Olive Garden, When you're here, you're family When you're here, you're family
our culinary inspiration our menu our wines recipes gift cards Olive Garden
Invite a Friend newsletter sign up
Company
Frequently Asked Questions

We welcome your queries about Olive Garden.

If your question is not answered below, fill out our Contact Us form.

Restaurant Information
Olive Garden Menu
Donations
Employment
Corporate Information

Former and current Olive Garden team members (employees) may request their W-2 wage statements by clicking here.

Restaurant Information

Select a question from the list:

Where will you be building future Olive Garden restaurants?
Can the Guest Satisfaction coupon be used at any Olive Garden?
How can I get a Guest Satisfaction Survey Coupon?
How can I purchase Olive Garden Gift Cards?
How can I check the status of my gift card order?
How do I get the balance on my Gift Card?
Does Olive Garden offer discounts on gift card purchases?
Where can I get a coupon?
Does Olive Garden have a mystery shopper program?
Does Olive Garden have a frequent diner program?
How do I purchase some of the decorative items seen in Olive Garden?
Where can I purchase a tape of the music played at Olive Garden?
What are the hours of operation for Olive Garden?
Reservations
Does Olive Garden offer To Go! ordering online?
Celebrations
Kids Menu

Where will you be building future Olive Garden restaurants?
As of March 2008, we plan to build new restaurants in the locations listed below. Actual locations, the number of new restaurants and opening dates are projected and are subject to change. If your city is not listed, we hope to be coming soon. Please check back in June 2008 for an updated list.

Future Locations:
Colonial Heights, VA (March 2008)
Elyria, OH (March 2008)
Sebring, FL (March 2008)
Cincinnati /Stone Creek, OH (April 2008)
Reynoldsburg, OH (April 2008)
Cape Coral, FL (April 2008)
Vero Beach, FL (April 2008)
Lufkin, TX (April 2008)
Prattville, AL (April 2008)
Meridian, MS  (May 2008)
Springfield, PA (May 2008)
Lancaster, PA (May 2008)
Cookeville, TN (May 2008)
Warner Robins, GA (May 2008)
Oswego, IL (May 2008)
Riverside, CA (July 2008)
Wayne, NJ (July 2008)
Port St Lucie (Aug 2008)
Casa Grande, AZ (Aug 2008)
Temple, TX (Aug 2008)
Florence, KY (Aug 2008)
Clermont, FL (Sep 2008)
Panama City Beach, FL (Sep 2008)
Weatherford, TX (Sep 2008)

Return to top

Can the Guest Satisfaction coupon be used at any Olive Garden?
Yes, the coupon can be used at any Olive Garden restaurant within 90 days of your initial day of visit.

Return to top

How can I get a Guest Satisfaction Survey coupon?
The surveys are printed out randomly, approximately every 40th guest check. The coupon prints on individual checks, not groups of checks. Therefore, if dining in a group, it is unlikely that more than one check will include a Guest Satisfaction Survey.

Return to top

How can I purchase Olive Garden Gift Cards?
Gift Cards can be purchased via the following methods:

By Internet: Gift Cards
By Telephone: 1-800-248-4935 (purchases under $250)
1-888-888-3341 (purchases over $250)
1-888-888-3341 (Canada)

Return to top

How can I check the status of my gift card order?
You can check the status of your order by calling 1-800-248-4935 or emailing GiftCardServices@OliveGarden.com

How do I get the balance on my Gift Card?
You may find balance and expiration information by visiting https://gift.olivegarden.com or by calling the telephone number on the back of your card and following the instructions.

Return to top

Does Olive Garden offer discounts on gift card purchases?
Discounts are offered on purchases of gift cards on the following amounts:
$500-999 5%
$1000 & More 10%

Return to top

Where can I get a coupon?
Several times a year we publish coupons in metropolitan-area newspapers that correspond to menu promotions. Sorry, we do not offer coupons at any other time.

Return to top

Does Olive Garden have a mystery shopper program?
Anytime we do use mystery shoppers, we hire a company specializing in mystery shopping. You may find such a company by searching the Internet under “Mystery Shopping.”

