Cheesecake Factory, San Francisco

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Hungry from a morning's sightseeing, we found the Cheesecake Factory quite by accident as we rode the Macey's elevator to the fifth floor. Joininng the queue for the elevator, I half guessed that I wasn't going to find jut your regular store cafe, and in this respect I was quite right.

We had to wait 20 mins for a table and were guided by our satellite remote holder which flashed red when a table was ready for us.

We were guided to a spacious table in a highly charged electric atmosphere filled restaurant. Servers rushed here and there to fill the palates of the hungry, the thirsty, and the vaguely interested.

Apart altogether from the hundred and one versions of cheesecake that are there to tease you, there are so many other savoury and sweet dishes on the menu that you could come here for a month and not be bored. I watched enormous salads, chicken dishes, and wraps float past our table.

Favorite Dish: As we had come for a light lunch we opted for three starter portions between us. We ordered corn dogs, stuffed mushrooms, and buffalo wings. There was enough food to feed four easily. It was tasty and fresh and well served.

After lunch we strolled to the balcony and watched the ice skaters on Union Square.

It's also possible to have a balcony side table, though we declined, finding it too cold. That saying, the balcony tables are heated.

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It is the only Northern California branch of Cheesecake Factory that occupies the top floor of Macy's Union Square location. Very popular because of the Ambiance and off course because of the view of union square area and beyond. Among the polished brass fixtures, marble-topped almost everything and the sinuous mouth-blown glass lamps of this operation, ladies who lunch, tourist families, and locals negotiate a voluminous menu and Cheesecake factory give you really big portions. The food is decent, atmosphere is good, it's just the waiting time can be way tooo long since this is Union Square Area!

Favorite Dish: Choose from crisp salads, tasty burgers, nicely done pasta dishes, fried chicken and, of course, cheesecake.

The extensive menu includes over 200 selections, including appetizers, pizza, pasta, seafood, steaks, salads, sandwiches, etc. Its featured dishes include Chicken Madeira, Miso Salmon, Cajun Jambalaya Pasta, and The Factory Burger. They have 50 different cheesecakes and desserts, including their registered trademark, White Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Cheesecake, and their Godiva Chocolate Cheesecake.

Prices: Appetizers $5.95-$9.95; entrees $7.95-$26.95; dessert $5.95-$7.50

Opens: 11am-11pm Mon-Th, 11a-midnight, Fri-Sat, 10am-10pm Sun, 10am-11pm

I like the Cheesecake factory because the menu variety seems to satisfy everyone from the vegetarian to the carnivore; the Union Square Location is a bonus.
They have an awesome bar and make a great martini! You can have appetizers or cheesecake at the bar or dine in one of two dining rooms; one is inside and the other is outside and overlooks Union Square and SF skyscrapers.
The service is friendly and quick, the food is tasty. This place can get very busy especially on a holiday. It's also open late at night. This restaurant is perfect for tourists since it's in Union Square but not so touristy that locals would not like it.

Favorite Dish: So many to choose from but what I have tried so far is the Steak Diane which was very nice. Yesterday's meal (1/6/2008) was the SPICY CRISPY CHICKEN SANDWICH
Crispy Coated Chicken Breast Covered with Melted Cheese and
Either Our Spicy Buffalo Sauce or Chipotle Pepper Mayo.
Served on a Brioche Bun with Fries. You can substitue a salad for the fries at no charge. Washed it down with a nice Sam Adams, tax and tip was $20

Don't forget to save room for the cheesecake!

The Cheese Cake Factory in San Fran is located on the top floor of Macy's Department Store. Since we were at Union Square, and it was dinner time, we figured we'd grab a nice sit-down dinner at this place.

So we got all the way to the top retail floor of Macy's when we heard it. It sounded like a baseball stadium full of people. It was, in fact, a restaurant entrance crowded with so many people that there was no place to stand. It was absolutely mobbed. We were hungry, we were there, and I figured the food must be good if this many people were here. So I struggled my way to the front desk and said "how long for a table?". The friendly desk girl told me it would be about 20 minutes, and gave me one of those big flashing pagers that alert you when the table is ready.

So we found a small space to stand and watched the chaos of people pushing and struggling as they waited for their table. I was pretty excited thinking how good the food would be.

About 25 minutes later (not bad!) we were paged and then shown to our table.

The menu is huge (you can view it on their webpage) and has something to offer everyone. I was very impressed with the variety, and the prices all seemed fairly reasonable.

The food, however, was nothing special. The fries were hard and overcooked, the meat on my Philly Cheesesteak was tough and tasteless, and my wife's Club Sandwhich was a bit disappointing.

Favorite Dish: When you go to a place called the Cheese Cake Factory, don't order the Apple Pie. Get the Cheese Cake!!

The Cheese Cake was top-notch. I got some bizarre exotic flavour like peanut butter chocolate chip oreo cookie dough or something like that. It was ok, but I've had better. My wife had the basic cheese cake and it was a lot better.

Whichever branch of the Cheesecake Factory that I visit, there are always big big queues, so I resort to having to take-out my cheesecake. So I can't comment on the restaurant food, but the cheesecakes are amazing!!! You must try their cheesecakes!

This place has a huge menu, and i like the food. However, the service is REALLY bad. I have had to wait over 30 minutes to get a check. Once they take your order, the servers generally seem to disappear. Not worth the trouble..

Favorite Dish: Snickers Cheesecake

Part of chain. Overlooking Union Square, it offers a huge menu with lots of choices and generous portions. Hip modern decor. Don't forget their namesake, Cheesecake. This restaurant can be very crowded with shoppers and tourists, so be prepared to wait.

Favorite Dish: CAJUN JAMBALAYA PASTA

This restaurant is great. The menu features everything from steak to salad to cheescake to fish.

The steaks are huge and the desserts are too. I can still taste the cheesecake now. Great service. Cannot fault.

Favorite Dish: Filet Mignon
Cookie dough and choc chip cheesecake.