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Complete Guide To The Olive Garden Menu & Copycat Recipes

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Olive Garden is a popular Italian-American chain restaurant known for its friendly service and large menu of delicious dishes.

Whether you’re looking for a nice night out or a wide variety of options to feed the family, Olive Garden has something for everyone.

If you’re an OG fan but not in the mood to go out to eat, you can also make your favorite Olive Garden dishes at home with easy copycat recipes.

In this article, you’ll find descriptions and DIY copycat recipes for everything on the Olive Garden menu including appetizers, soups, salads, breadsticks, entrees and desserts!

So whether you’re craving Olive Garden’s Lasagna Classico or Chocolate Brownie Lasagna, our guide has got you covered.

Olive Garden Appetizers

When you’re looking for a little something to tide you over before your entrée arrives, Olive Garden has plenty of delicious appetizers to choose from. No matter what you’re in the mood for, Olive Garden has an appetizer that will hit the spot.

Breadsticks & Dipping Sauces On The Olive Garden Menu

Olive Garden’s freshly-baked breadsticks are legendary. Add on a delicious dipping sauce like marinara, alfredo or five cheese marinara. And don’t forget to save room for your entree!

Olive Garden Breadstick & Dipping Sauces To Make At Home

• Try one of these copycat breadstick recipes from Little Sunny Kitchen , Saving Dollars and Sense , or Mom Foodie .
• Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce from Sweet Pea Kitchen
• Olive Garden Spaghetti Sauce from Chic ‘n Savvy.

Fried Mozzarella

Delicious mozzarella cheese is breaded and fried until it is golden brown and slightly crispy, then served with a marinara sauce for dipping.

Fried Mozzarella Recipes To Make At Home

• Olive Garden Fried Mozzarella Sticks from CopyKat
• Air Fryer Olive Garden Fried Mozzarella from Fork To Spoon

Stuffed Ziti Fritta

Crispy fried ziti is filled with a rich blend of five kinds of cheese, then served with alfredo and marinara dipping sauces.

Stuffed Ziti Fritta Recipes To Make At Home

• Stuffed Ziti Fritta (Olive Garden Copycat Recipe) from Foodie and Wine
• Copycat Olive Garden Stuffed Ziti Fritta from Food Hussy

Rings of tender calamari are lightly breaded and fried, then served with marinara and spicy ranch for dipping.

Fried Calamari Recipe To Make At Home

• Crispy Pan Fried Calamari from Alekas Get Together

Spinach Artichoke Dip

Warm spinach, artichokes and a blend of cheeses are served with flatbread crisps for dipping.

Spinach Artichoke Dip Recipe To Make At Home

• Add a recipe post – https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2016/11/128463/olive-garden-spinach-artichoke-dip-recipe

Lasagna Fritta

Crispy parmesan-breaded lasagna, topped with even more parmesan cheese, delicious meat sauce made with beef and Italian sausage and creamy alfredo sauce.

Lasagna Fritta Recipes To Make At Home

• Lasagna Fritta (Copycat Olive Garden Recipe) from Pass The Sushi
• Easy Air Fryer Lasagna Fritta (Olive Garden Copycat) from Simply Happenings

Shrimp Fritto Misto

Fritto misto means “fried mix”. In this appetizer, hand-breaded shrimp, onions and bell peppers are lightly fried and served with marinara and spicy ranch.

Shrimp Fritto Recipe To Make At Home

• Shrimp Scampi Fritta Recipe (Olive Garden Copycat) from Alyona’s Cooking.

Toasted Ravioli

Ravioli filled with seasoned beef is fried lightly and served with marinara sauce.

Toasted Ravioli Recipes To Make At Home

• Olive Garden Toasted Ravioli from Damn Delicious
• Air Fryer Olive Garden Toasted Ravioli from Fork To Spoon

Olive Garden Soup

Chicken & gnocchi.

This delicious creamy soup is loaded with roasted chicken, gnocchi (traditional Italian dumplings) and spinach.

Chicken & Gnocchi Soup Recipes To Make At Home

• Comforting Chicken Gnocci Soup from Harbour Breeze Home
• Easy Crockpot Chicken Gnocchi Soup (Olive Garden Copycat) from Scrummy Lane
• Creamy Vegan Chicken Gnocchi Soup (Olive Garden Inspired) from Thank You Berry Much

Pasta e Fagioli

Paste e fagioli or “pasta and beans” starts with a savory broth and plenty of white and red beans, ground beef, fresh tomatoes and tubetti pasta.

Pasta e Fagioli Recipes To Make At Home

• Pasta e Fagioli (Italian Pasta and Beans) from The Forked Spoon
• Crock-Pot Pasta Fagoli Soup (Olive Garden Copycat Recipe) from Crock-Pot Ladies
• Pasta e Fagioli Soup from Kathy’s Vegan Kitchen

This vegan classic soup has a light tomato broth with fresh vegetables, beans and pasta.

