Cheesecake Factory, a California Chain with over 200 Restaurants and a $2 Billion Market Cap

[DLB]

ustreetguy said:

I would've agreed with you in the 90s, but the food I've eaten at these places in the past year have been mediocre at best. The entrees we ordered at Carlyle last night fell betwee $18-25.00. I can't say they were worth the price.

And you and I both know that a long wait isn't a surefire indication of quality. Otherwise we'd all be touting the virtues of the Cheescake Factory.

What's wrong with the Cheescake Factory? I am not saying the quality is good, however many people enjoy the food there. Is is really fair to pick on chains? They do serve a purpose to some, and are not all that bad.

[Principia]

What's wrong with the Cheescake Factory? I am not saying the quality is good, however many people enjoy the food there. Is is really fair to pick on chains? They do serve a purpose to some, and are not all that bad.

In one of life's little ironic twists, I have to confess that I share the same opinion of the Cheesecake Factory as I do of California Pizza Kitchen: I'll eat much of what they offer, just not the items they purport to be their specialities.

Although I only eat there if a full shopping expedition is happening during the wait, the CF at Tysons Galleria has really good salads and other veggie selections. I'm still peeved that they discontinued the Frozen Hot Chocolate, though.

[ustreetguy]

What's wrong with the Cheescake Factory? I am not saying the quality is good, however many people enjoy the food there. Is is really fair to pick on chains? They do serve a purpose to some, and are not all that bad.

Merely stating an example of a place that has a long wait where the quality of the food isn't necessarily good (as you pointed out as well).

[Cooter]

The one time that I went to Cheesecake Factory there were advertisements in the menu. I can't even comment on the food, or the wait time or anything else because I can't get past the fact that there are advertisements in the menu!!!!

[New Foodie]

I've only been there once (and I'm fairly proud of that fact) but it's not bad for what it is. A chain to "please" all tastes. If you have a picky crowd (especially of out of towners) take them there. Pasta, pizza, mexican, sandwiches, cajun, etc etc etc. For those that cannot make up their minds!

And their cheesecake is pretty tasty.

[hillvalley]

The "wait" is all part of the concept between Cheesecake. The longer you wait, the more anticipation there is. Back in undergrad we used to get the spinach and artichoke dip and roasted artichokes for movie night.

FWIW: The roasted artichokes aren't too bad. It gave me the inspiration to come up with my own version.

[Waitman]

What's wrong with the Cheescake Factory? I am not saying the quality is good, however many people enjoy the food there. Is is really fair to pick on chains? They do serve a purpose to some, and are not all that bad.

It's always fair to pick on chains. They make America worse.

[Meaghan]

Rambling (revisiting other decades): I loved Cheesecake Factory in middle school. That and Slade's at Montgomery Mall.

Somewhere in the middle I made friends with Cactus Cantina and Austin Grille. What else do they own again?

Later, I found Houston's and Cafe Deluxe.

After that Jaleo, but there was only one in those days.

I first read about Sweetwater Tavern on one of these sites, then in Sietsema's dining guide.

Businesses that cookie cut tasty food are what they are. I like them best when the company is equally predictable and comforting.

[hm212]

Cheesecake Factory -

I do like the cheesecake.

[Heather]

When it comes to chain restaurants I am a fairly tolerant person, but I will never set foot in Cheesecake Factory again. Stupidly long waits, and for what? We went once or twice with friends that liked it (before we had children) and that was enough. Now, my definition of hell is a 3-year-old and a 60 minute wait. I'd rather eat a Big Mac.

[johnb]

It's always fair to pick on chains. They make America worse.

I think this offhand comment justifies a considered response.

Picking on chains is always a popular pursuit on boards like this. And that's fine; after all, the big bad chain food industry (and let's be careful to focus on FORMULA chain restaurants, not groups like Great American or Jose Andres') really couldn't care less what we chowhounds/foodies say or think--we're like a fly that might occasionally buzz around an elephant. The elephant seldom is even aware the fly is there, and cares less.

But we compare the quality of formula chain food with that of our favorite few places, and conveniently ignore the fact that the food in most independent places, IMO at least, is somewhere between mediocre and just plain bad. On the whole, in my view the quality of independents is not a pretty picture. Formula places on the other hand, while they seldom rise to great heights (think In-n-Out?) at least turn out decent food on average, thus appealing to the average palate, though not us of course.

Warning: "Mathematical" digression--ignore if you're mathephobic: In probability terms, if you lay out a density function (bell curve) of quality, I am saying the curve for independent places would be wide with a mean at a fairly ordinary quality level. If you superimpose the quality function for formula places on that, it would be much more narrow but with a mean at, maybe, the 1 sigma or maybe 70% level of the independent curve. Sure there are independent places that are better, but also a lot of them that are considerably worse. The places we focus on are at the 2 sigma level at least.

What if formula chains had never developed? Would America be "better off?" I don't think so. The current average quality of non-chains is not so hot, and the ones that exist now are presumably being operated by the most-suited individuals. If independents had to pick up all the market slack currently covered by chains, the average quality of independents would surely be worse on average than it is now as even less-competent individuals come in. If nothing else, formula chains, through their formulas, help their staff people turn out a consistent product, which they wouldn't be able to do on their own.

It's a competitve, Darwinian, world out there and things evolve for a reason. Many people liked formula places better than the alternative they had, and they evolved. Nothing succeeds like success.

As to the health argument, I lay that one at the feet of the customers, not the industry. The industry will provide what the market wants, and like it or not what they want is salt, fat, and sugar. There have been attempts to develop healthy food formula chains and they haven't succeeded. And the choices at independent restaurants in general are typically just as fat and sugar laden anyway.

Just MHO.

I'm getting hungry for some Bojangles chicken.

[Meaghan]

It's like you're unraveling a big cable-knit sweater that someone keeps knitting and knitting and knitting and knitting and knitting and knitting...

[Stretch]

Insert H.L. Mencken quote here.

Insert P.T. Barnum misquote here.

Message ends.

