So Olive Garden opens its doors at 4 p.m. Monday and, with decades of anticipation ready to burst forth, everyone is forecasting 1 1/2 to 2 hours waits the first, dinner-only week. It reminds one of the old Yogi Berra line "My favorite restaurant closed. It got so crowded nobody went there anymore." Obviously that won't be the fate of Olive Garden, but one has to wonder about Lawton's other three Italian restaurants: Giovanni's, Luigi's and Bella Mia
(I'm not counting Bianco's. As we've already established Bianco's hardly qualifies as a restaurant, much less an Italian restaurant. Regardless, Bianco's will undoubtedly survive Olive Garden and the impending 2nd Avenue wrecking ball. Some things are just too bad to go away.)
To be honest, I'm surprised Luigi's has survived as long as it has. I've never been in there when I would say it is "crowded." But it is arguably the best in the bunch. I would give Giovanni's second place and Luigi's a close third. Luigi's is good, but the food there is extremely rich.
With Olive Garden opening we will have a critical mass of Italian restaurants in the Sheridan and Cache area. Pizza Hut Bistro -- which is Pizza Hut with a couple of dollars added to the menu -- is next door. Giovanni's is across the street and Luigi's is down Sheridan. That should actually help those involved, which could ultimately hurt Bella Mia. Here's hoping they all survive.
P.S. If you are at opening week, or if you are privileged to attend the soft opening this weekend, feel free to give us a report. Although, like Starbuck's, I've never been to an Olive Garden that was any different from any other Olive Garden, which is a good thing.