Olive Garden enters India with its first restaurant in Aerocity, New Delhi

In April, Olive Garden, is making its Indian debut connected Gurugram’s vibrant culinary landscape. Part of Darden Restaurants, the world’s largest full-service edifice institution headquartered successful Orlando, Florida, Olive Garden has been championing Italian-American classics since 1982. In India, the edifice volition beryllium tally by Gourmet Investments, the institution that has introduced India to premium planetary edifice brands including PizzaExpress, Chili’s American Grill & Bar, and P.F. Chang’s.

Ramit Bharti Mittal, the enforcement president of Gourmet Investments, says that the much factual conversations with Gourmet Investments and the Olive Garden squad began astir 5 years ago, pre-Covid, and person since evolved thoughtfully. “As 1 of the world’s astir loved American Italian edifice brands and portion of the Darden Group, Olive Garden was a earthy summation to Gourmet Investments’ portfolio of iconic planetary eating brands. We person plans to grow the concatenation crossed Delhi -NCR successful phases,” helium says.

With implicit 900 restaurants successful much than 12 countries, including Canada, Brazil, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates, Olive Garden’s foray successful India points the country’s post-pandemic displacement towards casual-dining restaurants. “Olive Garden occupies a chiseled abstraction successful the eating scenery arsenic a casual eating edifice rooted successful decades of legacy, alternatively than a fast-food format. While India has respective Italian offerings, Olive Garden is globally loved for its authentic American-Italian cuisine, from freshly prepared pastas and classical sauces to its iconic never-ending crockery oregon crockery and breadstuff sticks. It is designed arsenic a relaxed, sit-down eating destination that encourages shared meals and household gatherings, which resonates powerfully with Indian diners,” Ramit explains.

Tucked into the municipality fold of New Delhi’s bustling Aerocity, Olive Garden spans astir 2,300 to 2,900 quadrate feet and tin accommodate astir 94 guests. The abstraction has been designed by Incubis, a long-standing plan spouse for Gourmet Investments who besides worked connected different planetary brands specified arsenic PizzaExpress and P.F. Chang’s. Of the space’s aesthetics, Ramit opines, “The abstraction incorporates cardinal elements from Olive Garden’s planetary plan language, drafting inspiration from its Tuscan roots. With sun-washed walls, rustic texture, lukewarm lighting and cosy details, the edifice evokes the charm of an Italian villa portion remaining modern and inviting.”

The menu, though nether wraps, volition beryllium dishing retired its signature classics. “The paper stays existent to Olive Garden’s American Italian practice portion being thoughtfully adapted to section preferences. Guests tin look guardant to iconic classics specified arsenic tiramisu, on with a wide enactment of vegetarian and non-vegetarian offerings. As with Olive Garden globally, each entrée is served with the brand’s signature never-ending crockery oregon crockery and lukewarm breadsticks, reinforcing its absorption connected generosity and comfort,” says Ramit.

Before leaving, helium shares with america the apical 3 recommendations from the chef: Tour of Italy, a signature acquisition that brings unneurotic 3 of the brand’s astir loved dishes connected 1 plate, offering variety, indulgence and comfortableness successful a azygous serving; Lasagne Classico, a timeless favourite featuring layers of pasta, affluent condiment and cheese, slow-baked for a profoundly satisfying, homestyle flavour; and chickenhearted alfredo, 1 of their astir iconic dishes, known for its creamy, indulgent Alfredo condiment paired with perfectly cooked pasta and tender chicken.

Olive Garden, volition beryllium launched astatine 4 Worldmark, Aerocity, New Delhi, successful April; a repast for 2 volition beryllium priced betwixt ₹2,000 and ₹2,500.