Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen vs Olive Garden: Menu Prices Compared (2026)

Updated October 22, 2026 3 items matched

The short answer

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen is the cheaper of the two. Of the 3 directly comparable items we could match across both menus, Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen is cheaper on 3 of them, by an average of $7.80 per item.

Typical menu price: Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen $10.99 · Olive Garden $15.49

Matched Items, Side by Side

The same item on both menus, priced against each other. Where names differ, we matched the closest equivalent — Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen's wording first.

Item	Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen	Olive Garden	Difference
Grilled Shrimp Alfredovs Shrimp Alfredo	$16.29	$23.49	$7.20 cheaper at Cheddar's
Grilled Salmonvs Herb-Grilled Salmon	$15.49	$24.49	$9.00 cheaper at Cheddar's
Grilled Chicken Alfredovs Chicken Alfredo	$14.79	$21.99	$7.20 cheaper at Cheddar's

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen vs Olive Garden at a Glance

	Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen	Olive Garden
Typical menu price	$10.99	$15.49
Average menu price	$12.29	$19.63
Cheapest item	Honey Butter Croissants — $1.99	Side of Meatballs — $6.49
Most expensive item	House-Smoked Baby Back Ribs Bundle — $50.49	Giant Stuffed Pasta Tray — $99.99
Items priced	89	42
Menu sections	12	7
Price range	$$	$$
Founded	1979	1982
Headquarters	Orlando, Florida (Darden Restaurants)	Orlando, Florida
Locations	About 180 restaurants, mostly in Texas, the South and the Midwest	More than 900 restaurants in the U.S. and Canada

Which One Should You Order From?

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen has the lower typical menu price of the two — $10.99 against $15.49 — but a typical price only tells you where the middle of the menu sits. At the value end, Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen gets you in cheaper at $1.99.

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen is strongest on Honey Butter Croissants, No. 8 Special Chicken Tender Platter, Monte Cristo; Olive Garden on Never Ending Soup, Salad & Breadsticks, Chicken Alfredo, Tour of Italy. Neither chain's app prices match the counter, and both discount heavily through their loyalty programmes, so the deals below usually matter more than the few cents between the two menus.

Deals Worth Knowing at Both

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen

The weekday lunch menu is the cheapest way in: a cheeseburger, a chicken sandwich or a Veggie Philly is about $8.59, against $9.49 to $10.99 for the regular versions.
The Vegetable Plate — any four sides for about $10.49 — is the lowest-priced full plate on the dinner menu.
Family bundles feed about four: the Chicken Tender Bundle at about $31.49 works out under $8 a person, and a gallon of iced tea is about $5.79.

Olive Garden

Never Ending Soup, Salad & Breadsticks at $11.99 for lunch is the cheapest complete meal Olive Garden sells, and refills are unlimited.
Order Cucina Mia at $14.99 instead of a named pasta — the base pastas and sauces are largely the same for six dollars less.
Buy One Take One returns most years in the autumn and effectively halves the price of a pasta entree.

About these prices: menu prices are set by individual franchise owners and change without notice. The figures on this page are researched estimates for 2026 and are provided for reference only. Confirm the current price with the restaurant before ordering. Menu Price Book is not affiliated with this chain.

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen vs Olive Garden — FAQ

Is Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen cheaper than Olive Garden in 2026?

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen is cheaper on most matched items — 3 of 3. Across the whole menu Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen is the lower-priced of the two, at $10.99 for a typical item against $15.49 at Olive Garden.

What is the price difference between Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen and Olive Garden?

On matched items the average difference is $7.80, or about 37% overall. Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen averages $12.29 across 89 priced items; Olive Garden averages $19.63 across 40.

Which has the cheaper entry price, Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen or Olive Garden?

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen starts at $1.99 (Honey Butter Croissants) and Olive Garden at $6.49 (Side of Meatballs).

Are these prices the same at every location?

No. Both chains let franchise owners set prices, so figures move by a dollar or more between markets and run highest at airport, stadium and highway locations. Treat these as the typical U.S. price, not a quote.