If you are like most Americans, as a child, you probably thought of Olive Garden as a fancy restaurant. Now that you know better, the only reason you might step foot into the place is nostalgia. Because yes, sometimes, all we need is a good plate of comforting food from your childhood, even if it comes in the form of a poorly executed dish. Regardless, Olive Garden is an American institution and has been serving America’s take on Italian food since 1982. Yet, the problem with OG might lie deeper than overpriced although affordable overcooked pasta entrée. Here are some of Olive Garden’s best-kept secrets.
8. In and out Italian food
In 2006, at least 373 customers were contaminated by the contagious Norovirus virus which causes vomiting and diarrhea, among other symptoms. Worst, it is often spread by the consumption of food that was in contact with the feces or vomit of another infected being. Of course, as soon as Olive Garden was pointed out as the problem, they closed and disinfected everything. Still, the damaged was done.
7. Cooking school or summer camp
Olive Garden created a Culinary Institute of Tuscany, so that the best chefs of the chain could acquire a semblance of authentic knowledge of Italian cuisine. However, an attendee of the institute a former OG chef took the Reddit to expose what sounds more like a marketing effort and a staff week getaway than actual training.
6. Rebrand fail
Usually, a rebrand makes a business relive. However, in the case of Olive Garden, their new face marked a further decline in sales. Maybe it was the food and service that needed a makeover.
5. Cut workers cut costs
In 2012, in order to avoid having to pay for health insurance to his full-time employees as deemed by the Affordable Care Act, the owner of Olive Garden decided to cut workers’ hours below the 30-hour limit. Fortunately, the negative response following the test forced him to cancel his project. However, more future employees will be hired part-time as full-time ones leave.
4. On-duty police officer asked to leave
In 2015, an on-duty police officer in uniform carrying a gun was asked to leave as guns weren’t allowed in the restaurant. The officer who was meeting his family for lunch was offered quick apologies from Olive Garden.
3. Unhappy shareholders
In 2014 a hedge fund holding shares in the company decided to force improvements by making the results of its own report of a large selection of OG problems from food quality to concept issues public.
2. Alcohol to a 10-year-old
Of course, it was a mistake, yet, OG managed to serve a 10-year-old boy a rum cocktail after he had ordered a Frullato smoothie. They might have gotten lucky and gotten a rum cocktail instead.
1. Wage theft
You got it by now, Olive Garden owner is greedy. In 2011, Darden started applying the rule in which tipped staff such as waiters would have to share a portion of their money with the likes of busboys and bartenders. Sounds fair, except behind it all wasn’t good intentions. Darden used this technique to be legally able to cut previously untipped employees’ salary below the minimum wage.
Source: mashed
