Buzz
Olive Garden, the popular Italian-themed chain, has made a name for itself with its unlimited offerings, including soup, salad, and most famously, their breadsticks. When you purchase an entree, your server will happily refill your basket with warm, fresh breadsticks throughout your meal, all at no additional cost. Even with rising menu prices across the industry, this deal still stands as one of the most appealing features of the restaurant, although there are some lesser-known details to consider.
The YouTube channel Weird Food History recently took a deep dive into how 'unlimited' the breadsticks really are at Olive Garden. Like many large companies, the restaurant chain has been under pressure to cut costs, and in 2014, their breadsticks came under scrutiny as a potential expense. Investors wanted to understand if the policy was sustainable in the long term.
A 300-page report compiled by the hedge fund Starboard Value included a section on Olive Garden’s breadstick policy. While the deal initially brought in more customers, investors felt that the restaurant’s overly generous offering was damaging their business. Servers, instead of adjusting the portion based on the size of the party, were filling baskets too generously, leading to waste. Furthermore, according to the report, the breadsticks began to lose their quality after just seven minutes on the table, meaning an overly full basket could end up being a poor experience for all involved.
Complaints have prompted Olive Garden to enforce a more stringent policy on its well-known deal. If you order unlimited breadsticks today, you'll receive one per person, plus an additional complimentary breadstick in the first basket. This extra breadstick serves as a 'conversation starter,' with Red Lobster, another Darden Restaurants property, following suit by applying the same policy to its cheddar bay biscuits. Subsequent baskets will come with only one breadstick per guest, and refills are only provided upon request.
Olive Garden's unlimited breadsticks faced another challenge in 2020 when the chain temporarily suspended the offering due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As the deal is only available for dine-in customers, loyal patrons who opted for takeout during the restaurant closures had to settle for a limited portion. Thankfully, this change was brief, and the full in-person breadstick experience has since returned.
Although the chain may be more cautious with the number of breadsticks served per basket, it still honors its commitment to unlimited refills. According to servers on Reddit, the only time customers are denied refills is if they're caught sneaking breadsticks into their bags for later. As long as you enjoy them on-site, the only limit is how many you can eat.
