Who likes Olive Garden?

[Slateman]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2014/09/07/olive-garden-never-ending-pasta-casual-dining-restaurants/15139803/

Seven weeks of all you can eat pasta

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

This gluten-free madness must be killing them.

[Natsinpwc]

I confess I go occasionally but that's a little too much pasta.

[MarquisDeSade]

Save yourself $20 and buy a box of Kraft dinner.

[Natsinpwc]

Save yourself $20 and buy a box of Kraft dinner.

But the wife wants to go out and not cook and its nearby and doesn't cost much!!
Also, the dog likes the leftover meatballs we bring back.

[Slateman]

But the wife wants to go out and not cook and its nearby and doesn't cost much!!
Also, the dog likes the leftover meatballs we bring back.

In conclusion

You hate yourself
You hate your wife
You hate your dog
You hate your toilet(s)

[Natsinpwc]

In conclusion

You hate yourself
You hate your wife
You hate your dog
You hate your toilet(s)

As long as they are happy

[MarquisDeSade]

There should be at least a couple of comparable non-chain places nearby where you don't have to go full-blown American jackass and eat at that sorry excuse for "Italian" food.

[imref]

My kids love og and every time we go the places are packed

[tomterp]

There should be at least a couple of comparable non-chain places nearby where you don't have to go full-blown American jackass and eat at that sorry excuse for "Italian" food.

Like Carrabbas?   

Delivering decent food at decent prices, that's the American chain restaurant for you.  But life is just a lot more interesting with diversity, and while my dear WNFF colleague Mr. Sade has a rather strident way of presenting his views, I tend to agree with his ultimate point - find a non-chain place and enjoy the uniqueness. 

Arlington used to have a couple of "Pines of Italy" (okay there were two of them - a chain?) that were inexpensive and very good.  Sold a house wine by the carafe that was soft and didn't clash with the tomato sauces.  Wish we had that sort of thing around us now.

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

Yeah, man, but it's ALL YOU CAN EAT!!!  Roll yer wheelbarrow up to the trough and tuck in!  Quality is no substitute for quantity when you have a 56 inch waistline to maintain. 

[Natsinpwc]

My kids love og and every time we go the places are packed

Yep, I saw Marquis and Slateman there last time I went.

 

The local places we go ,despite being run by genuine I-Talians, are not that great; usually get cheesteaks or antipasto there.

I grew up near South Philly so I know what good Italian food is.  It's gravy not sauce.
I used to like Tivolis in Rosslyn before it was shut down and Filomena's is good in Georgetown.

If we go out somehwere nice, Italian food is just not at the top of the list.

 

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

Tivoli's closed??  They had pretty decent desserts.

[Slateman]

Yep, I saw Marquis and Slateman there last time I went.

 

The local places we go ,despite being run by genuine I-Talians, are not that great; usually get cheesteaks or antipasto there.

I grew up near South Philly so I know what good Italian food is.  It's gravy not sauce.
I used to like Tivolis in Rosslyn before it was shut down and Filomena's is good in Georgetown.

If we go out somehwere nice, Italian food is just not at the top of the list.

 

Oh now you're full of crap. I despise the OG ... except the breadsticks are awesome

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

You a Red Lobster guy? 

Oh now you're full of crap. I despise the OG ... except the breadsticks are awesome

[MarquisDeSade]

Yep, I saw Marquis and Slateman there last time I went.

You live in Edina?

[Slateman]

You a Red Lobster guy? 

*pukes*

[imref]

Yep, I saw Marquis and Slateman there last time I went.

 

The local places we go ,despite being run by genuine I-Talians, are not that great; usually get cheesteaks or antipasto there.

I grew up near South Philly so I know what good Italian food is.  It's gravy not sauce.
I used to like Tivolis in Rosslyn before it was shut down and Filomena's is good in Georgetown.

If we go out somehwere nice, Italian food is just not at the top of the list.

 

Zefferilli's in Herndon is spectacular, as is Dante's in Great Falls.

[Natsinpwc]

Zefferilli's in Herndon is spectacular, as is Dante's in Great Falls.

Thanks; I am in VA but those are still far away. Will just wait until I go to Italy.

[HalfSmokes]

Yep, I saw Marquis and Slateman there last time I went.

 

The local places we go ,despite being run by genuine I-Talians, are not that great; usually get cheesteaks or antipasto there.

I grew up near South Philly so I know what good Italian food is.  It's gravy not sauce.
I used to like Tivolis in Rosslyn before it was shut down and Filomena's is good in Georgetown.

If we go out somehwere nice, Italian food is just not at the top of the list.

 

yep, for us italian is relatively cheap comfort food. Most local places are just as authentically italian as chines restaurants - i.e. not at all, I'll go local over olive garden, but mostly because local is closer and I'm not driving for a half hour for pasta

[Dave B]

Don't waste time with the tomato sauce. Get alfredo for most caloric bang for your buck

[Dave B]

I wonder if they will even lose money on this just from a cost of goods sold standpoint. The pasta itself costs nothing. Guessing $0.50 per dry pound. That's a whole box of pasta and a ton of food. I'd be surprised if a pound of pasta plus sauce costs more than $3. Can you eat 33 lbs of pasta in 50 days. If you did that, I'm pretty sure you'd never eat pasta again

[imref]

I wonder if they will even lose money on this just from a cost of goods sold standpoint. The pasta itself costs nothing. Guessing $0.50 per dry pound. That's a whole box of pasta and a ton of food. I'd be surprised if a pound of pasta plus sauce costs more than $3. Can you eat 33 lbs of pasta in 50 days. If you did that, I'm pretty sure you'd never eat pasta again

i'm guessing they push the wine more than ever before.

[HalfSmokes]

i'm guessing they push the wine more than ever before.

even a coke a table and they'll be fine

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

If you ate 33 pounds of pasta in 50 days all of the gluten wusses would need protective gear to be in the same room as you.