If you love Olive Garden, it's time to meet the rest of the family. Darden Restaurants — the Orlando-based dining giant behind your favorite endless breadsticks — also owns a growing portfolio of sister brands, and 2026 is shaping up to be a landmark year for new openings. From a bold Tex-Mex chain with a cult following to a white-tablecloth seafood experience, Olive Garden's siblings are officially rolling out the welcome mat in new communities across the country.
Chuy's Tex-Mex: The Colorful New Kid on the Block
The most talked-about addition to the Darden family is Chuy's Tex-Mex — acquired by Darden in a landmark $605 million all-cash deal in 2024. Founded in Austin, Texas in 1982, Chuy's has grown into a beloved chain with over 100 locations across 15 states, celebrated for its quirky, eclectic atmosphere and made-from-scratch Tex-Mex menu. Think: tacos, fajitas, enchiladas, homemade tortilla soup, tres leches cake, and its legendary Creamy Jalapeño dip — all served with endless chips and salsa.
New Chuy's locations are actively opening and being announced throughout 2026. Most recently, Chuy's at Harvest Town Center in Denton, Texas has set an official opening date of August 24, 2026 — marking the chain's first outpost in southern Denton County. Meanwhile, the brand has already relocated its Dallas Knox Street location to a new, larger space at 1520 Greenville Avenue, complete with its iconic Chihuahua Bar, towering metal palm trees, wooden fish ceiling décor, and refurbished Elvis fountain. Every Chuy's location is uniquely designed, living up to the brand's motto: "If you've seen one Chuy's, you've seen one Chuy's!"
Eddie V's Prime Seafood: Olive Garden's Upscale Sibling
On the opposite end of the dining spectrum sits Eddie V's Prime Seafood — the luxury seafood and steakhouse brand that Darden purchased for $59 million back in 2011. With now 31 locations across Texas, California, Florida, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and beyond, Eddie V's caters to a very different crowd than Olive Garden — but shares the same parent company DNA.
Two brand-new Eddie V's Florida locations are scheduled to open in 2026, in Palm Beach Gardens and Naples, bringing the chain's white-linen experience to two of the Sunshine State's most affluent markets. The menu features premium fare including Chilean Sea Bass, Norwegian Salmon glazed with mustard and rye whiskey, Center Cut Filet Mignon paired with South African Lobster Tail, and wagyu strip steaks — alongside indulgent sides like caviar-topped twice-baked potatoes and truffled macaroni and cheese.
The Darden Family: Bigger Than You Think
Together, Chuy's and Eddie V's are just two branches of a sprawling restaurant family tree. Darden Restaurants (NYSE: DRI) operates more than 2,100 locations under ten distinct brands including Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, The Capital Grille, Ruth's Chris Steak House, Yard House, Seasons 52, Bahama Breeze, and Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen. According to Darden Restaurants, the company has plans to open between 75 and 80 new restaurants across its brands in fiscal year 2027 — signaling that this wave of openings is just the beginning.
Whether you're craving Tex-Mex with a side of margaritas or a special-occasion seafood dinner to remember, Olive Garden's extended family has something for everyone — and chances are, a new location is coming to a city near you.
