Olive Garden Dinner Menu With Prices (2026)
Friday night, nobody wants to cook, and somebody in the group says “Olive Garden?” Fair enough. It’s one of those places where you already know the breadsticks will show up before you’ve even opened the menu. But what does dinner actually cost these days, and which dishes are worth the money? I went through the current dinner menu so you don’t have to guess at the table.
Quick note before we start: prices below are typical U.S. prices as of October 2026. Your local restaurant might charge a little more or less, so treat these as a solid ballpark and not a promise.
What Dinner Costs at a Glance
Most dinner entrées land between $15.99 and $25.79. Appetizers start at $10.29, and desserts begin around $9.79. If you order an entrée, a drink and tip, most people end up spending somewhere between $25 and $35 each.
Most Popular Dinner Entrées
Every dine-in entrée comes with unlimited breadsticks and a choice of soup or the house salad, so you’re not paying extra for the starter. Here are the plates people order again and again
That’s only half of what’s available. The full entrée list has 16 dishes in total.
Tour of Italy
This is the “I can’t decide” plate. You get lasagna, chicken parmigiana and fettuccine Alfredo on one dish. At $24.49 it’s a bit pricey, but you’re basically getting three dinners in one, and it’s a good one to split if you’re not ravenous.
Lasagna Classico
If you care about calories at all, this one is the lightest of the bunch at 940, and it’s also one of the cheaper options at $20.29. Layers of pasta, meat sauce and cheese. Simple and hard to get wrong.
Chicken Alfredo
Creamy, heavy and very filling. It’s also the most calorie-dense of the popular picks at 1,480, so maybe don’t go back for a fourth breadstick. Or do. Nobody’s counting.
Prices by Course
| Course | Price range | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Appetizers | $10.29 – $14.99 | Fried Mozzarella, $10.29 |
| Soup, salad and breadsticks | $14.49 | Unlimited refills |
| Entrées | $15.99 – $25.79 | Chicken Alfredo, $22.29 |
| Desserts | $9.79 – $10.79 | Tiramisu, $9.99 |
| Drinks | From $4.69 | Classic Lemonade, $4.69 |
| Family pans (serves 4 to 6) | $48.99 – $73.99 | Lasagna Classico, $55.99 |
How Much Should You Budget?
Here’s a rough idea of what the final bill looks like once you add a drink, share a dessert, and include tax and an 18% tip.
| Group size | Entrées only | Plus drink and shared dessert | With tax and 18% tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | about $20 | about $30 | about $37 |
| 2 people | about $40 | about $55 | about $68 |
| Family of 4 | about $75 | about $100 | about $125 |
These are estimates, of course. If you’re feeding a bigger group, a family pan is worth a look. At $48.99 to $73.99 for four to six people, it often works out cheaper than ordering individual plates.
Dinner Hours
Most locations open at 11 AM. They close at 10 PM from Sunday to Thursday, and at 11 PM on Fridays and Saturdays. Holidays can throw this off, so if you’re heading out on a special day, check with your local restaurant first.
One thing that surprises people: there’s no separate “dinner switch” at 5 PM. Dinner-size portions are available all day. Lunch portions and lunch prices, on the other hand, usually stop at 3 PM, so you can’t ask for the cheaper lunch size once evening rolls around.
What Comes Included
- Unlimited breadsticks with every dine-in entrée
- Your pick of soup or the Famous House Salad
- Free refills on soft drinks
Cheapest Way to Eat Dinner There
If you’re watching your wallet, Spaghetti with Meat Sauce at $15.99 is the lowest-priced classic dinner entrée. There’s an even cheaper option for now, though: the Never Ending Pasta Bowl at $14.99, which is available until November 22, 2026. After that date, the spaghetti takes the cheap seat again.
Frequently Asked Questions
All day. Dinner portions don't have a start time, and most restaurants stay open until 10 PM on weekdays and 11 PM on Friday and Saturday.
Plan for roughly $25 to $35 if you get an entrée and a drink, with tax and tip included.
Yes, when you dine in. You get unlimited breadsticks and either soup or the house salad.
Spaghetti with Meat Sauce at $15.99, unless the Never Ending Pasta Bowl ($14.99) is still running, which it is until November 22, 2026.
No. Lunch-size portions and prices end at 3 PM at most locations.
Final Thoughts
Olive Garden dinner isn’t the cheapest night out, but the included salad and endless breadsticks make the numbers feel fair. Go for the Lasagna Classico if you want something lighter and easier on the bill, or the Tour of Italy if you’d rather sample a bit of everything. And if you’re coming with the whole family, check the family pans before you order separate plates.
Prices and hours vary by location and change over time. Always confirm with your local restaurant before you go.