimp Scampi: Succulent, perfectly cooked shrimp, tossed with garlic, lemon, and herbs. The portion was generous, and the flavors popped.

Beverage Highlight:

1.⁠ ⁠Sangria: Refreshing, fruity, and expertly crafted. The perfect accompaniment to our meal.

Service:

Our server was knowledgeable, friendly, and attentive. Orders were fulfilled promptly, and requests were met with a smile.

Impressions:

•⁠ ⁠Consistent quality and flavor throughout the meal. •⁠ ⁠Generous portion sizes. •⁠ ⁠Cleanliness and organization of the restaurant were impressive.

Recommendations:

•⁠ ⁠Arrive early to avoid wait times. •⁠ ⁠Try the Egg Plant Parmigiano and Cheese Ravioli. •⁠ ⁠Don't miss the Sangria.

Rating Breakdown:

•⁠ ⁠Food Quality: 5/5 •⁠ ⁠Service: 5/5 •⁠ ⁠Ambiance: 5/5 •⁠ ⁠Value: 5/5 •⁠ ⁠Overall Experience: 5/5

Will We Return? Absolutely! Olive Garden Carmel Mountain has earned a loyal customer.

To the Staff: Keep up the fantastic work! Your dedication to excellence shines through in every aspect of the...