Olive Garden Gluten Free Menu

Is there an Olive Garden gluten free menu? And if so, what does it include and how safe is it to eat there? If this is what you've been wondering, then this gluten-free menu guide is perfect for you!

Olive Garden has a large menu, and it does have a gluten-sensitive menu, but it is not gluten-free. This is an important distinction that you need to understand in order to eat there safely.

Remembering that menus change often is important, so always check with your server. Read on to learn everything you need to know about Olive Garden's gluten free menu options.

Jump to:

• History of Olive Garden
• Does Olive Garden Have Gluten-Free Items On Their Menu?
• Olive Garden's Gluten Free Menu 2024(Latest)
• Tips for Placing an Order for Gluten-Free Items at Olive Garden

History of Olive Garden

Olive Garden, a popular Italian-American restaurant chain, was first established in 1982 in Orlando, Florida.

Olive Garden is a chain of Italian-themed restaurants that operates throughout North America. Since then, they have more than 800 regional stores and are owned by the Darden Restaurants Group.

Their headquarters are located in Orange County, FL, near Orlando, and they earn an estimated annual revenue of $3.8 billion. Olive Garden offers a variety of Italian cuisines, such as pasta, chicken, salads, breadsticks, and seafood.

Bill Darden opened the first Olive Garden restaurant in his hometown of Orlando on December 13th, 1982. Seven years later, they had opened approximately 145 outlets, making Olive Garden the fastest-growing branch of their parent company.

Although the restaurant was not initially popular when it opened, it has since grown to become the largest Italian-themed full-service restaurant chain in the United States.

Moreover, Olive Garden has a special Culinary Institute in Italy where chefs from different outlets learn how to prepare classic Italian dishes.

Each year, around a hundred chefs and supervisors from various outlets make a week-long journey to the company's Culinary Institute of Tuscany, where they are exposed to fine Italian recipes, culture, and cooking techniques.

This exposure inspires the restaurant's menu, with some of the ideas they encounter being introduced into food items.

Does Olive Garden Have Gluten-Free Items On Their Menu?

Olive Garden provides a special "Gluten Sensitive" menu, which is not equivalent to a gluten-free menu. This menu is designed for people who have difficulty consuming gluten, but it does not meet the standard of being celiac-safe in any way.

Olive Garden's official website states that their "gluten sensitive" menu items are made without ingredients that contain gluten.

However, they do not claim that these items are completely "gluten-free" because they have not undergone chemical analysis to comply with the FDA's definition of "gluten-free" (which requires less than 20 parts per million of gluten).

Although Olive Garden takes measures to prevent cross-contact with other gluten-containing foods, these items may not be suitable for individuals who are highly sensitive to gluten.

It's worth noting that the "gluten-free" pasta offered by Olive Garden does meet the FDA's official definition of gluten-free.

Although the Olive Garden's menu is not safe for individuals with celiac disease, the restaurant does take certain measures to reduce the risk of cross-contamination with gluten-containing items on its menu.

Cross-contamination happens when gluten-free food comes into contact with gluten, either directly or through shared cutting boards, cooking and prepping surfaces, or unclean hands, among other possible ways.

Olive Garden restaurant claims to cook its gluten-free brown rice pasta in a "sanitized kettle" instead of using the pasta cookers that are used for other pasta. The gluten-free pasta is kept separate until it is ordered.

At that point, it is added directly to the sauté pan to prevent any cross-contact with other pasta or pasta water. The restaurant also offers its famous Italian salad dressing that does not contain gluten ingredients.

However, the dressing is produced in a facility that also manufactures gluten ingredients, which is an important distinction to keep in mind.

Unfortunately, The Olive Garden does not have a dedicated gluten-free fryer. Therefore, any items cooked in the fryer are off-limits due to the high risk of cross-contamination. Similarly, the breadsticks are not gluten-free.

Olive Garden's Gluten Free Menu 2024(Latest)

Salads

• Famous House Salad (without croutons)

Entrees

• Rotini with Marinara
• Rotini with Meat Sauce
• Tuscan Sirloin
• Herb-Grilled Salmon

Kids Entrees

• Kids Grilled Chicken
• Kids Rotini with Marinara
• Kids Rotini with Meat Sauce

Tips for Placing an Order for Gluten-Free Items at Olive Garden

• Do Your Homework: Before you visit the restaurant, take some time to review the Olive Garden gluten-free menu online. This will give you a good idea of what options are available and help you make a decision ahead of time.
• Ask Questions: Don't hesitate to ask your server about the gluten-free options. They should be able to provide you with detailed information about the ingredients and preparation methods. If they're unsure, ask them to check with the kitchen staff.
• Be Clear About Your Dietary Needs: Inform your server that you are following a gluten-free diet. This is not just a preference but a necessity for your health.
• Avoid Cross-Contamination: Cross-contamination can occur when gluten-free foods come into contact with gluten-containing foods. Ask your server to ensure that your food is prepared separately and with clean utensils.