For many local foodies, the dream of “Never-Ending Garden Soup and Salad” and those iconic warm breadsticks has been a memory reserved for cross-border road trips or 90s nostalgia. But get your appetite ready, because the wait is officially almost over.
Olive Garden has announced it will officially be making its highly anticipated return to Ontario, with a flagship Greater Toronto Area location set to open this Summer 2026.
Coming first to Vaughan Mills, the an Ottawa location in the Westboro neighbourhood also slated for a Summer 2026 debut will follow suit, marking the beginning of a long-term expansion across the province.
In the 1990s, Olive Garden had once 11 locations across the province before shuttering all in the 2000s. However, industry experts say the return comes at the perfect time, as diners look for more “bang for their buck” without sacrificing the comfort of a sit-down meal. There’s also a massive nostalgia factor at play; for many Ontarians, Olive Garden represents a familiar slice of the past that has been missing from our local dining scene for decades.
Fans of the American Italian-inspired chain can expect all of their beloved favourite menu items at the new locations, including their signature unlimited breadsticks, garden salad, create-your-own pasta dishes, and classic entrees like chicken parmigiana and lasagna.
Whether you’re hitting the mall for a shopping spree or just craving a mountain of pasta, the countdown to Summer 2026 is officially on.