[danfishe]

Nor am I, just stating a personal observation. I find the options steps from my front door dizzying and that is a fantastic thing. I appreciate and thank all of you for bringing the new places in and making the neighborhood that much better. Bethesda can go pound sand! Perhaps we can all join forces and get rid of "the place that shall not be named" with the gold dome down the street. Think of all the square footage you guys could play with there!

Plan to meet friends at Spider's this evening and very much looking forward to it. Question - is it non-smoking?

Though I share your dislike of CF, I might hazard a guess that it does the rest of the neighborhood (non-restaurant) retail a service by bringing in a lot of foot traffic, especially on weekends.

[legant]

On July 30th, 2008, The Cheesecake Factory will celebrate it's 30th anniversary by featuring all cheesecakes at $1.50 per slice.

[JLK]

Pro athletes LOVE CK. (I do not, but they get to pick the restaurant more often than not)

Flowchart madness

[Bob Wells]

On July 30th, 2008, The Cheesecake Factory will celebrate it's 30th anniversary by featuring all cheesecakes at $1.50 per slice.

How many thousands of people are going to wait in line for two or more hours for a piece of cheesecake? The mind boggles. Since few if any will just order cheesecake, the "loss" CF suffers on the cheap cheesecake will be more than made back on the other stuff.

My personal view of CF is that the food is perfectly adequate, but in no way worth the wait. At my local mall (Fair Oaks), you can get similar food with far less wait at Champps.

[zoramargolis]

Pro athletes LOVE CK. (I do not, but they get to pick the restaurant more often than not)

"Nowadays, if ever someone tells me that they bumped into an NBA player out in public, I like to stop them mid-sentence and guess: "Was it at the Cheesecake Factory?" "

In 1991-4, when we were living in Inglewood, CA, near The Forum, which was at that time the home court of the L.A. Lakers, we used to regularly see Magic Johnson eating at a local soul food place called M&M Quick Snack. From its name, you'd think it was a carry-out stand, but it was a full-service restaurant with a big menu, and reasonably good, simple food. One time, we were leaving just as Magic was coming in. He was very friendly, and very tall.

[porcupine]

Weird restaurant karma the past week culminated in a trip to Cheesecake Factory. Birthday Girl wanted to go to Dino, but there were complications and the group couldn't make it work, so Birthday Girl chose Amina Thai instead, and the group was happy, because Amina Thai is a nice restaurant if unremarkable, and satisfies my foodie sensibilities without challenging my non-foodie friends. But then Complications Girl mentions the gift certificate she had gotten for CF and how we could head over there next for dessert (which was really considerate of her, really), and I had to keep my mouth shut and mourn the loss of a Mango with Sticky Rice, because Birthday Girl thought it (CF) a wonderful idea, because CF has some sort of monster many-layered chocolate cake concoction that she loves. And that's how I found myself standing inside White Flint Mall hoping nobody recognized me at 8:00 on a Tuesday night, because there was a wait. Is there never a wait at this place?! Every time I walk by one - anywhere - it's mobbed. (And Amina Thai was almost empty. )

MrP got a basic cheesecake with cherry sauce (inoffensive) and others got chocolate cake and whatnot. I asked about the ice cream flavors (chocolate, coffee, and vanilla), then had the brilliant idea of asking for a milkshake, which was about the only item known to late 20th century popular American cuisine not specifically mentioned on the menu, and the nice (flairless) waiter said, sure, we make milkshakes, so I asked for a coffee and chocolate one, because how hard can it be to mess up a milkshake?

The resulting drink was watery, topped with way too much thin whipped-cream like substance, and utterly lacking in chocolate. I spent the rest of the night running my tongue around the inside of my mouth, because my mouth felt like I'd been licking low density polyethylene for three days straight or something.

Yuck.

[Kibbee Nayee]

Pro athletes LOVE CK. (I do not, but they get to pick the restaurant more often than not)

Flowchart madness

Thankfully, I've never set foot in the place. But as a Yankee fan, I remember reading somewhere that Derek Jeter considers CF his favorite restaurant.

Derek Jeter makes about $30 million a year, all told. He dates supermodels. Not just any supermodels, but like Miss Brazil or Jessica Biel. He can afford to close down Le Bernardin or French Laundry for a night, every night. And he likes Cheesecake Factory?

That would be like Anthony Bourdain eating tuna out of the can every night.

[Al Dente]

Thankfully, I've never set foot in the place. But as a Yankee fan, I remember reading somewhere that Derek Jeter considers CF his favorite restaurant.

Derek Jeter makes about $30 million a year, all told. He dates supermodels. Not just any supermodels, but like Miss Brazil or Jessica Biel. He can afford to close down Le Bernardin or French Laundry for a night, every night. And he likes Cheesecake Factory?

That would be like Anthony Bourdain eating tuna out of the can every night.

didn't he also bang the cheesecake factory of the music world-- madonna?

[Kibbee Nayee]

didn't he also bang the cheesecake factory of the music world-- madonna?

That was Alex Rodriguez, who, among Yankee aficionados, is known as the anti-Jeter.

[JLK]

Thankfully, I've never set foot in the place. But as a Yankee fan, I remember reading somewhere that Derek Jeter considers CF his favorite restaurant.

Derek Jeter makes about $30 million a year, all told. He dates supermodels. Not just any supermodels, but like Miss Brazil or Jessica Biel. He can afford to close down Le Bernardin or French Laundry for a night, every night. And he likes Cheesecake Factory?

That would be like Anthony Bourdain eating tuna out of the can every night.

If you surveyed every athlete in the four major professional sports, I suspect you'd have at least 20% say that CF is their favorite restaurant. At least. Another 5-10% would say The Olive Garden and a similar quantity would proffer P.F. Chang's (for me, that's the least offensive of the bunch - I get dumplings and short ribs with pineapple and brown rice. Every time.). A smattering would name a fast food restaurant such as McDonald's, Popeye's or Chipotle.

You'd find correlations between age and these choices too. Some open their minds to new things over time, some don't. But you can pretty much guess that you'd get 40 rookies in a room and hear 5 non-chain favorites in the bunch max.

