Olive Garden 2 for $25 Dinner Deal: What You Need to Know
The Olive Garden 2 for $25 dinner deal was one of the most popular promotions in casual dining history. For years, it gave two guests a shared appetizer and two full entrees for a flat price of $25. The deal became synonymous with affordable date nights, family dinners, and casual get togethers at Olive Garden locations across the United States.
In 2026, the 2 for $25 deal is no longer a national promotion at Olive Garden. Rising food costs, inflation on key ingredients like proteins and dairy, and shifts in the brand’s pricing strategy have made the $12.50 per person price point unsustainable at the national level. Some individual Olive Garden locations still run this deal or a similar version at their own discretion, but it is not featured on the official Olive Garden website or national menu.
If you are searching for the Olive Garden 2 for $25 deal, this page explains how the original promotion worked, what menu items were included, and which active deals in 2026 deliver equal or better value.
How the Olive Garden 2 for $25 Deal Works:
The structure of the 2 for $25 deal was simple and straightforward. Two guests shared one appetizer and each selected one entree from a curated list. Every meal came with Olive Garden’s signature unlimited soup or salad and breadsticks. The total price for the entire table was $25 before tax, tip, and drinks.
| Component | What Was Included |
|---|---|
| Appetizer | 1 shared appetizer from a select list |
| Entrees | 2 entrees (1 per guest) from a select list |
| Included with Every Meal | Unlimited soup or salad and breadsticks |
| Total Price | $25.00 for the table |
| Price Per Person | $12.50 |
Olive Garden 2 for $25 Menu Options
The 2 for $25 menu rotated periodically, but the core selections remained consistent. The appetizer list featured Olive Garden’s most popular shareable starters, and the entree list focused on classic Italian American pasta dishes that are fast to prepare and high in perceived value.
Appetizer Options (Choose 1 to Share)
| Appetizer |
|---|
| Fried Mozzarella |
| Stuffed Ziti Fritta |
| Spinach Artichoke Dip |
| Lasagna Fritta |
| Toasted Ravioli |
Entree Options (Choose 1 Per Guest)
| Entree | Description |
|---|---|
| Fettuccine Alfredo | Creamy parmesan sauce over fettuccine pasta |
| Spaghetti with Meat Sauce | Pan seared beef and Italian sausage sauce over spaghetti |
| Five Cheese Ziti al Forno | Baked pasta with a blend of five Italian cheeses and marinara |
| Cheese Ravioli | Cheese filled ravioli in marinara or meat sauce |
| Chicken Alfredo | Grilled chicken breast over fettuccine with creamy parmesan sauce |
| Eggplant Parmigiana | Lightly fried eggplant topped with marinara and melted cheese |
| Spaghetti & Meatballs | Classic spaghetti with housemade meatballs in marinara |
| Chicken Parmigiana | Breaded chicken breast with marinara and Italian cheeses |
| Lasagna Classico | Layers of pasta, meat sauce, and Italian cheeses |
What Replaced the 2 for $25 at Olive Garden
Olive Garden has not introduced a direct replacement for the 2 for $25 deal. Instead, the brand shifted its value strategy toward individual promotions that achieve a similar or lower per meal cost through different mechanics.
The $6 Take Home Entree
The $6 Take Home deal is the closest equivalent to the old 2 for $25 in terms of per meal value. When you order any full priced adult entree, you add a classic pasta dish to take home for $6.00. The math works out to a comparable cost per meal.
| Scenario | Cost | Meals | Cost Per Meal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old 2 for $25 Deal | $25.00 | 2 meals (dine in) | $12.50 |
| Chicken Alfredo ($20.49) + $6 Take Home | $26.49 | 2 meals (1 dine in, 1 take home) | $13.25 |
Create Your Own Pasta
Olive Garden’s Create Your Own Pasta section is where guests looking for a lower price point are now directed. Entrees in this section start at $13.99 to $17.99 per person. Each dish comes with unlimited soup or salad and breadsticks. There is no shared appetizer included, but the per person cost is close to what the 2 for $25 offered.
| Option | Price Per Person | Includes Appetizer | Unlimited Soup/Salad/Breadsticks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 for $25 (Retired) | $12.50 | Yes (1 shared) | Yes |
| Create Your Own Pasta | $13.99 to $17.99 | No | Yes |
| $6 Take Home + Full Entree | $13.25 average | No | Yes (dine in meal only) |
Buy One, Take One
The Buy One, Take One promotion appears as a seasonal limited time offer at select periods throughout the year. It starts at $12.99 and gives guests one hot entree to eat in the restaurant plus one chilled entree to take home for free. This is the deal that most closely replicates the original 2 for $25 structure in terms of two meals for one low price.
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Price | Starting at $12.99 |
| Dine In Entree | 1 hot entree with unlimited soup or salad and breadsticks |
| Take Home Entree | 1 chilled entree (Fettuccine Alfredo, Cheese Ravioli, or Spaghetti with Meat Sauce) |
| Availability | Seasonal. Not available year round. |
Better Alternatives to the 2 for $25 Deal in 2026
The 2 for $25 was a great deal in its time, but several active Olive Garden promotions in 2026 deliver equal or better value per dollar spent.
| Deal | What You Get | Cost | Cost Per Meal | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unlimited Soup, Salad & Breadsticks (Lunch) | Unlimited refills of soup, salad, and breadsticks | $7.99 to $9.99 | $7.99 to $9.99 | Monday to Friday, 11 AM to 3 PM |
| $6 Take Home Entree | Add a full pasta entree to take home with any adult entree purchase | $6.00 add on | $13.25 average per meal | Every day, all locations |
| Never Ending Pasta Bowl | Unlimited pasta, sauce, soup or salad, and breadsticks | $13.99 ($18.98 with toppings) | $13.99 to $18.98 | Seasonal (August to November) |
| Buy One, Take One | 1 dine in entree + 1 free take home entree | Starting at $12.99 | $6.50 per meal | Seasonal (limited windows) |
| Lunch Sized Favorites | Smaller portions of popular entrees with soup or salad and breadsticks | $7.99 to $11.99 | $7.99 to $11.99 | Monday to Friday, 11 AM to 3 PM |