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Categories: Desserts, American (New) [Edit]
Neighborhoods: Streeterville, Magnificent Mile, Near North SideChicago (Red)
Mon-Thu. 11:00 a.m. - 11:30 p.m.
Fri. 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 a.m.
Sat. 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 a.m.
Sun. 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Chili's® Grill & Bar is as bold and flavorful as the food it serves. The energetic, fun atmosphere makes it the perfect spot for a... more »
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The Cheesecake Factory is, well, it's The Cheesecake Factory. The food is reliably okay, anywhere in the country. I do, however, love their new small plates menu. Thus our epic begins.
The first time I visited this location, they didn't even give us a copy of the small plates menu. They just gave us the regular one. Since we were all tired and hungry, this led to a lot of whining and being pissy because we thought we'd come out for no reason. The server didn't do anything to remedy that, either. After finally settling on some regular food to order, we were told that the artichokes in the kitchen were no good and so I would have to order something else. Shouldn't the servers be told that before the dinner rush? Anyway, my food finally came and it wasn't great but it was passable. My companion spilled her drink and a manager who came to check on us told her he'd be right back to clean it up for us but never returned so she sat with a lap and table full of ice water for her whole meal. At the end of the meal we spoke to another manager who then discounted the enter meal save for the cost of drinks and we were pretty much satisfied with the kind and professional way he handled the situation.
Last week we returned and 'lo and behold, the small plates menu had been added to the main menu, avoiding any future confusion. Thank you, Cheesecake Factory! We ordered our meal and in the process of bringing things out, our server dropped both of my roommates' items. The food, when it came out, was tasty and I enjoyed it all (stuffed mushrooms, beet salad, garlic knots, a perfect assortment). Then the server got kind of creepy and starting trying to talk to us about the death of John Coltrane and asking my barely 20 year old roommate about her interests (he was closer to late 30s/early 40s) in a way that made us uncomfortable.
So, I guess it's up in the air. Food can be awesome or terrible, service can rock or blow. Who knows?
If it was only their star cheesecake being rated, it would be a solid 4 of not 4.5 stars, but the rest of it just doesn't stack up. I find this place hard to rate because it varies so much. I've had some experiences better than others.
I do love their cheesecake and will pay the $6-7 for it. I normally always get the Strawberry because it's classic, but this time I ventured out of my comfort zone and got the White Chocolate Blueberry. Amazing!
Somehow when people visit, they always want to come here since no one has been. If it is going to be a chain, I'd prefer this one over others. We went for a late lunch is to avoid all the tourists (at 1:45 it was still busy but no wait).
Their service (2 stars)... is medicore. This past time it was okay, but the waiter seemed rushed to get us out. When you want to enjoy lunch and good company, the last thing you want to be is rushed . There isn't enough staff for the volumne that they get there.
The food was decent. I had the BBQ Chicken salad which was pretty tasty although it could have been more favorful. The dressing was good but the greens were too plain for what you pay for. I did not like that some of the lettuce did not seem as fresh (NOT GOOD). My friend ordered the pasta carbonara and really enjoyed it. Had the food not been on the pricey side, I'd probably get 3, but for that, the stuff should be more than decent. I should no better though since it is on Michigan Ave.
Overall, I would definitely go back for their cheesecake. Most likely, I'd eat elsewhere and get it to go.
If I could rate it 0 stars I would! We were there for OVER 2 hours to get 5 pieces of cheesecake and 2 cokes. The service was AWFUL! Cheesecake was great as usual. Next time we'll get take out.
Just an FYI... we have bad service at this location everytime. Shame on me for going back!
Good service even better food. The bread is delicious.
The cheesecake factory was very good. I know, I know, many of the reviewers on Yelp have a repulsion towards corporate chains. Sometimes, I feel the same way. But good food is good food.
Located in downtown Chicago, it is an easily accessible and affordable place to grab lunch or dinner. Yes, it is touristy, if that also includes suburbanites. But the service is always great and I have yet to be let down by anything I have eaten.
The avocado egg rolls are outstanding!
I could do without the decor. And, I don't like cheesecake. But besides that, the Cheesecake factory has solid food at reasonable prices for downtown Chicago.
I haven't been to Cheesecake Factory in a while. I wanted to try the red velvet cheesecake it did not disapoint at all, it was really really good. I also took home the white chocolate macadamia nut cheesecake with caramel it was good too. My friend ordered the fried macaroni&cheese it was good.
Minus 1 star for the service. Our waitress was not so good. I don't know what's up with customer service nowdays oh well it varies. I guess I expect to much, but I use to work at a restaurant and I have always been nice to customers and I've always got compliments and big tips so I know how to treat people. Anyways the cheesecake was super good.