[mdt]

Thankfully, I've never set foot in the place. But as a Yankee fan, I remember reading somewhere that Derek Jeter considers CF his favorite restaurant.

Derek Jeter makes about $30 million a year, all told. He dates supermodels. Not just any supermodels, but like Miss Brazil or Jessica Biel. He can afford to close down Le Bernardin or French Laundry for a night, every night. And he likes Cheesecake Factory?

Just because folks have money does not mean that they have good taste.

[Al Dente]

Just because folks have money does not mean that they have good taste.

And then there's the sad reality of having good taste and little money.

[FunnyJohn]

If not for establishments like the CF and other corporate monuments to gatronomic mediocrity how would we appreciate all the great dining opportunities that we are fortunate to enjoy around the DC Metro area. Everytime I pass by the Clarendon CF, taking note of its many patrons enjoying themselves inside, or even sometime lining up waiting for a seat, I just shake my head and smile, and thank my lucky stars for places like Liberty, Eventide, the 11th Street Bar (when Antonio was there) etc., etc.

[slarochelle]

If I were away from home for half the year, a different city every week, I'd probably gravitate towards those places as well. They are everywhere you are, and consistent. Plus, the portion sizes at Cheesecake a just right for professional athletes

Now, if I knew I was to be in city X three times in the next five months (and hopefully next 10 years), and had some free time scheduled, I'd look for something interesting - at all dining levels. Someone not into food of course would not do that, and would be happy with the plane-bus-hotel-arena-entertainment establishment-hotel-bus-plane schedule, with a meal thrown in somewhere.

[Waitman]

If I were away from home for half the year, a different city every week, I'd probably gravitate towards those places as well. They are everywhere you are, and consistent. Plus, the portion sizes at Cheesecake a just right for professional athletes

Now, if I knew I was to be in city X three times in the next five months (and hopefully next 10 years), and had some free time scheduled, I'd look for something interesting - at all dining levels. Someone not into food of course would not do that, and would be happy with the plane-bus-hotel-arena-entertainment establishment-hotel-bus-plane schedule, with a meal thrown in somewhere.

I spent a year as an Advance Guy and in that job you tend to find yourself in places like Kalamazoo and Modesto and Council Bluffs a lot and there are plenty of times a Cheesecake Factory would have been an improvement over the local offerings (I guess; I've never eaten at one). On the other hand, pro athletes tend to hit the same circuit many times over the course of a year, and they're all reasonably-sized cities that would seem to offer alternatives to chains. Edmonton and Calgary excepted. They have little excuse.

I suspect the reason they go there is that 90% of them came from poor or middle-class backgrounds, or more (culinarily) conservative towns and regions, and they're not familiar or comfortable with "weird" food. If your dad was an insurance claims adjuster and your mom was a legal secretary and you grew up in Westen Pennsylvania, it's not like you grew up sitting around Saturday nights saying, "hmmmm Vietnamese, Sushi or something with a little foam on it tonight?" You went to the steakhouse, the Italian place or some chain over by the interstate.

Hell, what percentage of the people eating at CF in Bethesda on an average night could have afforded to eat at a real restaurant, but prefer the safety and security of CF?

As an aside, I once heard Sonny Jurgensen and Sam Huff (for Cowboys fans and other deviants, two serious redneck ex-Redskins who do color commentary on radio broadcasts) drawling on and on about how dinner at Bouley was the greatest meal of their lives. And it was rumored at one time that Sonny was a serious customer at Arrow Wines. So, give these kids a little time.

[Bob Wells]

Thankfully, I've never set foot in the place. But as a Yankee fan, I remember reading somewhere that Derek Jeter considers CF his favorite restaurant.

Derek Jeter makes about $30 million a year, all told. He dates supermodels. Not just any supermodels, but like Miss Brazil or Jessica Biel. He can afford to close down Le Bernardin or French Laundry for a night, every night. And he likes Cheesecake Factory?

That would be like Anthony Bourdain eating tuna out of the can every night.

Derek Jeter has being hanging around and eating with ballplayers since he was probably 5 years old. Ballplayers like their food tasty, relatively simple, and in huge quantities. He could afford to BUY those restaurants, but eating there? Not unless his girlfriend drags him. He'd get his chops busted by his team mates if he suggested going to such a place.

[Anna Blume]

When growing up w an allergy to wheat, cheesecake was the best possible dessert ever, the culmination of a birthday visit to Chuck's Steakhouse. Since it was decided my dairy allergy was officially outgrown, there was even a bit of Forbidden Fruit about it, especially were I to sneak bites of the crust.

Still remember that first visit to Cheesecake Factory with fondness since trips to restaurants when your mom's a poor, starving grad student were rare. The wonder of discovering you could get chocolate swirled into it...

FTR, choices for dining in Kalamazoo are much, much better these days than they were even back in the late 80's. Better to dine around town than in the university cafeteria during conferences, though I don't recommend ordering seafood.

[Rieux]

I am not a fan of chains AT ALL. But, I must say, the chinese chicken salad at the Cheesecake Factory must be laced with crack, because I crave it. It's the ONLY thing I'd eat there, but man, it's good.

Funny story. When my very frugal WASPY Massachusetts 90 year old grandmother was living in DC, her retirement home had an excursion to "the Cheesecake Factory." She signed up.

When she got back she called me and said "Well, that was strange. It wasn't a factory at all! It was just some awful chain restaurant full of people gorging themselves. I couldn't even get a good gin and tonic. I ordered some ghastly appetizer that was enough for four meals. Why do they call it a factory if there is no factory tour?"

[Poivrot Farci]

Ruhlman’s humble pie ratio.

[B.A.R.]

The Winter Salad* of baby kale and frisee is actually quite good, and the portion, for $5, makes this a really good deal. The Thai lettuce wrap appetizer could feed two people easily, and if you forgo the trio of treacly dipping sauces, you can have a well seasoned, fresh, and healthy dinner for $12.

