Evaluation: Olive Garden Restaurant - Essay Example

Evaluation: Olive Garden Restaurant The Olive Garden has gained fame as an Italian oriented chain of restaurants with over 750 branches worldwide. Its historical origins can be traced back to Orlando in 1982 when the first restaurant was opened up by General Mills. It currently is under the stable of Darden Restaurants after the transference of ownership from General Mills. The restaurant’s operational creed is based on providing guests with a family setup for enjoying an Italian inspired cuisine. As a result, it espouses a customer experience referred to as Hospitaliano. In order to fathom the restaurant’s attributes, an insightful evaluation of the atmosphere, service offered, food and bar is necessary. As one approaches the Olive Garden Restaurant in Grand Forks, North Dakota, the architectural design of the building heralds a traditional Tuscan inspired farmhouse. The sight itself presents an aura of the traditional home that preconditions your mind to what lies within the walls. The articulately manicured lawns and the landscape design present a picturesque environment that is truly magnificent. I am truly impressed with the serene environment and the welcoming aura so far. However, the meticulousness in the landscape may scare one into thinking that the restaurant is exclusive to the rich in society. As one enters the waiting lounge, the lobby is complete with comfortable seats for waiting guests. Furthermore, the wall decor is filled with bright colors that portray the ambience of an Italian market. The familiar and delectable aroma of Italian dishes is ubiquitously present in the air. The ambience in the dining area is accentuated by the presence of a fireplace and dining booths with arched entrances. Furthermore, the dining area is decorated with flowers in strategically located flower vases. Certainly, the atmosphere set so far appeals to the senses and makes any guest feel at home. The quality of service exhibits itself when a waiter soon approaches me and warmly welcomes me to the restaurant. The waiters are smartly dressed in black trousers and white shirts. Moreover, the aprons are uniquely magnificent due to the golden color. All the waiters are engaged in an orderly rush serving the guests who are dotted in almost all the tables. Clearly, they are efficient in their service as they seek to attend to all the guests as soon as they arrive. The restaurant is full of guests in almost every table. The crowd puts off the homely feeling of the restaurant and brings one to the realization that it is a business joint favored by many customers. From the adverts posted in the restaurant’s website, the information states that the waiters and chefs are sent to the culinary Institute of Tuscany in Italy. The purpose is to enable them to get better insight into the Italian culture of cooking and winery. I set out to establish if the fact holds any water. Consequently, as the waiter patiently waits for me to place my order, I decide to ask him the best Italian appetizer for lunch. The waiter does not fail in his mastery of the Italian cuisine and recommends that I start with choice appetizers or antipasti such as Bruschetta, Caprese flatbread, the Grilled chicken flatbread or the Lasagna fritta (Olive Garden). I opt to order the grilled chicken flatbread for a start. The silverware set up in my dining table has been meticulously arranged complete with cutlery, plates and napkins. Five minutes later, the waiter returns withan appetizer dish of grilled chicken flatbread that neatly served on exquisite plates. As the waiter leaves me with the appetizing dish, my personal views on his services so far is hospitable, patient, time conscious, neat and knowledgeable. The grilled chicken flatbread is an Italian appetizer made with ingredients of chicken, basil, roasted chili peppers, garlic spread and alfredo. The meal is warm, and the aroma emanating from the meal is enough to whet anyone’s appetite. After having a slice of the flatbread, I am not quite impressed by it. Foremost, the amount of chili peppers used in the chicken is too much for my liking as it leaves a burning sensation in my mouth. Moreover, the flavor of the chicken is lost in the spicy mix of garlic and chili peppers. The appetizer dish proves to be below my expectation, and I decide to sample the main course on the menu. Generally, the menu list is organized into classic dishes or cucina classica, sandwiches, pizzas, seafood, chicken, soups and salads. A close look in the classic dishes reveals a variety of choice Italian dishes such as the Lasagna classic that consists of pasta, mozzarella, romano cheese and meat balls. The spaghetti with meat sauce is flavored with herbs and garlic. Other choice delicacies are the fetuccine alfredo, cheese ravioli, chicken parmigiana, and egg plant parmigiana (Olive Garden). An interesting fact about all these dishes is the price range. Most of the dishes range from $ 9.25 to $16.95. Thus, from the perspective of affordability, the restaurant meals are within the purchasing power of the average customer. My attention is drawn towards one dish in the menu list known as the ‘tour of Italy.’ The dish is at an affordable price of $16.95. The tour of Italy mainly consists of lasagna, chicken parmigiana spread with bread crumbs and creamy mixture of fetuccine alfredo. The meal comes with a complementary salad and bread sticks. I must confess that this time round the meal was presentable and appealing to the eye owing to the variety of bright ingredients present. Furthermore, the meal was truly delicious, and deeply satisfying owing to the generous portion served. The lasagna and chicken were cooked to perfection and each bite just melts in the mouth. The feeling generated with each bite can only be compared to the cuisine’s name. As far as my taste and smell receptors are concerned, it is truly ‘a tour of Italy!’ The classic dish qualifies as an Italian cuisine cooked to perfection. Pertaining to the lasagna’s nutritional value, it is low in calorie levels. I am informed by the waiter that the restaurant has embraced a culture of healthier foods. Consequently, the menu is considerate for those who opt for low fat foods. Furthermore, the restaurant has an information guide for those with allergic reactions to certain foods. Consequently, the food menu is accommodative for all the dietary requirements of the customers. The restaurant has a splendid and ambient bar area located next to the entrance. The walls are designed with eco friendly paints. Moreover, the tables and chairs are designed from Beech wood that accentuates the Italian atmosphere. Furthermore, the counter is loaded with a variety of wines and specialty cocktails blended to complement the different meals. A sample of some of the cocktails includes the skinny margarita made of citrus fruits, agave nectar and sauza gold tequila. Others cocktails include the strawberry lemon martini, sangrias Venetian sunset and strawberry fresco cocktail. My choice cocktail is the Italian Margarita blended from Triple sec, disaronno amaretto, and sauaza gold tequila. The cocktail is at an affordable cost of $7.50 and proves to be extremely refreshing and sweet to the taste. The Olive Garden restaurant cuts the picture of an eatery that seeks to service customers with an Italian inspired cuisine. Right from the entrance the atmosphere is uniquely welcoming to the guests. Furthermore, the waiters exhibit excellent services as they are knowledgeable in the Italian cuisine, pleasant and efficient. In addition, the food is affordable, uniquely Italian and nutritious as it caters for all the dietary needs of the customers. Moreover, the bar area accentuates the welcoming environment complete with wines and non alcoholic beverages. All in all, the Olive Garden restaurant epitomizes Italian cuisine and a welcoming environment for all customers. Work Cited Olive Garden. "The Olive Garden Restaurant." olivegarden.com. Darden Concepts, 1 Jan. 2012. Web. 14 Oct. 2012. . Read More