In April, Olive Garden, is making its Indian debut on Gurugram’s vibrant culinary landscape. Part of Darden Restaurants, the world’s largest full-service restaurant company headquartered in Orlando, Florida, Olive Garden has been championing Italian-American classics since 1982. In India, the restaurant will be run by Gourmet Investments, the company that has introduced India to premium global restaurant brands including PizzaExpress, Chili’s American Grill & Bar, and P.F. Chang’s.
Ramit Bharti Mittal, the executive chairman of Gourmet Investments
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Ramit Bharti Mittal, the executive chairman of Gourmet Investments, says that the more concrete conversations with Gourmet Investments and the Olive Garden team began around five years ago, pre-Covid, and have since evolved thoughtfully. “As one of the world’s most loved American Italian restaurant brands and part of the Darden Group, Olive Garden was a natural addition to Gourmet Investments’ portfolio of iconic global dining brands. We have plans to expand the chain across Delhi -NCR in phases,” he says.
Salad at Olive Garden
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With over 900 restaurants in more than 12 countries, including Canada, Brazil, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates, Olive Garden’s foray in India points the country’s post-pandemic shift towards casual-dining restaurants. “Olive Garden occupies a distinct space in the dining landscape as a casual dining restaurant rooted in decades of legacy, rather than a fast-food format. While India has several Italian offerings, Olive Garden is globally loved for its authentic American-Italian cuisine, from freshly prepared pastas and classic sauces to its iconic never-ending soup or salad and bread sticks. It is designed as a relaxed, sit-down dining destination that encourages shared meals and family gatherings, which resonates strongly with Indian diners,” Ramit explains.
Pizza at Olive Garden
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Tucked into the urban fold of New Delhi’s bustling Aerocity, Olive Garden spans approximately 2,300 to 2,900 square feet and can accommodate around 94 guests. The space has been designed by Incubis, a long-standing design partner for Gourmet Investments who also worked on other global brands such as PizzaExpress and P.F. Chang’s. Of the space’s aesthetics, Ramit opines, “The space incorporates key elements from Olive Garden’s global design language, drawing inspiration from its Tuscan roots. With sun-washed walls, rustic texture, warm lighting and cosy details, the restaurant evokes the charm of an Italian villa while remaining contemporary and inviting.”
Lasagne Classico, a timeless favourite featuring layers of pasta, rich sauce and cheese, slow-baked for a deeply satisfying, homestyle flavour
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The menu, though under wraps, will be dishing out its signature classics. “The menu stays true to Olive Garden’s American Italian heritage while being thoughtfully adapted to local preferences. Guests can look forward to iconic classics such as tiramisu, along with a wide selection of vegetarian and non-vegetarian offerings. As with Olive Garden globally, every entrée is served with the brand’s signature never-ending soup or salad and warm breadsticks, reinforcing its focus on generosity and comfort,” says Ramit.
Before leaving, he shares with us the top three recommendations from the chef: Tour of Italy, a signature experience that brings together three of the brand’s most loved dishes on one plate, offering variety, indulgence and comfort in a single serving; Lasagne Classico, a timeless favourite featuring layers of pasta, rich sauce and cheese, slow-baked for a deeply satisfying, homestyle flavour; and chicken alfredo, one of their most iconic dishes, known for its creamy, indulgent Alfredo sauce paired with perfectly cooked pasta and tender chicken.
Olive Garden, will be launched at 4 Worldmark, Aerocity, New Delhi, in April; a meal for two will be priced between ₹2,000 and ₹2,500.
Published – March 06, 2026 07:06 pm IST