I don't mind the Olive Garden, I have fond memories of law school days when we used to go stuff ourselves (and our purses) with the unlimited soup salad breadsticks lunch. I actually like Buca a lot. The one here has really good food and it's good for students.

I woke up this morning with the thought of William Shatner guesting on Highlander.

"There.....Can.....BEonlyone."

"It's...bettertoburnOUT...thantofade...away..."

I offer no excuse.

Because there is none.

I like Olive Garden. There's a Carraba's here, but it's way out of my price range. Olive Garden is a pricy restaurant, in my life.

I have as yet to visit nor eat at a Buca, even the aforementioned one is the closest restaurant to my workplace.

Jessica and I have the same full body shudder horror reaction to Buca, it seems.

Still, the chirpy service at a lot of chains is a good use for the giant manly penis-replacement steak knives they seem to want to give you with everything, whether your food calls for it or not.

Though I have gotten takeout from there before - it's a decent option to feed a group and avoids the cringy atmosphere.

I rather like the Macaroni Grill, in terms of semi-common "Italian" restaurant chains. Certainly better than Olive Garden or Buca di Beppo. Delicious bread. I like the pasta selection at the Cheesecake Factory more than any of them, though.

Carrabba's has much yummier food than Olive Garden, but I have enjoyed plenty of their garlic sticks. There was an OG near our old office and we had many a lunch there. Never got sick and enjoyed the comforting pasta.

Chain restaurants have their issues, but there is a certain value in knowing what you are getting. OG worked well with us and the boys. They can eat some bread.

We've done Macaroni Grill as well. My family loves chain restaurants and considers them "fancy." Like, appropriate-for-special-occasions-such-as-anniversaries fancy.