# Would you pay $100 for 7 weeks of endless Olive Garden pasta, breadsticks & salad? Your deal awaits! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 8, 2014, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-pay-100-for-7-weeks-of-endless-olive-garden-pasta-breadsticks-salad-your-deal-awaits/697826 "2014-09-08T03:09:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-pay-100-for-7-weeks-of-endless-olive-garden-pasta-breadsticks-salad-your-deal-awaits/697826/1 "2014-09-08T03:09:10Z")
Get your 'eating pants pressed! A pasta hogs paradise! 1000 passes only starting Monday at 3PM EST! 49 straight days of hammering all the carbs you can stuff in your cavernous maw. [Olive Garden: $100 for 7 weeks of pasta](http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2014/09/07/olive-garden-never-ending-pasta-casual-dining-restaurants/15139803/) > [@](#): > > Olive Garden is about to try a pretty outlandish gimmick to lure folks in the door: pasta up the kazoo. > > They’re not calling it that, of course But on Monday, the casual dining chain whose business has seriously-softened in recent years, will announce plans for its first-ever “Never Ending Pasta Pass” – which, for $100, gives the holder the right to consume all of the pasta, salad, bread and Coca-Cola branded soft drinks that they can stuff down for seven weeks. > > But you may need to act fast. Only 1,000 of these pasta passes will be sold – beginning Monday at 3 p.m. ET – online via the Olive Garden web site. Nothing like being one of 1,000 VIP’s who can gorge on pasta for 49 days in a row. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-pay-100-for-7-weeks-of-endless-olive-garden-pasta-breadsticks-salad-your-deal-awaits/697826/2 "2014-09-08T03:27:27Z")
If it was free all you can eat I don’t imagine I’d go more than once or twice. If I was within walking distance of an Olive Garden I’d consider it; I’m really lazy. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-pay-100-for-7-weeks-of-endless-olive-garden-pasta-breadsticks-salad-your-deal-awaits/697826/3 "2014-09-08T03:32:58Z")
Yes I like Olive Garden and could definitely get my money’s worth over 7 weeks. Without going crazy and gorging myself, even. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-pay-100-for-7-weeks-of-endless-olive-garden-pasta-breadsticks-salad-your-deal-awaits/697826/4 "2014-09-08T03:38:19Z")
If I lived closer to one I’d do it just because I’m cheap 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-pay-100-for-7-weeks-of-endless-olive-garden-pasta-breadsticks-salad-your-deal-awaits/697826/5 "2014-09-08T03:57:27Z")
I’d do it if I lived closer to an Olive Garden. Heck, you eat just three meals a week and you’re talking under five dollars a meal. That’s a good deal. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-pay-100-for-7-weeks-of-endless-olive-garden-pasta-breadsticks-salad-your-deal-awaits/697826/6 "2014-09-08T03:57:46Z")
I love the idea! They’re DEFINITELY gonna lose money on it, if people like me sign up! I’ll strip the place bare, roll out of there on a bellywheel, and still come back the next day, ready to do it again! ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-pay-100-for-7-weeks-of-endless-olive-garden-pasta-breadsticks-salad-your-deal-awaits/697826/7 "2014-09-08T08:48:11Z")
I hope all these all-you-can-eaters remember to tip appropriately each time they dine. ---
**Author:** ![bldysabba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@bldysabba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bldysabba)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-pay-100-for-7-weeks-of-endless-olive-garden-pasta-breadsticks-salad-your-deal-awaits/697826/8 "2014-09-08T10:33:52Z")
> [@bienville](#): > > I hope all these all-you-can-eaters remember to tip appropriately each time they dine. At 20% of the meal cost? ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-pay-100-for-7-weeks-of-endless-olive-garden-pasta-breadsticks-salad-your-deal-awaits/697826/9 "2014-09-08T11:10:45Z")
Change 7 weeks into 6 months and I’m in. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-pay-100-for-7-weeks-of-endless-olive-garden-pasta-breadsticks-salad-your-deal-awaits/697826/10 "2014-09-08T13:31:04Z")
