Melanie Emerson Gravitt is general manager of the Cleveland, Tenn., Olive Garden.Map
4499 Keith St. in Cleveland, Tenn.
• What: Olive Garden
• Where: 4499 Keith St. in Cleveland, Tenn.
• When: The restaurant opens Monday, Nov. 28
• Employees: 150
• Background: The restaurant features a design inspired by traditional farmhouses in Tuscany, Italy, according to Heidi Schauer, Olive Garden spokeswoman. 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," according to a news release.
• Appearance: It has a rustic stone exterior, typical of the buildings in the Italian countryside, and an interior accented by Italian imports. Ceilings supported by exposed wood beams, stone and wood accents throughout, and terra cotta tile highlight the interior. The bar top is crafted from lava stone, then hand-painted by artisans in Italy, the company says.
• Green design: 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.
• Size: 7,441 square feet
• Number of seats: 246
• Hours of operation: From Nov. 28 through Dec. 2, the restaurant will serve dinner only. Dinner is served Monday through Thursday, from 4 to 10 p.m. On Friday, the restaurant is open until 11 p.m. The restaurant will be open for lunch beginning Dec. 3. Lunch will be served daily starting at 11 a.m.
• Final word: "The Cleveland Olive Garden is honored to join this community where we will have the opportunity to serve fresh, delicious Italian food in a comfortable, homelike setting," said Melanie Emerson Gravitt, general manager. "We're looking forward to delivering a great experience for all of our guests."