The Cheesecake Factory recently added nine new items to its book-sized menu, and they might be some of the best items the chain has brought out in years.
As many restaurant chains shrink their menus to streamline operations, The Cheesecake Factory continues to serve hundreds of different items every day.
The chain updates its menu twice a year, typically in the spring and fall — a tradition it has maintained for more than 40 years to keep its famously massive menu current. Nearly everything is prepared in-house, with the notable exception of its cheesecakes. That strategy appears to be paying off: Sales reached $1.03 billion in the second quarter, a 7.7% year-over-year increase.
With more than 250 options on The Cheesecake Factory menu, though, it can be hard for new additions to stand out against longtime favorites like the chain’s mac-and-cheese balls and chicken Madeira.
So, when I was invited to try nearly all the new menu items available this fall, I wanted to see whether any could stand out. The new Mediterranean Bowl and brunch-only Shakshuka Omelette were not available at my tasting.
While a couple of the new dishes weren’t memorable enough to choose over the classics, several seriously impressed me.
From a play on chicken and waffles to a new lineup of fish sandwiches, here are the latest menu additions at The Cheesecake Factory, ranked from my least to most favorite.
The pigs in a blanket were a little underwhelming.
The pigs in a blanket were served in an order of eight for $11.50, excluding tax. They’re available on the kids’ menu and the chain’s Bites Menu.
They were made with all-beef hot dogs and served with a side of honey mustard.
The hot dogs were perfectly cooked and crispy, as was the outer pastry shell, but I thought they lacked overall flavor. The pastry was a little too crumbly and bland, and the honey mustard wasn’t the creamy variety I personally prefer.
These would be perfectly fine at a holiday party, but with so many more exciting small plates on The Cheesecake Factory’s menu, I’d probably skip them.
The sweet and sticky soy-glazed ribs weren’t a total hit for me.
An order of four ribs costs $11.50, excluding tax.
The glaze was super flavorful, but I wanted more meat on each bone.
The ribs were tender enough, and I loved the sweet-and-sticky sauce coating each piece, but they didn’t have the fall-off-the-bone meatiness I was hoping for.
With so many generous, shareable appetizers on the menu, these didn’t feel like the best use of table space. A single order would maybe be enough to satisfy one or two people, but nothing more.
My sixth favorite new menu item was the crispy fish sandwich.
The Crispy Factory Fish Sandwich costs $20.50, excluding tax.
The grilled version of the fish sandwich was my fifth favorite.
The Blackened Factory Fish Sandwich costs $20.50, excluding tax.
I preferred the flavor profile of the blackened fish sandwich.
Unlike the crispy fish sandwich, this version featured grilled blackened Pacific swordfish, so the fish’s flavor came through better. The blackened seasoning added a smoky, peppery kick, but without a thick layer of breading, it didn’t mask the swordfish’s fresh, savory taste and flaky texture.
The cheese, coleslaw, and tartar sauce still gave it the same rich, tangy balance on a toasted sesame-seed bun, but I found this sandwich more flavorful overall.
The Cheesecake Factory also introduced a new cheesecake flavor, and it was a clear winner.
The Brownie Crunch Choc-a-Lot Cheesecake costs $13.50, excluding tax.
It was made with layers of marbled white chocolate and milk chocolate cheesecake on a toffee-brownie crust.
The cheesecake had a nice balance among the slightly salty, nutty toffee layer, the swirls of chocolate, and the crunch of the brownie layer.
The toffee kept the dessert from tasting overly sweet, while the chocolate added a familiar, indulgent richness. I especially liked the contrast between the smooth, creamy cheesecake filling and the chewy-crisp texture of the brownie layer.
I was most excited to try the new chicken-and-waffle skewers. They didn’t disappoint.
An order of five skewers costs $9.50, excluding tax.
The skewers alternated between crispy pieces of chicken and cubes of cheddar-and-green-chile waffle.
They came served with a hot honey and maple-butter syrup, which added both heat and sweetness.
The sharp cheddar and mild green chile also gave the waffle more flavor than a standard sweet version, while the chicken’s crunchy coating held up well against the sauces. I was really impressed by the chicken, which was moist and flavorful, and perfectly poppable.
I never want to eat chicken and waffles any other way.
My second-favorite new menu item was the Modern Cheesesteak sandwich.
It costs $26.95, excluding tax, making it the most expensive new item on the menu.
This cheesesteak was unbelievably filling and flavorful.
The Modern Cheesesteak kept things simple with thinly sliced beef, melted cheese, grilled onions, and green pepper on a toasted sesame roll. The onions added a mellow sweetness, while the cheese melted evenly throughout the meat, making each bite satisfyingly rich.
I also liked the sesame roll, which was soft enough to hold everything together without getting soggy.
It may not be the most traditional cheesesteak, but it was warm, savory, and reliably comforting.
The sliders packed double patties, double cheese, grilled onions, and special sauce into a snackable format.
They were incredibly moist and cheesy, melting in my mouth with each bite. The flavors reminded me of a really satisfying fast-food burger, from the savory beef to the tangy sauce to the soft, grilled onions.
They’d easily fulfill a burger craving, but their smaller size makes them especially ideal if you also want room to try some of The Cheesecake Factory’s other mouthwatering menu items.
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