Does Anyone Else Love Olive Garden?!?

[Jonezie]

Guess what...Olive Garden (one of my favorite places) now places their leather bound nutritional guides on every table. Last night, to my horror, I discovered that the "no sugar added" chocolate cake I loved has 800 calories, 300 more than tiramisu. GEEZ! To my delight, however, I discovered my staple soup, the pasta e fagioli, only has 130 calories per serving and the highest fiber content of any soup there. I actually ate at the OG last night for just 260 calories.

PS...I added up what I was consuming before, with 2 bowls o' soup, 3 or 4 breadsticks and the no sugar dessert...1,660 calories!!! Are you kidding me?!?

In any event, I'm so grateful for nutritional guides...anyone else out there feel the same way? About the soup, the OG, or the nutritional guides? Don't you love them? So empowering!

Jonezie

 

[Worknprogress]

I just ate the Olive Garden last night with my daughter and the nutritional/calorie guides have not made it to that specific location. Because of what I ate last night - I wouldn't even want to know how many calories I consumed!

 

[Timber99]

My husband LOVES the Olive Garden!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm glad they've started this process. When a restaurant does this, I think that most people end up surprised at the content of what they've been eating.

 

[spyrosmom]

Mmmmmm........breadsticks!!!!!!! Are they putting the nutrition info out for 1 serving, or one plateful that they set in front of you. One serving and one plateful are 2 hugely different things. I happen to love the OG - yes I know its not "real" Italian food - I don't care. We only go maybe once a year, bc the closest one is about a half hour away.

Nan

 

[Jonezie]

Mmmmmm........breadsticks!!!!!!! Are they putting the nutrition info out for 1 serving, or one plateful that they set in front of you. One serving and one plateful are 2 hugely different things. I happen to love the OG - yes I know its not "real" Italian food - I don't care. We only go maybe once a year, bc the closest one is about a half hour away.

Nan

Amen to the breadsticks, Nan! They are putting out the info for one plate...like the Tour of Italy has 1450 calories. One breadstick has 150 calories. So...it's based on the plate they bring you. I think the most eye opening thing is the salad with dressing. I'm not a salad eater but I remember it was a lot more with dressing (of course). For those of you who don't have OG's with nutritional guides, you can download them from the Olive Garden website. And doing the research today, most major restaurant chains offer them online now, as well. I'm feeling so empowered!

I have to say...I thought the nutritional guide would discourage people, too. But the waiter said it hasn't seemed to affect people's choices in any way. Those of us who are working towards a goal will love them (I think) but the majority of people seem to be enjoying their meals without picking up the nutritional guides. And I think the OG has got balls for putting them out there like that...I will continue to go just for that reason.

Jonezie

 

[Dela]

The one near my house seemingly has a line out the door anytime of the day. But, it's just not for me, I don't like the food, but the soup is ok, I'm not really a fan of the food at most chain restaurants, with a few specific exceptions.

I'll put my vote in for The Macaroni Grill as a good Italian chain restaurant, their food is fresh, and they are making an effort to put some really healthy fresher items on the menu.