Introduction

            I chose three restaurants to write a review on. They are: The Cheesecake Factory, Cucina Colore and J Alexander’s. The Cheesecake Factory has always been my favorite. Every dish I have ever tried left me wanting more, so I thought I could share my experience with others and help them with their decision whether to try it or not. Cucine Colore is a newer eatery. Although it has a small menu, everything they have to offer is surprisingly delicious. J Alexander’s is another favorite. We go there for special occasions.

These three restaurants appear to be at the same price level, and I was interested to see how they would compare in every other category. The criteria I am judging them on are:  the price, the quality of the food, the quality of the service, the quantity of the food you get for the price. I hope that, based on the information provided, you will be able to determine if it is worth your time and money to visit these restaurants. 

The Cheesecake Factory

Eye Candy

The Cheesecake Factory is a restaurant chain that has locations around the country.  I have been to five different ones in three states, and I did not find one thing that was unique and stood out to me. They all look the same, and that is one aspect I do not like. Sameness is boring. They do not excel in the service area either; however, they do win me over with the quality and the quantity of the food. Some may argue that the food is priced too high, but if you look at the size of the dishes, you will not take that argument seriously.  Out of the two locations, which are close to my house, I prefer the one on the 16^th street mall. It is also near my office, and I love going there for a quick lunch, a business meeting, or a night out with friends.

The restaurant is famous for its eclectic menu and enormous portions. You can never finish one entrée by yourself, especially if you start with an appetizer. The interior is a little overwhelming. It is too over-the-top for my taste. I prefer more modern looks and designs:  less is more. The tables are a bit small and cramped together. You can easily listen in on your neighbor’s conversations. Booths are more private and desirable, but they are not always available.

My husband and I chose one Saturday to go there for dinner. It was a last-minute decision, so we walked in without a reservation. We got there at 6:30 PM right before the dinner rush, so we did not have to wait for too long to be seated. I should also mention that there is a parking garage underneath the Tabor Center where you can park and have the restaurant validate your ticket. 
We were sent to the booth in the waiting area right in front of the dessert cooler which, I believe, has been intentionally placed there to play with your appetite.  

Avocado Eggrolls

We were busy following all the commotion and did not even notice how the thirty minutes went by, and we were seated with our menus in front of us. It took a little while until the server came by and introduced himself. We were ready with our order, so there was no time wasted there. We ordered the Avocado Eggrolls appetizer which consists of avocado, sun-dried tomato, red onion, and cilantro, fried in a crisp wrapper and served with a tamarind-cashew dipping sauce.  It is one of my favorite appetizers. It is quite satisfying for what you pay for it ($9.95).  Avocado is a nutrient-dense fruit (while some consumers think of it as a vegetable), which makes a perfect snack: not only is it delicious but also healthy.  

The entree was served right after our server took the empty appetizer plate away making my least favorite comment, “I see you did not like that at all.” He was making an effort to be as attentive as possible, although he had a big section of the restaurant to take care of. You don’t always get great service, but once in a while you come across wait staff that genuinely care about you and want to make your evening unforgettable.

Bang-Bang Chicken and Shrimp

Let’s get back to the entrée, shall we? Bang-Bang Chicken and Shrimp ($16.95). If you judge this dish by its ingredients, you will not be too impressed. It is a spicy Thai dish with curry, peanut, chile and coconut, sautéed with vegetables and served over steamed white rice. It sounds pretty self-explanatory. You would think there is nothing special about this dish, but that is a mere assumption. Somehow all this different ingredients turn unto magic when cooked together. And the sauce, which is sweet, spicy, and savory at the same time, is the perfect garnish for it.

Somehow we managed to clean up yet another plate and were ready for the dessert. You cannot go wrong with any of their cheesecakes. I love chocolate, so I always go for any chocolate based dessert. At the Cheesecake Factory, they have a number of those you can choose from. The one I love the most is the Godiva Chocolate Cheesecake ($7.75). This intense dessert has a base of flourless dark chocolate cake, topped with a layer of chocolate cheesecake, a layer of chocolate mousse, and a thin layer of dark chocolate ganache. Did I mention the square of Godiva chocolate on top that is leaning against white, fluffy whipped cream?