I feel dirty I even wrote this.

*ETA- Baby kale, baby frisee, diced haricot verts, marcona almonds, dried cranberries, diced granny smith apples

[genericeric]

On the one hand I applaud the CF for trying to add at least a few menu items to their menu that won't cost you 3 days worth of calories, but on the other hand, I find it somewhat embarrassing as a grown man to order an item by the 'Skinnylicious' moniker. When there are two versions of the same item on the menu, its difficult to get around using this identifier when ordering.

Or maybe I just need to get over myself... or eat somewhere better.

[jiveturk21]

I feel dirty I even wrote this.

As a pretty active member of this board and someone that likes to think that I have a good palate, I understand this sentiment. At the same time, I have gotten over beating myself up every time that I don't eat at a locally owned non-chain that sources its food from some family farm down the road. There is room in the culinary world for a place like Cheesecake Factory, I have been to many places much worse.

[Pat]

On the one hand I applaud the CF for trying to add at least a few menu items to their menu that won't cost you 3 days worth of calories, but on the other hand, I find it somewhat embarrassing as a grown man to order an item by the 'Skinnylicious' moniker. When there are two versions of the same item on the menu, its difficult to get around using this identifier when ordering.

Or maybe I just need to get over myself... or eat somewhere better.

I hate those stupid kind of cutesy names. At a Denny's in Texas with a large group about a decade ago, I was surprised? amused? that people actually ordered food by the ridiculous names they have on the menu. I think I may have just gotten coffee, but I can't recall.

Maybe I need to get over myself too, but if I'm in a CF* and want the lower calorie option, I'm pretty sure I'd follow my request by saying "the skinny one."

*The only one I've ever been in (and I don't remember seeing that many) was at Chevy Chase Pavilion, in the vast space that I'm to understand has been taken over by Range.

[bookluvingbabe]

Maybe I need to get over myself too, but if I'm in a CF* and want the lower calorie option, I'm pretty sure I'd follow my request by saying "the skinny one."

*The only one I've ever been in (and I don't remember seeing that many) was at Chevy Chase Pavilion, in the vast space that I'm to understand has been taken over by Range.

I think the Range is in a different part of the mall. The CF seems to be alive and kicking there.

[B.A.R.]

I have gotten over beating myself up every time that I don't eat at a locally owned non-chain that sources its food from some family farm down the road.

As someone who once spent $35 on a free range chicken, I don't give a shit. I have no problem saying that the food I ate at CF last night was really good, dirt cheap, and an excellent value. The cucumber that was one of the 6 garnishes for the Thai app was sliced on a mandolin and lightly (dare I say expertly?) marinated in Mirin with toasted sesame seeds.

Just to keep it real, their beverage program is a shitshow.

[TheMatt]

I actually don't mind some CF dishes. Sometimes when I'm on travel, it's the best option of what's around some convention center. And I for one am glad for the new skinny menu.

But, I will also say that some of their other dishes are just plain obscene. I checked out the latest "Eat This, Not That" from the library last week and it's amusing how many CF dishes are in the "worst offenders" list. And even their alternatives aren't that low-cal, just not as bad.

[B.A.R.]

and it's amusing how many CF dishes are in the "worst offenders" list. And even their alternatives aren't that low-cal, just not as bad.

I imagine some of this is due to portion size. I ordered two appetizers last night and could not finish my meal. I can pretty much eat four courses and finish all of my wife's courses at most restaurants.*

*note to self, getting very doughy

[TheMatt]

I imagine some of this is due to portion size. I ordered two appetizers last night and could not finish my meal. I can pretty much eat four courses and finish all of my wife's courses at most restaurants.*

*note to self, getting very doughy

Oh yes, the portion size at CF is waaay too big, bordering on what I call "big a#$ Italian" size (aka Maggiano's, Buca...). And, of course, those skinny dishes' calorie counts don't include the bread. Nothing kills my calorie counting like a basket of bread and some olive oil (I'm look at you, Dean!).

[Pat]

I think the Range is in a different part of the mall. The CF seems to be alive and kicking there.

Ah. Okay, thanks for clarifying.

[DonRocks]

Thankfully, I've never set foot in the place. But as a Yankee fan, I remember reading somewhere that Derek Jeter considers CF his favorite restaurant.

Derek Jeter makes about $30 million a year, all told. He dates supermodels. Not just any supermodels, but like Miss Brazil or Jessica Biel. He can afford to close down Le Bernardin or French Laundry for a night, every night. And he likes Cheesecake Factory?

That would be like Anthony Bourdain eating tuna out of the can every night.

Just because folks have money does not mean that they have good taste.

And then there's the sad reality of having good taste and little money.

I just read this very interesting discussion of pro athletes (NBA players in particular) spending a disproportionate amount of time at Cheesecake Factories.

As people noted, they serve huge quantities of food (and these are *big* guys), emphasize the primal flavors of salt, sweet, and fat (and these are *big*, *hungry* guys), and are also located downtown in most big cities, often not far away from the major hotels or even the stadiums.

Acquiring a palate for dining well (I won't say "fine dining") requires several things, money only being one of them. It also requires an enormous amount of thinking, dedication, and experimentation, and these big, hungry guys do almost none of these things. They're too busy hitting the gym, and honing their basketball skills to be worried about becoming gourmet diners, and I don't blame them.

One thing that I'm surprised nobody has brought up, however, is the possibility that the teams are paid - handsomely - to show up at these restaurants with a busload of star NBA players. And you know what else? Something tells me they probably don't have to suffer through the two-hour waits that the rest of people do.

I doubt they can all sit their during dinner and get hammered, so this is hardly "a night on the town." It's probably a paid substitute for hotel room service or banquet food, though Jennifer would surely know more about this than anyone.

When in doubt, think "money," and you're probably close to being on the right track.

Something also tells me they don't sit there and read Dostoevsky during dinner. I remember once someone asked Darrell Dawkins what he liked most about moving to Philadelphia. His response? "The Flintstones starts an hour earlier."

