Are Olive Garden Gift Cards Worth It? Here’s What You Should Know

Let’s face it — gift cards can feel a little impersonal. But when you get one from a place like Olive Garden, it’s different. It’s not just money on a card — it’s dinner with family, breadsticks you didn’t have to bake, and a night where no one asks what’s for dinner.

Whether you’re shopping for a birthday, holiday, graduation, or just need a last-minute “thank you” — an Olive Garden gift card is the kind of gift that’s simple, safe, and still thoughtful. But are they really worth buying? Do they expire? Can you even use them for online orders or promotions?
In this post, we’ll walk through everything you need to know before picking one up — or before spending one someone gave you. Because yes, Olive Garden gift cards can be worth it… but only if you know how to use them right.

Types of Olive Garden Gift Cards: What Are Your Options?

Olive Garden makes it pretty easy to give (or get) a meal. Whether you’re shopping ahead for the holidays or need something last-minute, there are a few different gift card options you can choose from:

Digital Gift Cards (Electronic Delivery)

Need a gift in a hurry? You can send a digital gift card directly to someone’s email — no wrapping paper required. These electronic gift cards are available in custom amounts and usually arrive within minutes. Great for last-minute birthdays or when you forgot someone at the office party.

Physical Gift Cards (By Mail)

Prefer something they can hold? You can still go with a physical Olive Garden gift card, which is shipped by mail. It’s a solid choice when you want to tuck it into a greeting card or gift bag.

Dinner & Movie Combo Pack

One of the most popular gift card deals is the Dinner & Movie Combo Pack. For $50, you get a $25 Olive Garden gift card and a $25 Fandango gift card — making it a perfect date-night package. This combo is available online and can be sent electronically too.

Bulk Gift Cards

Planning to treat your team, employees, or clients? Olive Garden also offers large bulk gift card orders (for amounts over $500). Both digital and physical options are available for bulk purchases — perfect for corporate gifting or holiday bonuses.

Canadian Olive Garden Gift Cards

If you’re gifting to someone in Canada, make sure you select the Canadian gift card option — regular U.S. cards won’t work across the border.

Where to Buy Olive Garden Gift Cards (And How to Get the Best Deals)

You don’t have to go far to grab an Olive Garden gift card — they’re pretty easy to find, whether you’re shopping online or in person.

 Buy Online from the Source

The simplest way? Just head to the official Olive Garden website. You can buy gift cards online in physical or digital gift card form, choose your amount, and send them straight to someone’s inbox or mailbox.

In-Store & Third-Party Retailers

If you’re out running errands, you’ll find Olive Garden gift cards at grocery stores, pharmacies, warehouse clubs, and big box stores. Target, Walmart, CVS, and even Sam’s Club often carry them in their restaurant gift card sections.

 Look for Deals Around Holidays

During the holiday season or around events like Mother’s Day and graduation, Olive Garden often runs gift card deals — like “Buy $50, get a $10 bonus.” These promotions are usually posted on their site or announced in-store.

You can also keep an eye out for discounted gift cards through retailers like Rakuten, Raise, or even grocery store loyalty programs. Sometimes, you can save a few bucks or earn rewards points with your purchase.

Bulk Orders Made Simple

If you Need to order gift cards online for your employees, clients, or a large group, Olive Garden lets you place bulk orders directly through their site for amounts over $500 — a smart move for corporate gifting or team rewards
 Tip FOR U: If you’re shopping for someone who likes flexibility, you can also find restaurant gift cards that cover Olive Garden plus other chains under the same parent brand — like LongHorn Steakhouse or Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen.

How to Use Olive Garden Gift Cards (Online, In-Restaurant & More)

So you’ve got an Olive Garden gift card — now what? The good news is, using it is simple, whether you’re sitting down for a meal or ordering online.

In-Restaurant Use

Just hand over the physical gift card to your server when the check comes, and they’ll apply it to your bill. If you have a digital gift card, they can scan the barcode or enter the code manually — just make sure it’s pulled up on your phone.

Online Orders

Ordering takeout from Olive Garden’s website? You can enter your Olive Garden gift card number at checkout, just like a credit card. It’s a smooth process and great if you’re planning a family dinner at home. Some people use these as backup meal money — especially for busy weeknights.

Through Delivery Apps

Can You Use Olive Garden Gift Cards on DoorDash?

It’s a common question — and the short answer is: not really. Olive Garden gift cards don’t work directly on apps like DoorDash or Uber Eats. Those platforms usually accept their own credits or payment methods only.

That said, if you’ve got a Darden Restaurants gift card (which covers Olive Garden and a few others), you might be able to connect it through a secondary payment method, depending on the app. It’s hit or miss, honestly. Your best bet is to order straight through Olive Garden’s website or app if you want to be sure it’ll go through.Quick tip: If you’re mixing gift cards and another form of payment, always check your gift card balance before ordering — it’ll save you some frustration at checkout.

Are Olive Garden Gift Cards Worth It?

If you’ve ever been stuck looking for a last-minute gift that still feels thoughtful, an Olive Garden card is one of those simple options that actually works. People like food. People like not cooking. This covers both.

Whether you send it by email, add it to a birthday card, or hand one over as a thank-you, it’s the kind of gift people won’t toss in a drawer and forget. Plus, with special promos like gift cards on sale or holiday bonus offers, you might even save a little in the process.

So if you’re asking whether they’re worth picking up — yeah, they are. They’re useful, flexible, and nobody ever complains about free pasta.

Do Olive Garden Gift Cards Expire?

One of the first things people wonder before buying any gift card is whether it comes with an expiration date. With Olive Garden, you don’t have to worry about rushing to use your balance. Their gift cards don’t expire, and they don’t charge any hidden fees for inactivity. That means if you get one today and forget about it for a year, it’ll still hold its full value when you’re finally ready for pasta night.
Another helpful detail: you can easily check your balance. Just flip the card over and you’ll see a toll-free number, or head to Olive Garden’s official website and use their balance checker tool. This makes it simple to keep track of what’s left, especially if you’ve used the card a few times for smaller meals or takeout orders.

There are only a couple of small restrictions to keep in mind. You can’t reload the card once the balance runs out, and it can’t be exchanged for cash unless required by law in your state. Aside from that, it works like cash for anything on the Olive Garden menu — from unlimited soup and salad to a full family feast.

Pros and Cons of Olive Garden Gift Cards

Pros	Cons
Can be used at any Olive Garden location (and sometimes sister restaurants)	Only valid at Olive Garden and select partners — limited flexibility
No expiration date or hidden fees	Cannot be reloaded once the balance runs out
Works for dine-in, takeout, and online orders	Not redeemable for cash (except where legally required)
Perfect for food lovers who enjoy Italian-American cuisine	May go unused if the recipient doesn’t dine at Olive Garden often
Bonus promotions available during holidays (extra value)	Less versatile compared to general-purpose gift cards (like Visa/Mastercard)

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, Olive Garden gift cards are one of those simple, no-fuss options that make sense if you or the person you’re gifting actually enjoys the food. They hold their value, don’t expire, and often come with little bonus perks during special promotions. Of course, they’re not as flexible as a Visa or Mastercard gift card, but for fans of endless breadsticks and hearty pastas, they’re a thoughtful pick that never feels wasted.