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A comment on How the Cheesecake Factory defied the restaurant industry’s rules of success. Parent comment

Re:How the Cheesecake Factory defied the restaurant industry... by techsupporter on Thursday July 27, 2023 @11:22PM (#36902821)
The video that webwielder2 posted below from PolyMatter is a really good start: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndqsvTIveR0

In short, it's about making an experience that draws people in who are looking for the comfort/familiarity/ease of a chain, while not just relying on that. The Cheesecake Factory is an above-average restaurant masquerading as a Sysco-food-reheating-service.

The very large menu is a feature--something for everyone--that would be a bug if a lot of other restaurants tried it because the execution is often so dismal once a particular level of size or growth (or both) is reached.

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Re:How the Cheesecake Factory defied the restaurant industry... by jonhohle on Thursday July 27, 2023 @11:39PM (#36902912)
Thank you for that video. I would have assumed TCF was a Sysco-food-reheating-service masquerading as a slightly expensive mid-range restaurant. I have a new respect for it, though don't understand how they present themselves.
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Re:How the Cheesecake Factory defied the restaurant industry... by CaptainNegative on Thursday July 27, 2023 @11:32PM (#36902879)
"Something for everyone" is stretching it when they have one vegan entree: The Impossible Burger. The closest second option, if it even counts as a separate option, is the "Skinny" Impossible Burger, which comes with mayo that can be removed.

Nothing else is close to vegan, unless you're into ordering Chicken Lettuce Wraps without Chicken.

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Re:How the Cheesecake Factory defied the restaurant industry... by Retric on Thursday July 27, 2023 @11:39PM (#36902911)
There’s significantly more options than that. Though true Vegan is unusually strict as most people allow Honey etc.

“there are 52 vegetarian options at the Cheesecake Factory, not including a number of the tasty cheesecakes!” https://dietmenus.com/restaurant/the-cheesecake-factory/vege...

Vegan is significantly more strict but “there are 9 vegan options at the Cheesecake Factory, plus a handful of other dishes that can be customized to make it vegan.” https://dietmenus.com/restaurant/the-cheesecake-factory/vega...

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Re:How the Cheesecake Factory defied the restaurant industry... by Retric on Thursday July 27, 2023 @11:49PM (#36902956)
True Vegan (no Honey etc) is unusually strict but “there are 9 vegan options at the Cheesecake Factory, plus a handful of other dishes that can be customized to make it vegan.” https://dietmenus.com/restaurant/the-cheesecake-factory

Vegetarian bumps that to 52 menu items.

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Re:How the Cheesecake Factory defied the restaurant industry... by CaptainNegative on Friday July 28, 2023 @01:48AM (#36903448)
There are a few more options when generalizing beyond entrées, but still five of the items listed on that page are salads, with the other four being a side of beets, asparagus, artichoke, or edamame. Which, at double digit Calories, is only as much a reasonable meal for vegans as it is for carnists (that is to say not much of one).
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Re:How the Cheesecake Factory defied the restaurant industry... by parineum on Friday July 28, 2023 @03:41AM (#36904035)
I would think that vegans regularly have salad for dinner, no?
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Re:How the Cheesecake Factory defied the restaurant industry... by bobthepanda on Friday July 28, 2023 @03:46AM (#36904068)
A lot of vegetarians and vegans I know personally hate salad, because it is so often the only option at a restaurant and often an afterthought for those who don’t eat meat or are trying to lose weight.

It also does limit the choice of dressing, for example anything with mayo is off limits.

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Re:How the Cheesecake Factory defied the restaurant industry... by HelloMcFly on Friday July 28, 2023 @08:42AM (#36905990)
True, but again at the CCF salads aren't the only option, but about half of them.
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Re:How the Cheesecake Factory defied the restaurant industry... by asifgnionio on Friday July 28, 2023 @09:28AM (#36906477)
No, vegans eat food.
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Re:How the Cheesecake Factory defied the restaurant industry... by parineum on Monday July 31, 2023 @12:24PM (#36945015)
Salad is food, afaik. I eat it frequently.
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Re:How the Cheesecake Factory defied the restaurant industry... by civilitty on Friday July 28, 2023 @12:28AM (#36903108)
> Nothing else is close to vegan, unless you're into ordering Chicken Lettuce Wraps without Chicken.

They just haven't figured out how to keep vegans from spoiling in a commercial kitchen yet. They're high maintenance, a bit too big for the freezer, and the vacuum packer tends to deprive them of oxygen.

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Re:How the Cheesecake Factory defied the restaurant industry... by doctor_eval on Friday July 28, 2023 @01:56AM (#36903477)
But... cows are vegan, aren't they?
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Re:How the Cheesecake Factory defied the restaurant industry... by midoridensha on Friday July 28, 2023 @02:47AM (#36903736)
Actually, no. They're (occasional) omnivores, believe it or not:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/when-herbivores-ar...

Horses sometimes eat chickens too.

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Re:How the Cheesecake Factory defied the restaurant industry... by kuhewa on Friday July 28, 2023 @07:36AM (#36905427)
Nary a grazer turns down occasional free protein
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Re:How the Cheesecake Factory defied the restaurant industry... by sand500 on Friday July 28, 2023 @03:04AM (#36903818)
> Chicken Lettuce Wraps without Chicken.

Which is an actual item on the menu

https://www.thecheesecakefactory.com/menu/appetizers/thai-le...

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:How the Cheesecake Factory defied the restaurant industry... by seidleroni on Friday July 28, 2023 @08:25AM (#36905835)
The avocado lettuce wraps are really good (I'm mostly vegan). I've taken my young kids (6 and 4) there and it works out great. I usually get this and the kids get whatever they want.
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Re:How the Cheesecake Factory defied the restaurant industry... by account42 on Friday July 28, 2023 @06:35AM (#36905021)
So it does seem they have something even for vegans. Something doesn't mean that the entire selection is built around your particular quirks.
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Re:How the Cheesecake Factory defied the restaurant industry... by CaptainNegative on Friday July 28, 2023 @11:20AM (#36908148)
By that notion my home kitchen also has something for everyone because I have a tomato in the fridge. Where's my HN praise for being so culinarily flexible?
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Re:How the Cheesecake Factory defied the restaurant industry... by kayodelycaon on Friday July 28, 2023 @08:52AM (#36906072)
I'm allergic to milk and I stay very far away from such places. Cross-contamination is pretty much a given. (Same with actual fancy restaurants and butter.)
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