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[XiaNaphryz]

Olive Garden Turns to Burger to Bring Customers:

Olive Garden hit the bottom of its Never Ending Pasta Bowl this week, adding a burger and fries to its menu in an effort to boost guest traffic at lunch.

The Italiano Burger is a 6-oz. beef patty topped with Italian prosciutto, fresh mozzarella cheese, arugula, marinated tomatoes and garlic-aïoli. It’s served with Parmesan garlic fries. But it’s not there to be a low-price entry item for lunch: Priced at $9.99, the burger is one of the more expensive lunch items at the chain, owned by Darden Restaurants (parent of Red Lobster, Yard House and several others). Calzones and a pizzaiola are priced at $7.99. Eggplant Parmigiana is $9.49.

The Italiano Burger is on the menu now simply because people like burgers (certainly more than eggplant parmigiana).

Olive Garden’s performance during its last fiscal quarter, ended Aug. 25, 2013, were so poor that President-COO Drew Madsen announced his retirement, effective this month. For the quarter, Olive Garden guest traffic was down 3.8% and same-store sales declined 4%.

The chain responded first by rolling out Taste of Italy small plates, a collection of dishes such as Tuscan White Bean Hummus with toasted ciabatta bread, all priced between $4 and $4.50. Another tactic has been the “Buy One Take One” program that offers one entrée to eat and another bagged to take home for $12.99.

Madsen himself hinted at the possibility of a burger at Olive Garden during the June Q4 earnings call in June. He said that “to regain value leadership in casual dining and broaden appeal at Olive Garden, we plan to add more affordable Italian classics for price-conscious guests, compelling and craveable protein-centric dishes for guests that are willing to pay a little more, new offerings in our popular Lighter Italian Fare platform for health-conscious guests and more daypart-appropriate menu selections and service options at lunch.”

Will consumers really go to Olive Garden for a fast-casual-price burger? A TV commercial from Grey NY insists, “You haven’t had a burger until you’ve had the new Italiano Burger at Olive Garden.” Or will they instead simply go to a fast-casual burger chain such as Smashburger or Elevation or The Counter? It’s worth watching.

Apparently the price is higher at some locations:

One of my local Olive Gardens (Los Angeles area) marks the price of the Italiano Burger at $11.99 for lunch.

 

[Sliver]

its called a pizza burger

 

[jchap]

Isn't the only reason to go to Olive Garden for lunch bottomless breadsticks and salad?

 

[BertramCooper]

It's pretty sad when you're reduced to ripping off Applebee's.

 

[Fury Sense]

paying that much at olive garden anyway, nice to have another option if you end up eating there

 

[MC Safety]

If you go to Olive Garden, the burger is as good as anything else to get.

 

[kirblar]

Isn't the only reason to go to Olive Garden for lunch bottomless breadsticks and salad?

Pretty much. Sit-down restaurants for lunch is sort of a tough sell in general now.

 

[BertramCooper]

I remember when Grandma got me a $50 gift card to Olive Garden for Christmas.

I was like, "Fuck, just give me fifty bucks, Grandma!"

 

[Reave]

No thanks -- I'll stick to my salad/stuffed chicken marsala/tiramisu regimen.

 

[Bladenic]

I didn't know they were doing so poorly they had to resort to this. The one in my college town is always booming.

 

[Slayven]

Meanwhile Red Lobster done fucked the game up.

 

[OfWhiteSkinOnRedLeather]

$10 for a fast food burger? And I complain about Wendy's prices. Holy shit.

 

[snacknuts]

"I wouldn't take a dump in the Olive Garden."

 

[Watevaman]

Meanwhile Red Lobster done fucked the game up.

i've thought of buying this. is it as good as the ones in the restaurant?

 

[BertramCooper]

When you think about it, the name "Olive Garden" doesn't even make any sense.

Shouldn't it be "Olive Grove?"

 

[Slayven]

i've thought of buying this. is it as good as the ones in the restaurant?

I only heard good things. Stores can't seem to keep it in stock around here.

 

[XiaNaphryz]

I didn't know they were doing so poorly they had to resort to this. The one in my college town is always booming.

College kids will eat anything if it's close to home and cheap enough.

The sushi place at my old college town was always packed during all-you-can-eat hours.

 

[krpiper]

Yeah bottomless breadsticks and salad for me. Maybe if the burger came with that, it would be okay at $10

 

[BattleMonkey]

Isn't the only reason to go to Olive Garden for lunch bottomless breadsticks and salad?

Yup, their food is crap, only good thing is the unlimited bread and salad.

 

[RukusProvider]

What sort of shitty palate do people have to eat at the Olive Garden???

 

[Phobophile]

When you think about it, the name "Olive Garden" doesn't even make any sense.

Shouldn't it be "Olive Grove?"

Might as well ditch Olive from their name. I bet they use blander vegetable oils to cook with instead of olive oil.

 

[wenis]

Meanwhile Red Lobster done fucked the game up.

