Restaurants

There are lots of Cheesecake Factory restaurants across the United States, with the bulk of them being in the Northeast and California. I’ve been to a few – and the giant menu is consistent across locations. My dream Cheesecake Factory has got to be the one in Honolulu because, well, that would mean I was in Hawaii to eat there. However, despite that I’ve been to only a small proportion of the existing Cheesecake Factory spots, I feel pretty comfortable saying that one of the most swankily-located ones is also my favorite so far. This is the Cheesecake Factory on San Vicente Blvd, in Brentwood, California.

Brentwood is on the west side of Los Angeles, and is as high end as the other nearby “B’s,” namely, Bel-Air

This Counts as a Vegetable, Right?

and Beverly Hills. There’s a very good chance that a guest will see semi-famous people enjoying their lunch here, which always adds a bit of a thrill to a meal. Even if you don’t recognize that dude in the sunglasses and Hugo Boss sports jacket, listen to him; he’s making movie deals as he eats. And that too-thin woman who still manages to polish off her whole pasta carbonara and then order a lemoncello cream torte? Don’t ask how she does it – it’s L.A., baby! The energy spent being a studio exec easily burns off that lunch.

Now, I’m not a studio executive in Brentwood, California, I’m just a foodie mom who loves treating my kids to fun meals (especially when I don’t have to cook them). My kids and I really have a good time at the Cheesecake Factory: They think it’s a super-fancy eatery because the bathrooms are clean – I raise them with low standards – and I enjoy watching my picky eater polish off a spinach and artichoke dip appetizer. In our house, that TOTALLY counts as a vegetable course. My older daughter usually orders a burger of some sort (pictured is the Factory

Hooray for the Factory Burger

Burger, with her celebrating it in the background). I like the Navajo – a sandwich on fry bread – blackened chicken sandwich, Factory Meatloaf, and many other high-calorie entrees. It’s probably a good thing I don’t live in Brentwood! Even the mac-n-cheese is fried. Yes, it’s good.

There are some very good, large salads and vegetable plates at Cheesecake Factory, but I am proud to say I haven’t tried any of them yet. I’ve seen them paraded by my table quite a lot of times, though. The closest I’ve come to healthy eating at a Cheesecake factory is either the aforementioned spinach artichoke dip (cheesy and creamy) or the fire-roasted artichoke. This last appetizer is really yummy, albeit messy and a bit spicy.

Brownie Sundae Cheesecake - the best of three desserts

A lunch or dinner at the Cheesecake Factory practically demands a cheesecake dessert, of course. Who am I to say no? While there is a “low carb” cheesecake (made with Splenda), what’s been eaten already was probably fried, creamy, or both. Might as well continue with the decadence. My last venture into cheesecake heaven was the brownie sundae cheesecake, pictured. The kids love a variety called peanut butter cup fudge ripple, and for a less heavy taste, the Key Lime cheesecake is tart and light. Well, lighter, anyway. This is cheesecake we’re talking about here.

Wherever you go to Cheesecake Factory, the appetizer, entree and dessert options are vast, and by and large quite tasty. While there is no “sense of place” at these restaurants (and admittedly, this is a dining aspect that is lost whenever we eat at chains), the quality and consistency are commendable. My family always has a great time at the Cheescake Factory.