Olive Garden Gluten Free Penne!

[Lombardi25]

Well I do my random checking of gluten free menus online here and there and I'm on vacation this week and we were looking for somewhere to go for lunch, and I happened to on a whim check Olive Garden and bam now on their gluten-free menu they have:

Pennine Rigate with Marinara

Marinara sauce made with a blend of tomatoes, bell peppers, onions and Italian herbs. Served over gluten free penne pasta.

I called ahead and they had it, so I went had some and it was very good. No gluten-free bread/breadsticks yet, but this is a step in the right direction.

I don't remember hearing about this prior, so sorry if this is old news, but I'm fairly certain this is new.

[sixtytwo]

OMGosh, I am so happy about this. I am going on vacation soon and I love Olive Garden. Thanks for sharing.

[Judyin Philly]

called and talked to ex chef now manager of a olive garden and went last nite' out stanting service.

he mentioned this but they slapped this sticker all over the ingred pannel so he was afraind to serve it to me re seasonings.

so

going to call corp tomorrow and will let you know what i find out

Manager said they are trying to get more items like this is.

all self packaged for one serving so the were very aware of cc.

[MySuicidalTurtle]

How weird. I wonder why they aren't advertising this since most Celiacs wouldn't be going there!

[Judyin Philly]

the manager told me they just updated their gluten-free menue

i would have been the first person who tired this product as they just got into the store 4 days ago

i'll report back

[Lisa]

Only through my eyes can I believe. I have found Olive Garden to be one of the largest, most unfriendly, restaurant there is. They withdrew their gluten free menu.

Redemption can be a good thing. But, I think I'll wait a while

[Judyin Philly]

OH MY God, lisa i'm so glad i didn't see this before last nite

I've only eaten out many 9 times in 5 1/2 years so you know have scarey it is for me too

Ireally have to say, each resturant is different as we know.

This manager seemed so accomodating on the phone and as i said it was a last minute invite.

he seemed to really get it.

ha

we've been fooled before

i didn't get sick and he did the whole thing himself as manager not chef either.

so as i said i'll call tomorrow

today was so busy

sorry you had a really bad experience and I FOR ONE WOULD HAVE NEVER TRIED A O.G. WITH ALL THE PASTA AND FLOUR AND CC ............... SCAREY THOUGHT FOR SURE

[butterfl8]

And here I was tonight browsing the forum, and I see this post. I was going to do my own post on what advice anyone could offer for a business lunch I have to go to in the next few weeks at our local Olive Garden. I'm guessing I'll go for the bring my own lara bar, or look put upon and drink a soda for two hours! Question asked and answered--thanks everyone!

[Lombardi25]

Like I said, we had called ahead, and I can imagine the cc concerns at a place like this, but in my opinion, you are pretty much always going to be risking cc, at any restaraunt, whether it is the buns/breads/pasta/seasonings/marinades/flour from pizza etc. so I have come to accept it and just make sure I call ahead and give em the ole Celiac quiz to get a seal of approval lol, but yeah this was in Newington, NH (I should have said that) and they were great, no problems, didn't get sick. So I will definitely going back. Again, now if they can only make a gluten-free breadstick or something for us lol :-) Anyone else have good experiences with the gluten-free penne yet?

Oh and PS, I was also wondering why it wasn't advertised etc. that much, maybe they are just "testing" it out before spreading the word.

[Wenmin]

Ate there last night. Always get the mixed grill. It is a shish ka bob of chicken and steak with grilled zuchini, onions, and potatoes. Never had problems with this dish before.

Wenmin

[Judyin Philly]

hi

Ok I so agree with the quote from above

so I have come to accept it and just make sure I call ahead and give em the ole Celiac quiz to get a seal of approval lol,

that's what i did before i went and called late afternoon to speak to the manager,,,chef on THE NITE

He passed my TEST

He promised to handle my meal personally. It was in the Springfield PM on Baltimore Pike Manager's name that nite was Greg.

Now that being said....Lisa i so agree with .............if you have a bad experience you won't go back

That happened to me with local PF Changs.

Terrible attitude, service plus i got sick.