Minestrone Recipes To Make At Home

• Instant Pot Vegetarian Minestrone Soup (Olive Garden Inspired) from My Cooking Journey
• Minestrone Soup (Copycat Olive Garden) from Belly Rules The Mind

Zuppa Toscana

Olive Garden’s Zuppa Toscana is made with gluten-free ingredients including spicy Italian sausage, kale and russet potatoes in a creamy broth.

Zuppa Toscana Recipes To Make At Home

• Instant Pot Zuppa Toscana (Copycat Olive Garden recipe) from Katie’s Cucina
• Slow Cooker Zuppa Toscana (Olive Garden Copycat) from 4 Sons ‘R’ Us

Olive Garden Salad

If you’ve ever been to Olive Garden, you know a great way to start your meal is with a big helping of their famous house salad. It’s made with fresh lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, croutons, peppers, and olives and served with Olive Garden’s signature Italian dressing .

Olive Garden Salad And Dressing Recipes To Make At Home

• Copycat Olive Garden Salad from Princess Pinky Girl
• Olive Garden Salad Dressing Recipe from House Of Nash Eats

Olive Garden Pasta and Entrees

Fettucine alfredo.

Olive Garden’s delicious and creamy alfredo sauce is made from scratch with ingredients including parmesan, Romano cheese, cream, garlic and butter.

You can choose from classic fettucine alfredo , chicken alfredo, shrimp alfredo, seafood alfredo (shrimp and scallops) and chicken tortelloni alfredo .

Olive Garden Alfredo Recipes To Make At Home

• Copycat Olive Garden Fettuccine Alfredo from Easy Budget Recipes
• Olive Garden Chicken Alfredo from Creme De La Creme
• Copycat Olive Garden Seafood Alfredo from Three Olives Branch
• Olive Garden Shrimp Alfredo from The Slow Roasted Italian
• Asiago Tortelloni Alfredo With Grilled Chicken (Olive Garden Copycat Recipe) from I’m Hungry For That

Chicken and Shrimp Carbonara

In this dish, sautéed chicken, shrimp and spaghetti are tossed together in a creamy sauce that is loaded with bacon and roasted red peppers.

Olive Garden Chicken and Shrimp Carbonara Recipe To Make At Home

• Olive Garden Chicken and Shrimp Carbonara from 100k Recipes

Chicken Parmigiana and Eggplant Parmigiana

Served with a side of spaghetti, two lightly fried parmesan-breaded chicken breasts or eggplants are smothered in homemade marinara sauce and melted Italian cheese.

Olive Garden Chicken Parmigiana and Eggplant Parmigiana Recipes To Make At Home

• Chicken Parmigiana Olive Garden from The Slow Roasted Kitchen
• Copycat Olive Garden Eggplant Parmigiana from Flavorite

Chicken Marsala Fettucine

In this dish, juicy chicken is sautéed with spinach and mushrooms in a creamy marsala mushroom sauce and served over fettuccine noodles.

Olive Garden Chicken Marsala Recipes To Make At Home

• Copycat Olive Garden Chicken Marsala Recipe from Valentina’s Corner
• Olive Garden Chicken Marsala from Evolving Table

Lasagna Classico

Freshly made lasagna with layers of pasta, parmesan, mozzarella, pecorino romano and our homemade meat sauce made with beef and Italian sausage.

Olive Garden Lasagna Classico Recipes To Make At Home

• Olive Garden Lasagna Classico Recipe from Secret Copycat Restaurant Recipes

Tour Of Italy

For times you can’t decide on one entree, try the Tour Of Italy which includes three Olive Garden classics: Chicken Parmigiana, Lasagna Classico and Fettuccine Alfredo.

Try these recipes to make your own Tour Of Italy at home!

Spaghetti With Meatballs

Classic spaghetti and meatballs with your choice of homemade marinara or meat sauce. 

Olive Garden Spaghetti And Meatballs To Make At Home

• Olive Garden Spaghetti and Meatballs from Kitchen Divas

Shrimp Scampi

Sautéed shrimp in a delicious garlic sauce are tossed with asparagus, tomatoes and angel hair pasta.

Olive Garden Shrimp Scampi To Make At Home

• Olive Garden Shrimp Scampi Copy Cat Recipe from The Food Hussy
• Copy Cat Olive Garden Shrimp Scampi Recipe Without Wine from Six Sisters Stuff

Chicken Scampi

Seasoned chicken is sautéed with fresh bell peppers and red onions with creamy scampi sauce and served over angel hair.