Return to top

Does Olive Garden have a frequent diner program?
Olive Garden tested a frequent diner program several years ago. Guest interest and participation was lower than expected and we discontinued the program. There are no plans to reinstitute a frequent diner program.

Return to top

How do I purchase some of the decorative items seen at Olive Garden?
Nearly everything in our restaurants is custom ordered. We have a proprietary clause with our vendors that prevents the sale of these items.

Return to top

Where can I purchase a tape of the music played at Olive Garden?
The music played in our restaurants comes to us in a special, custom-made cassette. These cassettes are not available to the general public.

Return to top

What are the hours of operation for Olive Garden?
Most restaurants open at 11:00 a.m. for lunch. Dinner is served beginning at 4:00 p.m. Closing hours on Sunday through Thursday are 10:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. There are some regional variations and new restaurants are open for dinner only during the first few weeks of operation. Please contact your local Olive Garden by telephone for specific information.

Return to top

Reservations
Olive Garden seats on a first-come, first served basis. However, some restaurants accept reservations. We are typically unable to accept reservations during peak times, such as weekends and holidays. Please contact your local Olive Garden by telephone for specific information.

Return to top

Does Olive Garden offer To Go! ordering online?
We do not currently offer To Go! ordering online, but you may place your order by telephone. Please view our ToGo! menu.

Return to top

Celebrations
An all-occasion cake is available for purchase to help you celebrate any occasion. The chocolate cake serves from four to six people. Please contact a restaurant manager for more information.

Return to top

Kids Menu
A children’s menu is available at our restaurants and online.

Return to top

Olive Garden Menu

Select a question from the list:

Are Olive Garden recipes available?
How do I sell a recipe to Olive Garden?
Where can I obtain nutritional information for your dishes?
Is your salad dressing available for purchase?
What is the nutritional content of your salad dressing?
Does Olive Garden use pork in its recipes?
Which menu selections are vegetarian?
Menus Items for Gluten Intolerant

Are Olive Garden recipes available?
Recipes are proprietary to keep Olive Garden unique, however, you may find selected home version recipes in our Italian Recipe Box.

Return to top

How do I sell a recipe to Olive Garden?
While we delight in accepting menu suggestions, we cannot accept recipes. Our Culinary Institute of Tuscany in Italy represents our passion for Italian food and serves as a source of inspiration for our menu. We work closely with Italian chefs to bring the freshest, most flavorful dishes of Italy to our restaurants. Visit The Culinary Institute of Tuscany for more information.

Return to top

Where can I obtain nutritional information for your dishes?
Our menu does include a number of entrees for guests who are concerned with calorie intake. We call these items Garden Fare®. Each Garden Fare® entree contains less than 30% of calories from fat, less than 10% calories from saturated fat, and fewer than 750 calories for dinner selections or 500 calories for lunch selections. Ask for a Garden Fare® guide at your local Olive Garden or you may view the guide here.

Return to top

Is your salad dressing available for purchase?
Yes. You can purchase our signature salad dressing from your local Olive Garden. The cost varies by region from $4.25 - $5.25. (Prices and/or packaging subject to change.) Sorry, we are unable to offer on-line ordering for salad dressing at this time.

Return to top

What is the nutritional content of your salad dressing?
Each two (2) tablespoon serving contains the following: 80 calories; 70 calories from fat; fat 8 grams; saturated fat 1 gram; cholesterol 5 mg; sodium 510 mg; carbohydrates 2 grams; protein 0 gram.

Return to top

Does Olive Garden use pork in its recipes?
Pork is primarily used as a flavor enhancer and traditionally is a common ingredient in Italian cooking. Pork is included in our meat sauce. With some advance notice, our managers would be happy to accommodate your diet by specially making a ground beef meat sauce to accompany your choice of pasta.