Chocolate Goodness

Good food makes me happy. The Cheesecake Factory has always exceeded my expectations in the quality of food. You will never be bored at this restaurant because of its large variety of scrumptious dishes. It keeps surprising me repeatedly. If you can overlook some service issues, I definitely recommend going to this restaurant at least once.

Cucina Colore - A Small Restaurant with a Big Flavor

Calamari with a twist

Cucina Colore, located in the heart of Cherry Creek, serves contemporary Italian cuisine. It is a bright, cheerful place with a wood burning-pizza oven and an open kitchen, which seems to be more popular these days. It has been there since 1994 and is getting busier by day. It is the perfect spot to have a drink with friends or have a romantic dinner date with a special someone. There is a patio that has eight to nine tables and can accommodate around eighteen to twenty people. On a beautiful summer day, I recommend getting a table outside where you can enjoy your food and people watch. The friendly and helpful staff makes the time there more pleasant. I love the fact that they are knowledgeable and not pushy. They make good suggestions and let you come to a decision. Nothing is shoved down your throat.

My friend Liz and I went there for dinner on a Monday evening. We did not have a reservation but were seated immediately, since there were no other guests waiting. The waitress came up to our table right away, and after introducing herself and going over the specials offered drinks to start our evening with. I like to try house wine everywhere I go; and I was surprised to find out that they did not offer house wine, so instead we both went with Pinot Grigio priced at $7.00 for a six-ounce glass. Megan, our waitress, also brought some bread accompanied with olive oil and spice mixture. The bread was soft and delicious, and the olive oil had just the right amount of salt and seasoning. It is definitely a healthier choice than bread and butter.

We started with the Fried Calamari which was perfectly cooked. The creamy sauce, garnishing the plate, was the perfect dip for the fried goodness. The Calamari costs $12.00 and is a bit overpriced for the amount of food you are getting. For our main course, we decided to share the Primavera Pizza. It has artichoke hearts, asparagus, basil pesto, and fontina; some of our favorite ingredients. Pizzas range from $15.00 to $17.00 and for additional $4.00 you can get a gluten- free crust. The pizza comes in one size, which is twelve inches.

Primavera Pizza

I have dined at this restaurant several times before and have tried a number of their pizzas, all of which, I can say, tasted and looked flawless. I assume that the wood-fired oven plays an important role in the taste. We asked the server to bring the pizza after the appetizer was finished. We took our time with the calamari, talking about work and life, and when it was time for the entrée, we were left disappointed, although we tried hard not to show it. They made a huge mistake by leaving the delicious pizza in the oven for too long to keep it hot. And since the crust was so thin, it got overcooked to such an extent, that I thought I was eating dry toast. Liz assured me that, although it was a little too crispy, it was still delicious. Nobody’s perfect, therefore, I am willing to let this one slide.

Liz already knew that we had to have the dessert. Whenever I come to Cucina, I seem to rush through my food so I can get to the dessert. Whether you have a sweet tooth or not, you must try the Peach Bread Pudding. The bread pudding is served warm on a bed of sweet caramel sauce and is topped with home-made whipped cream. To make it more colorful and mouthwatering, there are fresh strawberries and blackberries neatly placed in the sauce. It costs $6.00 and is big enough to share with a special someone. Even if you don’t like Italian food, I urge you to visit this restaurant for the Peach Bread Pudding alone.

The Peach Bread Pudding

            Overall, our experience was delightful. I have never had issues with the service, and this time was no exception. Although the pizza was not cooked to perfection, it did not hinder my experience. I always enjoy the food and the cozy atmosphere, whether I am there for lunch or dinner.  Next time you are in Cherry Creek, stop by this modern restaurant and enjoy delicious Italian food they have to offer.

