Olive Garden Italian Restaurant — Restaurant in Silverdale

Update at bottom of original review

Sadly one of the worst experiences I’ve had from one of my favorite restaurants. My girlfriend and I went for dinner yesterday, it looked moderately busy, but we were greeted kindly and shown to a table right away. We immediately noticed that the table had not been wiped down, there was sauce, bits of cheese, and sticky rings from drinks. No big deal, it happens, so I went to ask someone to wipe it down and they apologized and said they would right away. We were seated for about 5 minutes until our server greeted us, I again asked if we could have the table wiped down - he quickly asked a bus boy for his towel and began wiping it down. That’s when I noticed that the towel being used was absolutely filthy. Like not a little bit of food, absolutely disgusting. Is this how the tables are cleaned before the customers can see? Is this the level of cleanliness we should expect from Olive Garden? This is where we should have left, but we stayed. We first tried ordering the spinach dip appetizer thing, but they were out - oh well. We settled on the endless dipping sauce for the bread sticks. Then we tried ordering the strawberry and peach balini’s, but they were out of that too - it happens. We settled on another drink and actually one of the highlights was our server was able to find 2 bottles of Prosecco to make our original drinks, so I felt a little better about staying - it was very nice of him. I got my shrimp fettuccine right away so that was nice, for me. The endless soup, salad, and breadsticks were another story. I was half way through my dish before our table even got breadsticks - and we had to specifically request them, is this a new thing? It was another 5 or so minutes until we had to specifically ask for the dipping sauce for the breadsticks that was already on our bill - then the wrong sauce was given to us. We didn’t complain because they’re all good, it just wasn’t the one we requested. I don’t mean to really rag on the server, because to a certain extent they seemed either understaffed or that he was a new server. He was pleasant, but felt very rushed during each interaction with us, but he continually averted his eyes when walking past us when we were trying to get his attention. I truly don’t think he was trying to be rude, I think that he was just doing his best to not get overwhelmed and not wanting to add more to his plate that he could handle or remember at one time - so avoiding eye contact and more requests was the way he did this. It did make it a little frustrating to try to get our food, but I get it. The server helped to quickly get us to-go containers which I appreciate. The food tasted good when we got it and the bill as usual was also pretty decently priced so I can’t complain there. We left without any more interaction from any of the staff - like seriously no interaction including from the 4 hostess that were busy talking as we walked out. The dinner ended with the both of us sitting in the car wishing we had chosen any different restaurant in a 10 mile radius. We both really have enjoyed this particular Olive Garden, but after this experience we don’t plan on being back any time soon. It’s really unfortunate.

Update: After contacting the Olive Garden email posted below I was asked to give the restaurant another try. We decided to go there for dinner roughly 2 months after my original review and let me tell you, it was fantastic and even more than we expected. Our server Trevor C was absolutely fantastic, helpful, and charismatic - he absolutely went above and beyond what we would expect of service. The place was clean and the food was delicious (last time the food was great too). I was very impressed and will be very willing to go here in the future. Thank you to Olive Garden customer service for making things right.

I have updated my review to 4 stars based on how fantastic our last visit was. I will absolutely update it to 5 stars if our next visit is anywhere close...

Due to limited space to write with google maps, I deleted my previous reviews and felt the need to re-review Olive Garden. If I could give a 4.5 star, I would. Unfortunately, it has been hit and miss on so many occasions that I almost hate to write anything, fearing the quality will change again, causing me to re-review again. But here I go. Over the past five months, my cousin and I have eaten at Olive Garden roughly six times. That amount of time alone should tell you something about the soup, salad, and breadstick combo; all times have been great! Two exceptions when our soup was lukewarm, we grew a brain and requested it extra hot, so it comes perfectly now! I've had no concerns about the salad, no dark slimy substandard pieces, plenty of dressing, and the breadsticks, hot and seasoned! Yes, in the past, we would visit and be served plain or almost stale cold breadsticks one time, and the next time served perfect ones. On another visit, we picked out brown and slimy lettuce. That was then, and this is now, with no complaints or disappointments so far!

I can only attest to the soup, salad, and breadsticks, nothing else on their menu. As I said earlier, I almost hate redoing this review, fearing our next visit will be disastrous!

All of our servers have been friendly and reasonably attentive, some of the servers a little better than others, but if I had to pick one server, (he wasn't even my server this evening) I have had on a few prior occasions over the past few years that I would rank as darn near a perfect server, that would have to be Francisco. He's friendly, funny, attentive, and courteous; his attention to detail is spot-on. So, please don't be shy; request him for your server; I doubt you'll be sorry you did. Let's hope he doesn't change my mind lol. So shout out to Francisco, always remain that excellent server you are!!!

Olive Garden shares a decent-sized parking lot with Red Lobster; although I have seen the parking lot extremely full, forcing me to park in the back of the restaurant, of course, this was pre-pandemic, however the last few visits, we have left to a very packed parking lot.

Olive Garden is near Target, right next door to Great Floors and Red Lobster, and caddy-corner to the Kitsap Mall. 3204 NW Randall Way, Silverdale, WA 98383

Although Olive Garden is not a locally own small business, they employ a good amount of local people, so thank you for supporting those jobs, as always, as always, a big thanks for supporting our locally owned small businesses; they cannot survive without all of us pitching in, and please be kind to ALL things living 🐾 🌲

Response from the owner is an old response to much...

Oh where to start, as I entered the magnificent establishment an aroma of breadsticks and Italian sensation meandered it's way into my nostrils. We were seated in the waiting area for a mere 2 minutes before our party of 20 was escorted to our table, everything was truly going our way tonight, but this was just the beginning. Mere seconds after being seated a boisterous man by the name of Denton greated us, he exuded an aura of confidence and a swagger in which I've never encountered before. His smile lit up the room. As he began to bring us our beverages we started a friendly banter, little did I know this would lead to a life long friendship. As our orders were taken, he began to warm up and crack some jokes of the most stupendous variety; akin to watching Michale Jordan in his prime, truly a master of his craft. After the orders were taken the food seemed to magically appear in front of us in a matter of minutes, as if transport by an ethereal being, but it was no anomaly, it was the Denton. It was magnificent, watching him work at a speed unmatched by Usain bolt in the 2009 olympics. The concentration in the air was palpable , the sheer unrelenting focus of Denton's eyes on the cheese grater afixed to his hand was remarkable. Nearing the end of meal (which was aight, not related toward Denton's service in any way) we began to beckon him over to our table for the bill, he moved like a swooping red eagle, dancing between costumers to help them check out (all separate check, bit of a bad move on our part) watching us all at one time like an omnipotent entity. As we began to leave he didn't just treat us like used baggage, he used the same respectful manorisms on the way out as he did the rest of the evening, showing us that just because we weren't costumers anymore it didn't mean our relationship changed in anyway. All and all I'd say our experience was enlightening and unforgettable, what was expected to be an average meal at an average chain restaurant turned into wholesome dining experience. Not only being guided to my table, Denton guided us in other aspects of life, I will cherish this unforgettable experience for the rest of my life, and for the rest of eternity. Nevertheless, Denton has truely changed me for the better, and made me a better man than I ever thought I could be, I wish him the...