OLIVE Garden has slashed the sizes of its portions at nearly half of its restaurants across the US.
In an earnings call on Thursday, it was revealed that 40% of the chain’s locations had done this to improve affordability for customers.
This comes as the chain has faced a slew of closures in recent months after it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in April of this year.
But at the same time, Olive Garden‘s parent company, Darden, announced 65 new restaurants across 10 of its major brands during 2026.
At the time of the announcement, bosses were hailing the same cost-cutting and affordability initiative that the portion size tests were pursuing.
Olive Garden has rolled out the tests to give diners reduced portions at more affordable prices.
CEO SPEAKS
Darden Restaurants‘ CEO and president, Rick Cardenas, said that the chain was striving for a balance between size and price.
He said in the earnings call: “One of the ways we’re doing this at Olive Garden is by strengthening affordability on the menu to give guests more variety at approachable price points.”
Cardenas clarified that the Olive Garden menus still have “abundant portion sizes” and that this change is meant to offer choice, not restriction.
Full portion sizes are therefore not affected by this change.
The smaller portions also come with the added extras that diners know, including free breadsticks and unlimited soup or salad.
Cardenas further went on to claim that the Olive Garden locations that offered these smaller portions saw affordability scores rise by 15%.
Customers were also said to be satisfied with the portions.
The CEO did not express any intention of expanding the smaller portion test further on the call.
CHANGES IN THE GARDEN
Back in May, Olive Garden came under fire for an unpopular change in its restaurants.
The chain made the changes to the employee dress code and enforced that white shirts must be worn.
Restaurant closures in 2025
Denny’s – Denny’s has confirmed that up to 150 locations are set to close in the US by the end of the year as many of them are no longer profitable.
Red Lobster – The chain has said that it plans to close over 100 stores across the country this year as new CEO Damola Adamolekun takes over.
TGI Friday’s – TGI Friday’s is still being forced to shutter locations thanks to a bankruptcy filing, including 30 in April alone.
Applebee’s – This chain is projecting a loss of 20 to 35 Applebee’s spots in 2025 but is teaming up with IHOP to introduce dual-branded locations with a curated menu of the two’s best items.
Noodles & Company – This emporium is set to close between 17 and 21 locations in 2025 following a difficult 2024.
But employees have since spoken out against this, claiming that wearing white shirts made it easier for them to get stained while on shift.
DARDEN DITCHED
Darden Restaurants has struggled with one of its other brands, Bahama Breeze.
In 2024, the company was forced into a wave of closures, including in states like Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, and Tennessee.
Chiefs said at the time that these locations were closed so they could focus on the ones that were performing better.
Select staff members were allowed to transfer to jobs at other Darden-owned brand restaurants, and others were given severance packages.
Before these closures, Bahama Breeze had 43 restaurants across the country.
Bahama Breeze’s blowout affected hundreds of Americans.
In Tyngsboro, Massachusetts, 73 people lost their jobs, and at least 327 were impacted by the four closures across New Jersey.
