Why I Take All My First Dates to Olive Garden | Bon Appétit

"Born as an independent Orlando-area restaurant in 1982, this chain embodies kitschy, never-changing Italian-American dining—complete with ’90s-style carpets, matching server uniforms and a standardized menu. The experience revolves around rituals: an unlimited self-serve salad, bottomless breadsticks (notably, two diners typically get three sticks to share), predictable freebies like a fistful of Andes mints with the check, and even opportunities for unlimited wine samples if you play along. Those comforts make it an easy, low-stakes spot for casual dates or family meals; it feels nostalgic and domestic, at once a reminder of home and a place to avoid real-life problems, where taking a packet of warm breadsticks to go can feel like its own kind of intimacy." - ByKristen N. Arnett