Aly's ordering guide
How to get the most out of Olive Garden: unlimited soup, salad and breadsticks, the $6 take-home entree, lighter portions and family meals.
Olive Garden is a sit-down restaurant, so value works differently than at a drive-thru. Every dinner entree comes with unlimited soup or salad and breadsticks, and you can add a Take Home Entree for $6 to turn one visit into two meals.
Below are picks by budget, the dishes with the most food for the price, lighter choices and the full menu with prices.
Chosen for value and nutrition, using the prices and published nutrition on this page.
Unlimited Soup, Salad and Breadsticks$10.99
$10.99 and all you can eat. The cheapest way to fill up at Olive Garden.
Take Home Entree$6.00
Add it to any dine-in entree for $6 and tomorrow's dinner is sorted.
Chicken Parmigiana, lighter portion$13.79
The favorite in a smaller size, about 580 calories for $13.79.
Herb-Grilled Salmon$20.79
One of the lightest full entrees, about 460 calories.
Aly
Around $11
Lunch or a light dinner
$10.99 for as much soup, salad and breadsticks as you want, at lunch or dinner.
$11.79 for a smaller plate of the classic, about 530 calories.
Around $25
Dinner plus tomorrow's meal
Total$24.79
$24.79 for dinner with unlimited soup or salad and breadsticks, plus a second entree to take home for $6.
Total$22.29
$22.29 for two meals, the cheapest way to get the take-home deal with a classic pasta.
Around $39
Feed a family at home
$38.99 for 4 to 6 people, about $6.50 to $9.75 per person.
Totals are before tax and tip.
Calories you get for every dollar on the main items, a simple way to see which orders fill you up for the least money. We could not verify Olive Garden's protein figures, so this guide ranks by calories instead. Breakfast items are left out of this list.
Main items under 400 calories.
Our recipes for the Olive Garden favorites people ask about most.
Yes. Dinner entrees include unlimited soup or salad and breadsticks. You can also order Unlimited Soup, Salad and Breadsticks on its own for about $10.99.
When you order a dine-in entree, you can add a second entree to take home for about $6. Choices vary by restaurant.
Unlimited Soup, Salad and Breadsticks at about $10.99, or a lighter portion such as Fettuccine Alfredo for about $11.79.
The 6 oz Sirloin (about 280 calories), Sicilian Scallops (about 380 calories), Herb-Grilled Salmon (about 460 calories) and the lighter portions menu.
Most family meals serve 4 to 6 people. Prices start at about $34.99.
Calories are approximate, compiled in November 2026 from published nutrition information, and do not include soup, salad or breadsticks. Use Olive Garden's nutrition guide for exact figures. Prices were checked in November 2026 and differ between restaurants. Aly's Menu and Recipes is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Olive Garden. Restaurant names are trademarks of their owners.
