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.