(Cheesecake Factory - Ft. Lauderdale, FL)

Yeah, I know. Cheesecake Factory is a chain restaurant. I actually find them to be quite consistent with their food from location to location, so sometimes it's good to hit this place. They are also known for their huge menu and large portions and of course…cheesecake. The location in Ft. Lauderdale has been around for a while now and it's located on Las Olas and US1…attached to the parking garage at the Riverside Hotel. Along with inside dining, they have 2 outdoor 'patio' areas. One is narrow and is along Las Olas…the other is next to the building in a more open setting.

One thing to note about Cheesecake Factory…be prepared to wait if you are going at peak meal times. They do offer some seating in the bar area which has 'high-top' tables and full service. Those are usually first come, first serve. You can also order your items and cheesecake to go.

I've noticed that most of the Cheesecake Factory restaurants have the same décor. The difference usually is seen with the layout. When you give your name to the host stand…I would suggest to ask for a booth. If you don't request this, you might end up at a table. That might not sound too bad, but they are really designed for larger parties. If there are only two of you, you end up sitting quite close to the table next to you. I'm like to have our own space…so the booths are great. I do like the layout of this location…it feels comfortable and they keep the place well maintained.


(Cheesecake Factory - inside)

Our server was great. He was right over to greet us and take our drink order. He also dropped off the bread basket. The basket contains a pumpernickel and sour-dough loaves with butter. They were warm and fresh from the oven.


(The bread basket)

Jeff ordered the Paradise Tea. It's a Tropical type iced tea that is unsweetened. He loves this stuff and they actually sell it at the 'to-go' counter. If you like it…you can brew your own at home. One thing to note is that this tea is NOT decaf. I went for the ole Diet Coke.

I ordered the Chineese Chicken Salad with the dressing on the side. Jeff went for one of specials…Pan Seared Salmon with Spinach, Angel hair pasta in a lemon caper sauce.

The Chineese Chicken Salad came out and has the flashy Cheesecake Factory presentation. There are 'crisp' rice noodles piled high. It makes the dish look bigger than it actually is. I actually think this salad would be better without these things…since I'm sure they are just empty calories and really have no taste. The rest of the salad was really good. Crisp, fresh and tasty. There are some crumbled fried wontons mixed in along with some mandarin orange slices. One thing to note….if you are expecting lots of chicken….you will not be happy. The chicken is hiding under some of the rice noodles and it's sliced very thin. To be honest…I think it's only 1/2 of a chicken breast. I would suggest for them to cut some of those 'fillers' (crispy rice noodles, wontons) and give more protein (chicken). Then again…most salads in restaurants are not really for the 'diet conscious'. Many salads have more calories and fat than a regular entrée. The dressing on the side is a MUST. Since you can control how much is put on. The salad was good…and had enough different ingredients to keep you interested. This isn't my favorite item on the menu, but overall not bad.


(Chineese Chicken Salad - Cheesecake Factory)

Jeff enjoyed his Pan Seared Salmon. The fish was fresh and cooked well. The spinach was as expected and the angel hair pasta was not overcooked. The sauce wasn't too heavy and had a nice balance. We both felt that it was a great value for the price. I'm sure you could substitute veggies for the pasta though if you were looking for something a bit lighter.


(Pan Seared Salmon - Cheesecake Factory)

After all of this food…of course they brought the cheesecake menu over. Not a chance. We couldn't even think about taking a piece 'to-go' for later that night. They have some great flavors that you never see…so this is a great place to get your cheesecake fix. They also have the cheesecakes displayed by the door…just in case you change your mind.


(The case of cheesecakes)

Overall, Cheesecake Factory is a good place to get consistent food and not break the bank. The prices are reasonable and the portions are very large.


(The bill - Cheesecake Factory Ft. Lauderdale - $36.89 pre tip)

I've heard that the calorie counts on their food can be quite high and most entrees are actually '2' servings. Then again…if you are going to a restaurant called 'Cheesecake Factory'…are you really expecting a 500 calorie meal? Some menu items are hit and some are a miss. They have such a huge menu…it takes a few visits to really get an idea if it's for you or not.



Cheesecake Factory location:
600 E Las Olas Blvd
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

FTLToday Score: B