Olive Garden in Atlanta: Locations, What to Expect, and How to Plan Your Visit
If you’re searching for “Olive Garden Restaurant Atlanta”, you’re likely looking for where the locations are, what the dining experience is like in the Atlanta area, and how it fits into your plans around the city. This guide focuses specifically on Olive Garden restaurants in and around Atlanta, Georgia—including where to find them, what to expect on the menu, and practical tips for locals and visitors.
Olive Garden in the Atlanta Area: What You’ll Find
Olive Garden in Atlanta offers the same core Italian‑American menu people expect—think pasta, soups, salads, and breadsticks—but how and where you experience it can depend on which part of metro Atlanta you’re in.
You’ll generally find Olive Garden locations:
- Along major interstates and highways (I‑75, I‑85, I‑285, GA‑400)
- Near shopping centers and malls
- In high-traffic suburban corridors where Atlanta residents run errands or commute
While exact locations can change over time, Olive Garden is typically present in key metro areas such as:
- Perimeter / Dunwoody (near Perimeter Mall and GA‑400)
- Cobb County / Marietta / Kennesaw (along I‑75)
- Gwinnett County (Duluth, Lawrenceville, and surrounding suburbs)
- South metro / Airport area (near I‑75 and Hartsfield‑Jackson Atlanta International Airport)
- East metro (Stonecrest / Lithonia area)
If you’re staying in downtown Atlanta or Midtown, the closest Olive Garden is usually just a short drive into one of these surrounding corridors via the connector (I‑75/85) or the Perimeter (I‑285).
Typical Olive Garden Experience in Atlanta
Atlanta-area Olive Garden restaurants generally follow the same national format, with a few local differences in pace and crowd patterns.
Atmosphere and Seating
You can usually expect:
- Family-friendly dining room with booths and tables
- Bar area with limited seating, often with TVs showing sports
- Mix of families, couples, and work groups, especially during lunch and early dinner
- A more relaxed pace in suburban locations, and potentially more commuter crowds in spots near office hubs like Perimeter
Service Style
Most locations offer:
- Dine-in service
- Takeout and curbside pickup
- Online or phone ordering for carryout
- Some locations may also work with third-party delivery services, common in many Atlanta suburbs and near popular residential areas
Wait times can spike:
- Friday and Saturday evenings, especially between 6–8 p.m.
- Sunday after church, especially in areas with many nearby congregations
- Near big shopping days at malls or retail centers
If you’re heading to an Olive Garden near Perimeter Mall, Cumberland, or a busy retail area, planning around peak hours can make a big difference.
Popular Menu Options Atlanta Diners Often Choose
The Olive Garden menu is standardized, so what you find in Atlanta closely matches what you’d see nationwide, with occasional limited-time specials.
Commonly ordered items include:
- Unlimited soup, salad, and breadsticks
- Classic pasta dishes, such as:
- Fettuccine Alfredo
- Spaghetti with meat sauce or meatballs
- Chicken Parmigiana
- Combination plates that let you sample multiple items
- Kids’ meals (smaller pasta portions, pizza, and simple sides)
- Desserts like tiramisu or cheesecake
If you’re planning a group meal before a game at State Farm Arena, Mercedes‑Benz Stadium, or Truist Park, Olive Garden’s familiar menu and group-friendly portions often appeal to mixed-age parties.
Typical Atlanta Olive Garden Price Range
Prices can vary slightly by location and over time, but in the Atlanta area you can generally expect:
- Starters / Appetizers: usually in the lower- to mid‑price range for casual dining
- Lunch entrees: often lower than dinner pricing, especially on weekdays
- Dinner entrees: mid-range casual dining pricing, with larger portions
- Kids’ meals: reduced pricing compared to adult entrees
For budget planning:
- A solo lunch with soup, salad, and a non-alcoholic drink tends to be one of the more economical options.
- A family dinner with appetizers, entrees, and drinks can land in a moderate range for casual chain restaurants in Atlanta.
Checking current menu prices on the restaurant’s official site or by calling the location directly can help if you’re managing a tight lunch budget or planning a group outing.
