Olive Garden Italian Restaurant image

Olive Garden Italian Restaurant

Restaurant Bar Meal takeaway Italian restaurant Family restaurant Catering service Seafood restaurant Wine bar Mediterranean restaurant Gluten free restaurant Soup restaurant

Lively, family-friendly chain featuring Italian standards such as pastas & salads. People often mention service, great, good, Olive, restaurant, Garden, time, experience, server, soup,


Address

380 17th Ave NW, Rochester, MN 55901

Website

www.olivegarden.com

Contact

(507) 288-8722

Price rating

$$ $$

Rating on Google Maps

4.40 (2.6K reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Saturday: 11 AM to 11 PM
  • Sunday: 11 AM to 10 PM
  • Monday: 11 AM to 10 PM
  • Tuesday: 11 AM to 10 PM
  • Wednesday: 11 AM to 10 PM
  • Thursday: 11 AM to 10 PM
  • Friday: 11 AM to 11 PM

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: service (24) great (20) good (18) Olive (18) restaurant (15) Garden (15) time (14) experience (13) server (13) soup (13)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 4/5 Thomas A. 7 months ago on Google
    My experience was very pleasant! Me and my family went out for dinner since the establishment was running their $13.99 Endless Pasta Bowls. The food was great. My only complaint was that the marinara sauce could've had a bit more flavor, but other than that, it was very good for the price. I wasn't expecting the additional $5 charge per meat topping. However, it was worth it. We also enjoyed their fairly priced Lasagna Frita appetizer with was fresh and very delicious! What blew me away the most was the outstanding hospitality by our server, she was incredibly friendly and on top of the game during our entire dinner, we never had to wait more than a few minutes before she would come by to check on us to make sure we had our refills or anything else we needed, her great attitude and service elevated the experience considerably, and I'll gladly eat here again with the precedent that was set. The atmosphere was also enjoyable and warm, the temperature was cool but comfortable, and their decor was clean and inviting. It was a little noisy. However, we arrived right before the peak of the dinner rush, so that's to be expected inside a busy family-welcome and child friendly restaurant. The floor and tables were also very clean, and there were no noticeable issues with the art or dining areas, other than the tables perhaps being a bit small for all of the plates of food we requested! All in all, I rate this Olive Garden a 4.5 stars out of 5, and I would highly recommend eating here if you're looking to enjoy a good Italian style dinner with plenty of options and phenomenal service!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Kelsey E. 1 year ago on Google
    The experience was great! We especially loved our servers Josiah and Garrison! It was their first day and they killed it! Next time I go back I'm requesting them both! The food was immaculate as always! They put the perfect amount of cheese 🧀👌🏼 10/10 recommend going, make sure you ask to have Josiah or Garrison as your server!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Tim H. 2 years ago on Google
    We had a nice lunch from the lunch menu. I had the endless soup and salad bowl which comes with their breadsticks. I choose the Zuppa Tuscany soup which I really enjoyed along with the Italian dressing for the salad. Others in the group choose the baked ziti which they said was the best they ever had.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Kristina V. 2 years ago on Google
    I have wonderful memories of what how great it was to go to Olive Garden and have delicious food (early 2000's). And it's that memory that tricks me every time I go back and give this place another chance. Now the food is just gross. I had the large stuffed shells, they weren't even cooked through. Our waitress was nice but not good at her job. Completely forgot our drinks to begin with and forget about refills. This place is bottom of the barrel now. The prices would make you think you are fine dining, because they are high. But nope, you're basically having a microwave dinner and it's palpable how much your waiter/waitress hates their job.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 John V. 3 years ago on Google
    Curbside to go was fast efficient and SAFE. The young lady that brought out our food was great. Happy New Year.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Isabella Z. 6 months ago on Google
    Title: Disappointing Service and Unsanitary Conditions at Olive Garden Rating: ★☆☆☆☆ Our recent dining experience at Olive Garden was far from satisfactory, as my boyfriend and I always go to Olive Garden it was disappointing that there were numerous instances of unprofessional behavior and unsanitary conditions tarnishing our visit. The presence of profanity-laden speech from our assigned waitress, combined with a dirty plate, left us deeply disappointed and questioning the integrity of the establishment. From the moment our waitress approached our table, it became immediately apparent that her behavior was inappropriate for a family-oriented dining establishment. She used explicit language without regard for the presence of children or other guests nearby. Her disregard for professional conduct created an uncomfortable and unwelcoming atmosphere, ultimately diminishing our dining experience. To compound our dissatisfaction, the condition of the plate on which our meal was served was less than satisfactory. Despite the visual presence of spaghetti stains and what appeared to be dirt spots, the owner served the dish without addressing or rectifying the issue. I had just asked for butter noodles and there brown spots in my food I asked the