Overall Reviews at Olive Garden
4.0
Good place to work overall
I worked here for 4 years and mastered every position in the front of house. The training is top notch and the comradery of the employees is unlike anything I've ever been a part of to date. If you are friendly and are dedicated to the grind, you can succeed financially.
Prosthorough training, food discount, able to swap schedules/shifts at will
Consclosing tasks for certain positions are arduous, can be physically demanding, tips are 100% of your compensation as a server
3.0
Not the worse but not the best
Management needs better training. Very few cared about the employees. There was very little structure in the restaurant. The money I made for what I did was pretty decent. The best part about the job was the other workers.
ProsWeekly pay
ConsBarely give breaks
5.0
The opportunities I have had in the last 4 years.
Olive Garden provides flexible hours which allowed me to work while in college and also has provided me the opportunity to learn difference aspects of the business. The staff is friendly and are like family.
ProsFlexable schedules
ConsTypical shift is 4-5 hours
3.0
Good college job
Good flexible job, pay was good for an entry position, but no raises. Management is hit or miss. Fun coworkers and good overall environment. There is opportunity for advancement if you choose to pursue.
ProsPay, teammembers, flexible
ConsNo raises, tipped work, iffy management
4.0
Work life
The work environment is stressful at times but knowing how to do the area of work you are in and working well with your team makes it go smoothly. Management keeps you on your toes to keep the restaurant flowing as efficiently as possible. If you do your job correctly and show you want to learn and grow while also respecting one another, it goes a long way and will be beneficial in the long run.
2.0
Typical corporate restaurant. Whole lot of BS with the opportunity to make decent money (FoH)
I worked in multiple locations in as many states in the U.S.
Minimum benefits and high staff turnover. Can be a great place to work or a nightmare depending on location. I've seen it all. Don't waste your time unless you know the management staff at your location is solid.
ProsFlexible schedule, many locations and the ability to transfer
ConsPoor benefits, unreliable income, unreliable coworkers.
5.0
Olive Garden Work Experience
Olive Garden was a great company to work for. I was able to learn many new skills with my time at the company. Very grateful to have worked for them. Would highly recommend working for this company.
ProsCross-training was highly encouraged
ConsNone
4.0
Highly flexible hours/shifts, friendly work environment, job security-especially during Covid-19,
Overall I enjoy working for Olive Garden. I was originally hired in 2006, was employed with them for nearly three (3) years, left and came back two (2) years later. When I contacted the General Manager about my return I was welcomed back with open arms and minimal hassle, aside from obligatory paperwork. I have been re-employed with them since 2011.
Olive Garden is an Equal Opportunity Employer and as such we have a diverse set of team members at all locations. While there are positions that have specific requirements they do their best to ensure that the right people are place in the right positions.
e.g. those with limited mobility or lift/weight bearing restrictions are not made to carry heavy trays of dishes/food; minors are not using or handling state age restricted equipment or products.
Many of my co-workers have been with the company for over three (3) years, a several of them are decades into their employment. It makes for an extremely familiar and friendly environment to work in.
5.0
Love it
If I could stay there forever I would.
I work at the route 4 location been working there 3 years .. management team is like my second family coworkers are all great
4.0
Only as good as it's managers
Overall, I did like the company. They had decent benefits and the job really wasn't bad. The biggest things that I did not like about the location that I was at was: how quick they were at giving stuff away (I get that that is a big way to help in customer satisfaction if something is not right, but at the same time, if they sit back and give out free stuff at every single little thing, then they are training their customers to learn how to eat out for free) and that when the general manager does not care, then the whole restaurant will go downhill. One manager cannot be made to the the only one to follow protocol and make sure that things are done efficiently and properly, it is like parents playing two different sides and nothing gets resolved. Unfortunately towards the end of my Olive Garden career, it became very hard to continue to care about my job as it seemed as though no one else did.
