Olive Garden 2 for $25: What’s Actually Included in 2026

Olive Garden’s 2 for $25 deal is one of the best-known value offers in casual dining, but a lot of pages describing it get the structure slightly wrong — adding items that aren’t part of the deal or implying it’s a permanent fixture when it’s actually a promotion that comes and goes. Here’s what the deal really includes, which entrées qualify, and how to get the most value out of it.

What the Deal Actually Includes

For $25 total (about $12.50 per person), two guests get:

• One shared appetizer — not two, and not an appetizer per person. It’s a single starter split at the table.
• Two full dinner entrées — one per person, chosen from a set list.
• Unlimited soup or salad for both guests.
• Unlimited breadsticks.

Dessert is not included. This is a common mix-up — some menu pages describe it as “two appetizers or one dessert,” but the standard structure is one shared appetizer only, with dessert priced separately if you want to add it.

Entrées That Typically Qualify

The 2 for $25 entrée list has historically included:

• Fettuccine Alfredo
• Five Cheese Ziti al Forno
• Spaghetti with Meat Sauce
• Lasagna Classico
• Cheese Ravioli
• Seafood Alfredo
• Eggplant Parmigiana
• Chicken Parmigiana

A few premium dishes occasionally appear on other versions of this list with an upcharge attached, so if a specific entrée isn’t showing up as included when you order, that’s likely why — some higher-cost items require a small additional fee rather than being fully covered by the flat $25.

Appetizer Choices

The shared starter is typically chosen from a shorter list than the full appetizer menu: Calamari, Fried Mozzarella, Bruschetta, or Toasted Ravioli. Since it’s split between two people, picking something naturally shareable — Fried Mozzarella or Calamari — tends to work better at the table than a dish meant for one.

Is This Deal Always Available?

No, and this is the biggest thing most pages skip. The 2 for $25 deal is a recurring promotion, not a permanent standing menu item. It returns periodically throughout the year but isn’t guaranteed to be running at every location at every moment, and availability can vary by region. Always confirm with your local restaurant or the Olive Garden app before planning a visit specifically around this deal.

How to Get the Most Value

Since both entrées are covered by the same flat $25 regardless of which qualifying dish you pick, the best value strategy is choosing the two highest-priced eligible entrées on the list. Seafood Alfredo and Five Cheese Ziti al Forno typically carry higher individual menu prices than Spaghetti with Meat Sauce or Cheese Ravioli, so pairing two of the pricier options nets more value for the same $25 total than picking two of the cheaper ones.

Weekday Lunch Hours vs. This Deal

A quick correction worth flagging: some menu pages list Olive Garden’s lunch-priced hours as running all seven days, including weekends. In practice, lunch-specific pricing is a weekday-only program (Monday through Friday, 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM), and most locations serve the regular dinner menu all day on Saturdays and Sundays. The 2 for $25 deal is separate from this and typically runs during dinner hours, so don’t confuse the two when planning your visit.

How to Order

Step 1: Confirm the deal is currently running at your location by checking the Olive Garden app or calling ahead, since this isn’t a standing offer.

Step 2: Decide on dine-in or takeout — availability for takeout can vary by location, so it’s worth asking when you place the order rather than assuming.

Step 3: Choose your shared appetizer from the qualifying list.

Step 4: Each guest selects one entrée from the 2 for $25 list.

Step 5: Soup or salad and breadsticks come with the deal automatically — no need to request them separately.

Step 6: If you want dessert, order it separately, since it isn’t bundled into the $25 total.

Step 7: Join the Olive Garden eClub if you’re a regular visitor — it’s the most reliable way to get early notice when promotions like this one return.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is included in Olive Garden’s 2 for $25 deal?

One shared appetizer, two full entrées (one per person), unlimited soup or salad, and unlimited breadsticks, all for a combined $25.

Is dessert included in the 2 for $25 deal?

No. Dessert is not part of the standard deal and would be ordered and priced separately.

Is the 2 for $25 deal available all the time?

No. It’s a recurring promotion rather than a permanent menu item, and availability varies by location and time of year.

Which entrées are included in the 2 for $25 menu?

Typically Fettuccine Alfredo, Five Cheese Ziti al Forno, Spaghetti with Meat Sauce, Lasagna Classico, Cheese Ravioli, Seafood Alfredo, Eggplant Parmigiana, and Chicken Parmigiana.

What’s the best way to maximize value from this deal?

Choose the two highest-priced eligible entrées on the list, since both are covered by the same flat $25 regardless of which qualifying dish you pick.

Is Olive Garden’s lunch menu available on weekends?

No. Lunch-specific pricing runs Monday through Friday only; most locations serve the full dinner menu all day on weekends.

Olive Garden 2 for 25, shared appetizer, qualifying entrées, value deal, dinner for two