Racial Service by Management
My friend and I went to VA for the day of shopping from NC with our daughters and at the end of "girls day out" we decided to stop @the Olive Garden at Greenbrier Parkway. We arrived at 6:30 and were seated @ 7:15. Our order was placed @7:30. While sitting in the section the hostess seated us the cold air was very chilling. We asked our waiter if the heat could be turned up and he checked w/the manager on duty. Her name was Gwen Jarvis. Still waiting for our food and freezing, we had a conversation with another customer who was sitting next to us. She mentioned that a couple of weeks ago she and her daughter were sitting at the same table we were and had to be moved and received her food almost 2hrs after ordering and they ended up getting their order at no charge. Well, the manager finally came over and we asked her about the heat and she stated to us that she would take care of it. At no time did we see her adjust the air/heat control. We had to go in the restroom, where it was a lot warmer, in order to get heat. While in the reception area, another customer had been served drinks to the point where she vomited all over the reception area, the beginning of the restroom and on a customer. This mess was not immediately cleaned. After all of this occured, food still has not been served, we asked to be moved to a different section. They did move us and our order was delivered at approximately 8:15. We enjoyed the meal. At the end of our dinner, the waiter brought us our checks and they were the checks that belonged to someone else. The manager, Gwen Jarvis came to our table and said because of the inconvenience that we had she took 6% off each of our bills. We were at that time satisfied. But prior to us leaving the establishment, she came back to our table and said "we really shouldn't teach our children to say they were going to try to get a free meal". I at that time said, "excuse me?" She said that one of the busboys came to her stating that our children had said that. And she said the same thing. Our satisfied night just turned into the night from "Hell". That manager had just cost our waiter his tip. As we were walking out of the restaurant, I stayed behind because I wanted to ask Ms. Jarvis how could she say something like that to her customers? At that time she told me that I shouldn't worry that it wasn't my child that made the comment about the free meal. I told her it was none of the children. Then she said to me that it was the "little white girl" that said it. I advised her that Olive Garden will not be getting anymore of my business. I went out to my friend's veh, who is white, and advised her of what Ms. Jarvis stated. My friend went into the resturant and said a couple of words to her as well. She told her that none of us were allowed back in the restaurant and that she was going to call the cops. We left. This happened on Sunday, Feb. 17, 2002. I have told over 50 people, who do go to the Olive Garden in Chesapeake about this ordeal and they will not be going back as well. Just think, if I told that many, and they tell that many, look at the business this chain will be missing. We felt as if though Gwen Jarvis, manager of this branch, crossed the line and unfortunately, it's the restaurant that has to pay for it.    [19 Feb 2002 23:45:44]

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     ­Anonymous   redbonified67 at hotmail

management
What I like about the Olive Garden in our area is when they have empty tables all around and you are waiting to be seated for 20 to 30 minutes. There is nothing more aggravating than waiting for a table when there are plenty to sit at. Excuse, not enough staff. I really don't go often because it is always something.    [06 Dec 2002 15:22:17]

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     ­Lisa   

best food and very best service
On Sunday at 12:30 P.M. in the Greenbrier Mall facility we had the very best time celebrating a family event. Our server met and exceeded our expectations. Robert P. served each of the fifteen of us special and helped to make my entertaining so perfect. From the point of meeting and exceeding our hopes for a good get together to the feeling that the cook may have been there just for us. The hostesses were each very professional and helpful despite having a disgruntled visitor wonderfully and very tactfully handled, to our perfect server Robert P. From Portland Maine to New Jersey, Richmond Virginia and home at Greenbrier Virginia they are all delicious meals and served with lots of happy people to the hungry crowds. Thank you for the best ten star meal with caring perfection.    [16 Dec 2002 08:26:23]

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Recommended Dishes: Egg plant parmesan after starting with Bruchette

