Olive Garden Italian - Vernon Hills

I was stuck in traffic I was so tired hungry, I pulled into Olive Garden to have Some Lunch. The waiter sat me to my table. I placed an Minestrone soup a coke order. As I looked Over the menu I couldn't believe what Great Deals they had Under $10.00. Olive Garden has Endless Soup Salad for $9.00 The Minestrone was 1 of 4 choices, I prefer To stay with I Ordered. The Waiter was very Attentive. He made sure that I was doing Okay. I had 4 bowls of their Delicious Minestrone Soup their Tasty Garlic butter Bread Rolls,. I wanted to Order more food,. But the Soup was very filling. I highly recommend that Anyone who has an appetite for Great food, definitely go to Olive Garden.

On this day last year I endured lasting trauma at this Olive Garden location that I will likely never forget. I scoured the menu and carefully made a selection, the cheese ravioli. I was delighted with my pick and informed the waiter what I would like to order. He then asked me a question I was not expecting “Soup or salad?” My world was shaken. To my knowledge, ravioli is neither classified as soup nor a salad and so I said “neither, I want pasta.” He laughed at me and replied “no sir, all of our entrees come with a free soup or salad; which would you prefer?” I was absolutely not prepared for this question. Free? What did he mean free? Nothing in this world is free, except for torture which is what I was enduring at this very moment. “I don’t really want either. Could I do without a side?” A perfectly reasonable request I thought, the waiter did not agree. He started berating me, yelling that ever since the foundation of the first Olive Garden people have been choosing soup or salad and that I just needed to “man up” and make a selection. Eventually, I picked the minestrone. I thought that was the end of it. I was wrong. When he delivered the soup to the table he did not leave, he simply stared at me. “Go on,” he said “take a bite” I reluctantly complied, fearing for my safety. He continued to watch me as a choked down the dish, chanting the entire time “eat fatty, eat! Fat boys love soup!” Tables were coming up asking him for refills but he just hissed in their face and told them to touch grass. Eventually I finished the soup and escaped the hellish nightmare, or so I thought. He brought over another bowl of soup and we continued the ritual until the restaurant closed. It was horrible. Worst of all, he charged me for each and every bowl of soup and demanded a 30% tip for his service. I came back a year later to get my revenge but got a different waiter and this time my experience was excellent. No soup, no salad, no problems.

Update! Had a great visit! Server Kingz was fantastic. Celebrated a birthday! They sang Happy Birthday! Unfortunately not in Italian like a long tome ago. I guess everything has changed. Still overall food and service was great!! Disappointed! Much of the servers have changed over. Seems like staff dilies not care.We came to celebrate my wife's birthday! Specifically told the server it was her birthday. She acknowledged and wished her a happy birthday but after the meal no free dessert or singing her happy birthday. Not sure may they dont do it any longer! I still remember when Olive Garden made the pasta fresh at their locations in front of you and the used to sing happy birthday in Italian!! Times of changed and so do places we choose to eat at!!! Oh by the way the computers on the table are a real turn off. I bet in a couple of years you will seat yourself and robot will serve your food! Have fun millennials!

It was very good. Bother my guest and I were very happy with our meals.

When it comes to Italian food, just like any other type of food out there; it really is what you like or love. I've heard people complain that OG isn't authentic, they flash-cook their food, it's the Mcd's of Italian food, blah blah blah blah blaaahh! If their food tastes good with reasonable prices, your table was clean and you had attentive friendly service; then it was a pleasant experience at a good restaurant. It may not necessarily be my personal favorite among Italian but I like a little OG from time to time and my wife stepdaughter love it. I'll admit I'm a bit bummed out that they did away with the stuffed mushrooms app but it's all good and I always look forward to a bowl of that delicious Minestrone prior to an entree. Despite the nationwide hike in food prices, prices still seem reasonable here and the service at this location reigns supreme, Amy did a wonderful job tending to us and a huge reason to come back to this location.