Joliet: You Finally Got An Olive Garden, Now What?

JOLIET, IL — One of the greatest moments in Joliet's modern history is about to happen —I'm talking about the grand opening of the Joliet Olive Garden. It's almost here. For real.

Construction has come a long way since I last visited the property Sept. 19 after the concrete was poured. At that time, the general contractors confidently told me the Joliet Olive Garden would be ready to open for customers in early February.

What a difference a year makes.

On Nov. 8, 2021, the city of Joliet announced that Olive Garden would be building a new restaurant in the Joliet section of The Boulevard. This is the large mixed-use development off Interstate 55 and Route 30, anchored by Costco, which is within the village of Plainfield boundaries.

But in a tremendous victory for Joliet's City Council and Mayor Bob O'Dekirk, the land where the Olive Garden is built falls within Joliet's boundaries.

Walking the sacred grounds of the Olive Garden property Tuesday made me think about the endless possibilities that Italian food can play in future Joliet politics. Perhaps in 2023, Joliet's City Council can host one meeting every quarter at the Olive Garden Restaurant.

Doing so would certainly boost the attendance at Joliet's Council meetings.

And for those who say there's too much infighting at Joliet's City Hall, the new Olive Garden could become the perfect place for our politicians to make peace.

Can't you envision Mayor O'Dekirk sharing his basket of Olive Garden breadsticks with rival Councilman Pat Mudron — or Councilwoman Jan Quillman pouring from her wine bottle into Councilwoman Sherri Reardon's glass moments before the Council's vote on where the next Lenny's Food & Fuel gas station should go?

Anyway, let's close your eyes for five or 10 seconds, relax and take a couple deep breaths. Exhale. Then let's utter this phrase a handful of times:

I now have an Olive Garden in Joliet.

I now have an Olive Garden in Joliet.

I now have an Olive Garden in Joliet.

I now have an Olive Garden in Joliet.

Doesn't it feel good to say that?

To gain a better understanding of why Joliet residents have constantly craved the taste of Olive Garden the past 20 years or so, I studied Olive Garden's website in search of answers.

Here's what I found this week:

• Pumpkin Cheesecake (for a limited time only though)
• Family Style Meals
• $6 Take Home Entrées
• Cheers To Your Wine Favorites To Go Starting At $18
• Italian Inspired Cocktails
• Lunch Sized Favorites Starting at $7.99

And then I found this: "At Olive Garden, we know that life is better together and everyone is happiest when they’re with family. From never ending servings of our freshly baked breadsticks and iconic garden salad, to our homemade soups and sauces, there’s something for everyone to enjoy."

Taking a step back for a minute, it's important to remind residents that Joliet's transformation into an Olive Garden city did not happen overnight.

I think it took a number of significant steps along the way to convince the Olive Garden corporate executives that Joliet, Illinois, needed to become one of Olive Garden's next expansion cities.

First was the addition of the Chick-fil-A just down Route 30, at the site of the former Lone Star Steakhouse. In years past, some people joked that Joliet was not good enough to have its own Chick-fil-A. But guess what? Chick-fil-A opened in January 2021 and Mayor O'Dekirk and Joliet City Manager Jim Capparelli were among its first customers to celebrate the milestone.

And if Joliet was worthy of a Chick-fil-A, shouldn't it be good enough for the Portillo family?

Why of course.

On Feb. 1, Joliet's brand-new Portillo's Pick-Up opened at 1444 North Larkin Ave. on the former IHOP property at the North Ridge Plaza. The Portillo's Pick-Up in Joliet marked the company's first standalone triple drive-thru restaurant in the U.S.

"Joliet's a great town," Michael Portillo told Joliet Patch at the Portillo's grand opening gala. "My dad always has been an innovator and 39 years ago, we opened our first drive-thru, Downers Grove, and here we are."

Overall, Joliet marked the 70th Portillo's restaurant for the growing fast-food restaurant business.

Chick-fil-A, Portillo's Pick-Up and Olive Garden. Joliet will have added all three in barely two years' time.

And because you can't have a Chick-fil-A without its pesky competitor nearby, the Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers opened March 8 at 3000 Plainfield Road at the site of Joliet's former Diamand's Family Restaurant property.

From my perspective, now is not the time for Joliet to pat itself on the back for opening an Olive Garden. Aren't there more spectacular restaurants you want to see open in Joliet?

To get the ball rolling, I'll look to downtown Chicago and throw out a conversation starter, Carson's Ribs, which has 1,816 Google Reviews, averaging 4.5 stars out of 5.

The last review, gave in October, gave Carson's 5 stars.

"One of the best meals of my life!" wrote Justin. "The piece of salmon was huge, and I got it with the soy-ginger glaze. I’ve honestly never enjoyed fish more. The Ultimate Double Baked potato made me feel full Irish while I cleared my plate."

As it stands, there's a Carson's in downtown Chicago at 465 East Illinois Street, one in Deerfield at 200 North Waukegan Road and another in Milwaukee at 301 Juneau Avenue.

Why not a Carson's location in Joliet?

Let's convince Carson's —prime steaks famous barbecue — Restaurants to open a fourth location somewhere in Joliet, perhaps along Route 59 in the empty field in front of the Esporta Fitness property at Theodore Street.

That's my suggestion. What's yours?

Now's the prime time to share your feedback, after all, you never know who's reading and paying attention to your comments in the Joliet Patch.

Maybe it's brothers Paul, Mark and Donnie, the world-famous owners of Wahlburgers.

As for the soon-to-be opening Joliet Olive Garden near I-55, savor the moment, Joliet foodies and friends, young and old, but let's not stop the dreaming. Let's chase another dream.

So, what will that be?