The Chain Gang

The Instant Success of Olive Garden’s ‘All You Can Eat’ Pasta Cards Will Shatter Your Faith in Humanity

This card also gets you oodles of Coca-Cola branded soft drinks.
This card also gets you oodles of Coca-Cola branded soft drinks. Photo: Olive Garden.

Earlier today, Olive Garden unveiled the so-called Never Ending Pasta Pass — a card that, for $100, entitles you to exactly what it sounds like, as well as the kinds of caveats you’d probably expect from something called the Never Ending Pasta Pass: Unlike other trendy “endless” promotions, this one was confusingly limited — just seven too-short weeks of bottomless pasta, starting September 22, and there were a mere 1,000 cards, which have already sold out. Even the chain was unable to muster the requisite PR speak for its fettuccine alfredo bonanza. “What we’re trying to do is get some attention,” an executive told USA Today, putting it as bluntly as possible. “It’s sure to provoke a reaction.” [USAT]

The Instant Success of Olive Garden’s ‘All You Can Eat’ Pasta