This pasta party spiraled out of control.
One Olive Garden server says a group of carb-crazed diners turned the chain’s famous “Never-Ending Pasta Bowl” into a bottomless nightmare — racking up a shocking $150 bill and a trail of regret.
“This never ending pasta gotta stop,” the exhausted employee vented on Reddit in an r/olivegarden post. “Never had a table get this many refills,” they wrote alongside a photo of the mile-long receipt.
The frazzled server explained that it wasn’t even their table — it belonged to a coworker who “was obv hoarding it,” watching helplessly as the group plowed through bowl after bowl of noodles.
“He wanted to tell them to stop,” the Redditor noted, “but the table was too big and it was slow so he didn’t want to compromise his tip.”
The server who started the discussion confirmed that the diners took most of what they ordered home in takeout boxes.
Olive Garden’s “Never-Ending Pasta Bowl” is the stuff of carb dreams — and server nightmares.
Starting at $13.99, guests can mix and match rounds of pasta and sauce with unlimited soup or salad and, of course, the chain’s legendary breadsticks.
After the first serving, refills come in smaller bowls — but there’s no cap on how many times you can go back for more.
Customers can even add proteins like chicken, meatballs, or sausage for a few extra bucks.
Drinks, however, are not included — though after a stunt like this, a glass of wine might be.
The promotion is meant to be indulgent — not a personal challenge.
The Post reached out to Olive Garden for comment.
The viral post had fellow restaurant workers clutching their aprons.
Some sympathized with the overwhelmed server, while others were impressed by the diners’ dedication to the all-you-can-eat art form.
Many, however, said the group crossed the line from “endless” to excessive.
“Are these people just perpetually constipated because how can you even eat that much pasta without having a life threatening bowel obstruction,” one wrote.
They continued, “i’m genuinely worried about them too lol this receipt is like a miserable cry for help for both the server and patrons.”
Not everyone was amused by the diners’ all-you-can-eat antics — especially former Olive Garden servers who said the so-called “Never-Ending” deal is more of a never-ending headache for staff.
One ex-employee in the comments said the pasta tab likely didn’t translate to much of a payout once it was split among the group — and, unsurprisingly, not everyone was tipping generously.
“There is no world where that amount of work warrants the pay,” the Redditor wrote, calling the restaurant’s system unfair. “This place is so far stacked against the server it’s criminal.”
The commenter added that the job just isn’t worth the grind.
Over on TikTok, Olive Garden employees are also sounding off on the viral pasta deal.
One viral clip from Olive Garden staffer @thatsjustki shows her team humorously shotgunning energy drinks as Reba McEntire’s “I’m A Survivor” plays as they prepare for their shift in their restaurant’s kitchen. The caption read: “POV: It’s Never Ending Pasta Season.”
New York Olive Garden waitress Hailey (@haileydeenaz) recently shared her insider tips for surviving the chain’s carb chaos. She said the “best way” to play the “Never-Ending Pasta Bowl” is to “get the meat add-on.”
Staff, she added, are told to encourage diners to go for at least one refill — and to box up leftovers if they want to try a new pasta next round.
Still, she made one thing clear: “Honestly, if you’re tipping, we don’t care.”
The Post reached out to these servers for comment.
The TikTokker noted that servers are the ones making every soup, salad, and refill, so skimping on gratuity doesn’t sit well. “If you’re thinking about giving us $3 on your $40 check, it kinda sucks,” she said.
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