Olive Garden Chicken Scampi To Make At Home

• Copycat Olive Garden Chicken Scampi from Diary Of A Recipe Collector
• Olive Garden Chicken Scampi {Copycat} from Girl On The Bloor

Five Cheese Ziti al Forno

Pasta with signature OG five cheese marinara sauces is smothered in a blend of Italian cheeses and baked to perfection.

Olive Garden Five Cheese Ziti al Forno To Make At Home

• Olive Garden Five Cheese Ziti al Forno (Copycat ) from Dinner, Then Dessert
• Olive Garden Five Cheese Ziti Al Forno (Copycat) from Alyona’s Cooking

Cheese Ravioli

Large ravioli filled with a blend of Italian cheeses are topped with your choice of homemade marinara or meat sauce, and then warm mozzarella is melted on top.

Olive Garden Cheese Ravioli To Make At Home

• Olive Garden Cheese Ravioli In 20 Minutes from I’m Hungry For That

Grilled Chicken Margherita

Two grilled chicken breasts are topped with mozzarella, basil pesto, lemon garlic sauce and sliced fresh tomatoes. This dish is served with a side of parmesan garlic broccoli.

Olive Garden Grilled Chicken Margherita To Make At Home

• Olive Garden’s Copycat Chicken Margherita from Carrie’s Experimental Kitchen
• Olive Garden Chicken Margherita from CopyKat Recipes

Herb-Grilled Salmon

Grilled salmon is topped with delicious garlic herb butter and served with a side of parmesan garlic broccoli.

Olive Garden Herb-Grilled Salmon To Make At Home

• Herb Grilled Salmon Olive Garden Copy Cat from What Molly Made
• Herb Grilled Salmon Olive Garden Recipe from Eating On A Dime

Olive Garden offers a grilled 6 oz sirloin steak that is topped with garlic herb butter and served with fettuccine alfredo.

Olive Garden Steak Recipes To Make At Home

• Olive Garden Steak Alfredo (Copycat Recipe) from The Fresh Cooky
• Copycat Olive Garden Steak Gorgonzola Alfredo from The Foodie Affair

Olive Garden Desserts

Olive Garden’s dessert menu includes the classic Italian dessert, tiramisu! Espresso-soaked ladyfinger cookies are topped with creamy custard and a dusting of cocoa.

Olive Garden Tiramisu Recipes To Make At Home

• Copycat Olive Garden Tiramisu Recipe from Dwell By Michelle
• Olive Garden Tiramisu (Better Than Copycat Recipe) from Daily DIY Life

Black Tie Mousse Cake

Rich layers of chocolate cake, dark chocolate cheesecake and creamy custard mousse.

Olive Garden Black Tie Mousse Cake Recipes To Make At Home

• Black Tie Mousse Cake Recipe: Olive Garden Copycat from Cook Think
• Black Tie Mousse Cake from Mindee’s Cooking Obsession

Lemon Cream Cake and the new Strawberry Cream Cake

Unfortunately, Lemon Cream Cake is no longer on the OG dessert menu. It seems to be replaced by a similar Strawberry Cream Cake.

Olive Garden Lemon Cream Cake and Strawberry Cream Cake Recipes To Make At Home

• Copycat Olive Garden Lemon Cream Cake from Food Folks and Fun
• Top Secret Version of Olive Garden Lemon Cream Cake from epicurious
• Olive Garden Strawberry Cream Cake Recipe [Copycat] from Smarter Homemaker

Chocolate Brownie Lasagna

The decadent Chocolate Brownie Lasagna from Olive Garden has EIGHT layers of rich, fudgy brownie and sweet vanilla cream cheese frosting, topped with chocolate shavings and a chocolate drizzle.

Olive Garden Chocolate Brownie Lasagna Recipes To Make At Home

• Air Fryer Copycat Olive Garden Chocolate Lasagna from fork to spoon
• DIY Olive Garden’s Brownie Lasagna (7-Ingredients) from Wide Open Eats

Warm Italian Doughnuts

Often called zeppoles, these fried doughnuts are tossed in powdered sugar and served with chocolate or raspberry sauce for dipping.

Olive Garden Warm Italian Doughnuts Recipe To Make At Home

• Zeppole – Easy Italian Donuts from Natasha’s Kitchen

Sicilian Cheesecake With Strawberry Topping

Olive Garden currently offers a rich ricotta cheesecake complete with a shortbread cookie crust and sweet strawberry sauce.

They have also offered other cheesecakes in the past, so we’ve included a variety of recipes for you to try at home.

Olive Garden Cheesecake Recipes To Make At Home

• Olive Garden Sicilian Cheesecake With Strawberry Topping from Nina Kneads To Bake
• Olive Garden White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake from Adventures of Mel
• Olive Garden Cookie Dough Cheesecake from CopyKat
• Olive Garden Pumpkin Cheesecake from CopyKat

And there you have it—a complete guide to the Olive Garden menu and copycat recipes! Dining out can be a fun experience, but sometimes it’s nice to stay in and whip up something special.

