The Olive Garden Experience Comes To Manila

It's finally here. The unlimited fresh-baked breadsticks, hearty soups and salads that's at the core of the family-centric American casual dining chain along with their specialty pasta dishes and many more finally comes to Manila. Take a closer and tasty peek at Olive Garden... 

Lasagna Fritta, Seafood Alfredo, Shrimp Scampi, Fettuccine Alfredo and Chicken Parmesan. Or why not create your own pasta? Bring your appetite, Olive Garden serves up a feast with an all-star cast of sumptuous bestsellers. The Bistro Group brings the much celebrated and quintessential Olive Garden experience with its Never-Ending garden-fresh salads, homemade soups and fresh-baked breadsticks along with its repertoire of classic pasta dishes from the largest American-Italian restaurant chain in the US to the Philippines at Mall of Asia. Hungry? Then, read on...

Olive Garden, the largest Italian American restaurant chain in the US with over 900 locations expands its global reach with its first branch in Manila at Mall of Asia. The Bistro Group adds the well-loved chain to its growing roster of dining concepts which includes enduring brands such as TGIFridays, Italianni's, Denny's, Buffalo Wild Wings, Texas Road House, Hard Rock Cafe, Watami, Modern Shanghai, Bulgogi Brothers, Fish & Co and Randy's Donuts. 

Boasting 382 square meters of elegant space to comfortably seat 300 diners with options for al fresco dining, Olive Garden at Mall of Asia is impressive with its contemporary yet classic design from the bar to its rustic stone passageway and spacious dining areas with intimate booth style seating. It's the perfect spot for gatherings with friends and family over a tempting array of Italian-American dishes. Olive Garden is another perfect fit with The Bistro Group with shared values.

"We are excited to partner with with The Bistro Group in expanding Olive Garden by opening its first Olive Garden restaurant in the Philippines. We know that The Bistro Group's deep experience in the restaurant industry will help us successfully serve our guests in the Philippines," said Bradley Smith, Senior Vice President of Franchising at Darden Restaurants.

This sentiment is echoed by The Bistro Group with its President, Jean Paul Manuud stating "Olive Garden and The Bistro Group share the same values and live by a similar dining philosophy. Great hospitality and generosity in service and food quality are at the core of our business. We believe we are a good fit. We are excited to collaborate with Olive Garden and we look forward to a successful launch of this world-class concept."

More than just a dining destination for a comforting meal, Olive Garden shares its unique brand of both traditional and modern take on Italian-American cuisine along with its family-driven vibe that has endeared it to countless loyal diners in the US. Including their famous breadsticks. And now you can share the Olive Garden experience with family and friends without leaving Manila. But before you dive in with their famous Breadsticks, why not enjoy a refreshing round of libations? 

But First, A Refreshing Cocktail...

Olive Garden offers a wide range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic libations to suit your mood. The elegant space is designed with stunning views of the bay, and Olive Garden is your front row seat to the famed sunset made even more special with a cocktail. The Blossoming Vodka adds a vibrant splash of color to a leisurely tipple as you scan the menu. 

The Hibiscus Butterfly Pea Tea (P 195) and Purple White (P 220) with its unique blend of guyabano and butterfly pea tea are some of the non-alcoholic options at Olive Garden. Other non-alcoholic beverages include the Strawberry Passionfruit Limonata (P 195) and Peach Butterfly Pea (P 150). You can also opt for the Never-Ending Raspberry Lemonade, Classic or Peach Raspberry Iced Tea and Mango Strawberry Iced Tea (P 150) for endless rounds in pace with your Never-Ending Salad or Never-Ending Soup with Breadsticks.   

The Hibiscus-Oh (P 250) creatively presented in a box with its blend of white rum, hibiscus syrup, orange juice and simple syrup is a light and sweet cocktail teasing the palate with its floral hints...

...while the Italian Margarita (P 275) with its blend of Jose Cuervo Espesyal Silver Tequila, Triple Sec and Amaretto is just what you need with a spectacular view of the sunset. Other cocktails include the Olive Gin On The Rocks (P 250), Italian Rum Punch (P 250), Strawberry or Peach Bellini (P 395) and Amaretto Sour (P 250). 

Soup's On. And Salad Too...

