Olive Garden Tops Casual Dining Preferences Among Baby Boomers

Olive Garden offers more than unlimited breadsticks. A recent survey highlights its popularity among baby boomers. YouGov’s U.S. restaurant brand rankings surveyed 7,500 adults aged 65 and older to find out their preferred casual dining chain. Among those surveyed, 33.8% chose Olive Garden, surpassing other popular chains such as Texas Roadhouse, Applebee’s, Cracker Barrel, and Outback Steakhouse.

The survey not only positioned Olive Garden as the favorite choice for those 65 and older, but also rated it highly for service (12.8%) and dining experience (12.1%) across all Americans. Founded in 1982 and based in Florida, Olive Garden has established itself as a leading brand in this category.

Chad Moutray, chief economist for the National Restaurant Association, commented on this trend, emphasizing the importance of quality, hospitality, and dining experience for consumers deciding where to spend their money.

Olive Garden’s appeal goes beyond older demographics. According to Morning Consult’s Most Trusted Brands report of 2026, it ranks high as a venue for family outings, avoiding cooking, and satisfying specific cravings. The report also notes Olive Garden’s strong emotional appeal, with more individuals associating positive feelings with the brand than any competitor.

Specifically, Olive Garden leads for family outings (40%), avoiding cooking (37%), and generous portions (32%). Nonetheless, Gen Z marked Chili’s as their top choice, with 29.6% favoring it over Olive Garden’s 28.7% in the 18-29 age bracket.

For Gen X and millennials, Olive Garden remained the most considered brand for ages 30–44 and 45–64. Other popular choices among baby boomers included Texas Roadhouse (28.2%), Applebee’s (24.7%), Cracker Barrel (24%), and Outback Steakhouse (22.1%).

Sadie Chafe, a Lifestyle team writer at Fox News Digital, contributed to uncovering these key insights into consumer dining preferences.