Remember how i raved about Red Robbin and wrote a letter to corporate telling them how great they were

they went on a trip for Easter and a RR Franchise refused to serve me.

I guess if we find a local one we can trust or go the nite the manager or chef who treated you right like me. I'd give it another try...........but.............would never in a million years just drop into a olive garden on a road trip.

our 13 day road trip from PA to CA ought to have alot of interesting stories

hold me I'm scared.

[Judyin Philly]

And here I was tonight browsing the forum, and I see this post. I was going to do my own post on what advice anyone could offer for a business lunch I have to go to in the next few weeks at our local Olive Garden. I'm guessing I'll go for the bring my own lara bar, or look put upon and drink a soda for two hours! Question asked and answered--thanks everyone!

suggestion--

This manager was worried about the 'regular' salad so just gave me a plate of fresh romaine lettuce

they did 2 big chicken breasts halved and sauted in a CLEAN pan with olive, canola oil and fresh garlic

and steamed assparagus.

I forgot my own salad dressing but it was still really good.

ask if ck was fresh and didn't come marinated and he said yes.........

Judy

[Gemini]

Only through my eyes can I believe. I have found Olive Garden to be one of the largest, most unfriendly, restaurant there is. They withdrew their gluten free menu.

Redemption can be a good thing. But, I think I'll wait a while

I was happy to see this post because I went to the Olive garden once, before I knew I had Celiac, and it had to be the worst food I ever ate in a restaurant. For an Italian restaurant, they knew nothing about preparing good Italian food! The bread sticks were nothing but gummy, over-buttered glue sticks and I could have made a MUCH better meal at home. We have never been back. Even my husband, who isn't as picky about food quality as I am, couldn't understand why so many people like this place. I just wouldn't trust them to get the meal right, as far as it being gluten-free is concerned. Too much flour in the kitchen and staff who are not well trained in food and food prep.

[nasalady]

I was happy to see this post because I went to the Olive garden once, before I knew I had Celiac, and it had to be the worst food I ever ate in a restaurant. For an Italian restaurant, they knew nothing about preparing good Italian food! The bread sticks were nothing but gummy, over-buttered glue sticks and I could have made a MUCH better meal at home. We have never been back. Even my husband, who isn't as picky about food quality as I am, couldn't understand why so many people like this place. I just wouldn't trust them to get the meal right, as far as it being gluten-free is concerned. Too much flour in the kitchen and staff who are not well trained in food and food prep.

In my experience, even with large chain restaurants, every restaurant is an entity unto itself. One Olive Garden (or Red Robin or Outback Steak House or whatever) might be very good, while another can be absolutely terrible!

With respect to gluten free dining at any restaurant, as previous posters have said, I always call ahead and give them a quiz over the telephone before risking it. If the manager is friendly and promises to work with me, I take along my Triumph Dining Cards and go for it!

But everyone should assess the risk and make their own decisions. If you don't want to risk being glutened, don't eat out. Eating out is always a risky business.

[Juliebove]

I wonder if they all have this? We just turned down a dinner there the other night because I didn't think I could eat there. We usually go to The Old Spaghetti Factory if we want pasta.

[Lombardi25]

It is listed on their online menu nationwide now, but I also called ahead too to make sure for my local restaurant.

We don't have Old Spaghetti Factory here, but when I was on a business trip in St. Louis last year, my hotel was like a minute away from one, so I ate dinner there both nights lol, I love the marinara/butter sauce they put on it, really good.

I wonder if they all have this? We just turned down a dinner there the other night because I didn't think I could eat there. We usually go to The Old Spaghetti Factory if we want pasta.

[Juliebove]

It is listed on their online menu nationwide now, but I also called ahead too to make sure for my local restaurant.

We don't have Old Spaghetti Factory here, but when I was on a business trip in St. Louis last year, my hotel was like a minute away from one, so I ate dinner there both nights lol, I love the marinara/butter sauce they put on it, really good.

Hmmm... I looked on the online menu and didn't see it. I will look again.

[Juliebove]

Hmmm... I looked on the online menu and didn't see it. I will look again.

I found it. Had to google for gluten free pasta and Olive Garden. Sounds good!