Comments on: Recipe for a Cheap Meal at Olive Garden: Salad and Breadsticks http://frugaldad.com/2008/11/10/recipe-for-a-cheap-meal-at-olive-garden-salad-and-breadsticks/ Tips for living frugal while still having a life Sat, 20 Mar 2010 20:06:24 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Chris http://frugaldad.com/2008/11/10/recipe-for-a-cheap-meal-at-olive-garden-salad-and-breadsticks/comment-page-1/#comment-34164 Chris Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:38:20 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/11/10/recipe-for-a-cheap-meal-at-olive-garden-salad-and-breadsticks/#comment-34164 I'm also a waitress at OG, and I certainly don't mind when ppl eat for a bargain, but I appreciate you mentioning your generous tip. Too many people come in to eat salad, or soup and salad, and tip 15%...which is like 1.50. All the of the "endless" things require more work for us than anything else on the menu, and it still takes up one of our 3 tables for an hour or so. In cases of bargain eating, tipping should no longer be based on percentage. Even on a 3 dollar meal I would never tip less than 5 bucks, because it isn't my server's fault that I want to eat for cheap. I’m also a waitress at OG, and I certainly don’t mind when ppl eat for a bargain, but I appreciate you mentioning your generous tip. Too many people come in to eat salad, or soup and salad, and tip 15%…which is like 1.50. All the of the “endless” things require more work for us than anything else on the menu, and it still takes up one of our 3 tables for an hour or so. In cases of bargain eating, tipping should no longer be based on percentage. Even on a 3 dollar meal I would never tip less than 5 bucks, because it isn’t my server’s fault that I want to eat for cheap.

]]> By: Christina http://frugaldad.com/2008/11/10/recipe-for-a-cheap-meal-at-olive-garden-salad-and-breadsticks/comment-page-1/#comment-33856 Christina Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:24:10 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/11/10/recipe-for-a-cheap-meal-at-olive-garden-salad-and-breadsticks/#comment-33856 I work at Olive Garden, and I am glad you were able to enjoy the unlimited salad for 2.95, though keep in mind, the server could have gotten in trouble for only charging 2.95 if you had refills on the salad. Technically if a table shares a meal, and they get refills on the salad we have to charge the full price of a salad which is 5.95. Don't be mad at the server, it's just one of the rules we are made to follow. Also, the reasoning the prices went up were due to the economy, I had left to have my son, and when I came back, they not only went up, but went up AGAIN after I had been back. The rise in gas and food prices are the culprits. I work at Olive Garden, and I am glad you were able to enjoy the unlimited salad for 2.95, though keep in mind, the server could have gotten in trouble for only charging 2.95 if you had refills on the salad. Technically if a table shares a meal, and they get refills on the salad we have to charge the full price of a salad which is 5.95. Don’t be mad at the server, it’s just one of the rules we are made to follow.

Also, the reasoning the prices went up were due to the economy, I had left to have my son, and when I came back, they not only went up, but went up AGAIN after I had been back. The rise in gas and food prices are the culprits.

]]> By: Leftovers: A Recipe For Food Savings | Frugal Dad http://frugaldad.com/2008/11/10/recipe-for-a-cheap-meal-at-olive-garden-salad-and-breadsticks/comment-page-1/#comment-28502 Leftovers: A Recipe For Food Savings | Frugal Dad Tue, 14 Jul 2009 10:01:34 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/11/10/recipe-for-a-cheap-meal-at-olive-garden-salad-and-breadsticks/#comment-28502 [...] Another strategy for reducing your food costs by incorporating leftovers is to plan your meals around recipes that naturally produce a lot of leftovers. In our house, we all eat spaghetti the night it is cooked, I eat it for lunch the next day at work, and we all finish it off the next night. That’s nine servings of spaghetti enjoyed at home with salad and garlic bread for a fraction of what you would pay at a place like Olive Garden. [...] [...] Another strategy for reducing your food costs by incorporating leftovers is to plan your meals around recipes that naturally produce a lot of leftovers. In our house, we all eat spaghetti the night it is cooked, I eat it for lunch the next day at work, and we all finish it off the next night. That’s nine servings of spaghetti enjoyed at home with salad and garlic bread for a fraction of what you would pay at a place like Olive Garden. [...]

]]> By: How to Eat Cheap and Healthy | Hot Topics http://frugaldad.com/2008/11/10/recipe-for-a-cheap-meal-at-olive-garden-salad-and-breadsticks/comment-page-1/#comment-11838 How to Eat Cheap and Healthy | Hot Topics Sun, 16 Nov 2008 18:06:33 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/11/10/recipe-for-a-cheap-meal-at-olive-garden-salad-and-breadsticks/#comment-11838 [...] Recipe for a Cheap Meal at Olive Garden: Salad and Breadsticks … 10 Nov 2008 … Be proud of yourself for avoiding the temptation to eat out at all, … when $25.00 for a generic meal for two is considered cheap. … frugaldad.com/2008/11/10/recipe-for-a-cheap-meal-at-olive-garden-salad-and-breadsticks/ - 61k - Cached - Similar pages [...] [...] Recipe for a Cheap Meal at Olive Garden: Salad and Breadsticks … 10 Nov 2008 … Be proud of yourself for avoiding the temptation to eat out at all, … when $25.00 for a generic meal for two is considered cheap. … frugaldad.com/2008/11/10/recipe-for-a-cheap-meal-at-olive-garden-salad-and-breadsticks/ – 61k – Cached – Similar pages [...]

