I attempted Olive Garden's Never-Ending Pasta Bowl. It was a reminder of why chains can't quit bottomless deals.

I recently visited Olive Garden's flagship Times Square restaurant to try their Never-Ending Pasta Bowl promotion. The deal, which started in 1995, is back nationwide from August 31 through November 22, 2026. For $14.99 at select locations, customers can enjoy unlimited pasta with four shapes (fettuccine, spaghetti, angel hair, and rigatoni) and six sauces (Alfredo, new Spicy Alfredo, meat sauce, five-cheese marinara, traditional marinara, and creamy mushroom). Customers can also add protein toppings for an extra $5.99 per topping.

Upon entering the Times Square location, the restaurant's large footprint made it stand out among the bustling city surroundings. The restaurant occupies three floors and roughly 20,000 square feet, making it Olive Garden's largest location. Despite the large size, the Times Square location was bustling with customers during my visit on a Wednesday afternoon at 4 p.m.

The menu at this location was pricier than suburban Olive Garden restaurants, with some pasta dishes running around $17 to $25. However, the Never-Ending Pasta Bowl, which costs $20.99 at the Times Square location plus $5.99 for never-ending protein, seemed like a reasonable deal compared to other pasta dishes on the menu. The salad and breadsticks, which were included in the deal, were fresh and flavorful, setting the stage for the pasta experience.

For my first bowl of pasta, I chose rigatoni with meat sauce and Italian sausage as my protein. The pasta was hearty and filling, with distinct chunks of meat that made the dish feel satisfying. The meat sauce clung to the ridged noodles, showcasing the home-cooked quality of the dish. Despite the hefty price tag, the bowl was such an excellent value that I found myself wanting more pasta to try.