Sure, if there was one close to me and I could do take out. Actually, I haven’t had Olive Garden in about 6 years, but the last time it was really, really good. I was very surprised. I swear, the pasta tasted like fresh home made. Not that boxed dry stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-pay-100-for-7-weeks-of-endless-olive-garden-pasta-breadsticks-salad-your-deal-awaits/697826/11 "2014-09-08T13:39:37Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Actually, I haven’t had Olive Garden in about 6 years, but the last time it was really, really good. I was very surprised. I swear, the pasta tasted like fresh home made. Not that boxed dry stuff. The quality has gone way down hill since then. I’d say in the last 2-3 years, Olive Garden went from “Sure, why not?” if someone suggests it to “Eww, anywhere else!” ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-pay-100-for-7-weeks-of-endless-olive-garden-pasta-breadsticks-salad-your-deal-awaits/697826/12 "2014-09-08T13:42:51Z")
I could see one of those [Ultra-Marathon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultramarathon) types running from Olive Garden to Olive Garden and carbo-loading at each stop ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-pay-100-for-7-weeks-of-endless-olive-garden-pasta-breadsticks-salad-your-deal-awaits/697826/13 "2014-09-08T14:12:11Z")
If I went every day, I couldn’t see spending less than $245 in tips. ---
**Author:** ![Sahirrnee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sahirrnee/32/13937_2.png) [@Sahirrnee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sahirrnee)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-pay-100-for-7-weeks-of-endless-olive-garden-pasta-breadsticks-salad-your-deal-awaits/697826/14 "2014-09-08T15:03:09Z")
I’ve never been to _Olive Garden_, so I have no idea what the food is like. However, $100 to eat for 7 weeks! That’s a lot of food for a little bit of money, even with tipping. It’s a good deal but I’m still not interested. I don’t even know where the closest _Olive Garden_ is. ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-pay-100-for-7-weeks-of-endless-olive-garden-pasta-breadsticks-salad-your-deal-awaits/697826/15 "2014-09-08T15:06:41Z")
No, I don’t really like their food. The breadsticks seem dry, all the pasta seems to taste the same, and I don’t like their salad dressing. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-pay-100-for-7-weeks-of-endless-olive-garden-pasta-breadsticks-salad-your-deal-awaits/697826/16 "2014-09-08T15:08:10Z")
I haven’t been to Olive Garden in ages, partially because I noticed that their method of handling “Endless” orders (pasta, breadsticks, whatever) was to never come back to your table and get you more. So you get your Endless Shrimp Pasta, eat it, stare at the empty plate for thirty minutes until someone finally offers to refill it, wait for the new pasta and maybe have time to eat it before any normal person’s dinner would be over. Unless you want to camp out in an Olive Garden for five hours, it’s not worth it. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-pay-100-for-7-weeks-of-endless-olive-garden-pasta-breadsticks-salad-your-deal-awaits/697826/17 "2014-09-08T15:13:03Z")
I’ve only been once. About 6 or 7 years ago. There was a significant wait for a table. I don’t recall the food, I assume it was fine. I do recall having to wait to be seated I wouldn’t put up for that for 6 weeks. I’d rather pay for my meal and not have to sit around the lobby. Now if they had priority seating, I might just do it. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-pay-100-for-7-weeks-of-endless-olive-garden-pasta-breadsticks-salad-your-deal-awaits/697826/18 "2014-09-08T15:27:43Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I’ve only been once. About 6 or 7 years ago. There was a significant wait for a table. I don’t recall the food, I assume it was fine. I do recall having to wait to be seated I wouldn’t put up for that for 6 weeks. I’d rather pay for my meal and not have to sit around the lobby. Now if they had priority seating, I might just do it. Well, not exactly _seating_, but they do have the “priority trough” that comes with this deal. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-pay-100-for-7-weeks-of-endless-olive-garden-pasta-breadsticks-salad-your-deal-awaits/697826/19 "2014-09-08T15:32:22Z")
Their idea of a promotion is to do something for 1,000 customers out of millions? If I’m not one of the select few, what’s the appeal? “Hey, you don’t have one of these passes. Too bad, so sad.” ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-pay-100-for-7-weeks-of-endless-olive-garden-pasta-breadsticks-salad-your-deal-awaits/697826/20 "2014-09-08T15:44:48Z")
The “appeal” is for Olive Garden: Get a bunch of people talking about Olive Garden without losing a lot of money on seven-week passes. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-pay-100-for-7-weeks-of-endless-olive-garden-pasta-breadsticks-salad-your-deal-awaits/697826.md?page=2)