Olive Garden vs Red Lobster: Menu Prices Compared (2026)
The short answer
Olive Garden is the cheaper of the two. Of the 5 directly comparable items we could match across both menus, Olive Garden is cheaper on 2 of them, by an average of $2.14 per item.
Deals Worth Knowing at Both
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.
Red Lobster
- Order before 3:00 PM on a weekday — the lunch menu serves the same signature shrimp dishes for roughly $9 less than dinner.
- Cheddar Bay Biscuits are unlimited and free with any dine-in entree, so skip paid appetizers if you are watching the total.
- Join My Red Lobster Rewards for a free appetizer or dessert on signup plus a birthday reward.
Olive Garden vs Red Lobster — FAQ
Is Olive Garden cheaper than Red Lobster in 2026?
Olive Garden is cheaper on most matched items — 2 of 5. Across the whole menu Olive Garden is the lower-priced of the two, at $15.49 for a typical item against $15.49 at Red Lobster.
What is the price difference between Olive Garden and Red Lobster?
On matched items the average difference is $2.14, or about 2% overall. Olive Garden averages $19.63 across 40 priced items; Red Lobster averages $20.04 across 37.
Which has the cheaper entry price, Olive Garden or Red Lobster?
Olive Garden starts at $6.49 (Side of Meatballs) and Red Lobster at $4.49 (Baked Potato).
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.