So, when you think of cheesecake factory do you get visions of oompa loompas running around with some weird dude in a hat making all sorts of cheesecake?
OK, me neither. So we're on the same page.
Everyone knows what the cheesecake factory is and yet some of us still go (don't judge me). I have a friend who had never been and i'm sure going was on her "must do before I die list" so we went.
The cheesecake is quite good and they have tons of different ones (snickers, ahem). BUT the food is absolutely terrible. The one in schaumburg had better food and that isn't saying much. I ordered pasta and it was undercooked and crunchy, the sauce was watered down and it was flavorless and gross. I immediately asked to order something else and the staff was very nice and accommodating (read: I don't think they spit in my food).
My new order was a turkey burger and while it wasn't gross it just wasn't much of anything: turkey and buns...no WOW unless tomato and sad looking lettuce is their idea of wow.
If you can order the cheesecake to-go then please do. The food is really not worth it and there are better places within spitting distance of this place. Seriously.
I'm not a fan of chain restaurants, and when you live in a city like this why you would choose to go here is beyond me. However, if you have lived here your entire life as my sister and I have, it's acceptable once in a blue moon to partake in a guilty pleasure.
For my sister's birthday she chose to come here. Why? She thinks it looks cool inside and she wanted to go to the signature lounge afterward. Yeah she is totally a tourist in her own town. At least in terms of chain restaurants, this is probably in the top three. Huge portions for a great price, quality food, and they don't mess up the order. Plus I really do love their white chocolate raspberry cheesecake.
The place is HUGE, a lot bigger than it looks from the outside, so honestly the wait is never all that bad. If you're looking for something that's honestly reasonably priced and are one of those people who likes reliability, come here.
Is it bad to love a chain restaurant? Because I love this place. And it's occasionally fun to be a little touristy.
The food is consistently good (at every location I've been to). The portions are huge so I usually have leftovers for lunch the next day. And, the cheesecake is awesome.
I have liked some menu items better than others, and I usually order one of the same handful of entrees. But it's great for a group or picky eaters because there is such huge variety on the menu.
And though the wait is long, we can usually grab a table in the bar area pretty quickly.
If you haven't tried the lettuce wraps yet, it's a must for next time! I love those things! I have tried various entrees and I have liked them all. This is one of those restaurants you go to when you're hungry and you know no matter what you pick from the menu, it's gonna be good. They serve all types if ethnic foods so there's a great selection. It seems as if there's as many desserts as there are entrees! No matter what kind of food or dessert you're craving, this place will most likely have it!
This place is in the basement, and they don't try to cover up that fact. If you absolutely must, come here for desert and a drink only.
But, if you're going to be all touristy, it seems stupid to eat here with the Signature Room/Lounge just above.
Come for the cheesecake and tripy mushrom decor
Me and a friend were out in the city and we agreed that if I chose the movie, he would chose the restaurant to have dinner at. Being that we're in a city of culinary delights, I don't understand why he wanted to go to The Cheesecake Factory. It was close to the hotel. Thats why.
Two words: TOURIST. TRAP.
Brace yourself for the sounds of screaming children and waiters and chefs on the brink of insanity. The roasted vegetable goat cheese pizza I ordered was excellent, but my friend found his fettucini alfredo undercooked. The head chef came out and gladly re-did his order and put it on the house. Still my friend found the alfredo not to his liking, but this is my review, not his. Not the first restaurant I'd pick, but they treated him well and I enjoyed my pizza. Good enough for a once in a while indulgence.
Ok. I KNOW it's a chain. And, it's on The Mile. In the Hancock.
Everyone knows the drill: Big menu, Big portions, Big bill.
I know $38 for lunch is wrong; but it's like heroin.
They have earned one more star from me because yesterday, my girl's parents came into town and one of the things on their agenda was the Cheesecake Factory. We got there around 5PM and for the second time out of all the times I have been there, there was hardly anyone there (I know to just show up during the week instead of the weekend).
We all got cheesecake and my choice was my all time favorite, The Key Lime Cheesecake and it was great as usual! We all had martinis. The three of them got Cosmos and even though it wasn't on the menu, I got a French Martini (love those). One of the best French Martinis I have ever tasted in my life (true story!). My girl and her parents have never tasted a french martini, so I let them taste mine and the next round were all french (They are hooked now!)
Service was awesome and for the first time ever I used the bathroom in this place and it was really nice actually. Good times, good company, good drinks and good cheesecake! Well deserved extra star Cheesecake Factory!
