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 ...
I think most folks go to “brand name” places because they get a consistent product, even if it is mediocre.
But yeah, a true Italian restaurant is way better.
Add anchovy paste to the sauce. Restaurant secret
My wife is of Sicilian descent. She looks down on them. We went there once or twice years ago and never went back. Her cooking is better😛!
You here 4 hour! You go NOW!
(RIP, John Pinette, that was one of the greatest comedy bits ever)
And needless to say, could NEVER be done these days!
Mmmmmmmmm, sounds great!
Gotta tell you about my wife’s sauce- I don’t know all the details, but she’ll start out with olive oil and garlic- THAT is what Heaven must smell like- in the pot, add the tomato sauce, paste, along with homemade meatballs, sausage, AND bone-in pork ribs, about a glass of Chianti thrown in for more flavor, spices….
I am going to have to pester her into making some!
That is not a problem...
Cans of Franco American are the same thing...
Olive Garden is one of the worst chains out there….
I had just soup and salad last time I was there and was sick as a dog 40 minutes later…
Anyone who has ever had anything remotely close to real Italian food, can’t consider anything at the Olive Garden palatable
The best Italian restaurant I ever ate at was in London, of all places, but it was run by a guy who emigrated from Italy and a crew of his relatives.
OMG!! Hilarious!!!
ever had scungili salad? OMG malte bene!
They could try authentic Italian food.
not all of it is great but much of it is.
food was better in France, girls were prettier in Italy
“ people disagree about food but rarely shoot people over it. ;)”
Except when popeyes runs out of chicken sandwiches, or its after 2AM at the waffle house
FRiend, try just taking a can of diced tomatoes. You can do onion and garlic. Salt and pepper. Cool it down and just use that. I don’t like the sweetness of commercial sauces. This has a very clean flavor and the tomatoes a pleasant texture with the meat and spaghetti
They would wait a half hour to give you a reload. That is why I went to OG once, and never returned.
Olive Garden is edible, at best, for those of us that aren’t pasta snobs. Too expensive though - if we go to OG wife and I split a meal. We both get all we want at a reasonable price. I only really like the salad and breadsticks.
I prefer to mince the garlic for such a sauce.
The last time I went (probably 10 years ago), it was annoying when I requested more breadsticks for my date and me — and they brought three.
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