Another day, another episode of Olive Garden’s never-ending pasta trend. This time, a woman revealed how she took advantage of the promotion by filling Ziploc bags and Tupperware with pasta to take home.
TikTok user Ayline Cruz (@aylinecruz1999) uploaded a video of her outing on Tuesday. In it, she unveiled the empty Tupperware and Ziploc bags in her purse. Then, the video shifted to her and her friends ordering the never-ending pasta. From there, they filled the containers with pasta and showed the empty plates on the table.
“Times are tough,” Cruz wrote in the on-screen caption. The women then showed off their haul, revealing that each had a Ziploc or Tupperware container in their purse, along with three Olive Garden to-go bags that sat on an outdoor bench in front of them.
In the caption, Cruz added that she “Paid $13.99 for 5 servings worth of fettuccine alfredo.”
@aylinecruz1999 Paid $13.99 for 5 servings worth of fettuccine alfredo #girlmath #girldinner #besties #olivegarden #neverendingpasta @yaya @Samantha Ayala ♬ That's Amore – Dean Martin
The Daily Dot contacted Cruz via TikTok comment and Olive Garden via email for more information. The video racked up over 528,000 views. In the comments section, viewers noted alternative methods Cruz could’ve used to take home the pasta.
“They give you containers if you ask,” one viewer wrote.
“You know you can ask for to-go containers, after [you’re] done say you want 3 more but put them to go. It’s allowed,” a second echoed.
However, other commenters shared that they stick with Cruz’s strategy.
“I do this and my bf thinks it’s too extra and then I see him eating it later that day,” one user revealed.
“I do this at the Brazilian steak house!” a second said. “Lol I only have 20% of my stomach I can’t eat $60 worth of meat so I take it in my Tupperware hahahah.”
“I been doing this… the amount of ziplock bags i have in my purse is crazy.. but you gotta let em cool off .. but the reheat pretty well,” a third stated.
Cruz isn’t the only Olive Garden customer to go viral for this tactic. TikTok user Wumi says she “finessed” a week’s worth of pasta after sneaking out with 10 bowls. Another content creator said she sneaked out 11 bowls and even shared a tutorial on how she did it. Other TikTokers have also been documenting their experiences with the pasta deal and whether it was positive or negative.
Update 3:53pm CT, Oct. 17: In a comment, Cruz shared that she and the other two people she was dining with tipped the worker “extra.” Many believe that if a customer orders a deal like this, they should tip the worker accordingly given the worker is serving the customers several dishes rather than the usual one. “If you get anything unlimited pls tips us well,” one TikToker who said they are an Olive Garden server recently urged.
And just how many dishes should one be ordering to make the deal, which starts at $13.99, worth it? One TikToker did the math.
After buying her “own ingredients at a local grocery store and making it at home,” TikToker Rachel (@rachhhyl) found the breakeven point of the never-ending deal. She came to the conclusion that a customer would need to make it through three-and-a-half bowls to make the deal worth it.