The Vitals:
the spot: Cheesecake Factory locations nationwide & Canada
the eats: Cheeseburger Slider, Chicken Madeira, Espresso Martini
the bucks: $$
the full nelson: a burger slider worth going to an indoor mall for
Maybe. Since I’m spending my time reviewing a restaurant that many people already know one could say my time could be put to use elsewhere. Like waxing poetic about the epic BBQ scene in the Panhandle of Texas or even an excellent independent Smashed burger joint in my hometown of St. Louis MO. But believe me: if you are a burger lover and have not tried the cheeseburger sliders at Cheesecake Factory . . . you are missing out.
Celebrated burger expert George Motz signs off on the greatness of these sliders. Turns out that the CEO of Cheesecake factory is from Detroit and grew up going to Greene’s Hamburgers where they make one mean slider. He had to have a great one served at Cheesecake Factory and being a CEO, he made that shit HAPPEN.
They keep it simple. Smashed patty, plus some caramelized onions, pickles, ketchup and of course some American cheese. The beef is fresh and the little brioche buns are soft and also fresh. It’s not rocket science, just a simple tasty burger done right. Personally I think the buns are where it’s at. I don’t want to know the calorie count but they are equal parts butter bomb to the smashed beef patty.
So the real reason I went to Cheesecake Factory is because my son wanted to go with a friend from school. Yes, my preteen(now a full teen) wanted to go to the mall and eat at Cheesecake Factory. I was enamored with the idea. And even more so because we went for Sunday Brunch and I realized an Espresso Martini was/is the perfect Boozy Brunch drink besides a Bloody Mary.
Loyal devotees of Cheesecake Factory seem to love the Chicken Madeira. The pan sauce soaked chicken entree reminded me of eating Chicken Marsala at Italian joints in the 1990s. Both dishes involve a fortified wine making a rich brown sauce to liven up chicken breast, which needs all the fortified wine it can get.
This was like a dish you get at a wedding and actually enjoy. I didn’t mind it at all but I also was running on two Espresso Martinis at that point.
Is getting these delish sliders at Cheesecake Factory. For all the nostalgia one can have for White Castle, that food is borderline North Korean army rations. The cheeseburger sliders at Cheesecake Factory however, are like what White Castle would be if they came to Japan, where they instantly improve everything.
10 out of 10 I would get these sliders again and probably wash them down with at least one Espresso Martini. Ideally you do this at an indoor mall. And . . . you’re welcome.
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