Today marked my first visit to the Saskatoon location of the Olive Garden. I'd visited a location many many years ago, in Winnipeg with some co-workers, but this was my first visit since the chain opened up a franchise in the Bridge City and except for one hiccup, which I will cover shortly, the experience was exquisite.
I'd recently received some very good news and I wanted to celebrate with a nice lunch for myself and my mother. She's helped me out in many different ways over the year and this news not only helps myself, but may put me in a position where I can start paying my mom back for all the favours she's provided me over the years. In the past, she's wanted to visit the Olive Garden and today seemed like the perfect opportunity to do just that.
The restaurant has been present in the Hub City for a couple of years, already, but due to Covid, we've not dared go hardly anywhere in public, let alone a restaurant. Plus, the lines to get into the premier eatery were lengthy at best and we'd come to an agreement to not go until some of the luster had worn off, so to speak.
Today was the day to try it out and try it out, we did and as I stated previously, it was exquisite except for one tiny hiccup, which I will address shortly.
We had arrived shortly after lunch and the parking lot was almost completely filled, but we found a spot near the front door. Inside, they told us it would be about a 10-minute wait, but it was more like five minutes. We were ushered to a table on the east side of the restaurant and we perused the menu until our server came over and explained what our options were.
We both opted for the salad, instead of the soup -- which was very tasty, as well as one helping of the breadsticks. My mom chose the marinara sauce, while I went for the meat sauce to dip our respective breadsticks into, which came to the table warm. A slight crispiness on the crust and warm on the inside. It was delightful. As for our lunch choice, I decided upon the Chicken Parmagiana, admittedly having to Google what it was before ordering it, and my mom chose the dish as well. Though it looked very little like the photo I had Googled, it was, however, very tasty and quite filling, I might add.
Midway through the main course, I had to excuse myself to use the washroom. Our server was very kind and pointed me in the direction of the restrooms and off I went. I was not prepared for what came next, though. (It is here where I feel it necessary to point out that what follows was completely no fault of the Olive Garden, but a very bad decision on the part of the patron whom I encountered in the washroom.) When I entered the men's room, I found a single individual standing back from the urinal, pants down around his knees and cell phone in hand, taking multiple photos of his.... His you-know-what. I was shocked, embarrassed and very uncomfortable. I immediately turned to use the toilet, which was thankfully behind a locked door, but that was occupied, forcing me to have to stand at the handicapped urinal next to the "photographer".
At the best of times, I have a shy bladder. I find it extremely uncomfortable to go in front of other people, especially in a public restroom. I'm reminded of the time I went to a KISS concert at SaskPlace and was forced to search multiple bathrooms to find a vacant toilet stall in order to relieve myself. On this day, though, I was forced to try and go, despite the discomfort and awkwardness that was occurring in present time. The whole process was difficult and I soon returned to my table.
Looking up from her meal, my mother could see that something was wrong and asked as much. I told her what had just happened and she was, rightfully so, appalled. I apologized for ruining her lunch, though we both muscled through it like champs.
I never voiced my concerns to the restaurant staff, as what would they be able to do about it, after the fact. I couldn't identify the fella, other than he had a bald head and a huge pecker, neither of which is a criminal line-up that I wouldn't wish to bear witness to ever again. Best to roll with the punches and try to salvage the remainder of our lunch.
Overall, the lunch was, as I've stated, exquisite, with a huge capital 'E'. I tipped our server, Michelle, very well, but the next time I visit the restaurant, I may just avoid using the restroom so as to not stir up any traumatic memories.
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