Attempt at decorating
Dining table and chairs, circa 1981
Salty breadstick with yellow and green salad...
...and white and brown
Half-way decent minestrone soup
Last week, one of my good friends, who I also work with, wasn't feeling very good. She was thinking that she needed to eat lunch and maybe she would feel better. I suggested some soup, maybe Souper Salads? No, she said, it closed down (Anderson Lane location). Ok, where then, I say. Olive Garden she says, for the lunch special of soup, salad, and breadsticks. Well, as you know from reading this blog, Dot and I aren't really into chain restaurants. Plus, I haven't eaten at an Olive Garden since I was in college. But, I will do practically anything for a friend, so I said why not.
We got there ahead of the lunch rush and were seated quickly. Our hostess however, (shaking my head) looked like she was ready to star as a vampire in the next Twilight movie. Seriously ladies, the goth look is out.
Well, then we wait. And wait. And while we wait I start to look around the room. I notice the broken window next to me (no picture darn it), the decorative plates on the wall, and the retro? dining table and chairs. Seriously? Chairs with wheels? Time for a remodel OG.
At last, our sever comes over and I swear to God that he just woke up. He took our order and came back 10 minutes later with our drinks. It might not have been that long, but it felt like it. Next, he sleepily brought out the salad and breadsticks. Bite of breadstick...salt and some bread. You could de-ice something with one of those breadsticks, for real. The salad was green, yellow, white, and brown. Now, maybe I watch too much Hell's Kitchen and Top Chef, but I would never let a salad that looked like that out of my kitchen. We sent the salad back and received another one just like it. Maybe they just put it in a new bowl and spit in it. I don't know, it was just inedible. Did I mention the gallon of dressing on it?
Finally, we get our soup and it's not too bad or maybe I was just staving by that point. I ate it all and got a refill. I asked my friend if she felt better, but I can't remember what she said. All I know is that I was grateful that lunch was over.
The Olive Garden
8833 Burnet Road
Austin, TX 78757
512-459-0701
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