If you’re looking for a place to have delicious and affordable Italian food, Olive Garden should be at the top of your list. The efficient service and large selection of soups, salads, and entrees are all part of this pristine setting. 

To begin with, my brother and I arrived around 5:45 on a Tuesday night, and it wasn't too busy. We got seated right away and minutes later a waiter came with breadsticks and asked for our drink order. 

Side note: The breadsticks are by far the best thing sold at Olive Garden, and they are unlimited! Additionally, they are completely complementary for every meal, and the perfect appetizer. 

Typically they start a table for two with three breadsticks, and bring more as more of the food comes out. My brother and I each ordered a regular lemonade, the perfect refreshment for our garlic breadsticks. 

For the main entree, I ordered the 5-cheese baked ziti. I have attended Olive Garden numerous times, and even more often now that there is one just six minutes from my house! The 5 cheese-baked ziti includes ricotta, parmesan, romano, mozzarella, and fontina cheese along with a mix of marinara and Alfredo sauce. In terms of portion sizes, they are LARGE. Perhaps if you are looking for something lighter, maybe try a soup or salad. Personally, every time I go to the olive garden I leave with enough to eat for a full dinner. Also, the pasta reheats very well with a splash of water to keep it moist.

As for soups and salads, they come with every entree. Every time that I’ve gone to Olive Garden I have ordered the chicken and gnocchi soup, which goes perfectly with the breadsticks! The soup arrived just minutes after ordering and tasted divine as always. 

One thing about Olive Garden is that they will have speedy service. I have never had more than a 20-minute wait (I usually attend with one or two other people), and I get my food relatively fast compared to other Italian restaurants. Even when I add in meat like chicken or sausage the wait time doesn’t change. Olive Garden is extremely consistent with its quick and quality service. 

Overall, Olive Garden is a substantial place to dine. They have food for vegetarians, salad-lovers, those looking for a light soup, children, and also for meat lovers! It has little tablets at each table that include games (with a fee), and also make it very easy to pay and tip. At the end of your meal, you are given mints to enjoy on the car ride home. I hope next time you need a new place to try you think of Olive Garden.