Marilyn Hagerty Olive Garden Review Aftermath Continues With Trip To New York, Media Appearances

Apparently, people cannot get enough of Marilyn Hagerty. After her positive review of the new Grand Forks, North Dakota Olive Garden went viral, Hagerty became an overnight sensation.

She appeared on the "Today Show" and "Good Morning America." Her son James Hagerty, a reporter for the Wall Street Journal wrote a sweet story about his 85-year old mother and her runaway success. "If you see my mom, please tell her to look at the front page of today's Wall Street Journal," he tweeted.

Despite the heavy amount of snark (and then backlash to the snark) that the review received, Marilyn's hometown paper, the Grand Forks Herald, is taking it all in stride. The Herald is sending Marilyn to New York where she will eat at Le Bernardin (thanks to Anthony Bourdain), Eric Ripert's homage to high-quality seafood.

HuffPost Food wishes Marilyn a pleasant trip and an excellent meal -- the fluke in the jalapeno-lime broth is a winner.

UPDATE: Marilyn is in the Big Apple and has already visited The New York Times and eaten a dirty-water dog.

UPDATE #2: Marilyn recaps her first day in a video, explaining that she thinks she ended up in New York due to some kind of "virus, or I went viral." She also had a dinner at Dovetail. She thought it was one of the best meals she's ever had.

UPDATE #3: Marilyn's visit to New York has come to an end after her grand finale meal at Le Bernardin (not to mention Shake Shack). Check here for her recaps. We doubt this will be the last we hear from Marilyn though -- Anthony Bourdain tweeted that he's "thinking about doing a Grand Forks show."

UPDATE #4, March 20: Marilyn is back in North Dakota. Here are some photos of her dinner at Le Bernardin.

UPDATE #5, March 21: Here's Marilyn's review of Le Bernardin and here's some clips her on "Anderson."

Watch the "Today Show" clip below.

Comments

[xenubarb]

04:59 PM on 03/16/2012

"-- the fluke in the jalapeno-lime broth is a winner."

Fluke the flatfish, the college girl, or the parasite? Uh...what have they got that's beef?

[dakotachuck]

02:51 PM on 03/16/2012

Here in San Francisco exceptional food is served citywide. Sadly, in the same city I cannot find 2 people in any place where people congregate to intelligently discuss college hockey. Bet its different in Grand Forks.

[Kay-B]

12:41 PM on 03/16/2012

"Marilyn recaps her first day in a video, explaining that she thinks she ended up in New York due to some kind of "virus, or I went viral."

hahaha

[1JMO]

11:42 AM on 03/16/2012

Amber: "My favorite restaurant is Olive Garden."
Andrew: "I don't like Olive Garden."
Amber: "Oh, you don't like Italian?"
Andrew: "Yea, I do, I don't like Olive Garden."

[little wing]

01:22 AM on 03/16/2012

As it happens, her article was politely panning the food in OG. That's why she talked so much about the decor.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304537904577275683631110396.html?mod=WSJ_article_comments#articleTabs%3Darticle

[Back of The Line Pedro]

12:09 AM on 03/16/2012

Olive Garden is a place you want to take your baby momma right after you appear on the Jerry Springer Show and just before Maury gives you the DNA test to see if the kid is yours.

[Back of The Line Pedro]

12:03 AM on 03/16/2012

I never went to Olive Garden before this old lady gave it a good review. Now all I want is my money back.

[greymom]

08:44 PM on 03/15/2012

Wouldn't it be nice if we could all still appreciate things. When I was growing up, all we could afford was the Perry Boys Smorgy in Fresno where you could eat all you wanted for $1.50. I took my mother there with my babysitting money and bought her an orchid corsage for her birthday. She loved the many varieties of jello salad and considered it a treat to go there. She especially loved the orchid, the first flower she had ever been given (why had my father, who had died the previous year, never bought her flowers?)