Olive Garden is a great option for those looking for casual Italian fare, and with these copycat recipes in your arsenal, you can enjoy the Olive Garden experience any time you like. Thanks for reading, and buon appetito!

Up Next: Everything You Need To Know About The Crumbl Cookie Menu

Meet Micky Reed, your go-to snack expert and creator of The Three Snackateers—a hub for all the best sweets and treats to make, try, and buy. From whipping up collaborations with industry giants like Ben & Jerry's to being featured on Delish and PopSugar , Micky's delicious adventures are causing a stir in the foodie world. You can find Micky on IG and Pinterest.

Olive Garden Debuts New Tour of Italy Entrées

Olive Garden is introducing two new Culinary Tours of Italy to provide guests with even more variety of unique Italian flavors. 

Guests will be able to vote for which dish, the Northern or Southern Tour of Italy, is added to the Olive Garden menu. Each Tour is inspired by Olive Garden Chefs Flavio Tagliaferro and Paolo Lafata, and the regions of Italy where they grew up.

For a limited time, guests can savor the rich flavors featured in the Northern Tour of Italy or spice things up with the bold and bright tastes showcased in the Southern Tour of Italy. The Tours feature a variety of three dishes and start at $15.49.

• Asiago Tortelloni with Meat Sauce has rich and decadent meat and cheese flavors
• Chicken Lombardy is topped with smoked Mozzarella and Provolone cheeses, a creamy Parmesan sauce, and bacon
• Fettuccine with Creamy Parmesan Portobello Sauce features savory mushrooms, a classic northern Italian ingredient
• Mezzaluna Marinara is filled with cheese and topped with homemade sauce
• Spicy Pesto Shrimp is topped with a blend of Calabrian peppers, ripe tomatoes, basil and garlic
• Bucatini with Spicy Tomato Bacon Sauce features a smoky flavor with crushed red pepper

For guests who want to enjoy their classic favorite, Olive Garden's signature Tour of Italy, with Chicken Parmigiana, Lasagna Classico, and famous Fettuccine Alfredo, will continue to be available on the menu.

"The Classic Tour of Italy is one of our most popular entrees," says Jay Spenchian, Olive Garden's executive vice president of marketing. "We are excited to introduce two dishes inspired by the hometown flavors of our executive chefs and give our guests an opportunity to vote for which Tour will be added to the menu."

Crowdsourcing the Next Entree Throughout the promotion, guests can vote for their preferred Tour by using #TeamNorth or #TeamSouth on Twitter or Instagram. Guests can also place votes by purchasing a Tour of Italy in restaurant. 

The Tour with the most votes will be added to the Olive Garden menu. Guests who cast their vote will also be entered for a chance to win a trip to Italy. 

Signature Classics Just $10 Additionally, guests can enjoy a selection of Olive Garden's classic dishes for just $10 through Nov. 20, 2014. The offer is valid Monday through Thursday, and each entrée is always served with homemade soup or garden fresh salad and fresh baked garlic breadsticks:

• Spaghetti with Meat Sauce homemade with pan-seared beef, Italian sausage, and seasoned with herbs and spices
• Five Cheese Ziti al Forno with an indulgent blend of Italian cheeses, ziti pasta, and five-cheese marinara sauce, baked golden brown
• Eggplant Parmigiana with fresh eggplant, hand-breaded and lightly fried, topped with homemade marinara and melted Mozzarella cheese, and served with spaghetti
• Ravioli di Portobello, ravioli filled with flavorful portobello mushrooms, topped with a rich and creamy smoked cheese and sun-dried tomato sauce

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Olive Garden Introduces Two New Twists On Its Classic Tour Of Italy Entree

For a limited time, guests can savor the rich flavors featured in the Northern Tour of Italy or spice things up with the bold and bright tastes showcased in the Southern Tour of Italy. The Tours feature a variety of three dishes and start at $15.49.

• Asiago Tortelloni with Meat Sauce has rich and decadent meat and cheese flavors
• Chicken Lombardy is topped with smoked mozzarella and provolone cheeses, a creamy parmesan sauce and bacon
• Fettuccine with Creamy Parmesan Portobello Sauce features savory mushrooms, a classic northern Italian ingredient
• Mezzaluna Marinara is filled with cheese and topped with homemade sauce
• Spicy Pesto Shrimp is topped with a blend of Calabrian peppers, ripe tomatoes, basil and garlic
• Bucatini with Spicy Tomato Bacon Sauce features a smoky flavor with crushed red pepper

“The Classic Tour of Italy is one of our most popular entrees,” said Jay Spenchian, Olive Garden’s executive vice president of marketing. “We are excited to introduce two dishes inspired by the hometown flavors of our executive chefs and give our guests an opportunity to vote for which Tour will be added to the menu.”