I have come here for dates off and on for the past nine years. Whenever I would bring a girl home… Read more »
Screw this place. On a Friday or Saturday, be prepared to wait up to 90 minutes for a table. The portions are TOO massive and the menu is TOO big. TOO bad the food sucks. There's no balance or delicacy. It's all obscenely fatty, cheesy, salty, greasy, and dense and just walking into the place makes me feel gross. I get the impression that the patrons at Cheesecake Factory are out-of-towners and families who think this place is upscale dining and want to say they ate dinner at the Hancock building. It's a shame they fall for this place because there are so many great restaurants to experience in Chicago that are less expensive and much less of a hassle. For all intents and purposes, Cheesecake Factory is little more than a pricier and glitzier Applebee's. They should put Cheesecake Factory on the list "Stuff White People Like."
Is the cheesecake good? Yea, it's tasty... but better cheesecake can be bought--or even made from scratch with minimal effort.
By far the best part of going to Cheesecake Factory is getting a double-take from the server when instead of asking for the Bang-bang Chicken and Shrimp you specify the "Gang-bang" Chicken and Shrimp and repeating it in such a manner as many times as possible.
I am from Chicago so why the hell did I eat at this suburbanite and tourist spot? I was so hungry while walking past it and felt like dessert so we went here. I got hungry when we sat down so I ordered soup.
It was busy at lunch-the prices were high but the portions were huge. If you order something you have to split it between 2-4 people, seriously. I would never ever dine here again.
I never made it to dessert, because I was so full from my soup. It is also very corporate here. I like mom and pop restaurants. This place feels like a car dealership. The only people from Chicago in there are the people who work there. And I agree with the reviewer below, why in the hell would anyone visit Chicago and dine here? Dumb asses.
The interior design of this place is interesting. I'm never sure exactly what in. It looks like the inside of a pie to me. Anyways I'm giving this place 4 stars for super customer service, cheesecake and the size of the dishes!!!!
The last two times that I've been here were got the same waitress and she was awesome! I asked questions and was modifying my drinks and she never had an issue with it. She was just super friendly. You rock MISSY!!!
Normally I just come for cheesecake and drinks. The first time I came I checked out the Caesar salad. I only ordered half and when it got to the table I almost flipped out. It was huge!! It looked like a full salad to me but it wasn't. Great! The taste was OK. Needed more croutons. The dressing was a little on the light side.
Now to the cheesecake...ITS SO YUMMY!! I'm committing a sin just thinking about enjoying a slice of Oreo cheesecake with a side of vanilla ice cream...mmmm. The cheesecake is always good here and I've never been disappointed. I always have to get vanilla ice cream on the side because the cheesecake a just a little to rich for me to handle without some cool and creamy.
Great place for dessert!! Awesome service and everyone who checks this place out needs to try the Oreo cheesecake!!!! YUM!!!
OMFG I HATE CHAIN RESTAURANTS!!!! DIEEEEE!!!!!!
Wait, was I just being one of the all too many food snobs that apparently frequent Chicago restaurants?? Sorry about that. I'll get out of character and into the real review here.
(Psssst: Non-chain restaurants often have really awful food too. But don't tell the foodies that. Their heads may explode.)
Anyways, this Cheesecake Factory location is much like any other location I've been to with one notable exception: The weird-ass fairy tale type decor. I don't even know what they're going for here, but if I took a hit of acid before I came here, it's safe to say my heart would have exploded. I'd explain it, but I don't even know how to..it's just really odd.
That said, the food was the usual...which is pretty good. My pasta was slightly undercooked, which was a bummer, but it still tasted decent so I'm not going to raise a huge stink about it. The bread was its usual painfully average self.
I'll tell you the one thing I dislike about this restaurant though: the bench seating which places you all too close to the people next to you. As far as I have seen, every location does it this way, and I'm not sure why. I get that it's probably big in Europe to have less personal space, but here in America we're people that really like to have a large radius around us. And I really don't care to hear all of the business of the people on both sides of me. Thankfully, this time the people next to us weren't obnoxious but it has happened before at the location here in Nashville. It'll drive you up a wall if you let it.
The other thing is that the food is pretty overpriced for what you get. My fetticine alfredo was 15 bucks for instance. I could get that cheaper at the Olive Garden or Maggiano's for cheaper and it certainly wouldn't be any worse. And hell, at the Olive Garden, at least I get warm bread and salad.
Customer service was spot on. Seated right away. Drink orders were taken almost immediately, food was served in a quick fashion.
