Hi all! Today I am posting a review for Olive Garden (make sure to read till the end of the post, there is a special giveaway for Tea Rose Home readers by Olive Garden!)
When I got the offer to do a review for them I squealed with joy! Olive Garden has been one of my favorite restaurants for years. When Mr. TRH and I were newlyweds we didn't have much money to eat out. It was "THE" restaurant to go to for special occasions. After we have been married for so many years with three kids, Olive Garden is still our favorite restaurant.
I love their comfortable and friendly atmosphere. To me, it is a nice restaurant that I want to dress up for a little, but it's not so fancy we can't take our kids. In fact, they offer a great selection & quality on their Kid's Menu, and I love their kiddie cups with lid, and the crayons & paper keep them busy while we wait for the food.
When I received the offer to do the review, the first people that popped in my head to take (besides the whole clan that lives under our roof) were my father and mother-in-law. I have been getting multiple procedures since October last year every three weeks or so, and sometimes it takes a week or more to recover. They have been such a wonderful support to our family during those times, picking up the kids from school the day of the procedure and keeping them for 2-3 days so I can rest better. My kids absolutely LOVE spending time at grandma and grandpa's, and I am so grateful they are so willing to help us. So, all seven of us went out to celebrate our "family". :)
At Olive Garden they are offering a new dinner special for $12.95. It is a 3 Course Italian Dinner. The 1st course is soup or salad...
2nd course is one of 5 new and exciting entrees...I really had a hard time choosing one, but being a seafood lover I had to choose Five Cheese Marinara Penne with Shrimp.
3rd course is one of 5 Dolcini desserts. We all ordered different ones so we could taste most of them. What I love about their Dolcini desserts is their portion size. Usually I am too full to order a dessert after eating a dinner. They are just so perfect to end the meal on an even happier note. :)
We enjoyed each other's company and spending time together with yummy food. Oh, wait; there are other happy makers my kids always look forward to. The mint chocolate. :)
So, that was my $12.95 3 Course Italian Dinner experience. Is your mouth watering? The special is running through March 18th so there's still plenty of time to try it! Are you ready to enter a special giveaway?
Olive Garden and BlogHer are giving away a $100 Olive Garden gift card to one of my Tea Rose Home readers!
To be entered for a chance to win, leave me a comment telling me your favorite course-breadsticks and soup, the main entree, or dessert?
Here are the rules:
No duplicate comments.
This sweepstakes runs from 2/21/12 - 3/18/12.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
a) Leave a comment (see question above in bold)
b) Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
c) Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older.
Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail.
You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
So, make sure to come back to see if you won the gift card. Good luck everyone!
Also, visit the Olive Garden page on BlogHer.com to check out the other blogger reviews and more chances to win!
https://twitter.com/#!/pinoysugarplum/status/173151593481515009
ReplyDeleteI just LOVE the salad & bread sticks.
ReplyDeleteI love it all but my favorite thing is the spaghetti with sausage!
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/#!/purplelover04/status/173184366971846656
ReplyDeleteI love a nice warm bowl of soup when it's cold out with breadsticks dunked in!
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/#!/davisesq212/status/173201768858124288
ReplyDeleteI LOVE the Zuppa Toscana soup!
ReplyDeleteEntree for sure! Here's my blog entry. comment to follow. thanks!
ReplyDeletehttp://crunchypicklechips.wordpress.com/2012/02/25/bring-on-the-gift-card-thanks-tea-rose-home/
entree, Eggplant Parmigiana:) leaving a comment and also blogged. My 2nd chance to win. thanks TRH!
ReplyDeleteI am all about the salad. Love it.
