The Cheesecake Factory

This is the Baltimore outpost of the popular Cheesecake Factory chain. Much, much more than their namesake, they have a very large and diverse menu. Breakfast foods, pizza, pasta, steaks, salads, sandwiches, appetizers...it's all here. The portions are very generous and the prices reasonable. Good location overlooking the harbor. Service is very good. Expect a wait, as the location caters mainly to tourists. more

Living in a city like Baltimore, where there are loads of unique restaurants, I generally shun chain restaurants. But for Cheesecake Factory I make an exception. The menu is huge and diverse, and everything I've ever had has been delicious (the portions are huge, too, so I can usually eat for three days off an entree there). I especially recommend their pastas. And of course the cheesecakes are amazing, though they are often out of some of the ones on the extensive list. The only downside is that there is often an hour to two hour wait (longer if it is tourist season), which is often a deterrent. more

Eating at The Cheesecake Factory is definitely an experience. We've been to the Baltimore one a few times and have generally enjoyed ourselves. The location -- right on Baltimore's Inner Harbor -- and the decor give the place an exciting atmosphere. They are almost always busy, and you should expect to wait for a table, especially on a Friday or Saturday night. Hit the surrounding Harborplace shops, or just enjoy the view of the harbor, while you wait. Of course the cheesecakes are the specialty, and are on display at the bakery up front. Be sure to save room! The meal menu is large and there are some creative dishes in a variety of styles. It's most fun sharing a meal with two or three other people, so you can sample a little of everything. That said, we've always found the entrees to be just a little less amazing tasting than we would expect -- especially for the price. The presentation is wonderful, and there's always something delicious on the plate, but for all the waiting and anticipation I never leave feeling I've eaten great food. The one exception to this is the appetizers, and some of the entree salads (love the Asian chicken salad). We've also had inconsistent service. The last time we went our server was wonderful -- energetic, attentive, and knowledgeable. Other times our servers have been a bit less present. In all, this is a fun place to go if you're not in a hurry, and are willing to spend -- and eat -- a little more than usual. We park in the Renaissance Hotel parking lot across the street, though there may be other options on off hours. more

The Cheesecake Factory has an ambitious menu and most of it is pretty good, I think. We've been there a bunch of times and somehow we always end up going there at the busiest times. Once we waited a couple of hours for a table (we put our names in early and went for a walk around the harbor). I got a big chinese noodle salad once that wasn't great but other things I've had were very good. But really you go for the cheesecake. There are many varieties and all of the ones I've had were very good. Rich, smooth, creamy. It's worth a visit but just try to go during off hours and never on Mother's Day or other holidays where people tend to dine out. It'll be mobbed. more

The Cheesecake factory is one of my all time favorites. The menu is literally a book. They have choices from a variety of cuisines. All portions are HUGE (you will certainly have leftovers for the next day!) and the prices are reasonable. The desserts are incredible--they have about 20 cheesecake choices as well as other options. Cheesecake is pricey (about 6-8 bucks a slice) but so worth it. The restaurant looks out on the harbor so it has nice ambiance. more