American restaurant chains are reviving bottomless and all-you-can-eat promotions as they compete for budget-conscious diners amid an affordability crunch. According to data cited by MarketWatch, restaurant spending has lagged behind broader consumer spending, prompting chains to lean heavily on value deals to keep customers coming through the door.
Applebee's has brought back its All You Can Eat deal for a limited time at $15.99, offering unlimited servings of boneless wings, riblets, Double Crunch Shrimp and fries. The summer dine-in special includes six wing sauces and multiple rib styles, though it cannot be shared between diners.
Red Lobster's Endless Shrimp deal is available for $24.99 to $30 depending on location, featuring a wide range of options including Garlic Shrimp Scampi, Parrot Isle Coconut Shrimp and Shrimp Linguini Alfredo. The limited-time promotion is dine-in only. Experts suggest skipping pasta-heavy dishes and focusing on protein-rich items to maximise value.
Olive Garden is expected to bring back its popular Never-Ending Pasta Bowl promotion towards the end of August, typically priced at around $13.99. The deal includes unlimited pasta with a choice of sauces, plus soup or salad and breadsticks, with extras like meatballs or crispy chicken fritta available at an additional charge.
To get the most from these deals, experts advise avoiding carb-heavy fillers such as bread, pasta and fries before moving to higher-value items. Kristin McGrath of The Krazy Coupon Lady told MarketWatch that pasta-loaded dishes can fill customers up faster. The Washington Post reported that Red Lobster diners would need to eat 22 shrimp to break even, given that a 14-shrimp plate costs $19.
