Olive Garden now OPEN exit 7

BHC 0508 OliveGarden 01, a photo by Neikirk Image on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Photo Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier

The Olive Garden at exit 7 in Bristol, Va. opened at 4 pm. on Monday to a waiting crowd of over 50 people who started arriving around 3 pm. Olive Garden at 3102 Lee Highway in Bristol, Va. on Monday, May 7 at 4 p.m. — creating 155 new jobs.

The 7,441 square-foot restaurant can host up to 246 guests and features a design that is inspired by traditional farmhouses found in Tuscany, Italy. Olive Garden design teams traveled to Italy to work with Italian architects Fabio and Lucia Zingarelli and the result is a restaurant design that recreates the warmth and simple beauty of a Tuscan farmhouse.

The Bristol Olive Garden has a rustic stone exterior, typical of the buildings in the Italian countryside, and an interior accented by Italian imports designed to make the dining experience here a tribute to the restaurant’s Italian inspiration. Ceilings supported by exposed wood beams, stone and wood accents throughout, and terra cotta tile highlight the interior.

In addition, the bar top is crafted from lava stone and hand-painted by artisans in Italy with a design created exclusively for Olive Garden. Vibrant imported fabrics decorate windows and dining seats, while hand-painted plates adorn rustic stone and stucco walls.

The restaurant also will feature a number of sustainable design elements, including recycled building materials, enlarged windows to increase natural light, low-water landscaping and energy-efficient equipment. These enhancements are part of the Sustainable Restaurant Design initiative launched by Darden Restaurants, Olive Garden’s parent company.

“I’m honored to have the opportunity to lead the Bristol restaurant and a great team at Olive Garden,” said Jason Effler, newly named general manager.

Olive Garden is committed to making a difference in the lives of others in the local community. As part of this commitment, the Bristol Olive Garden will participate in the Darden Harvest program, which has donated more than 50 million pounds of food to local community food banks across the country.