Crowdsourcing the Next Entree

Throughout the promotion, guests can vote for their preferred Tour by using #TeamNorth or #TeamSouth on Twitter or Instagram. Guests can also place votes by purchasing a Tour of Italy in restaurant. The Tour with the most votes will be added to the Olive Garden menu. Guests who cast their vote will also be entered for a chance to win a trip to Italy. Follow the votes and learn more about the sweepstakes by visiting ItalianFanFavorite.com .

Signature Classics Just $10

Additionally, guests can enjoy a selection of Olive Garden’s classic dishes for just $10 through Nov. 20, 2014. The offer is valid Monday through Thursday, and each entree is always served with homemade soup or garden fresh salad and fresh baked garlic breadsticks:

• Spaghetti with Meat Sauce homemade with pan-seared beef, Italian sausage and seasoned with herbs and spices
• Five Cheese Ziti al Forno with an indulgent blend of Italian cheeses, ziti pasta and five-cheese marinara sauce baked golden brown
• Eggplant Parmigiana with fresh eggplant hand-breaded and lightly fried, topped with homemade marinara and melted mozzarella cheese and served with spaghetti
• Ravioli di Portobello , ravioli filled with flavorful portobello mushrooms, topped with a rich and creamy smoked cheese and sun-dried tomato sauce

For more information and to find your nearest Olive Garden restaurant, visit OliveGarden.com .

Olive Garden Introduces Two New Twists On Its Classic Tour Of Italy Entree

Variety of Signature Dishes Also Available for $10 for a Limited Time

For a limited time, guests can savor the rich flavors featured in the Northern Tour of Italy or spice things up with the bold and bright tastes showcased in the Southern Tour of Italy. The Tours feature a variety of three dishes and start at $15.49.

• Asiago Tortelloni with Meat Sauce has rich and decadent meat and cheese flavors
• Chicken Lombardy is topped with smoked mozzarella and provolone cheeses, a creamy parmesan sauce and bacon
• Fettuccine with Creamy Parmesan Portobello Sauce features savory mushrooms, a classic northern Italian ingredient
• Mezzaluna Marinara is filled with cheese and topped with homemade sauce
• Spicy Pesto Shrimp is topped with a blend of Calabrian peppers, ripe tomatoes, basil and garlic
• Bucatini with Spicy Tomato Bacon Sauce features a smoky flavor with crushed red pepper

For guests who want to enjoy their classic favorite, Olive Garden’s signature Tour of Italy featuring Chicken Parmigiana, Lasagna Classico and famous Fettuccine Alfredo will continue to be available on the menu.

“The Classic Tour of Italy is one of our most popular entrees,” said Jay Spenchian, Olive Garden’s executive vice president of marketing. “We are excited to introduce two dishes inspired by the hometown flavors of our executive chefs and give our guests an opportunity to vote for which Tour will be added to the menu.”

Crowdsourcing the Next Entree

Throughout the promotion, guests can vote for their preferred Tour by using #TeamNorth or #TeamSouth on Twitter or Instagram. Guests can also place votes by purchasing a Tour of Italy in restaurant. The Tour with the most votes will be added to the Olive Garden menu. Guests who cast their vote will also be entered for a chance to win a trip to Italy. Follow the votes and learn more about the sweepstakes by visiting ItalianFanFavorite.com .

Signature Classics Just $10

Additionally, guests can enjoy a selection of Olive Garden’s classic dishes for just $10 through Nov. 20, 2014. The offer is valid Monday through Thursday, and each entree is always served with homemade soup or garden fresh salad and fresh baked garlic breadsticks:

• Spaghetti with Meat Sauce homemade with pan-seared beef, Italian sausage and seasoned with herbs and spices
• Five Cheese Ziti al Forno with an indulgent blend of Italian cheeses, ziti pasta and five-cheese marinara sauce baked golden brown
• Eggplant Parmigiana with fresh eggplant hand-breaded and lightly fried, topped with homemade marinara and melted mozzarella cheese and served with spaghetti
• Ravioli di Portobello , ravioli filled with flavorful portobello mushrooms, topped with a rich and creamy smoked cheese and sun-dried tomato sauce

Connect with Olive Garden at Facebook.com/OliveGarden , Twitter.com/OliveGarden and Instagram.com/OfficialOliveGarden . For more information and to find your nearest Olive Garden restaurant, visit OliveGarden.com .

