Olive Garden: American Flag Display Would ‘Disrupt the Dining Experience’
- Posted on October 12, 2011 at 7:59pm by
Tiffany Gabbay
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80-year-old Marti Warren thought she was doing a good thing a little over a month ago when she booked a local Olive Garden restaurant in Oxford, Alabama, to host a Kiwanis club awards banquet. The chapter president got a rude awakening the night of the gathering, however, when restaurant staff refused to allow her to bring an American flag inside the restaurant.
Warren, who lived through World War II and was later part of her local desegregation movement, said, “This is not my country. This is not my country I grew up with.”
The justly outraged Warren told WBRC-TV, “I was so angry. I felt like I had been slapped in the face”:
That slap came from the Oxford Olive Garden. One hour before the Golden K Kiwanis club‘s awards banquet the restaurant manager told Warren she couldn’t bring in their banner or even an American flag. “I said having known this earlier you can bet we never would have eaten here. And I said if we had time we would have gone to McDonald’s because we know they are American all the way through,” said Warren
In response, Olive Garden’s parent company, Orlando-based Darden Restaurants, said in a statement:
“Like all Americans we have nothing but the utmost respect and admiration for the American flag and everything it symbolizes. In fact, we periodically provide American flag collar pins to our employees to wear while serving our guests. We understand and appreciate the way some people have reacted to the situation in Oxford and we’re very sorry if this decision has caused them any concern. The Oxford Olive Garden does not have a private dining area. To be fair to everyone and avoid disrupting the dining experience for all other guests, they’re unable to accommodate flags or banners of any type in the dining room.”
But Warren says that’s not what the restaurant told her:
In fact she says they told her she’d be in banquet room three. And as for being in the way, they were seated in the back by the kitchen. “I resent that. I do resent that. I‘m about truthfulness and that’s not truthful,” said Warren.
While the American flag was not present during the Kiwanis club banquet, Warren urged the group to close their eyes, picture the most “beautiful” American flag and recite the pledge of allegiance.
Warren is not taking things lying down either. She has vowed to boycott Olive Garden along with all other Darden restaurants and has urged others to do the same.
“Word of mouth is powerful and if people find this out and decide not to patronage these places…it will hurt them in their pocket,” said Warren.
It is probably worth noting that just last month, Darden Restaurants agreed to partner with Michelle Obama’s “Partnership for a Healthier America” by cutting the calorie and sodium levels of menu items by 10 percent within the next five years and 20 percent within the next 10 years.
ABC 33/40 brings us the report and an interview with Warren:
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Comments (752)
progressiveslayer
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 8:24pmMaybe an Iranian flag would be more appropriate? I don’t eat at olive garden anyhow,the food is awful.
Report Post »Mimi24
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 12:12amI know. Wonder how they stay in business? Guess it’s like Golden Corral. Give people a lot of food that sucketh and they will keep coming back. Never mind that it sucketh, there’s a lot of it.
Report Post »cemerius
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 8:52amI am not sure this is a story about patriotism or not. Just because a business hands out American flag pins occasionally is NOT enough to placate me either. I have never been to this Olive Garden in Oxford Alabama and can’t say what the conditions were for this group either. Too little information for me to make a decision! Boycott if you want but seems to me YOU are not looking at all the facts! Glenn I am gonna have to do more research on this……
Report Post »DanWesson455
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 9:24amAbsolutely, let the Rag Heads eat there. I’ll eat at Perkins or somewhere where they fly the flag proudly. Perkins flies a giant one. Olive Garden equals DIP WAD.
Report Post »rocketw
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 9:31amOlive Garden is just doing the bidding of its Father “Obama ibn Farrakhan.” You’re right about the food, too. Three weeks ago, I went to an OG (under silent protest) with some family members and watched while my sister-in-law had to push away a pasta dish that had a ton of moldy cherry tomatoes in it. Yuck! Best-case scenario: we soon see a sea of shuttered Olive Gardens across this country, with “For Lease” signs tacked on each one.
Report Post »Rashomon
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 9:53amI agree, their food sucks. Our local one has had many health code violations.
Report Post »ltb
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 10:04amWhen stuff like this happens, I hope people are pasting the article on their facebook pages and are emailing copies of the article to everyone they know. I won’t be eating at Olive Garden anymore, which is too bad, because I love their breadsticks.