ReplyDeletemarybug2 @ yahoo . com
Tweeted
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/#!/marybug2/status/173427417053007873
marybug2 @ yahoo . com
I love the main entree along with breadsticks :)
ReplyDeletetweety800265(at)yahoo(dot)com
Tweeted
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/#!/disneyfan40/status/173450241532628992
tweety800265(at)yahoo(dot)com
My favorite it most definitely the breadsticks and soup (mainly breadsticks)
ReplyDeleteskklemm at gmail dot com
tweet : https://twitter.com/#!/momtoemmett/status/173507407681556481
ReplyDeleteskklemm at gmail dot com
I love their Alfredo sauce! I'll actually order some on the side to dip the breadsticks in when I feel like really splurging
ReplyDeleteYour review of The Olive Garden was good.
ReplyDeleteWhat excites me is being able to see your photo. Mouthful and all.
hugs
Gerry
You have to love the breadsticks and soup - I do!
ReplyDeleteMy favourite course is the appetizers, but I always go for the breadsticks and salad instead of the soup! But when they have their soup, salad and breadstick lunch special, I love the minestrone soup. Thanks for the opportunity.
ReplyDeletei love olive garden! my favorite is the breadsticks and soup!
ReplyDeleteI love the soup and salad! But to be tally honist the mint at the end is what I look forward to through out the whole dinner! (I even always try to still my husbands) :)
ReplyDeleteOooooh I love Olive Garden! Their salad is amazing. I'm so sad they recently got rid of their Chicken and Shrimp Carbonara, though.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite course is soup (Zuppa Toscana) and breadsticks, and when given the chance will have all you can eat soup/salad and breadsticks for lunch.... Yummy!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite course is soup (Zuppa Toscana) and breadsticks, and when given the chance will have all you can eat soup/salad and breadsticks for lunch.... Yummy!
ReplyDeleteMy family loves Olive Garden but we have not lived near one in over four years. We lived in the UK for three years and have been in Alaska for a little over a year. I was so excited to see that an Olive Garden was being built 5 minutes from our house. It just recently opened and I cannot wait to get a hold of those yummy bread sticks!!
ReplyDeleteI love their salad by far one of my most favorite things on their menu. I also love their chicken Alfredo as an entree. THANKS!
ReplyDeleteashleygatewood1(AT)gmail.com
https://twitter.com/#!/shuggysmommy/status/173842726704529408
ReplyDeleteashleygatewood1(AT)gmail.com
I'd order the Zuppa Toscana, Creamy Parmesan Portobello Mushroom Fettuccine, and have the Strawberry Cream Cake for dessert! Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI love the pasta Fagioli soup!
ReplyDeleteThough I do love the salad and bread sticks my favorite part of the meal would be the entree. I LOVE pasta!
ReplyDeleteI love Olive Garden!!! My favorite is the fettucine alfredo. Yumm!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite is the breadsticks dipped in the Zuppa Toscana! YUM!
ReplyDeleteI love the zuppa toscana too!! I usually eat so much of it that by the time the entree gets to the table I am full! But it's SO worth it!!!
ReplyDeleteI love the main course, especially the Five Cheese Ziti al Forno. But their soup and bread sticks are good, especially the gnocchi in the chicken and gnocchi soup.
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/#!/pinoysugarplum/status/174609150033145857
ReplyDeleteWhat a cool giveaway! How fun that you got to do a review for your favorite restaurant. :)
ReplyDeleteI love those little desserts as well. I can't remember exactly which one I tried last time but it was something with chocolate, chocolate, and oh, more chocolate. ;) So tasty!
Thanks for the chance to win a gift card!
Everything I eat at Olive Garden is tasty - but I especially like the chicken parmesan and the unlimited breadsticks!
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/#!/pinoysugarplum/status/174948205178531840
ReplyDeleteI blogged!!
ReplyDeletehttp://melindalu.blogspot.com/2012/02/olive-garden.html
Main course. I love their eggplant parmesan!
ReplyDeleteLove the salad and breadsticks and I always try their specials!
ReplyDeleteLove breadsticks and salad. I always try the specials and never disappointed!
ReplyDeleteI love the breadsticks dipped in alfredo sauce and also just love the portobello mushroom ravioli! Phenomenal! Olive Garden is my favorite place. Love the Zuppe Toscana!!!
ReplyDeleteMy favorites are Sicilian Scampi and Stuffed Mushrooms!
