Olive Garden Restaurant

Tucson & Sahuarita AZ Just Smile Orthodontics

Braces Friendly Foods Restaurant Series | Olive Garden

Introduction:

I’m not sure why but it is common to see long lines outside of Olive Garden almost on a daily basis - even my family loves coming here too. Since Olive Garden is a perennial favorite for many people I thought this would be a good place to start blogging about the availability of braces friendly foods.

Bucatini with Meat sauce

What I ordered:

I ordered the 3 course Italian dinner for $12.95:

1. Bucatini with Meat Sauce—“a hearty meat sauce layered with Italian cheeses and drizzled with alfredo. Served over bucatini pasta.”

Chicken & Gnocchi soup

2. Chicken Gnocchi & Pasta e Fagioli soups.

Amaretto Tiramisu

3. Amaretto Tiramisu mini dessert.

I also ordered the Chicken Alfredo fettuccini and the Dark Chocolate Cake for dessert.

Discussion:

The Chicken & Gnocchi soup is quite tender and tasty, the shredded chicken needs a little chewing but overall braces friendly. Similarly, the Pasta e Fagioli soup is also braces friendly although the ground beef may need a little chewing.

I’ve never heard of the Bucatini—it is actually a thin long hollowed pasta. The hollowed middle is meant to pick up the sauce. The first time I ate the pasta, I was expecting it to be hard and chewy but was surprised that it is actually very soft, soft enough to mash it up with my tongue against the roof of my mouth. This is definitely braces friendly. The ground beef is broken enough to be braces friendly too but may not be soft enough for those who just had an adjustment or those who just had braces put on.

I was a little disappointed with the taste of the Amaretto Tiramisu, it doesn’t taste like the original.

Chicken Alfredo

The Chicken Alfredo is tasty partly because the chicken was grilled. The chicken breast may not be soft enough for those who just had an adjustment or those who just had braces put on. Otherwise it is considered braces friendly.

Dark Chocolate Cake

The Dark Chocolate cake was too rich for my taste, I personally wouldn’t order it again.

Summary:

1. Bucatini with Meat Sauce: Braces Friendly.

2. Chicken & Gnocchi soup: Braces Friendly, borderline Extra Soft.

Pasta e Fagioli soup

3. Pasta e Fagioli soup: Braces Friendly.

4. Amaretto Tiramisu: Braces Friendly, Extra Soft.

5. Chicken Alfredo: Braces Friendly.

6. Dark Chocolate cake: Braces Friendly, Extra Soft.

PS: Please cut up food into small bite sized pieces with the pasta and bread.

Remember to cut foods into small pieces

Cut bread into small bite sized pieces and chew slowly.

PSS: don’t forget to brush teeth and braces after eating especially with the desserts.

Bon Appétit,

Your friendly local orthodontist, Dr. Leo Toureno

My patients ask me all the time: “What can I eat?” or “What can’t I eat?”

In my blog: “Braces Friendly Food Restaurant Series”, I go to local Tucson and Sahuarita AZ restaurants and food trailers to sample their appetizers, entrees and deserts in search of Yummy foods that may be “safe” for those wearing orthodontic braces, i.e. lower risk for breaking orthodontic brackets.* Who says braces food has to be Blah!

(* This claim should not be construed as medical, dental or orthodontic advice. You should always ask your physician, dentist or orthodontist for professional advice before attempting to eat new types of food. Please use common sense.)

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