An Olive Garden in Ames has been a long time coming for Iowa State students. For years, students campaigned for a location closer than Ankeny, and on June 1, 2026, their wish came true.
Olive Garden is open daily from 11 a.m to 10 p.m.
I’m a huge fan of Italian food, and I’ve been to my fair share of Olive Gardens outside of Ames. I wasn’t sure how this one would stack up, but it exceeded my expectations, and I cannot wait to go back.
Ambiance
The restaurant was bustling with quite a few parties waiting at the door. While walking to my seat, I was weaving through servers and hosts.
The restaurant had the classic Olive Garden feel with a touch of modern style. Wine racks lining the walls, dark wood and fake plants decorate the room, but the restaurant’s decor is simple, reflecting its newer look.
Menu and service
Even during a Saturday night rush, I was seated almost immediately. Service was efficient. Before I’d even ordered, I was offered my choice of soup or salad.
The menu is vast. There are a wide variety of Italian dishes, making it almost impossible to pick. But my server was helpful and knowledgeable about the menu, happily offering suggestions and answering my questions.
Dishes
I started with their famous house salad and warm breadsticks. The salad had all the fixings: olives, jalapeños, tomatoes, croutons and onions, topped with a flavorful Italian dressing, an Olive Garden staple. The breadsticks were lightly salted and freshly-baked to perfection. I would’ve been satisfied if my meal ended here.
For an appetizer, I had fried mozzarella. It was served with marinara, and I was offered fresh parmesan on top, which, of course, I said yes to. The outside breading was stuffed to perfection with mozzarella. The cheese pull stretched across the entire plate. The outside was crispy and golden brown, and the flavor was all mozzarella. The marinara definitely elevated the dish.
For my entrée, I wanted to sample a variety of Olive Garden’s classic dishes. I chose the Tour of Italy, which consists of fettuccine alfredo, lasagna, and chicken parmesan. Unfortunately, I waited about 20 minutes for my entrée, and my server explained that the lasagna was not ready yet. But this just gave me more time to let my food settle and make room for my upcoming entrée.
When the dish finally came, it was steaming hot and worth the wait. The fettuccine alfredo was creamy and rich with thick noodles. It paired nicely with the red sauce of the lasagna and chicken parmesan. The
chicken parmesan was cooked to a crispy exterior, served with a flavorful red sauce and topped with baked cheese. The lasagna was steaming hot when I cut into it, with the classic layers of noodles stuffed with cheese and meat. I was very impressed with this entrée, with the chicken parmesan being my favorite part.
Dessert
For dessert, I ordered tiramisu, a layered dessert with custard and espresso-soaked ladyfingers, dusted with cocoa powder. I’ve had many tiramisus from various restaurants, and I have to say this one was one of my favorites. It was light, heavenly and absolutely perfect after a pasta-heavy meal.
9/10 Spatulas
