The restaurant has plenty of wonderful dishes, including pasta, seafood and steaks. Its main courses alone would make it a place to be. Figure in its awesome downtown location - the bottom level of the Hancock building - and you've got one awesome place to bring a date.But the real draw is the cheesecake itself. More than 30 varieties tempt visitors when they first walk in. Flavors like Fresh Strawberry, Dutch Apple Caramel Streusel, and Adam's Peanut Butter Cup Fudge Ripple are unbelievably good. Even the Factory's Original flavor is to die for. The only hard part is waiting for dessert time.
Luckily, though, there are now Cheesecake factories in Skokie and Schaumburg, and the cheesecakes (in limited flavors) are even available at Sam's Club stores in the Chicago 'burbs. At $10, they're not a bad deal.
ATMOSPHERE
The downtown factory is in an awesome location and is decorated curiously, yet romantically. The swirly brown and gold designs make visitors wonder if they've been transferred inside a cheesecake, or a Picasso painting.
CROWD
The Michigan Avenue shopping area brings with it plenty of black ties and evening dresses. But tourists and night hoppers will stop in wearing jeans also. Visitors make what they want of the factory.
ENTERTAINMENT / EVENTS
The factory has no special events. No live music or ladies' nights. It's much classier, and its food is its draw.
SPIRITS
The Cheesecake Factory has fruit daiquiris, piña coladas and other fruity drinks. There's also a good selection of espressos, lattes, mochas, coffees and ciders that go especially well with dessert.
GRUB
This is the Factory's bread and butter. The pasta is so good you'll want to take it home. Though it's not a specialty, seafood does well, too. But even though the Cheesecake Factory has these excellent dishes and more, you'll want to pack some away and save room for dessert.
PRICES
The Factory isn't cheap. Expect to pay $50 for a couple, and even more with drinks. But this restaurant is for the special occasion, and it's a clear-cut winner in its price range. At the Hancock location, also expect to pay $15 for parking, and give yourself plenty of time to find it. There is a self-park lot at the John Hancock Parking Center, but it can fill up on busy nights with Michigan Avenue shoppers.
WHY IT'S UNIQUE
Simply put, taste is the reason why the Cheesecake Factory is unique. This is a restaurant you can crave for weeks or months between visits.
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