As for the food a freind insisted I get the Chicken Madiera. Wow, it was so good i could of had another plate! My other friend ordered it with extra extra sauce which i found to be unnecessary!
If you hit on the waiters do not be suprised if they take you up on the offer only to end up at their house learning they are Impotent.
Learned a few things here, Love their Chicken, Service is great and don't hit on the servers, they might just be impotent!
Tourist Trap (maybe) (ok yes it is)
but seriously! The cheesecake is amazing!
kick off your meal with a piece of the cheesecake because by the time you eat you will have no room left for one of these delicious creations...
I eat at Cheese cake factories all over the country but my favorite one is right here in Chicago! I just love it! the service is always lightening quick regardless of how crowded they are! My new favorite dish is the crusted ahi tuna I get it almost every time I go, it is probably not all that healthy, I tell my self it is! and it is so darn good! before this I was always getting the thai lettuce wraps, I am sure they are still great just have not hitched my wagon to that post in quite some time...
My two favorite Cheese cakes are the lemon raspberry and the Godiva Chocolate...but I must say I just tried the Original for the first time on tuesday, wow it was amazing! velvety, creamy, rich and not too sweet... something tells me I will be back to that original cheesecake again many times over!
When an establishment names itself as the "Cheesecake Factory", all other edible offerings ranging from appetizers to entrees should be secondary (if not tertiary) to the Cheesecake. Of course, having been rendered as the Cheesecake that trumps a certain Chicago staple (for which I will omit), a visitation to the highly renowned Cheesecake Factory must be partaken.
The Decor: Situated in the subterranean level of the John Hancock building, the cavernous modeling of the Cheesecake Factory provides a strange yet welcoming atmospheric feel. At first entry, patrons will have the option of indoor or outdoor seating. Immediate entry into the restaurant will reveal the delicious cheesecake offerings available for purchase. Options ranging from the Classic Plain Cheesecake to Strawberry Shortcake are on full display for purchase either by slice or as a whole. To further enter the establishment is to understand the cavernous nature and design of the establishment. As patrons further enter The Cheesecake Factory, the lighting of the establishment is engulfed by low lit tungsten fluorescent, thus enhancing the cavernous design of the walls. Patrons may find the interior to possess a subtle claustrophobic and blinding feel. What's also daunting, but slightly attractive (with respects to the design), is the echoing capacity of the facility. Given the excess of 300 patrons that dine during any given second at this establishment, the echoing roar of sporadic conversation increases the decibels levels of the establishment.
The Food:
Entree - Energy Breakfast: The "Energy Breakfast" consists of 3 Scrambled Egg Whites that's served with 3 oz. of Grilled Chicken Breast, Sliced Tomato, and Sauteed Mushroom & Spinach. At first glance, the first visually disturbing site, with respects to the execution of this dish, is the rendering of water from the cooked spinach. The bottom of the plate was littered with the liquid excess. This aided in the diluting of the simple seasoning used in the preparation of this application. Upon consumption, the Egg Whites contained a supremely coarse texture, thus indicating overcooking. The Chicken Breasts were excessively overcooked and under seasoned, with the texture of the chicken to be coarse. The sliced tomatoes were the victims of the excess liquid flow as they become mushy and inedible. The ultimate welcoming aspect of the dish was the sauteed spinach & mushrooms. Both were cooked perfectly and contained the earthiness found in both ingredients.
The Dessert:
Strawberry Cheesecake: At first reception, the excessive portion size of the Cheesecake spoke wonders to the receiving eye. Patrons will notice that the 10 oz. to 12 oz. serving size of the Cheesecake will force any patron to seek a take out box. Luckily, the excessive offerings produced a welcoming satiety to those seeking gluttonous punishment. During visual inspection, the Cheesecake was observed to have the proper white color that's accompanied by an elegant soft texture. The graham cracker crust, acting as the base of the foundation, contained a semi-firm texture. Finally, the Fresh Strawberries and syrup produced an excellent color contrast to the application. At first bite, patrons will find that the primary taste observed is from the light, velvety, and fluffy cheesecake. During consumption, the creamy texture of the application engulfs the palate by releasing the notable cream cheese flavors. Further tasting will reveal notes of vanilla, brown sugar, and butter, which enhance the creaminess of the cheese by providing a subtle sweetness. All ingredients used in the creation of the cheesecake work harmoniously to create both an abundance of flavors while keeping the subtle soft texture of the cake. To aid in the textural contrast, the semi-crunchy graham cracker crust provided the scrumptious texture and cinnamon flavors to further enhance the cheesecake. Although the Strawberries provided the round about freshness and earthiness to the application, it acted secondary to the palate consuming flavors of the cheesecake.