Planning Your Visit: Tips for Atlanta Locals and Visitors
1. Choosing the Best Location for You
Here’s a quick reference-style overview to help you think about which Olive Garden location might fit your plans around Atlanta. Addresses shift over time, so confirm current details before you go.
| Area / Use Case | What It’s Good For | Travel Tips |
|---|---|---|
| Perimeter / Dunwoody (GA‑400 & I‑285 area) | Office lunches, meetings, shopping days at Perimeter Mall | Traffic can be heavy at rush hour; MARTA’s Dunwoody or Sandy Springs stations put you relatively close by car or rideshare. |
| Cobb / Marietta / Kennesaw (along I‑75) | Pre‑ or post‑game meals near Truist Park, family dinners in the northwest suburbs | Allow time for traffic on game days or during rush hour around Cumberland. |
| Gwinnett (Duluth, Lawrenceville, etc.) | Suburban families, group gatherings, church groups | Popular on Sunday afternoons; many large shopping centers nearby. |
| South Metro / Airport area | Travelers, quick sit‑down before or after flights, southside residents | Good option if you’re staying near Hartsfield‑Jackson and want familiar food. |
| East Metro (Stonecrest / Lithonia) | Shoppers at Stonecrest area, eastside residents | Can be busy on weekends and holidays due to mall traffic. |
If you’re staying downtown or in Midtown without a car, you’ll likely need:
- A rideshare (often 15–30 minutes to the closest suburban location, depending on traffic), or
- A mix of MARTA rail + rideshare to reach a corridor like Perimeter or Cumberland.
2. Call Ahead for Large Groups
For birthdays, team dinners, or family gatherings, Atlanta Olive Garden locations commonly:
- Accommodate medium-size groups if you call ahead
- May have wait times if you arrive unannounced with a large party during peak hours
- Offer separate checks in many cases, but staff may ask how you want to handle payment up front
If you’re planning something like a team dinner after a youth sports tournament in Cobb or Gwinnett, it’s practical to contact the nearest location earlier in the day so they can advise on timing and seating.
3. Traffic and Timing Considerations 🚗
Atlanta traffic is a major factor in your dining plans, especially on weekdays.
To reduce delays:
- Avoid I‑285 and GA‑400 near Perimeter right at rush hour when possible
- If attending an event at Mercedes‑Benz Stadium, State Farm Arena, or the Georgia World Congress Center, consider eating at an Olive Garden before driving downtown or after leaving the downtown core to minimize congestion
- On game days near Truist Park, Olive Garden locations in the Cobb/Cumberland area can be extremely busy before first pitch
Leaving a 15–20 minute buffer can help if you’re moving between an Olive Garden and a scheduled event.
Takeout, Curbside, and Delivery in Atlanta
Many Atlanta residents use Olive Garden more for takeout than dine-in, especially on weeknights.
Common options include:
- Call-ahead or online takeout: Order and pick up at the restaurant
- Curbside pickup: Park in marked spaces, call the posted number, and staff bring food to your car
- Delivery services: In many Atlanta ZIP codes, third-party platforms list local Olive Garden locations
This can be especially convenient:
- For residents in apartment-heavy areas like Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, and parts of Gwinnett
- If you want a simple pasta dinner at your hotel near the airport, Perimeter, or Cumberland without dining in
When ordering takeout during busy hours (Friday nights, Sunday afternoons), build in some extra time for order preparation.
Olive Garden as a Stop on an Atlanta Itinerary
If you’re visiting Atlanta and prefer familiar chain restaurants, you can easily work Olive Garden into your trip:
- Near shopping days
- Combine a visit with shopping at Perimeter Mall, Cumberland Mall, or Stonecrest.
- Before or after attractions
- Plan your Olive Garden stop on your way to or from Stone Mountain Park, Kennesaw Mountain, or suburban sports complexes.
- Close to hotels
- Many hotels in Perimeter, Cobb, Gwinnett, and by the airport sit within a short drive of an Olive Garden, making it a low-effort dinner choice after a long day of sightseeing.
If you’re staying car-free in the downtown/Midtown core, you might:
- Take MARTA rail toward a hub like Dunwoody, Sandy Springs, or North Springs, then a short rideshare to a nearby location.
- Or use a direct rideshare from your hotel to the closest suburban Olive Garden.
Practical Steps to Find and Contact an Olive Garden in Atlanta
Because exact addresses and phone numbers can change over time, it helps to follow a simple process:
Search with your specific area
Use phrases like “Olive Garden near Perimeter Mall Atlanta,” “Olive Garden near Hartsfield-Jackson airport,” or “Olive Garden in Marietta GA” to find the most relevant location.Confirm details on the official site or by phone
- Check current hours, especially on holidays or during special events
- Confirm dine-in vs. takeout options currently available
- Ask about wait times if you’re on a tight schedule
Plan your route
- If you drive, note the nearest interstate exit (I‑75, I‑85, I‑285, or GA‑400)
- If using transit, pair MARTA rail with a short rideshare from a station near your chosen area (for example, Dunwoody Station for a Perimeter-area location)
By focusing on where Olive Garden fits into the Atlanta metro layout, understanding traffic and timing, and knowing how to use takeout and group seating options, you can pick the Olive Garden restaurant in or around Atlanta that best matches your plans—whether you live here, are visiting, or just want a familiar Italian‑American meal while navigating the city.