More US restaurants are bringing back endless and bottomless menu deals as they compete on value during the country's affordability crunch. However, whether these promotions truly deliver savings depends heavily on how much and what customers actually eat.
Retail sales remain resilient despite economic challenges, but restaurant spending has lagged behind broader consumer spending growth. This gap shows growing pressure on restaurants as budget-conscious diners pull back or trade down, forcing chains to rely more on promotions and value deals.
Applebee's has brought back its All You Can Eat deal for a limited time, offering unlimited servings of boneless wings, riblets, Double Crunch Shrimp and fries for $15.99. The offer is for individual diners only and cannot be shared. To maximise value, experts suggest starting with boneless wings, then moving to Double Crunch Shrimp, and saving riblets for last, while avoiding too many fries early on.
Red Lobster's Endless Shrimp deal, priced between $24.99 and $30 depending on location, offers a variety including Garlic Shrimp Scampi, Parrot Isle Coconut Shrimp and Shrimp Linguini Alfredo. The limited-time promotion is available only as a dine-in special. Experts recommend skipping pasta-based dishes like Shrimp Linguini Alfredo and focusing on protein-heavy options such as coconut shrimp or shrimp scampi. Diners should consider a break-even point: a 14-shrimp plate costs $19, meaning you would need to eat 22 shrimp to break even under the deal.
Olive Garden typically brings back its Never-Ending Pasta Bowl promotion toward the end of August, usually priced around $13.99. The deal includes unlimited pasta with various sauces, plus soup or salad and breadsticks, with extras like meatballs available for an additional charge. Refills are dine-in only, and many customers pace themselves by starting with lighter sauces before moving to heavier Alfredo dishes.
