'Start with the red sauce': Man prepares to eat 10+ bowls of pasta at never-ending pasta night, Olive Garden experts offer their tips

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JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Aug 30, 2025 10:00 AM EDT

One of the rites of passage of growing up is eating as much food as you can in one sitting. Either you did it, your neighbor did it, your weird cousin did it, or someone you loved did it. They sat down at the Chinese buffet and said, "I am going to eat 12 plates of food, so help me God." It's a challenge that many of us love to set ourselves up for. We fancy ourselves like Casey Webb from Man Versus Food. We think we can open our gullets to choke down as much food as possible. And we love to do this in settings with seemingly unlimited food. We love to take a buffet as a challenge. 

We love to see what they really mean by "unlimited rolls" at Texas Roadhouse. And we will test the limits of the never-ending pasta promotion at Olive Garden. It's a human urge that's usually only pursued by high school or college-aged bros with seemingly boundless appetites. Is it healthy? Absolutely not. Is it entertaining? Absolutely. Is it a complete nuisance to the servers who have to keep coming back to fill up your bowl? 

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  • A man eats a bowl of chicken alfredo pasta.
    via Mineragua Sparkling Water

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • You bet your bottom dollar. But that didn't stop this one man from wanting to consume as much pasta as physically possible. But he wanted to do some research before, so he went to Reddit. The place with all the Olive Garden experts. Because when you're there, you're family.

  • Never ending pasta strategy?

    Hey everyone. I am in need of your best never ending pasta tips so that I can eat the most amount of food possible. What to order, eating strategies, I don't mind playing a little dirty.
    via u/Beneficial-Paint5420
  • My life depends on eating 10+ bowls. Give me everything you've got. Edit: a lot of people have been judging me for my eating habits. Just so everyone knows, I am a college aged male with $13.99 in my pocket and zero self preservation. My hubris is often my downfall. Stay tuned for an update Thursday.
    via u/Beneficial-Paint5420

  • Commenters weighed in with their ideas.

    starbellbabybena • 14h ago Don't fill up on bread. Start with the red sauce as it's lighter than the heavy Alfredo. Don't add too many toppings. Don't fill up on soup or salad. And report back :). I'd like to hear how many. I had a table of military guys and they got to 7 and 8 before they had to tap out.
    via u/starbellbabybena
  • Beneficial-Paint5420 OP • 12h ago I'm committed to putting back 10+. For reference I've eaten 20+ Texas Roadhouse rolls (got kicked out) so I'm hoping they're similar quantities.
    via u/Beneficial-Paint5420
  • Lynessa May · 14h ago Sipping water is key. Sometimes the pasta may not be thoroughly coated with sauce and will require some water to help get it down. Soda will just cause you to fill up with gas and is not needed. The breadsticks are the filler that will get in your way. Soup can help be the
    via u/LynessaMay
  • alternative to sipping a liquid instead of water if you want to mix flavors around with it. Don't get the Gnocchi though as it'll be the more filling of the soups. I enjoy the Zuppa Tuscana as it's light but hearty.
    via u/LynessaMay
  • Space out what sauces you use too. Don't get immediate meats on your pasta either. Savor those moments to freshen up the taste when you need it. Order something simple first to knock it out. Then go with a meatball next if you want. Follow up with a non meat serving, maybe make it spicy with their new sauce. Next up, get that chicken fritta.
    via u/LynessaMay
  • The idea is to not have flavor burn out. As it is a terrible thing. And will prevent you from eating your fill.
    via u/LynessaMay
  • A man eats a bowl of noodles at a restaurant.
    via Trevor Grimes

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • Key_Lie4641 • 14h ago When the server comes around and asks you about soup salad and breadsticks start barking like a dog. Also only drink water until you can hear your heartbeat. Then switch to soda.
    via u/Key_Lie4641
  • • Intelligent_Food_6... 14h ago Stretch your stomach out before hand.
    via u/Intelligent_Food_637
  • No_Statistician1731 12h ago • You usually get much more pasta per bowl if you order the long pasta. Angel hair is usually the most. Alfredo will fill you up the fastest. You can get a refill of sauce only or meat only. That's the best value for your money.
    via u/No_Statistician1731
  • • Puzzleheaded-Bed... 13h ago Take your best girl friend with a big bag and Tupperware. Fill when no one is looking and repeat
    via u/Puzzleheaded-Bed4682
  • dfwagent84 • 13h ago You cant have breaks. When you get one, order tge next. Time is not your friend. It would also help if they aren't very busy.
    via u/dfwagent84
  • Beneficial-Paint5420 OP • 12h ago . I'm liking the zuppa idea as a little warm up. I'll be drinking lots of water beforehand in preparation as well. Definitely going with a marinara first then maybe a 3 meat then a cream sauce to finish. Never tried the water strategy but it might need to be put into use.
    via u/Beneficial-Paint5420
  • euryderia 10h ago • i probably wouldn't get soup or salad at all if the goal is to put back the most pasta. if op is broke and wants to make the most bang for their buck id suggest getting soup or salad, taking a couple bites and asking for a box. it might vary but at my restaurant as long as someone's not packing up a fresh, untouched bowl of soup or salad, its fine, you can take it home.
    via u/euryderia
  • brooklyn7171 • 13h ago No one should be able to eat 10+ bowls comfortably no matter how you attempt it. I don't understand why? Is it like when people go to a buffet and overdo it simply because the food is there? The calories and sodium on 10 bowls would be wild.
    via u/brooklyn7171
  • Beneficial-Paint5420 OP • 12h ago I am a college male and have no regard for the safety of myself or any bowl of pasta.
    via u/Beneficial-Paint5420
  • Uprooted Wildflower 13h ago You're asking for tips on how to make the cooks hate you Imao
    via u/UprootedWildflower
  • Beneficial-Paint5420 OP I will be tipping
    via u/Beneficial-Paint5420
  • Super Car5228 • 11h ago Here's a pro tip: bring your own italian seasoning. The sauces they use tend to be bland af ESPECIALLY meat sauce. Tastes like spaghettio water. Eat alfedo sparingly as the pasta and sauce is the heaviest.
    via u/Super_Car5228
  • Id avoid the unlimited toppings as its trash. The chicken frita are like mc chickens. Not worth 4.99 extra especially if the server is trying to make you wait. 10 bowls + will only happen right after lunch rush when they aren't so busy imo or you can go right at open an hr before lunch.
    via u/Super_Car5228
  • 1whosUnknwnFmili... 12h ago You can ask for two sauces on your pasta so you can have more variety. You can ask to start off with the refill size too if you're trying to taste a lot of different things.
    via u/1whosUnknwnFmiliarly
  • ERTHING 8h ago Do you have a will or life. insurance or something? You can do it, but your most probable outcome from going that hard on the pasta sauce is death. It would be a decent thing to do leave your affairs in order for the people who have to deal with that sh.
    via u/ERTHING
  • It seems like a good plan overall. You will likely di, but you will di awesome. Di for something worthwhile like a hero. But then also, if you live. You're set for life. You could theoretically pull through and survive with only moderate permanent central nervous and digestive system damage. I'd say its worth the risk. Go #YOLO at that pasta.
    via u/ERTHING

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chain restaurants server Challenge Accepted eating out Competitive Eating pasta never ending pasta olive garden server life challenges advice challenge restaurants story food eating reddit thread Reddit tales from your server
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