Many people feel everyday expenses have increased, including restaurant prices. Customers expect large portions and tasty food when spending around $100 at mid-tier sit-down chains. Reddit threads were reviewed to identify chains that diners say offer poor value for money. Olive Garden is cited as having higher costs for Italian American comfort food, with some diners reporting roughly $40 per person with wine, entree, dessert, plus tax and tips. Complaints include mediocre service and ambiance, high prices for pasta without meat, and high totals for chicken alfredo with drinks. Some diners argue unlimited soup, salad, and bread can offset costs, while others still call the chain overpriced.
"Easily $40/person if you get a glass of wine, entree, [dessert] + tax + tips," wrote Redditor ElliotAlderson2024 in an r/olivegarden community thread. "All for mediocre service and soul-sucking ambiance. At best I'll go 2x a year, only as a convenience.""
"Other users have also questioned why pasta without meat is nearly $20 at the chain, while others are wondering why two portions of their favorite chicken alfredo with drinks is setting them back almost $70. Some say that the unlimited soup, salad, and bread deal makes it worth it, while others agree that it's overpriced, but also note that it's in line with today's pricing from other chains."
"Let's be honest, Olive Garden is hardly gourmet. We don't say that to cast shade; sometimes, all you want is a hearty portion of pasta and some freshly baked breadsticks. But lately, some diners have noticed that the chain's Italian American comfort food comes at a significantly higher cost than it used to."
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