Cheesecake Factory: Weight Management Salads

Note the menu says the salads are "under 590 calories each." They don't tell you how MUCH under, just under. What are they doing to salads to make them that many calories?

And who goes to Cheesecake Factory expecting health food anyway?

LOL, it sounds like medicine and not something you'd eat..."weight management". And if their salads are "under 590 calories" (which is still really high for a salad), what's the rest of their food like? Lucky for me, we don't have a Cheesecake Factory by us, so I never go there.

If I am going to have 590 calories it isn't going to be salad it's going to be rib eye steak!

I feel that restaurants should provide a healthy menu for consumers today because many people are watching what they eat and are having less calories per meal. If the Cheesecake Factory includes a weight management menu of salads, then their sales will increase. People will enjoy their meal a lot more because they will feel more comfortable being notified how many calories they are consuming. Restaurants try to make their customers happy and satisfied. If you do not want to eat what they have, then don't go there. I feel they are trying to move toward more of a healthy approach, so customers are not eating junk and their food is a lot more nutritious.

the thing about the cheesecake factory is that most of their portions are made 2-3 times bigger than they need to be.. it's almost that you're expected to take a doggie bag home. it's a nice restaurant so you'd expect to get a good amount of food for what you're paying, so yeah, the salads are nearly 600 calories, but if you eat half for dinner and half tomorrow for lunch, it's less than 300 calories each.

I rather miss having a nearby Cheesecake Factory -- it was a guaranteed 3 meal purchase (dinner, and two subsequent lunches at home). It shouldn't be surprising that their "small" options are still (at least) twice the size as an actual serving SHOULD be.

Oh my god. I can't tell you how many times over the years I have complained about cheesecake factory's lack of nutritional information. I've called them and e-mailed them and complained to friends. I know for a fact that they use standard recipes for their meals (hence why you get the same food at every location), so I don't understand why they can not provide nutritional analysis like so many other chains do.

It has gotten to the point where I refuse to eat there. If I'm with a large party of people, I talk them out of going there. A 590 calorie salad isn't going to change my mind.

LISTEN UP Cheesecake Factory: I will not eat at your resterant and I will TALK OTHERS OUT OF EATING THERE until you start to provide full nutritional information on at least a portion of your menu items. Period. End of story.

I don't understand why people eat at restaurants that don't offer healthy fare. I ate a wonderful grilled salmon, wild rice dish at Macaroni's Grill the other week. Of course most of their entres are super calorific, but it is possible to eat healthy. After all, us displined eaters want to enjoy life a little with some vino, no?

No matter what you eat, it has to be done in moderation.

I'm not going to The Cheesecake Factory to diet.

And 590 Calories is hardly low-Cal.

If that's the issue, make your own salad before you go (You can make a huge one for under 200 Cal, esp. if you don't like dressing) and have what is worth going there for-- a slice of cheesecake!

Still, can't criticize a restaurant for at least making some move in that direction. More need to go that way. I wish some ethnic restaurants did... tired of being stuck at Applebees or Chili's!

The new salads are really good. Its great they are offering healthy choices. 590 calories is truly not a lot for the amount you get! honestly, split that into two meals. Its not that hard. I dont know why people are being so critical. Weird.

I tired the California one this weekend. The salad is HUGE - so if is not like you will eat the whole things anyway. I personally am on a 1500 calorie diet - do if I have a normal breakfast and lunch - this amount of calories for dinner is great - plus I can go out & eat w/ my friends to a fun place.

C. Froggenhall said:
Note the menu says the salads are "under 590 calories each." They don't tell you how MUCH under, just under. What are they doing to salads to make them that many calories?[...]

Did you ever think of asking your server if he/she fat,etc. info?

I think "under 590 calories" is a great bargin for a meal at Cheesecake Factory. My friends and family all love Cheesecake Factory and like to frequent it for lunches and dinners. Since eating out is not all about me, I go along willingly knowing that there are several options on the menu that will help keep me within my daily caloric goals.

I can guarantee you that many of the "salads" at CF are over 1000 if not 2000 calories, so 590 is a meaningful difference. I had the California for lunch today. I can tell you they keep it under 590 by making it 90% lettuce with 10% of the "yummy" stuff. I agree that it can easily make 1.5 meals -- maybe 2 if you're a real light eater -- but truly for someone on a "weight management" nutritional plan, 590 for a lunch (especially if as in my case lunch is the biggest meal of the day) is a very livable number even if you do eat the whole thing.