I went to Olive Garden, Carrabba's, and Maggiano's with a $50 budget. One chain had the best value, and another served the best food.
NEWS | 18 July 2026
Growing up in an Italian-American family, I rarely ordered Italian food at restaurants, since my mom's homemade versions set the bar pretty high. Still, I've always wondered whether the big Italian chain restaurants are actually worth the money. So, within the same week, I visited Olive Garden, Carrabba's Italian Grill, and Maggiano's Little Italy in New Jersey, each with a $50 budget. I ordered the same meal at each restaurant — calamari and chicken Parmesan. If I had room left in my budget, I added dessert to round out the experience. Here's how it went.
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