Olive Garden has brought back the Never Ending Pasta Bowl, which saw a 30% increase in price.
It sounds like a good deal, but it's nearly impossible to eat enough pasta to make it worthwhile.
For most people, the Create Your Own Pasta recipe is more appealing.
Olive Garden’s famous Never Ending Pasta Bowl promotion was reintroduced on October 3rd.
Olive Garden
Unlimited pasta, in any combination, is $13.99. Add protein for $4.99
Olive Garden
Ricardo Cardenas, the CEO of Olive Garden's parent company Darden Restaurants, told investors in September that consumers making less than $50,000 per year were spending less at the restaurant.
Al Bello/Getty
The deal was previously offered by the chain to customers when sales were low.
Olive Garden Restaurant patrons.
To test the famous promotion, I went to my Olive Garden to see if it was worth the increased price. It was almost 30% more than the last time it was available.
It was decorated lightly for fall with pumpkins outside, and leaf garlands within.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Because the deal is only available through November, it wasn't on the regular menus but it was prominently advertised on every table.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
You can choose from a soup or a salad with the Never Ending Pasta.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
I will eat chicken gnocchi soup topped with cheese every chance that I get.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Although the dish was delicious, it was an unbalanced start to what would be a substantial, carb-heavy meal.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Salad is certainly a smarter choice to save room for lots of pastas.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
It comes in a family size bowl and can be topped with piles of cheese too, so it's still possible to fill up too early.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
You can also add more carbs to the breadsticks.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
As usual, they're warm, slightly greasy, and delicious.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
The breadsticks come with a dipping sauce.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
…but in my opinion it's a bit pricey at $5, and you can always dip breadsticks right in your pasta sauce.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
My first round of pasta consisted of rigatoni with five-cheese marinara and, of course, topped with more cheese.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
After I had finished my soup and breadsticks, it became clear that this was not going to be easy to finish.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
To see how the promotion stacks up with protein, my fiance ordered fettuccine Alfredo and crispy chicken for the Never Ending Pasta.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Another huge bowl of pasta with moderate amounts of chicken.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
About two-thirds through my rigatoni was done when I began really flagging.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
The waitress brought us more breadsticks and asked for our orders for the next bowl.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
The bowls used for the second serving are smaller than those for the first. They hold approximately one-half of the food.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
I still had my first bowl, so I could compare them.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
The amount of pasta and sausage was incredible, though.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
I chose to keep it simple with just spaghetti and meat sauce.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
To be a good sport I took a few bites, but I was already feeling uncomfortably full.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Our server seemed to anticipate we would tap out here, and she asked us if we'd like to pack up our meals.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
For tomorrow, she packed two almost unfinished meals and lunch.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
I was delighted to bring home a bag that was specifically made for breadsticks.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
At $13.99 for an order, or $19 with meat, it's a moderately priced meal over all.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
However, next time I’d probably order the make your own pasta.
Olive Garden
The Never Ending Pasta Bowl costs $1 more than the make your own, but you can save $3 if you add meat.
Irene Jiang/Business Insider
If you’re able to eat several bowls of pasta, soup, salad, and breadsticks during the Never Ending promotion, it could save you significant money.
Irene Jiang/Business Insider
That's a tall order for almost anyone, though.
Irene Jiang/Business Insider
While I did get an extra meal, I left so full I didn't even want to look at pasta for at least 24 hours, though I felt obligated not to waste my leftovers.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
That was after I ate significantly more than I would have otherwise, because I felt like I needed to get my money's worth on the deal.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
While I do not plan on ordering the Never Ending Pasta Bowl again in the future, it was packed.
Olive Garden sales are on the rise.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
It's not worth it unless you are prepared to eat a truly prolific amount of pasta, and probably feel horrible afterwards.
Irene Jiang/Business Insider
Have a story you want to share about a chain of restaurants or retail stores? This reporter can be reached at mmeisenzahl@businessinsider.com.