Cheers,

Rocks

[Heather]

It's funny that this should come up. Holiday shopping after work with the kids in tow is generally not a good idea, as it puts you in a mall at dinner time. The kids vetoed driving anywhere else, so I let them choose where to eat and they picked Cheesecake Factory. There was no wait, surprisingly. I won't detail what we ate, because it wasn't very interesting, but would note that everything was very salty, so much so that no one ate much. Also, you would think that with a menu the length of the King James Bible that they could put together a children's option that is something other than the same cheeseburger/chicken tenders/french fries bullshit that one sees everywhere else, but alas, they cannot. Ordering from the adult menu there for your child is especially ridiculous given the mammoth portion sizes.

Lesson learned, and they won't ask to go back. It was full when we left, though, with a line forming at the host counter. I totally understand the popularity. The cost to perceived value here is tremendous. Almost every I saw leaving was carrying at least another meal in leftovers, nothing whatsoever is threatening about the food, and the featured dessert is something that most people won't make at home. The overwhelming majority of people I know aren't "foodies" and they are all educated professionals. It's perfectly possible to be a Dostoevsky-reader ,or a rocket scientist, or a brain surgeon, and patronize The Cheesecake Factory. Intellectuals don't necessarily care about food. Sometimes value and convenience are enough.

[B.A.R.]

Also, you would think that with a menu the length of the King James Bible that they could put together a children's option that is something other than the same cheeseburger/chicken tenders/french fries bullshit that one sees everywhere else, but alas, they cannot. Ordering from the adult menu there for your child is especially ridiculous given the mammoth portion sizes.

My kids split one order of the Chicken Samosa Appetizer (not a samosa at all actually) and had some of my kale salad. We did not run into any salt issues, but the dressings and dipping sauces were too sweet. I can honestly say that I have had much worse meals at dozens of restaurants this year - none of those being chain, food factories.

As for the menu, I never looked past the appetizer section.

[Sundae in the Park]

"...as delicious as cheesecake is, it’s probably not work risking your life for."

Mob scene @ the Clarendon Cheesecake Factory brought on by a free cheesecake offer! 😨

[DaveO]

Over the last 2 years or so my office has had a number of takeout lunches from the Arlington Cheesecake Factory.   They have been among the best quality takeout lunches we have had.  I have to admit I haven’t eaten there in that period but based on the takeout lunches I would have no hesitation in eating there in the future

[B.A.R.]

10 hours ago, DaveO said:

Over the last 2 years or so my office has had a number of takeout lunches from the Arlington Cheesecake Factory.   They have been among the best quality takeout lunches we have had.  I have to admit I haven’t eaten there in that period but based on the takeout lunches I would have no hesitation in eating there in the future

I find the breadth of the CF Menu and portion sizes to be appalling. That being said, I have always been pleased with the quality and freshness of the food I have received. It is light years above any other high-volume chain. The "Thai" lettuce wraps are by no means Thai food, but they are flavorful, fresh, and the appetizer fills me up (far more than my recent $190 bill at O-Ku). I have enjoyed every meal I have had at CF and have no qualms about going back, again and again.

[DaveO]

On 12/6/2018 at 8:48 AM, B.A.R. said:

I find the breadth of the CF Menu and portion sizes to be appalling. That being said, I have always been pleased with the quality and freshness of the food I have received. It is light years above any other high-volume chain. The "Thai" lettuce wraps are by no means Thai food, but they are flavorful, fresh, and the appetizer fills me up (far more than my recent $190 bill at O-Ku). I have enjoyed every meal I have had at CF and have no qualms about going back, again and again.

Having been the recipient of a rather large CF gift card I thought I'd visit (for the first time in ages) and had lunch at the Clarendon CF.  My biggest incentive was the experience of far better than the norm take out lunches over the last 2 years from this location.  I ambled over frankly to check if this gift card was still good as I believe it was purchased possibly 1.5 years ago.

While it was only one dish,  the breadth of the menu is indeed extraordinary, and it has been well over a decade since I last ate in a CF, the lunch was fine, the serving size was quite ample for the price and the quality was above average, if not exquisite.  I have not the slightest interest in always dining at the most inventive and unique local restaurants and would happily return.  If all the meals were of this quality I'd be happy with value.

In my case I ordered the somewhat smaller "lunch special" chicken piccata.  Having grown up in the center of old traditional Italian American cuisine I've had either veal or chicken piccata (it's less exquisite, less tasty, less expensive version ) probably hundreds of times.  It's a dish where when inspired I prepare a reasonably good version.

The CF version falls squarely in the middle of what I've had so often over so many decades in so many restaurants.  Its a perfectly fine version with a "safe" not too exciting or venturesome sauce.  The lunch time version was more than amply sized, perfectly finely sliced (possibly pounded) to provide the appropriate cutlet thinness, cooked appropriately, and covered with what I would describe as a safe but adequately fine sauce.  It came with a traditional serving of angel hair pasta nicely done.  All in all a fine dish and nice value for the meal.  I have no idea of the size of the dinner version of this dish, but if substantially larger it would end up being taken home for leftovers.  

Next I need to reward our staff with a group takeout and pick up a cheesecake.   I look forward to it.

[DaveO]

On 12/6/2018 at 8:48 AM, B.A.R. said:

I find the breadth of the CF Menu and portion sizes to be appalling. That being said, I have always been pleased with the quality and freshness of the food I have received. It is light years above any other high-volume chain. The "Thai" lettuce wraps are by no means Thai food, but they are flavorful, fresh, and the appetizer fills me up (far more than my recent $190 bill at O-Ku). I have enjoyed every meal I have had at CF and have no qualms about going back, again and again.

Based on the above I ordered the "Thai" lettuce wraps and I agree completely:  Its not Thai food, but the ingredients were fresh, tasty and it also filled me up at its $13-15 cost.  CF does offer value for the price, but don't expect exquisite food.  OTOH it must compare favorably on the value and quality side to the endless volume of different chains. 

