Olive Garden Italian Restaurant

As another reviewer stated, this Olive Garden really is hit or miss.  Sometimes, you get a big, fresh salad with enough dressing and fresh, right-out-of-the-oven breadsticks and sometimes the salad is small and wilty and the breadsticks stale.  The Spaghetti with Meatballs and Fettucine Alfredo are safe bets for me.  I tried the Capellini Pomodoro once and it was one of the most disgusting things I've ever ordered at a restaurant:  the menu said "Roma tomatoes, garlic, fresh basil, extra-virgin olive oil and marinara sauce" and I imagined freshly chopped tomatoes, fresh garlic, and freshly-chopped basil leaves; what I got was capellini with what seemed to be stewed tomatoes from a can, and no fresh anything.  On the plus side, the desserts are mostly good, especially the Black Tie Mousse Cake and the Apple Crostada.  For the most part, the wait staff is really friendly, too.

Long waits.  If they have call ahead seating, I am not aware of it.  On weekends, they do not give you the lunch menu unless you absolutely insist.  If you order the soup and salad lunch (all-you-can-eat) they bring out a half bowl of salad, then act like you are killing them when you ask for more.  I wish there was a good Italian restaurant in Muncie.  There just isn't.  This is the best that's available in Muncie.

I admit to having a weakness for the OG. I know it's not "real" Italian, but I truly do not care. It tastes good and that's all that matters. If you're looking up the Olive Garden on Yelp in hopes that some Tuscan-born transplant is going to be singing its praises, you're likely barking up the wrong tree. It's just an Americanized version of ethnic cuisine whose founders had the good sense to include unlimited breadsticks and salad (or soup, if you'd rather) with their menu offerings. I feel like everyone should know this already.

This particular location has been hit or miss for me. I've had terrible service and, like yesterday, excellent service. Myrah was our server and was attentive, friendly, timely and accommodating. I normally get the Portobello Mushroom Ravioli, Chicken Scampi (but with bow-tie pasta instead of the mushy angelhair) or Seafood Portofino (no mussels, extra scallops), but you can't go wrong with the traditional dishes either. Don't skip over the Zuppa Toscana if you get a chance... it's a lot more flavorful than their tomato-based soups.  

Bottom line: Don't go here expecting the real deal and you'll likely leave satisfied.