Olive Garden fears displaying American flag might ‘disrupt’ customers’ dinners
posted at 12:02 pm on October 13, 2011 by Howard Portnoy
[ Political Correctness ]
Olive Garden is concerned for its customers’ well being. That is why its parent company, Darden Restaurants, recently joined forces with self-professed French fry lover Michelle Obama to “healthify” its kids’ menu. The overhaul included substituting fruit or vegetables for fries and proclaiming milk the “default beverage.” Full disclosure: Soda and fries will be served to children but only upon request by parents (in writing, triplicate and notarized, please).
"Don't tread on Olive Garden
Darden’s determination that its patrons leave happy is not limited to the youngest among them. If you are a grownup and plan a visit to Olive Garden, you can rest assured that your enjoyment of your meal will not be infringed upon by the sight (obscenity alert!) of the Stars and Stripes.
It was touch-and-go for a while, however, at the OG in Oxford, Alabama. Some thoughtless idiots from the local Kiwanis club brought along a copy of Old Glory, which they planned to display during their annual banquet. The nerve!
Luckily, the management sprang into action and informed 80-year-old Marti Warren, who had organized the event, that the American flag would not be permitted to be displayed in the restaurant—the Kiwanis banner either. Warren told local television station WBRC-TV, “I was so angry. I felt like I had been slapped in the face.”
But Darden defended its policy in a statement reading “like all Americans we have nothing but the utmost respect and admiration for the American flag and everything it symbolizes.” At the same time, the statement noted:
To be fair to everyone and avoid disrupting the dining experience for all other guests, [the Oxford Olive Garden] is unable to accommodate flags or banners of any type in the dining room.
The problem is that this particular OG lacks a private dining area where the sight of the flag could be safely shielded from the eyes of America haters trying to enjoy their pasta dinner.
When all was said and done, club members were forced to close their eyes and picture the flag waving in the wind as they said the pledge of allegiance. God bless America, no?
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Olive Garden should fear people’s wallets traveling to other Italian-style restaurants rather than put up with their crap.
teke184 on October 13, 2011 at 12:17 PM
After racing off the the corporate link
It will be noted that Olive Garden engages in the unfortunately very typical corporate habit of pre-filtering communications via web page. It is amazing how many clones of Dilbert’s pointy haired manager there are in American business.
So if you’d like to write a letter, you have to send it snail mail.
I think a better solution would be to stick the news item on their front door and eat pasta somewhere else. There are always lots of good Italian restaurants without the corporate anti-American attitude.
CrazyGene on October 13, 2011 at 1:09 PM
Good-bye, Darden. I won’t miss you.
Random Numbers (Brian Epps) on October 13, 2011 at 1:29 PM
Some group having a meeting is going to disrupt other diners regardless of flags or not. With no separate meeting room, I agree with their decision. It’s not about the American flag, or an anti American attitude, It’s about the dining experience of others.
Personally, I don’t want to be in the same dining room as the local chapter of La Raza while they’re having a meeting.
chewydog on October 13, 2011 at 2:22 PM
http://investor.darden.com/contactus.cfm
Use the contact page above for Darden investors and make sure your message tells them you won’t be investing at their restaurants anymore.
Here’s a list of Darden restaurants:
Red Lobster
Olive Garden
LongHorn Steakhouse
The Capital Grille
Bahama Breeze
Seasons 52
erp on October 13, 2011 at 4:17 PM
They’ve actually relented…it’s linked on Drudge.
SouthernGent on October 13, 2011 at 9:40 PM
Personally, I don’t want to be in the same dining room as the local chapter of La Raza while they’re having a meeting.
chewydog on October 13, 2011 at 2:22 PM
For you to be able to equate the two shows how far this country has fallen in regard to its “citizenry”.
theaddora on October 15, 2011 at 10:30 AM