Report Post »netmail
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 10:58amThe day before this story I ate at Red Lobster for the first time in several years. The only good things were the salad and baked potato. Other than that, the quality and quantity of the fish was WAY down and the prices were higher. THEN, I read about this?? Had I read it earlier, I would have puked up my Red Lobster meal. If this is Darden’s policy, I want them to FAIL. Because of this AND their crappy food, hopefully they will.
Report Post »hud
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 11:05amDitto. Food not only bad, but sickening
Report Post »NOBAMA201258
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 11:51amI bet they were afraid of offending some muslims!!! This PC has got to stop!! Maybe a boycott of any establishment that practices PC would get the attention of some of these liberal America-hating A-holes
Report Post »proudinfidel54
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 11:56amYea we wouldn’t want to upset the terrorist convention in Banquet room two or the democratic gathering in Banquet room one
Report Post »NOBAMA201258
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 12:04pmHas anyone ever had a good meal at any of these big chain restaurants? support your local independent eateries, they wouldn’t have a problem flying the flag! BTW who owns OG and its parent company?
Report Post »Vic Tory
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 12:43pmI won’t eat there either. I only go there to use the Men’s Room
Report Post »jhrusky
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 1:32pmWow … not sure why everyone here is claiming Olive Garden food is terrible but I’ve been in roughly 12 of them around the country and most had very good food (Salad, Breadsticks and Bruschetta is mostly what I order). It’s not McDonalds priced of course, but you don‘t do a buildout like they do and charge McDonald’s pricing.
On this one, if their rules are no banners or flags being displayed of any type in their stores, there is nothing wrong with that so long as they are consistent. That is not anti-American. It’s simple company policy. Not every eatery should have a giant American flag flying out front like Perkins does. Perkins does that and does it well, but it certainly should not be a requirement for all restaurants to prove their patriotism.
In today’s crazy political climate, perhaps there should be some sort of “I support the U.S. Constitution and our Constitutional Republic” statement at businesses, but that is going to harm them as well financially. Most businesses want to remain just selling their widgets instead of making political statements and I believe that’s how it should be. The owners and individuals should be the ones to make political statements.
Report Post »Ruler4You
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 2:02pmWell, I guess having an American in your business would be disruptive for business, too. I’ll keep out.
Report Post »PATTY HENRY
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 3:19pmHOW stupid does ANY retailer have to be ??? THEY spend MILLIONS on ads talking about ‘meet your friends at OLIVE GARDEN’ etc. and ‘family, friends meet at Olive Garden’ and then they get NEGATIVE PRESS because they refused the AMERICAN FLAG, in an AMERICAN Restaurant? … Their ad budget is now neutralized and they are sunk… The only way they can over-come this now is to place AMERICAN FLAGS in front of their businesses and in side. AMERICANS have HAD IT with these dopes who don’t think OUR FLAG means anything to us. think again.
Report Post »RON-BLAZE
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 9:11pmWell I no longer at Olive Garden Anymore. Thanks for the heads up The Blaze. My heart feels stomped after reading this.
Report Post »Grey Eagle
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 10:23pmFailure to fly our country’s flag will interfere with my being willing to dine there.
Report Post »Hannacobra1TS
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 3:56amMy view is this–The United States Flag, “Old Glory,” represents every culture and race that has
Report Post »migrated to America and joined citizenship or were born here. My Armed Forces Family goes back
5 generations of defending America and it’s allies, and other countries too. Too many men and women
of all faces and races have died fighting for America under “old glory.” If a company is ashamed of
it, then said company, any company, is ashamed of this country, AND OF US, a decorated
Vietnam Vet. Boycott them completely, and send them back where they belong. And that goes for
any company, group, or nationality who comes here. We did NOT ask them to come here.
