Olive Garden is recognized for more than its unlimited breadsticks. A recent survey highlights the Italian restaurant chain as a favored choice among baby boomers.

YouGov conducted a poll with 7,500 adults aged 65 and older, asking them about their preferred casual dining chain. Among these participants, 33.8% selected Olive Garden over other prominent restaurants such as Texas Roadhouse, Applebee’s, Cracker Barrel, and Outback Steakhouse.

In an environment where consumers are increasingly selective about how they spend their hard-earned dollars, quality, hospitality and the overall dining experience play a critical role in where they choose to eat, stated Chad Moutray, chief economist for the National Restaurant Association.

Based in Florida and established in 1982, Olive Garden also topped the rankings for service at 12.8% and dining experience at 12.1% across all surveyed Americans.

According to Morning Consult’s Most Trusted Brands report, Olive Garden not only appeals to older diners but also ranks highly for family outings, avoiding cooking, and fulfilling specific food cravings. The report notes that the brand has the broadest emotional appeal among its competitors, with more people recognizing and feeling positive about Olive Garden.

The analysis shows that the chain leads the casual dining sector for family outings (40%), opting not to cook (37%), and generous portions (32%). However, for Gen Z, Chili’s takes the top spot with 29.6%, while Olive Garden follows closely at 28.7%.

Other casual dining brands that baby boomers favor include Texas Roadhouse (28.2%), Applebee’s (24.7%), Cracker Barrel (24%), and Outback Steakhouse (22.1%).

Overall, the YouGov study finds Olive Garden as a top preference not only for baby boomers but also for Gen X and millennials, as it stands as the most considered brand among those aged 30–44 and 45–64.