Being a server is a challenging job: dealing with difficult customers, constantly on their feet, and making endless kitchen runs, all without a guaranteed tip. Special promotions can add extra stress since customers may feel less inclined to tip generously. With Olive Garden’s annual Never-Ending Pasta among us, one former Longhorn Steakhouse employee urges more than 47,000 viewers to consider tipping their servers more if ordering this deal.
What is the Never-Ending Pasta deal at Olive Garden?
From August 25 to November 16, Olive Garden customers can order unlimited pasta, breadsticks, soup, salad, and sauce for $13.99. Four types of pasta are included in this deal: Fettuccine, Spaghetti, Angel Hair, and Rigatoni pasta, all mixed and matched with your choice of Alfredo, Meat Sauce, Five Cheese Marinara, Traditional Marinara, or Creamy Mushroom. This time around, Olive Garden introduced its new Spicy Three-Meat Sauce to add a spicy kick to your pasta. Furthermore, you can top it with Crispy Chicken Fritta, Meatballs, or Italian Sausage for an additional $4.99.
Server shares her thoughts
“I hope this reaches the right audience, but y’all need to hear something,” TikTok creator Alexis (@tamponplaza) begins the video. “I’ve been a server for a very long time, and we’re approaching $13.99 Endless Pasta at Olive Garden.”
Previously, she worked as a server at Longhorn Steakhouse. Because she knows people who had worked at its sister company, Olive Garden, she felt compelled to speak out.
“You would be [expletive] appalled by the amount of people I know and friends that I have that used to work at Olive Garden that literally have quit because of Endless Pasta,” she says.
It boils down to all of the work the server has to do wth little reward. “You get a water, and then you get the $13.99 Endless Pasta. You have 10 [expletive] bowls of pasta. You get your check with tax, it’s only $15, leaving your server’s tip being $2,” the content creator explains.
“All this time and effort they just put into you. Yes, your check is only 15 bucks, and yes, it’s only an obligation to tip 20% but can you take into account the actual work they’re putting in for you?” Essentially, this irks Alexis. “You are taking one of my three tables for two hours and I’m gonna get a dollar and maybe 10 cents out of it,” she remarks.
“Just be mindful about your server, please,” she says.
What did viewers say?
Alexis’ opinion sparked division in the comments section. Some sided with her, believing that All-You-Can-Eat deals warrant a larger tip.
“All you can eat ANYTHING is an automatic $10 tip at the very least,” one viewer commented.
“My whole thing is – when you’re getting that much savings on food, that’s more for my server,” a second wrote.
However, most disagreed, claiming it’s not their responsibility to tip more during specials.
“That’s not our problem,” one commenter remarked.
“Girl idc don’t work at olive garden then,” another stated.
“Can you take into account the fact that I am not obligated to tip you 20% in the first place??” a third said.
How much should you tip your Olive Garden server?
According to NBC, 57% of restaurant employees’ incomes are through tips. Because some states still pay their tipped staff $2.13, these workers heavily depend on tips to make ends meet. This begs the question: how much should you tip an Olive Garden server, or any server for that matter?
American Express reported that 95% of Americans base their tips on the quality of service, influencing the amount they leave. Over the years, the standard tip has increased to 20%. If the server went above and beyond, 25% is a sufficient reward. So, tip your server generously if they provided excellent service, especially during special promotions.
@tamponplaza #endlesspasta #olivegarden #server ♬ original sound – tamponplaza
The Mary Sue reached out to Alexis via TikTok comment and direct message as well as Olive Garden via press email.
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