Why did they?? Hon. Dr. Harlan A. Hanna, Ph.D. Hannacobra1TS@yahoo.com
j4diceusmc
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 8:11amThe Dinning experience…. HMMMM Let us see how there experiences will be, if a few of us all show up out side with are flags in hand’ No I dont plan on going in.. But every one who drives up, by goes in or comes out will have to see us. Most areas it is public property between the side walk and the Street.. Let them try and Take My Flag…
Report Post »bulldawg
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 9:02amJust got off their web site, sent them an e-mail and told them that if my flag wasn‘t good enough for their business then my money wasn’t good enough either. Trying to put a protest together for their store in Broken Arrow Oklahoma, I figure if the morons in NY can protest Wall Street after drinking the kool-aid at least I’ll protest for a real cause, Our Flag
Report Post »UPSETVET
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 10:58amI had family members among the first waves of Marines who landed on Iwo Jima. When the American Flag was raised on Mount Suribachi all who were fighting to secure the island ate their rations in it‘s shadows and weren’t intimidated in the least. But, they were AMERICAN PATRIOTS. We who have fought and shed our blood under the American Flag proudly display it on special occsions.
IFsuch a policy existed banning the display of all flags and banners in the restaurant, then Mrs.Warren should have been advised before hand, giving her the opportunity to book the meeting in an AMERICAN PATRIOT FRIENDLY atmosphere. If it had been me I would have ignored the “rule”and displayed the American Flag. but, that’s me.
I must have missed something somewhere at sometime. When did it become Un-American to be an American? Personally, I’m going to boycott the OLIVE GARDEN restaurants and all others owned and operated by DARDEN RESTAURANTS. Hopefully many others will do the same. I’m 73 years old and not once in my life has the display of the American Flag made me uncomfortable.
I feel that the CEO of Darden Restaurants owes Mrs. Warren a personal apology because for the humiliation and embarrassment she and others were subjected. A notice of the banning of all flags and banners in their restaurants should be publically displayed. That way, American patriots can have the opportunity to dine elsewhere. If you’re an American Patriot, BOYCOTT OLIVE GARDEN AND ALL DARDEN RESTAUR
Report Post »PoliticalSmackdown {Subscribe & Friend me on YouTube}
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 2:02pmTo be fair to the olive Garden i shot off letter to the parent company Expressing my displeasure with the Actions. and i got a reply. A swift one at that. it is not often you get a reply as quickly as i did and i think to be fair i need to share it!
(Dear Mike:
We are very sorry for any misunderstanding about this issue. We do not have a policy at Olive Garden concerning bringing the American flag into our restaurants. Some members of our team were misinformed about company policy by our corporate office. As a company we take responsibility for that and we regret it. We take pride in how we communicate to our restaurants and we are correcting this so it doesn’t happen again. Like all Americans we have nothing but the utmost respect and admiration for the American flag and everything it symbolizes. In fact, we periodically provide American flag collar pins to our employees to wear while serving guests. We welcome anyone who wishes to bring the flag into our restaurants.
Sincerely,
John Caron)
President, Olive Garden
Report Post »NHwinter
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 2:08pmI do believe Olive Garden just lost a heck of a lot of business.
Report Post »sWampy
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 2:57pmAnd they all seem full of strippers, don’t know why strippers love olive garden and red lobster so much.
Report Post »toto
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 7:01pmTheir apology was too little to late, I hope they go belly up.
Report Post »Morris
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 11:18pmI will never eat at another Olive Garden Restaurant ever again!
Report Post »Anti-American Restaurant,OK No more Americans will come to eat anymore!
Good Bye Olive Garden!
Bet if you walked in there Restaurants with a Muslim Flag it would be OK??????
Remember Dictator Barack Hussein Obama our Muslim-in-Chief says that “WE THE PEOPLE”,
Have to be and show “POLITICAL CORRECTNESS”,at all times,We cannot say anything about
his chosen Barbaric Islamic Satan Cult Muslim ******* Morons!
StevenTx
Posted on October 17, 2011 at 4:51pmLove the Olive Garden food, no problem there. Not sure how many people have dealt with 80 year old people, but obviously this manager didn’t do it well. Just a bad situation when a group has a meeting in the middle of the dining area. I have left restaurants when there is a noisy group there. It doesn’t sound like the flag was the real issue based on the comments from the Kiwanis group, but they used it to get media traction. Sorry to see our flag used this way. By the way, I and everyone I know who has heard about this story (all conservative, southern, republicans) believes that the restaurant was in a no win situation and tried to consider the other patrons there.
Report Post »wixxer
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 8:21pmI will not visit an Olive Garden restaurant again. Over priced pasta, and an unAmerican attitude.
