Last weekend, my mom, her friend, my boyfriend, and I ate dinner at Cheesecake Factory off of the 16th Street Mall in Denver for my birthday. I was stuck with choosing just one meal out of a menu of 250 exquisite and freshly made dishes they have to offer.
The Cheesecake Factory was birthed in Beverly Hills in 1972. Its original purpose was to promote and sell their branded cheesecakes and other baked desserts to retailers and distributors.
Six successful years later, they branched out into an independent restaurant company, along with continuing the distribution of their signature cheesecakes.
They begin their work week on Monday at 11:00am and close at 10:00pm, following this schedule until Thursday. Beginning Friday and ending on Saturday, they open at the same time but close an hour later, and their work week is finished on Sunday where they work from 10:00am to 10:00pm.
They have a wide price range, starting with several smaller entrees being at $15. Larger, more savory and extravagant meals are at the higher end of $30.
There are three locations throughout Colorado including Lone Tree, downtown Denver, and Littleton.
Their popular slogan is, “Something for everyone,” and I have to agree. With various types of different cuisine, it was almost impossible to choose just one thing.
When I first walked in, I was greeted by the dark, warm, and comforting ambiance. The large scale of the restaurant was brought into perspective with an ever expanding building that fit a sea of people. Chatter and friendly banter flooded the building.
As we walked to our table, we passed a large display case full of different types of cheesecakes. They were perfectly presented with flawlessly placed garnishes.
We were taken to a booth with mirrors surrounding us and an overwhelmingly large list of the various food options.
My boyfriend and I voted on the appetizer for the table–stuffed mushrooms which did not disappoint.
The first bite was warm and melted right in my mouth. The combination of the cheese and breadcrumbs was delicious. They were also covered in a sweet and tangy wine sauce that gave it just the right flavor.
The service at the restaurant wasn’t bad. About ten minutes after we had our appetizer, we got our entrees and the waiter was very kind and humorous.
For my entree, I ordered their honey-truffle chicken with a side of fries, green beans, and ranch. The total of my plate was $24.95.
The presentation of the food seemed thought out and was neatly displayed, with the side of ranch placed in a sauce boat, which I had never seen before.
The chicken was crunchy and had a hint of sweetness, but other than that, there wasn’t much flavor. The fries were perfectly cooked, some crispy and some soft. The green beans were seasoned to perfection with a nice charred look on the outside.
The last and most important part of the night was the dessert. We ordered the 30th anniversary chocolate cake cheesecake, which was a total of $11.95. There was a pretty spoonful of whipped cream on the side.
Sitting next to it was a flawlessly-cut slice of cheesecake. The layers of brown and white were evenly spaced and symmetric. There was a dollop of chocolate truffle cream placed right on top of the slice.
One bite of the cheesecake combined with the fluffy whipped cream was delicious. It had the tasteful flavors of classic cheesecake mixed with chocolate fudge and chocolate cake; the perfect combination.
I would rate my experience at the Cheesecake Factory a ten out of ten and I hope to try more of their wonderful dishes in the future.
