Olive Garden Happy Hour Time and Menu [Updated] 2024

Does not typically have a happy hour. However, it’s always a good idea to check with your local Olive Garden for any promotions or specials they may be offering.

One Olive Garden breadstick has 140 calories [Olive Garden breadstick calories]. That’s a moderate calorie count for a bread item, especially considering most people enjoy multiple breadsticks with dipping sauce during their meal. It’s important to factor in the calories from the dipping sauce as well, which can vary depending on the type you choose.

The hourly wage for a waiter at Olive Garden can vary depending on factors such as location, experience, and whether tips are factored into compensation. On average, waiters at Olive Garden may earn anywhere from minimum wage to $15 per hour, with tips potentially increasing their overall earnings.

Never Ending Pasta Bowl starts at $13.99. This price includes unlimited portions of your chosen pasta, sauce, and toppings, along with soup or salad and their famous breadsticks. You can enjoy refills on everything throughout your meal.

It’s worth noting that for an additional $4.99, you can add one of their never-ending protein options like meatballs, Italian sausage, or crispy chicken fritta to your pasta bowl.

The minimum age to work at Olive Garden is generally 16 years old.

• General minimum: In most cases, you’ll need to be at least 16 years old for any position at Olive Garden.
• Position-specific requirements: Certain roles, especially those involving alcohol service or handling machinery, might have a higher minimum age requirement, like 18 or 21.
• Local laws: Some states or cities may have their own laws regarding minimum age for employment.

Actually offers two main dressings for their salads:

• Signature Italian: Their most popular dressing and it’s a vinaigrette. Unlike a typical vinaigrette that uses olive oil and balsamic vinegar, Olive Garden’s version uses soybean oil and distilled vinegar for the base. It gets its creaminess from egg and Romano cheese, with a zesty kick from black pepper, onion powder, crushed red pepper, and herbs like parsley, basil, and oregano.
• Light Italian: A lower-fat version of the Signature Italian with a similar flavor profile. It also has an oil and vinegar base but is lighter in calories.

You can actually buy both these dressings in grocery stores under the Olive Garden brand, produced by T. Marzetti Company. T. Marzetti has been making these dressings for Olive Garden for many years.

Four main types of soup:

• Chicken & Gnocchi: Creamy soup features roasted chicken, traditional Italian dumplings (gnocchi), and spinach.
• Pasta e Fagioli: Hearty soup includes white and red beans, ground beef, tomatoes, and pasta in a savory broth.
• Minestrone (V): Vegetarian option is packed with fresh vegetables, beans, and pasta in a light tomato broth.
• Zuppa Toscana: Popular creamy soup is made with spicy Italian sausage, fresh kale, and russet potatoes.

Offers a complimentary dessert to guests on their birthday when they dine in at the restaurant. This is a great way to treat yourself to a sweet ending to your birthday meal!

They offers grated cheese at the table for their pasta dishes, but it’s more likely Romano cheese than Parmesan cheese.

While many people assume it’s Parmesan based on appearance, information from past employees suggests they use Romano cheese. This makes sense because Romano is a bit cheaper than Parmesan while still offering a similar sharp and salty taste that complements Italian dishes.

Their closing times vary by location, but they typically close between 9 PM and 10 PM.

Here’s a description of Olive Garden server salary:

• Servers typically earn an hourly wage that varies based on factors such as location, experience, and performance.
• Hourly wage for Olive Garden servers may include a base pay rate, which is supplemented by tips earned from customers.
• Base pay rate for servers at Olive Garden is usually set at or above the minimum wage required by state or federal law.
• In addition to their hourly wage, servers at Olive Garden have the opportunity to earn tips, which can significantly increase their overall earnings.
• Amount of tips earned by servers can vary widely depending on factors such as the time of day, the volume of customers, and the level of service provided.
• They Encourages a culture of hospitality and service excellence, which can lead to higher tips for servers who provide exceptional service to their guests.
• While specific salary information may vary, Olive Garden servers have the potential to earn competitive wages through a combination of hourly pay and tips.
• May also offer additional benefits or incentives to servers, such as employee discounts, flexible scheduling, and opportunities for advancement within the company.

Olive Garden typically offers four soups: Zuppa Toscana, Pasta E Fagioli, Minestrone, and Chicken Gnocchi.

Olive Garden uses Parmesan cheese on their salads.

The cheese used in the grater at Olive Garden is Grana Padano, a hard, Italian cheese similar to Parmesan.

At Olive Garden, LCL stands for “Large Cheddar Loaf”, which refers to a large portion of cheddar cheese used in certain dishes.

DCL at Olive Garden stands for “Double Cheese Loaf”, indicating an extra serving of cheese on bread.

DBD stands for “Double Breadsticks”, referring to a serving of two orders of breadsticks.

A host at Olive Garden greets and seats guests, manages reservations, and ensures a smooth flow of guests into the restaurant.

A busser at Olive Garden clears and cleans tables, resets them for new guests, and assists servers with refilling supplies and maintaining the dining area.