]]> By: Ask the Readers: Is Frugal Movement Just a Fad? | Frugal Dad http://frugaldad.com/2008/11/10/recipe-for-a-cheap-meal-at-olive-garden-salad-and-breadsticks/comment-page-1/#comment-11679 Ask the Readers: Is Frugal Movement Just a Fad? | Frugal Dad Fri, 14 Nov 2008 11:01:42 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/11/10/recipe-for-a-cheap-meal-at-olive-garden-salad-and-breadsticks/#comment-11679 [...] weekend my wife and I stumbled on an old $25 Olive Garden gift card we had received as a gift, and we enjoyed a nice evening out.  We decided to go early to avoid [...] [...] weekend my wife and I stumbled on an old $25 Olive Garden gift card we had received as a gift, and we enjoyed a nice evening out.  We decided to go early to avoid [...]

]]> By: Anna http://frugaldad.com/2008/11/10/recipe-for-a-cheap-meal-at-olive-garden-salad-and-breadsticks/comment-page-1/#comment-11535 Anna Wed, 12 Nov 2008 00:50:54 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/11/10/recipe-for-a-cheap-meal-at-olive-garden-salad-and-breadsticks/#comment-11535 I absolutely love the salad, soup, breadstick deal at OG. I used to have that for lunch in High School all the time. I know live in a small town that doens't have an OG. I absolutely love the salad, soup, breadstick deal at OG. I used to have that for lunch in High School all the time. I know live in a small town that doens’t have an OG.

]]> By: Sara at On Simplicity http://frugaldad.com/2008/11/10/recipe-for-a-cheap-meal-at-olive-garden-salad-and-breadsticks/comment-page-1/#comment-11533 Sara at On Simplicity Tue, 11 Nov 2008 22:55:38 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/11/10/recipe-for-a-cheap-meal-at-olive-garden-salad-and-breadsticks/#comment-11533 I'm not one for Olive Garden, but I love your point about having a compatible spouse. One of the great joys of life is being able to disagree with my husband on an incredible variety of small things, but be able to read each other's minds on the big issues. A dinner isn't a big issue, but the spending patterns that it reflects are. So glad you appreciate your frugal wife! I’m not one for Olive Garden, but I love your point about having a compatible spouse. One of the great joys of life is being able to disagree with my husband on an incredible variety of small things, but be able to read each other’s minds on the big issues. A dinner isn’t a big issue, but the spending patterns that it reflects are. So glad you appreciate your frugal wife!

]]> By: DavidK http://frugaldad.com/2008/11/10/recipe-for-a-cheap-meal-at-olive-garden-salad-and-breadsticks/comment-page-1/#comment-11523 DavidK Tue, 11 Nov 2008 14:21:16 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/11/10/recipe-for-a-cheap-meal-at-olive-garden-salad-and-breadsticks/#comment-11523 @Rob O., it's a good idea, but the point of the date was to get away from the kids for a few hours (especially for FD's wife, who's a stay-at-home mom) and to not have to prep before and clean up after the nice meal. For $25 INCLUDING GENEROUS TIP (so $16-$18 for the meal for two), I'd say Job Well Done. @Rob O., it’s a good idea, but the point of the date was to get away from the kids for a few hours (especially for FD’s wife, who’s a stay-at-home mom) and to not have to prep before and clean up after the nice meal.

For $25 INCLUDING GENEROUS TIP (so $16-$18 for the meal for two), I’d say Job Well Done.

]]> By: Nicki http://frugaldad.com/2008/11/10/recipe-for-a-cheap-meal-at-olive-garden-salad-and-breadsticks/comment-page-1/#comment-11521 Nicki Tue, 11 Nov 2008 12:54:36 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/11/10/recipe-for-a-cheap-meal-at-olive-garden-salad-and-breadsticks/#comment-11521 Maybe you should give relationship advice! The important thing about the date is that my hubby and I get some time alone without having to cook and clean up ... we've even had dinner at home before and gone out for a dessert and coffee date. The restaurants are pretty quiet and empty by 9 p.m. So nice. Maybe you should give relationship advice! The important thing about the date is that my hubby and I get some time alone without having to cook and clean up … we’ve even had dinner at home before and gone out for a dessert and coffee date. The restaurants are pretty quiet and empty by 9 p.m. So nice.

]]> By: Rob O. http://frugaldad.com/2008/11/10/recipe-for-a-cheap-meal-at-olive-garden-salad-and-breadsticks/comment-page-1/#comment-11519 Rob O. Tue, 11 Nov 2008 12:00:16 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/11/10/recipe-for-a-cheap-meal-at-olive-garden-salad-and-breadsticks/#comment-11519 I know that this is way outside the point of this post, but just to throw it out there... For an even more frugal meal - at half or less the cost of even the most scrimpy OG outing - you can pick up some frozen breadsticks & salad fixings at the supermarket. While the breadsticks are baking, you'll have just enough time to chill some plates, put together the salad, set the table, and maybe even pour a little wine & put on some Sinatra! I know that this is way outside the point of this post, but just to throw it out there…

For an even more frugal meal – at half or less the cost of even the most scrimpy OG outing – you can pick up some frozen breadsticks & salad fixings at the supermarket. While the breadsticks are baking, you’ll have just enough time to chill some plates, put together the salad, set the table, and maybe even pour a little wine & put on some Sinatra!

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