Chicken Parmigiana – The Disappointing Giant
Let’s start with what many consider Olive Garden’s most underwhelming dish – the chicken parmigiana. When customers order the chicken parmigiana they are served an obviously pre-made, re-heated serving where the chicken cutlets are both stringy and rubbery and the spaghetti is very ordinary. The appearance alone raises red flags, with diners noting it has a beautiful shape screaming processed, like a fast food chicken sandwich.
One diner’s daughter had the chicken parmigiana for twenty-one dollars and thirty cents, finding it was a large portion but not particularly successful, comparing it to the frozen chicken parmesan they buy at the supermarket. The consistency issues don’t help either, with the chicken actually cooked well, but the breading having no distinct flavor outside of a salty profile, and the sauce and cheese adding little to the dish, especially since they seemed to have been left under the broiler just a bit too long.
Steak Gorgonzola Alfredo – A Mixed Return
The steak gorgonzola Alfredo recently made a return to Olive Garden’s menu towards the end of 2024 after being removed during the COVID-19 pandemic and has been met with mixed reactions from diners. The dish is made with grilled sirloin tips cooked to medium, gorgonzola blue cheese, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, and fettuccine Alfredo topped with balsamic drizzle. Unfortunately, the execution isn’t living up to the potential.
Some employees on Reddit stated that customers at their locations have not enjoyed the dish and even send it back, while other employees say it’s been performing well, with a few attributing the negative reactions to the gorgonzola as it is a strong cheese. However, a customer in the thread said that for them it was the steak that ruined it as it had a foamy texture and felt unsettlingly soft. The flavor balance appears problematic too, with other Redditors saying the pasta dish lacks balance and made them sick after just a bite.
Eggplant Parmigiana – The Mushy Disappointment
Olive Garden’s eggplant parmigiana struggles with serious texture issues that make it hard to recommend. A Redditor shared the eggplant Parmigiana they received that had very little breading and was mushy, and while they were still kind enough to say it wasn’t bad, a commenter was not as forgiving, comparing the dish to a TV dinner. This inconsistency appears to be a recurring problem.
While some customers have had better experiences, the overall feedback leans negative. Customers on Yelp described the menu item as crispy, filling, and enjoyable — with one even calling it their favorite dish. However, other yelpers called it adequate but not something they would have again, and that it didn’t live up to the raviolis or the zuppa toscana. The preparation seems to vary wildly between visits, making it a risky choice.
Lasagna Classico – The Divisive Classic
The lasagna classico at Olive Garden generates some of the most polarizing reviews on the menu. A diner on Rate My Food ordered it off a recommendation and gave the classic Italian dish a rating of 1.6 out of 10, decreeing it the worst lasagna they’ve ever eaten and explaining that it was dry, lacked sauce, and was somewhat burnt. These harsh critiques are balanced by more moderate opinions.
A user on Yelp agreed that the lasagna was small but called it tasty, while reviewers on YouTube reviewed the lasagna and said it was serviceable with a good amount of cheese, sauce, and quality meat but was unremarkable. The dish does have its merits, with the marinara sauce being tangy but tamed by the ricotta cheese, which manages to balance the acidic flavor, and the meat sauce made up of beef and Italian sausage adding to the savory aspects.
Tour of Italy – The Three-Way Gamble
The Tour of Italy is one menu item that multiple people on Reddit and even an employee recommended ordering because of the variety it provides which is supposed to guarantee you’ll at least like something. However, that didn’t work out for some customers. The dish comes with the chicken parmigiana, lasagna classico, and fettuccine Alfredo which all come with sauces that are made fresh every morning.
The execution often falls short of expectations. A diner on Reddit gave the three-part dish a rating of 7.5 out of 10, which isn’t bad but also isn’t great, with commenters criticizing the presentation stating that the amalgamation of fettuccine Alfredo looked as if it had been sitting then had sauce thrown over it and was undercooked. A TikToker who reviewed the menu item stated that it looked unappetizing and lacked flavor, giving an extremely low score of 9 out of 100. Still, some customers appreciate the variety, with customers on Yelp describing it as amazing with distinct flavors.
Stuffed Chicken Marsala – The Inconsistent Return
The stuffed chicken marsala returned to Olive Garden in December 2024 after customers begged the restaurant to bring it back. The dish features chicken breast that’s grilled and stuffed with sun-dried tomatoes and an Italian cheese blend, then topped with marsala mushroom sauce and served alongside mashed potatoes. While the comeback was highly anticipated, the execution remains hit-or-miss.
In dining experiences, the chicken was moist and the sauce was savory — but the mushrooms were hit or miss, with tender mushrooms, rubbery mushrooms, and sometimes a combination of the two. Nonetheless, the flavors were rich, and the meal was filling and easy to finish in one sitting. One reviewer found the cheesy filling a bit too salty, the cremini mushrooms ever so slightly rubbery but with nice snap, and the chicken super moist for a breast, but something about its texture was off-putting (it was almost too juicy and tender; it reminded them of frozen, mechanically tenderized chicken strips).