Report Post »Scaz
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 9:05pmI won‘t go into an Olive Garden because it’s un-italian!
Report Post »ThankBabyJesus
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 9:16pmun-American & un-Italian. Who knew? I never eat Olive Garden anymore, but I love Roman Cucina so much more and didn’t care about the old OG, still don’t. Capitalism rocks!
Report Post »beentheredonethatsoiknow
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 11:31pmI used to go there, but not any more.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 11:41pmMacaroni Grill is better anyway. Their BREAD is amazing.
Report Post »Solzhenitsin
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 3:41pmI’m with Scaz. I just don’t care for their version of Italian food. That said, their soups are good and the local one gives generously to our food bank, so I hope they don’t go completely under. If it is a stated policy and they can prove that it existed before this incident, I’ve got no problem with it. If they lied and someone can prove it, then I’ll join a boycott.
Report Post »El Paso Girl
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 8:21pmMake sure your meeting has it’s own dinning room..
Report Post »jb.kibs
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 8:41pmyeah, did you read it?
Report Post »“In fact she says they told her she’d be in banquet room three.”
mkurbo
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 10:18pmbornandraisedconservative; This is not the first time for Dardin ! They have a history of anti-american behavior. It’s just the last times have gained attention. 1) Michelle Obama beat them into submission on fat content and telling us what we can or can’t it, and 2) Who won’t allow an american flag – gimmie a break – not even close………
Report Post »mkurbo
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 11:25pmbornandraisedconservative; Here is where your side fall downs on this POV. If a person brought their significant other gay black transvestite (dressed accordingly) into Olive Garden for dinner (like Seinfeld said “not that there’s anything wrong with that!”), OG wouldn’t touch that situation with a ten foot poll and you know it for several (not the least being a lawsuit) reasons.
But Olive Garden (Dardin) won’t let me bring an American flag in for a Kiwanis club event ? Are you with me on this ? I mean you just can’t find a good side to that position and I would suggest a rethink it…
Report Post »bornandraisedconservative
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 12:47amYou are judging the situation without know or asking WHY. Have an OPEN MIND PLEASE. They are Very American.
Report Post »Did you know that they will not build out of the U.S.
Me knowing sum of the big dogs at Dardin. You guys haven’t got a CLUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Twins Dad in NH
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 1:58ambornandraisedconservative:
They are American? look at the list of who they use for their diversity projects
•Executive Leadership Council
•National Minority Supplier Development Council
•National Urban League and its affiliates in Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Kansas City and Orlando
•National Council of LaRaza
•National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
•The National Conference for Community & Justice (NCCJ)
•African American Chambers of Commerce throughout the U.S.
•Hispanic Chambers of Commerce throughout the U.S.
•U.S. Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce
•The United ***** College Fund
•Society for the Preservation of Eatonville
https://www.olivegarden.com/Careers/Diversity/
YES THAT SAYS LARAZA!!!
Report Post »KEEPINTHESKEERON
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 9:46amYeah right, if you want to have a meeting, especially a service/charitable organization, and you want to use the American Flag in your meeting be sure to hide it in the back room of a restaurant where it won’t be offensive to anyone. Integrate or go back to your own side of the border El PASO GIRL.
Report Post »Who would Jesus bomb?
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 11:46amAll I know is I am glad I haven‘t eaten there in a long time and sure as hell won’t be going again any time soon.
Report Post »NOBAMA201258
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 12:09pmBULLPOOP!!! That flag belongs anywhere we the people want it!!
Report Post »AirForce Wife
Posted on October 15, 2011 at 10:07am@ bornandraisedconservative…I really wish you would do your homework before you make incorrect statements. You claim that The Parent company refuses to build outside of the United States? Then explain to me how 2 weeks ago they Just opened a Red Lobster in Okinawa, Japan? How do I know this you ask? I’m stationed at Kadena A.F.B, on Okinawa. I’ve seen it with my own eyes.
Report Post »nocalifornia
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 8:19pmTime for real Americans to have a day of rage, boycott Olive Garden, hit the dirty bastards in the pocket book.
Report Post »teddyc73
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 8:37pmYeah! DOWN WITH BIG PASTA!! NO MORE BAILOUTS FOR SAUCE!!!
