Olive Garden Restaurant Charlotte, NC

The Olive Garden restaurant located at 8225 Northlake Commons Boulevard is a popular spot for gatherings of friends and family in the Northlake area. Nestled in a newer shopping center among other restaurants and shopping, Olive Garden brings affordable Italian dining to the area. The service is always friendly, and the food complements the authentic Italian ambiance.

Northlake Commons bustles with activity day and night. Northlake Mall anchors this shopping destination, with well known stores such as Macy's and Dick's Sporting Goods, as well as a state-of-the-art AMC movie theater. After shopping, one can find almost any type of cuisine with a short walk. My taste buds led me sample the offerings of Olive Garden.

Some days the line for seating wraps around the building, giving the impression that what was hidden inside was hard to find and well worth the wait. Lunchtime seems to be one of the busier times, but thankfully, Olive Garden also offers an excellent to-go menu and ordering is also available on line. I myself wanted the entire experience, and opted for seated dining inside. The extra friendly staff greets you at the door, and if available, sits you promptly and attends to your needs with a smile. I have never had an issue with a server, even when I continued to enjoy my meal after closing time. Everyone is polite, and really seems to enjoy their job and their customers.

After admiring the effort put into the design and furnishings of the restaurant, I was also relaxed by the music that played during my visit. It was definitely a relaxing and enjoyable experience to sit in a restaurant without distracting conversation from the patrons seated next to me. I wondered as I picked up my menu if I was in for a case of sticker shock. Fortunately, Olive Garden's menu offerings were affordable and the entree descriptions were so inviting that I had no idea what to try first! The Chicken Alfredo was so nice I had to have it twice, and the Chicken Marsala I tried on another visit was a wonderful blend of wine and mushrooms with a generous side of Tuscan Potatoes. Both entrees were under $20 each. The presentation was very appealing with both entrees. I also enjoyed my choice of salad prior to my entree, and their filling bread sticks.

I also enjoyed several samplings of wine, thanks to my server. The Castello de Poggio Moscato was a wonderful choice. At only $5.95 a glass, I was able to enjoy the wine and the price. The servers have no problem allowing you to taste their wine offerings, allowing me to find my "perfect fit" with the Moscato.

I have enjoyed every visit to Olive Garden, and cannot wait to try the new Pear & Gorgonzola Ravioli with Shrimp on my next visit. I will be waiting for you there with my glass of Moscato!