waitress what this was and she stuck her long press on nails in my food and said it was probably mushroom because they made it in the same area she then left and expected me to just eat the food. I’m a pretty laid back person which is why I didn’t go crazy on her as she was somewhat nice but This blatant disregard for basic hygiene standards is unacceptable and raises significant concerns about the restaurant's attention to cleanliness and overall quality. She should be fired after this as she took forever to tend to us and was inconsistent she also didn’t listen to us when we said the tablet was broken when we tried to pay. She kept us there forever and ruined our night she had red orange hair and I believe her name was Lein A. To be fair, we must acknowledge that our experience may have been an isolated incident and not representative of the entire Olive Garden chain. However, it is vital for Olive Garden's management to investigate these claims, taking appropriate measures to ensure the cleanliness and professionalism of their staff. The negative impact of these shortcomings extended beyond our immediate disappointment. Witnessing the inappropriate behavior and unclean conditions may have put off other diners, affecting the reputation and customer satisfaction of the restaurant as a whole. In conclusion, the combination of our waitress's use of profanity, along with the unsanitary conditions of our plate, greatly marred our experience at Olive Garden. We urge the management of Olive Garden to address these issues promptly, implementing measures to ensure the professionalism and cleanliness of their staff. It is only through such actions that Olive Garden can regain the trust and patronage of their customers.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Lisa G. 6 months ago on Google
    I feel like the quality has really changed over the last 6 months. We used to come here at least twice a month as a family of 5. Now we visit maybe once every 2 months, and continue to see a decline each time. There are some wonderful servers and sone who don’t care if you have something to drink or not. We seem to have drawn the later lately. To the point of not even having as much as water for over half the meal. The menu has a great selection and there are often a few new or unique dishes in addition to the favorites. I like the baked ravioli in particular, but it unfortunately only comes as an appetizer. I do recommend the calamari appetizer. I’ve no idea how they do it, but it’s not rubbery at all. It’s always tender and delicious, our children like it in particular. The soup options are always good, as well as the salad cold and crisp. The breadsticks are good, but sometimes we only get 4 when five of us are eating. When we ask for more, they say they will bring them, but never do. I don’t need the breadstick, so it’s okay; but it’s just a sign of them cutting corners to me. A few years ago, this would NEVER have occurred. There would have been enough for everyone to have had 2 breadsticks for the meal….honestly. Some of our recent dishes have been lacking and dry. It’s almost like reheated pasta with reheated sauce. I notice this more with the white sauces than red. The pasta gets a rubbery texture and feels dry. I enjoy their drinks. They have fun seasonal cocktails which are always delicious and fun to try. The desserts are usually okay. I feel like the tuxedo cake is full of preservatives. It might not be, but it just has that taste about it- like it would never mold. The chocolate language or donuts are the kid’s favorite. We used to get a mint at the end- to help curb the crazy garlic breath, but haven’t even gotten those of recent. Like all places, I’m guessing it’s a budget thing sadly. I hope this restaurant doesn’t continue to decline as it has, or it will be another lost restaurant to our city.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Joshua R. 1 year ago on Google
    Had a great time food was amazing and the waitress was very helpful and polite, I had their Shimp Scampi which has chopped tomatoes and asparagus, it was cooked all the way through and didn't have any crunchy noodles which can be annoying when they get stuck in your teeth. Also had the Chicken Gnocchi which is my favorite soup they offer. *Definitely would come again and would recommend a friend to come here as well.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Natalie H. 1 year ago on Google
    Had an exquisite experience dining here with my pals. Our servers, Garrison and Josiah, were wonderful and it was only their first day! The fettuccine Alfredo wasn't as good as I expected it to be, but that's on me for having higher expectations. The rest of the food was buss. Would attend again.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 John D. 1 year ago on Google
    The server was friendly and knowledgeable and paid just the right amount of attention. The food was quite good and reasonably priced
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Thy C. 2 years ago on Google
    Stop by for Soup & Salad. Decided on tea collection at Olive Garden. Really great selection of teas. Will definitely stop by again.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Urrvano G. 1 year ago on Google
    We ordered our meal online and picked it up using their curbside service. Overall the meals were good and the desserts were tasty. I enjoyed my Chicken Parmigiana and my wife had one of the gluten-free pasta options. The breadsticks were a bit disappointing as they seemed overcooked and were really chewy. They also did not have that garlicky and buttery goodness that I remember them having. There are a few bad pieces of lettuce in the salad as well, I would appreciate a little bit more quality control there.

