Best Mediterranean restaurant in Tempe

Society is a full-service boutique restaurant and bar located next to Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. It offers inventive Italian and Mediterranean cuisine, along with craft cocktails in a baroque-themed setting. The restaurant features handmade meatballs, focaccia, arancini, butter cake, and other menu items. Guests can enjoy these dishes while sipping on well-crafted cocktails. Society's ambiance features a garden-of-Babylon wall effect and other elegant touches, creating an otherworldly atmosphere. Society is open every day of the week until 2 a.m. and serves food until 1:30 a.m., making it perfectly suited for the high-energy atmosphere surrounding ASU. The restaurant offers an extensive wine list and creative house cocktails, and guests mention signature drinks, martinis, and a selection of whiskeys.

Olive Garden is a chain of Italian restaurants that specializes in Italian-American cuisine. It is a subsidiary of Darden Restaurants, Inc., which is headquartered in Orlando, Florida. The company operates over 900 restaurants across the United States, offering a variety of menu items including pasta, salads, breadsticks, and other Italian-inspired dishes. Olive Garden's menu items are designed to be family-friendly and appeal to diverse customer demographics. The company's operational model emphasizes consistency in its dining experience, with a focus on quality service and food. Olive Garden has a long-standing commitment to donating food to local community food banks, with over 49 million pounds of food donated in the past 20 years. The company also has a Culinary Institute of Tuscany, where team members can learn about Italian cuisine and culture. Olive Garden's customer reviews are mixed, with some customers praising the restaurant's friendly service, generous portions, and affordable prices. However, others have complained about long wait times, inconsistent food quality, and crowded atmosphere. The company has also faced criticism for its limited menu options and poor food quality in some locations. Despite these issues, Olive Garden remains a popular choice for families and casual diners looking for Italian cuisine.