Does Olive Garden Have Pizza?

The first thing that comes to your mind when someone mentions Olive Garden is typically their breadsticks. In addition to a fantastic pasta meal, you get unlimited breadsticks, soup, or salad. 

Everyone has their favorite go-to dish when ordering from most restaurants. 

Some people always prefer to eat a steak when going out. For some reason, steak always tastes juicier and more flavorful when someone else prepares it. Some always order anything with chicken, breaded or grilled. 

Then others prefer specific restaurant favorites like macaroni and cheese, pasta, and pizza. Since Olive Garden is known for its Italian feel, does it offer pizza in addition to pasta? 

Olive Garden only has pizza on the kid’s menu (they have cheese or pepperoni). Beyond that Olive Garden does not serve pizza for adult guests.

Like most restaurants, Olive Garden’s menus are subject to location and do change pretty regularly so there is still hope that they will eventually bring their pizza back 

However, some locations do carry pizza bowls. These bowls contain a flakey pizza crust bowl filled with cheese, sauce, and meat. It is typically served during the lunch hour. 

What Side Dishes Does Olive Garden Have? 

Side dishes can sometimes make a meal. A steak meal is typically served with a side of mashed potatoes. A burger will almost always come with a side of fries. 

What about pasta? What sides can be paired with a bowl of pasta at Olive Garden?

Olive Garden does not have any traditional sides such as veggies or potatoes. Instead they offer unlimited breadsticks, soups, or salad as “sides” to its meals. 

These side dishes are typically served before the pasta as more of an appetizer. You get to eat your “sides” before the main course which many people enjoy.

 Here are the side dishes that Olive Garden offers. 

Salad

Olive Garden has an excellent house salad that is served in a giant bowl that everyone can share. The salad includes lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, black olives, pepperoncini peppers, and croutons. 

It is served with Italian dressing that comes mixed in with everything else. If you prefer a different dressing, you may ask for all dressings to be on the side. 

Breadsticks

Olive Garden’s most famous side is its breadsticks. You can get an endless refill of breadsticks. You can also order dipping sauces for your breadsticks at an additional cost. 

You can either choose marinara, alfredo, or five cheese marinara sauce for your endless basket of breadsticks. The sauces are all served warm.

Soups

Olive Garden currently offers four different soups that you can get as sides. Those soups are: 

Chicken & Gnocchi

This soup is made with roasted chicken, dumplings, and spinach. If you enjoy chicken and dumplings, this soup would be the best choice for your side. 

Pasta e Fagioli

This soup contains both red and white beans, ground beef, tomatoes, and tubetti pasta. If you like a mixture of pasta and beef, Pasta e Fagioli will make a great side dish to your pasta. 

Minestrone

This soup has fresh vegetables, beans, and pasta in a tomato broth. If you would prefer a vegan side, the Minestrone is a great option. 

Zuppa Toscana

This soup contains spicy Italian sausage, kale, and potatoes. If you follow a gluten-free diet, Zuppa Toscana is made with all gluten-free ingredients. 

Does Olive Garden Have A Secret Menu? 

Having some insider knowledge when dining can come in handy. You can customize something to your liking or even create something brand new. Does Olive Garden offer a secret menu? 

Instead of offering a specific secret menu, Olive Garden has opted to offer a “create your own” menu. You get to choose the type of pasta you prefer, what sauce you would like, and if you would like to add any meat.

In addition to creating your pasta, you can ask to customize some already popular dishes. For example, you might be able to switch out the marinara sauce on your Chicken Parmesan with Alfredo sauce. You can also add any protein you would like to most dishes. 

The same is true for appetizers. There is a sampler platter offered, but if you find something you would like to add, all you have to do is ask. Many locations will allow you to add or remove anything to either appetizer or meal. 

It’s just a matter of asking and being willing to pay extra if needed. 

What Are Olive Garden’s Most Popular Dishes? 

Few things are more intimidating than a waitress staring at you waiting for you to order. You feel bad making them stand there while deciding what you want for dinner. 

Every time you walk into the restaurant, you are determined to try something new on the menu. However, the moment you are seated and glance at the menu, all the options become overwhelming. 

Once the server comes back to take your order, you end up caving and ordering what you are most familiar with. Instead why not try the most popular dishes that others love at Olive Garden? 

Here is a list of some fan-favorite dinners at Olive Garden. 

Chicken Alfredo

While this may seem like a simple dinner, Olive Garden has its twist by making the Alfredo sauce from scratch every day. The sauce contains butter, cream, and parmesan cheese. The sauce is served over fettuccine pasta and grilled chicken. 

Chicken Parmigiana

You will receive two parmesan-breaded chicken breasts that are covered with homemade marinara sauces and a blend of Italian cheeses. The chicken comes served on top of spaghetti. 

Lasagna Classico

This lasagna has layers of parmesan, mozzarella, pecorino romano, and Olive Garden’s homemade meat sauce. The meat sauce is made with Italian sausage and beef. 

Tour Of Italy

This delicious meal comes with three of Olive Garden’s classics. You will get a small taste of Chicken Parmigiana, Lasagna Classico, and Fettuccine Alfredo. 

Chicken Marsala

This meal comes with grilled chicken breast topped with mushrooms and marsala wine sauce. It is served with a side of Fettuccine Alfredo. 

Asiago Tortelloni Alfredo With Grilled Chicken

The tortellini shells are stuffed with Asiago cheese, baked in Alfredo sauce and a blend of Italian cheeses, and then toasted with breadcrumbs. The tortellini is topped with slices of grilled chicken. 

Five Cheese Ziti al Forno

This dish is prepared with a blend of Italian cheeses and five cheese marinara sauce. You can choose to add metaball, shrimp, Italian sausage, grilled chicken, or crispy chicken fritta for an additional cost. 

This list of favorites is subject to taste. If you prefer seafood, then the Herb-Grilled Salmon might be your favorite dish. If you always order steak, then you might find the 6 oz. Sirloin is your favorite. 

Final Thoughts

Olive Garden’s menu may not be the same year-round, but it is always filled with tasty food. If you are in the mood for pizza, see if your location is serving the pizza bowls.

If not, you can try one of the fan-favorite dishes that Olive Garden offers.