Do you like Olive Garden? I know I LOVE Olive Garden! Well if you do, and haven’t checked out their new menu, it’s time to head over there, because the new plates are mouth-watering delicious. Back in September I went to a tasting of the menu and I was so, so, so impress. I am not lying there are some things that I would definitely never order from the menu description, but because it was a tasting, I decided to try everything, even the things I wouldn’t normally eat. When we got there the tasting menu was placed on the table, a t-shirt, and a small plate. And were ready.

We tried 13 dishes. 13!!! I also ordered the Strawberry-Passion Fruit Limonata. So refreshing, so enjoyable. I didn’t even think twice about the wine because this drink was so good. The first taste was the Crispy Risotto Bites, these little balls are full of creamy risotto. They are part of the small bites menu, which is a cross-breed of an appetizer and full size meal. If you like shrimp, try the Polenta Shrimp a la Greca. It is excellent.

I don’t want to overwhelm you with every detail of the menu, and I urge you to try them all on your own, but I will describe my favorites. The Crispy Risotto balls where my favorite of all. My second favorite was the Smashed Chicken Meatball Sandwich. It comes with a pesto sauce, mozzarella all sitting in a plate of marinara. Is is equally delicious as it is beautifully presented. Some of my other favorites were the new butternut squash pasta. It was so good!

1. My favorite, favorite, favorite one, which was really hard to pick was the Parpadelle Pescatore. Shrimp, scallops and clams with a lovely sauce and pasta cooked to perfection. It is really worth it. This is one of those plates that stays with you for a very long time. Of course for dessert we got to try the AMAZING Pumpkin cheesecake. I’m going to be honest, I DON’T LIKE PUMPKIN (sue me), but seriously O-M-G, this cheesecake is to die for. It is light, creamy, sweet, delicate. It just brings happy to your tummy and your heart. So yeah I recommend it, even if you don’t like pumpkin, you will like this cheesecake it is divine!

So definitely, go take the family and enjoy the new Olive Garden menu. Also if you are on a diet, they also have a light fare menu, with meals that are fewer calories but still filling and enjoyable! So BUON APPETITO!

DISCLAIMER: I was invited by Olive Garden to taste the menu. I was not compensated for my opinions, they are all my own.