  • 5/5 Rachel S. 1 year ago on Google
    One of the best Olive Garden’s I have ever been to! The service was fantastic. The server was very attentive and made sure to refill my soup and breadsticks when she noticed that they were low. The breadsticks were the freshest that I have her at any location.

  • 5/5 Jackie F. 2 years ago on Google
    Great food, and even better service! Ryan was my server, and she was amazing! She had everything out fast and all the food was hot and fresh! Loved my experience and of course had to bring some tiramisu home to enjoy later!

  • 4/5 Wanda O. 1 year ago on Google
    We had the most amazing server. Not only was LALO attentive, but had a great sense of humor. He has to be one of their top servers. He did the suggestive selling like a waitperson should, made sure we had everything we needed. Food was typical chain restaurant food, good but nothing to brag about. (Although I did notice extra shrimp in the Alfredo)! Thanks again LALO, your service was excellent!!

  • 4/5 To eat or Not to e. 2 years ago on Google
    If you haven’t noticed already I rather enjoyed the drinks and they were cheap for what you get and very yummy. I go for the endless soup and salad for $10. It’s a perfect lunch date with myself. I can’t comment on the other food items. I just love the Zuppa Toscana soup and the drinks clearly. I give only 4 stars because it was a very slow service and took a little long for my food to arrive. I’m a server so I’m very patient but that was too long. Server was very nice and friendly though.

  • 4/5 Julie K. 3 years ago on Google
    Good food!

  • 5/5 ALLAN M. 3 years ago on Google
    Great food !!

  • 5/5 Sharon S. 3 years ago on Google
    I love there food and the service is always excellent.. very friendly and helpful employees..

  • 5/5 Anna H. 3 years ago on Google
    Super friendly and professional Ariana took care of us. The food was delicious and there was plenty to take home. A good experience all around

  • 2/5 Marlo L. 3 years ago on Google
    I ordered gnocchi and zuppa toscana soup for pick up. The zuppa toscana was flavorless and I only received TWO pieces of gnocchi in my soup.

  • 5/5 Shem H. 3 years ago on Google
    Ridiculously good service. Outstanding!! 👍👍👍

  • 4/5 S R. 2 years ago on Google
    Booths are a bit small. Staff was friendly and they were very clean. Food was fresh and delicious and it came quickly.

  • 4/5 Dan V. 1 year ago on Google
    Great food as usual. Service was top notch. Damien was our server and helped make our experience that much better, despite having to take our desert home because it was still in a frozen state (well worth taking home, the Pumpkin cheesecake was super!). Thank you Damien for your service!

