Unlike your average suburban "farmhouse in Tuscany" Olive Garden, the Manhattan locations feature an urban concept that premiered in 2002 with the opening of the Chelsea/Flatiron location, which, coincidentally, was the one I visited.
This restaurant is extremely large and has a single-floor layout with an attempt at the urban Italian ristorante feel. During my lunch visit the restaurant was rather quiet and about two-thirds occupied.
I came with a party of six and we all took advantage of the "Unlimited Soup, Salad, and Breadsticks" offering. It is currently being offered for $8.95 before 4pm, and makes an extremely filling lunch. The only additional food costs you may have to worry about are "dipping sauces" which are not included and not unlimited.
Reviewers on Yelp have mentioned that the "Never Ending Pasta Bowl" is also available at this location, but isn't on the menu.
Overall, Olive Garden, laugh all you may at the idea, provides a great value lunch in a friendly setting. You almost forget that you are in a nationwide casual dining chain... Until, of course, you glance at the menu and notice that Budweiser, Bud Light, and Miller Light are the "premium beers," and that there apparently aren't any other options!
Why would you go to New York and eat at someplace as mundane as the Olive Garden? Granted, it's cheap, but you can find them anywhere. You don't need to go to nyc for that.
Why would you go to New York and eat at someplace as mundane as the Olive Garden? Granted, it's cheap, but you can find them anywhere. You don't need to go to nyc for that.