New survey reveals what restaurant chain Baby boomers crown their favorite

Key Points:

• A YouGov survey of 7,500 U.S. adults aged 65 and older found Olive Garden to be the most preferred casual dining chain, chosen by 33.8% of respondents, surpassing competitors like Texas Roadhouse, Applebee’s, Cracker Barrel, and Outback Steakhouse.
• Olive Garden also ranked highest for service and dining experience among all Americans surveyed, with 12.8% and 12.1% respectively, highlighting its broad appeal across age groups.
• According to Morning Consult’s Most Trusted Brands report, Olive Garden is favored for family outings, avoiding cooking, and generous portions, and it holds the strongest emotional connection with consumers compared to other casual dining brands.
• The YouGov study showed Olive Garden as the top casual dining choice not only for baby boomers but also for Gen X and millennials, with the exception of Gen Z, who preferred Chili’s by a narrow margin.
• Other casual dining brands popular among baby boomers include Texas Roadhouse, Applebee’s, Cracker Barrel, and Outback Steakhouse, though none surpassed Olive Garden’s overall preference in this age group.