ReplyDeleteBreadsticks & salad!! I usually end up over doing it on them before the main course even arrives!! Makes for great leftovers though!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite course is the soup, salad & breadsticks. Can't get enough of their breadsticks. We are getting a new Olive Garden here & I can't wait for it to open next month.
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/#!/pinoysugarplum/status/175309291161534467
ReplyDeleteYou are fun-thanks for the fun giveaway.
ReplyDeletesorry I missed the question please deleate my previous entry.
ReplyDeleteI like the salad (at olive garden). I think it's my favorite course there.
Great photos, who dosn't love their breadsticks, yummy!
ReplyDeleteSoup and Breadsticks is my favorite thing :) I have never had a bad meal at Olive Garden!
ReplyDeletemichhill@gmail.com
I love their take on Chicken and Dumplins soup for sure but a must have is the Tiramisu - we rarely get dessert anywhere else but Olive Garden Tirimisu is a must!
ReplyDeleteHeatherburdett at gmail dot com
Tweeted! https://twitter.com/#!/LilyBard/status/175597398809260032
ReplyDeleteI like it all, but really love the breadsticks and salad.
ReplyDeletehuntandride@hotmail.com
https://twitter.com/#!/jen_r_horn/status/175625945418436609
ReplyDeletehuntandride@hotmail.com
https://twitter.com/#!/pinoysugarplum/status/175661612932415488
ReplyDeleteMy favorite course from the Olive Garden is the bread sticks. My husband always asks for extras for me so I don't look like a pig. :)
ReplyDeleteI shared on twitter. Thank you!
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/#!/Aerated/status/175673332316909568
kirbycolby at gmail dot com
Haven't been to Olive Garden in forever! I love their salad and breadsticks! That's my fav part of the experience!
ReplyDeleteI also love Olive Garden... and there 'Zuppa Toscana'! With bread sticks. And salad. ;)
ReplyDeleteMy favorite course is the soup - love that Zuppa Toscana recipe!
ReplyDeleteAlso: I do appreciate those tasty chocolates at the end of the meal. They totally melt in your mouth.
stephanie@metropolitanmama.net
i love there stuffed mushrooms
ReplyDeletefreebiel0ve@yahoo.com
https://twitter.com/#!/akronugurl/status/175951506791604224
ReplyDeletefreebiel0ve@yahoo.com
the dessert!!!
ReplyDeleteI just love your site -- and an extra bonus is being able to win a $100 gift card to Olive Garden!! That is nice.
ReplyDeleteI just love your site -- and an extra bonus is being able to win a $100 gift card to Olive Garden!! That is nice.
ReplyDeleteOops! I forgot to mention that i love their soups, desserts -- specifically, Eggplant Parmigiana!! Yum!
ReplyDeleteI love the breadsticks and soup.
ReplyDeletekatbirdfl (at)gmail (dot) com
Tweet; https://twitter.com/#!/katbirdfl/status/176176935959924736
ReplyDeletekatbirdfl (at) gmail (dot) com
I would have to say dessert! Loved the limited time pumpkin cheesecake at Olive Garden!
ReplyDeleteI would have to say dessert! Loved the limited time pumpkin cheesecake at Olive Garden!
ReplyDeleteI tweeted about this giveaway at https://twitter.com/#!/lilysheng/status/176363273518723072
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/#!/pinoysugarplum/status/176449018749140994
ReplyDeleteMy favorite is the soup/salad and breadsticks. Especially the potato soup, its my favorite!! Yummo!
ReplyDeleteMy hubby and I always say we will try something new at the Ol' Olive Garden but we can never resist the Tour of Italy! It is definitely our fav.
ReplyDeleteI love the salad and breadsticks!!
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/#!/pinoysugarplum/status/176825533059956736
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/#!/HappyTina0115/status/177087645040640001
ReplyDeletemerleandtina@yahoo.com
https://twitter.com/#!/pinoysugarplum/status/177135667552325634
ReplyDeleteI found your blog via Pinterest & will continue to follow it!
