Olive Garden Restaurant (The), Calgary

Food is always good; management needs to learn how to interact with people. During our last visit, we witnessed on several occasions the manager 'Carlos' verbally humiliate several waitresses and hostesses. He would go out of his way to belittle staff in the crowded dining room, and when he wasn’t doing this he walked around with a scowl on his face. Aside from ‘Carlos’ being a complete jerk, the evening was fine. Food was outstanding; servers are very good, despite being busy. We will return again, as long as ‘Carlos’ is not the evening’s manager. I have filed a complaint with Olive Gardens head office in regards to his behavior that night.

So we only had to wait 10 minutes for a table of two - oh wow, are we lucky, we said. First off, our table was sticky. As in you could see there was some alfredo sauce on the table. I wiped the table myself, problem solved. We ordered the salad & soup combo (all you can eat) - it didn't take the hostess too long to bring our plates - maybe 15 minutes? The breadsticks - since they aren't that big, they should bring more from the start, especially since you're starving and want to eat at least *something* before your soup comes. The tomato (in our salad) tasted wonderful, however - not kidding - our salad had only two tomato slices in it. Our waiter served both our and the neighbour table at the same time, so basically she'd ask twice the same question, only looked in different direction each time: (looking at us) "do you want cheese on your soup?" then again (looking to the opposite side) "cheese on your soup?". Every thing she'd say, she'd say it times 2, left and right. No worries then, I'll give you half of the tip, and let the other guys give you the other half, since you're treating us like we're here as a group". We gave up and didn't order a second refill as we couldn't stretch our lunch break for more than an hour. However, we're not going there a second time. It's a far cry from the Olive Garden restaurants in the U.S. If you ask for a refill for your soup, they'll take your plates and spoons away and get ready for another long wait, instead of them simply bringing out a pot or something, and quickly refilling your plate. I assume this a strategy of theirs, so you feel like it's not worth to wait for god knows how long. The soup plates were half-full each time. If you order a refill, get ready for at least 10 minutes wait between refills. I had the chicken gnocchi soup - tasty, although pretty salty. My husband had the Toscana soup which he liked only when they brough the first plate. The refills - they tasted different for both of us. We asked why don't they fill up the plates, this way we wouldn't have to order/wait for another refill? The waiter said it's because people usually don't eat everything and they're dealing with too many leftovers. Really? My plate is half-full and I can afford to leave leftovers? Somehow, I don't believe it.

Our group showed up at 11am when the restaurant opens. We waited 15 minutes because no servers had shown up for work yet. It's funny because many were sitting in their cars in the parking lot. We finally got seated and one of the grouchiest servers I've seen in years took most of our drink orders (she missed some of us and we weren't that big a group). Another fifteen minutes later our drinks came and those who didn't get ours got to order. She came back much later to take our orders and then we waited over 45 minutes for our food. One of our party arrived late and we got her order (finally) of just a cappuccino. This was promptly forgotten. We had to flag down another server to find out where it was ten minutes later. When we got the bill the gratuity was already on there. Good thing because I wouldn't have left a tip. None of us will be back.

October 2010 - Myself and a group of 12 had to wait over 2 hours to get a table(no problem) then got buzzed for the table got up to go and were told oops 10 more minutes. 30 min. later finally got table. Talked to a manager and was told that it didn't happen-even when an employee verified the story.No apology and was basically called a liar by this idiot, so we all got up and left .Wouldn't go back there on a bet.This is the worst customer service ever received anywhere. If this is how you want to be treated, you are nuts. This MANAGER even tried too tell us that we had only waited 2 hours when even his own sheet , in his own hands showed him different. Needless to say we had a great dinner and were treated like valued customers at the keg down the street.I wouldn't recommend this restaurant to anyone, anytime.

WHAT IS HAPPENING, THE FOOD WAS HORRIBLE THE LAST THREE TIMES I HAVE BEEN THERE. I WILL NOT GO TO YOUR RESTAURANT ANYMORE AND WILL TELL EVERYONE I KNOW NOT TO GO. IF I SPEND 60.00 FOR TWO PEOPLE (NO BEVERAGES), I EXPECT THE FOOD TO BE GOOD AFTER WAITING FOR 30 MINUTES TO BE SEATED. YOU HAD BETTER START KEEPING YOUR FOOD STANDARDS UP TO WHAT IT USED TO BE. A Disgruntled Client.

We arrived at the Olive Garden on 36th St. N.E. Calgary at 4:55 pm with 4 adults and three small children in the group. The restaurant was half full. We waited 30 mins. and watched as group after group went in ahead of us. The greeter informed us it was not her fault we had been missed. Fifteen minutes later a manager said it was just a mistake but now the tables were all full, so we would have to wait. No apologies, nothing. We left. Their only claim to fame is family friendly and that it was definitely not.

