Holiday Fun At The Olive Garden

My family cashed in on the Olive Garden gift certificate they received on Christmas. Although I had been to one already it was fun to rediscover the fun and delight of going there and ordering. The Olive Garden may be a chain restaurant but it offers good quality food - similar to what a family owned

The restaurant is known for its' generosity. There is a huge bowl of salad that's almost served before you order along with their famed basket of bread sticks. The salad is the e Italian restaurant would.The food is plentiful and not badly priced - which explains its' popularity. We started with a complimentary salad, the size of a punch bowl and has every kind of veggie from hot peppers to olives and tomatoes in it. This on its' own is actually good lunch . The bread sticks are these wonderfully fat mini loaves of bread coated in garlic and oil. We ordered the bruschetta appetizer ,although to be truthful , it was like gilding the lily.It was a huge plate of toasted Italian bread accompanied by a large bowl of the tomato basil mix.

The Olive Garden serves such huge lunch portions you have to wonder what their dinner ones are like.There is a lot to choose from and meat lovers won't be disappointed.There are even some heart healthy dishes like the chicken with apricot sauce. Others include pastas with fresh pomodoro sauce which is what I had. I also tried their lasagna which was as good any any homemade one.The Olive Garden has a cooking school in Tuscany where it sends it's chefs on a yearly week long sabbatical which shows in their cooking. Unlike other chain restaurants, it really cares what it sends out to diners and also doesn't rely on prepackaged sauces or dishes that just have to be reheated. Everything is freshly made to order. We were all too stuffed for dessert however I am making a point to go back just to try their zeppolis with chocolate dipping sauce.

if you received an Olive Garden gift card this holiday season, cash in on it. The food is a great treat and the whole dining experience is just plain fun. Even if you didn't get one, go. Spending a meal at this restaurant is a great way to experience Italian classics such as pasta and lasagna at good prices.