ReplyDeleteWe love Olive Garden, it's one of our "special dinners" favorites -- one that all 4 of our kids can agree on (and there's not many!).
Oops, my comment was not in the proper format; I forgot to say my favorite part of the meal!
ReplyDeleteI'd say soup & breadsticks, since I can make a meal of that alone, lol. I do have some favorite entrees though, too, I always love their giant ravioli dishes.
https://twitter.com/#!/jewelmcjem/status/177409619424059392
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/#!/pinoysugarplum/status/177452391363387393
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/#!/pinoysugarplum/status/177453033653944320
ReplyDeletemy favorite gotta be desserts first! :)
ReplyDeleteamy [at] utry [dot] it
I tweeted about this giveaway: https://twitter.com/#!/uTry_it/status/177516785384435712
ReplyDeleteamy [at] utry [dot] it
Love the entree!
ReplyDeleteI love the breadsticks and soup with salad!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite course is dessert, but I haven't tried theirs yet, so I will say salad and bread sticks! Of course I love their fettuccine alfredo, too...It's all good! Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeletemy favorite is dessert
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/#!/pinoysugarplum/status/177889927386763264
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/#!/pinoysugarplum/status/177891180783210496
ReplyDeleteI love the main course!
ReplyDeletejfong1130 at yahoo dot com
tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/jfong123/status/178025646038056960
ReplyDeletejfong1130 at yahoo dot com
My favorite would have to be the breadsticks! Dip them in the salad dressing left over from the salad, or in the sauce from your pasta. SO good!
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/#!/pinoysugarplum/status/178218109314928640
ReplyDeleteMy favorite is Chicken Marsala.
ReplyDeleteccboobooy at gmail dot com
tweet
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/#!/ccboobooy/status/178269685928837123
ccboobooy at gmail dot com
My favorite dish is the Chicken Alfredo. Main entrees are the best
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/#!/pinoysugarplum/status/178723388565635072
ReplyDeleteBreadsticks and minestrone soup are my favorite from Olive Garden.
ReplyDeletedahbou at gmail dot com
Tweet: https://twitter.com/#!/didyouyarnthat/status/178798587650654208
ReplyDeleteDessert is my favorite course.
ReplyDeletenuthouse(at)centurytel(dot)net
tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/KerryBishop/status/179023517893926912
ReplyDeletenuthouse(at)centurytel(dot)net
My favorite restaurant also! It is always the restaurant we go to for special occasions. Nothing beats Olive Garden. Love that place. Great pictures:) & Great giveaway!
ReplyDeleteReyna
reynalay@gmail.com
My favorite restaurant also! It is always the restaurant we go to for special occasions. Nothing beats Olive Garden. Love that place. Great pictures:) & Great giveaway!
ReplyDeleteReyna
reynalay@gmail.com
I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Zuppa Toscana soup! My favorite!! & the breadsticks? Amazing! We always go here for any special occasion.
ReplyDeleteReyna
reynalay@gmail.com
My tweet! :)
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/#!/glamourglory/status/179046590378553347
-Reyna
reynalay@gmail.com
I love the breadsticks and salad. chedeb5353@hotmail.com
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/#!/pinoysugarplum/status/179245600590663681
ReplyDeleteLove the 3 course Italian dinner. We went to Olive Garden last week because the grandson decided that is where he wanted to celebrate his birthday. 8 of us showed up.
ReplyDeleteI had looked at Olive garden's webiste and saw the deal and it sounded perfect.
3 of us had the deal and all were very happy with the offering and had a difference dessert to eat.
https://twitter.com/#!/pinoysugarplum/status/179640783790546944
ReplyDeletemy favorite course is the main entree, I like most of the pasta and chicken dishes, but I am also a big fan of the pizza! We don't often have room left for dessert. Thank you so much for the chance to win!
ReplyDeleteSoup and breadsticks is such a great way to start but it is hard to beat the fettucini alfredo...choices, choices......
