Cheesecake Factory question???

[disneysteve]

I always eat half my meal, let them box it up,

I did this last time and it was a mistake. I had the oriental salad, which was wonderful, but it just wasn't good the next day. All the crispy things were soggy. So not everything makes good leftovers.

 

[rt2dz]

I used to manage one of those. It's expensive. I really feel as though it is overpriced. Some very good food though.

Some hints: Stay away from the burgers. They really aren't anything special and they charge a lot for them. The pasta page (they are some exceptions) just isn't up to par with the rest of the menu. I'd split an appetizer (the avocado eggrolls are to die for, (and I generally don't like avacado or fried foods) and then split an entree. The most popular, and one of the best imho, is the chicken maderia. They won't split anything but cheesecake for you in the kitchen(s), but they'll bring you two side plates & put the entree in the middle. Then split a cheesecake or each have a cheesecake & split each one with half to-go.

FYI--the Cheesecake Factory cheesecakes you buy elsewhere, like Sam's, aren't exactly the same as the ones you get in the restaurants. Every restaurant will always give a slightly altered recipe to keep you coming back. The cheesecakes you purchase from them (mail order by 1-800 # or online) is the EXACT cheesecake they sell elsewhere.

Anything else, PM, because I probably won't recheck this thread. But I might.

 

[arielsleepingbeauty]

If you do decide to go, make sure you order dessert first. You know how you go out to eat and then are too full for dessert? Well if you order dessert first you will be sure to have it. This is the only place we do it because that's why we are going there. You could always bring the cheescake home, but that's no fun. When DH and I do this, people next to us look at us like we are crazy then we explain why we do it and then they realize it is a good idea after all. You can always bring your main meal home is a doggie bag, but how many of us actually bring dessert home. Usually you are too full to even think about dessert.
I too think it is overpriced, but the cheesecake is awesome!!

 

[my3kids]

In everyone of TCF restaurants we have been to there has been a long wait. The place is ALWAYS packed. We've gone for early dinners, late lunches, seen people hunting and stalking tables in the bar area to swoop in and take at a moments notice. The place is nuts. Buy stock!

 

[ohiominnie]

We have one sort of near to us and we've been there several times (not for quite some time though) It's ALWAYS packed unless you go at 4:00 for dinner. The portions are HUGE (literally dh and I share an entree AND take some home for lunch the next day!) The cheesecake is AWESOME (not really so good for you, but for a treat now and then it's ok for me)

The biggest problem we have with it and why we haven't been back in a long time.....they have no true "kids" menu. My kids prefer kid's food and with the size of their adult entrees, they'd never get their money's worth anyway! The ONLY thing on the menu my kids will eat is their flat bread pizza appetizer. My ds likes pizza far better than my dd, so that always is an issue....she wants something else.

If it was just dh and I, we'd probably go there and have a great time, but seeing as the kids are with us 99.999999998% of the time......

 

[marcyinPA]

Oh, I love the Cheesecake Factory! The prices vary depending on what you get, and the menu is extensive! If you go for lunch, they do have lunch-sized portions of some of their pastas and salads. They are HUGE portions, even the smaller sized! I can't imagine what the regular size are! GIGANTIC! You might even want to consider sharing a meal, so that you have room for cheesecake. I love the Brownie Sundae Cheesecake, and I had a coconut cream one that was really good too!

I had lunch there about 3 weeks ago, and had the Thai Chicken Pasta, and it was awesome!! Mmm!

Enjoy!

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Portions are GINORMOUS (as my DD says) so I order either the avocado egg rolls or a half salad. The white chocolate raspberry cheesecake is my favorite... they will plate it for 2 if you want to split it and they'll put a serving of whipped cream on top for each sharer... YUM!

 

[snowwite]

Ok slightly off topic but.....
Is there a cheesecake Factory near Disney?
We have two nearby.One in cambridge and one in Burlington. It would be nice to go on vac. DS gets the Sliders (like white castle) burger appetizer for dinner and I love the banana stuffed french toast at Sunday brunch.Mmmm

 

[My2Cinderellas]

I've never been "wowed" by the food there, it's a fun place to go, without the kids, and I can vouch for what everyone else is saying.

the menu is overwhelming - give yourself extra time just to read through it all

the portions are obscenely huge - the "lunch" portions of pasta/entree salads are still more than I can eat. and I do not have a "little bird" appetite.

the Godiva cheesecake is worth splurging for!

there is no kids menu - doesn't stop people from bringing kids there, but still, it is not exactly welcoming to the kids. they did make up bowls of pasta for my girls, charged $5 each I think.

my favorite thing to order is the Thai chicken/lettuce wrap appetizer - I get it as my entree so I can have cheesecake too this appetizer is $10 or $11, cheesecake is $7-8 a slice and more than enough to share.

