Italian dining (restaurant, fast food, bread, spaghetti)

[cleosmom]

Which do you prefer, Olive Garden or Johnny Carino's? We have both here and I have to say JC still beats Olive Garden hands down! OG will nickel and dime you for stuff that is automatic at JC, not to mention you get more food and better quality at Johnny Carino's.

[burdell]

Originally Posted by cleosmom

Which do you prefer, Olive Garden or Johnny Carino's? We have both here and I have to say JC still beats Olive Garden hands down! OG will nickel and dime you for stuff that is automatic at JC, not to mention you get more food and better quality at Johnny Carino's.

I don't think we have Canno's in the east, in northern NJ I prefer some of the many little mom & pop holes in the wall for good, everyday Italian style cooking.

[Earniefan]

If I had my choice I'd be in New York at Rao's, I buy their sauce and let me tell you I can eat that stuff right out of the jar with a spoon. My three year old daughter feels the same way about it!

I've never been to Johnny Carino's, we've always been happy at OG. I think it depends on what you order though, I mean you don't get lasagna or spaghetti at a place like this. You have to try something a little different to get something good.

[elisa`]

Ciao, any of you have ever visit Iatly?
well I can tell you that the food is much different, and in Italy we do not know what is the alfredo sauce....

[cleosmom]

Originally Posted by elisa`

Ciao, any of you have ever visit Iatly?
well I can tell you that the food is much different, and in Italy we do not know what is the alfredo sauce....

I have not been to Italy, but certainly hope to visit Europe some day.

[LittleMissSunshine]

Ugghhh...

I hate ALL chain Italian places. I only eat them in a pinch or if other people want to go. The OG has the lowest quality Italian food I have ever tasted. The breadstick is the best thing there.

Long live family owned places for Italian dining.

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by cleosmom

Which do you prefer, Olive Garden or Johnny Carino's? We have both here and I have to say JC still beats Olive Garden hands down! OG will nickel and dime you for stuff that is automatic at JC, not to mention you get more food and better quality at Johnny Carino's.

Neither. I'll go to my NY/NJ owned family Italian restaurant any day. I consider Olive Garden road food. Seriously, the last time I had Olive Garden was driving to NY stopping in Florence, SC. I tried Johnny Carinos, and it went out of business in about a year here. They actually were not that bad, just bland.

[LVGAZ]

CHAin restaurants are far from Italian restaurants - always look for a small mom/pop Italian restaurant for the real thing - we have Buca di Peppo and Olive GArden, Carberras in Phoenix and it is all fast food - nothing original Italian - but then we have Naples - family owned for 22 years (closing now- toobad) that was great, fresh and authentic.
I am an original Boston Italian and let me tell you NY and Boston has got the best authentic foods.

[floridadreamer]

Originally Posted by LittleMissSunshine

Ugghhh...

I hate ALL chain Italian places. I only eat them in a pinch or if other people want to go. The OG has the lowest quality Italian food I have ever tasted. The breadstick is the best thing there.

Long live family owned places for Italian dining.

I don't like the breadsticks anymore. They used to be awesome, soft and warm with just the right amount of garlic powder on top. Now it's like they come already cooked and they just warm them in the oven and they don't even do a good job with that.

[Ohiogirl81]

I'll go to a mom and pop (or, grandma and grandpa ) place before I'll consider a chain Italian restaurant. Some of the best are in small towns with good-sized Italian populations -- Steubenville, Ohio, for instance.