Olive Garden Reloaded

Much like the 2nd Matrix, Olive Garden is trying to win back fans of the original. Also much like the 2nd Matrix, they will only confuse and frustrate their customer base leaving bland taste bud having Nascar fans not knowing how to get their unlimited pasta bowls or tour’s of Italy.

While reading Yahoo News I came across an article about Olive Garden trying to woo back customers after falling into a rut. To me, that rut started back in ’93 when I first went to an Olive Garden. That was actually the only time I enjoyed going to Olive Garden. Not for the good food or ambiance. Back then I was just an immature (more so than now) teenager and would go to the OG with my friends. We’d order just the salad and bread sticks and we’d eat a shit-ton of them.

If I were to revamp Olive Garden, I’d cut the menu down to two items and change the name to “Salad and Bread Sticks” as those are the only two things ANYONE ever says are any good. Like I’ve said in my previous post, the bread sticks “are like sticks of buttery crack”

Olive Garden Salad Bread Sticks

I know you can’t wait to get in there and see the changes!

Olive Garden
www.olivegarden.com
63459 U.S. 97
Bend, OR 97701
(541) 312-4760

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

Deschutes Brewery – Bend Oregon

In January 2012 Deschutes Brewery in Bend Oregon closed for a few weeks in order to finish their expansion. I was fortunate enough to get in early to see the new digs and try some new menu items. Deschutes was very generous and covered the cost of food for all their invited guests for 4 consecutive days. It was a great way for their crew to get used to the new flow and the kitchen to try out the new menu and work out the kinks.

Was I running around like a tourist taking photos of the new facilities? No. I’ll leave that up the you guys and your facebook postings. I just did what I do and take the photos of the food. (But the entire place looks awesome and I’m sure all of Bend will be knocking each other over to get in there when they do open their doors to the general public)

Here are some pics of some of the new menu items. Even though the food was free, we didn’t gorge and order everything like jacknuts. We did over do it for sure and were absolutely stuffed. The following photos are from two separate visits. Pricing was not on the menu’s so I have no idea how much any of this stuff costs.

One of my favorite dishes was probably the simplest to make – the White Bean dip with garlic, olive oil, and an olive tapenade. The olives provided that saltiness that I love. This could be a meal in itself.

Deschutes Brewery White Bean Dip

We tried the Boar Sausage on the small plates portion of the menu. Not the prettiest dish but it was quite good. I don’t eat sauerkraut so I asked the Wife how it was and she said it could be better. No lose to me as I was happy with the sausage and mustard. Even though this is a small plate, it is plenty for most people. But, I’m a fatty so we kept on.

Deschutes Brewery Boar Sausage

They are offering 3 types of flatbread pizzas and the one that jumped out at me was the Pub Pizza – sausage and pepperoni. I thought it was very good but the Wife thought it could use a little more sauce. The pepperoni was very good!

Deschutes Brewery Pub Pizza

At dinner I went for the Pork Shoulder. It was tender and fell apart under my fork. The potatoes were light and fluffy. The gravy was perfect. Nothing to complain about here.

Deschutes Brewery Pork Shoulder

We were very pleased with everything and loved the new side and all the changes to the old side as well.

Deschutes Brewery Bend Public House
1044 NW Bond Street
Bend, OR 97701
(541) 382-9242
http://www.deschutesbrewery.com/locations/bend

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

Bend Oregon Restaurants Reviewed