The Cheesecake Factory Awards

The Cheesecake Factory Restaurant Review:

The first Cheesecake Factory opened in Beverly Hills many years ago, when the founder tired of selling his mother's cheesecakes to restaurants and wanted to feature them in his own eatery. The ornate décor features pastel murals on its 40-foot-high ceilings, colorful columns, dark-wood booths and light-wood tables, and lots of plants. The Cheesecake Factory serves much more than cheesecake. Fried calamari can be dipped in garlic or cocktail sauce. Try the sweet corn tamale cakes topped with sour cream, salsa and avocado. Specialties include chicken and biscuits with country gravy and imaginative preparations of pizzas and burgers. We like the Parmesan-herb-crusted chicken breast served with mashed potatoes and fresh vegetables. The most popular seafood dish is the shrimp and chicken gumbo --- shrimp, chicken, andouille sausage, tomatoes, peppers, onions and garlic simmered in a spicy Cajun-style broth with cream and finished with steamed white rice. Steak Diane is medallions of certified Angus beef steak covered with black peppercorns and a rich mushroom wine sauce. Refresh your palate with the tiramisu laced with Marsala and coffee liqueur or one of the chocolate desserts, or choose from among the three-dozen cheesecake varieties.