Report Post »bornandraisedconservative
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 9:17pmYou Guys trust the blaze to much. Darden Restaurants is a VERY GOOD COMPANY. I know because I have worked with them for the last 3 years building their restaurants. They HATE unions. They pay very fair. They HATE dealing with the liberal cities, because it takes forever to get permits. They are the best company I have worked with. You shouldn’t hate a company because of one manager. They have an image to maintain. That is what has made them what they are today. If I was to have the same mentality as you people I would hate conservative because I disagree with Shawn Hannity 50 percent of the time. Darden restaurants started in the last twenty five years and has grown to be the second largest restaurant chain in the world and has just made it to the fortune 100 list. You guys sound like the OCCUPY crowd. GROW UP.
Report Post »VotersOfNY
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 9:50pmIt wasn’t ONE manager, the company said it won’t let flags in their restaurants. Darden can go eff themselves. I used to go to Olive Garden often but noo more. If they can’t let AMERICANS have a flag at an event, then they hate America, just like that commie president we have. I’ll find another Olive Garden very quickly, there are lots of Italian places.
Report Post »TheVoice1
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 9:55pmbornandraisedconservative – a very good company that will not let the American Flag in! And you say because of one bad manager, a manager that they stood behind not letting in an American Flag as well? Here in America we call that anti-American and we are going to spread the word. It would be unique to know how much that anti-American manager will cost your good company in the long run, or even the short one for that matter. Thanks for the list, I too will pass it on. I love America
Report Post »bornandraisedconservative
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 10:07pmYou do that then. That is your right to do so. But they are not the bad guys.
Report Post »The thing I HATE about conservatives is that they are very closed minded to someone else’s ideas. And if they say one thing that Glenn, Rush or Hannity can turn around in a way that makes them look liberal then they and everyone that they work with is a ANTI-AMERICAN socialist that is out for world domination and will take you out in the street and cut your head off because you disagree with them! Like I said GROW UP!! And by the way, I dont think that Dardin restaurant cares one little bit that you don’t want to eat there anymore. I just wanted to set the say my opinion.
Delta D-5-3
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 10:37pmbornandraisedconservative: You keep going to Olive Garden. Me and mine, no thanks. We don’t support ANY BUSSINESS that bans the American flag. Now please go back to the Hoffington Post and have a great day……………
Report Post »QuitBlamingBush
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 10:57pmBORNANDRAISEDCONSERVATIVE
Report Post »Doubt it. You sound more like a leftie.
Bashing Beck,Limbaugh, and Hannity exposed your true colors
and they ain’t red, white, and blue.
You are a liberal troll masquerading as a conservative.
Go back to washing your dishes at the OG.
Mimi24
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 11:52pmBornandraisedconservative. You choose that for your user name and you turn around and say the thing I hate about conservatives is that “we” are so closed minded. Here’s the thing. I work very hard for my money. When I go out to dinner and spend my money then I want to be treated well and eat good food. Your group of restaurants doesn’t provide that for me. To be fair, I do live in Charleston, SC and we have world class restaurants here but to want value for my dollars does not make me closed minded. The fact is that the Darden group of restaurants does not serve good food and are way overpriced. The flag debacle and linking with Mrs O’s wishes just seals the deal. You think she’s having those fries with no salt?
Report Post »bornandraisedconservative
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 12:25amI am sorry, I don’t worship everything that conservative radio talk show hosts say. I dont havve a flag in my yard and I don’t read the Constitution in place of my scriptures. Do you want me to go on about Obama.
Report Post »He is a racist PIG. He has know clue how business works. He thinks the All POWERFUL GOVERNMENT can bring about the thousand years of peace. He hasn’t said one thing that I agree with.
I am a die hard Ron Paul supporter. I am a Framer from Utah that has worked my A$$ of for the last 5 years to make a living building for DR and keep my house. Dardin Restaurants has made it possible for me to get back what I have lost. I haven’t taken ONE RED CENT from food stamps. I am a business owner so I couldn’t file for unemployment. Interesting how I pay unemployment but I cant use it. I hate the way the Government has gone for the last two and a half decades.
I like to ask WHY people and companies do what they do. Dardin Restaurants spends MILLIONS to make their restaurants authentic. Their restaurants have got to be PERFECT. Their finish carpenter for the west coast is from Pennsylvania. I have gone all over the U.S. building for them. Because they want QUALITY THAT THEY CAN COUNT ON. They have a policy and if it was my restaurant I would do the same.
