another olive garden to open

I'd take Macaroni Grill over Olive garden any day of the week.

[Robin Garr]

I'd take Macaroni Grill over Olive garden any day of the week.

I think I'd go with DiFabio's Casapela or Il Gallo Rosso or maybe Come Back Inn ...

Glad to see you chose DiFabio's first Robin! Glad you liked it. I'm sure Caity, Sarah and my daughter, Jade, appreciate your support!

i happen to be at macaroni grill today and one of the manager's tells me a olive garden plans to open at jefferson mall.

They are refurbing the old Circuit City building for Olive Garden, also there is a Cheddar's going up in that area

I'd take Macaroni Grill over Olive garden any day of the week.

I think I'd go with DiFabio's Casapela or Il Gallo Rosso or maybe Come Back Inn ...

I'm talking chains. Although there's a FEW locals I'd take Macaroni Grill over just based on taste but that's a different conversation.

For years, I was never a big OG fan, and was always astonished at the amount of business their location on Hurstbourne Lane generated...however, the OG located off Hwy 22 and the Gene Snyder near Costco has been (IMO) a step in the right direction, with updated architecture and decor, coupled with a (somewhat) improved menu....yes, it's a chain and yes, there are probably "better" Italian options in the area, but I think they're making an effort to rise above the chain mediocrity...I probably won't have occasion to visit a South End OG, but in this economy, more new businesses in the area means more jobs and a broadened business tax base--not a bad thing.

I personally think that the Jefferson Mall has gone "uphill" in the last year or so. It definitely went through some bad times in the late 90s & earlier part of this decade (that whole area did). I personally think that the service in that area is horrible in general but there are a few exceptions (e.g: Sharom's, The Chili Pot, etc.). Anyone that's familiar w/ the area (I grew up around here) knows that Cheddar's & Olive Garden will thrive (the OG across from Bucca on Hurstbourne gets a ton of business from people in this area).

I agree w/ annmarie on The Italian Oven (I used to enjoy their wood stove pizza). I think that Bucca & Olive Garden are about even. A year or so ago I would've put Bucca well above (the atmosphere is nice) OG but I was forced by my relatives to go 2 times in the past year to OG & it was much better than it was a few years ago.

I like some of the choices at Olive Garden, but they are limited to Unlimited Soup and Salad. My times to dine at the place are typically around lunch time. Is it the BEST? Of course not. That's a silly question. Is it the best in my area near work? Yes.

Olive Garden is near the bottom of the list for chains. And, I'm only taking chains into account. However, there are some not too bad. Carabas and Macaroni Grill have been doing it right for quite some time.

As far as the J-Mall, I REALLY hope they revamp the place and not let it go the way of Bashford Manor. And, I mean it commercially...the shops just disappeared one by one till the building was one huge paper weight for decades.

[Robin Garr]

macaroni grill and carabba's tie for top

This might surprise some of you who know my active preferential option for the locals, but I actually think Carabba's is pretty decent. It's run by OSI (Outback), and both Carabba's and its sibling Bonefish Grill (and a couple of other concepts that don't operate here) are all well above the median. They actually comprehend that service and quality pay dividends in building long-term loyalty, a concept that many chains can't see because they're blinded by the short-range bottom line.

Sort of a chain (other location in Columbus), but Martini isn't bad. I'll take Volare anyday, but Martini is good, and their drinks are very good.

I agree with Robin; though I'm a little bias having worked with OSI for 5 years at Outback. But, I was able to see the difference Outback operated vs Sizzler (yes, I know. It was my first job).

I happen to live by the olive garden at 22 and brownsboro rd. it amazes me on the weekends especially to see the long lines of people waiting outside to get a table.
i don't understand the fascination of their food. it's not bad, but it's nowhere true italian. i guess the fact that you get unlimited salad and breadsticks is inviting to some. i know of people who think those breadsticks are outta this world. if i do get food to go, the first thing that goes in the garbage are the breadsticks. i'll take a foccacia or a true italian loaf over those breadsticks any day.
if i would rate the italian chains here, here would my list in order of best to worst:
macaroni grill and carabba's tie for top
bucca di beppo
olive garden
old spaghetti factory
and lets not forget good old fazzoli's, if you call that italian.
i never been to brava cucina, so i can't remark.
when the italian oven was around years ago, i must say it was pretty good for being italian.
did i forget any other chains, locally here in louisville?

I dined at Fazzoli's recently (on Hurstbourne Ln - formerly Denny's)...my first visit in YEARS, and now I remember why....I read somewhere recently that Fazzoli's is among a group of casual/QSR chains actually closing units around the country--and I'm not surprised...I could buy as good (or better) in the frozen food aisle at Kroger--BUT the place was doing brisk business on a week night (with Macaroni Grill and Carrabas just down the street).....go figure.

if it ain't broke, leave it alone..

It's not that easy.

Food costs for restaurants increase every year . Where is the extra money going to come from in order to stay in business? They must take off some of dishes; simply to stay in operation and compete with other stores . In addition , the economy is not TOO great , but there are ever more choices than 15/20 years ago. The fact people have a choice means those restaurants will need to work harder to get customers while costs increase from vendor. It's a no-win.

I've been hearing rumors for years that OG was coming to that part of town.

It's not my favorite, but considering the lack of choices in that immediate area, I'm not going to complain. I'm pretty much resigned to the fact that most independent restauranteurs have no interest in setting up shop out here in the Creek and nearby environs. Admittedly, it can be a tough nut to crack, but several ethnic places have pulled it off.

I've passed an Italian restaurant (or so it appears) out on Dixie Highway, but I've never stopped in. Anyone know anything about it? Last time I drove by, there were some kids in prom attire in the parking lot. I can't remember the name. *smacks forehead*

When I first moved here back in 2003, someone at work joked that I was moving in with the Fern Creek rednecks. At the time I just laughed it off, but now I'm not laughing so much. I even popped off an email to Kroger's HQ because the local store is substandard compared the others in the area (Hikes Point & J-town for example). There are certain organic foods that I like, and the organic section at the FC Kroger is about the size of my living room. Their deli is also focused mostly on fried chicken, and we don't have the chef-created items like the other locations have. They also have committed the ultimate sin of not selling Boar's Head meats. We're not all Bud Lite swillin', fried chicken munchin', mystery meat sandwichin' hillbillies out here. I'm not holding my breath for a response.

terri, by any chance is it tuscany or angio's both italian in that area of town?

I do believe it's Tuscany. Apparently there is also one on Outer Loop. I checked out the website, and the menu looks varied. I'm not sure how this one slipped under my radar.

Has anyone tried it?