Try These NEW Menu Items at The Cheesecake Factory

The Cheesecake Factory added 17 new items to their already-glorious and robust menu. On a sunny fall day in San Diego, I headed to our Fashion Valley Mall location to put my taste buds to work.

The Pumpkin Cheesecake, especially, was calling my name since it’s only available during this time of the year.

First, A Sneak Peek Inside the Kitchen

This was my second time behind-the-scenes at a Cheesecake Factory restaurant. I still marvel at how they make over 250 recipes from scratch every day inside each restaurant (there are over 200 restaurants worldwide).

It takes teamwork, organization and a lot of loyalty to get it done. And, tasting. The chefs taste recipes as they’re being made to make sure each dish is perfect.

The Cheesecake Factory kitchen San Diego — Steaming brown rice

This includes more than 160 sauces and dressings made from scratch. All vegetables are brought in fresh, cut and chopped by hand in the restaurant. Even cheese is hand-grated daily.

The kitchen at The Cheesecake Factory in San Diego — Prepping for opening

These chefs are busy but they make it all look so easy.

Pancakes at The Cheesecake Factory — Pancakes are another popular order at The Cheesecake Factory

What We Ate

I came back later in the day with the family to taste some of the new fall menu items. We, like most people I observed, stopped at the bakery first to contemplate dessert. Yes, there are new and seasonal cheesecake flavors to try (keep reading).

We started with the new Crispy Brussels Sprouts. Roasted brussels sprouts and crispy leaves are tossed with bacon and a Vermont maple glaze that adds just the perfect amount of savory and sweet.

Also on the Small Plates & Snacks menu is a new Spicy Caesar Salad, a staff favorite. We can see why as the spicy dressing is really good and I’d love the recipe for it. The three of us inhaled the coated gem lettuce leaves.

The Cheesecake Factory spicy Caesar salad — Fresh pepper, please!

The most popular menu item at The Cheesecake Factory is the Avocado Egg Rolls, which we also ordered. The egg rolls, dumplings, and pot stickers are made and hand-rolled/formed at the restaurant. I watched these being made once and they are quite labor-intensive.

The effort shows as the Tamarind Cashew Dipping Sauce served with them is made with 18 ingredients and takes nearly 20 steps.

My husband was in the mood for something decadent, so he asked our server for advice who said without hesitation to order the Bacon-Bacon Cheeseburger. Done.

It’s a generously-sized beef patty covered in melted American cheese and topped with crispy bacon, thick-cut slow-roasted smoked bacon, and secret sauce. Yes, that’s two types of bacon. He declared it one of the best burgers he’s had in a long time. It’s epic. Every burger on The Cheesecake Factory’s menu is hand-formed.

In an attempt to save room for cheesecake, I ordered a salad main course. The new Chipotle Grilled Shrimp Salad proved to be another hit with its warm grain salad of quinoa, farro, avocado, corn, black beans, peppers, onion, and feta cheese topped with Cilantro-Lime Dressing. If you’re looking for something a bit lighter, try it.

My daughter opted for the California Guacamole Salad. And, even though we were stuffed, we finished with Pumpkin Cheesecake and a Classic Strawberry Milkshake for her. She loves milkshakes at The Cheesecake Factory.

Pumpkin Cheesecake and Pumpkin Pecan Cheesecake are the two seasonal flavors that you must order while in season. They taste more like a combination of pie and cheesecake which is why they’re so delicious. Skip baking pies for Thanksgiving. Instead, pick one (or more) of these up at the bakery for takeaway.

I also have it on good authority that the Cinnabon Cinnamon Swirl Cheesecake is out-of-this-world.