Olive Garden for catering

Olive Garden catering is disgusting - we get it all the time for work.

It doesn't have to be a place "people are familiar with." Rockford is a decent sized city if I remember correctly, so I'm sure there's a local Italian place that can run circles around Olive Garden.

Everything I have read online about tips on catering is that sometimes restaurant aren't prepared or have enough experience catering events for 150+ people. Catering prices range greatly from my own research I've been doing. Same food items but thousands of $ in difference depending on the company! Shop around a bit more!

My friend had her bridal shower which had about 80 people catered my Buca De Bippo and it was delicious if you're considering Italian.

Xoxo

Olive Garden isn't the best but I'd be happy to eat it at a wedding. I would check into some other caterers first. OG is just ok. The breadsticks, salad and soups are good. Not a fan of most of their other stuff.

I think OG would be fine. However, I agree with checking other local places for better pricing.

Sam's is the place I'm having issues with... Capri is crazy expensive unfortunately.

My wedding is 100-105 people.

I've sent other emails so we shall see.

I've sat down at Olive Garden for dinner and it was great! Went to a wedding where they catered and it was awful. I still complain about it to this day when anyone brings up shitty wedding food

I've emailed about 4 other places. So we shall see. The only thing I wanted from Sam's was a print out of what I owe for my balance and they can't even send that. So I'm wondering if I should trust they'll even show up....

I'd like to jump in and agree with others, keep looking. You have some time. OG is the WORST chain restaurant when it comes to dealing with food allergies! I never really liked them to begin with but I went for my brothers birthday and the only thing I could eat was soup or plain pasta with red sauce (not the meat sauce) No salad with dressing, no breadsticks and the staff was so rude about it, like I was being obnoxious about not wanting to have an allergic reaction. I'd find something for the sake of your guests who may have allergies.

Our office usually order their pasta bar from their catering menu for our lunch meeting. Its pretty good. Love their bread sticks, chicken and gnocchi soup. So worth the calories.

I would pass on Olive Garden. It's fake Italian food and it's only saving grace is their delish salad and breadsticks. I would 100% seek out an authentic Italian restaurant for catering if that's the route you want to go. I would guarantee it would be cheaper.

Let's see who will reply first... I'm pissed Sam's is being this way :/

Giovanni's also crossed my mind today. Not sure about their pricing. And the Venetian Club has a pretty cheap menu, but I'm not sure if they do any events outside their hall. Good luck!

I just want to jump in and say from personal experience that restaurant managers tend to not be the best with email. Pick up the phone and call them, or stop by before dinner service one night to talk to a manager. Email probably won't get you very far at first.