That doesn’t make me a Liberal OG dish washer. Just a little open minded person, that can see that people are what they are for a reason.
bornandraisedconservative
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 12:29amJust because I am a conservative doesn‘t mean I can’t have an opinion! ********!!!
Report Post »GeorgiaDog1973
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 10:44am@ bornandraisedconservative
I understand your remarks and all you say may be true, however, that does not excuse the less than adequate response to this situation by Darden themselves. I have written them and stated that they have 48 hours to rectify the inadequate response before I boycott all 6 of their restaurants (Not eating at Bahama Breeze or Longhorns will sting). There is no excuse for not knowing the correct response in a situation such as this, it calls to question the patriotism of the leaders of the organization and should be a factor when deciding where to eat.
Report Post »FaithfulFriend
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 8:19pmTypo alert in article: The “ledge of allegiance”?
Report Post »YepImaConservative
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 8:42pmThat describes MSNBC’s new motto… “leaning forward”. Closer, closer, closer…. ahhhhhh…. poof.
Report Post »Eagle10
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 8:19pmHow would an Armerican flag be “unfair” to patrons? Do they honestly expect us to believe that other people eating in the establishment would want to display a flag of their own? In Oxford, AL? What a crock of crap. Typical weak company CYA talk, after the fact.
Report Post »UlyssesP
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 8:19pmI stopped going to Olive Garden years ago when I heard a bunch of employees on a day off at a bar talking about what they did to the food when the boss pissed them off.
Last I heard of them they went OWS.
I also don’t go to Red Lobster, LongHorn Steakhouse, The Capital Grille, Bahama Breeze or Seasons 52 because their service sucks.
Report Post »majorsco
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 8:18pmIs the flying of the American flag in America a probelm for anyone??? If so, then they should leave America quicker than they got here! Darden restaurants owns Olive Garden, Red Lobster, and several other restaurants that Americans need not patronize. There is not a venue within the borders of the US where the American flag is not appropriate. I think this chain of restaurants has deemed themselves unAmerican and we need not patronize these restaurants. I know I won’t be going any more. I can go to restaurants who know how to show proper respect for the flag.
Report Post »Jimmiesue
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 8:18pmCount me out of Darden.
Report Post »Mimi24
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 8:17pmThey need to keep the sodium levels up. That’s the only thing that helps their food. I’ve had $1.00 freezer entrees that tasted better.
Report Post »ronaldreaganthegreat
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 8:17pmI will never eat at the OG again :-)
Report Post »lcallday
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 8:16pmOlive Garden will miss my ‘Paying the Bill Experience’
Report Post »El Paso Girl
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 8:16pmWas it in a banquet or private room?
Is the company against America? or is it because it is an Italian restaurant?
Makes you wonder…………………Why???????
Report Post »Shasta
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 8:20pmThis company is against this country the way the Obama’s are against this country. Same friggin thing.
Report Post »Smokey_Bojangles
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 8:16pmImagine how Red Lobster’s Biscuits will taste after Mrs. Obama ruins them.No Wonder she eats at exclusive places that do not make their food crappy for the Government.
Report Post »Quagaar Warrior
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 8:16pm~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Report Post »ADIOS, Obama Garden!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Shasta
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 8:19pmI decided not to go to Olive Garden back when they changed their menus to get Moochelle Obummer’s endorsement. And this is much worse.
Report Post »Heck62
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 8:15pmIf anyone in the USA does not like our nations flag they should leave.If they must stay,then respect Old Glory.
Report Post »IowaWoman
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 9:25amtest
Report Post »I.Gaspar
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 8:15pmThey serve lousy, unhealthy food. I ate there once many years ago and never went back.
Report Post »After reading this I can promise I would never eat at an Olive Garden if it was the only restaurant open within 100 miles.
I SPY
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 8:14pmHA! Goodbye, Olive Garden.
Report Post »I SPY
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 8:33pmAnd Red Lobster
LongHorn Steakhouse
The Capital Grille
Bahama Breeze
Seasons 52
As well. Good riddance. This is the great USA and you all s u c k from now on. No apology needed. You’re finished and I will be forwarding this article to everyone.
Report Post »Will M.
