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Business Profile

Restaurants

Darden Restaurants, Inc.

This business is NOT BBB Accredited.

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Complaints

This profile includes complaints for Darden Restaurants, Inc.'s headquarters and its corporate-owned locations. To view all corporate locations, see

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Darden Restaurants, Inc. has 1372 locations, listed below.

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    Customer Complaints Summary

    • 207 total complaints in the last 3 years.
    • 80 complaints closed in the last 12 months.

    If you've experienced an issue

    Submit a Complaint

    The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

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    Complaint status

    Complaint type

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:10/07/2022

      Type:Customer Service Issues
      Status:
      Answered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      *Receipts are attached*This establishment accused me of ordering and not paying for a meal. I have receipts that prove I indeed paid for everything I ordered. The host/employee, a white female with dark hair around 5'2-5-5 stood at the door, threatened me saying she would call the cops on me, accused that I was responsible for the table that left without paying for their meal although I was at a completely separate table, and attempted to block the doorway. The manager asked no relevant questions and also threatened to call authorities on me without a care to ask for my receipt which I had. When I asked if she wanted to see a receipt, she dismissed me. It begin to sound like some sort of scam. This restaurant, *******'s at ************************************* was unprofessional, unethical, and simply disgraceful with how they handled this situation. The accusations were proven false after I brought my paid in full receipt to attention, in which she sent the server that wonderfully served my meal to tell me, "she said you're good, I told her that you paid you're ticket." I proceeded to just thank my server for being my witness and left. This was such an upsetting experience and I will never return to any of the Cheddars establishments again. As a young black woman who has been raised a responsible, mature, honest adult it was very discriminatory the way the manager and host treated me that night.

      Business Response

      Date: 10/21/2022

      I responded to our guest apologizing for the way she was treated and asked her for some additional information so we can further resolve this situation. I am looking forward to connecting with her soon.

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:09/27/2022

      Type:Customer Service Issues
      Status:
      Resolved
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      On September 26th at about 9 pm in the evening I placed an order via phone from Longhorn Steakhouse in Piscataway NJ. It was a 6 ounce Filet Mignon dinner. The order taker was the manager. When she asked me about sides I said rice and steakhouse macaroni and cheese. I asked about the macaroni and cheese regarding what looked like "powder" on top that I thought that I had previously seen. She said that it wasn't powder but a parmesan crust that they always put on the macaroni and cheese. I said that I'd like the macaroni and cheese "plain with nothing on top". I heard it sounded like she was taking note of it and she said aloud "no parmesan crust". After I arrived home I looked at the macaroni side and saw alot of medium size pieces of bacon. I called the restaurant and spoke with the same order taker and she said that they always put bacon on the macaroni and cheese unless the customer requests that it be deleted. I asked if she could recall that I requested that I would like it "plain with nothing on top". She said "yes" however she said that for them and their restaurant "macaroni and cheese with bacon on it is plain ! ". She argued with me and talked over me when I explained that she could have helped avoid a problem by saying something about the fact that I requested it plain with nothing on top and with her knowledge of them always putting bacon on it advising me about it so that I could request that it be deleted. She argued with me and talked over me. Finally she said that she would send an e-gift certificate for $5.00 and hung up. At 9:30 I called and asked if they could remake it and she said that she had already sent the e-certificate. I said that I could pay the $5.00. She said in an angry sounding voice-
      "That's alright ! We don't need the money ! ". I asked if they close at 11 pm and she said yes. When I arrived at 9:45 and tried to speak with her an employee was holding the front door open and she said "She's there because we're closed ! ".

      Business Response

      Date: 10/14/2022

      Business Response /* (1000, 8, 2022/10/12) */
      We appreciate the feedback. We've followed up with a gift card to this consumer.


      Consumer Response /* (2000, 10, 2022/10/12) */
      (The consumer indicated he/she ACCEPTED the response from the business.)
      i also talked with the managing partner and he said that he would retrain the employee too.

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:09/19/2022

      Type:Product Issues
      Status:
      Answered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      Go to Olive garden spend 170 for you whole family to eat. You and your son's get food poisining the manager sends you a email with a $75 gift card. What is that. I missed a week of work don't even offer a refund I'm disgusted with the manangent teams at olive garden. My medical was paid I have insurance we all have insurance as it's mandatory smh. To tell a customer one out of 30 customers the foods not cook that's one out of thirty unacceptable orders and everything should be checked and to temp. Y'all can keep your pathetic $75 gift card with is that gonna go for me. When we spent 170. Y'all should have refunded my order as the whole damn order went into the garbage except the bread and salad but wait let's not forget the waitress brought out salad for one person one serving two people ordered it. I had to complain and I just looked at her like wth is this. It's all you can eat. Smh. I had to go to the doctor for this and take medicine to stop be from throwing up all week

      Business Response

      Date: 10/20/2022

      Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2022/09/20) */
      While we have no other reports of this nature, we do take these concerns seriously. Our Director of Operations has been in touch with this consumer. We've issued a full refund in addition to the gift card already sent.

