Olive Garden Italian Restaurant — Restaurant in Turlock

The food has definitely gotten better. Hadn't been to an Olive Garden in years due to the last time I went and the pasta was overcooked and not edible. I had taken a bite and it was so gross that I sent it back. I remember not even getting the salad because the waitress was so busy but when we got the bill I was still charged for it all. There were a few groups outside so we knew there'd be a wait. Firstly, they shouldn't allow children as hostesses, especially these dunces - empty tables throughout the restaurant but there were 7 names on the list and over 30+ minute wait (we were quoted a 35 minute wait). I saw two empty seats at the bar top so that's where we sat. There were 3 staff behind the bar, two were cleaning and the bartender was making a few drinks so we patiently waited. The bar top stank like dirty mop water. They need to get new cleaning products or figure something out because I'm pretty sure the bar top shouldn't stink after they wipe it down. They brought out bread, which I returned because I prefer plain bread with no butter or garlic salt. We ordered to waters with lemon then began to peruse the menu. For some reason the bartender was in a hurry to take our orders. We still hadn't made a decision, so he waited like 5 minutes before asking again. We ended up ordering the “Make your own pasta.” I ordered salad no dressing, with rigatoni and 5 cheese marinara. My BF ordered soup with rotini and meat sauce. The salad and soup came out pretty quickly. After my boyfriend's 2nd bowl of soup, I tried ordering more bread but the bartender kept disappearing and the other staff who came by pretended not to listen. While we were eating our salad/soup basically all the bar customers had ate and left but the dishes were left sitting there for a while. Our pasta entrees came after a good amount of time and we were able to enjoy our salad/soup. At this time I ordered more bread, which took a while to come out. I do want to say, both the appetizers and the entrees were delicious. We really enjoyed the food. The service was spotty. Guess wait staff like having jobs, but don't like...

“Trying to Feed Kids, Not Run a Con Game”

I don’t usually write reviews, but this one’s earned it. Took my family—three adults and two actual children (ages 12 and 9)—to Olive Garden for a chill dinner. We ordered three adult entrées and two kids meals. That’s five meals. For five people. Simple math, right?

Apparently not.

Our server Elizabeth seemed convinced I was trying to pull a fast one by ordering two kids meals. Like I was running some underground pasta hustle. She gave me that “mm-hmm, sure” vibe the whole time, like I was trying to feed a grown man off a $7 kids’ menu. Newsflash: kids eat kids meals. That’s why they’re called that.

Bill came out to over $100—because surprise! I wasn’t cutting corners, I was just feeding my family.

But it gets better.

I called to express how uncomfortable and low-key judged I felt, and some guy named James, who claimed he was the manager, said he was “sitting next to me for his lunch” and I “didn’t have two kids with me.” First of all, creepy. Second, are you the manager or a spy in the booth next door? And third, don’t gaslight me—I know who I brought and I’m not in the business of pretending to have kids for discounted spaghetti.

James proudly stood by his employee (Elizabeth) and dismissed my concerns entirely. Cool, cool. So much for “hospitaliano.” The other “manager” Macy also seconded this.

Bottom line: if you’re a parent trying to feed your kids without being side-eyed or called a liar, maybe skip this Olive Garden. Take the trip to the one in Modesto. Or bring your birth certificates, just in case you need to prove kids are...

This was the worst experience that I have ever had at this place .First of all they said it was a 15 minute wait which turned into a 30 minute wait. Then it was a Monday usually during the week for lunch are not do busy too. Well people were leaving as they finished their food and they were not calling people to be seated at all. Finally my husband asked how much longer they go O we are cleaning tables now do another 5 minutes. Ok then to top it off we get seated. Ok my husband and I had an appointment to get to so we know what we want to eat. Our waitress came over her name was Nicole. She asked us what we would like to drink . We told her . Then I told her we were also ready to order she told me well there is two other people ahead of you. Ok I didn't know at this place they take you in order how you came in and do what if I was ready to order and those people weren't. So if it took them 15 minutes to decide what they wanted I would have to wait. That is not how you paying treat customer and to top it off Nicole was rude. I have told many people about this waitress there so please ask not to sit in her section let her loose tips we are the paying customers. I will not go back to this place in Turlock because of this waitress. We did walk out she saw us and I hope this Nicole brought us her drinks too. That would have been an empty table. Had to have lunch at McDonald's instead which got better service there at fast...