Another year of Never Ending Pasta (Updated)

Updated – 2025/2026

On September 15, 2016, Olive Garden again offered a $100 pass for never-ending pasta!  The 21,000 patrons who quickly (in less than a minute) bought all of the passes will be entitled to as much pasta as they like (with toppings) from October 3 to November 20.  Ask the class to consider these questions:

• Is this a good deal for patrons?  What are the pros and cons?
• Will Olive Garden go broke?
• Is this good for the restaurant chain?
• Is the pass priced correctly?  If not, how much should it cost?
• How should we start answering these questions?  What information would be useful?

Before beginning this investigation, do a little problem-solving planning with your class.  Ask students what information they would like to gather in order to analyze the money-making, money-saving, or money-losing potential of this Pasta Pass.  Finally, students create their own all-you-can-eat pass for their favorite restaurant.

Thanks to Brian Shoemaker of Newton Public Schools for suggesting the original post. This activity has been updated for 2025/2026.