---

Dining in Clarendon (captcourt)

[DaveO]

On 12/6/2018 at 8:48 AM, B.A.R. said:

I find the breadth of the CF Menu and portion sizes to be appalling. That being said, I have always been pleased with the quality and freshness of the food I have received. It is light years above any other high-volume chain. The "Thai" lettuce wraps are by no means Thai food, but they are flavorful, fresh, and the appetizer fills me up (far more than my recent $190 bill at O-Ku). I have enjoyed every meal I have had at CF and have no qualms about going back, again and again.

 

On 12/27/2018 at 3:36 PM, DaveO said:

Having been the recipient of a rather large CF gift card I thought I'd visit (for the first time in ages) and had lunch at the Clarendon CF.  My biggest incentive was the experience of far better than the norm take out lunches over the last 2 years from this location.  I ambled over frankly to check if this gift card was still good as I believe it was purchased possibly 1.5 years ago.

While it was only one dish,  the breadth of the menu is indeed extraordinary, and it has been well over a decade since I last ate in a CF, the lunch was fine, the serving size was quite ample for the price and the quality was above average, if not exquisite.  I have not the slightest interest in always dining at the most inventive and unique local restaurants and would happily return.  If all the meals were of this quality I'd be happy with value.

In my case I ordered the somewhat smaller "lunch special" chicken piccata.  Having grown up in the center of old traditional Italian American cuisine I've had either veal or chicken piccata (it's less exquisite, less tasty, less expensive version ) probably hundreds of times.  It's a dish where when inspired I prepare a reasonably good version.

The CF version falls squarely in the middle of what I've had so often over so many decades in so many restaurants.  Its a perfectly fine version with a "safe" not too exciting or venturesome sauce.  The lunch time version was more than amply sized, perfectly finely sliced (possibly pounded) to provide the appropriate cutlet thinness, cooked appropriately, and covered with what I would describe as a safe but adequately fine sauce.  It came with a traditional serving of angel hair pasta nicely done.  All in all a fine dish and nice value for the meal.  I have no idea of the size of the dinner version of this dish, but if substantially larger it would end up being taken home for leftovers.  

Next I need to reward our staff with a group takeout and pick up a cheesecake.   I look forward to it.

Okay and then there is the other side of the story, AKA how to blow about $60/person on remarkably mediocre food and drink.  We sort of overate as you can get out of there for much much less...heck its a moderate priced chain.

so still working my way through a large CF gift card a friend and I had dinner and drinks there the other night.  We had some drinks, 2 mains, bread(that was reasonably good)  cheesecake and after dinner drinks.   I have Minimal CF experience-my friend hadn't been there in forever.   My gut is we ordered poorly off of that incredibly large menu.  Neither dish was good, one Mexican themed, one chicken pasta themed.  The cheesecake wasn't really good.  The wine was mediocre.   I thought the coffee was fine. 

pfft. 

I've discovered I'll still go back.  I suppose one has to hunt peck and take recommendations for what is better/acceptable on that menu.

 

[Ferris Bueller]

Cheesecake Factory acquiring Fox Restaurant Concepts By Brandon Brown, Phoenix Business Journal

$308M deal, locally it affects FlowerChild and North Italia locations.

[Rieux]

https://www.latimes.com/food/story/2019-08-20/cheesecake-factory-restaurant-review-lucas-peterson 

All sounds true, at least my love for the Chinese chicken salad is vindicated. 

[Kibbee Nayee]

I just can't fathom how so many menu items can be executed in a professional kitchen. Most of them have to be pre-made and heated a la minute.

Then comes the "Why?" Why do restaurants like Cheesecake Factory (and GARG) want to peddle us a Cajun Pasta? They don't serve that kind of crap in Louisiana. Why mix Italian, Asian, Continental, and supposedly American on one menu, and expect any kind of real "from scratch" out of the kitchen?

I personally wouldn't set foot in the place, but then, they make a lot of money from people who eat instead of dine. I couldn't figure out Rainforest Cafe either, but my kids loved it.

[mtureck]

1 hour ago, Kibbee Nayee said:

I just can't fathom how so many menu items can be executed in a professional kitchen. Most of them have to be pre-made and heated a la minute.

Then comes the "Why?" Why do restaurants like Cheesecake Factory (and GARG) want to peddle us a Cajun Pasta? They don't serve that kind of crap in Louisiana. Why mix Italian, Asian, Continental, and supposedly American on one menu, and expect any kind of real "from scratch" out of the kitchen?

I personally wouldn't set foot in the place, but then, they make a lot of money from people who eat instead of dine. I couldn't figure out Rainforest Cafe either, but my kids loved it.

The Cajun Pasta is my go to meal there. It's pretty good. 

Of course it's not in any way authentic, but who cares? 

It's a great place to go with a family when everyone wants something different, they're amazingly consistent (for better or worse), they have big portions and cheery service. That's what many people look for when they dine. 

[genericeric]

I've always thought there's a time and place for CF.  But then they put the calorie counts on the menu.  Now, I always knew they would be astronomical, but something about seeing them in print... I just can't do it.  And whoever gave the light menu the name 'Skinnylicious' should be banned from any sort of marketing ever again.

I have no idea how they get 1,340 calories into an entree of Miso Salmon, but daaaaaaaamn.

[TheMatt]

12 minutes ago, genericeric said:

I have no idea how they get 1,340 calories into an entree of Miso Salmon, but daaaaaaaamn.

Well, giant portions.  That said, I always figured CF's calorie counts are probably the most accurate out there. They seem super high, but that's probably true. 

The ones that always amazed me were the salads. You think salads are "healthy" but...

[dcs]

1 hour ago, TheMatt said:

Well, giant portions.  That said, I always figured CF's calorie counts are probably the most accurate out there. They seem super high, but that's probably true. 

The ones that always amazed me were the salads. You think salads are "healthy" but...

Stick to the SkinnyLicious menu for more reasonable calorie counts.  It also wards off the headache that ensues when you try to read through the hundreds of items on the full menu.

