About Olive Garden Italian Restaurant
Olive Garden is America's largest Italian-American casual-dining chain. Per Darden Restaurants' fiscal 2025 annual report (year ended May 25, 2025), Olive Garden operates 935 company-owned restaurants plus 52 franchised987 total globally and generated $5.21 billion in sales. The first Olive Garden opened December 13, 1982, in Orlando, Florida.
Owned by Darden Restaurants (NYSE: DRI), Olive Garden is known for unlimited soup, salad, and freshly baked breadsticks (an estimated 500–600 million served annually), the slogan "When you're here, you're family," and the Culinary Institute of Tuscany at Riserva di Fizzano in Castellina in Chianti, Italy founded in 1999. Browse the full menu & prices, find a location near you, or see what's new on our specials page.
Quick Facts
What Makes Olive Garden Italian Restaurant Different
How Olive Garden became the #1 Italian restaurant chain in the US
Unlimited Soup, Salad & Breadsticks
Every entrée comes with unlimited refills of freshly baked breadsticks, the Famous House Salad, and your choice of soup at no extra charge. Olive Garden was the first full-service Italian restaurant chain in the US to offer unlimited soup and salad with entrées.
Culinary Institute of Tuscany
Founded in 1999, the Culinary Institute of Tuscany is located at Riserva di Fizzano in Castellina in Chianti, on the grounds of the Rocca delle Macie winery. Olive Garden's chefs and managers rotate through the program to develop new menu items and learn Italian cooking techniques.
Family-Style Dining
Olive Garden positions itself as a family-friendly casual dining brand. The slogan "When you're here, you're family" introduced in 1998 captures the brand's emphasis on shareable portions, generous refills, and an unintimidating Italian-American menu.
Consistent Experience Nationwide
With 927 US restaurants serving the same core menu and pricing, the dining experience is consistent across the country. Soups, sauces, and breadsticks are prepared fresh in-restaurant rather than shipped from a central commissary.
Olive Garden Italian Restaurant Timeline
First Olive Garden opens in Orlando, Florida, on December 13. Founded as a unit of General Mills by co-founders Blaine Sweatt, Mark Given, Gino DeSantis, and Dave Manuchia.
Olive Garden has grown to 145 restaurants the fastest-growing unit in General Mills' restaurant division at the time.
General Mills spins off its restaurant holdings as Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE: DRI), named after Red Lobster founder Bill Darden. Olive Garden becomes part of Darden.
Olive Garden drops 'The' from its name as part of a rebrand, introducing the slogan "When you're here, you're family."
The Culinary Institute of Tuscany is established at Riserva di Fizzano in Castellina in Chianti, Tuscany where Olive Garden trains chefs and develops menu items.
Olive Garden launches a new logo and restaurant design on July 9, adds online ordering, and introduces smaller lunch portions following pressure from activist investor Starboard Value.
Olive Garden becomes the largest casual-dining restaurant chain in the United States by system-wide sales, a position it held until 2025.
Darden announces a partnership with Uber Direct to launch on-demand delivery for Olive Garden, with a pilot beginning late 2024.
Per Darden's FY2025: Olive Garden generates $5.21 billion in sales. In July 2025, Darden sold all 8 company-owned Canadian locations to Recipe Unlimited Corporation, transitioning the international footprint to a franchise model.
About Olive Garden Italian Restaurant FAQs
Is Olive Garden a real Italian restaurant?▼
Olive Garden is an American casual-dining chain serving Italian-American cuisine dishes inspired by Italian cooking but adapted for American tastes and portions. The chain operates a Culinary Institute in Tuscany, Italy (founded 1999), but the menu reflects Italian-American conventions rather than traditional Italian regional cooking.
Who owns Olive Garden?▼
Olive Garden is owned by Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE: DRI), a publicly traded restaurant company headquartered in Orange County, Florida. Darden also owns LongHorn Steakhouse, Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen, Yard House, The Capital Grille, Ruth's Chris Steak House, Seasons 52, Bahama Breeze, and Eddie V's. Per Darden's fiscal 2025 results, Olive Garden is Darden's largest brand by sales ($5.21 billion).
When was the first Olive Garden opened?▼
The first Olive Garden opened on December 13, 1982, in Orlando, Florida. It was originally a unit of General Mills, founded by Blaine Sweatt, Mark Given, Gino DeSantis, and Dave Manuchia. By 1989, Olive Garden had grown to 145 restaurants and was the fastest-growing unit in General Mills' restaurant division.
How many Olive Garden restaurants are there?▼
Per Darden Restaurants' FY2025 annual report, there were 935 company-owned locations (including 8 in Canada) and 52 franchised locations. In July 2025, Darden sold the 8 Canadian locations to Recipe Unlimited Corporation to operate under a franchise model, transitioning the international locations entirely to franchise status.
Is Olive Garden the biggest Italian restaurant chain?▼
Olive Garden is widely considered the largest Italian-American casual-dining chain in the United States by both sales and number of locations. Per Darden's FY2025 reporting, Olive Garden generated $5.21 billion in sales with 987 restaurants. Olive Garden was also the largest casual-dining chain overall in the US from 2018 until being surpassed by Texas Roadhouse in 2025.
What is the Olive Garden Culinary Institute of Tuscany?▼
It's a real culinary training facility founded in 1999, located at Riserva di Fizzano a farmhouse and vineyard in Castellina in Chianti, Tuscany, Italy, on the grounds of the Rocca delle Macie winery. Olive Garden chefs and managers rotate through programs there to develop menu items and learn Italian cooking techniques.
What kind of food does Olive Garden serve?▼
Olive Garden serves Italian-American cuisine: pasta dishes (Fettuccine Alfredo, Chicken Parmigiana, Lasagna Classico), soups (Zuppa Toscana, Pasta e Fagioli, Minestrone, Chicken & Gnocchi), salads, seafood and chicken entrées, desserts (Tiramisu, Dolcini), and a full bar. All entrées include unlimited soup or salad and breadsticks. Soups, sauces, and breadsticks are made fresh daily in each restaurant.
How many breadsticks does Olive Garden serve?▼
According to multiple food industry publications (Thrillist, The Daily Meal), Olive Garden serves an estimated 500–600 million breadsticks per year across all US locations. Each restaurant follows a formula: one breadstick per guest at the table, plus one extra, with unlimited free refills upon request.
Is Olive Garden a family style restaurant?▼
Yes. Olive Garden positions itself as a family-friendly casual dining brand with the slogan "When you're here, you're family" (introduced 1998). It offers shareable family-style bundles, a kids' menu, generous portions, and unlimited soup, salad and breadsticks with every entrée.