Victim 4: The Olive Garden (late 1980s–early 2000s)
Description: The pinnacle of inauthentic Italian cuisine—known for its unlimited bread, soup and salad lunch deal—had a handful of locations in Ontario, including one on Front Street and one at Bay and Dundas. Even though there is generally excitement over American culinary imports, the Olive Garden never got much attention.
Cause of death: Terroni. Even before Buca, Pizzeria Libretto and Gio Rana’s opened, Torontonians knew where to get actual Italian food for Olive Garden prices, minus Olive Garden shame. Darden, the company responsible for Olive Garden, closed eight underperforming Toronto locations in 1997, leaving five standing. Spring Rolls eventually took over one of the last locations, at the Atrium on Bay, in 2006, and the nearest Garden is now in Ancaster, New York. Optimists can always join the “BRING BaCK ‘The Olive Garden!!!’ to Toronto!!!” Facebook group, which is presently 40 fans strong.
In memoriam: olivegarden.com