Chicken Alfredo – The Reliable Middle Ground
A user on Reddit visited Olive Garden for their birthday, got the chicken Alfredo, and stated that it was a very good meal. Commenters under the post agreed that the chicken Alfredo is one of their favorites, with one even adding that it is top-notch and they prefer it over more high-end, expensive Italian restaurants. There were diners on Yelp who said they enjoy the menu item calling it tasty, creamy, and comforting.
However, quality control remains an issue. Other patrons on Yelp have had issues with the chicken being rubber-like and the dish overall being dry, as well as having an inconsistent taste with it either being overly salty or lacking flavor completely. Despite these inconsistencies, when a user on Reddit asked what they should order during their first trip to Olive Garden, the Alfredo pasta options received the most suggestions, making it a classic introductory dish that will impress without overwhelming the senses. The Alfredo entrees are also great value, with one Reddit user remarking they are a “Massive portion, so be prepared to bring some home, especially if you have salad and bread.”
Chicken and Gnocchi Soup – The Comforting Bowl
The chicken and gnocchi soup is one of four soups that Olive Garden offers and is a creamy soup that consists of roasted chicken, gnocchi, spinach, and carrot. A former Olive Garden employee on Reddit felt they are addicted to the soup, claiming to have craved it daily since leaving and asking if any cooks would be willing to share the recipe. Multiple other Redditors recommended the soup, stating that it is delicious and a menu item they order regularly, with one poster even comparing it to a “hug in a bowl.”
Described as “a creamy soup made with roasted chicken, traditional Italian dumplings, and spinach,” what this soup lacks in photogenic qualities, it certainly makes up for in flavor. Even when customers receive their entrées, they continue to retreat back to their giant bowl of comfort. Creamy without being too thick, it has the consistency of a hearty broth and is chock full of ultra-tender chicken and soft, pillowy dumplings, with the only way to describe it being utterly addictive.
Chicken and Shrimp Carbonara – The Popular Choice
The chicken and shrimp carbonara is a dish that has received a lot of recommendations and not a lot of complaints. The pasta dish is spaghetti that has sautéed seasoned chicken and shrimp tossed in a creamy sauce that consists of bacon and roasted red peppers. There were a few diners on Yelp who listed the chicken and shrimp carbonara as their favorite menu item. This combination seems to hit all the right notes for most diners.
The generous portions add to its appeal. There was a Yelper who said that the dish was above average with copious amounts of shrimp, chicken, peppers, and bacon pieces. Apparently Olive Garden has a new special menu and in it is a shrimp, chicken carbonara that is pretty darn good, and along with the salad and breadsticks it’s a lunch for two. The protein variety and rich sauce make this a satisfying choice that rarely disappoints.
Shrimp Scampi – The Lighter Alternative
Olive Garden’s shrimp scampi is another good option for those who don’t eat meat or for seafood lovers in general that has, for the most part, received positive responses from customers. The restaurant advertises the dish as a lighter version of the classic, as the shrimp is sautéed in a garlic sauce and then tossed with asparagus, tomatoes, and angel hair pasta. This makes it one of the healthier options on the menu without sacrificing flavor.
Other excellent options for first-time diners include the Shrimp Scampi, which features angel hair pasta topped with shrimp sauteed in a garlic sauce and tossed with asparagus and tomatoes, or the Chicken Scampi, which has the same elements but with grilled chicken instead of shrimp. The combination of fresh vegetables and perfectly cooked shrimp creates a well-balanced dish that feels more restaurant-quality than many other menu items.
Zuppa Toscana – The Beloved Soup
One could make a compelling argument that any of Olive Garden’s homemade soups are the best of the bunch, but in all likelihood, it’s probably the zuppa Toscana. This soup, whose name translates to Tuscan soup, combines chunky pieces of spicy Italian sausage, fresh kale, and russet potatoes with a creamy broth to check all of the boxes when it comes to balance. While its ingredients aren’t quite as chunky as those of the minestrone soup, nor is its broth as creamy as the chicken and gnocchi soup, something magical happens in the middle ground.
You get a great variety of textures from the tender sausage, soft kale, and pillowy potatoes, and the rich, creamy broth ties it all together. Some folks may be off-put by the mild spice of the Italian sausage or the heavy dairy content of the broth, but both only had reviewers wanting more. Quite a few Redditors recommended the soup to others, describing it as delicious, and dubbing it one of their favorite items from the Italian restaurant, with one Reddit user even recommending dipping breadsticks in it.
Breadsticks – The Undisputed Champion
The real move at Olive Garden is to add sauces to the breadsticks. When you order the dipping sauces with your breadsticks, you get marinara, Alfredo sauce, meat sauce, and five cheese marinara. Dipping warm breadsticks into a pool of rich Alfredo sauce is heavenly, and Olive Garden’s marinara deserves a bit more credit than it gets. The red sauce is seasoned to mathematical precision, and it’s been reduced and cooked down to the ideal degree, resulting in compacted flavor.
The breadsticks were described as delicious, served warm, with garlic flavor, and have a soft interior. They are a tad dry, so they’re great for dipping, and they were customers’ favorite part of the meal. According to Ranker voters, the current top three items at Olive Garden are Breadsticks, Tour of Italy, and Chicken Alfredo. These simple yet perfectly executed bread sticks continue to be the one menu item that consistently delivers satisfaction across all visits.
Did you expect the humble breadsticks to reign supreme over all those elaborate pasta dishes?
