Olive Garden
$$ • Italian Restaurant
Most Recent Reviews
I am celiac. I told waiter I was allergic to gluten and sensitive to cross-contact. I had salmon and broccoli. The manager brought out my dish. The server brought the remaining dishes for my companions who had no food allergies.
Olive Garden has a gluten free menu on their kiosk. You can get salad without croutons, Zuppa Tuscana soup, gluten free pasta with marinara or meat sauce.
I did not have any issues. The waiter was very accommodating even though they sent out a salad with crutons I just had to explain it more and it was fine. The gluten free pasta is actually pretty good!
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Reviews of this Chain
Mixed feelings…. After we ordered manager came to table explained the process on how they ensure the safety of the allergen risk/cross contamination. They take it seriously from training in the kitchen, New bag of salad just for us, new gloves and cleaned areas before cooking etc. The manager said she would hand deliver it separately to ensure it was done safely and correctly. I was impressed at first…..Until 5 Min later a different server tried to give us bread sticks which we declined, then when it came time for food coming out it all came out together, manager never came back to table like promised and my husband who also ordered a GF meal was served breaded verse grilled chicken. I feel It was a fake waste of the managers time to come give us this amazing spiel and then it never happened.
Gave me gluten noodles TWICE! I ordered online and got gluten free pasta and stated it was for an allergy. I took it to my hotel and began eating, found shells mixed in the pasta. I called over- they said only gf pasta is rotini and that the shells were gluten. They made me a new order and assured me it was gluten free. I picked it up and looked through it before I ate. Good thing I did because there were 5+ more gluten shells in the pasta. I called again, got a refund but they wanted to make me another one. I said no, clearly I do not trust them. I am celiac with severe symptoms, I hope I don’t have a reaction tonight.
I appreciate effort made here. I find Olive Garden to be one of the better chains at dealing with gluten free. After ordering the waitress notified the manager that we had an “allergy” at the table. He came over and reviewed everything with me. Salad was made in a clean bowl and to go dressing was served on the side because they worry about croutons falling in the dressing. The manager then followed up with us to make sure everything was satisfactory. I didn’t have pasta but the first time he came over he did assure me they take every possible precaution to prevent gluten contamination if I wanted to try the pasta. Rotini is the only GF pasta they serve and it is only used for GF so there is no confusion along with separate pits for boiling, etc.
I would give it 5 stars but it is just average Italian food at best. I appreciate all they do as it is not the first time I have been treated so well at this or any other Olive Garden.
Very limited options for gluten free, but do have gluten free pasta that tastes great and hasn’t made me sick. Limited options for sides as well especially if you have a concurrent dairy allergy.
I went to Olive Garden and was very pleased with the 7 options (plus 3 options for kids) on the gluten sensitive menu. They told me the precautions they were taking and even gave me my own salad bowl without croutons so there would be no cross contamination. I would definitely go back.
