Have always liked BP's. That was my place of choice when I first started dating. There is still at least one in Houston that I know of on 500 Louisiana downtown. Ate there about a year ago and still enjoyed it.
I was just about to mention Birra Porettis. I only ate there once and it was for a National Honors Society banquet in high school. I remember it being good, but again, I was a broke high school kid, so anything not crawling around on my plate was good. They have a location in downtown Houston from the looks of it.
Yeah, I went there maybe 3-4 years back, but its not the same as it was in the early 90s (specifically thinking of the Greenspoint location) when I used to go more frequently. I think the menu has almost completely changed since then. Edit: just looked at the menu on their website. Actually, they still have the spinach fettucine (just have to ask them to add the veggies, I guess) and the chocolate mouse dessert which was a favorite for my family when I was young. I think I'll try it out and see if its as I remember.
How often do you see a family of 4 plus - with young kids / young teens at a legit high end restaurant? Hardly ever. Combine that with what used to legitimately be much fewer restaurant options and today's adults of a certain generation (say 25-40) probably all have memories of childhood restaurant trips that we thought were great but in reality always sucked. Like Olive Garden. This place was never good. The breadsticks and salad are the best thing on the menu, and nice that was essentially never-ending, but even they are only good by comparison to the rest of the menu. Italian is really a cuisine you should be able to find decent above average fair at decent prices.
I would think that maybe you've just been eating better recently and you have a more discerning palate. Here's the thing about Olive Garden.. I don't think it's as bad as some people say, the last time I went the food was actually okay. The braised short ribs were pretty good. But everything was pretty overpriced, especially since I'm pretty sure none of their food is fresh. And any reasonably populated area in the US has a number of better, cheaper italian restaurants than the Olive Garden. I think some of the appeal has to do with consistency. You can go to any Olive Garden, TGIF, Applebees, etc., order a specific item on the menu, and it'll basically be the same at every location. You know what you're getting. It's Chicken Caesar Salad Syndrome: "I'll order the Chicken Caesar. Yeah, nothing really great or exciting, but I've never been to this place and hey, how badly can you screw up a Chicken Caesar Salad? It'll be the same as every other time I've had it." Be an adventurous eater.
Not to hijack the thread...but anybody try the "Moonshine Grill" in Austin? Holy crap, that cornbread stuffed rainbow trout is delicious! Great low/mid-range restaurant...and I hear the breakfast is really where this place shines. Semi-funny story, bro: My 1 yr old likes to pretend that he's gagging on semi-solid foods for attention (not that he doesn't get enough...when you have kids, you'll understand). My wife was feeding him MASHED potatoes in very small quantities when he broke out into his antics. Needless to say, a coughing/hacking/gagging infant will garner attention in ANY restaurant. EVERY single person stopped what they were doing and several came by to ask if we/he were/was OK after causing such a scene. Can't take the rugrats anywhere!
I think Snooki took Olive Garden's place as America's most beloved Italian (non-Italian) pop-culture icon. Olive Garden Bread Sticks = Snooki's Yeast Infection
Johnny carino's freaking skilletini. A spicy spaghetti with chicken, sausage, and shrimp. . Best cheese sticks in the world and i don't even like cheese stick
Funny, the mousse was probably my favorite thing and what I remembered most. I had it and didn't think it was as good. Could be kind of what others have said and maybe it just wasn't as good as I remembered. I believe you're right, things have changed, even the atmosphere. It used to be low lighting, pretty dark. Not quite the same feel. I actually used to go to the one inside West Oaks Mall, that was back in the 80's, feeling old now.
I don't know why you think these are the only two options. I don't think there's anything wrong with the Olive Garden near where I live. It's as good as it's always been. Maybe you just went to a bad one. Or maybe it was a single bad experience. That can happen.
I don't understand. Their commercial says they send all of their chefs to Tuscany for training. How could they be bad? I call BS on OP.
I used to love going to Olive Garden for the breadsticks with some alfredo dipping sauce, the salad and some sangria wine. The entree was just....whatever. I always thought it was overpriced though. I haven't been back in years and probably never will go back. I haven't been to Macaroni Grill in years (probably 10+), and I live 2 minutes from one, so I may have to give that another try. My favorite place at the moment, although I wouldn't call it "cheap", would probably be Carrabba's. I've heard good things about Murasco's on Westheimer, I may have to give that a try. Pugs
I waited tables in college at an OG. Completely overrated and overpriced for what you get. If anything, try and make nice with your server and ask for the kitchen to make you something that they would eat. Normally, it's a bit better and cheaper. For tables I liked, I would order a side of pasta and a side of chicken, and then add all the freebies I could find (more veggies, sauce, etc.). Each side is about $2.50, and when they make it in the back, they don't bother portioning it as a "side", so you get a bit more (assuming you ask them them mix it all together for you.). There are a lot of things that they have off the menu that you can add to an order that don't cost a thing. Also, try ordering off the lunch menu at dinner, or even ordering off the kids menu. I never really cared whether a table tried to save money, as long as they realized I was helping them out a bit myself and tipped me accordingly. I personally haven't eaten there since I graduated college, and I'm trying to keep it that way.
It's hit or miss for me, I do like the breadsticks and salad the best and always get the chicken alfredo which is kind of hard to mess up. If I venture off and order something different then it gets a little dicey.
