Olive Garden's Iconic Breadsticks Remain the Chain's Best and Cheapest Appetizer

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Olive Garden's famous breadsticks continue to be the chain's most iconic and affordable appetizer option. Though they come free with any entree, customers can also order them separately starting at just $4.99 for six breadsticks, with the option to get them unbaked to enjoy them fresh. The breadsticks even played a key role in helping the restaurant recover from a disastrous opening in 1982 by keeping customers satisfied while the kitchen caught up on orders.

Why it matters

Olive Garden's breadsticks have become a beloved signature menu item that has helped define the restaurant's brand identity over the decades. Their affordability and popularity with customers have made them an essential part of the Olive Garden experience, even as the menu has expanded.

The details

Olive Garden's breadsticks are made without real butter or dairy, yet they still manage to have a delicious, buttery flavor and soft, warm texture that customers crave. While the breadsticks come free with any entree ordered at the restaurant, customers can also order them separately as an appetizer, with prices starting at $4.99 for six breadsticks. There's also an option to get them unbaked, allowing customers to enjoy them fresh out of the oven. For a slightly higher price, customers can get an order of breadsticks with a choice of dipping sauces like marinara or Alfredo.

• Olive Garden first opened in Orlando, Florida in 1982.