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Olive Garden is the best recommended one if you like Italian. Have you seen the appetizers? They are not only big, yet it has a full menu of great Italian selections to choose from. If you're into Seafood, you then would prefer Red Lobster.
Source(s):
http://www.redlobster.com
http://www.olivegarden.com/menus/lunch
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I understand that chains are often locally-owned franchises and employ locals. They also often use food sourced from large manufacturers that really isn't much better quality than what you can get in the frozen food section of your local Safeway.
Support local restaurants that prepare food from fresh ingredients, preferably locally sourced.
Damn, I sound like Michael Pollan. Sorry, just a wee bit of a food snob.
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IMHO
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easyeboy
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| May 15, 2009 10:03 PM | view on twitter |
Source(s):
http://www.redlobster.com
http://www.olivegarden.com/menus/lunch
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Other Answers (2)
May 15, 2009 10:36 PM
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Neither. Find a good, locally-owned seafood or Italian restaurant and go there instead. I understand that chains are often locally-owned franchises and employ locals. They also often use food sourced from large manufacturers that really isn't much better quality than what you can get in the frozen food section of your local Safeway.
Support local restaurants that prepare food from fresh ingredients, preferably locally sourced.
Damn, I sound like Michael Pollan. Sorry, just a wee bit of a food snob.
Source(s):
IMHO
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easyeboy
May 15, 2009 11:12 PM
It's not the same experience. Olive Garden may be a chain, but they are really good. The asker was seeking Olive Garden or Red Lobster. I'm sure you can go to a local restaurant, but maybe the asker feels comfortable going to these local chains.
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May 16, 2009 03:25 AM
I understand. I've eaten at both those restaurants, but not for many years. The food is fine, I guess, but not *great*.
There is certainly some value to going someplace where you know exactly what you're getting, especially when you're not someplace familiar.
On the other hand, I've never been in a town bigger than maybe 20,000 people that didn't have a terrific family owned Italian restaurant. They are *everywhere*. Ask around, and you'll usually find one. Think outside the box, as it were.
Again, this is all IMNSHO. I like food (if you saw me, you'd understand :-)), and I like good, interesting food. I recognize that my tastes are not everyone's tastes. Just wanted to make the point that there are often other choices.
All that aside, if I were *forced* to choose between those two, I'd pick Olive Garden. It's much harder to make a bad plate of pasta than a bad piece of fish.
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There is certainly some value to going someplace where you know exactly what you're getting, especially when you're not someplace familiar.
On the other hand, I've never been in a town bigger than maybe 20,000 people that didn't have a terrific family owned Italian restaurant. They are *everywhere*. Ask around, and you'll usually find one. Think outside the box, as it were.
Again, this is all IMNSHO. I like food (if you saw me, you'd understand :-)), and I like good, interesting food. I recognize that my tastes are not everyone's tastes. Just wanted to make the point that there are often other choices.
All that aside, if I were *forced* to choose between those two, I'd pick Olive Garden. It's much harder to make a bad plate of pasta than a bad piece of fish.
May 16, 2009 07:51 AM
Olive Garden is very good. As good or better than most of the independent Italian restaurants in Dallas - Fort Worth.
Red Lobster is a seafood place for people who don't know anything about seafood. I try them out about every five years or so. They are not now nor have they ever been any good. They serve low quality poorly prepared, greasy items priced like the good stuff.
They used to advertise a shrimp special consisting of 30 shrimp. They were about the size of my little finger.
You don't say where you are. You may not have access to good sea food.
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Red Lobster is a seafood place for people who don't know anything about seafood. I try them out about every five years or so. They are not now nor have they ever been any good. They serve low quality poorly prepared, greasy items priced like the good stuff.
They used to advertise a shrimp special consisting of 30 shrimp. They were about the size of my little finger.
You don't say where you are. You may not have access to good sea food.
October 11, 2009 09:37 PM
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Olive Garden has Italian-like food. You can also consider mom and pop restaurants that serve real Italian food.
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