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Lots of people in the US with enough income to swing an occasional $250/couple dinner out consider The Olive Garden fancy and go somewhere like that for their “

by ashark 9y ago

Lots of people in the US with enough income to swing an occasional $250/couple dinner out consider The Olive Garden fancy and go somewhere like that for their “special” dinners. Source: personally know way more people in that situation than I do people who appreciate and can afford non-microwaved meals out. Could be regional—this is the midwest, after all. “Prix Fixe” isn’t in most people’s vocabulary here, even if they can easily afford good meals. It’s a socialization/class thing.

goialoq 9y ago
Olive Garden may be acceptable (I'm no snob), but no one considers it _fancy_. It's the least-expensive lowest-grade of sit-down meal.
- marpstar 9y ago
  I'm in Iowa and people really do think Olive Garden is "fancy". I got an Olive Garden gift card for Christmas and my and I even cracked a joke about going on a "fancy" date there, because so many people here think that it's what a "nice" restaurant is.
- ashark 9y ago
  The Olive Gardens around here are worse than the middle tier of frozen Italian dinners you can grab at the grocery store, these days (they've definitely gotten worse over the last 10-15 years—I think they've preferred lowering quality over raising prices, though they've done that a bit, too). Some dishes are worse than cheap frozen dinners, even. Last time I went it seriously had the taste and consistency (and general watery-ness) of microwaved food, too. Actually that last part's true for most of the non-fine-dining Italian I've had around here lately, including a few mom & pop places, not just chains. If the cheap to middling sections of the frozen aisle are better than what you're making... please stop. Then again, it sells for some reason, so who am I to say. [EDIT] and to back up Marpster below, it is nonetheless "fancy" around here to many (Missouri), including those who could certainly afford better for their special nights out.

by ashark 9y ago

goialoq 9y ago

Olive Garden may be acceptable (I'm no snob), but no one considers it _fancy_. It's the least-expensive lowest-grade of sit-down meal.

marpstar 9y ago
I'm in Iowa and people really do think Olive Garden is "fancy". I got an Olive Garden gift card for Christmas and my and I even cracked a joke about going on a "fancy" date there, because so many people here think that it's what a "nice" restaurant is.
ashark 9y ago
The Olive Gardens around here are worse than the middle tier of frozen Italian dinners you can grab at the grocery store, these days (they've definitely gotten worse over the last 10-15 years—I think they've preferred lowering quality over raising prices, though they've done that a bit, too). Some dishes are worse than cheap frozen dinners, even. Last time I went it seriously had the taste and consistency (and general watery-ness) of microwaved food, too. Actually that last part's true for most of the non-fine-dining Italian I've had around here lately, including a few mom & pop places, not just chains. If the cheap to middling sections of the frozen aisle are better than what you're making... please stop. Then again, it sells for some reason, so who am I to say. [EDIT] and to back up Marpster below, it is nonetheless "fancy" around here to many (Missouri), including those who could certainly afford better for their special nights out.