When it comes to Italian restaurants in Yakima (not counting pizza places), it is slim pickings. Since Valley Italian Pizza and Pasta left the valley in August of 2022, we've been left with Zesta Cucina and Olive Garden. I love them both, but based on my latest visit, I might like one more than the other.

Earlier this week, my wife and I visited Olive Garden for dinner. Let me first state that the staff was great, friendly, and professional. The restaurant was clean and inviting. The cheese was where I had an issue.

The rest of the food was great until the server asked if I wanted cheese added. Heck yeah, I want cheese; I'm an American in an Italian restaurant!

When our server went to add cheese, she used the shaker (pictured below). I have no idea how fresh the powdered cheese was in the dispenser, but it did not taste as good as the freshly grated cheese I'm used to.

"When you're here, you're family… but I feel like the black sheep now."
– My Wife

I asked the server why the change, and she said she didn't know, but gave the impression that it is permanent. I thought maybe it was just her or they had run out or broken, but every server walking around held the same type of cheese shaker.

The cheese didn't taste fresh, and the server, while shaking the cheese onto the plate, didn't have the control the original graters gave and powdered me with cheese (not a lot, but enough she did apologize). I wasn't mad, accidents happen, I was more bummed about this change.

Well, way to go, guys; back in November, word got out that you could buy Olive Garden Cheese Graters, and now they're not using them anymore! Is this the real reason for the change? Is this something they're just trying out or only temporary? Only time will tell.

UPDATE:

One of our listeners chimed in on this story with some details from a friend:

"I confirmed that they only use the powdered shaker cheese when they run out of the fresh cheese. I confirmed this from an Olive Garden employee that is a friend of mine. So NO this is not a permanent change."
- David Adkins

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