Perhaps perfection is observed through The Cheesecake Factory's rendition of Cheesecake. By creating an edible that embodies the palate clasping flavors of the ingredients used while keeping the integrity and structure of the creaminess of the cheese, the application stands above the rest in both the complexity and tasting of this application. Few remarkable words can be noted regarding the superb execution of the cheesecake, but the ones rendered should be emphasized for it's extraordinary flavors and execution.
Notes on Cheesecake Factory:
1) Cheesecake = $6.00 to $7.00, but well worth it.
2) Avoid the long wait... Simply get the Cheesecake to go.
3) Avoid the food! A lot of my party felt the food was lack and the star is the Cheesecake.
4) Service was chaotic due to the increased customer to wait staff ratio.
5) Seriously... Just go for the Cheesecake!
I made my first visit here on a Tuesday night in the middle of a blizzard. we figured that there would not be much of a wait and not be all that busy. When we got there, we were seated right away but when we left, the place was packed.
I have never had the opportunity to visit this place before even though I have lived here my entire life. Now that I have visited it, I most likely won't make this place a destination for me but I won't boycott the place.
The decor here is some of the cheesiest that I have ever seen. (No pun intended. Cheesy is the only word that comes to mind when thinking about this place. I think we were in a bad spot because it was really dark by our table.. It was dark enough where I was having difficulty reading the menu. When I went to the restroom, I noticed that the entire place did not seem that dark.
Our waitress, Kristina, did an EXCELLENT job. She was very knowledgeable about the menu and very friendly and sociable. Everyone we came into contact with was very friendly also.
The food did not really impress me as i thought it would. we started out with the fried Mac-n-cheese. Which was good but really didn't wow me. For my main meal, I had The Romano crusted chicken with pasta. Once again, it was good but it just did not wow me. I was pleased with the portion size that I received. They did not cut corners on the portions.
Now it is time for the cheesecake. I was looking forward to the dessert because obviously, this place is known for the cheesecake. I had the key lime cheesecake and it was delicious. Overall, I would not wait in line to go here, but it was a solid experience.
Eye candy AND good eats!
This place has anything you could dream up on the menu for lunch or dinner or brunch. The drinks are crazy exciting. The portions are huge. Unless you're having steak or lobster, everything is $10-$15. AND THEN there is the cheesecake!! Like 30 different flavors.
Indoor seating outdoor seating. Our waiter was four star in his manners, ease, friendliness, and attentiveness. Even tough it's very busy (you will wait 15-10 minutes), they encourage you to take your time, enjoy yourself, and stay as long as you like.
Living in Chicago aka "land of many options", I'm not a huge fan of chain restaurants. The few times I've been here have been 1) for work (I used to work in the Hancock), 2) because an out-of-town visitor insisted on coming here, and 3) when a friend has a craving for their cheesecake.
Last night a friend had a craving for their food. This is something I just don't understand because of all the wonderful restaurants we have in this great city! But anyway...
We started out with the avocado eggrolls. Strange, but tasty. I ordered the meatloaf while my friend ordered a salad. The portions are GI-NORMOUS!!! Good grief... I forgot about that! No wonder we have an obesity epidemic in this country.
The meatloaf was OK... Not the best I've ever had. When I saw the plate, I knew it was too much. The portion was too big, sauce was overflowing on everything, and once I tasted it, there was too much salt. We also ordered dessert - the tiramisu. Holy whipped cream! There was a small slice of tiramisu with FIVE huge dollops of whipped cream on top and on the sides. Yuck... Too much whipped cream. Ummm... Are you noticing a theme here? Yes, TOO MUCH.
The service was friendly and fast, which was nice. I'll give them that. Our server even went the extra mile to get the tirimisu from the main kitchen since they didn't serve it in the cafe section (on the 1st floor) where we were sitting. Bonus points to him!
The decor is very much like Alice in Wonderland. I recommend laying off the hallucinogenics before coming here.
Parking in the area is terrible, so you have to pay a high fee to park in their garage. It's something you can't avoid unless you have access to public transportation (http://www.transitchic...).
Overall, my experience here was OK. Will go back? Only if you make me. In the meantime, I will continue my practice of avoiding chain restaurants as long as I live in this town!
The Cheesecake Factory? Really? C'mon. The service is crappy. The food is blah. It's freakin expensive! The wait is unreal. Went for a party, but wouldn't choose to go on my own. $14 for a salad?
