Olive Garden Italian Restaurant — Restaurant in Wheeling Township

Summary: Limp lasagna, seafood drowned in sauce, overcharges, excellent coffee. I took my wife here for dinner last night. Olive Garden was having a 2-for-$25 special, and my wife loves Olive Garden, so this was enough to get us there. The soup and breadsticks were very nice. She had chicken-and-dumplings soup, I had pasta fazzul(sp?) and both soups were light, delicately-flavored and quite tasty. Then came the entrees: my wife had tilapia, shrimp and broccoli served on a huge plate and nearly underwater in sauce. In fact, there was so much sauce that it looked more like a soup than a main dish. Both the tilapia and shrimp were cooked well, but there was wayyyyyy toooooo muchhhh sauce and the delicate flavor of the seafood was lost. I had the lasagna. It looked delicious, but the "delicious" part ended there. Lasagna should always be prepared with the pasta al-dente (chewy and firm) because a big part of the presentation of lasagna is the preservation of the layers. This poor, limp lasagna pasta had been cooked until it disintegrated and was then interred into a sad, soggy bed of insufficient Ricotta cheese, non-existent ground beef and tasteless tomato sauce. It made the lasagna a mixed goulash of ingredients instead of layers of pasta, cheese and meat. Not very enticing... In fact, there was so little meat in this dish that I asked our waitress for two meatballs on the side. Sigh...it was a mistake, too... The meatballs were tasteless as well, despite being drenched in a "savory meat sauce." After we finished our main course, I ordered coffee, expecting to be disappointed, but it was served in a carafe with cream on the side, and was absolutely delightful! I'm fairly particular about the quality of my coffee and this was just... excellent! I recommend it highly. Because I wanted this occasion to be pleasant for my wife, I didn't complain about the lasagna, despite being asked by 3 separate non-waitstaff people how we enjoyed our meal. When the bill came, it was for $45. The extra meatballs were $2 each, the coffee was $5, and the 2-for-$25 was really 2-for-$36!!! Once again, for the sake of my wife, I didn't complain, but I wouldn't recommend this Olive Garden to anyone. Pick another Italian...

We usually enjoy our lunch and dinners at Olive Garden. For the most part, the food tastes pretty good also. At this visit, the location seemed to be short staffed because the waiter help that we got was very grumpy and litterally tossed down the costers on the table to each of us. I am not sure if he was tired or having a bad day, but people need to learn how to maintain manners in all settings. He gave us a few minutes to decide and when we asked for more time (we had seniors and children who still needed more time) he litterally threw his hands up partial to his head and just walked away. He didn't like that and came back almost 10 minutes later after we asked the person cleaning the table behind us if we can get our order in, he said he would let our server know. We were not there for a free dinner. Prices are higher on all items including kids meals. Everyone deserves to be treated kindly.

Breadsticks: Did the ingredients or baking change? They were much toastier and smaller than we used to love having before. Maybe we got an overcooked batch?

Appetizer: Artichoke dip was super hot and delicious! This was what I filled up on since I didn't want to eat the chicken Alfredo due to questionable chicken.

I had to send back the soup as it was litterally cold. Perhaps it was poured out bowl too quickly and just sat there to be picked up by waiter or something, but minestrone soup is supposed to be hot.

Chicken Alfredo: Both orders of this item had Chicken that looked and tasted rubbery. It was not cooked well at all. I was afraid to complain about it also because I didn't want to seem like a troublemaker. My husband ate what he could and left a lot of it. I took my plate for to-go and believe me, after cooking the chicken for litterally a few minutes with a little bit of water only, made a huge difference. No oil was needed and still tasted much more cooked and better the next day at home.

Other Entrees and kids meal: All good!

Deserts: Yum and more Yum! Perfect flavor!

*Utensils and plates need to be scrubbed and washed more appropriately. The server even noticed a dirty glass and plates and took them back for us.

Overall we had a decent dinner but there are definitely areas for...

Things sure have changed for the Worst. I was with my family. We walk in & 6 girls, I Guess hostesses, just Stared at us. No Hi Hello Welcome to The Olive Garden, nothing! Just "how many?" Never asked if we would like a booth or table. She took us to a booth & I had to ask for a table, well then she looked all confused & could not figure where to seat us. Finally my sister pointed at a table & the girl said uhm ok. Before the girl walked away I asked her if I could get a carafe of water right away. She looked confused! She disappeared & Never came back! I got up to look for her only to find her laughing with the other girls back at the front, I startled her, asked her again & she disappeared aGain! I Never got a glass of water. Im assuming she went to tell the waiter, that was busy, instead of getting it herself. Those girls need to be trained. Awhile later a waiter finally appeared & I asked him for a carafe of water & he too was confused! I said a carafe or Pitcher of water. "oh we don't do that here" I drink alot it & helps to not have to keep waiting for my glass to be filled. I thought since they sell wine they would have a carafe! An appetizer was ordered. Shrimp Fritto Misto. $13. for shreds of onions & bell peppers & no way a half pound of shrimp. The pieces were so tiny the breading could not even stick. 4 people needed more dipping sauce, waiter did not think & never came to ask how is everything. I had to get up again & stopped a different waiter to ask for more sauce. Our waiter showed up with the sauce way too late. The dinners were shrimp Alfredo, it was just ok, spaghetti & meatballs, needed more sauce & meatballs had a weird taste. Chicken & shrimp carbonara. Hardly enough sauce & not enough garlic & I swear caned asparagus pieces. Last, Grilled chicken Margherita. My favorite. 2 tiny chicken breast, looked totally pre made, un melted cheese, a blob of basil pesto & barely any lemon garlic sauce & warmed up in the oven. Our waiter never came to check on us. Our bill was over $130. & a total rip off. Quality has really gone down but prices are still the same. I hope you have a better experience & better food like...