Eat Wisely And Escape Regrets
While Olive Garden knows how to pull a crowd, not every plate served earns a round of applause. Sure, they have some tempting delicacies on their menu, but some others are flavorless flops hiding behind fancy names. It doesn't matter if you are a regular or just dropping in for a random lunch; you deserve to know which dishes are worth your time and money and which ones to skip. Let’s start with 10 of the stomach-turners.
1. Eggplant Parmigiana
Tasting Table (2025) ranks this the worst non-pasta entrée for a reason. The texture varies wildly—some find the breading soggy, others call it sandpaper. A Reddit thread compared its look to a frozen TV dinner. Mashed (2024) even noted customers reporting post-meal stomach discomfort.
2. Lasagna Classico
Lasagna Classico checks all the boxes for “too much.” It’s been slammed for being greasy with a flat, forgettable meat sauce. Nutritionally, it's dense in both calories and sodium. A dish meant to soothe, but it lands as chewy and unsatisfying.
3. Tour Of Italy
Combining Chicken Parmigiana, Lasagna Classico, and Fettuccine Alfredo, none shines on their own. While there is variety, the overall experience is lacking, and health-wise, it’s a calorie and sodium bomb. In aiming to please everyone, it ends up impressing no one.
4. Capellini Pomodoro
This meal rarely earns a second glance. It’s criticized for blandness and under-seasoned tomato sauce. Overcooked pasta and missing key flavors like basil and olive oil drag it down further. Maybe the reason it's rarely ordered is that people learn not to try it twice.
Easy CAPELLINI PASTA POMODORO - OLIVE GARDEN COPYCAT | Recipes.net by Recipes
5. Fried Mozzarella
If you haven’t had Olive Garden’s fried mozzarella before, beware that Tasting Table places it among the weakest starters. The outer layer turns limp within minutes, and the mozzarella doesn’t melt right. Plus, the portions are smaller than expected, given the price.
Trying ALL Of The Most Popular Menu Items At Olive Garden | Delish by Delish
6. Sausage-Stuffed Giant Rigatoni
It’s filling, but not in an entirely good way. The sausage is rich to the point of excess, and reviewers frequently call the rigatoni tough. High sodium content, as shown by Olive Garden’s 2025 data, turns this into a nutritional red flag.
SAUSAGE RIGATONI | Easy Recipe | Jehan Can Cook by Jehan Powell
7. Herb-Grilled Salmon
The seasoning barely registers, and the vegetables arrive as afterthoughts, so expect dryness in every bite. The vegetables served on the side are not any good either. Reviews consistently mention its lack of flavor, which leads people to other protein options on the menu.
8. Fettuccine Alfredo
Despite being a menu staple, this dish borders on excess. Healthline (2016) warns that the 1,480 calories and 94g of fat can overwhelm a typical day’s intake. Interestingly, Tasting Table (2025) praises the noodles but notes the sauce’s lack of nuance.
9. Chicken Alfredo
The sodium levels here are no joke—this dish can approach your daily cap. While the chicken is dry, the sauce is dense and clings heavily, and this doesn’t help. Without herbs or greens, it feels heavy and repetitive. Most diners agree: once is enough.
Trying ALL Of The Most Popular Menu Items At Olive Garden | Delish by Delish
10. Minestrone Soup
A review on Tasting Table describes it as watery and dull. Vegetables expected to add a punchy flavor worsen it as they often arrive overcooked and drained of all freshness. There are more Olive Garden’s flavorful alternatives one can opt for.
Trying ALL Of The Most Popular Menu Items At Olive Garden | Delish by Delish
After all those misses, it’s only fair to highlight the hits. These next ten dishes prove Olive Garden can still serve up solid value if you know what to look for.
1. Chicken And Gnocchi Soup
This creamy soup hits the sweet spot between cozy and hearty. It features pillowy gnocchi, tender chicken, and fresh spinach in a savory broth. Food blogs often hail it as a fan favorite. Included in the unlimited soup and breadsticks deal, it's a value-packed comfort starter.
2. Shrimp Scampi
Shrimp Scampi walks the line between indulgent and refreshing. Tasting Table (2025) called it out, in a good way, for its high shrimp count and citrusy sauce. With bright veggies like asparagus and tomatoes, it flaunts both color and balance.
Trying ALL Of The Most Popular Menu Items At Olive Garden | Delish by Delish
3. Chicken Tortelloni Alfredo
This baked tortelloni dish delivers layers of herb-stuffed pasta bathed in Alfredo sauce and topped with tender chicken. The oven-finished preparation keeps everything intact. In Tasting Table’s 2025 pasta rankings, it took top honors for taste and texture.
4. Chicken Parmigiana
Nothing complicated here—just brittle chicken and zesty marinara served alongside a pile of spaghetti. Customizable pasta options give it extra flexibility, and it remains a frequent go-to for fans and critics alike, who consider it a timeless comfort dish.
Trying ALL Of The Most Popular Menu Items At Olive Garden | Delish by Delish
5. Five-Cheese Ziti Al Forno
A gooey five-cheese blend blankets this pasta until it’s bubbling under a golden crust. While Tasting Table’s 2025 review flagged the occasional mushy noodle, the flavor more than makes up for it. Each forkful delivers creamy satisfaction, especially for cheese lovers.
Trying Olive Garden's Five Cheese Ziti for the FIRST TIME! by blndsundoll4mj
6. Zuppa Toscana
Loaded with spicy Italian sausage and tender potatoes, Zuppa Toscana doesn’t hold back. Its thick broth adds just enough weight without feeling overdone. Fans consistently choose it as their top soup, and it is part of the unlimited combo, which is a double win.
7. Chicken And Shrimp Carbonara
Char-grilled chicken and shrimp join forces in a creamy bacon carbonara that stands out for its smoky depth. Roasted red peppers provide color and sweetness that round up the taste profile. It’s among Olive Garden’s most creative entries that are never chaotic.
Trying ALL Of The Most Popular Menu Items At Olive Garden | Delish by Delish
8. Breadsticks
The breadsticks are garlicky and endlessly refillable. These need no introduction. They appear on rankings of best chain restaurant starters and never seem to fall out of favor. Dip them or hoard the basket. No meal here really begins until they hit the table.
9. Toasted Ravioli
This appetizer nails the balance between crunch and comfort, with seasoned beef inside a golden shell. Served with house marinara, it holds up well even when shared. In Olive Garden customer polls, it’s loved by many. Simple and snackable.
10. Lasagna Fritta
In this masterpiece, Parmesan-coated lasagna slices rest in Alfredo sauce and are finished with a spoonful of marinara. The contrast between crumbly crust and molten center keeps each bite interesting. It’s popular on food blogs for its unapologetic approach to indulgence.
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