Olive Garden is shaking things up for diners looking to save a few dollars.
The Italian restaurant chain has begun testing smaller portion sizes, giving guests the option to enjoy lighter meals at lower prices without sacrificing the signature Olive Garden experience.
Light Portion Menu with Classic Favorites
The trial features a “light portion” section, offering seven existing entrees at reduced prices.
Every meal comes with unlimited breadsticks and a choice of soup or salad, keeping the classic perks intact.
About 40 percent of Olive Garden’s 933 locations are currently participating in the experiment.
Rick Cardenas, Darden’s president and CEO, explained that the smaller plates are drawing more traffic.
“It’s not necessarily new guests, because we haven’t marketed it.
It’s just, people are gravitating toward that,” he said, highlighting the appeal of more affordable dining options.
Other Chains Follow Similar Paths
Olive Garden isn’t alone in offering smaller, lower-priced meals. PF Chang’s, for instance, introduced two entree portion sizes at different price points on September 24.
This approach contrasts with other chains that have shrunk portions over the past year without lowering prices, using it instead to offset rising costs for ingredients and wages.
Emphasizing Affordability Through Promotions
This move aligns with Olive Garden’s broader strategy to spotlight affordability.
Last month, the chain brought back the beloved “Never Ending Pasta Bowl,” starting at $13.99—a price that has remained steady despite rising food costs over the past four years.
Industry experts say pasta promotions are smart business.
“Pasta is both very inexpensive and very filling, so profit margins are already high,” said Mike Kostyo, vice president at Menu Matters.
He noted that most customers rarely consume more than a few bowls, making the offer cost-effective for the chain.
Delivery Expands Accessibility
Olive Garden has also embraced delivery, rolling it out across all 900+ locations nationwide in March after previously resisting the trend.
Orders can be placed via the chain’s website or app, with Uber drivers handling deliveries at menu prices.
Delivery quickly became popular, accounting for five percent of total sales in the last quarter.
A Look Ahead
The smaller portion test is part of Olive Garden’s ongoing effort to balance quality, affordability, and convenience.
Daily Mail has reached out to Olive Garden and Darden for comment on the trial and is awaiting a response.