  • 2/5 English T. 1 year ago on Google
    Disappointed at the service on Sunday, 11/13. We arrived at 5:30 and were seated immediately. It was not very busy, but we had to wait 10-15 minutes for a server to take our drink order. The manager stopped by to ask if someone had been at our table yet, and we said the waitress said she would be back but hadn't yet. When we got our drinks, she gave us 4 breadsticks for a table of 5. Then it took forever to get more. When the food came, no one ever came to check on us. Two at the table had ordered the never-ending pasta meal, and everyone was done, the waitress still hadn't returned to check on refilling drinks, asking if the two wanted more pasta, or even how the meals were. By this time, those two should have been able to have received 2-3 more servings (it is never-ending). The rest of the table had to wait 20 minutes (their food was done) before two of our party waited for their second round of pasta dishes arrived. We noticed other tables around us were also being ignored, but the place wasn't busy. We are still confused as to what happened. We didn't receive any apology, and no one ever asked how our meals were. We probably won't return.

  • 5/5 Sam M. 1 year ago on Google
    I don't think anyone needs to hear how amazing the food is at Olive Garden. If you love Italian food.. You're gonna be right at home here. The reason I'm leaving this glowing review, is the Excellent Customer Service. I know most of the people working here are great at their jobs, but the night manager, Jonny, is the star of the show, and he will ABSOLUTELY take care of you and your family when you eat here on his watch. We ordered carryout, which we frequently do, and we got a gallon bag of their delicious Mango Strawberry Tea, but we discovered there was a small puncture towards the top and it leaned out in our car on the way home. We weren't upset, but we figured we should call and notify them anyway, and not only did Jonny offer to refund our card for the tea, he had me come in and gave me another bag for free and a gift card for the inconvenience.. I would've been happy with his excellent attitude and a new bag of tea, but he went above and beyond and what happened as a result.. is a memorable experience we will, quite literally, never forget. This is the new bar for customer service. Good luck to the other restaurants for trying to raise it

  • 5/5 jackie s. 3 years ago on Google
    The food was great, the food was hot and the service was wonderful.

  • 1/5 Jenni L. 1 year ago on Google
    Ordered some donuts but was given trash. And that’s where it went. The donuts I got were practically raw, with little to no sugar, and most importantly, it tasted very doughy. For almost 10 dollars, this was a rip off. I can’t even imagine what the rest of their food taste like. Also, this has not been the first time their food has been undercooked and of poor quality.

  • 5/5 Jennifer K. 1 year ago on Google
    Did curbside takeout on a cold night. Had to wait for about 35 minutes for order to be ready, but it was worth the wait! The food was hot and delicious, and the portions were very generous. We ending up pretty full after eating the salad, bread sticks, and fried ravioli appetizer so we ended up without enough food to eat 3 times. Hadn't been to OG in a long time, but I definitely won't wait that long to go back next time!

  • 5/5 Sierra M. 11 months ago on Google
    I don't ever do reviews but I ate there yesterday and even though they made a mistake with my food they were quick to fix it instead of being rude and the manager was so nice about it and even gave me a discount! Excellent service! I will be coming back

  • 4/5 Starr L. 5 months ago on Google
    I ordered the chicken Parm, while the chicken was good the sauce tasted metallic like it came from a can. Very very bitter. The salad was delicious though and so were the bread sticks. I wouldn't return as it's too far from my home and we have better more authentic Italian restaurants locally. The servers were fast, wonderful and very attentive. The place itself was well maintained and clean. Fast to seat our large party of 9 without a reservation. All in all 6/10.

  • 5/5 Mike C. 6 months ago on Google
    It's an Olive Garden, how can you go wrong! Our waiter was Rob, he is the best server I have had in years! Ask for Rob every time, he knows what it takes to create a great time out! Many thanks for his hard work and detail in making sure we had everything we needed!

