Employees share 5 of the best and 5 of the worst things to order at Olive Garden

Sophia MitrokostasJul 16, 2020, 21:55 IST

Olive Garden is known for its breadsticks and pastas.Sarah Schmalbruch / INSIDER

Insider spoke with current and former Olive Garden employees to find out the best and worst things to order at the Italian chain restaurant.
The chicken marsala is a staff and customer favorite, and the Tour of Italy plate is a great deal.
Watermelon margaritas and lasagna frittas are also popular menu items.
On the other hand, employees said you can skip the chicken Alfredo pizza and the shrimp Alfredo pasta.

Olive Garden is a casual-dining chain that specializes in Italian-American dishes.

The restaurant is known for its warm breadsticks, decadent pasta dishes, and large portions. To find out which menu options are a slam dunk and which customers should avoid, Insider spoke to people who've worked there.

Here are the best and worst things to order at Olive Garden, according to current and former employees.

Editor's Note: Some menu items may no longer be available.

Order the lasagna fritta for a shareable and satisfying starter.

The lasagna fritta from Olive Garden. Savanna Swain-Wilson

One employee raved about the stuffed chicken marsala.

The stuffed chicken marsala from Olive Garden. Nicole H./Yelp

The watermelon margarita can be refreshing and well-portioned.

Olive Garden's watermelon margarita. Micheala M./Yelp

The chicken carbonara is pure comfort food.

You can also order a carbonara with shrimp. Tracy P./Yelp

The Tour of Italy platter is the "best value on the menu," said one employee.

The Tour of Italy comes with chicken parmigiana, lasagna, and fettuccine Alfredo. Sarah Schmalbruch / INSIDER

On the other hand, one employee said, the chicken Alfredo pizza is often not a hit with guests.

The chicken Alfredo pizza at Olive Garden. Jenn A./Yelp

The shrimp Alfredo isn't really a great value since you can replicate it for less.

Olive Garden's shrimp Alfredo pasta. Anacleto E./Yelp

One former employee said the seafood-stuffed mushrooms are often sent back to the kitchen.

The seafood-stuffed mushrooms at Olive Garden. Savanna Swain-Wilson

The herb and salmon entrée isn't the best seafood option on the menu.

The herb-grilled salmon entrée at Olive Garden. Richard D./Yelp

The dolcini desserts aren't the best value, according to a former employee.

Olive Garden's strawberry white-chocolate dolcini. Patrick M./Yelp

I tried 24 kinds of M&M candies and found only a few flavors beat the original treat

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