I went to lunch with my mom and sister yesterday. We went to Olive Garden. Our waitress was great, but the manager was a huge ass!!

I had asked the waitress if I could see the children's menu. I also handed her my special diet card. She told me that she was not allowed to let me order from the children's menu, but that she would show my card to the managers and ask for me.

Well, they said NO. Seriously. . . I couldn't even look at it!! LAME.

I ended up eating some of my mom's chicken breast, and a few shrimp from my sister's plate.

It was all fine in the end , but I was just pissed on the princeable. Because they refused to let me order from the kid's menu--I ordered nothing. Losers

I always look at the kids menu and if it has something on it that looks good to me I ask if I can order it and I've not been turned down yet. I don't say why, I simply ask (except at a buffet of course where a reason would be called for). If it doesn't have anything I like on it, I order from the regular menu but I'd rather order the smaller portion for the smaller price than deal with leftovers. That being said, if it's the restaurant's policy to not allow that and they POLITELY turn me down I can handle it. Golden Corral told me they had changed their policy and I wasn't allowed to pay the child price but they were very rude and mocking about it, that made me mad. If they had kindly and discreetly explained to me that it was against policy I would have been fine. At least for me it all lies in how it's communicated.

Edited September 15, 200818 yr by ShrinkyDink

Sheesh...here is what I think....not tha anyone cares..

1. No, they do not have to give a childs entree.

2. No, you are not disabled. I too, worked with developmentally disabled people, and we wouldn't order a childs plate for them.

3. I've worked as a waitress at many establishments, and never would have blinked an eye at an adult ordering off childs menu, and if anyone thinks that the waitstaff would get "in trouble" that is a little off base. Do you really think the manager is checking the tickets and looking to see if the appropriate number of kids are present? Give me a break.

4. Should they accomodate? Yes...it's good business to make your customers happy, and besides, does anyone think it's going to start a trend of adults ordering processed nuggets all over the world? Doubtful.

Most people want what is offered on the regular menu.

5. A table full of bandsters that order kids meals and tip like crap, probably tipped like crap when they ate the jumbo plate 2 years ago. Some people just don't get it.

Ohhh, and I'm on day 1 of my liquid diet, and I think I'm getting grumpy. :smile::thumbup:

I always look at the kids menu and if it had something on it that looks good to me I ask if I can order it and I've not been turned down yet. I don't say why, I simply ask (except at a buffet of course where a reason would be called for). If it doesn't have anything I like on it, I order from the regular menu but I'd rather order the smaller portion for the smaller price than deal with leftovers. That being said, if it's the restaurant's policy to not allow that and they POLITELY turn me down I can handle it. Golden Corral told me they had changed their policy and I wasn't allowed to pay the child price but they were very rude and mocking about it, that made me mad. If they had kindly and discreetly explained to me that it was against policy I would have been fine. At least for me it all lies in how it's communicated.

Nicely put.

geez..the company makes enough money to just let someone order off the kids menu. i would write a letter to their home office. i have found most restaurants are accomodating, i've yet to have been told no. im waiting for the day tho. lol. but yea, so dumb, bc they lost out..they couldnt let u pay for a what..$6-8 meal..instead they'd rather not take ur money? ugh..this fustrates me.

I have "one of those cards" and never use it!! I didn't have this surgery for special treament. At least that's what I personally feel I'd be asking if I presented it to use. I go for protein, and most children's meals are starch, starch, starch! Most of times, I opt for appetizer or just share my meal with another. No problems yet, even at the few OG's I've been to (my GF's love them because they're so slow...gives us a good excuse to be gone so long-HA!)

3. I've worked as a waitress at many establishments, and never would have blinked an eye at an adult ordering off childs menu, and if anyone thinks that the waitstaff would get "in trouble" that is a little off base. Do you really think the manager is checking the tickets and looking to see if the appropriate number of kids are present? Give me a break.

I've worked as a waitress before myself and people were allowed to order whatever they wanted but not all restaurants have the same rules. I believe you're referring to what I said about the waitress not wanting to get in trouble by letting me order off of the kid's menu. Those were her words...not mine. Apparently management at that particular Denny's is very strict about that rule and were helping people at the registers that day, so that's the reason she told me to tell them that story if they asked. The manager didn't ask though, so it worked out fine. :thumbup:

flower,

I didn't mean to sound snooty or anything! hehe. I'm sure she did say that though...and maybe she did have a jerk manager hovering over her...but seriously, in a fast paced rest. a manager shouldn't have time to be looking over shoulders and such. Things can get so hectic, I can't imagine anyone knowing who ordered what.

But that is not really the point...:thumbdown: I'm just trying to keep myself busy while I starve to death on my pre op diet!! Just talking about going out to eat makes me want drool!!:thumbup::drool:

You know - someone should send this website and post to Darden Restaurants (parent company of Olive Garden) and let them see how the word spreads and the negative publicity they are getting from this. There is power in numbers and I'm sure they don't want the negative publicity...

I had already sent something to their guest relations alerting them.

You know - someone should send this website and post to Darden Restaurants (parent company of Olive Garden) and let them see how the word spreads and the negative publicity they are getting from this. There is power in numbers and I'm sure they don't want the negative publicity...

Whine, Whine, Whine.

Personally I think that we need a grip on reality.

We got banded. Olive Garden doesn't care, and doesn't have to.

I own a recording studio. I have made a contious effort to say that all projects who record with me will be clean, and accept my Christian practices. I don't ever want anyone to come and tell me that they are a paying customer, and if they want to make trashy music with lots of foul language, I have to accomidate.

Olive Garden has a policy. And they have every legal right to do so... So stop your whining and get over it.

Well I am one that didn't agree with the whole using the card and stuff but I did send their guest relations something. I asked them to please review the thread. That will be up to the guest relations to review their policy if they wish.

Whine, Whine, Whine.

Personally I think that we need a grip on reality.

We got banded. Olive Garden doesn't care, and doesn't have to.

I own a recording studio. I have made a contious effort to say that all projects who record with me will be clean, and accept my Christian practices. I don't ever want anyone to come and tell me that they are a paying customer, and if they want to make trashy music with lots of foul language, I have to accomidate.

Olive Garden has a policy. And they have every legal right to do so... So stop your whining and get over it.

I agree. If the policy is posted, can't complain about it.

If you know you're going to have a hard time eating at a certain place, DON'T GO!!! No one is forcing you! It was a choice to get banded and it's a choice to go out to eat and it's a choice in where you pick to eat. See? CHOICES!! We all have them.

I looked and I couldn't find where you download it.

It looks like they dropped the s from bariatrics. The cards are now at...

Restaurant Card Bariatric Surgery

I know that this is mostly an old thread, but it bugs me a little! There is no Olive Garden that fully enforces this policy; at least none that offer a "To Go" menu. Has anyone used this and been grilled on whether they actually have children at home? Anyone been denied a children's portion to go, because the order taker didn't believe them? I'm sure this is rare if it happens--the restaurant sold a meal, took the money, and had no idea and no concern regarding who was going to eat it. The only difference eating in the restaurant is that the staff can SEE that it is an adult intending to order the smaller portion, rather than a child. The restaurant is betting that a regular entree will be ordered if a children's meal is denied, rather than that person not ordering anything or the entire dining party leaving without ordering. Olive Garden (and any restaurant) is not THAT concerned about whose mouth the food is going into. It's a money issue, and they will find a way to charge more if and when they can. It's their business, their right, but not really fair how they enforce the policy.

We eat at The Macaroni Grill, they happily let us get one entree, they split it in the kitchen and do not charge for an extra plate