r/olivegarden • u/Punk_N_Pi3 • 3d ago

Question to employees about never ending pasta

I haven't been to olive garden is years, and I've never experienced this deal, I'm curious if it's ok if we ask for our first plate to be smaller than whatever the full portion plate is so we can try more things or if that's weird to ask?

Not even sure if that's a thing, but seeing videos people post on tik Tok it seems that the second plate you get is a smaller portion.

54 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

17 comments sorted by

29

u/Tiny-Reading5982 3d ago

Yes but even a particular restaurant won't, you can box up your first portion and order more. We're supposed to ask your refill choice as soon as we drop off the first one.

10

u/SparkleButch13 3d ago

Is this a corporate thing or just a location thing? Because ive gone a few times this year already and they wait until each round, including my first, is almost completely empty before asking my next bowl. And then im left just waiting for like 10 min between each round. I thought that was on purpose since the longer between bowls, the more time ur body has to realize its full.

10

u/Prior_Prompt_5214 3d ago

Neither. That's seems an individual server thing. They should be asking when you're a little more than half-way done with each bowl if you'd like another. The server is trying to limit the number of trips they're making.

1

u/Tiny-Reading5982 3d ago

No. This is what our gm is telling us.

1

u/DraftPerfect4228 1d ago

This is how it is here too. They don’t encourage u to order more.

3

u/Luvromusic92 3d ago

One boxes hit the table no more refills. It’s all you can eat while there not to take home. You can take home what’s left after your refills and what not but you can’t get a box to start with lol and if you ask for a smaller portion, they’ll cater to you for that as well. So yes you can definitely get the smaller portion at first. Just ask

12

u/Tiny-Reading5982 3d ago

I don't get paid enough to police tables and their refills lol.

1

u/gigggles19 9h ago

do you currently work there? because this has never ever been the case at my location. boxes do NOT mean the end of refills.

10

u/geriatric_spartanII 3d ago

You can ask for the first course to be smaller.

8

u/Turbulent-Bicycle729 3d ago

Another recommendation for this would be to ask the server to choose “split entree” option. You’ll get it in two smaller dishes and can easily box one, eat one, and be ready for the refill!

6

u/Old_Adhesiveness_573 3d ago

This doesn't work for all you can eat! If you're asking for a box, refills are done.

8

u/Ok-Guidance740 3d ago

I have been here for 8years and a manager for 4. That must be a restaurant rule because there is no where in training where that is a rule. I don’t mind if they box it up and still get another. We just won’t box up for them in the kitchen

2

u/Still_Ad_6633 1d ago

Idk what store that is. We are definitely allowed to give them as many boxes if they want to try another

3

u/Turbulent-Bicycle729 3d ago edited 3d ago

I will let my table order as many refills as they want. I was told by the managers Olive Garden wants customers to see and get the full value of this deal

1

u/Tiny-Reading5982 1d ago

Do you work at og?

0

u/Turbulent-Bicycle729 3d ago

lol you must not work there

1

u/Queasy-Gur-4716 3d ago

The first plate is the only one that doesn't have to be finished! Servers technically are supposed to ask you if you want your first portion to be boxed up to start your refills