It's a very good place to eat, some of their meats may be preseasoned for the cook to just cook it up and serve it faster

1) See it for yourself: Mad TV - Olive Garden Commercial http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKZS4Jn6gRM ;-) 2) "Serve fresh, high quality Italian food; the leading Italian restaurant in the casual dining industry. Olive Garden leads the Italian-dining segment (about 560 outlets); it is a part of Darden Corporation." Source and further information: http://caloriecount.about.com/olive-garden-nutrition-m52 3) "Mithradir--the pre-cooked packaged foods at Olive garden are not to cut costs--they are for the sake of consistency. Consistency is the big thing in chains--the biggest thing in chains. Managment wants the customer experience to be the same no matter whether you eat in Des Moines, San Francisco or Atlanta. That is why entrees, soups and such are pre-made, frozen and then just reheated in the kitchen before serving--for the sake of consistency. But my feeling is this--if I want frozen food heated up--I can buy any number of frozen entrees at the grocery store, for less money. " "I use to manage Olive Gardens... A few things: I am Italian.... None of the food (at the time, can not vouch for now) was made elsewhere...it was all made on site, nothing prepackaged expect for individual cuts of meat...steak in particular. The soups were made from scratch, the sauce...the kitchens had full stations....grill, saute, app... The prep work was extensive with a large prep staff who was in every single morning 7 days per week....I wish the food had been prepackage and just reheated...would have made my job much easier. Lasagne, canelloni, all made by hand as was the stuffing for the canelloni. Alfredo, Bechemel, reds, all made on site Common misconception that it is all made elswhere and just heated on site. You could not be more wrong if you tried if you assume this. The only things we did make were the desserts, and the breadsticks. I can give you an insider view on what they were doing wrong in the early 90's during my tenure, just send me an e-mail." "Thanks for your insight, but things have changed in the last 15 years. Unfortunately, that large prep staff has been replaced by pre-packaged servings that take less prep work than a microwave pizza. It is a sad statement of fact, though, not many chains can hope to stay in business without some serious cost-cutting measures. Fresh food was Olive Garden's sacrifice for profits. " Source and further information: http://www.accidentalhedonist.com/index.php?c=1&more=1&pb=1&tb=1&title=we_get_letters_v_12_where_does_olive_gar

They are FROZEN!!! Even some of the things you wouldn't expect. I know this because twice I've gone, to two different Olive Gardens and both times I've been served food that was still frozen in the center. I hate Olive Garden. Their salad and bread are wonderful as I'm sure they can do that locally in house. But anything else they don't cook, they reheat.

I don't know anymore. My hubby used to work at the Olive Garden about 10 yrs ago and he made fresh pasta all day in the front where customers could watch. They took away that station and we don't know if they just moved it to the back, or are ordering it in now???

Frozen. My son used to work there.

i cant tell. i always get too stuffed with soup and bread sticks and end up having to take what i ordered home.

When I worked there, everything was made on site. However, you may have noticed that you didn't have to wait 2 hours for your lasagne. That is because it is prepared in large batches and heated and served throughout the day. Literally everything was that way. The soups were made in HUGE vats and put into portions for use during the day. The deserts, however, arrive frozen and sectioned, merely needing to thaw. The bread sticks also arrive cooked, but are put in the oven to brown and then coated with butter and garlic. Seriously, if you don't like the food, don't go there. If restaurants cooked your food from start to finish after people ordered it, there wouldn't be many people eating at restaurants because it would take so long.

I assumed that the food was frozen at first too because most chains do but now once i started working there i found that not to be true. of course some things are frozen like the beef because it would go bad in the process of Shipment if not. but the cooks are there hours before opening preparing the soups and sauces.I trust the OG when it comes to freshness because ive been behind the scenes in ,by far, the cleanest restaraunt ive ever been in. Dont believe the bitter ex employees and serial complainers. its good food.