Olive Garden brings in the crowd
Molly Carpenter
Issue date: 2/4/10 Section: Entertainment
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Olive Garden, located at 1918 Stadium Blvd., joins a growing list of other restaurants in the area that has a liquor license, a feature that seems to attract people to the location.
It also offers Italian cuisine and an inviting atmosphere, a feature that used to only be offered by Lazzari in Jonesboro.
The food may not be as authentic or well priced as what is offered at Lazzari, a local, family-owned, alcohol-free restaurant, but it has the potential to damper their business.
Since the restaurant is still in the first few weeks of opening, guests can expect to wait up to an hour for a table because of the crowds the restaurant is attracting. Due to limited space in the main entrance, guests should also expect to stand inside the doorway or outside while waiting for their table.
The Italian eatery offers unique menu items such as ravioli di portobello and manicotti formaggio to classic items like spaghetti and lasagna. They also offer a drink menu that includes wine by the glass or the bottle.
The menu also offers exotic dishes like calamari, fried squid, or grilled chicken flatbread that are only offered at more expensive venues like Godsey's.
The size of the restaurant is smaller than those in larger cities, such as Little Rock or Memphis, making it even more crowded when the dinner rush begins.
The venue has larger tables to accommodate large groups and smaller tables and booths for more intimate settings.
Olive Garden does offer friendly and quick service. Once you have placed your order, the kitchen and staff are able to get fresh, hot food out in under 20 minutes.
The new restaurant is a great location for families to get together, friends to catch up or for date nights, if you have the time to wait for a table.
Olive Garden's History
- Olive Garden was founded in Orlando, FL, in 1982, by Darden Restaurants which was spun off from General Mills.
- In 2007, Olive Garden's sales totaled $2.8 billion, an average $4.7 million per restaurant.
- As of 2009, there were 700 restaurants in the U.S.
- Along with Olive Garden, Darden Restaurants also owns Longhorn Steakhouse, Red Lobster, Capital Grille and Bahama Breeze.
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