After a round of cocktails, you're ready for the Olive Garden experience. Each entrée comes with the signature Never-Ending Soup or Never-Ending House Salad with Breadsticks for the full and complete experience. But you can also opt for the unlimited salad or soup and breadsticks for a satisfying meal in itself for only P 495. And that's not a bad deal at all. 

Fresh from the oven, the warm and soft specialty Breadsticks with its subtle buttery and salty hints is a prelude to a satisfying dining experience at Olive Garden. If you've tried these iconic breadsticks at Olive Garden from your past travels abroad, one bite just takes you back. And another bite brings home the warm "family" vibe the largest Italian-American restaurant chain is known for around the world. Consistency and quality, after all, remain the keys to success for global brands.   

The House Salad with garden-fresh and crisp greens, tomatoes, red onions, carrots and crunchy croutons drizzled with a light and tart vinaigrette delivers fresh, bold and clean flavors to the palate. The bite of the red onions and the crunchy croutons add layers of contrasting notes and textures to the salad. As with all Olive Garden restaurants around the world, freshly grated Parmesan cheese is offered by the servers adding a flavorful punch to the salad.

For the Never-Ending Soup courses, Olive Garden offers four tasty variants to choose from like the traditional Minestrone with tomatoes, red beans, pasta, spinach, carrots and zucchini in a tart tomato-based broth...

...the Zuppa Toscana with spicy Italian sausage, potatoes and kale in a thick and creamy broth...

...and the Chicken & Gnocchi with tender strips of roasted chicken, soft potato dumplings and spinach simmered in heavy cream. You can also go for the Pasta E Fagioli, a hearty soup with white and red beans, savory ground beef, tomatoes and tubetti or "little tubes" of pasta. Tart or creamy, each of the soup options at Olive Garden brings fresh and vibrant flavors warming the palate with each soothing sip. And each one can be quite filling too. 

Starting Right

For many loyal customers at Olive Garden abroad, the Never-Ending Soup and Salad options are a meal in itself. For those with heftier appetites, Olive Garden has a whole lot more to offer. At the exclusive preview, Olive Garden showcased the wide variety of signature dishes...

...such as tasty Appetizers like the Stuffed Ziti Fritta (P 695), Olive Garden's inventive version of the spring roll with deep-fried ziti filled with a blend of five cheeses and served with Alfredo and Marinara sauces...  

...and the Shrimp Fritto Misto (P 625) with succulent shrimp and fresh vegetables like zucchini, sweet bell peppers and eggplant hand-breaded and deep-fried to a delectable crispness served with Marinara and Spicy Ranch sauces. The fresh snap of the plump shrimps and the lightly crisp texture of the batter combine for a rich briny sweetness balanced by the equally rich and mildly sharp notes of the Marinara. The vegetables add another layer of sweetness to the dish. 

Imagine your favorite lasagna, coated with Parmesan then deep-fried. It's one of Olive Garden's popular bestsellers for another hearty appetizer. The Lasagna Fritta (P 450-P 795) is simply fried Parmesan-breaded lasagna topped with Parmesan cheese and meat sauce, and one crunchy bite is all it takes with another one soon on the way. 

The contrasting textures of the crisp breading and soft lasagna combine with the rich flavors of the meat sauce and cheese for a sumptuous starter unique to the Italian-American chain. It's that perfect crunch followed by a flavorful burst that makes this an absolute must-try at Olive Garden. Perfect for sharing, the Lasagna Fritta is one of many unique dishes that can only be found at Olive Garden. 

Other tempting Appetizers include the Calamari (P 595) and Spinach Artichoke Dip (P 595). 

Make Way for Pasta and More

For the mains, Olive Garden served their all-time bestsellers from their game-winning playbook like the classic Shrimp Scampi (P 695-P 875). Plump sautéed shrimps on thin Angel Hair Pasta draped in rich and nutty garlic sauce topped with bell peppers, tomatoes and asparagus, it's a light pasta dish that's big on fresh and deep flavors. Olive Garden also offers the Chicken Scampi (P 695-P 895) for even more options. 

Olive Garden features a tempting selection of the classic Alfredo starting with the Chicken Alfredo (P 725-P 925) with fettuccine pasta draped in creamy made from scratch Alfredo sauce with butter and garlic topped with tender strips of chicken. The thick Alfredo sauce ties everything together with its buttery and creamy richness with just a whisper of garlicky hints. The delicate notes of the tender chicken completes the dish. Other Alfredo options include the Fettuccine Alfredo (P 645-P 845), Shrimp Alfredo (P 695-P 995) and Seafood Alfredo (P 695-P 995). 

