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Cuisine: American |
It can be difficult to evaluate the local incarnation of a national chain, since such restaurants tend to vary from location to location. Each store has its own look and feel, even if some elements of consistency remain. The Cheesecake Factory recently opened in Arlington, VA, and it, too, has its own unique feel, owing more to the neighborhood than its design or menu. Part of the growing suburban metropolis that is Clarendon, the Cheesecake Factory is merely the latest in a line of restaurants to dot this increasingly trending section of Northern Virginia. Fortunately, the restaurant’s built-in reputation lives up to the hype.
Fans of the Cheesecake Factory invariably think of two things when conjuring images of the dining establishment – a large menu and even larger portions. Arlington’s location is no different, with pages upon pages of chicken, steak, and seafood offerings. If that were not enough to whet one’s appetite, the menu also boasts extensive selections of pastas, salads, and even around-the-clock breakfast options. All of this leads up to the restaurant’s crowning achievement, which is its bountiful supply of desserts. More than thirty different options exist, including every conceivable type of cheesecake.
Prices at the Cheesecake Factory are a little higher than one might see at chain restaurants like Friday’s or Ruby Tuesday’s, but reasonable options do exist. Sandwiches generally fall in the $9-$12 range, covering everything from filling hamburgers to zesty chicken on to moist crab cakes. Salads can run up to $11 or $12 as well, dabbling with traditional chicken options as well as a more adventurous salmon salad. The main entrée selections mainly hover near $12-$18, highlighted by a heaping pile of delicious meatloaf. At $6-$8, the desserts can be on the high side, but the portions are generous and the taste is not in dispute.
Atmosphere plays a big part in the Cheesecake Factory experience as well. As with other editions of the chain, Arlington’s location offers a deceptively large seating area, dim lighting, and a bar area for those looking for a quick bite. While the bevy of restaurants nearby may prevent this installment from reaching the epic three-hour wait times posted in Maryland, do not expect to be seated quickly during the weekend dinner rush. Prices as the Cheesecake Factory may not make it an everyday event, but, when you’re going, do not bother showing up without your appetite – and plan to bring some leftovers home as well!
Submitted 7/30/04.