Oh lord... I'm going to the store.

 

[meltingparappa]

There are some people who will only eat burgers.

If you're going out with co-workers for lunch and someone goes "I don't want to go to Olive Garden, I want someplace I can get a burger!", now you can go and get yo carb on while they're happy too.

 

[snacknuts]

i've thought of buying this. is it as good as the ones in the restaurant?

I made a batch a couple weeks ago and they were just as good as in the restaurant. Well, as good as I remember them being; I haven't been to a Red Lobster in a few years.

 

[Recon]

i've thought of buying this. is it as good as the ones in the restaurant?

They are pretty damn good. I have made them a few times.

 

[CrankyJay]

Meanwhile Red Lobster done fucked the game up.

Jesus titty fucking Christ you are the king of my world...just ordered a bunch off of Amazon.

 

[Ultima_5]

Meanwhile Red Lobster done fucked the game up.

Just add water and cheese....

So it's bisquik with garlic salt. Come on people. Step up your game

 

[zeemumu]

On the other hand, that is the classiest burger that I've ever seen.

 

[BolognaSoup]

That'll be a great option for the teenagers on their homecoming dinner.

 

[Link]

$10 for a fast food burger? And I complain about Wendy's prices. Holy shit.

Gotta make up the costs of continuing to pay the COO for the next two years somehow. Remember when "retiring" meant that you stopped getting a paycheck?

 

[SamVimes]

What? With just 20 dollars more i can get this:

 

[freenudemacusers]

I remember when Grandma got me a $50 gift card to Olive Garden for Christmas.

I was like, "Fuck, just give me fifty bucks, Grandma!"

Yeah, I always end up giving them to people for $30. :/

Meanwhile Red Lobster done fucked the game up.

while this is basically bisquick with cheese and seasonings...

lawd

 

[Northeastmonk]

This is when you hold out for the recipe to leak online.

 

[Aiustis]

lol oh Olive Garden. All the ones here are out in the burbs and I do not go to the burbs. I'd take chinese over it anyday. And the one time I went the only thing I remember is how expensive their very craptastic (or at least below my standards) tiramisu was.

 

[PorcellainThrill]

What? With just 20 dollars more i can get this:

Not with inflation accounted for you can't

 

[freenudemacusers]

This is when you hold out for the recipe to leak online.

http://dudefoods.com/make-your-own-red-lobster-cheddar-bay-biscuits/

 

[OfWhiteSkinOnRedLeather]

Gotta make up the costs of continuing to pay the COO for the next two years somehow. Remember when "retiring" meant that you stopped getting a paycheck?

WTF? Every time I read something like this I think, "something's gotta give," but it never does and I keep reading new shit. These assholes are really out of control.

 

[Dennis]

What? With just 20 dollars more i can get this:

Post #31?

GAF, you slippin'

First thing that came to my mind.

 

[Koodo]

What? With just 20 dollars more i can get this:

Timeless.

 

[Llyranor]

Sounds like a waste of prosciutto.

 

[CrankyJay]

Yeah, I always end up giving them to people for $30. :/


while this is basically bisquick with cheese and seasonings...

lawd

Yeah but it never turns out the same. Hopefully this turns out the same.

 

[Horseticuffs]

What? With just 20 dollars more i can get this:

I've been here a while now yet I feel I'm missing something...

 

[freenudemacusers]

I've been here a while now yet I feel I'm missing something...

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=316249

a classic that tried to die, but was not allowed to die

 

[Link]

I've been here a while now yet I feel I'm missing something...

Enjoy!

EDIT - Damn you, freenudemacusers!

 

[TheMan]

I've been here a while now yet I feel I'm missing something...

Many moons ago, some dude showed off by posting a pic of his "30 dollar Italian meal."" Don't remember what the context was, but he was rightfully ridiculed for overpaying for what looks like something from fazolis.

 

[Horseticuffs]

Many moons ago, some dude showed off by posting a pic of his "30 dollar Italian meal."" Don't remember what the context was, but he was rightfully ridiculed for overpaying for what looks like something from fazolis.

Enjoy!

EDIT - Damn you, freenudemacusers!

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=316249

a classic that tried to die, but was not allowed to die

Excellent, excellent.

 

[CarpeDeezNutz]

That photo is never going away haha.

 

[iamaustrian]

Might as well ditch Olive from their name. I bet they use blander vegetable oils to cook with instead of olive oil.

this

I mean, they use fucking grapes in their logo

also their food isn't exactly great. same goes to the massively overrated cheesecake factory

 

[Limit]

also their food isn't exactly great. same goes to the massively overrated cheesecake factory

Quite true. I have given several chances to my local cheesecake factory trying out several of their dishes but it all just tastes so dull. The restaurant presentation is nice though. Nicely lit with chandeliers up the wazoo coupled with ok food pricing. If only the dishes had any flavor to them.

 

[overcast]

As a worker at Olive Garden I get 50% off while at work. Might try one at break.

We have shit food, so expectations are low.