The aptly named Tour of Italy (P 1,245) is a culinary snapshot of the Italian-American style at Olive Garden with a thick slab of Chicken Parmigiana, a slice of Lasagna Classico and Fettucine Alfredo. The large lightly fried Parmesan-breaded chicken breast smothered in rich homemade Marinara topped with cheese brings bold savory notes while the Lasagna Classico delivers comfortingly familiar flavors into play pairing well with the Fettucine Alfredo for one hearty Olive Garden feast. 

The Grilled Chicken Margherita (P 645-P 845) with tender chicken breast topped with cherry tomatoes, Mozzarella, basil pesto and lemon garlic sauce served with a side of Parmesan-crusted zucchini is another light entrée with a rich play on flavors from the freshest ingredients. 

The freshest and finest ingredients, masterfully executed, come together delivering a homey richness with each dish at Olive Garden. And since 1982, it's been one of the secrets to the brand's enduring success. 

The Chicken Parmigiana (P 675-P 875) features tender chicken layered with cheese and tomato sauce and served with a side of spaghetti for another satisfying meal at Olive Garden. Homemade sauces and premium cheeses provides the base for many of Olive Garden's specialty dishes, and this is one of them. You can also go for the traditional Eggplant Parmigiana (P 595-P 795) for a lighter yet equally flavorful alternative. 

Where's the beef? The 6-oz Sirloin with Fettuccine Alfredo (P 1,295) should do the trick for those with heftier appetites. Olive Garden offers other dishes from the Five Cheese Ziti Al Forno (P 645-P 845), Herb-Grilled Salmon (P 850) and the Chicken Marsala (P 695-P 895) to a pair of Carbonara options like the Chicken & Shrimp Carbonara (P 740-P 940) and Chicken Carbonara (P 725-P 925). The Stuffed Asiago Tortelloni Alfredo with Grilled Chicken (P 695-P 895) I hear is also highly recommended.

Each dish at Olive Garden is meticulously made from scratch and nothing less delivering rich flavors. You are, after all, family here at Olive Garden.

One more breadstick, and your Olive Garden experience is complete. Comforting Italian-American dishes from the Never-Ending Soup or Never-Ending Salad with Breadsticks to tasty starters and sumptuous entrées, Olive Garden serves up a hearty feast for family and friends. But don't forget dessert...

Save Room For Dessert

The Zeppoli (P 395) or Italian doughnut caps your Olive Garden experience on a sweet note, best paired with a freshly brewed cup of coffee. Almost like a beignet, the deep-fried cream puff dough dusted with powdered sugar is a lavish ending to a sumptuous feast at Olive Garden.

Served with a thick chocolate dip, the Zeppoli is light yet so satisfying and indulgent and you'll be picking up another piece. Just like their breadsticks, the Zeppoli adds a homey warmth to your dining experience at Olive Garden. 

Craving for cheesecake? The Strawberry or Mango Cheesecake (P 475) hits all the right notes. Other tempting desserts include Tiramisu (P 475) and Chocolate Brownie Lasagna (P 475).  

Now it's your turn. And your table is waiting for you at Olive Garden.

An enduring and much-loved culinary icon that's now part of the cultural mainstream around the world, Olive Garden is another world-class brand from the impressive portfolio of dining concepts of The Bistro Group and a welcome addition to the local restaurant scene. With its unlimited salads and soups, an extensive variety of pasta dishes and yes, those breadsticks along with the brand of service and hospitality the chain is known for, a visit to Olive Garden may be just what you need to brighten up your day and satisfy your cravings.

At Olive Garden, you're family. You'll find the comfort you crave in a variety of satisfying options from hearty soups and salads, tasty starters, refreshing cocktails and beverages, savory entrées made from scratch and desserts along with the iconic warm and soft breadsticks. And it's now open at Mall of Asia. See you at Olive Garden... 

Olive Garden is located at Level 2, South Entertainment Mall, SM Mall of Asia, 1300 Seaside Boulevard, 1709 Manila. You can also call 0927 969 0036 for inquiries or visit their FB Page at https://www.facebook.com/OliveGardenPhilippines/ and IG Feed at https://www.instagram.com/olivegardenphilippines/ for more updates. 

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