Cheesecake Factory

Decided to participate in the mayhem known as Black Friday in the states. I could not believe how many people can show up at the Seattle Premium Outlets at midnight to shop! It was insane! It took me 1 hour to checkout at Tommy Hilfiger! Well, shopping makes one very hungry! Since we were in the states, we went to a favourite of ours, The Cheesecake Factory! We visited the one in Bellevue Square and luck would have it, it was the Christmas parade, right in front of the restaurant. Suffice to say, it was busy. Of course it's known for it's wide selection of yummy cheesecakes; however, their food is pretty good as well. The wait for a table was long as usual, this time it took 45 minutes - not bad. Often, during peak times (6:00 - 8:00), typical waits can be in excess of an hour.

As per usual, we were treated to complimentary bread. I decided to go for the Angel Hair Pasta with Shrimp. The noodles were al dente, smothered with lots of garlic and tomatoes. The noodles were not oily, but were extremely flavourful, while the shrimp were done nicely in the shell. Wife had the Miso-Glazed Salmon, which is arguably one of the best dishes at the Cheesecake Factory. The salmon was tender and perfectly cooked with a sweet miso glaze. The salmon rested on a bed of rice surrounded by a miso sauce. For dessert, we naturally had the cheesecake. Since it's called The Cheesecake Factory, you'd think the cheesecake is good... Well, it wasn't good, it was excellent! Although the cheesecake is baked, it was still fluffy and light. It's not too sweet; yet, maintains a rich, cream cheese taste. The strawberries are fresh and dipped into glaze at the last minute before reaching the table.

Everytime we have visited a Cheesecake Factory, whether it be in San Jose, Portland or Seattle, the food is pretty consistent. Portions are large, but not overwhelming. Service is always good, consistent with every visit. It appears that the Cheesecake Factory has succeeded in maintaining quality in food and service throughout the chain. Prices are not cheap, but they are neither very expensive for the quality and portion of food you receive. The menu is extremely large and diverse with something for everyone. I've tried quite a few of the dishes and I haven't been disappointed yet. If you are in the states anytime soon, I highly recommend a visit to The Cheesecake Factory.

The Good:
- Tasty food
- Good portions
- Reasonably-priced
- Consistent quality of food and service
- Outstanding cheesecakes!

The Bad:
- Extremely long waits
- Not the most kid-friendly restaurant
- Not good for the waistline, since you MUST have a cheesecake after your meal!

The Cheesecake Factory
www.thecheesecakefactory.com