Rather than relying on discounts alone, the limited Pasta Pass creates attention that extends well beyond its sales.

LongHorn thrives by pairing value with quality, while mid-tier concepts struggle to stand out.

As rising food-away-from-home costs push diners to prioritize value, Darden Restaurants is gaining ground with compelling offers like Olive Garden’s $13.99 Never Ending Pasta Bowl and LongHorn’s budget-friendly lunch plates, which helped drive strong Q2 sales and foot traffic gains. Net sales rose to $3.10 billion and same-restaurant sales exceeded expectations, though higher beef costs pressured margins. With both Olive Garden and LongHorn outperforming and fine dining posting modest growth, Darden has raised its full-year sales outlook, reflecting confidence that its value-forward approach will keep resonating with cost-conscious consumers.

Olive Garden is testing lower-priced entrées with smaller portion sizes, parent Darden said, to woo consumers who are price-conscious as well as those on weight-loss drugs like Ozempic. Darden’s investments in pricing are helping it win spending from value-conscious consumers, who are looking to get more bang for their buck—and a clear idea of what a night out will cost them. While keeping prices low may hurt short-term profits, the company is confident that its value focus will position it to boost sales and take share.

Domino’s inks deal with DoorDash to expand delivery reach: The partnership will put the pizza chain on track to reach its goal of $1 billion in sales from aggregator platforms by 2026.

Restaurants, food brands adapt to Gen Z tastes with “swicy,” diverse product offerings: Companies ranging from PepsiCo to Starbucks are looking to capitalize on younger consumers’ desire for dining out and grocery treats.

Olive Garden inks delivery partnership with Uber following parent Darden Restaurants’ poor quarter: The company missed sales and earnings expectations as consumers cut back on restaurant visits.

Consumers continue to spend big on restaurants, gym memberships: Despite inflationary pressures, shoppers are willing to invest in affordable luxuries and wellness.