THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY, LAS VEGAS

I recently went to Las Vegas for half term and despite the fact it is full of amazing restaurants, I was most excited about visiting The Cheesecake Factory. The Cheesecake factory is a chain of restaurants that originated in Beverly Hills, California in 1978 and now there are nearly 200 in the States and a few in the Middle East. I am desperate for them to open one in England. I have many good memories of eating at their restaurant in Aventura Mall, Florida with my father many years ago.

They have an extensive menu - I couldn't even begin to list how much choice they give you but think pasta, burgers, salads, pizza, omelettes, sandwiches, steaks, chicken….and so on. There is also an extremely vast pudding menu with over 35 cheesecakes as well as other desserts….my idea of Heaven! 

It is times like this when I wish I had a never ending appetite….which makes a change as normally I want the opposite. I want to order practically everything.

My favourite dish of all time here is the appetiser of Buffalo Blasts which are fried crispy parcels of chicken, cheese and buffalo sauce served with celery and blue cheese. I love them as I adore buffalo sauce - I wish they served it more over here - and I am obsessed with anything blue cheese. These are crispy and cheesy and also have a kick. 

I love that this is just a starter portion!!  

As I said my dad used to be a fan of The Cheesecake Factory so I had to have his favourite dish as well - Chicken Pot Stickers which are pan fried chicken dumplings served with soy ginger sesame sauce. Delicious, tasty and surprisingly light.

Even though I certainly did not need anymore fried food I was keen to try the crispy Cuban rolls which were crispy wrappers with slow roasted pork, ham, melted Swiss cheese, pickles and mustard. I love the fact these just the same as spring rolls yet had a completely different filling to usual. This is definitely a starter to share though as they did get a little too much as were slightly greasy.

Obviously you cannot come to The Cheesecake Factory and not have cheesecake and you are completely spoilt for choice - there is normal vanilla, Reese's peanut butter, cookie dough, Godiva chocolate, red velvet - the list in never ending! I went for the salted caramel cheesecake and the Oreo dream extreme cheesecake - both were rich and divine! The salted caramel cheesecake is a creamy caramel mousse and a caramel cheesecake on a blonde brownie topped with salted caramel. The Oreo cheesecake is Oreo cookies baked into a vanilla cheesecake with layers of fudge cake and Oreo cookie mousse, topped with milk chocolate icing. Mouthwatering!!!

Wow what a meal - I literally couldn't move from the restaurant. I think if I lived in the States I would be obese and that is no joke. The food is not gourmet but it hits the spot, there is plenty of choice and you know what you are going to get. There are some healthy low calorie items on the menu however I didn't even look at these! Service was quick, friendly and efficient. Yes you tip more in America but your servers definitely work harder for their gratuity.

I wish they would open a Cheesecake Factory here but considering the amount I would eat there, it is probably best for my waistline that they don't! 

The Cheesecake Factory