Olive Garden fans are in for a treat — and we’re not talking about their all-you-can-eat grits.
On Mon. On Dec. 2, the beloved Italian restaurant chain announced in an Instagram post that it was bringing back several fan-favorite menu items after a four-year hiatus.
“Say hello to your new old favorites,” read the caption of the post, which featured a retro Olive Garden ad featuring two dishes: Steak Gorgonzola Alfredo and Stuffed Chicken Marsala.
Gorgonzola Alfredo steak consists of grilled fillet, fettuccine alfredo, gorgonzola cheese and spinach, topped with balsamic vinegar and sun-dried tomatoes. Meanwhile, the Stuffed Chicken Marsala consists of grilled chicken breast stuffed with Italian cheeses and sun-dried tomatoes. It is topped with a creamy marsala sauce and served with a side of mashed potatoes.
“Christmas came early 🍴😍,” one person commented on the post on Instagram. “Finally 🔥,” wrote another. The comments were flooded with people looking forward to the return, while many others asked when other discontinued menu items might return.
In a similar announcement shared on X (formerly Twitter), Olive Garden’s official account joked that the menu items “were on vacation in Italy, but they’re finally back and better than ever. 😋.”
Olive Garden location in Chicago.
Scott Olson/Getty
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In reality, Steak Gorgonzola Alfredo and Stuffed Chicken Marsala went on a four-year hiatus due to COVID-19. In December 2020, it was reported that Olive Garden’s same-store sales fell 19% in its fiscal second quarter. In addition to increasing takeout options, the restaurant has scaled back its menu to cut costs.
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The returned menu items should already be available at Olive Garden locations, although it may take some time for in-person and online menus to reflect the change.
In November, the family-owned Italian chain was at the center of a viral TikTok where one restaurant found numbers and letters stamped on the bottom of their grissini.
“People, why are the letters on my grissin from the olive garden,” the restaurant wrote on social media above a picture of a half-eaten piece of bread.
One person, who claimed to be an Olive Garden employee, assumed the sign came “from the plastic bag they come in,” although this was never confirmed.
Olive Garden sent the person who shared the TikTok a $100 gift card and issued a public statement on social media saying it was “concerned” about what the user experienced.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education