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Customer Satisfaction Rating
Comparison of appetizer and entrée quality between the two chains.
Primary Sources
I Ordered Same Meal at Olive Garden and Red Lobster: Which Is Better ...
I ordered fried calamari, a shrimp Alfredo pasta, and a chocolate-cake dessert at Olive Garden and Red Lobster to compare. PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images; Bloomberg/Getty Images 2026-05-05T13:41:21.811Z I ordered and compared the same appetizer, entrée, and dessert at Olive Garden and Red Lobster. The desserts were passably good, but the shrimp Alfredo dishes felt overpriced and underwhelming. The best part of both meals was the freebies, and Olive Garden's salad gave the chain a leg up. https://www.businessinsider.com/olive-garden-vs-red-lobster-which-is-better-review-2024-1^ REDIRECT Like many things, dining out feels more expensive than ever. So, when I choose to do it, I want to be sure I'm getting my money's worth.In search of good value and tasty dishes, I decided to compare similar meals at chain restaurants near my home in Long Island, New York. First up: Olive Garden and Red Lobster. Both American casual-dining chains have several hundred locations, mostly in the US and some outside it, and feature complimentary bread alongside their extensive menus.At each, I tried to order the same meal: fried calamari as an appetizer, a shrimp Alfredo pasta as my entrée, and chocolate cake for dessert.I figured these choices would level the playing field and give both the seafood and Italian-American chain a fair chance: Fried calamari is a popular squid dish in Italy, my entrée choice combines both pasta and shrimp, and chocolate cake is pretty standard fare at chain restaurants.Here's how my meals at the chains compared. Olive Garden's complimentary breadsticks didn't wow me, but the salad was a high point of the meal. A typical salad from Olive Garden has olives, croutons, and other toppings. Sarah Schmalbruch At Olive Garden, diners are famously served "never-ending" breadsticks and salad (or soup) with the purchase of an adult entrée. Given their reputation for being buttery and freshly baked, the breadsticks were pretty underwhelming. I found them a bit too salty for my liking and forgettable. After a few bites, I turned to the Olive Garden's signature salad, which was surprisingly good.It tasted fresh and flavorful with the crisp lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, olives, croutons, and pepperoncini. I also enjoyed the Italian dressing, which was creamy with a bit of a kick. I happily ate several (small) platefuls of salad before and after my entrée. Red Lobster's complimentary starter also really impressed me. I'd visit Red Lobster just for ...
Red Lobster Coupons & Meals for May '26: 20% off - CouponCabin
Red Lobster Coupons & Deals Over multiple reviews, our team notes a pattern of savings anchored in Red Lobster's My Red Lobster loyalty program and limited-time menu promotions, rather than frequent deals. Value bundles and weekday specials are regularly highlighted for all guests, with loyalty participation unlocking additional perks.
Olive Garden Deals And Specials: FREE Take Home Meal
You can see the details at the Olive Garden Specials page. Olive Garden also has a $6 take-home deal when you buy any entree, plus lunch specials featuring their famous unlimited Soup, Salad and Breadsticks. Buy One, Take One For $6 The Buy One, Take One deal is back at Olive Garden.
Olive Garden Menu with Prices 2026 USA [UPDATED]
Olive Garden is an American international casual dining restaurant chain that specializes in serving Italian-American cuisine. The company started 40 years ago, on December 13, 1982, in Orlando, Florida, USA. It serves salads, chicken, seafood, breadsticks, and cakes in the United States. The updated Olive Garden menu for 2026 is given below.
