No Unlimited Breadsticks For You: Chicago Olive Garden Opening Pushed Back

By Lisa White in Food on Nov 11, 2013 9:40PM

If you’ve been waiting with bated breath for unlimited soup, salad and breadsticks within the city limits, you’ll have to hold out a little longer. DNAInfo Chicago spoke to Ald. Rey Colon(35th) who confirmed that the construction of the Olive Garden restaurant had hit a few snags since the announcement to break ground last spring. The chain restaurant will be located in the auxiliary parking lot of the Kmart located at 3443 W. Addison, just west of the Addison and Kimball intersection. The plan was to have the $1.2 million restaurant built over the summer, but it looks like you’ll have to wait until next spring according to Colon’s predictions. No never ending pasta bowl for Christmas this year folks.

DNAInfo also reports that representatives from Olive Garden’s parent company, Darden Enterprises, have already promised to hire around 100 full and part time employees locally and to support local community programs as well. Although we prefer to shop local, the news earlier this year of the chain breaking ground within the reach of CTA transit sparked a wave of joy amongst fans of the Italian chain with a cult following. And they aren’t messing around with their lunch special of the aforementioned unlimited soup, salad and breadsticks. Those that work in the area will have a new affordable filling option for lunch. We’ll keep our allegiance to Red Lobster as our favorite far away chain choice even though you can reach the nearest one via the Kedzie bus.

Granted, it is a very long trek for cheddar biscuits but is totally worth it from time to time. We’ll keep mild excitement for the Olive Garden opening next spring, but call us when Red Lobster breaks ground closer to downtown and we’ll fangirl out with the best of them.