ReplyDeleteI came to know about "3 course special Italian dinner" at Olive garden, from your blog.I couldn't wait till weekend to have our dinner there.Finally,last saturday we had our dinner there."Minestrone"-Veggie soup with bread stick was really really a great combo."Portobello mushroom with Parmesan sauce" was my choice for entree.The toughest part for me comes here in choosing one dessert among the 5.All are my favorites but I chose Tiramisu,and it is Yummy....Had a nice dinner that night and my husband too loved it and yahoo we are planning to go again...
ReplyDeletetwitter-
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/#!/taneystunai/status/180175880528728064
Love soup salad and breadsticks. You can't beat a meal where you can have all you want with friends.
ReplyDeleteI love their Panini sandwiches with soup and salad. Of course, my favorite soup is the Zuppa Toscana! Always get it.
ReplyDeleteI love dessert, I think probably the chocolate mousse looks best.
ReplyDeletevirginia[dot]tx[at]gmail[dot]com
I love the soup and breadsticks the most!
ReplyDeletelinesacross(at)gmail(dot)com
https://twitter.com/#!/pinoysugarplum/status/180475974020902912
ReplyDeleteThose Dolcini desserts are wonderful, aren't they? My favorite thing for lunch has always been the minestrone soup and salad. YUM!
ReplyDeleteOlive Garden, or O.G. as I like to call it, is one of my fav chain restaurants! I love their salad so much that I buy their dressing from them to take home and use on my
ReplyDeleteown lettuce! LOL
Angie
14earth at gmail dot com
I tweeted here: https://twitter.com/#!/MsTofuFairy/status/180671401362063360
ReplyDeleteAngie
14earth at gmail dot com
I posted this on my Twitter:
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/#!/KitschNChic
was this the correct way to comment on my tweet?
I'm all about the entree! I think you can treat yourself to sweets whenever you want, but a good dinner is sometimes hard to come by!
ReplyDeletecoriwestphal at msn dot com
Tweet: http://twitter.com/coriwestphal/statuses/180746016159576066
ReplyDeletecoriwestphal at msn dot com
I guess the Main Entree is my favorite but I do love all of the courses! Olive Garden is one of my husband and my go to restaruants for special occasions too. We don't have one in our town but we try to make sure to find one whenever we got out of town on our anniversary.
ReplyDeleteI prefer the desserts.
ReplyDeleterunningmatey at hotmail dot com
I LOVE their lemon cream cake for dessert. I don't care what I've eaten, I have room for that!
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/#!/pinoysugarplum/status/181152230425100288
ReplyDeleteMy favorites are the salad and breadsticks
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/#!/cmouse01/status/181194295947177985
ReplyDeleteThe main entree is my favorite. Olive Garden sounds really good right now.
ReplyDeletekristisdeals1 at yahoo dot com
I LOVE the main courses at olive garden, however their chicken and gnocci soup is definitely one of my favorites.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite is dessert, amaretto tiramisu sounds so yummy. Thanks for the review and giveaway.
ReplyDeletesongyueyu at gmail
tweet: https://twitter.com/#!/syytta/status/181322179626008576
ReplyDeletesongyueyu at gmail
Lots of salad & breadsticks.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the contest.
Blogged:
ReplyDeletehttp://slehan.blogspot.com/2012/03/win-100-olive-garden-gc-olive-garden.html
My favorite depends on my moods. There are some days when all I want is breadsticks and salad but other times I can't wait to dig into a nice hearty entree. Of course, dessert is always close to the top of the list.
ReplyDeleteTweet - https://twitter.com/#!/willitara/status/181495693213577216
ReplyDeleteI love Olive Garden! It is a comfortable place to go spend time with friends and have GOOD food!I love the breadsticks :)
ReplyDeleteI would have to say salad and breadsticks
ReplyDeletetbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
tweet
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/#!/ChelleB36/status/181504122737012738
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
I like the entree - but I'd love to have room for dessert for once!
ReplyDeleteadrianecoros(at)gmail(dot)com