I don't go to the Olive Garden for an Italian meal as we have too many real Italian restaurants in Fort Lauderdale for the true experience. The Olive Garden is a wanna be Italian restaurant with real Italian names for their food items but that is as far as it goes. I have yet to taste a sauce there that isn't just bland, tasteless.

I had a $35 gift card plus a $5 off coupon so off we went.

Upfront, Marlanea, our server was excellent. The breadsticks were warm while the salad was good but the Minestrone soup was loaded with vegetables and very little taste.

We both had the Shrimp 'Scampi', ($16.49 each) at least that was what they called it.  Yes, there are many variations of Scampi but the basic Italian restaurant will make it in an oil and garlic sauce while this was in some sort of cream sauce. They did put it over Angel Hair pasta.

I had a diet soda ($2.89)--is there some theme I am missing with all items priced to end in a 9? Allen paying heed to the latest report on diet sodas stuck to water.

We did share a piece of Black Tie Mousse cake ($7.79) which was very good.

Altogether our check came to $45.98 including tax plus we left a $10 tip so minus the $35 gift card and the $5 coupon it cost us about $8 each out of pocket.

It has been about 5-6 years since I had been to an Olive Garden and after this meal, I remembered why.

I'll stick to Cafe Vico, Big Louie's, MezzaLuna Bistro, etc., for an Italian meal!

Oh yes, a big plus in their favor was that I didn't see a television anywhere! LOL