America's largest restaurant chains are reintroducing bottomless and all-you-can-eat menu deals this summer as they compete for value-conscious customers during the ongoing affordability crunch. However, whether these promotions actually deliver savings depends heavily on how much and what diners consume.
While retail sales remain resilient amid economic challenges, restaurant spending has lagged behind broader consumer spending growth, according to data cited by MarketWatch. This gap underscores the growing pressure on eateries as budget-minded customers cut back or trade down, forcing chains to rely more on promotions and value deals to keep traffic flowing.
The return of bottomless menus is the latest strategy to attract diners after chains like McDonald's introduced new cost-effective menus. The Golden Arches' new value menu offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner items under $3, but replaces the previous buy-one, add-one-for-$1 deal, meaning savings can vary depending on location and order choices.
Although these deals may seem like good value, experts told MarketWatch that customers should avoid carb-heavy foods such as bread, pasta, rice, and fries before reaching higher-value items. Skipping those pre-entree fillers can help maximize the meal's worth.
Applebee's All You Can Eat Deal
Applebee's has brought back its All You Can Eat deal for a limited time, offering diners unlimited servings of boneless wings, riblets, Double Crunch Shrimp, and fries for $15.99. Promoted as a summer dine-in special, it includes a variety of options such as six wing sauces and multiple rib styles.
The offer is intended for individual diners only and cannot be shared. To get the best value, start with boneless wings as they are quick to eat, then move to Double Crunch Shrimp for more filling but higher-value bites. Save riblets for last because they are the most filling, and avoid eating too many fries early, as they can fill you up without much protein.
Red Lobster's Endless Shrimp
Red Lobster's Endless Shrimp deal, priced between $24.99 and $30 depending on location, offers a wide variety including Garlic Shrimp Scampi, Parrot Isle Coconut Shrimp, and Shrimp Linguini Alfredo. This limited-time promotion is available only as a dine-in special.
A good strategy is to skip filling pasta-based dishes like Shrimp Linguini Alfredo and instead choose more protein-focused options such as coconut shrimp or shrimp scampi. "As delicious as it is, the Shrimp Linguini Alfredo is loaded up with cheese and pasta, so that restaurant is betting that you're going to fill up faster," Kristin McGrath of The Krazy Coupon Lady told MarketWatch.
Experts at the Washington Post suggest diners calculate a break-even point before ordering. For example, a 14-shrimp plate costs $19 at the restaurant, meaning you would need to eat 22 shrimp just to break even under the deal. To make it last and avoid getting full too quickly, work from lighter to heavier dishes: start with Garlic Shrimp Scampi, then Walt's Favorite Shrimp, followed by richer options like Parrot Isle Coconut Shrimp and Marry Me Shrimp, and save Shrimp Linguini Alfredo for last.
Olive Garden's Never-Ending Pasta Bowl
While not currently available, Olive Garden typically brings back its popular Never-Ending Pasta Bowl promotion toward the end of August, usually priced around $13.99. Customers can choose from spaghetti, fettuccine, rigatoni, and angel hair paired with sauces including Alfredo, marinara, meat sauce, Five Cheese Marinara, and seasonal specialties.
The deal also includes unlimited soup or salad and Olive Garden's signature breadsticks. Extras like meatballs, Italian sausage, or Crispy Chicken Fritta can be added 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. For now, customers will have to wait for the potential return of this fan-favorite deal.