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:09/19/2022

      Type:Product Issues
      Status:
      Answered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      Today (09/18/2022) at around 9:15 after eating at Longhorn, I paid my check online by scanning the QR code on the receipt to pay. I let the server know I paid online but she ignored me, no response was given. We got the confirmation screen that the payment was complete so we left. As we walked out, half way to my car, she proceeded to chase me outside and say I didn't get your payment. We asked to speak to the manager because it was embarrassing how we were being accused of not paying by getting chased and yelled at out the door. Being an African American male, I know our community is subject to discrimination. This experience was very humiliating, to be accused of not paying. We asked to speak to the manager and she was rude as well. Her response was "well sorry you feel that way" and said something along the lines of 'our system is slow so sometimes it takes a while to show up on our end that customer's paid. The way I was treated tonight was not acceptable. In addition to this, our service was awful due to her never really being attentive to us and never doing the simple things such as asking to refill our water or even checking up on us from time to time to make sure we were alright and we didn't need anything. I've had dinner at this restaurant on multiple occasions and never have I experienced this.

      Business Response

      Date: 10/21/2022

      Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2022/09/21) */
      We've communicated with the guest, coached the operations team and invited the guest back.

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:09/13/2022

      Type:Product Issues
      Status:
      Answered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      On August 24th 2022 at 8:21pm I made a purchase of $32.11 at a restaurant called Longhorn Steakhouse! The food was over cooked , pricing was outrageous for a bite size of food , and the waiting to be seated was ridiculous! (Over an hour). I've been contacting Longhorn to get my refund however I haven't gotten any response!

      Business Response

      Date: 10/18/2022

      Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2022/09/14) */
      Our Guest Relations follow up with the guest within the next 24hrs.

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:08/31/2022

      Type:Product Issues
      Status:
      Answered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      But my Sunday dinner shrimp were not cooked reached out to manager was told I would get a refund haven't received it

      Business Response

      Date: 10/17/2022

      Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2022/09/14) */
      We do not know at which of our brands or restaurants this consumer dined. We emailed them on Sept 1st and again today. We look forward to resolving their concerns when we hear back with more details.

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:08/19/2022

      Type:Product Issues
      Status:
      Resolved
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      We went into olive garden in rapid city sd on August 15. We were double charged for our meal. We had issues with out food not coming out right which was corrected with sending out a new steak properly cooked. We paid for the meal at the kiosk for $98.26 on our***** card ending in*****. The waiter comes up to the table after we paid and said he canceled the transaction to add a drink when it was just to discount and it went right back to the card and did NOT which we did not know. We ran the card again and it to out $31.31 and had to pay the rest with cash. We were told it would be back on the card by the next morning. This has still not posted to our account and has caused an over draft in our account for them canceling the payment not us. I want this to be posted back to my account along with over draft fees that might occur from them canceling the payment. No one AR the store wants to help when it's there mistake.

      Business Response

      Date: 09/06/2022

      Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2022/08/23) */
      We're sorry to learn of this guest's experience. We've confirmed she received an $18.99 credit as promised. We've additionally emailed a complimentary gift card for the inconvenience. This opportunity to address her concerns is appreciated.


      Consumer Response /* (2000, 7, 2022/08/24) */
      (The consumer indicated he/she ACCEPTED the response from the business.)
      I feel this is not correct thinking a gift card is substantial when you caused someone's account to over draft. Then the unwillingness of staff and management to correct a problem they caused

