Olive Backyard exams smaller portion menu at lowered costs nationwide with ‘encouraging’ outcomes

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Darden Eating places is experimenting with smaller servings at Olive Backyard, testing out a “Lighter Portion Entrées” menu throughout 40% of its places, the corporate introduced in its quarterly earnings name on Thursday.

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The lowered parts part consists of Olive Backyard’s Rooster Parmigiana, Eggplant Parmigiana, Lasagna Classico, 5 Cheese Ziti al Forno, Cheese Ravioli, Spaghetti & Meatballs and Fettuccine Alfredo, in keeping with Darden Eating places.

Clients enter an Olive Backyard restaurant in Pittsburg, California, on Dec. 9, 2022. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg through / Getty Photos)

The lighter portion entrées are priced between $12.99 and $13.99, although they range by market, the spokesperson informed FOX Enterprise.

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The preliminary response from clients has been “encouraging,” with clients score the chain 15% increased on affordability, Rick Cardenas, president and CEO of Darden Eating places, mentioned on Thursday’s earnings name. 

On this photograph illustration, a smartphone exhibits the brand of Darden Eating places Inc. (Cheng Xin/Getty Photos / Getty Photos)

Diners have additionally mentioned they have been glad with the quantity of meals they obtained regardless of smaller servings, in keeping with Cardenas. 

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“These items, available at dinner and all day during the weekend, still offer abundant portions and come with Olive Garden’s never-ending first course of unlimited breadsticks and unlimited soup or salad,” Cardenas mentioned. “… I have confidence in Olive Garden’s initiatives for the year, as well as their five-year roadmap to sustain long-term growth and success.”

Olive Backyard pasta is photographed in Hyattsville, Maryland. (Deb Lindsey For The Washington Put up through Getty Photos / Getty Photos)

Darden Eating places, primarily based out of Orlando, Florida, can be the guardian firm of eating places, together with LongHorn Steakhouse, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, Yard Home and Ruth’s Chris Steak Home. The corporate’s inventory fell roughly 7% on Thursday after reporting blended quarterly outcomes.

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Darden Eating places introduced in June it was planning to open extra Olive Backyard and LongHorn Steakhouse eating places. Earlier this 12 months, Texas Roadhouse changed Olive Backyard as America’s high informal eating chain. Olive Backyard had held the title since 2018, however a resurgence in Texas Roadhouse’s recognition pushed the informal steakhouse forward.