Olive Garden

The only reason why I went to the Olive Garden in Fair Lakes is because of the $25 gift card that my friend gave me on my birthday. She handed the card to me and she said “You need to go!” She is a huge enthusiast of Olive Garden and she even calls the restaurant: pasta paradise. I find it very strange that I have never been to Olive Garden. Especially since it is known for its mouthwatering pasta. And I love pasta! The reason that I haven’t eaten at that restaurant chain until now was because it is somewhat expensive and the restaurant locations are pretty far from Aldie.

Many always praise that Olive Garden has a great food quality, the amazing ambiance and the noteworthy unlimited sides. So I decided to check out the restaurant and I am glad that I went to Olive Garden. It was worth it!

As the waitress lead my family into the traditional and rustic dining area, the hearty aroma of sautéed herbs and garlic filled us. She ushered us to a wooden restaurant booth with smooth black cushions. The area was well-lit since our table was next to a huge glass window. Furthermore, there was a gentle music playing in the background which was neither too loud nor too quiet. This restaurant has the perfect ambiance to have a beautiful Italian meal with friends and family. Another commendable quality of the restaurant is that the dining area overall looked very clean and hygienic. I was surprised to see that the restaurant was filled with people even at 3 pm when it wasn’t lunch or dinner hours. Undoubtedly, the restaurant appeared to be in demand.

Despite the fact that Olive Garden is an Italian Restaurant, there isn’t much variety of Italian food; there were only two entrées without pasta. My sister, who is not very fond of pasta, was really disappointed that she just had a few options to choose from.

I had ordered the Fettucine Alfredo, one of my favorite dishes in Olive Garden, and the only way to describe it is: perfect. The fettuccine noodles were perfectly cooked with a subtle bite. The proportion of warm fettuccine noodles to the rich, creamy alfredo sauce was perfect. The garnished basil gave a strong, sweet fragrance which was perfect. Finally, the garnish of the shredded cheese laid on the fettuccine alfredo like white snowflakes melting. Perfect! The Fettuccine Alfredo was filled with the flavors of garlic, cheese, basil and hints of ground pepper. The entrée was definitely worth $12.49 because it was a large portion size and it came with a side that was unlimited.

I was also impressed by how appealing the Herb-Grilled Salmon looked. The top of the salmon was golden-brown and crisp while the inside had a light pink, soft and light. The salmon was topped with garlic-herb butter which slowly oozed on the sides. This entrée was $18.29, but the salmon provided was a huge portion, the entrée included broccoli with the garlic-herb butter, and it incorporates the unlimited amount of any side dish. My sister had enjoyed the well-cooked grilled salmon and was particularly impressed that it was seasoned very well. Although, she did say that the broccoli was pretty bland; however, it balanced out when the broccoli was eaten with the salmon.

While the entrées were being served, my mother asked the waitress about one of the appetizers which didn’t make it to the table: the Shrimp Scampi. The waitress apologized and admitted that she had forgotten to include the Shrimp Scampi to the order; although, we did get the Scampi after a few minutes.

Honestly, the waitress was a really wonderful lady who was constantly cheerful and pleasant. She frequently came to our table for refills and politely asked if we needed anything else. I understand that things can easily sip from one’s mind especially when that person is working for long hours on a Sunday evening.

I was pleased that all the employees were very welcoming and friendly which really enhanced the experience. When we entered the restaurant, the employees at the front desk were cheerful and respectful. I was also amazed that another waitress had come to assist when we had accidentally left the blinker on for help with the payment. Our waitress had gone to make the payment for us at the front desk because the pin pad on the table had stopped working. The other waitress politely asked if there was anything she could do since she saw that the blinker was turned on and that no one was assisting us.

Finally, the service was pretty quick even though the restaurant was really busy. We didn’t have to wait at the front desk at all. As we entered they immediately escorted us to the seats. The food was also served within a few minutes after we had ordered them.

I am glad that I got to try a new restaurant because of my friend. Compared to other restaurant chains, Olive Garden definitely has an upper hand on food quality and cleanliness. I had thought that Olive Garden was a bit expensive compared to other restaurants, but I was wrong. The food is worth the money because it includes unlimited sides and the food quality.

The Olive Garden at FairLakes has taken a spot in my list of go-to restaurants because of the excellent food quality and delightful ambiance. I hope both the food and service quality is maintained for the years to come. Olive Garden truly is a pasta paradise! It is definitely a great place to invite friends and family. Although, you might want to reconsider if they are not pasta enthusiasts.

Olive Garden

12980 Fair Lakes Shopping Center,

Fairfax, VA 22033