The Beloved Italian Chain Some Customers Say Isn't Worth It Anymore - Tasting Table

"One Reddit thread asks, "What caused the downfall of OG? I remember when OG came to my town in the mid-80s. It was a culinary experience. You had to dress at least business casual or you'd get looks." Instead of the table linens, fresh bread, luscious chicken breasts, fresh sauces, and an overall "special occassion" feel of yore, says the poster, a visit to Olive Garden today is characterized by far less exciting accouterment - paper napkins, a lax dress code (to put it mildly), and higher menu prices that don't reflect the equality of the food, which many guests say has gone down considerably."

"Indeed, Tasting Table has rounded up plenty of consistently disappointing dishes to avoid ordering at Olive Garden (and we recommend skipping the chicken and gnocchi soup). One commenter postulates that the chain's quality started going down around 2008, when the U.S. economic recession prompted the rise of value-centric promotions, which may have gradually evolved into a more Everyman dining concept with less attention to detail. In 2025, Olive Garden openly advertised an affordability-focused approach as a strategy to boost same-store sales."

"Another post echoes this quality-degradation sentiment, writing that Olive Garden has "gone downhill" and is now "like fast food Italian." Commenters note that the quality and size of the breadsticks have plummeted (i.e"

Olive Garden has a reputation for familiar Italian-American dishes, a somewhat elevated dining feel, and affordable sit-down family pricing. Social media users describe a decline in the experience, citing paper napkins, a relaxed dress code, fewer “special occasion” touches, and higher menu prices that do not match perceived food quality. Some guests say items such as chicken and gnocchi soup are consistently disappointing. One view links the downturn to changes beginning around 2008, when economic recession increased value-focused promotions and shifted attention away from detail. In 2025, the chain advertised an affordability strategy to boost same-store sales. Others compare the current quality to fast-food Italian and note smaller, worse breadsticks.

Read at Tasting Table