I usually dislike chain restaurants, for high prices on packaged/canned food, however CF is a slight exception. I didn't want to like it, at first but it has grown on me for its food choices and bread and butter refills. And it's not that I have been to many Cheesecake Factory Restaurants; it's that I have eaten at 1 or 2 of the stores many, many times. Tonight, I expanded my repertoire.
The Chicago CF is on the bottom floor of the John Hancock building. The color palette is the same as every other CF, but the décor is different. There is a sexual vibe to it as my CF partner-in-crime/good friend said. The women's bathroom is especially interesting with ornate door handles and beautiful doors. Check out the ceiling too. It looks like rows of dough rising.
The food is typical CF-fare with good-sized portions. I had what seems to be a new addition to the menu: the vegetable chop salad. I asked for the pomegranate vinaigrette dressing on the side so the salad was fresh and crisp with a lot of 'stuff': beets, tomatoes, cucumbers, edamame, apples, white cheddar. I added the grilled chicken too. The salad dressing on the side was a little strange; the salad is mixed with a pom glaze and then a honey-ish, sesame-ish dressing is added. Since it's fairly involved, ordering it on the side was weird. Overall, the salad was yummy!
Sidenote: The wait for a table was long, but that is the same at any CF.
I love some things about the cheesecake factory: huge menu (great for groups), fun decor, fun location (bottom floor, Hancock Tower), and generally decently tasty food. And the wheat bread is to die for--sometimes I come here just for the wheat bread, I kid you not.
Sadly, I don't think any of their food is super-great (like I said, I come here for the wheat bread--I don't think I've ever felt like I've wanted to come for anything else). And the cheesecake is just so-so--it's tasty, but it's nothing to write home about (argh, dangling preposition!!).
I went here for my two year anniversary with my boyfriend, which happens to be the day before Christmas, so it was really busy. We had to wait for probably a half hour but we didn't have a reservation so in retrospect that was actually pretty amazing. We had this awesome waitress who was just so nice to us (we were like, 16 at the time so having someone treat us just as nice as adults is EXTREMELY rare) and the service was so quick for being so busy.
They give you SO MUCH FOOD. They are pretty expensive but you can definitely take it home and eat just as much the next day. It's like two meals. My boyfriend got the personal pizza, which was essentially a medium sized full round pizza you would get at a pizza place. They give you a lot of food. The cheesecake is very good also.
We tipped the waitress like, $30 because she was so great (a lot of money for anyone, much less totally broke 15 year olds.)
Go there if you have the cash.
When I recently visited the Cheesecake Factory it wasn't my first visit, I just haven't been for awhile, but I was given a gift card for CF and I wanted to use it. I agree with the fact that the menu is overwhelming, I barely got passed the appetizers selection.
My daughter and I had to wait only 20 minutes for seating. At first, the lady tried to seat us at an end table where another guest had all their belongings in the seat. That would have been entirely too crammed for me so I asked if we could sit in an available booth that I saw. She without hesitation accommodated us. That was a + in my book.
I ordered the Avocado Egg Rolls (absolutely delicious), quesadillas and the fried mac & cheese (delicious) (like I said before I couldn't get passed the appetizers). My daughter ordered the grilled cheese (huge) & fries (hey, she's four...what do you expect).
My overall experience was ok. This is not a regular place for me but hey since I had a gift card and I was having a mother/daughter day on the mag mile, why not. I would definitely visit again.
Food is the same as usual, so lets talk about the DECOR. This place is like walking into Alice in Wonderland, everything is poofy! I'd say to go in here just to check out the atmosphere, they really put a lot of effort into making this place interesting.
I got the Pasta Davinci per usual and it was mahhhvelous. My waiter was also very nice.
Good food and good service but it is not as good as the one in Old Orchard (Skokie).. I do love the outdoor seating option in the summer!
Today was my 24th birthday, and so I decided to celebrate it by going to dinner at the Cheesecake Factory since I love the Cheesecake so much. However, it was completely lame! My boyfriend had the orange chicken which was really good. My mom had the chicken picata, which she enjoyed as well. I got the chicken caesar salad and it wasn't good at all. It was over cheesed, over dressing-ed, and had a bitter and garlicky taste after I swallowed. The chicken was scarce and totally dry. I got 4 slices of chicken breast for this ginormous salad.
Anyway, on to the birthday part (Or rather, lack thereof). I went to the Cheesecake Factory last summer for my birthday with about 10 of my friends and some family. Someone told the waiter it was my birthday, but he was kind of an idiot and forgot. So when our cheesecake arrived, the girl who brought it got really mad at him for not telling her, and she ran off to get candles and gather people to sing for me. Normally I don't go for that stuff (last year we had a party because I hadn't for my 21st or 22nd), but this year I hadn't felt like it was my birthday all day, so I was looking forward to making a wish on that candle. But no. The waiter informed me that they're under new management and they just don't do that anymore. Now you have to call in advance and let them know you're coming and that it's your birthday (or someone's birthday). I don't get how that works at all since they *still* don't take reservations. What do you do? Do you call and say "I have a party of 4 with this name and it's one of the people's birthday today"?