 

[NCRedding]

The portions are huge. We've tried three different restaurants, and had mediocre to bad service at all three. If you go late afternoon, they may still be serving lunch portions, which are smaller and slightly cheaper. DD ate a lunch salad and flatbread pizza, which was about 7.95, and the salad she got with it looked like one of their expensive salads.

I love the banana cream cheesecake.

 

[summerrluvv]

I love TCF. My favorite is the German Chocolate Cheesecake. I really don't think they are known for the food as much as the cheesecake (hence the name)...so if you are expecting super great food...you will be dissapointed.

 

[marcyinPA]

I love TCF. My favorite is the German Chocolate Cheesecake. I really don't think they are known for the food as much as the cheesecake (hence the name)...so if you are expecting super great food...you will be dissapointed.

Maybe the food quality varies from location to location? When we go, we go to the one in King of Prussia (PA) and I've never been disappointed with the food....in fact, I've even been "wow'ed" by it a few times! And I know and love good food. But in agreement, the cheesecake is the real attraction. I've never met a piece of cheesecake I didn't like!

 

[branv]

I remember when they first opened one up in Dallas, there was an hour wait just to get a PAGER! Goodness knows what the wait was once you actually had one.

So when I finally ate there I was pretty much like who would wait more than 30 minutes for this food? I think maybe for the experience it's interesting - cool interior, huge menu. But I've been 3 times and the food has been highly mediocre. You're definitely paying for the "ambience". I also didn't think the cheesecake was all that. Give me Maggianos cheesecake anyday over Cheesecake Factory's. Plus, it's not remotely a romantic night out - too loud, crowded and...did I say loud?

Interestingly enough, however, we ate at the other theme restaurant owned by the same people who created the Cheesecake Factory, and looks very similar, The Grand Lux cafe at the Venetian in Las Vegas. We had great food there. Can you believe we had a Creme Brulee sampler with two full sized varieties of creme brulee...mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

But, I'd say go and give it a shot. Obviously plenty of people like it since they stay so busy. It's just not everyone's cup of tea.

 

[disykat]

I've been twice and thought the food was FABULOUS and the cheesecake didn't live up to the hype.

 

[kizzy212]

please someone "where is this place"

Have asked in thread but no reply....

I need cheesecake!

 

[sha_lyn]

it's a chain of restaurants. they are all over

 

[MissMichelle]

MMMM The Cheesecake Factory! It is one of my favorite places to eat, but there isn't one close---35 minute drive and it is inside the Providence Place mall, so that makes it tricky--BUT we have a sitter tonight and BECAUSE of this thread...guess where I am going.......HAHAH

I am eyeballing the fish tacos...

Oh and Stemikger----it is the GRILLED SHRIMP & BACON CLUB
Charbroiled Shrimp, Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato with Our Special Dressing. Served with French Fries

YUMMMMY!

 

[mjbaby]

My impressions of my one visit back in the day:

1) The menu has advertisements. This really cheesed me off (no pun intended).

2) I was with my then 18-month old daughter and the server offered us a "baby plate" with sliced banana, graham crackers and something else I can't remember, maybe some cheese cubes. There was no charge and I thought that was really sweet.

3) They're not exactly customer-friendly what with all the rules and regs about who you talk to to get a table and where you wait and so forth, but I guess as long as people flock there they have no reason to streamline the whole affair.

4) The shrimp summer rolls are really good. And ditto what a PP said about the pumpkin cheesecake!

 

[sha_lyn]

the cheese cake is wonderful, but I wasn't really impressed with the rest of the menu. sure it is huge, but you can get the same things at other places for cheaper (and closer by for me). then again I'm not really big on the American sports bar cusine

 

[maggiew]

I like the parmesan crusted chicken with spaghetti. YUM! This is big enough for us to share, especially if we are getting dessert.

I like the cheesecake, but my MIL got the apple turnover/dumpling?? there and it looked really good too.

Maggie