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Sadly, Buca has really lost much of what made them wonderful. We no longer go there to eat.
I'd argue most chain restaurants have lost their way in this country. We find ourselves going to mom-n-pop places now, after I've scoped them out (which I realize is in contradiction to what I wrote earlier... but the key is that I have to check it out before having Melvin come).
Melvin has extremely picky tastes in food, and I have had at least some luck at choosing restaurants that we both like. In that I'm wrong less than other people.
2014-09-04 14:20 from wizard of aahz @uncnsrd
Melvin should learn to eat more variety.
Melvin sounds like my cat...
Melvin has a lot of cat-like qualities. Prefers to sleep in the day, stays up late at night, independant (but not)...
2014-09-04 18:58 from fleeb @uncnsrd
Melvin has a lot of cat-like qualities. Prefers to sleep in the day,
stays up late at night, independant (but not)...
I know quite a few folks like that....
Melvin sounds like my wife. She would debate over food choices quite a bit when we were dating. I was able to deflate the debate with an off-hand comment: "Well, if I am wrong, we will get the chance to eat again in a few hours."
Heh, with Melvin, if he doesn't like it, he won't eat it. He'd rather starve.
We've had to turn away from many a restaurant because of this.
Heh, with Melvin, if he doesn't like it, he won't eat it. He'd rather
starve.
Are you *sure* that's not my cat?
I was on a trip this week, they had an arcade where I stayed, the claw machine had a $25 Olive Garden card in
it. I figured after talking about how awful it is I could easily win it. Then I decided if I did win I would
send it directly to IGnat for all his hard work here.
Then I decided it wasn't worth trying.
I did try this different style crane/claw machine, I have never seen it before. It has a "key" that you move
left/right, then up. Once you release the up button the key moves forward. If it is aligned correctly it will
fit into the slot and you will win the prize. The prizes on the top were a Galaxy Tab 3-16meg or a Kindle Fire
HD. I figured the risk vs reward was worth a few bucks. I figured all three dollars would be lost. The first
dollar would be lost getting the feel or understanding of how the machine worked. Instructions were vague
pictures that make a Ikea
manual look well documented. I wondered how a machine giving out $100 Best Buy gift
certificates, Galaxy Tabs, and Kindle Fires could make money, that is some expensive products in there. Most of
the games in this room were prize games. I could see how people can drop $10 into a machine trying.
I laughed at the "Deal or No Deal" machine, the prize was 1000 or 2000 points depending on if you put in $1 or
$2. The first prize was awarded at 5000 points, you would win a $5 gift certificate to Best Buy. That means
you had to play the game perfectly and if you played the game perfectly three times, twice at two dollars,
once at one dollar you would get back the same amount of money you paid into the game. You had to send in your
tickets and request your prize. The machine operator must have been making money hand over fist.
it. I figured after talking about how awful it is I could easily win it. Then I decided if I did win I would
send it directly to IGnat for all his hard work here.
Then I decided it wasn't worth trying.
I did try this different style crane/claw machine, I have never seen it before. It has a "key" that you move
left/right, then up. Once you release the up button the key moves forward. If it is aligned correctly it will
fit into the slot and you will win the prize. The prizes on the top were a Galaxy Tab 3-16meg or a Kindle Fire
HD. I figured the risk vs reward was worth a few bucks. I figured all three dollars would be lost. The first
dollar would be lost getting the feel or understanding of how the machine worked. Instructions were vague
pictures that make a Ikea
manual look well documented. I wondered how a machine giving out $100 Best Buy gift
certificates, Galaxy Tabs, and Kindle Fires could make money, that is some expensive products in there. Most of
the games in this room were prize games. I could see how people can drop $10 into a machine trying.
I laughed at the "Deal or No Deal" machine, the prize was 1000 or 2000 points depending on if you put in $1 or
$2. The first prize was awarded at 5000 points, you would win a $5 gift certificate to Best Buy. That means
you had to play the game perfectly and if you played the game perfectly three times, twice at two dollars,
once at one dollar you would get back the same amount of money you paid into the game. You had to send in your
tickets and request your prize. The machine operator must have been making money hand over fist.
IGnat will sign up his whole family.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2014/09/07/olive-garden-never-ending-pasta-casual-dining-restaurants/15139803/
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2014/09/07/olive-garden-never-ending-pasta-casual-dining-restaurants/15139803/
For $400 (the cost of four "unlimited pasta passes") I could buy enough ingredients
to feed my family "Sunday dinner" for at least that long.
Who knew there was a black market for horrible food and that people were willing to pay more for it than regular
prices?
http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2014/09/12/beware-olive-gardens-black-market-never-ending-pasta-passes/
prices?
http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2014/09/12/beware-olive-gardens-black-market-never-ending-pasta-passes/
Olive Garden ... meh. They're having their day in the sun but will decline
eventually. Even now, the parent company is ripping them for being too generous
with the salad and breadsticks.
My favorite chain is having tough times. Friendly's is closing a whole bunch of restaurants, including all of the ones in the greater Uncensoredland area.
It wasn't fancy food, but it was our favorite place to go for an inexpensive but decent meal out with the family. And they didn't pretend to be something they weren't, the way Olive Garden pretends to be Italian food.
My favorite chain is having tough times. Friendly's is closing a whole bunch of restaurants, including all of the ones in the greater Uncensoredland area.
It wasn't fancy food, but it was our favorite place to go for an inexpensive but decent meal out with the family. And they didn't pretend to be something they weren't, the way Olive Garden pretends to be Italian food.
All the Friendly's but one closed in this area. You can still get their ice cream in the store but the stores
have closed.
People I know have gone to the local I'll Live Garden and they said it was horrible. More horrible than other
I'll Live Gardens they have been to. No one thought an Olive Garden would make it in this area but it seems to
be holding for now.
have closed.
People I know have gone to the local I'll Live Garden and they said it was horrible. More horrible than other
I'll Live Gardens they have been to. No one thought an Olive Garden would make it in this area but it seems to
be holding for now.