About Olive Garden

Olive Garden is the leading restaurant in the Italian dining segment with more than 800 restaurants, more than 96,000 employees and more than $3.6 billion in annual sales. Olive Garden is a division of Darden Restaurants, Inc., (NYSE: DRI), which owns and operates more than 1,500 restaurants that generate over $6.3 billion in annual sales. Headquartered in Orlando, Fla., and employing more than 150,000 people, Darden is recognized for a culture that rewards caring for and responding to people. In 2014, Darden was named to the FORTUNE “100 Best Companies to Work For” list for the fourth year in a row. Olive Garden is committed to making a difference in the lives of others in the local community. As part of this commitment, Olive Garden restaurants have donated nearly 30 million pounds of food to local community food banks across the country. For more information, visit www.olivegarden.com . Connect with us at Facebook.com/OliveGarden ,  Twitter.com/OliveGarden and Instagram.com/OfficialOliveGarden .

8 Absolute Best Dishes To Order At Olive Garden

Dining at Olive Garden has become a popular option for Americans since the eatery was founded over 40 years ago. The restaurant chain gained popularity for its Italian style cuisine that caters to American palates . While traditional Italian food is a bit pricey, for those looking to pay a bit less and forgo some authenticity, Olive Garden is a great alternative and has a variety of menu options. Even if you aren't strapped for cash, sometimes you can't deny the satisfaction of having endless breadsticks and salad before digging into a signature entrée.

Whatever the reason for your trip to Olive Garden, there are plenty of flavors and pastas available on the menu. When it comes to picking the best dishes, choosing a filling meal with a memorable taste is an important determining factor. The restaurant conveniently offers different protein options, ranging from red meat to poultry, seafood, and more. Although the proteins are creatively incorporated into various meals throughout the menu, only a few items are considered the restaurant's best dishes.

Chicken parmigiana

The chicken parmigiana can be a hit or miss depending on the chef, but when it is made correctly, the customer can count on being served some unforgettable flavors. The dish is made with the perfect amount of sauce on both the chicken and the pasta. While the description of the dish boasts two lightly fried chicken breasts, we can't deny that we love the crispness of the breaded Parmesan coating when it is slightly overcooked. The chicken breasts are topped with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese. The marinara adds a vibrant flavor to the crispy chicken without turning it into a soggy mess and causing the fried breading to fall apart.

Conveniently, the side of spaghetti acts as a delightful addition to the chicken parm, breaking up some of the saltiness in the coating. If spaghetti and marinara sauce isn't your thing, you can customize your pasta side. Fettuccine Alfredo is a great alternative and its combination with the marinara sauce along with the chicken parm results in a pleasantly surprising taste.

Chicken Alfredo

The signature Olive Garden chicken Alfredo dish never disappoints when dining in. Of course, there are plenty of copycat recipes online , but nothing quite compares to the original. The smoothness of the sauce and the tenderness of the fettuccine noodles, along with the grilled chicken provides a soothing sensation in your mouth that makes you eager for the next bite. However, when it comes to takeout, requesting an extra Alfredo sauce on the side is a necessity to enjoy the dish in all of its greatness. Taking into consideration how long it takes you to pick up your takeout and the time you spend transporting the dish to its destination, by the time you reheat the meal, you can expect dry noodles.

The extra Alfredo on the side will allow you to reheat the meal to the desired temperature while still getting the creaminess of the Alfredo sauce. Even if the meal is still hot upon arrival, the Alfredo sauce on the side won't go to waste. The dish always tastes great with some extra Alfredo, and it can also act as a dipping sauce for the breadsticks.

Shrimp Alfredo

This selection may be considered a little controversial, but it is definitely worth a taste before you write it off. The meal is quite simple and made up of fettuccine noodles, Alfredo, and topped with shrimp. While the dish typically comes with enough Alfredo to coat the shrimp and noodles, asking for an additional side of the sauce will come in handy if you prefer a saucier dish. The great thing about the meal is that the shrimp is succulent rather than overcooked and mushy. The texture isn't chewy, which is a welcomed surprise while noshing on the soft noodles.

Even though the shrimp doesn't appear to be sufficiently seasoned, the combination of the Alfredo and the signature grated Parmesan cheese create the creamiest Alfredo sauce that you never knew you needed. Despite the lack of seasoning, the shrimp doesn't taste fishy or give off that undesirable ocean taste. Instead, the muted flavors come together to make a savory and fulfilling dish.

Chicken tortelloni Alfredo

You definitely won't leave Olive Garden feeling hungry after eating the chicken tortelloni Alfredo. It's easy to look at the name and confuse this dish with tortellini, which is a small pasta that is typically stuffed with meat. The tortelloni is a larger pasta with a similar shape and is usually stuffed with a cheese-based filling. The Chicken Tortellini Alfredo dish is made up of tortelloni filled with asiago cheese, baked with Italian cheeses in Alfredo sauce, and topped with grilled chicken. The asiago filling adds a sharp taste to the meal, while the chicken has a bit of a smoky flavor that elevates the entire dish.