I have become so jaded, never going to chain restaurants, bummed if my husband brings me grocery store flowers instead of those from a florist. I'll bet that Chicken Alfredo she had was really good on a cold day.

[jayjay00]

02:37 PM on 03/15/2012

the whole thing is a farce. she's basically being mocked for not being born/living in a metropolitan area.

if you agree, fav this up as a show of support

[getpeace]

01:58 PM on 03/15/2012

She should get her own reality show. But I don't think Grand Forks would ever give her up!
She makes me smile....

[PIGSgoMOO2]

01:41 PM on 03/15/2012

I love it and her! I think the people who are critical of her review of the OG have obviously never been to Grand Forks.

[Aldyth]

12:24 PM on 03/15/2012

For heavens sake, let her have her fifteen minutes.

[StarThrower50]

11:11 AM on 03/15/2012

You can tell it's the doldrums of winter and people are bored witless when something like a restaurant review in North Dakota goes viral. There is absolutely nothing special about the restaurant, the review or the reviewer. Not that it's not a good restaurant, a well-written review, or a nice elderly lady, but where's the drama in it? Or are people simply questing for something new to occupy their minds. I guess there's something to be said that it's a column rather than a YouTube video, but still... What's next? A seat belt PSA going viral? No, wait... I already got one of those with my morning e-mail. Still, I guess it's an improvement over reading about "pink slime" for school lunches. ;-)

[lakat]

03:08 PM on 03/15/2012

The drama is it's so effin cool to badmouth the Olive Garden and so uncool to say ANYTHING positive about the restaurant. Nobody says it's gourmet dining. It's good food presented in an attractive way, plentiful and affordable. I like it that if you see an ad on TV and like the way the dish looks, you go to OG and the dish looks EXACTLY like it is on the ad. AND it tastes as good as you imagined it would. That's alright with me! I love fine dining too but do not turn my nose up at simpler fare. (I already know who I am!)

[ron704]

09:00 PM on 03/15/2012

Olive Garden a good restaurant, no way. If you only knew. All of their entress arrive in their restaurants pre-portioned and frozen. They simply toss them on a plate, throw them in a warming oven, and then delivery that garbage to your table. Don't be fooled into thinking it's good food. It's highly processed, straight from the factory.

[Smike047]

10:21 AM on 03/16/2012

You've obviously never worked at an Olive Garden. Some are pre-packaged, other's are not. Know what you're talking about before you open your mouth (or in this case, type), it will make you appear more intelligently than you'll be perceived after you speak.

[StarThrower50]

03:35 PM on 03/18/2012

My remark had nothing to do with whether Olive Garden is or isn't a good restaurant. I never said it was or wasn't. What I was commenting on was the non-issue-ness of the review and why it would go viral. And I still think it's a case of mass boredom on the InterWebs.

[hpycmpr155]

09:53 AM on 03/15/2012

Swet lady but once again, the fame thrust upon some unsuspecting person in just too much.
Give it a rest and let the little old sweet lady alone.
She was happy writing her food reviews.
Go away.

[Perdendosi]

12:52 PM on 03/15/2012

True, but she's not done that. She's taken the trip to NYC, visited the NYTimes, had good food, agreed to the media appearances... If she wanted us to leave her alone, we would.

[getpeace]

01:59 PM on 03/15/2012

True...this woman can set her limits....we've seen that. She's having fun.

[MusicLover42]

07:42 AM on 03/15/2012

Went to Olive Garden last month and had the chicken scampi over angel hair pasta. I like Olive Garden for their salad and breadsticks but the dinner was actually pretty good. I very rarely order dessert anywhere I go but noticed that they had zeppoli and chocolate dipping sauce on the side. I ordered them to go and had them later that evening warmed up. If you go and want dessert order the zeppoli, you will be in heaven. PS- they also have caramel sauce which I thought was better then the chocolate sauce. Enjoy if you can. You won't be sorry !!!

[Aldyth]

12:23 PM on 03/15/2012

Fabulous review!