[DaveO]

19 hours ago, Kibbee Nayee said:

I just can't fathom how so many menu items can be executed in a professional kitchen. Most of them have to be pre-made and heated a la minute.

Then comes the "Why?" Why do restaurants like Cheesecake Factory (and GARG) want to peddle us a Cajun Pasta? They don't serve that kind of crap in Louisiana. Why mix Italian, Asian, Continental, and supposedly American on one menu, and expect any kind of real "from scratch" out of the kitchen?

I personally wouldn't set foot in the place, but then, they make a lot of money from people who eat instead of dine. I couldn't figure out Rainforest Cafe either, but my kids loved it.

The above are good questions.  They seem antithetical to the predominate nature of this forum which is focused on the quality of the food among other things.  OTOH they are possibly key questions for the management at chain restaurants, who are populated by food and beverage professionals thinking about the issues from a different angle.  The question about mixing Italian, Asian, Continental and American confounds me.  

But it must make sense for the chain restaurant professionals.  Its a different way of addressing the issues.  CCF does serve a lot of people and makes a lot of money.  That counts for something. 

I'll add this:  with a sizable free gift certificate for CCF I recently ate there for the first time in ages;  found one or two things I liked and gobbled my way through that gift certificate, along with supplying our bartending school with some cheesecakes.  Additionally with all the local places that last for a period and then crash and die, there are skills in the industry that mean a lot outside of kitchen skills.  CCF has mastered some of them and for a long period.

[TrelayneNYC]

CF has historically been one of the worst restaurants to work for.

It earned a spot on a list of establishments with zero ratings in 2012 according to ROC United.

https://rocunited.org/2012/06/yahoo-news-the-worst-restaurants-to-work-for/

So the next time you go to a place like CF, consider that the $ you spend impacts a great deal more than just the restaurant's bottom line.

---

I have a cousin who lives in the middle of *gag* Kansas who thinks The Cheesecake Factory is manna from heaven. (We're no longer on speaking terms, for reasons I probably can't get into due to board rules.)

There's no accounting for taste, is there?

[DonRocks]

9 minutes ago, TrelayneNYC said:

There's no accounting for taste, is there?

There is, but it's usually pro-forma accounting.

[Kibbee Nayee]

7 minutes ago, DonRocks said:

There is, but it's usually pro-forma accounting.

I just don't get it. Millions if not billions of dollars a year spent on eating pure indifference -- Cheesecake Factory, Applebee's, Olive Garden, Chili's, TGI Friday's, and on and on and on....

[dcs]

23 minutes ago, Kibbee Nayee said:

I just don't get it. Millions if not billions of dollars a year spent on eating pure indifference -- Cheesecake Factory, Applebee's, Olive Garden, Chili's, TGI Friday's, and on and on and on....

Some people will only drive a BMW or equivalent  Others are happy with a KIA.  Not everyone is passionate about food, but recognize they must eat to live.  Frankly, in many locations dining options are severely limited.

[mtureck]

2 hours ago, Kibbee Nayee said:

I just don't get it. Millions if not billions of dollars a year spent on eating pure indifference -- Cheesecake Factory, Applebee's, Olive Garden, Chili's, TGI Friday's, and on and on and on....

And a lot of the people eating at those places don't get people like us spending hundreds of dollars for a meal. 

To each his own. 

[DaveO]

2 hours ago, dcs said:

Some people will only drive a BMW or equivalent  Others are happy with a KIA.  Not everyone is passionate about food, but recognize they must eat to live.  Frankly, in many locations dining options are severely limited.

There was a point a while ago where most fine dining experiences I had were disappointing.  Was it me or the food or restaurant.  I'm not sure.  I don't believe I wrote negatively about the experiences.  It soured me for a period on fine dining.  A relatively lot of money for disappointing results.  I reverted to less esteemed restaurants and focused on comfort food.

That being said, CCF falls into a vast, really an enormous world of "okay" dining.   The dining experience, service could be terrific.  The company could be great.  The talk and drinks and vibe could be wonderful.  Frankly whenever the last sentence hits I'm usually pleased as could be.  OTOH I have experienced fine dining with great dining partners wherein the chatter and spirit were so terrific the wonderful meal got lost in the environment.

Overall though when you look at the sums spent on less than great food--well it meets what the "public" wants.    

[deangold]

We were driving thru Tennessee and had to stop for gas. We chose the highway exit that was marked as being the home of the Jan & Dean Birthplace plaque or the world's Biggest Ball of String or some such wonder.  

We pulled into the gas station and not wanting to make a meal of Reece's Peanut Butter Cups and ice cream, we asked if there were good restaurants around and were told yes... The beaming woman told us all the good restaurant's were close by... KFC, McDs, Burger King and Cracker Barrel.  We pulled out of the station, shaking our heads, and had to proceed away from the highway to find a place to turn around. When we did, we ran smack into Adele's. It was an old ramshakle farmhouse and the walls were filled with old fashion stove top toasters.  Also a tabe of old local gentlemen telling stories.  The menu was classic short order and I remember we had a wonderful meal. Sausages, eggs, toast of course, biscuits etc.  It probably took a year off our life expectancy.  ANd it cost about $10.

I am sure that women at the gas station would have loved to have a Cheese Cake Factory in her little town.  We never found Jan and Dean's ball of string though.  

[DonRocks]

3 hours ago, deangold said:

We were driving thru Tennessee and had to stop for gas. We chose the highway exit that was marked as being the home of the Jan & Dean Birthplace plaque or the world's Biggest Ball of String or some such wonder.  

We pulled into the gas station and not wanting to make a meal of Reece's Peanut Butter Cups and ice cream, we asked if there were good restaurants around and were told yes... The beaming woman told us all the good restaurant's were close by... KFC, McDs, Burger King and Cracker Barrel.  We pulled out of the station, shaking our heads, and had to proceed away from the highway to find a place to turn around. When we did, we ran smack into Adele's. It was an old ramshakle farmhouse and the walls were filled with old fashion stove top toasters.  Also a tabe of old local gentlemen telling stories.  The menu was classic short order and I remember we had a wonderful meal. Sausages, eggs, toast of course, biscuits etc.  It probably took a year off our life expectancy.  ANd it cost about $10.

