Restaurant Critique #2: A New Kind of Favorite

The Cheesecake Factory
March 11, 2012

This was Chris and my 6th Anniversary and we wanted to go to a place that we would not typically take Natalie to. We also wanted to try a new place that we had not tried while living in The Woodlands. I had been to The Cheesecake Factory before a few times in Tulsa and OKC but it had been many years. This was a Sunday afternoon of Spring Break and there were alot more families and kids than I expected but was still more formal than your everyday Chili's or Applebees.

Main Dish Menu Options/ Choices

This menu is one of the most expansive and diverse menus I have ever seen. There is LITERALLY something for EVERYONE. They have a complete pages for Chicken, Seafood, Pasta, Steaks and Pork. They also have 2 complete pages of combo plates or miscellaneous options. I did not count the total number of main dishes options but I would guess they had at least 100 different choices. Even the pickiest of eaters should be able to find something to eat.

Chris ordered Mongolian Beef Steak Tips with special mushrooms and fried asparagus. This came with loaded mashed potatoes and he also ordered Sweet Potato Fries. The mashed potatoes were some of the best that he and I had ever had. His main dish was priced at $19.95 and was a great value for the amount and overall taste of the food he ordered.

I ordered the Stuffed Chicken Tortillas. These were a cross between an enchilada and a burrito. They were stuffed with chicken, cheese and roasted/ grilled vegetables. It came with black beans and a corn cake. This dish was delicious and just as good or better than options similar at authentic or Tex Mex restaurants. This dish was priced at $17.95 and was a pretty good value for the amount of food I received.

Appetizer/ Salad

The Cheesecake Factory's menu includes 2 whole pages of appetizer options. This include things such as Chicken Wings, Spinach Dip, Southwest Egg rolls and much more. They also have an entire page dedicated to Salad choices, both side and entree salads. Most appetizers range in price from $7-12 each but can feed multiple people, even those with LARGE appetites!

Chris and I ordered the Avocado Egg rolls for our appetizer and they were INCREDIBLE! We both love avocado and guacamole and these were so Delicious and tasty. They came with a side of cashew dipping sauce that was also very tasty.

Most of the meals did not come with a side salad but could be added to your meal if you choose. They did however provide 2 different kinds of bread to snack on while you waited for you meal. These were very tasty and made the wait for our food a little easier.

Presentation

The presentation of the food was above most everyday restaurants. Each dish was designed and plated in such a way that reminded me of many upscale restaurants I have visited in large cities such as NYC and Washington DC. I loved the fact that this restaurant can take and everyday meal and present it in such a way that made it stand out from the everyday ordinary.

Restaurant Decor

The decor of The Cheesecake Factory was very basic yet elegant at the same time. The main colors where basic earth tones like tans and yellows. They used paint textures and lighting to make the dining experience one to remember. The decor was professional enough to warrant the menu prices but casual enough to bring family members and small children to.

Other/ Miscellaneous

I cannot forget the most important part... DESSERT! The Cheesecake Factory is WORLD RE KNOWN for its YUMMY CHEESECAKE and we just had to partake and experience it first hand. They have over 45 different varieties of cheesecake available as well as other dessert options. We ordered the Brownie Sundae Cheesecake which feature a chunky brownie crust, cheesecake filling, whipped cream and a cherry. It was amazing and I don't even like cheesecake. These cheesecakes range in price from $4-8 each.

Overall Rating System

I am going to use 3 categories (Menu Options/ Taste, Presentation/ Overall Experience and Overall Value) and each category will get 5 possible points. This will give the restaurant a total possible score of 15.

Menu Options/ Taste- 4.5

Presentation/ Overall Experience- 4

Overall Value- 4

Total- 12.5

This was an incredible lunch and Anniversary celebration with my hubby. We both really enjoyed The Cheesecake Factory and it will become a place we look to for a nice and elegant meal with each other or family members.

Once again, without God we would not be in a position to afford this lovely meal or the time together. God is Good... ALL THE TIME!