#88 of 197 Destin Restaurants

Olive Garden

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Indulge in Authentic Italian Cuisine at Olive Garden in Destin
Local Expert's Rating:
4 / 5
The Bottom Line:

If you’re craving authentic Italian food in a warm and welcoming atmosphere on your vacation to Destin, Florida, you’ll find it at Olive Garden. From intimate date nights to large family gatherings, Olive Garden is the perfect place to relax and recharge while feasting on a delicious meal.

- The FloridaPanhandle.com Local Expert Team

The Olive Garden makes a bold promise with its slogan, “We’re all family here.” Thanks to its delicious food, warm atmosphere, and friendly servers, the Destin Olive Garden — conveniently located across from Destin Commons — more than delivers on this promise.

If you’ve ever eaten at an Olive Garden before, you’re probably aware of the many reasons this 800-strong chain of restaurant is so popular. Whether you’re in the mood for a traditional Italian meal or one with a modern spin on classic Italian, you can look forward to fresh, flavorful food in a family-friendly environment when you dine at Olive Garden in Destin.

One of the best things about the Olive Garden is its huge menu. When we say there’s something here for everyone, we mean it. For starters, no discussion of the Olive Garden is complete without mention of its famous soup and breadsticks. If you’re dining with someone who is gluten-free, vegan, or has another dietary restriction there’s plenty here for them, too. Even the kids get ample options far beyond the usual macaroni and cheese, pizza, and chicken fingers.

We’re also big fans of the Olive Garden’s extensive beverage menu. After a long day of exploring Destin, nothing hits the spot better than a Spiked Strawberry Lemonade, Long Island Limoncello, or Watermelon Moscato Sangria.

While it’s almost impossible to narrow it down, here are a few of our favorite menu items:

Create a Sampler Italiano
With so many appetizing appetizers on the menu, why pick just one? This sampler option lets you create a two- or three-item appetizer with your choice of calamari, seafood stuffed mushrooms, fried mozzarella, lasagna fritta, or toasted beef, and pork ravioli.

Soup, Salad & Breadsticks Dinner
It may not sound like much, but it’s truly a simple yet satisfying meal. Along with Olive Garden’s signature house salad and warm garlic breadsticks, choose between a variety of soups including Chicken & Gnocchi; Pasta e Fagioli; Zuppa Toscana; and Minestrone.

Tour of Italy
With so many taste sensations on the menu, choosing just one can be a struggle. With the Tour of Italy, you don’t have to. Instead, you get three Olive Garden classics on one delicious plate: Chicken Parmigiana, Lasagna Classico, and Fettuccini Alfredo.

Salmon Piccata
While Italian food can sometimes be heavy, there are plenty of lighter options at Olive Garden, including this eye-catching option featuring succulent grilled salmon topped with a lemon garlic butter sauce, sun-dried tomatoes, and capers. It’s even served with parmesan-crusted zucchini if you’re watching your carbs.

Dolcini
While Olive Garden offers a huge menu of desserts, its Piccoli Dolcis, AKA “little dessert treats,” are a wonderful way to finish off your meal with something sweet without going overboard. Choose between one, two, or three Dolcinis.

One of our favorite things about Olive Garden’s menu, meanwhile? All nutritional information is displayed right on the menu so if you’re watching what you eat, it couldn’t be easier to make healthy choices.

Whether you’re a lifelong fan of Olive Garden or you haven’t yet experienced it and you’ve been wondering what the fuss is about, there’s no better occasion to join the “family” than on your visit to Destin.

Insider Tips:
– Don’t feel like going out for the night? Not only is the entire Olive Garden menu available for pickup, but you can even place your order online. Its Family-Style Togo Bundles offer an especially easy way to feed the whole family without resorting to fast food.
– If you’re watching your budget or simply prefer a late lunch or early dinner, don’t miss Olive Garden’s Early Dinner Duos deal available Monday through Thursday between three and five for dine-in only.