Return to top

Which menu selections are vegetarian?
A few of our menu items can be adjusted to accommodate a vegan or vegetarian diet, but none wholly meet the criteria. Depending on your personal philosophy, we can suggest the following items as meatless, but not necessarily vegetarian or vegan:

Minestrone soup (vegetable and mushroom base; no meat protein)
Garden Salad (without dressing)
Marinara Sauce (mushroom base; no meat protein)
Capellini Pomodoro
Eggplant Parmigiana
Fettuccine Alfredo

Return to top

Menu Items for Gluten Intolerance
We can recommend several menu items especially for Gluten Intolerance. Your server will be happy to accommodate your request, or you may contact Guest Relations via our Contact Us form or at 1-800-331-2729. Our office hours are Monday -Friday, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. ET.

Return to top

Donations

How do I make a request for a donation?
Olive Garden donates to charitable causes that benefit the community. Donation requests can be submitted in writing to the general manager of your local Olive Garden. This includes requests for donations of gift certificates or food.

Request should be on your organization’s official letterhead, including the organization’s full name, address, phone and fax numbers. State your donation request, when it is needed and how it will benefit the community. Please submit written requests 30 days prior to the date the donation is needed. Unfortunately, it’s not possible to honor every request that we receive. Please accept our apology in advance if we are not able to fulfill your request.

Return to top

Employment

Select a question from the list:

Employment Verification
Employee Information
Employment Opportunities
Employment Opportunities – New Locations

Employment Verification
Contact our vendor, The Work Number, at 800-367-2884 or via the company's Web site, www.theworknumber.com. Our Employer Code is 11533.

Return to top

Employee Information
If seeking information pertaining to your employment, please contact the following departments directly by telephone.

• Benefits: 888-374-3343
• Payroll: 407-245-4400
• Employee Relations: 800-932-2558

Return to top

Employment Opportunities
We are always looking for new members of the Olive Garden family. Please contact your local management team by telephone or in person for information about employment opportunities. The best time to apply is between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. For information about management positions and employment at the Restaurant Support Center, click here.

Return to top

Employment Opportunities — New Locations
We are pleased to know you are considering employment with Olive Garden. About 30 days before the restaurant opens there will be a banner at the restaurant indicating that the restaurant is "Now Hiring." Applications for hourly employees are taken at the restaurant after that sign is posted. For opening dates, please contact Guest Relations via our Contact Us form or at 1-800-331-2729. Our office hours are Monday-Friday, 10:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. EST.

Return to top

Corporate Information

Select a question from the list:

Does Olive Garden offer franchise opportunities?
Where can I obtain an annual report?
Stock
Student Information
Real Estate
Advertising Vendor Inquiries

Does Olive Garden offer franchise opportunities?
Olive Garden is owned and operated by Darden Restaurants and does not offer franchises. There are no individually owned and operated restaurants.

Return to top

Where can I obtain an annual report?
You may download an annual report by visiting the Investor Relations section of our parent company's website, Darden Restaurants (www.darden.com). If you prefer a pre-printed copy be mailed to you, please email your request via our Contact Us form or call Guest Relations at 1-800-331-2729. Our office hours are Monday - Friday, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. ET.

Return to top

Stock
Darden Restaurants, Inc. stock is traded on the NYSE under code DRI.

Return to top

Student Information
Thanks for thinking of Olive Garden for your school project. Our website, and the website of our parent company, Darden Restaurants, contain valuable information that may be incorporated into your school presentation. Please browse the information available and use the material for your project. If you desire additional information, please contact Guest Relations via our feedback forum or at 1-800-331-2729. Our office hours are Monday-Friday, 10:00 a.m.—4:00 p.m. ET.

Return to top

Real Estate
If you have questions or comments about the sale or purchase of real estate, please contact our Real Estate Department at 407-245-4555.

Return to top

Advertising Vendor Inquiries
Proposals related to television and outdoor advertising are coordinated by Grey Advertising. Please call 212-546-2083.
Outdoor advertising proposals are coordinated by MediaCom in New York. Please call 212-546-1677.
For more information, please call the Marketing Automated Line at 407-245-4016.

Return to top