  • 5/5 Crystal C. 5 months ago on Google
    I'm a nurse visiting Rochester with a client who has autism. We had dinner with friends here the other evening and our waitress Natasha was absolutely amazing. In the chaos of dealing with a toddler and a special needs person I forgot to grab our receipt when we left. The manager, Mark, took time the next day to find it, even though I paid cash, and he 3ven emailed it to me. He went above and beyond to help me out!! I go to a lot of Olive Gardens with my special needs clients for a reason!! At every one of them, the staff have been so kind, compassionate, and understanding of our clients situations. I will continue to bring my clients to Olive Gardens all over!! Keep up the amazing Job!!

  • 5/5 Chef B. 7 months ago on Google
    We always enjoy the food and service. Each and every Olive Garden looks the same inside and out. Never have we had bad service, even when busy or slammed. Good for intimate settings as well as groups of 10 or more. All of the food is generous portions, a tad salty for my body. Their specials are also good sized so plan to bring your servings home with you

  • 3/5 Lee 8 months ago on Google
    There is PLENTY of parking, even if every single person comes in their own car. So, if you're having a huge party, you're covered. Service is AMAZING here. Staff actually feel like taking care of customers at this location. Rob in training, you're doing great! Keep up the hard work! Empathy is a strong suit. 💙 The restaurant as a whole, starting outside, and moving in, is very clean, inviting and feels like a four star restaurant (while on a budget). Food on the other hand...I'm not left impressed. My Lunch sized Fettuccine with Broccoli was swimming in butter and was just overall not that appetizing. And the Vanilla Iced Coffee was way too sweet. Could barely tell it was coffee at all. I really didn't like my meal, but the overall experience was nice when I was here so my overall rating is "improved". If I could offer feedback, re-train your cook staff and bartenders...the quality has significantly declined, and it makes me not sure of coming back, just from personal preference on a $50± check.

  • 3/5 Mohammad A. 3 years ago on Google
    Decent food. Pretty heavy meals, be careful with the cheese!

  • 3/5 Vicki W. 3 years ago on Google
    Food just was not the same, very dissatisfied, it used to be better

  • 5/5 Dj P. 3 years ago on Google
    Wonderful very good service

  • 5/5 Angie M. 3 years ago on Google
    Perfect pre-surgery meal for my son!

  • 5/5 Cindy 3 years ago on Google
    Our food was great and so was our server.

  • 5/5 Joe N. 3 years ago on Google
    Awesome service

  • 5/5 Ron C. 3 years ago on Google
    Our server Ryan was super cool!!

  • 5/5 Mitchell D. 3 years ago on Google
    Great food and even better service

  • 5/5 Laura H. 3 years ago on Google
    Took my Mother out for supper, we had an AMAZING time. Tasted wine, enjoyed our soup and salad and we split the chicken alfredo. It's the perfect place to take your loved one!

  • 2/5 عبدالعزيز �. 3 years ago on Google
    (Translated by Google) Unfortunately, I was shocked by the restaurant, it was delicious in the second states .. But this restaurant is as if the food is old, not fresh .. (Original) للاسف انصدمت من المطعم كان بالولايات الثانيه لذيذ .. لكن المطعم هذا وكأن الاكل قديم مو فريش ..

  • 5/5 Benjamin A. 3 years ago on Google
    Great food. Awesome service. Always leave full with leftovers for home

  • 5/5 Brendan D. 3 years ago on Google
    Great staff. Visits table often. Great food! Need to come back again.

  • 5/5 Cindy C. 3 years ago on Google
    They did a super job for us. We had a group of two tables of 10 each, and they allowed me to call ahead and get it set up for us. Perfect! They were great to work with over the phone. And they followed that up with great attentive service for our large groups. Super! And the food was excellent, from the endless salad and breadsticks to the varied italian dishes (I specifically had the tour of Italy-yum!), and the cheesecake desert!

