Olive Garden Lunch Specials & Menu Prices: Weekday Deals [January 2026 Updated]

Olive Garden weekday lunch specials give you affordable Italian-American meals from Monday to Friday. Lunch hours run from 11 AM to 3 PM at most locations, and dinner pricing starts right after.

The updated January 2026 lunch menu features Lunch Duos, Lunch-Sized Favorites, and the Unlimited Soup, Salad & Breadsticks combo. The lunch combo now costs around $9.99 at most locations, while some stores offer it as low as $7.99–$8.99. Lunch-Sized Favorites usually start around $10.99–$11.99, which covers options like Spaghetti, Fettuccine Alfredo, and Eggplant Parmigiana.

You can also add a $6 Take Home entrée when you dine in, but it doesn’t count as a lunch menu price. It’s a solid way to stretch value if you want leftovers for dinner.

This guide covers the complete weekday lunch menu, current pricing, and smart ways to save. It’ll help you pick the best lunch deal based on taste and budget.

Olive Garden Lunch Hours: What Time Does Lunch End?

Olive Garden serves lunch Monday through Friday from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Once the clock hits 3:00 PM, the menu switches to dinner pricing, and lunch specials are no longer available.

Most locations use a register cutoff for lunch, which means the lower lunch price only applies if your order is placed before 3:00 PM. If you want to make sure you get lunch pricing, it’s smart to be seated by 2:45 PM. That gives you enough time to look at the menu and place your order without rushing.

Lunch specials aren’t offered on weekends. Saturday and Sunday run the regular dinner menu all day, with higher pricing and larger portions.

Olive Garden Weekday Lunch Specials and Lunch-Sized Favorites (2026 Menu & Prices)

Olive Garden’s weekday lunch specials are a solid deal if you want classic Italian entrées at a lower price. You pick a lunch-sized dish and can add unlimited soup or salad plus warm breadsticks for extra value. It’s perfect for a quick work lunch or a casual midday meal.

Lunch specials in January 2026 start around $9.99, with most Lunch-Sized Favorites landing in the $10.99–$12.99 range. Prices vary by location, and big cities often run a little higher. Even with the increase, lunch still costs less than ordering from the dinner menu.

Popular lunch entrées include:

• Fettuccine Alfredo
• Spaghetti with Marinara or Meat Sauce
• Chicken Parmigiana
• Lasagna Classico
• Cheese Ravioli
• Shrimp Scampi

Lunch portions are smaller than dinner plates but still filling, especially if you add soup or salad. It’s a good way to enjoy Olive Garden favorites without paying for a full dinner entrée.

Soup and salad options include:

• Chicken & Gnocchi Soup
• Zuppa Toscana
• Minestrone
• Pasta e Fagioli
• Garden Salad with Signature Dressing

Lunch service runs Monday through Friday from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Olive Garden doesn’t offer lunch specials on weekends, when the regular dinner menu runs all day.

If you want more food for later, you can add a $6 Take Home entrée with your dine-in lunch. It’s not part of the lunch special, but it’s one of the best value adds on the menu.

Unlimited Soup, Salad & Breadsticks Lunch Special (2026)

The Unlimited Soup, Salad & Breadsticks special remains one of Olive Garden’s best weekday lunch values. It’s simple, filling, and cheaper than most pasta entrées during lunch hours.

In 2026, the weekday lunch special costs around $13.49 at most locations. It’s served Monday through Friday until 2:30 PM based on the current menu update, and it’s not offered on weekends.

The deal includes unlimited refills of soup or salad, plus warm breadsticks during your visit. Soup options include:

• Chicken & Gnocchi
• Pasta e Fagioli
• Minestrone
• Zuppa Toscana

The house salad includes greens, tomatoes, red onions, olives, croutons, and the signature dressing. You can ask for more dressing or skip toppings based on preference.

If you want soup, salad, and breadsticks without the lunch promotional pricing, the combo also appears on the menu for $16.49, while a single serving of soup or salad runs around $11.29.

Calories vary by choice, but the full lunch combo usually lands in the 400–500 calorie range, which works well for lighter midday meals.

The unlimited refills make this one of the strongest lunch values, especially if you like soup or want a slower lunch without paying dinner prices.

Does Olive Garden Have Lunch Specials on Weekends?

No. Olive Garden doesn’t offer lunch specials on Saturday or Sunday. The restaurant runs the regular dinner menu all day on weekends, which means higher prices and larger portions.

You can still order soup or salad on weekends, but it’s charged at the dinner rate instead of the weekday lunch price. If you’re trying to save money, it’s better to visit on weekdays before 3:00 PM.

If you go often, joining Olive Garden’s eClub can help with weekend coupons and deals. It won’t replace the weekday lunch specials, but it can soften the higher weekend pricing.

Olive Garden Low Calorie Lunch Options (Under 600 Calories

If you want a lighter lunch at Olive Garden, there are several options that stay under 600 calories. These dishes work well if you want something filling but not heavy.

Good low-calorie picks include:

• Chicken Giardino — veggies, grilled chicken, and a light sauce that fits well under 600 calories
• Minestrone Soup — a simple, veggie-based soup with very low calories
• Pasta e Fagioli Soup — broth-based and lighter than creamy soups
• House Salad (dressing on the side) — easy way to cut calories
• Shrimp Scampi (smaller portion) — a lighter pasta choice
• Spaghetti with Marinara — fewer calories than Alfredo

Olive Garden also offers lighter portions in 2026. These smaller lunch plates cost around $13–$15 and usually stay close to a 600-calorie target. You get the same flavor, just in a lunch-friendly size.

Quick calorie tips:

• Go for broth soups instead of creamy ones
• Keep salad dressing on the side
• Limit breadsticks if you want the lowest totals
• Choose marinara over Alfredo

With a few simple swaps, you can enjoy a lighter Olive Garden lunch without going over 600 calories.

Olive Garden To-Go Lunch Menu & Delivery Deals

You can order Olive Garden lunch to-go through the website, app, or curbside pickup. Lunch pricing still applies as long as you order before 3:00 PM on weekdays.

Ordering through the Olive Garden site is usually cheaper than using DoorDash or Uber Eats. Third-party apps add fees and small price markups, which can make lunch cost more than dine-in or pickup.

Lunch items come in compact containers made for reheating and storage. Soup and salad stay separate, and breadsticks are wrapped so they don’t get soggy.

If you’re feeding a group, Family-Style and catering pans can be a good deal. They cost more upfront but often come out cheaper per person than individual lunch orders.

Olive Garden Weekday Lunch FAQ