Olive Garden is known for its endless breadsticks and hearty Italian classics, but not every dish hits the mark. Some entrees promise comfort but end up disappointing in flavor or texture. Curious about which plates missed the boat? Ready to find out which ones to skip on your next visit? Let’s dig in!
Chicken Alfredo
Heavy cream sauce smothers the chicken, making this pasta feel greasy rather than creamy. The chicken tends to get soft quickly, and loses its texture. So, instead of a balanced plate, diners often find it overwhelmingly rich without enough seasoning to brighten the flavors.
Tour Of Italy
This sampler brings together three popular dishes—Chicken Parmigiana, Lasagna Classico, and Fettuccine Alfredo. While the concept is appealing, the execution is not wholesome. The Chicken Parmigiana tends to be dry, and the rich Alfredo sauce usually overpowers the plate. The pasta often lacks proper firmness, making the dish feel rushed rather than carefully crafted.
Eggplant Parmigiana
In Eggplant Parmigiana, the breaded eggplant slices often come out soggy, without the expected crunch. The watery tomato sauce and mild seasoning cause the dish to fall flat. The contrast between textures and flavors that should make this entree stand out usually doesn’t arrive.
Five Cheese Ziti Al Forno
The baked ziti is loaded with a blend of five cheeses and smothered in marinara and Alfredo sauces. Yes, it’s high on creaminess and comfort, but it overwhelms any distinct flavors. The dense, gooey texture can feel heavier than hearty. Without contrasting elements to cut through the cheese, it leaves a one-note impression that isn’t quite satisfying.
Lasagna Classico
This classic lasagna aims for comfort but fails. The noodles usually turn overly soft after absorbing excess sauce. While the meat and cheese filling is undeniably hearty, it lacks freshness and layered flavor. The result feels more like a dense, sauce-heavy casserole than a vibrant, multi-textured lasagna.
Chicken Parmigiana
This dish promises bold flavors but often falls flat. The breaded chicken breast can be overly thick and dry, with the breading outshining the meat itself. The tomato sauce lacks the tangy brightness needed to cut through the heaviness. All that message leaves the dish with a muted taste.
Fettuccine Alfredo
The Alfredo sauce leans heavily on richness but lacks the subtle nutty depth you’d expect from freshly grated Parmesan. As for fettuccine noodles, they are often overcooked—nothing like the al dente texture. Without any protein or vegetables to break things up, the dish quickly turns monotonous.
Three-Cheese Stuffed Shells
Olive Garden’s Giant Cheese Stuffed Shells deliver a creamy, indulgent experience packed with three cheeses. It’s true that some diners love the richness. However, a lot of guests find the dish overly heavy and lacking balance. The thick filling and generous sauce make it a bold choice that may not suit all tastes.
Shrimp Scampi
It should be light and full of flavor, but that rarely happens. The shrimp are frequently overcooked, which makes them rubbery. The buttery garlic sauce leans too oily, lacking the zesty lemon and sharp garlic punch that give scampi its signature appeal. Rather than refreshing, it ends up being odd and uninspired.
Seafood Brodetto
The broth, meant to carry the essence of the sea, lands more on the side of watered-down tomato water than a rich, layered base. The seafood—mussels, shrimp, and fish—doesn’t offer redemption either. Pieces range from just-right to unmistakably overcooked. Moreover, there are not enough herbs, spices, or acidity to tie it together.
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