July 2, 2005

• Don and I went to dinner at the Olive Garden tonight, as the
  advertisements for Roasted Chicken and Mushroom Canneloni were more
  than I could bear.  First we were told it'd be 10 - 15 minutes,
  which was okay . . . after all, it's a Saturday night.  We sat in
  the bar area to wait, planning upon getting a drink to take to the
  table with us.

  Except no one ever came to see if we wanted anything.

  After about ten minutes our name was called and we were led back to a
  section with several empty tables and a few occupied.  So why were
  we kept waiting, with all this space available?

  We ordered our drinks and entrees, chose salad instead of soup (it's
  almost a hundred degrees outside), and settled in.  The drinks
  came quickly, with the salad hard on its heels. I do enjoy Olive
  Garden's salad!  They make the best croutons, and I'm a fan of
  fine croutons.  Chatting, munching salad, occasionally sipping our
  respective drinks, we prepared to enjoy a leisurely dinner.

  Except here came the entrees.  I'd barely touched my drink, we
  were both still working on our salads, the breadsticks were unmolested
  in their basket, but here came our main courses. 

  The server pushed our salad plates to one side and put down our dinners, cautioning us that the plates are hot, so be careful.

  Talk about "Here's your hat...what's your hurry?"

  So much for a leisurely, relaxed, unhurried meal.  With the main
  dishes sitting and cooling while we tried to finish our salads, then
  the servers asking every two minutes how everything is and were we
  leaving room for dessert, we felt rushed.  Most disappointing,
  especially as it wasn't very busy, and when we left (less than an hour
  after arriving) there was no one waiting. 

  Was it something we said? 

  • 10:00 pm
  • 2 Comments