Olive Garden sees success with smaller, cheaper portions as diners try to save money

Olive Garden is testing smaller, cheaper portion sizes in an attempt to boost the affordability of its menu, as parent company Darden Restaurants Inc. looks to drive more traffic to the restaurant chain.

Giving consumers the option of smaller, less pricey meal sizes is a significant move in an industry where portioning is frequently a hot topic. Salad chain Sweetgreen Inc.

SG recently increased portion sizes of tofu and chicken, which it says is boosting customer satisfaction. And last year, Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. CMG was slammed over inconsistent portioning; in response, the company vowed to “ensure correct and generous portions.”