Since it is a baked dish, the tortelloni and Alfredo come with some golden brown coloring that adds to the overall presentation and appeal of the meal. If you fill up on breadsticks and salad beforehand, chances are you will be able to take half of your meal home to have leftovers for later.

Tour of Italy

The Tour of Italy at Olive Garden gives customers a sample of some of the restaurant's most popular dishes; chicken parmigiana, fettuccine Alfredo, and lasagna classico. You can start with any dish on the plate, but the chicken parmigiana is a great way to kick off the meal. The crispy chicken breast topped with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese provides a burst of tangy yet salty flavors. The chicken parm also adds texture and crunch to the Tour of Italy dish that has a majority of soft noodles. The lasagna classico features multiple layers of rich meat sauce, noodles, and cheese.

The fettuccine Alfredo makes the meal complete when saddled in between the two other dishes that possess powerful flavors. The popular sauce, which consists of ingredients like garlic, butter, cream, and Parmesan, offers a great balance and breaks from the flavors of the lasagna and chicken parm. Overall, the dish offers a variety of flavors that mesh well together whether you combine the components or eat them separately.

Chicken and shrimp carbonara

Whether you're in the mood for poultry or seafood, you can get the best of both worlds with the chicken and shrimp carbonara from Olive Garden. The dish consists of spaghetti, red peppers, bacon, chicken, and shrimp tossed in a creamy sauce. The decadent dish is elevated when you add on the restaurant's freshly grated Parmesan cheese. The shrimp and chicken are seasoned and sautéed while the bacon starts out crispy, but it becomes softer throughout the meal. The good part about the softer bacon is the flavor appears to soak into the dish more.

The chicken has some crispness and markings to it that helps add some texture and a slight crunch to the meal. The shrimp is succulent and allows for smooth chewing throughout the dish. Whether you finish the chicken and shrimp carbonara at the rest restaurant or take it home to eat later, it comes with more than enough sauce, so reheating shouldn't be an issue (after you bring your leftovers to room temperature) .

Lasagna classico

With layers of tangy cheeses and robust meat sauce, this classic lasagna is packed with flavor. The presentation of the lasagna classico is visually appealing in that you can see each layer and know what you are getting in every bite. The marinara sauce is tangy but is tamed by the ricotta cheese, which manages to balance the acidic flavor. The meat sauce is made up of beef and Italian sausage and adds to the mouthwatering aspects of the savory dish. The hearty meal is quite filling, especially if you indulge in the salad and breadsticks beforehand.

When it comes to leftovers, reheating the meal may be an issue. Past experiences have found that reheating the dish in the microwave or the oven results in a melted cheesy mess. While the flavors will still be there, the initial structure of the lasagna will be long gone. This meal is best enjoyed when dining at the restaurant.

Spaghetti and meatballs

You can't go wrong with a classic like spaghetti and meatballs . The classic meal never fails to satisfy, and luckily, at Olive Garden, you can look forward to large meatballs with your choice of marinara or meat sauce. Customers can expect a generous portion of al dente noodles and tender meatballs topped with a hearty tomato sauce. The noodles are typically already coated with sauce when it arrives at the table, so it only needs to be mixed if you want even more sauce in each bite. While the meat sauce offers more flavor in every bite thanks to the seasoned meat, the marinara option should not be overlooked.

The plain marinara sauce manages to tone down the taste of the meatballs and would be appreciated by those who feel overwhelmed if there is too much flavor in their dish. The meal is pretty filling, but depending on how hungry you are, you may finish the dish in one sitting.

Methodology

These selections were made based on personal experiences, feedback from friends who have also tried the dishes, and online reviews. Personal experiences served as the driving force behind the selections, however, it was important to incorporate the opinions of others while determining the best dishes. The factors that were used to determine the best dishes were taste, noodle to sauce ratio, and portion size. Although price is an important factor when it comes to dining out, it was not included when selecting these dishes. With the ever changing economy, the price of certain meals may seem cheap or overly expensive depending on a person's financial situation.

While making these selections, focusing on the dish itself was determined to be the best option. When choosing the best dishes, I compiled a list of some of the most popular dishes at Olive Garden and then narrowed down the options based on taste, quality, and how full the meal left patrons.

• Olive Garden Italian Restaurant

Classic Entr-es

Tour of italy.

Chicken Parmigiana, Lasagna Classico and our signature Fettuccine Alfredo. **Our meat sauces include pan-seared beef and Italian sausage.

• New York, NY
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After the waitress sat us down and took our order. She never came back to check on us. She spend the majority lf the time behind the bar making drinks. She is in eye view and never made eye contact with our table. Even when she literally walked past our table a few  I had to motion her over. We waiting 45 minutes before our food came. There was even a time when someome came over to us and asked what we ordered. To me, of course that means some9ne screwed up or forgot to put in our order. Anyway, I literally had to wave the waitress over to get her attention from behind the drinks bar. When she came over, I stated we never got our food.  When the food came everything tastes horrible. The calamari, the tour of Italy and I noticed my daughter didn't eat her meatballs either. Me and my wife said we will never come here again.