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 8:13pm…and we must much and will much…
Report Post »flavsngrace
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 8:12pmwell… I don’t have to eat there.
Report Post »Mimi24
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 8:22pmYou really won’t be missing anything. Really bland food. Sounds like it’s about to get worse if Mrs. Obama gets her way.
Report Post »Chr1st14n
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 8:12pmdidnt mind too much about the flag thing, but Michelle Obooboo thing got me, never going on anymore dates there again the bread sticks just wont be the same.
Report Post »Devil Dog 7175
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 8:11pmWell… scratch the OG from the dining out list…
Report Post »hkyfan36
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 8:11pmWell no more bread sticks for me!!!!!
Report Post »Smokey_Bojangles
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 8:10pmDont the donate to the Democraps?
Report Post »trolltrainer
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 8:09pmIf I boycotted everyone that caused the slightest offense I would never leave the house.
I disagree with the Darden position here, but having worked as a prep chef for 8 years for Red Lobster I can say it is an awesome company and we eat at Olive Garden and Red lobster at least twice a month if not more. I will continue to dine at both restaurants just as I shop at Walmart.
Report Post »Espada
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 8:23pmDelete “Trainer” from your handle, please.
Report Post »Shasta
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 8:23pmThe food at the OG near me tasted like cardboard before they got into bed with Moochelle.
Report Post »trolltrainer
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 8:35pmYeah I didnt know about their deal with Michelle…
They are not exactly fine dining but I have no complaints. It is a step up from fast food and still reasonably priced. I prefer their mixed grill and stuffed chicken Marsala to most of their other dishes.
I did notice the bread sticks have had less garlic butter on them the last few times, I wonder if this is why. Maybe I will rethink my patronage with them…
Report Post »Steelhead
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 8:37pmprep cooks make like $12 bucks an hr. don’t they
Report Post »lillymckim
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 8:43pmWell good for you … we all have choices
Report Post »Faith1029
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 9:19pmThis is Anti-American. I will no longer go there. I will go where America and the American Flag is respected. They’re prices are way too high anyway. Think they made a huge mistake and will see that in time.
Report Post »MARCH4HIM
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 9:28pmyea but when the eatery is in direct contact with presidents wife ,
to promote her agenda,
Why dont they advertise that…?
Kinda like Bush Sr. did with The Terminator Arnold ..about fitness.
If their proud of their relationship,
I would think they would have it on every commecial..?
Instead of somekind of black opps.
Like it was the red lobsters or olive gardens great idea…..
having healthy choices on the menu..is good for people to want to eat healthy ,
But dont kid yourself.
Our President and his Wife are “ control freaks”..
So now that we know…. “the rest of the story” …
the flag issue is no surprise.
and when PRAYER ISNT ALLOWED…TO SAY GRACE.
I WONT BE SURPRISED EITHER.
And now this company……Has just been outed..
Our country….Has drawn a line in the sand.
And we are picking sides… and they chose poorly….
And by the way…
Report Post »how do you feel about what happened to the restaurants,
that were in Wisconsin…when the UNIONS went nuts …
And started boycotting storefronts… Just trying to remain nuetral..?
Mimi24
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 12:01amThere’s my Trolltrainer. Whew. I was getting worried for awhile there.
Report Post »Dennis Davis
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 3:50amtrolltrainer
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 8:09pm
If I boycotted everyone that caused the slightest offense I would never leave the house.
I disagree with the Darden position here, but having worked as a prep chef for 8 years for Red Lobster I can say it is an awesome company and we eat at Olive Garden and Red lobster at least twice a month if not more. I will continue to dine at both restaurants just as I shop at Walmart.
Report Post »————————————–
Enjoy yourself, Troll. I’m sure that the guy who was intimidating voters during the 08 elections will contniue to support The New Black Panthers. The Skinheads will continue their alliances, and associations with their Skinhead friends, so make yourself happy. Ideology becomes a strong emotion. I’m sure that if David Duke was a family member, or a friend of mine, I’d still tolerate him.
This is one of the freedoms of America. Have at it.
Dennis
wolftech
Posted on October 16, 2011 at 6:50amAs an American you have that choice. As for myself, I served under that flag in Vietnam and I can choose to eat where I’m comfortable, also. I paid for that right and I’m going to excercise it.
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