I recently joined their Rewards, you get a free dessert on your birthday.
Did you know they make everything from scratch, all the sauces, dressings. Just the cheesecakes come frozen from a central kitchen.
If you go, get the corn tamales appetizer. Menu is VAST, something for everyone.
We got the new mini Asian Chicken Nachos, Chicken Piccata, Chicken Madeira, Fish (Cod) & Chips, Key Lime Cheesecake. Even though I took half my meal home, I was way too full to do any shopping at Macy’s … I wanted to use up gift cards I’ve had for years!
Went to Pittsburgh one time for business, and my hotel was next to this retail strip with chain restaurants. Most of the more interesting places to eat were at least a 20 minute walk away. That first night, we had a long work day so grabbing food close by was the priority and ate at the Cheesecake Factory. I don’t love the CF, but their menu really does have something for everyone (except maybe calorie counters!). It’s not healthy the least bit, but taste wise it’s fine and it definitely runs heavy and huge.
I am unlikely to ever find out. We don’t eat at chains & prefer locally owned restaurants when we travel & cuisines unavailable in our hometown. We also don’t care for ginormous portions of food.
I do find the ‘from scratch’ prep impressive, however — especially given the size of their menu.
In past visits, I’ve never ordered dessert, we only got it this time because it was free. I could only hold two tiny bites (daughter took rest home) but I liked that the Key Lime wasn’t too sweet. I looked but didn’t see Basque Cheesecake on their menu.
I would never go for Avocado egg rolls; would dislike hot avocado. There was cold diced avocado on top of the corn tamales appetizer, which was great.
I used to work very near to one and co-workers and I would go regularly for lunch. I would order this “Asian” salad they had at the time. Raw veg! Healthy! It featured a very large fried thing in the middle, which is why is was delicious. One day I discovered that my “healthy” lunch was in fact 1800 calories. And so ended that. Sigh.
Considering the size of their menu, I’m impressed they can do everything from scratch and still maintain a consistent product. That’s hard enough for a small restaurant with a much smaller menu, much less for a chain where the menu looks more like a book.
My aunt loved the Cheesecake Factory. I have been to several locations in Colarado and a location in Boston. There is one in Toronto at a mall. I haven’t been to that location yet. My last visit was to the location in Boston, in April 2013.
I like the avocado spring rolls and the Chinese Chicken Salad. (I can understand not liking hot avocado)
The Chinese Chicken Salad at California Pizza Kitchen is fairly similar, as is a version at Elli’s Great American Restaurant in Salinas. I’m guessing other American chains do a similar salad. Chinese Chicken Salad isn’t that common at chains across Canada.
I have traveled quite a bit with my uncle. He orders some half dozen dishes over and over again : burgers, pizza, Chinese Chicken Salad, grinders/ hoagies, and a few specific dishes at Mexican, Thai and Hunan restos. I think I watched him order Chinese Chicken Salad 4 times the last time we did a week-long road trip.
I’d like to try it here … haven’t had one in a long time. When I lived in Marin County I could not resist this and Curried Turkey Salad from an expensive upscale takeaway place in Tiburon called Let’s Eat.
Thazzalotta cals for one meal.