  • 5/5 lisa h. 5 years ago on Google
    I love this place wonderful food fresh and hot this food is so addicting great staff clean bathrooms very nice restaurant I had to buy the by 1 take one home for free I love you I love garden and if I could afford 2 eat there everyday that's where my money would be

  • 4/5 Rishikesh S. 3 years ago on Google
    Good service and Covid-19 rules followed througly

  • 5/5 Donna D. 3 years ago on Google
    Yum. Always so fresh and tasty. Had the all you can eat soup n salad with bread sticks. So yummy. And a great price!!

  • 4/5 Issa Raji H. 5 years ago on Google
    It's really very nice restaurant, a bit expensive, bit reasonable if you consider how nice this restaurant is. The meal in general is not that big, they offer free salat or soup. Which is nice. And you can ask for as mush as you like. The location is nice, and parking is available all time. The service is 4 out of 5. Food quality 5 out of 5 Meal size 3 out of 5.

  • 5/5 bandt410 b. 3 years ago on Google
    Great food, very friendly staff, quick seating.

  • 3/5 Jamie D. 3 years ago on Google
    My friends and I went last Friday and the food and service was okay. The big issue we had was our group consisted of three adults and five kids and the hostess was going to divide us into two groups and sit us in different sections of the restaurant. When I asked if we could be seated together because five of us were minors under the age of 16 she had an attitude about it and we still ended up at two separate tables when there were tables that could have fit our entire group away from everyone else so we all could have sat together and been safe. While we understand the covid restrictions if people go in as a group they should be seated as one especially when most of it is made up of children and not be made by the staff to feel like an inconvenience.

  • 5/5 Lauren M. 3 years ago on Google
    Made my bday very special

  • 4/5 Devon H. 3 years ago on Google
    Never got to eat here since while we were waiting for a table our window was smashed on our vehicle only to steal a bag full of mittens and hats. The staff was very friendly and helped us clean up the mess.

  • 5/5 William T. 3 years ago on Google
    Fire

  • 5/5 Monroe W. 3 years ago on Google
    Very good

  • 4/5 Laurie D. 3 years ago on Google
    Food was good for a chain restaurant. Our server Shalom was attentive and fun.

  • 4/5 Armando R. 3 years ago on Google
    good food

  • 4/5 Sonya H. 3 years ago on Google
    Would be nice if Olive Garden did door dash. Over all good restaurant.

  • 5/5 D L. 3 years ago on Google
    Thanks for making our wedding day great! Special thanks to the bartender and manager for everything! The margaritas were Amazing

  • 5/5 Leslie L. 3 years ago on Google
    We had the soup and salad. Great meal, goodvalue.

  • 5/5 Christian K. 3 years ago on Google
    Love the warm atmosphere

  • 5/5 Amanda D. 3 years ago on Google
    Omg amazing everything all time.

  • 5/5 Danielle C. 3 years ago on Google
    Smoothest curbside pickup process! Highly recommend.

  • 5/5 Andrew S. 3 years ago on Google
    It's close by, the price is right and I get great food!

  • 5/5 Dave Y. 3 years ago on Google
    Fair portions on the to-go lunch.

  • 4/5 Mark J. 3 years ago on Google
    Hot food and very fast


Call (507) 288-8722 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Parking
    • ✓️ Free parking lot
    • ✓️ Plenty of parking
  • Payments
    • ✓️ Debit cards
    • ✓️ Credit cards
    • ✓️ NFC mobile payments
  • Offerings
    • ✓️ Beer
    • ✓️ Wine
    • ✓️ Coffee
    • ✓️ Alcohol
    • ✓️ Cocktails
    • ✓️ Hard liquor
    • ✓️ Comfort food
    • ✓️ Small plates
    • ✓️ Healthy options
    • ✓️ Vegetarian options
  • Popular for
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Solo dining
  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible seating
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible entrance
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible restroom
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible parking lot
  • Dining options
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Dessert
    • ✓️ Seating
    • ✓️ Catering
  • Service options
    • ✓️ Dine-in
    • ✓️ Takeout
    • ✓️ Delivery
    • ✓️ Curbside pickup
    • ✓️ No-contact delivery

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