     ­Susan   detoxlady at juno dot com

Fantastic Dining Experience!!! From Elizabeth City, NC
To the Manager and Staff of Olive Garden. I want to thank you for our wonderful lunch. We are from NC and visited your GreenBrier Mall location today. My friend and I were celebrating our birthdays together with a group of other people. As usual the food, the service, the environment was wonderful. I sure wish we could get an Olive Garden down here in northeastern NC. Many of my friends drive up weekly to have dinner parties there.Our waitress was so nice and attentive. It was the most fantastic food. Everything was perfect. I can't wait to go again.
Debbie Bankord    [05 Jan 2003 23:47:26]

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Recommended Dishes: Tour of Italy

     ­Debbie   

pseudo-italian food
Olive garden is good food at a good price but ONLY for people who are starting to taste Italian food. No way would I would agree it is Italian after going to speciality authentic Italian restarants.    [27 Mar 2003 17:13:40]

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Recommended Dishes: eggplant parmesan

     ­gaya   

Great Restaurant
I am from Colorado. The Olive Garden that I went to with my friend was the best experience I have had. Our waiter was very polite and attentive. When I go there always have the Chicken Marsala and Tiramisu for dessert. The price was just right for the two of us and I will go back again.    [22 Apr 2003 09:43:55]

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Recommended Dishes: Chicken Marsala and tiramisu

     ­Lauren   

I truly love this restaurant. I think that the atmosphere is pleasant and the food is great. However, the takeout service is not good at all. The food is usually dry and not worth the money you spend on it.    [17 Sep 2003 18:58:30]

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Recommended Dishes: seafood alfredo

     ­Ms. D   

AVOID THIS RESTAURANT AT ALL COSTS!!
On Monday, Spetember 29, 2003 my date and I had what passed as dinner at this restaurant. We sat for 20 minutes before being seated even though there were empty tables. We placed our orders and waited. I ordered a custom made pizza and agreed to pay the additional charge so I could share the salad with my date. While we waited an interminably long time (20-25 minutes) for our entrees we had to ask for more salad and breadsticks and had to ask another waitress passing by to grate some cheese onto the salad for us. (Our waitress had forgotten her grater and never reappeared with it.) Our water, wine, and iced tea glasses were never replenished nor was the offer to do so made. My date's entree arrived a full 18 minutes ahead of mine. I was very surprised to see the waitress show up with one entree so I kept track of the time. By the time my entree was served he was finished with his. I ordered the custom made pizza and it arrived with the wrong toppings. I was too hungry to care and ate it. We ordered a dessert to split. The tiramisu arrived frozen and without additional silverware to eat it, even though 2 forks were promised. The only thing that arrived in a timely manner and complete and accurate was the bill. No adjustments were made for the poor service. While the entrees were quite good the service was lousy! I will not be going back, ever! Whoever runs this place and allows these gross errors in basic restaurant service should probably be replaced.    [01 Oct 2003 16:14:19]

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     ­Alayne   

Good Times!!
Well I was just sitting here reading everyone's responses and I thought that as a worker at this Olive Garden, I want to be heard. For those complaining about the authenticity...you're not in Italy. For the great low prices, I think the food is wonderful. Our recipes are sent to us from Italy...but hey, if you want us to ship everything directly from Italy, your gonna pay for it. As for the woman feeling that she wanted to "step to the manager, and stand up for her daughter," if I came up to you at your job and got an attitude and tried to justify my thoughts, you would do the same. There is no reason to make a scene, get over it, be an adult and write headquarters. That way you get justice, not embarassed. And lastly, when I stand at the door, I say goodbye to literally hundreds of people each night, and I maybe get one or two complants a night. That adds up to a LOT of happy customers    [29 Jul 2004 22:58:59]

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Recommended Dishes: Seafood Alfredo and Chocloate Mousse Cake

     ­Smiler from the OG   

Too slow
I like the Olive Garden's food. The breadsicks and salad are 'to die for' which keeps me coming back. But I swear, every single time I go there, and it doesn't matter what time of the day - for dinner or lunch, or even if I let them know I'm in a hurry, it takes FOREVER. Not just the food, but getting the check, etc. There has to be a faster way to trot out a salad bowl and a hot basket of breadsticks to keep the customer happy for a while.    [14 Feb 2005 15:59:51]

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Recommended Dishes: Chicken Parmesan and Lasagna

     ­Anonymous