I am sure that women at the gas station would have loved to have a Cheese Cake Factory in her little town.  We never found Jan and Dean's ball of string though.  

This is something of a legendary post.

[deangold]

56 minutes ago, DonRocks said:

This is something of a legendary post.

I'm still partial to this one

"Der Risotto zum Nibelungen {The Risotto Ring for Nibbling}

First make a ring powerful enough to rule the universe. Next, pull a sword out of a handy ash tree growing thru the floor of your lover’s husbands house and use it to kill your lovers husband and cut 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter into small pieces. You first sweat 1/2 cup onion in 2 T butter and 2 T olive oil till they are translucent and sweet, but not browned. Use high enough heat to get some sizzle but do not brown the butter either. 

Heat 3-1/2 cups of broth: veggie, chicken, meat, fish, etc. As the onions are done, raise the heat and add 2 cups Carnaroli rice picked by the Po Virgins {See Wagner’s epic the Ring of the Risotti for a full explanation}. Stir the rice so it does not burn and “toast” it in the butter/oil. It will take about as much time for the rice to toast as it takes Furtwangler to lead the Vienna Orchestra the Ride of Die Valkyrie, which you should be listening to as you do this. 

It will first look oily and “clump together” then it will turn white and seem to be separate grains. Finally it will take on just a hint of color and then you add 1 cup white wine. Keep the heat high until the alcohol boils off then reduce the heat till the liquid just barely bubbles. Stir as necessary so the rice does not stick. When the liquid is almost all absorbed, add a generous half cup of broth and stir. Don’t add too much, you do not want the river Rhine to overflow and put out the flames. Stir a couple of more time as the liquid is absorbed. Repeat each time with a little less broth. 

With each addition, the liquid will be absorbed and a little creamy starch will extrude. You want to wait to add the next ladle of broth until all the liquid is absorbed and there is just crema left. To mere mortals, the crema appears to be a liquid, but with enough repeated listenings to the Ring, you will be able to distinguish the leitmotif of the crema from that of the broth. Or you could just go and kill a dragon and taste a drop of its blood and you will understand the language not only of the birds, but of the rice. 

Taste the rice as you go. It will go from crunchy to soft with a chalky center to soft all the way thru but a little dry to almost creamy. As soon as it reached this point, spread the grains out on a sheet pan in a uniform layer. Do not press them down as they are as delicate as virgins {think Siegfried who was a virgin until the late third act of the third opera of the ring when he met his Aunt, but I digress}. Take a wooden {Wotan} spoon and draw diagonal lines in the rice to make channels for better cooling. When cool, gently form into a funeral pyre and burn Valhalla and all the gods with it. 

If you get hungry after all this, take a piece of butter and melt in the pan. Add some of the rice and a ladle full of stock. Stir until the risotto is heated thru and the stock is almost completely absorbed. Add a handful of grana, Parmigianno or whatever. 

If you want a flavored risotto, heat your flavorings {ie cooked Hubbard squash, or a saute of mushrooms or a spoon of Bolognese or a big handful of small clams etc} before adding the rice."

[Kibbee Nayee]

15 hours ago, deangold said:

We were driving thru Tennessee and had to stop for gas. We chose the highway exit that was marked as being the home of the Jan & Dean Birthplace plaque or the world's Biggest Ball of String or some such wonder.  

We pulled into the gas station and not wanting to make a meal of Reece's Peanut Butter Cups and ice cream, we asked if there were good restaurants around and were told yes... The beaming woman told us all the good restaurant's were close by... KFC, McDs, Burger King and Cracker Barrel.  We pulled out of the station, shaking our heads, and had to proceed away from the highway to find a place to turn around. When we did, we ran smack into Adele's. It was an old ramshakle farmhouse and the walls were filled with old fashion stove top toasters.  Also a tabe of old local gentlemen telling stories.  The menu was classic short order and I remember we had a wonderful meal. Sausages, eggs, toast of course, biscuits etc.  It probably took a year off our life expectancy.  ANd it cost about $10.

I am sure that women at the gas station would have loved to have a Cheese Cake Factory in her little town.  We never found Jan and Dean's ball of string though.  

I agree with Don, this is a classic post.

It's not about Cheesecake Factory versus fine dining, it's about corporate indifference and mediocre quality versus good food served with care and conviction. A meal at Cheesecake Factory and a meal at Corduroy or Bub and Pop's or District Commons might not be too far apart in price, but the quality of the meal is so much better. And so it is with Adele's.

[weezy]

20 hours ago, dcs said:

Some people will only drive a BMW or equivalent  Others are happy with a KIA.  Not everyone is passionate about food, but recognize they must eat to live.  Frankly, in many locations dining options are severely limited.

Hey, I drive a Kia!  The money saved is spent on food

[funkyfood]

On 8/23/2019 at 7:09 AM, Kibbee Nayee said:

I agree with Don, this is a classic post.

It's not about Cheesecake Factory versus fine dining, it's about corporate indifference and mediocre quality versus good food served with care and conviction. A meal at Cheesecake Factory and a meal at Corduroy or Bub and Pop's or District Commons might not be too far apart in price, but the quality of the meal is so much better. And so it is with Adele's.

Having been to District Commons a few times over the last year, I'd say I enjoyed my meals at Cheesecake Factory more

[dcs]

The Cheesecake Factory Tells Landlords Across the Country It Won’t Be Able to Pay Rent on April 1, by Matthew Kang, March 25, 2020, on la.eater.com.

[deangold]

I bet they get a better reception from their landlords than many an independent restaurant will get from theirs.

When you owe someone a little, that's a debt. When you owe them a lot, that's a partnership.

[funkyfood]

confession: i truly, unironically enjoy my meals at the cheesecake factory.

[dcs]

11 hours ago, funkyfood said:

confession: i truly, unironically enjoy my meals at the cheesecake factory.

Sometimes you just need to eat.