The Olive Garden has a location in many different places in the United States, but a very popular one is in Leominster, Massachusetts. It is a fancy Italian restaurant welcome to anyone willing to try the large selection of delicious food. Light yellow textured walls set a background for neatly painted pictures of Italy’s hillsides and villas. Tiled floors lay throughout the restaurant and colorful stained glass chandeliers light up the rooms. Rusty red brick fireplaces and archways seem to finish off the rooms giving them a warm and inviting feel.
Inside the dining room, comfortable deep cushioned booths are in a single line against the walls and if they are not to your liking there is an even balance with wooden tables and chairs. Menu books, multi colored sugar packets, and salt and pepper shakers are placed on each table along with small plates and knives and forks packaged in a clean white napkin. Small windows with short curtains are spread out among the different areas but the view is only of a parking lot and passing cars showing how busy the town is. As you enjoy your meal some sounds you might hear are things like lots of loud talking and laughing, soft music, and an occasional bang from the kitchen or clang of silverware. Another room happens to be a waiting area. Suitable chairs and couches take care of the seating but to complete the look, there is a small table with a decorative centerpiece. Just to the left of the waiting area is a bar. Tall stools surround a large square-like table where the bar tender makes the refreshing drinks and enjoyable food.
The food at the Olive Garden is indescribably delicious. Their iced, refreshing raspberry lemonade has a choice of sizes: kiddy or large. Fresh brewed iced tea is served in a crystal clear glass with a wedge of lemon placed on the side of the cup. Next on the menu are steaming hot tea, sparkling water, bubbly Coca-Cola Classic, Diet or non-Diet Coke, and fizzy Sprite all come with free refills. If you’re feeling hungry before your main dish, check out the appetizers. Long slender breadsticks with hints of butter and garlic flavors with your choice of freshly prepared alfredo and/or marinara dipping sauces are fantastic. Bruschetta is toasted bread, finely diced tomatoes, minced fresh garlic and basil, extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, a few dashes of salt, grated Parmesan cheese, and dried flakes of parsley. Another appetizer is zucchini pieces vertically sliced dipped in egg and breadcrumbs and fried in oil to give them a crispy crunchy coat of breadcrumbs.
The salad course is phenomenal. Their famous House Garden Salad has unlimited refills and is tossed with their signature Italian dressing. Grilled chicken Cease Salad contains a creamy dressing over grilled chicken and romaine lettuce topped off with imported croutons and Parmesan cheese.
Entrees are next. Spaghetti with meat sauce is thin spaghetti pasta covered in a meat sauce seasoned with garlic and various types of herbs. Tender breaded chicken breasts, fried and topped with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese, completes the chicken parmesan, a delicious dish. Another entrée is Minestrone Soup. Fresh vegetables with beans and pasta are drowned in a light tomato broth and are one of their vegetarian classics. Cheese Ravioli is another popular main course. This cheesy delight is ravioli pasta stuffed with soft cheese and is served with a mild sauce and stringy melted Italian cheese.
Without having to travel all the way to Italy you can take a tour of the extravagant flavors at the Olive Garden. Pepperoni, Italian sausage, mushrooms, onions, bell peppers, black olives, artichokes, and tomatoes are all toppings for their amazing thin crust pizza. Pork Filettino is grilled pork tenderloin marinated in rosemary and extra virgin olive oil and is served with bell peppers and Tuscan potatoes. Penne pasta covered in shrimp, bell peppers, onions, and mushrooms with a bold sauce is called Shrimp Primavera.
Now the top four desserts. Black Tie Mousse Cake has rich layers of chocolate cake, chocolate cheesecake and creamy custard mousse. Another one, Berry Crostada, is a breakable pastry filled with assorted berries. Lemon Cream Cake is a delicate light white cake and lemon cream is added with a crumb topping. Several layers of dark chocolate cake with sweet butter cream icing is delicious and known as Chocolate Lasagna.
When you arrive at the Olive Garden you are asked how many people in your party and then if no tables or booths are available you are handed a small black pager that flashes red lights and beeps when a seating area is cleared, set, and ready for your group. A friendly server wearing a metal nametag and crisp white collared shirt with a tie and a short jet-black apron with the name of the restaurant on it secure around their waist leads you to a table or booth. They know the specials by heart, and if you ask what a certain type of dish is, they always know how to explain it. The servers have always gotten my order right and depending on the day, there is usually no wait. The Olive Garden has great service and you will always come back.
If you’re looking for Italian food, great service, and an inviting atmosphere, the Olive Garden is the place to be.
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