The Cheesecake Factory, Chicago

***This review is based on the branch in Houston, Texas as there isn't a general option for this review, Not the Chicago one, please feel free to move this ciao if you have a better place for it!***

The cheesecake factory, as the name doesn't fully imply, is a chain of restaurants in the US. They do specialise in fantastic cheesecakes but don't let the name fool you, there is a lot more involved in this wonderful place.

...I noticed this restaurant at the local mall just a few blocks from our hotel. I instantly recognised the name, as any big bang theory viewers will know that this is where Penny works! So after a brief look at the menu on the wall, we decided we would have to head back later for dinner.

According to their website, www.thecheesecakefactory.com there are lots and lots of locations, as I said, they are a chain now and cover most of the ... more

***This review is based on the branch in Houston, Texas as there isn't a general option for this review, Not the Chicago one, please feel free to move this ciao if you have a better place for it!***

The cheesecake factory, as the name doesn't fully imply, is a chain of restaurants in the US. They do specialise in fantastic cheesecakes but don't let the name fool you, there is a lot more involved in this wonderful place.

When and Where
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On my recent trip to Houston, Texas, my other half and I noticed this restaurant at the local mall just a few blocks from our hotel. I instantly recognised the name, as any big bang theory viewers will know that this is where Penny works! So after a brief look at the menu on the wall, we decided we would have to head back later for dinner.

According to their website, www.thecheesecakefactory.com there are lots and lots of locations, as I said, they are a chain now and cover most of the states.

My review will only be based on my experience of the restaurant at the Galleria Mall in Houston.

Layout / Size / Arrival
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Once it got to dinner time we made our way to the restaurant for the first time. The first thing I noticed was just how large it is. This specific restaurant is spread over 2 large floors with a big winding staircase in the middle. I also noticed immediately how busy the place was, lots of customers and lots of staff. I did worry that it would be a long wait or even bad service due to this.

We were greeted by a member of staff who showed us up the stairs to the booking desk, where I gave my name for a table for 2 and expected to wait for at least a few minutes. Almost immediately a friendly waiter came over, called my name and showed us to our booth which would have easily sat 4.

The restaurant has everything seating wise, from a mix of table sizes to booths and bar seating. Although busy, there were plenty of tables free as I could now see as there were even little rooms off shoots from the main floor with even more space and seating.

Everything was spaced out nicely with comfortable padded seats and large windows giving beautiful views over the city. Most things were brown and simpler warm colours and really made the place feel comfortable.

So far so good, Becci is impressed and happy....bring on the grub!

Menu and Choice
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Now, let me briefly explain, I love food. My other half loves food. Not the healthiest of things to love but its true none the less. I had joked with friends that while in Texas I would be on a mission to see how many cows I can eat. (How can you not? In the land of burgers/steak/ribs and BBQ!) This menu did not disappoint with options.

The menu comes in a nicely bound leather folder and is bright and colourful. Split into sections including appetisers, Pizzas, Pastas, Salads, Grill, Seafood, Sandwiches, Eggs and omelettes, specialities and of course deserts. From the feel of the restaurant I was a little surprised by the amount of things on offer.

I also noted that the prices were a little more than I was expecting, but hey, we're on holiday so I brushed that thought aside and somehow from all the choice managed to choose a nice fillet steak, my other half opted for the BBQ Beef Ribs.

The Food
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Now I am not going to ramble on too long about all the details but basically summed up, this is the nicest steak I have ever had. All the food as cooked exactly as requested and served with everything you would expect and more. The fries were lovely and my fiancés ribs were frankly very impressive! They consisted of about 7 long (and I mean 10 inch at least long) bones with thick (and again I mean like 2-3 inch thick) meat either side of the bone, cooked tenderly till nearly falling off. We tucked in and that was it...we were planning when we could come back next there and then!

3 days later, we headed back as I had to try these ribs for myself, my fiancé settled for a burger which he is still heartbroken over leaving as I think he loved it more than he loves me!

The portion sizes were a bit big, but not too mammoth in comparison to say a beef eater in the UK.

We had bread on the table from when we were seated which I thought was a nice touch.

The Cheesecake and Desert
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Now, the final test, their namesake....How embarrassing if it's horrible? Right? It has to be the best cheesecake in the world ever right? Damn right! It was amazing. I like cheesecake, I've eaten a few in my nearly 23 years on this earth but this one takes the prize.

The menu spans 3 pages will all types of concoctions of cheesecakes going on, chocolate, fruit, nuts, Oreos, peanut butter, vanilla, they even had a tiramisu cheesecake! Amongst all this though there are also various ice cream sundaes and other deserts. I opted for a chocolate truffle cheesecake which was creamy and delicious, my other half had small goblet of strawberries with fresh cream. On the second visit I had an Ice-cream sundae (as the ribs do not leave a lot of room for the large slice they serve) and blokey had a cherry cheesecake.

Service
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I feel this needs its own little section as besides the food, I think the service is what brought us back. We were greeted and seated very swiftly and cheerfully. Our drinks orders were taken immediately after our waiter had introduced himself and provided us with the bread for the table and all food and plates were brought out and cleared in record time. At no point was it due to them being full or rushing, they were simply paying lots of attention to the customers and being super efficient.

The soft drinks were free refills and each time we were out, the waiter replaced our glasses without coming over and asking each time, which personally I liked, it was easier than him interrupting our conversations each time to ask if we wanted the refill, if we didn't, it has no big loss as they were free.

We had nice little chats with both waiters when we went regarding the local area and that sort of thing (obviously they could tell from the very English accents that we weren't locals!) and they were more than happy to suggest places and really gave a sense that they cared and would go out of their way for us. They did come to check how our meals were once brought out, but only the once. It may be silly but it's one of my pet hates if people keep asking if everything is ok...Is there a reason it shouldn't be that I don't know of? And if it wasn't ok, am I not able to politely mention it to a member of staff myself? Without being constantly interrupted while trying to have a nice dinner with my fiancé!?! (Ok breathe...)

Conclusion
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Basically as I have said in the review, I loved it. The fact we went back on a 10 day trip to the same restaurant twice should give an indication of how much we enjoyed it. It was a good all round box ticker. With great service, amazing food, lovely location and comfortable seating it's my new favourite restaurant. Price wise, for 2 main meals and 2 deserts with 2 soft drinks was roughly 70 dollars (depending on exchange rate at present I think that's about 45-50 pounds (ish)

I would go back and eat in any other branch in a heartbeat as I can imagine all are very similar. Its ruined UK food for me now, and I don't think I could eat ribs anywhere without being disappointed, and cheesecake will never be the same. Next time I am in the states I will be finding the nearest Cheesecake Factory and munching my way back into heaven.

Thanks for reading :) 

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