UPDATE: Olive Garden has just launched a trial for its new “Lighter Portion Entrées” menu at 40 percent of its locations nationwide, addressing shifting dining habits and rising customer demand for smaller meals at lower prices. This innovative menu, revealed during the company’s September 2025 earnings call, features seven popular dishes offered in reduced portions, while still including Olive Garden’s famed unlimited soup or salad and breadsticks.
This urgent move comes amid changing trends in the restaurant industry, with many diners increasingly influenced by appetite-suppressing medications like Ozempic. As a result, restaurants are adapting to cater to customers seeking lighter fare. The introduction of these smaller, more affordable menu options is one of the broadest experiments among major U.S. casual dining chains.
The “Lighter Portion Entrées” menu includes fan favorites such as chicken parmigiana, eggplant parmigiana, lasagna classico, five cheese ziti al forno, cheese ravioli, spaghetti and meatballs, and fettuccine alfredo. Prices for these entrées range from $12.99 to $13.99, depending on the market. Darden CEO Rick Cardenas expressed confidence in this initiative, stating, “These items, available at dinner and all day during the weekend, still offer abundant portions.”
“The initial response from guests has been encouraging, with affordability scores increasing 15 percentage points and high satisfaction with portion size,” Cardenas told Newsweek.
As inflation pressures continue, many restaurants are turning to money-saving deals to retain patrons. Olive Garden’s trial is limited to 40 percent of its establishments, with no specified timeline for potential expansion. However, if customer interest remains strong and feedback is positive, the chain may consider a broader rollout of this lighter menu.
Olive Garden is not just stopping at smaller portions. This summer, the restaurant chain introduced the Calabrian Steak and Shrimp Bucatini, made with sirloin tips and spicy Calabrian cream sauce, as a limited-time offering. Additionally, the popular Never Ending Pasta Bowl deal has made a comeback, providing diners with unlimited pasta, soup, salad, and breadsticks for $13.99.
The ongoing trial reflects a significant shift in dining preferences, as more Americans seek healthier and more budget-friendly options. Olive Garden’s adaptation to these trends is not only a response to changing consumer behavior but also a crucial strategy to maintain its market position amidst fierce competition.
As Olive Garden continues to evaluate the success of its lighter menu, industry observers will be closely watching customer feedback and sales data. This development highlights the importance of agility in the restaurant sector as businesses strive to meet evolving customer needs.
Stay tuned for further updates on Olive Garden’s menu innovations and how they may influence dining across the United States.