J Alexander's

The Smoked Salmon Dip: Absolutely Delightful

J Alexander's is a contemporary restaurant that serves American style food with a modern twist. Out of nineteen restaurants nationwide, there is only one in Colorado, which is conveniently located near IKEA and Park Meadows mall. If you are planning on going there on a weekend, you have to make reservations; otherwise, you might be on the waiting list from thirty to sixty minutes. Even with a reservation, you are still not seated immediately. The dress code here is more relaxed than you might think. I saw people wearing anywhere from beautiful cocktail dresses to work-out shorts and tennis shoes (heard them saying that they had come from a basketball game).  

I have dined here many times before but never paid too much attention to the interior décor and other details like the kitchen, which is located right across the dining room. It is very open, so customers can easily see all the cooks who are involved in preparing various dishes. It is absolutely fascinating to watch them work together and not be distracted by commotion in the dining hall.

I chose a weekday to visit this restaurant. It was eight PM on a Wednesday evening when I walked in without a reservation. Since it was not busy, I was seated immediately. The server, dressed neatly, came by right away offering a drink to start my evening with. I went with the dirty martini which was $11.00. This is the only restaurant that serves two martinis for the price of one. They bring the martini in a glass, and a small carafe of extra martini placed in a water glass full of iced water to keep it chilled.  I have had dirty martinis in numerous restaurants, but I can tell you that the ones I had at J Alexander’s, are the best so far.

They are very particular in serving their food and drinks. The main server took my order and came by my table several times over the course of the evening to check on everything. Then there were different servers for drinks and food. One thing grabbed my attention; after everything that was dropped off the table, the wait staff would ask, “Can I get anything else to make this better?” I thought that was very neat.

I started with an appetizer, which, most of the time, I think is overpriced and unnecessary.  However, after having the smoked salmon dip, I changed my mind completely. This dish is prepared from scratch like everything else at this restaurant. It is smoked in-house and is mixed with tartar sauce, red onions, and dill. It comes with thin slices of croutons for dipping. It costs $12.00 and is quite large to share with someone. I am a big fan of salmon, and I am very picky about how it is prepared. This dish absolutely blew my mind. It was so well prepared that every bite made me say “Oh My God” out loud. Needless to say, I will definitely come back here for this particular dish alone.

I requested the salad to be served after the appetizer was finished. They timed it perfectly, so the salad came out exactly when I was expecting it. I had the Redwood salad which has rotisserie chicken, pecans, avocado, tomatoes, bacon, cheese, croutons, and ranch dressing. It does have a lot of ingredients, but the salad itself was nothing special. It costs $16.00 and has a decent size. If you order that salad before your main course, you will be too full to enjoy your entrée. I noticed that their salad prices were ranging from $10.00 to $17.00. You can easily have any of these salads as your entrée and be fully satisfied.

Steak Brazzo with the  Madeira Sauce

The salad was followed by Steak Brazzo, which consists of Marinated pieces of filet mignon in a wild mushroom Madeira sauce and is served with mashed potatoes. It is my absolute favorite! The entrée prices range from $16.00 to $30.00 inclusive. Steak Brazzo is one of the expensive ones but is worth every single penny.  The meat is very delicate and just melts in your mouth. The Madeira sauce is the perfect garnish to any steak dish.

With the helpful suggestion of my server Andrew, I finished the evening with the carrot cake. It was served warm, topped with cheesecake frosting. It was a delicious finish to a lovely evening.

I had a chance to talk to Paul, the bar manager who was reluctant at first to answer my questions. Until the end he was convinced that I was an under-cover food critic, despite my attempts to assure him that I was simply interested in getting some background information about J Alexander’s. I found out that they purchase their food supplies from local distributers who meet their standards. They select every item carefully just like you would pick your own groceries at the store. If the products don’t meet their standards, they simply turn them away, and that is why they may run out of things at times.

The overall experience was satisfactory. You spend a little more than average, but you definitely get your money’s worth. The service is outstanding; very detail oriented but not smothering. Out of the three restaurants I have been to, J Alexander's exceeds my expectations in every category. If you are looking for great food and an outstanding service, J Alexander’s is your destination.