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Hey folks, welcome back to The Olive Garden located in The Green Acres Mall in Valley Stream, NY. I was out on the road from  early this morning. A long hard morning deserved an even longer lunch break. The Olive Garden was the perfect spot to stop.   I pulled up to their bar room for lunch and started with hot breadsticks and endless salad. My visit to "The Garden" also included a " Tour of Italy " it's one of my favorite dishes here. The Italian tour included 3 Italian favorites all on one dish. First, a stop over for a Big Slice of lasagna followed by cheesy fettuccine alfredo topped off with a crispy chicken cutlet parmesan. And again, the breadsticks and salad were unlimited and kept coming. My service at the bar today was 5 stars. My water never empty and breadsticks replaced 3 times. I really enjoyed my lunch at the Olive Garden today. Thanks to my server for her courteous hospitality.. Thank you so much also.. for the kind thought to include a take home endless salad in my doggie bag. In summation, I had quite an outstanding experience today at Olive Garden, Valley Stream. I'll be back again soon.

• Queens, Queens, NY
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Love Olive Garden, but came to this Olive Garden restaurant and my expectations were let down. I ordered the tour of Italy and my food looked like it was standing outside for hours and the chicken looked old and had old cheese on it . And my lasagna was just sloppy . Wont not coming back .

• Christopher S.
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My co-worker told me about Olive Garden having this "Pay for one meal and go home with the 2nd meal for free" deal. So of course I had to come back with wifey. We were just here about 2 weeks ago and didn't hear about this special. Here I thought..ok...we can go home with the 2nd meal and have leftovers the next day. Ahhhhh there is a caaaaaaatch. We got the scrumptuous Lasagna Fritta. Instead of the delicious Tour of Italy dish that I love..I tried their Lobster Ravioli, which was not as good. The ravioli was bland. Wifey got the Chicken & Shrimp Carbonara again. She wasn't daring enough to try something else haha. It was time to leave and I started to remind the server that we would take the Tour of Italy and Chicken & Shrimp Carbonara to go home with..for free. The server smiled and told us that the "Buy one take one for free deal is only when you choose the $12.99 entree...fettuccine alfredo or cheese ravioli with marinara or spaghetti with meat sauce or five cheese ziti al forno." See..the commercials didn't state this. Here I thought I was going home with the Tour of Italy for free! I had to drown my sorrow with berry sangria (I wish it was stronger). My wife had the Strawberry-Passion Fruit Limonata (she really liked it). We are still fans of Olive Garden and will be back in a month or so.

• JAMAICA, NY
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Okay Food. Okay Service. I was excited that Olive Garden opened up near to where I live in Queens. The decor was nice. My mom and I felt like we were eating in someone's home. Very nice. The salad was delicious. I could eat that salad all day! I ordered the tour of Italy which is a tasting of three dishes: lasagna with meat sauce (okay), fettuccine alfredo (okay), and chicken (okay). I ate a little bit of each dish. I wanted to be "wowed' and I wasn't. I was hungry, so I ate it. A few weeks later I went back with my sister for lunch. It was crowded. The waitress took at least 10 minutes to come take our order. My sister was unable to get into the bathroom because a nurse was trying to take her male senior citizen patient into the women's bathroom. The nurse was told she could not take a man into the women's bathroom. Then the nurse said that her patient had already urinated on himself and there was no point in going to the bathroom. Needless to say, my sister and I lost our appetites. We left. If you're going to Olive Garden in Valley Stream I suggest you skip meal time when it's packed with senior citizens and teenagers making out at the bar. Food was okay for dinner. Price was affordable.

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Olive Garden Italian Restaurant Menu: Classic Entr-es

Chicken Parmigiana

Eggplant Parmigiana

Lasagna classico.

Five Cheese Ziti al Forno

Spaghetti & meatballs, spaghetti with marinara.

Price details

Spaghetti with Meat Sauce

Shrimp Scampi

Chicken scampi.

Chicken & Shrimp Carbonara

Shrimp Carbonara

Ravioli Carbonara

Chicken marsala fettuccine, grilled chicken margherita, 6 oz sirloin.

Herb-Grilled Salmon

Stuffed pastas.

Chicken Tortelloni Alfredo

Cheese Ravioli

Amazing alfredos.

Fettuccine Alfredo

Seafood Alfredo

Shrimp Alfredo

Chicken alfredo, create your own pasta, choose pasta, choose a sauce, add a topping, homemade soups & salad.

Never-Ending Soup, Salad & Breadsticks

Pasta e fagioli, zuppa toscana.

Chicken & Gnocchi