It has been at least a year since my last dinner at the Olive Garden, and this past Saturday night I was pleased to discover that not much has changed. The Italian chain, that has a rep for serving “fast food Italian,” offers delicious food, a variety of vino, and solid customer service. The wait for a table (even at 4:15 p.m.) can be 45 minutes and up, but there wouldn’t be a long line of customers if the waiting wasn’t worth it. On this most recent trip to the Olive Garden, I sipped on Riesling (Chateau Ste. Michelle, $5.65) and enjoyed the warm, buttery breadsticks and fresh salad, while waiting for my entree: Stuffed Chicken Marsala ($15.25), filled with Italian cheese and sun dried tomatoes, smothered in mushrooms and marsala sauce, with comforting mashed potatoes on the side. The meal was absolutely delicious and full of flavor, yet the portion was small enough to leave me plenty of room for dessert. To wash down my meal, I opted for the seasonal Pumpkin Cheesecake ($5.95): a creamy, rich, generously-sized way to enjoy the flavor of the Fall. The cheesecake was also topped with a thick layer of whipped cream, drizzled with caramel sauce and sprinkled with ginger cookie crumbs.

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