Olive Garden vs. Red Lobster

[celery]

Italy has a ton of tourist traps, and the food they serve in those areas can be pretty poor. Not to mention the ever annoying, "here's your bottled water that we bring to you pre-opened haha."

 

[bBoy JEe]

That's because the food in Rome in general is pretty crap. Go to Napoli for pizza

 

[SField]

Originally Posted by Millerp

I don't know. People like what they are used to. If you are an American and are used to and enjoy Italian-American food, it is conceivable that the food in Italy (although excellent in most cases) won't be what you think Italian food should be. To me New York pizza tastes the best. Pizza in Rome....to me not as tasty.
1) Or that you have non-functioning taste buds that have been ruined by garlic powder, fake flavors, horrible produce, and things no self respecting italian would ever, ever eat. This may not be true in your case, but for anyone who will definitively say that american "italian" food is better, I cannot come to any other conclusion but the above. 2) Pizza isn't roman... for god sake.

 

[Eason]

Originally Posted by JesseJB

GTFO if you're putting cheese on your salad. Moussolini hung people for less.

You son of a *****, Caesar, CAESAR!

 

[TylerDurden]

When I visit relatives out in the suburbia, they all suggest the Olive Garden... The Olive garden is pretty much in every city/suburb now.

 

[Eason]

My first order of business next time I visit the US is to have like 5 bowls of ******* delicious olive garden salad. I don't care what you guys think about the rest of their dishes, but their salad is unibomber-crazy delicious, especially after living in countries that wouldn't know a salad if it murdered 40,000,000 of their countrymen and it's ugly salad face was on the great salad hall of the people build opposite of salad square.

 

[ConcernedParent]

^^

 

[NorCal]

Originally Posted by SField

1) Or that you have non-functioning taste buds that have been ruined by garlic powder, fake flavors, horrible produce, and things no self respecting italian would ever, ever eat.

This may not be true in your case, but for anyone who will definitively say that american "italian" food is better, I cannot come to any other conclusion but the above.

2) Pizza isn't roman... for god sake.

You do know that food can be Americanized with out being **** right? It's entirely possible to use quality ingredients, fresh produce, and real flavors and produce food that is unlike traditional Italian food and yet still tasty, even "better" in the palate of the beholder.

 

[thekunk07]

to the op, they are both delicious and **** any snob who disagrees. when i want seafood and italian, I don't go to rl or olive garden respectively, but i go to mcdonald's too and it isn't when i want a real burger.

 

[MetroStyles]

Originally Posted by Millerp

I don't know. People like what they are used to. If you are an American and
are used to and enjoy Italian-American food, it is conceivable that the food in Italy
(although excellent in most cases) won't be what you think Italian food should be.

To me New York pizza tastes the best.
Pizza in Rome....to me not as tasty.

Totally different foods. All they share is a name.

 

[itsstillmatt]

I know some people who are pretty familiar with Italy and Italian food who like Roman pizza more than they like Neapolitan. I, of course, ridicule them for this, but pizza is not at all foreign to Rome, it is just different there. I don't actually like NY pizza at all, but I do like other American style pizzas. I mean, given good basic ingredients, how bad can it be?

 

[lpresq]

Originally Posted by Eason

My first order of business next time I visit the US is to have like 5 bowls of ******* delicious olive garden salad. I don't care what you guys think about the rest of their dishes, but their salad is unibomber-crazy delicious, especially after living in countries that wouldn't know a salad if it murdered 40,000,000 of their countrymen and it's ugly salad face was on the great salad hall of the people build opposite of salad square.

Now you can enjoy at home:

OG House Dressing
1/2 C. Mayonnaise
1/3 C. White Vinegar
1 tsp. Vegetable Oil
2 Tbsp. Corn Syrup
2 Tbsp. Parmesan Cheese
2 Tbsp. Romano Cheese
1/4 tsp. Garlic Salt - or one clove garlic minced
1/2 tsp. Italian Seasoning
1/2 tsp. Parsley Flakes
1 Tbsp. Lemon Juice

 

[Eason]

I've actually bought their dressing before, but it's just not the same without their salads, croutons, pepperoncinis etc. It's the OG experience man.

 

[kwilkinson]

Originally Posted by iammatt

I know some people who are pretty familiar with Italy and Italian food who like Roman pizza more than they like Neapolitan. I, of course, ridicule them for this, but pizza is not at all foreign to Rome, it is just different there. I don't actually like NY pizza at all, but I do like other American style pizzas. I mean, given good basic ingredients, how bad can it be?

How can you like Chicago style?

 

[itsstillmatt]

Originally Posted by kwilkinson

How can you like Chicago style?

****, dude. One day I am too bitter, the next too inclusive. How can you not like Chicago style. Fat, bread, cheese, tomato = yum.