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Olive Garden's Never Ending Pasta Bowl Might Never Return Apparently, never-ending pasta isn't never-ending.
thrillist ^

Posted on 12/21/2021 2:26:19 PM PST by mylife

Olive Garden is known for a few things. Namely, its never-ending offerings, like soup, salad, breadsticks, and pasta. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end—even those that are supposed to be never-ending. Olive Garden's incoming new CEO revealed that the restaurant may never bring back its never-ending pasta bowl promotion.

According to Business Insider, the deal, which gets you a bowl of pasta with endless refills for $10.99, was one Olive Garden would roll out periodically. Customers could enjoy as much pasta as they could stomach under the promotion, as well as unlimited breadsticks and salad. For an extra price, they could add accouterments to their dishes like shrimp or meatballs.

The promotion has reportedly not been rolled out since 2019, and, according to CEO Ricardo Cardenas, may not return.

"We don't know if or when we'll bring it back," he said on the call, citing a "negative impact."

Business Insider noted that the promotion succeeded in drawing in customers, but did not help the chain increase profit margins. Basically, the promotion was a hail Mary that Olive Garden would deploy in times of low sales. Currently, however, sales are up at the chain over pre-COVID-19 levels, as well as ahead of the last time it offered its never-ending pasta bowl promo.

Long story short, Olive Garden is trying to "reduce dependency" on flashy promos like this one to draw folks in, according to Cardenas. However, those that come for the never-ending salad and breadsticks need not fear. Olive Garden will not be doing away with its bottomless first course. Phew!

(Excerpt) Read more at thrillist.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Chit/Chat; Food; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: neverendingpasta; olivegarden; pasta
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Jimrob will not be pleased.
1 posted on 12/21/2021 2:26:19 PM PST by mylife
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To: Jim Robinson

Ping


2 posted on 12/21/2021 2:27:00 PM PST by mylife (Christmas is cancelled, all the reindeer have Covid and a red nose, Donner and Prancer and Vaxxen)
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To: mylife
"We don't know if or when we'll bring it back," he said on the call, citing a "negative impact."

Hey Big Boy -- you go NOW!

3 posted on 12/21/2021 2:29:22 PM PST by workerbee (==)
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To: mylife

Misleading advertising, but they kind of are doing you a favor.


4 posted on 12/21/2021 2:29:50 PM PST by nickcarraway
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To: mylife

Never ending pasta

5 posted on 12/21/2021 2:30:36 PM PST by PGR88
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To: mylife

Pasta from a bag


6 posted on 12/21/2021 2:32:31 PM PST by stratboy
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To: mylife

I don’t believe I’ve ever made it past the first portion anyway.


7 posted on 12/21/2021 2:32:58 PM PST by jimfree (My 19 y/o granddaughter continues to have more quality exec experience than Joe Biden.)
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To: mylife

Is Michael Moore on suicide watch?


8 posted on 12/21/2021 2:33:08 PM PST by fwdude (My pronouns are "F*ck, Joe, Biden." Use them when addressing me or else. )
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To: workerbee

You scare my wife!


9 posted on 12/21/2021 2:33:56 PM PST by Puppage (You may disagree with what I have to say, but I shall defend to your death my right to says it.)
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To: workerbee

If you want good pasta, you have to go to the motherland ;)


10 posted on 12/21/2021 2:34:10 PM PST by Trillian
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To: workerbee

Why you so beeeg?


11 posted on 12/21/2021 2:35:45 PM PST by Obadiah (Fauci is the golden calf of science.)
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To: workerbee

2 plate only!!


12 posted on 12/21/2021 2:35:47 PM PST by mylife (Christmas is cancelled, all the reindeer have Covid and a red nose, Donner and Prancer and Vaxxen)
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To: jimfree

It’s pretty filling, but I know some big ol boys...


13 posted on 12/21/2021 2:37:05 PM PST by mylife (Christmas is cancelled, all the reindeer have Covid and a red nose, Donner and Prancer and Vaxxen)
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To: Trillian

Or make it yourself


14 posted on 12/21/2021 2:40:43 PM PST by Nifster (I see puppy dogs in the clouds)
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To: mylife

Are you stuck on the food channel? ;-)


15 posted on 12/21/2021 2:41:31 PM PST by spel_grammer_an_punct_polise (Land is simply a place I visit until I can return to the sea.)
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at Chinese buffets I go straight for the good stuff, but its hard to not grab some shanghai golden curry noodles..

plate and a half, and I’m done, but no noodles on the 2nd plate ;)


16 posted on 12/21/2021 2:41:48 PM PST by mylife (Christmas is cancelled, all the reindeer have Covid and a red nose, Donner and Prancer and Vaxxen)
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To: Nifster

I do. I was just repeating a joke from that comedian :)


17 posted on 12/21/2021 2:42:41 PM PST by Trillian
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To: spel_grammer_an_punct_polise

It beats politics or religion. ;) we all eat


18 posted on 12/21/2021 2:42:48 PM PST by mylife (Christmas is cancelled, all the reindeer have Covid and a red nose, Donner and Prancer and Vaxxen)
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To: spel_grammer_an_punct_polise

people disagree about food but rarely shoot people over it. ;)


19 posted on 12/21/2021 2:44:36 PM PST by mylife (Christmas is cancelled, all the reindeer have Covid and a red nose, Donner and Prancer and Vaxxen)
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To: jimfree

Was it that their portions were large, or was it the fact that the food was crappy. Honestly I think I’ve been there twice and you’d have to subpoena me to get me to go again


20 posted on 12/21/2021 2:49:08 PM PST by j.havenfarm (21 years on Free Republic, 12/10/21! More than 5000 replies and still not shutting up!)
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