Olive Garden

03/25/08

Martini Olive Garden

by gwaltney53 at Citysearch

This is a bar review and really belongs in the bar and lounge section. Olive Garden is not listed under lounges however, so here my review must be. If you want to know about the food read another review.

It was the end of the day for me and I was looking for a drink before heading to the airport and home. I stopped at the Olive Garden just because I knew they had a bar and I do not know my way around Yakima. My usual drink is a Kettle martini with a twist, up. I'm picky about my martinis. I ordered it specifying Kettle vodka but did not have high hopes of getting the drink of my dreams. Surprise! The bar tender, a big guy with very close cropped hair, knew exactly what to do. He rinsed the chilled glass with dry vermouth then poured it out and gave it a shake. He proceeded to pour Kettle into an ice filled shaker. He shook the drink but did not over do it like many bartenders do. He put the contents into the rinsed glass immediately. In went the twist and the drink was served. Near perfect! The only improvement I would make is a fresh twist; cut over the drink so that the lemon oil floats onto the surface of the vodka (did I mention I?m picky?). But, never mind the lemon oil, that?s a petty complaint. What impressed me is this, I am not used to getting a martini the way I like it without having to watch and correct the bartender at every step. I certainly did not expect to get a perfect martini at the OG. My only regret is that I did not stay to have another. Turns out I had time, my plane was late. Anyway, Bravo!

• Pros: Great martini
• Cons: Twists were made ahead