olive garden... could this really be happening?

idlewild

Greek diner as in coffee shop or Greek restaurant? As for a clam shack, I have searched high and low all over the five boroughs and Long Island and I have concluded that the closest clam shack with the best fried clams is about a six hour drive to Kennebunk, Maine. Although, that may soon change within a year. I have a friend who owns a "place" near the Tappanzee that is opening a clam shack in that area. If I'm correct it should be on the same level if not better than Kennebunk. The only food cart I hot now or days is the German weiner one on the corner of E.55th and 5th Ave in Manhattan.

I'm with you on the all you can eat. They usually suck. Not always but usually.

caaahyoko

Rose wrote: I have secretly always wanted to go to Red Lobster. It does look really good in the commercials. I fear the reality would be disappointing.

The last time it was still good was about 10 years ago. Mind you I'm referring to one out there, far away, where that WAS the nice restaurant for a 15 mile radius so any one who could cook decently worked there. Obviously, such conditions do not exist in NYC. Its not like the chef from Orso is going to quit one day to work at Red Lobster.

newsome

If you can afford to eat at a fancy Italian place for 2X-3X the cost, good for you, you don't have to go to Olive Garden, but as some previously mentioned, if you've got a family, some kids that want nothing but plain pasta and are not very well off, you might be more than happy to have an Olive Garden close by.

oh, the horror of having a chain restaurant in my precious park slope (or gowanus).

livetotravel

Fancy Italian restaurants? 2x-3x the cost? Are you kidding - the pasta entries at the Times Square OG are $14-22 per, beef and pork dishes are $21 to $28, chicken dishes $18-21, fish and seafood $20-23. Hardly cheap wouldn't you say?

al di la on the other hand has pasta dishes from $10-17 and secondi dishes from $15-24

Tempo - primi $13-19 - main courses $21-25

I mean Pleeaassee!

shazam

Restless Native wrote: Garbage.
And the yuppies, following their middle-America radar, will flock there...

Uhm.... I grew up in "middle-America" and moved here in '99. I have never flocked to a chain restaurant since I moved to NYC and wouldn't unless I was stuck with no other option. On the flip side, the times that I was dragged to an Olive Garden, Chili's, Subway or Applebee's has 100% been because a Brooklyn or Manhattan raised friend dragged me (under protest.) They honestly wanted to go for the food. These friends have great taste, but for some reason wanted to experience a non-NYC type restaurant.

Just wanted to point that out since I was being clumped into a category! *grin*

drano

Idlewild wrote: I have concluded that the closest clam shack with the best fried clams is about a six hour drive to Kennebunk, Maine.

There are some really good places on the CT coast if you're ever around there. This one comes to mind: http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Overview.aspx?RefID=1167

raw

Newsome wrote: If you can afford to eat at a fancy Italian place for 2X-3X the cost, good for you, you don't have to go to Olive Garden, but as some previously mentioned, if you've got a family, some kids that want nothing but plain pasta and are not very well off, you might be more than happy to have an Olive Garden close by.

oh, the horror of having a chain restaurant in my precious park slope (or gowanus).

If you've got a family, some kids that want nothing but plain pasta and are not very well off, you might be more than happy to buy a box of pasta and jar of sauce for $5.00 and cook it for your family yourself.

raw

Shazam wrote: [quote=Restless Native]Garbage.
And the yuppies, following their middle-America radar, will flock there...

Uhm.... I grew up in "middle-America" and moved here in '99. I have never flocked to a chain restaurant since I moved to NYC and wouldn't unless I was stuck with no other option. On the flip side, the times that I was dragged to an Olive Garden, Chili's, Subway or Applebee's has 100% been because a Brooklyn or Manhattan raised friend dragged me (under protest.) They honestly wanted to go for the food. These friends have great taste, but for some reason wanted to experience a non-NYC type restaurant.


The joys of slumming do not require the slum to be within walking distance of your home.

karl the druid

Brooke Lynn Knight wrote: Never been to Fuddrucker's, but yeah, I sure do love me an honest burger with bacon & jalapenos. (And a beer. A Yuengling will do fine.)

fuddrucker

it's an anagram

newsome

Livetotravel wrote: Fancy Italian restaurants? 2x-3x the cost? Are you kidding - the pasta entries at the Times Square OG are $14-22 per, beef and pork dishes are $21 to $28, chicken dishes $18-21, fish and seafood $20-23. Hardly cheap wouldn't you say?

al di la on the other hand has pasta dishes from $10-17 and secondi dishes from $15-24

Tempo - primi $13-19 - main courses $21-25

I mean Pleeaassee!

That's too bad. So, I guess it's McDonalds on 4th ave.

tigerlily86

Subject: Re: olive garden... could this really be happening?

brooklynpotter wrote: i read this rumor (scroll down) http://fiveoftoast.blogspot.com/2007/06/summer-shows-rumors.html

it seems, if it's true, that the giant scary building on fourth between 12th-13th will have an olive garden on the first floor. OLIVE GARDEN. unlimited breadsticks....

(for the record, i have never been to olive garden, red lobster, applebees, etc. i was at the sizzler once, only because this very cheap man i was dating had a coupon for one free dinner... and it was our last dinner.)

That sounds really weird. Park slope isnt exactly the ideal spot for an olive garden or any other franchise restaurant. They should go down to staten island.