Needless to say, I left completely disappointed. They didn't do ANYTHING for me. We said it was my birthday and you could tell the waiter felt bad, but all he could do was wish me happy birthday. Last year my boyfriend had his b-day celebration there and he was actually given a little cup dessert with fudge and a candle they lit. They don't even do *that* anymore. It was completely lame. I may like the cheesecake, but I won't be back unless someone else wants to go. I will add that the cheesecake was still delicious, but it wasn't good enough to save the evening.
You go for the cheesecake obviously, but the food there is good too. It's a super cool building, and… Read more »
When I lived in Chicago, I was so entranced by the thousands of choices available to me, I looked down my nose at any chain restaurant and seldom ate here. However, now that I've spent the past eight years in culinary isolation in a smaller community, I don't mind this as much.
So, while I enjoyed visiting some old favorites when back in town--I did enjoy making a trek here for what I knew would be some reliable tasty food and a good dessert. As all of the other reviews mention--portions here are gigantic. Unless you are absolutely starving, I'd skip appetizers and go for the main course and cheesecake--or go for apps and main dish, but no dessert. Or, you could do what I did, ordering apps and a main dish and getting my cheesecake to go (a decadent breakfast!)
The decor is odd at this one, as well as other CF's that I've been in. I describe it as "Help, I'm trapped in a cheesecake" decor. Our server, when asked, described it as a dessert fantasy. I'd call it cheesey, but the pun is too obvious.
The fried Macaroni and Cheese balls sound disgusting, but are actually very good. The Thai Lettuce rolls are also a good choice. I was with a group of eight, and we ordered two of the "factory appetizer favorites" for the table--a good way to sample the wares.
For dinner, I've had great luck with the pasta dishes, meats, and specifically the meatloaf.
I'm not sure why someone would come here and not order the cheesecake! My favorites are the dulce de leche, white chocolate raspberry truffle, Key Lime, and Dutch Apple Caramel.
We were here on the night of a blizzard warning which appeared to thin down the crowds considerably. In fact, it might be my only visit here that didn't come with at least a 45 minute wait.
There are a ton of better options in Chicago. But, if you are here for a few days, and want one-night to be a no pressure day that will please everyone in your party with its diverse menu, the Cheesecake Factory will be a good choice.
I've been to Cheesecake Factory alot. I've been to this particular location once, and ordered in once. My past two experiences with this place have signficantly increased my feelings towards their food. I once thought of this restaurant as pretty mediocre. The Thai Lettuce Wraps keeping me coming back. The three sauce combination is heavenly, the chicken is always smoky and tender and the butter lettuce cups are very refreshing. I would eat this great low carb dish all the time.
More importantly, the past couple of times I've been extremely impressed with some of their other menu items that are pulling me away from my regular wrap order. The cashew chicken is served piping hot and has a delcious sweet and tangy sauce - really yummy! But once I tried my friends Chicken and Shrimp Gumbo order I was hooked. I stopped eating my own meal and just kept reaching across the table for more of his. Lucky for me, he liked the cashew chicken better and we switched. I'm obsessed with the gumbo and have searched long and hard for a copykat recipe. Perfection!
Other appetizer options are tasty and worth mentioning, but they are too numerous to describe. You really can't go wrong. Beware of portion sizes on salads and entree items! Additionally, you should definitely get cheesecake! However, since you will be so full from your meal, I recommend doing what we did last time and ordering the cheesecake to arrive first. Take a few bites to tantalize your taste buds, and then set aside for after your main course. If you're still hungry, eat away, otherwise take it to go!
This place will definitely make you fat! mmmmm....
Customer service blew hardcore. After realizing that my friend had never received her credit card back at cheesecake 10 minutes later, (we were in Victoria's Secret by then so it was a short walk) we immediately turned around and told them what happened. Everyone was clueless, non chalant when it came to trying to find the card after checking back in person later that evening and via phone call. Here's an idea, cut the crap and double check with our waiter! I had a cheese steak sandwich and subway could have made a better sandwich. Oh well. I knew I should have just ordered cheesecake for lunch. On a nicer note.. we were seated quickly during lunch (weekday) and the crab rangoon was pretty good even though it looks like they don't know how to wrap those things. It's cool. but they're still DEAD TO ME.
