The only thing holding me back from giving The Cheesecake Factory a 5-star rating is the amount of time I invariably have to wait to be seated. Of course, that's a result of this restaurant's incredible staying-power. Be that as it may, I often times do see many empty tables, or more accurately, entire sections of empty tables, especially on the patio, and that makes me wonder why the whole restaurant is not being utilized at all times. The food and service are both superb, and with a menu that spans nearly two dozen pages, The Cheesecake Factory seemingly offers every appetizer and every entrée known to man. It's especially refreshing to dine in a restaurant in which the servers care so much about their work and go out of their way to ensure guests are well-taken-care-of. I'm still lured in by the decadent cheesecake, which is more than enough to call an entire meal on most days. The Cheesecake Factory is loud and lively, never lacking for commotion. The dishes come out hot and quick, and that's quite an accomplishment given how crowded it always is. I think they do their best work on the pastas and pizzas, which are all can't-miss picks.

- Written by Alex Grayson
February 1, 2011