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:08/18/2022

      Type:Product Issues
      Status:
      Answered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      I frequent at Olive Garden weekly. As a busy physician, it is a place I enjoy on my off time. My visits lately have been challenging. I've noticed a significant decline in service. However, it was not until today that I truly believe my experience with the manager, Wauna, directly warrants such feedback. I arrived around 12pm, I didn't leave until 2:45pm. Service was slow! I got my appetizer before I got my drinks. 30 minutes later I got soup, salad and breadsticks. There was hair in my soup so I told the server and there was no acknowledgement at all. Total disregard. I was unable to consume or enjoy the soup and never received refills on soup, salad or drinks throughout my time there. The manager comes to the table 1 hour after we arrived and serves us our entrees. As I grabbed my fork to take my first bite of my 5-cheese ziti I noticed it was not a lunch size and the manager says "No that's dinner size that's what you ordered" how dare the manager make such an assumption when she isn't the one who took my order! She then says "I'll fix it for you" and grabs the plate, walks away. 15 minutes later, I tell my server that I'm no longer interested in the entree and to please remove it from the check. She tells me she can't since the manager is working on it. I insist that it's unacceptable, I've been waiting far too long. She removes the entree from my check, never acknowledges that I mentioned to her how my mothers seafood pasta doesn't contain scallops as it should, and at checkout I see I am being charged $7.95 for the soup I found a hair in! I ask the server to please remove this considering never finishing the soup and she says she can't. I then tell her that I'll take the entree in that case. She said "we already threw it in the trash" I advise her that I'll await for a fresh entree to be made to go. 5 minutes later she returns to my table with the entree. It looks disgusting as if she pulled out from the trash! This experience is absolutely unacceptable!

      Business Response

      Date: 09/02/2022

      Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2022/08/18) */
      We appreciate this guest's feedback and appreciate her reaching out. She's been recently sent gift cards, and we have noted her latest concerns.


      Consumer Response /* (3000, 7, 2022/08/18) */
      (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.)
      Thank you for your response. However, I have not received a gift card nor did I request a gift card. I spoke with the guest relations team yesterday who stated a regional manager would reach out to me. I have not heard from anyone. This response to my complaint provides no reassurance that this matter was taken serious nor that discussions of changes were implemented so this is not a repeated issue. I highly suggest Olive Garden take a closer look at recent reviews on******* and ****, as I am not the only customer who has had such a poor experience, specifically with this manager which was mentioned on some feedback.


      Business Response /* (4000, 9, 2022/08/19) */
      We appreciate the follow up. Her concerns have been shared and addressed with those responsible for this restaurant. Thank you again for the feedback.


      Consumer Response /* (4200, 12, 2022/08/19) */
      (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.)
      I have not recently been sent gift cards as stated previously. This matter is not about a gift card. I also never asked for a gift card. My dine in experience with the manager and overall service was my main concern. I called the customer relations team to discuss this as the table next to me also experienced awful service and attitude from the restaurant manager when the server made countless mistakes. I was advised a regional manager would be in touch within 24 hours. This did not happen. I'm disappointed in the lack of acknowledgment and accountability from Olive Garden and will no longer visit this restaurant again as it is quite evident I am not a valued customer.

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:08/07/2022

      Type:Product Issues
      Status:
      Resolved
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      Check No: *****
      Table No: 115
      Date: 08/06/2022 12:06 PM
      Server: Julia A
      Total: 52.23
      Unexceptionable service and treated very poorly. Arrived at restaurant at 11 and staff was rude and racist. Our waiter didn't give us the drinks we ordered and when our food arrived it was not placed in front of us and when asked for cheese on our food, it was very little. It was this is what I decided That you deserve from the staff. Paid for food with the kiosk at our table, our waiter never came to check on us and we sat at the table 50 minutes after we were done. In that time we used the kiosk tablet to call for a waiter 3 times, and I even went to the front of the restaurant to ask them for a box and it never came. The staff ignored our table and as a slap to the face 3 tables that were seated after us got boxes and drinks to go. I'm extremely upset considering the way we were treated and the fact that we couldn't get a box for the food that was paid for it extremely sad.

      Business Response

      Date: 08/16/2022

      Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2022/08/11) */
      We're sorry to learn of this guest's disappointing visit. We've been in touch and have sent out a complimentary gift card. We appreciate the opportunity to address her concerns.


      Consumer Response /* (2000, 7, 2022/08/11) */
      (The consumer indicated he/she ACCEPTED the response from the business.)

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:08/01/2022

      Type:Customer Service Issues
      Status:
      Answered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      I love love olive garden but today we found a sticker in our food that said use by end of day. Frankly I am disgusted and my kids and I are not willing to eat this food.

      Business Response

      Date: 09/06/2022

      Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2022/08/08) */
      We're sorry to learn about this guest's disappointing visit. Our restaurant manager sent the guest a complimentary e-gift card. We appreciate the opportunity to address these concerns.

    Darden Restaurants, Inc. is NOT a BBB Accredited Business.

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