Daniel our Lunchtime waiter was Awesome!!
our lunch was Great, this restr is in the basement of the John Hancock Building, we literally went from top to bottom,
the food is Always Excellent, the wait from frantic guests wasn't too bad, ~30 minutes downtown Chicago during lunch rush hour & holiday shoppers
My family and I have been going to Cheesecake Factory for a long time back home in DC. It's just convenient, comfortable, and it opens late. Food is tasty, there are many options that cover a wide price range (from sandwiches under $10 to steaks over $20), and they give you MONSTER portions.
This particular Cheesecake Factory is in a pretty cool location, under the John Hancock building. If you can score outdoor seats in the summer, even better!
There is actually a pretty hilarious and insightful article about how NBA players seem to frequent Cheesecake Factories across the country a lot, check it out: http://myespn.go.com/b...
Despite the waits and the occasional slow service, I can't bring myself to give this place anything less than 4 stars. This is probably because I'm not a gourmet - I'm a gourmand. We prefer our food to be served "en masse" and never walk away from a table feeling anything but stuffed and satisfied. Quality is something we can accept to let slide in exchange for guaranteed quantity, and luckily Cheesecake Factory serves up enough of both to make it worthwhile.
I've only been there twice this year - mostly because when you get the benefit of decent quality with a good amount of quantity, it comes with the challenge of being annoyingly expensive.
I don't think I've ever been to this place and had a bill less than $50 for two people dining.
Once you've made it past the inane waiting process with a vibrating light-up coaster that will sit blankly in your lap for at least 30-40 minutes if you've come between the hours of 4pm and 9pm, you'll possibly make it to a table. Of course, you could just end up at one of the annoying too-high-up tables at the bar because they're out of REAL tables and it'll pressure you into getting a drink while you wait an insane length of time for your waiter and/or food. Don't fall for it - you can get a 750ml bottle of liquor for the price of one bar drink that contains maybe a shot or two of actual liquor in it. And yes, some reviewers have it right that the bathrooms can get downright atrocious - though I must have visited once when it was freshly cleaned and once when it hadn't been cleaned in a while, because it runs the gamut between funky and fine.
The bread is excellent. Makes the wait for service and ordered food not that bad. I admit that almost every time I'm here, I get the same thing. The steak. It's pricey, but it's one of the few things on the menu I'd never be able to find in a store and cook to the level of deliciousness that they manage to do. The fries are okay, but the fried onions are delectable and pair so nicely with a good steak.
And the cheesecake! The Oreo is one of the ones I've had the pleasure of trying, but I have to personally give a shout-out to their 6-carb cheesecake, which was the perfect gift for my Atkins-dieting girlfriend's birthday surprise. They even spelled Happy Birthday and her name in sugar-free chocolate.
My girl returned the favor for the waitress's bonus decorations by letting her know that she felt sorry for the Cheesecake Factory's coffee machine, and that it sounded like they had a clog in the milk steamer or something, causing it to squeal annoyingly. She thanked us for the tip and made sure to tell the staffer at the coffee machine.
This place could make it to five stars if they lowered some of the prices, or reduced the menu enough so they could begin to truly excel at cooking a smaller array of dishes rather than churn out less-quality results from the nightmarishly-long menu. I can't fault them for the long waits or the stressed-out servers, though. If you go, and you're not a tourist, just punch any tourists you see in the stomach until word spreads that they're not tourist-friendly and then we Chicagoans can take back this awesome restaurant and get to enjoy the food without a 40-minute wait.
Mmmmmm Dulce de Leche cheesecake. You are my weakness.
I like the Cheesecake Factory. Yeah, I know, it's a chain restaurant. Chain restaurants can be good, too. I have no problem with the fact that it's a chain. If anything, the only problem I have is that it's busy so often that it's almost impossible to eat there without waiting at least 40 minutes for a table.
The restaurant itself is a very nice place. Classy, kind of dark - a nice place for a date or a fun group outing. They have a nice bar in the back with first come, first serve tables and a nice place to hang out while you're waiting for a table.
The food is great! I've never had a problem with anything I've ordered. I really like their veggie burger, regular burger and all of their appetizers. I am confident that anything I order will be good because the quality is good and the quantity is unbelievable. This is definitely a place that provides a ton of leftovers after the meal.
And the cheesecake!! They have anything and everything possible for every taste. You can get a slice or an entire cake, whichever you choose. I've been at parties that have Cheesecake Factory desserts - yum!! Cheesecake happens to be my favorite dessert, so perhaps I'm biased, but it's fiercely delicious.
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