My future daughter in-law decided we should all go to the Olive Garden. I had my doubts because of the reviews I had read but it was her birthday so we went. We may have waited 15 minutes max to be seated. Our server was Jing who was absolutely amazing. He suggested the wine which was a good choice, he was very quick and courteous and kept checking in with us to see if we needed anything. The food was very good as well. All in all it was very nice and and a good choice, glad we went!!!

First experience, waited 21/2 hours for a table. At that time, I had asked why if tables were obviously available, why would they not use them? Was told they were expecting a big group. Interesting, as I thought reservations were not taken. Just a note here, tables were not used at that time during our meal or at all before we left. This afternoon, 2 years after our last adventure, thought we would try again. Unlike, the Saturday, we had gone before around supper, we went about 3:45pm on a Tuesday afternoon. Doesn't seem as though there has bee any improvement. Went in, 1 couple just ahead of us. Took they name, and they sat. Took our name advised it would be a few minutes, we sat. We sat and waited, once again, certainly no shortage of tables. After waiting at least 10 minutes, a hostess took the one couple. We sat and waited the hostess walked past us. I then went to the front desk and asked to see the manager. Was advised I would have to wait as she was cashing our. The hostess that had attended to the other couple then decided that she would take us to the table. I then said, that won't be necessary as we are staying. The manager then came out, I asked if it was always expected that a customer sit and wait for over 10 - 15 minutes to be seated, when the restuarant not obviously not that busy. I was told that the shift was changing and then I was told that there were only a few servers and it is better to sit out front that sit and wait at a table. WOW, that is a first. I was then told that I could be seated immediately. How sad that I had to actually call a manger, wait to speak to a manager and then we could be seated. It would appear by the reviews that Olive Garden does have issues with the staff and the service. One would think with the negative comments that this Restaurant would make an effort towards improving the current concerns. I am one person that won't come back, that certainly is not an issue with your company. However, I am the customer that has taken time to give you feedback. Do you ever wonder how many people don't respond, they simply don't consider a 2nd time.

I don't understand what it is about this imitation "Italian" restaurant that gets people all crazy. First off there is only 1 in all of Calgary, 1 in a city of over a million people in it! You have to wait like cattle to get in because they don't take reservations, and when you do get in it takes the waiters 10 minutes to get your drink order! I was nine months pregnant and we went after the dinner rush and still had to wait and when we did get in the aloof waitress immediately asked us if we wanted wine to start, after all, I was pregnant and drinking for two you half wit! Then we got the salad and bread sticks to start and that is about all we had for an hour. My husband nicely asked what was taking the food so long to come and the waitress said they were short staffed. Had I known that prior I probably would have went to the keg next door. After another 15 minutes we told them that we want to speak to the manager, and the waitress said that the food was being plated as we speak, still we wanted the manager. When her majesty finally came and we explained the situation her response verbatim was " well this isn't a fast food chain..." Classy. After this we paid for our salad and bread sticks and left, no tip, and no main course. I figured that it was just bad timing and decided to give it another go last month with a friend of mine and not surprisingly they failed to deliver again. This time it was for lunch, again slow with the salad and bread sticks this time, waitress seemed not to be interested, and place was not packed. I ordered some sort of chicken dish that claimed to be roasted and stuffed, turned out to be two boiled chunks of what looked like imitation chicken meat between some cheesy, herby concoction under gravy with a huge clump of mashed potatoes, I didn't even taste it and sent it back immediately. When the man who wasn't our waiter came to take it away he seemed offended that I sent it back and questioned what it was about the dish I disliked. I told him straight out that the actual meal fails to deliver what the description on the menu advertises and I don't want to find out what it tastes like. He took it away and didn't ask if I wanted anything else, needless to say, I will NEVER go there again. Thanks for proving yourselves again, Olive Garden.

We were a party of 2 and decided to stop for a late dinner. We ordered a bottle of wine from the wine list, but they had run out so made another selection. Every entree we seemed to order they came back and told us they were out of some ingredient. We were surprised, but we kept picking something else until they were able to make it. We did not make a fuss! Our waitress was wonderful and very apologetic. When our meal was done, our waitress told us that not only was our meal on the house, so was our bottle of wine and to top that off, the manager gave us a gift card for $50.00 to come back and try out another evening. We were totally surprised and went home very happy. Things may not have been up to snuff, but they certainly made up for it and we appreciated their generosity. How could we not want to go back again as a "thank you"