Olive Garden Lunch Specials (2026)
Last checked: Oct 15, 2026
Olive Garden lunch specials are the cheapest way to eat there. On weekdays until 3 PM, you get smaller portions of the same dinner entrées for typically $12.49–$15.99, and the unlimited soup, salad, and breadsticks special runs typically $10.49–$14.49.
Lunch at Olive Garden is a completely different value proposition than dinner. Same food, smaller plate, much lower bill. If you are flexible about when you eat, lunch is the move every time. Here is the full breakdown.
Olive Garden Lunch Specials: Lunch-Sized Favorites
Lunch-Sized Favorites are smaller portions of dinner entrées, served Monday through Friday until 3 PM. Each one comes with unlimited soup or salad and breadsticks.
| Lunch Entrée | Typical Price | Calories |
|---|---|---|
| Fettuccine Alfredo | $12.49–$14.99 | ~650 |
| Five Cheese Ziti al Forno | $12.49–$14.99 | ~630 |
| Cheese Ravioli | $12.49–$14.99 | ~440–500 |
| Spaghetti | $14.49–$14.99 | ~290–480 |
| Eggplant Parmigiana | $14.49 | ~660 |
| Lasagna Classico | $13.49–$15.99 | ~500 |
| Chicken Parmigiana | $13.49–$15.99 | ~630 |
| Spaghetti & Meatballs | $13.49–$15.99 | ~680 |
| Shrimp Scampi | $15.49–$15.99 | ~460 |
Prices vary by location and by which menu edition your restaurant uses. The ranges above come from three official U.S. menu editions cross-checked against current listings.
Olive Garden Lunch Specials: Weekday Soup, Salad & Breadsticks
The Weekday Lunch Special is the cheapest full meal at Olive Garden. It is unlimited soup, salad, and breadsticks, served Monday through Friday, typically 11 AM to 2:30 PM.
Price: typically $10.49–$14.49, depending on location. Some locations list it at $10.49, others at $13.99–$14.49. Either way, it is the best value on the menu.
What you get:
- Soup — pick from Zuppa Toscana, Chicken & Gnocchi, Minestrone, or Pasta e Fagioli. Unlimited refills.
- Salad — the Famous House Salad with lettuce, olives, red onions, tomatoes, pepperoncini, croutons, and Italian dressing. Unlimited refills.
- Breadsticks — warm garlic breadsticks. Unlimited refills.
Total calories for the combo run about 400–520, depending on soup choice and how many breadsticks you eat. The unlimited format is dine-in only — To Go orders do not get free refills.
Olive Garden Lunch Hours
| Deal | Days | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Lunch-Sized Favorites | Monday–Friday | Opening until 3 PM |
| Weekday Lunch Special (Soup, Salad & Breadsticks) | Monday–Friday | 11 AM – 2:30 PM |
| $6 Take-Home Entrée | Every day | All day |
Lunch specials are weekday-only. Olive Garden does not run weekend-only lunch specials, but the $6 Take-Home Entrée and unlimited soup/salad/breadsticks (at the regular price) are available on Saturday and Sunday too.
The $6 Take-Home Entrée: How It Works
Add a $6 Take-Home Entrée to any entrée order, any day. You get a chilled second entrée to take home and reheat later. It is the everyday replacement for the old Buy One Take One promotion (which last ran March 16 to May 3, 2026, as a seasonal deal).
This is the single best deal at Olive Garden if you want two meals for almost the price of one. Order a dinner entrée, add the $6 take-home, and you have tomorrow’s lunch sorted.
Olive Garden Lunch vs Dinner: What Changes
- Portion size: Lunch portions are noticeably smaller. A lunch Fettuccine Alfredo is about 650 calories vs. 1,220 at dinner.
- Price: Lunch entrées run $12.49–$15.99. The same dishes at dinner run $17–$24.
- Menu: Lunch has a shorter menu — 9 lunch-sized favorites vs. the full dinner menu.
- Soup/salad/breadsticks: Included with every lunch entrée, same as dinner.
- What stays the same: Breadstick quality, soup recipes, salad. Nothing is watered down at lunch.
Best Olive Garden Lunch Orders: My Picks
- Best value: Weekday Lunch Special ($10.49–$14.49). Unlimited soup, salad, and breadsticks. You will not leave hungry.
- Best pasta: Lunch Fettuccine Alfredo ($12.49–$14.99). The sauce is the same as dinner, the portion is right for midday, and it is one of the cheapest lunch entrées.
- Best protein: Lunch Chicken Parmigiana ($13.49–$15.99). Breaded chicken, marinara, cheese, spaghetti. Filling without being a food coma.
- Skip: Lunch Shrimp Scampi at $15.49–$15.99. It is the priciest lunch item and the portion is small. Get it at dinner if you want it.
- Smart add-on: The $6 Take-Home Entrée. Two meals for the price of one entrée plus $6.
Feeding the whole family at lunch? The kids menu is available all day and runs $6.99–$7.99 per meal — see our Olive Garden Kids Menu guide. For bigger groups, Olive Garden Catering family-size pans are cheaper per person than individual orders.
Olive Garden Lunch Specials FAQs
What are the Olive Garden lunch specials?
Lunch-Sized Favorites are smaller portions of dinner entrées, served Monday through Friday until 3 PM, from about $12.49. The Weekday Lunch Special is unlimited soup, salad, and breadsticks for typically $10.49–$14.49.
What time does Olive Garden lunch end?
Lunch-Sized Favorites end at 3 PM on weekdays. The Weekday Lunch Special (soup, salad, breadsticks) typically ends at 2:30 PM.
Does Olive Garden have lunch specials on weekends?
No. Lunch-Sized Favorites and the Weekday Lunch Special are weekday-only. The $6 Take-Home Entrée is available every day.
How much is the Olive Garden Weekday Lunch Special?
Typically $10.49–$14.49, depending on location. It includes unlimited soup, salad, and breadsticks, dine-in only.
What soups are included in the lunch special?
Zuppa Toscana, Chicken & Gnocchi, Minestrone, and Pasta e Fagioli. All four are refillable.
Is the $6 Take-Home Entrée available at lunch?
Yes. The $6 Take-Home Entrée can be added to any entrée order, any day, including lunch.
Are Olive Garden lunch portions smaller than dinner?
Yes. Lunch portions are noticeably smaller — for example, lunch Fettuccine Alfredo is about 650 calories vs. 1,220 at dinner.
Does Olive Garden have a Tuesday special?
No. Olive Garden does not offer a Tuesday-only special. The weekday lunch menu is available Monday through Friday.
Can I get lunch specials To Go?
Yes, lunch-sized entrées are available To Go. However, the unlimited refills on soup, salad, and breadsticks are dine-in only.
What is the cheapest lunch at Olive Garden?
The Weekday Lunch Special (unlimited soup, salad, and breadsticks) at typically $10.49–$14.49 is the cheapest full meal. The cheapest lunch-sized entrée is Fettuccine Alfredo or Five Cheese Ziti at $12.49–$14.99.
For the full menu, see our Olive Garden Menu Prices main page.