What You Need To Know Before Ordering Dessert At Olive Garden

Sure, Olive Garden might be the mecca of never-ending breadsticks and pasta galore. But who can resist the post-pasta call of sweet treats, like the decadent layers of their Black Tie Mousse Cake or the symphony of espresso-drenched ladyfingers, velvety mascarpone, and cocoa dust of the Italian-American chain's tiramisu?

Regardless of what you order, you might quickly find yourself whisked away to an Italian dessert paradise. But before you dig in, there are a few things you'll want to know. For instance, did you know that all Olive Garden desserts are frozen before being served? It's true, and it might change how you approach your next dessert fix.

But don't let that dissuade you from indulging in your sweet tooth during your next visit. There are ways to ensure you still get the best dessert experience possible. We're here to guide you through the ins and outs of Olive Garden's dessert menu, offering insight into what you need to know about these Italian sweet treats and how to avoid common ordering mistakes.

It's unclear whether Olive Garden makes its own desserts. However, according to Reader's Digest, regardless of whether they make them in-house or order them wholesale from other providers, the chain restaurant's desserts are frozen until ready to serve, instead of being served fresh like their daily soups.

This might surprise some diners who are used to the made-to-order pasta that comes piping hot straight from the kitchen. But does that mean serving frozen desserts is a bad thing? It comes down to personal preference — but no, not really.

If you've ever ordered a dessert from Olive Garden, you've likely noticed how they maintain their quality and flavor even after they've been frozen. It's also a seemingly common practice in the restaurant industry today. Economics professor Tyler Cowen even told The Washington Post, "It's hard to make money on desserts in the restaurant business today. I don't think many [restaurants] benefit when people order them anymore," said Cowen in the interview, centered on the idea that restaurants might actually not want you to order dessert. 

Regardless of where they're made, the next time you're at Olive Garden and the dessert menu comes around, just know that the tiramisu or Sicilian Cheesecake you're ordering won't be made on the spot in the kitchen, but rather taken out of the freezer, warmed up, and plated for serving.

If you're not worried about ordering the healthiest Olive Garden menu items (don't worry, tiramisu somehow makes the cut), you have plenty of indulgent treats to peruse on the dessert menu to satisfy that sweet tooth. But what's the most satisfying sugary option? It depends on your palate, but according to one former employee, the mini Dolcini desserts definitely aren't worth it.

When speaking with Insider, former Olive Garden server Michaela Spain confirmed the Dolcini desserts are never made to order. "The worst dessert to order is the Dolcini," Spain confessed. "They're always frozen and overpriced for the two spoonfuls you get. Plus, all the flavors pretty much taste the same."

Alternatively, an exclusive poll conducted by Mashed revealed that the Sicilian Cheesecake was the absolute favorite among Olive Garden diners who were surveyed about the restaurant's sweet options. And with its creamy texture and deliciously tangy taste, who could blame them? While the Sicilian cheesecake may be the top pick, the survey also uncovered the least-loved dessert on the menu: The Chocolate Brownie Lasagna. Inspired by its savory counterpart, diners deemed the eight-layer dish too heavy after a carb-loaded Italian meal.

If you're feeling festive, wait for Olive Garden's popular autumnal dessert to arrive. The Pumpkin Cheesecake is full of warm, comforting spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. Or, if you're totally thrown off by the fact that the desserts aren't made fresh to order, wait for them to bring around those delectable little Andes mints they serve with the check. Problem solved.