8 Smart Ways to Save Money on Your Next Olive Garden Visit
Olive Garden is known for its Italian-American favorites, but there are plenty of ways to make a visit more convenient or potentially more affordable. Some perks are built into the dining experience, while others are easy to miss unless you know where to look. From unlimited breadsticks and seasonal pasta promotions to catering and birthday benefits, the options can change over time. Here are eight useful things to know before your next Olive Garden meal.
The Unlimited Breadsticks Really Are Part of the Dining Experience
Olive Garden’s famous breadsticks are served with meals that include the restaurant’s soup or salad and breadsticks offering. If you want another basket, you can ask your server for more rather than assuming you need to order another side. The restaurant’s breadsticks are baked fresh throughout the day, according to Olive Garden’s own description of its menu. As with any restaurant offering, availability and serving practices can vary by location.
You Can Buy Olive Garden’s Signature Dressing
If you enjoy Olive Garden’s salad dressing, you don’t have to wait for your next restaurant visit to have it. Bottled Olive Garden dressing is sold through grocery retailers, although availability and pricing vary by store and location. That makes it an easy option for salads, marinades, sandwiches, and other recipes at home. Check the condiment or salad-dressing section of your local grocery store rather than assuming every retailer carries it.
The Never-Ending Pasta Bowl Returns as a Limited-Time Promotion
The Never-Ending Pasta Bowl is not a permanent part of Olive Garden’s everyday menu, but the promotion does return. When available, guests can choose from participating pasta, sauce, and topping combinations and continue ordering within the promotion’s terms. Olive Garden has also offered its limited Pasta Pass, which provides qualifying passholders with repeated dine-in access to the promotion for a set period. Because the promotion is limited-time, checking Olive Garden’s current specials before visiting is the best way to see whether it is available.
There Are More Ordering Options Than the Dining Room Menu Suggests
You don’t have to eat at a table in the restaurant to enjoy Olive Garden favorites. The chain offers To Go pickup, delivery, Carside Pickup at participating locations, and family-style meals, giving customers several ways to order. The Olive Garden app can also be used to find restaurants, check wait times, place To Go orders, and save favorite orders for easier reordering. Options and availability can vary by location.
Family-Style Meals Can Make Feeding a Group Easier
If you’re feeding several people, Olive Garden offers family-style meals designed for sharing rather than requiring everyone to order an individual entrée. Current options include family-size pans and complete family bundles, although the exact choices and pricing can vary. This can be particularly useful for family dinners, gatherings, or nights when cooking for a group isn’t practical. Checking the online menu before ordering lets you compare family-style options with individual meals.
Olive Garden Has More Than One Way to Save on Take-Home Meals
Olive Garden periodically offers promotions that extend beyond the meal you’re eating in the restaurant. One current example is its Take Home Entrée offer, which allows qualifying customers to purchase a freshly prepared and chilled classic entrée for a promotional price when they purchase an entrée, although prices and availability can vary by location. The restaurant also runs other limited-time specials throughout the year. Checking the official specials page before ordering can help you avoid missing a promotion that’s actually available when you visit.
Catering Can Be an Alternative to Cooking for a Crowd
Olive Garden’s catering menu includes meal combinations, family-sized options, pasta stations, salad, breadsticks, and other choices for gatherings. The restaurant currently advertises catering options for occasions ranging from office meetings and family gatherings to birthdays and larger celebrations. Some meal combinations serve approximately eight to 14 people, and pricing varies by location and order details. Catering delivery is also available in qualifying areas, with current Olive Garden terms requiring a $100 minimum order before tax for delivery.
A Birthday Visit Can Come With a Free Dessert
Olive Garden offers a complimentary dessert to guests celebrating a birthday when they dine at the restaurant. The chain’s official information also encourages guests to join its eClub for news, offers, coupons, and other promotions. Birthday and promotional benefits can have eligibility requirements, so it’s worth checking the current terms rather than relying on an old coupon or social-media post. If you’re planning a birthday dinner, mentioning the occasion to your server can also help make the celebration feel a little more special.
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