Cheesecake Factory- Otay Mesa

2015 Birch Rd # 705
Chula Vista, CA 91915-2007
(619) 421-2500




For me, this place is kind of like a love hate thing.  Love some of their food choices, portion sizes and the fact that they dont use styrofoam for the takeout boxes- hate their prices, long lines, the mass producedness of it, etc.  Once in a long while, I let myself come here and just dive in.  That is, always in the day time, never during a holiday weekend, and only with a friend.  Plus I dont get the cheesecake so somehow I feel better about it like I'm going against the grain or something.  If you have never been, it is a chain of sit down restaurants with a fat menu of choices ranging from omelettes to steak to gumbo to pastas and some attempts at asian food...not to mention many cheesecake and non cheesecake dessert offerings with a full bar service.  Glossy menus, servers decked out in white shirts and pants, shiny displays to tempt you into taking some sweets home.  Whole shebang.  


I happen to come here with a new friend who I am trying to hook up with my sister.  If I find my sister a nice man, then my mother can relax and sleep...since according to my mom, she cannot sleep or relax knowing that my sister is still unmarried and alone.  So we met here so that I could interrogate him and also to tell him a little about her...so old fashioned huh???  We ate outside since I am a hot blooded freak who needs to constantly feel cool even in 60 degree cali weather...which is cold for us! 

Chicken Madeira.  Our most popular chicken dish! Sautéed Chicken Breast Topped with Fresh Asparagus and Melted Mozzarella Cheese. Covered with Fresh Mushroom Madeira Sauce and Served with Mashed Potatoes (taken from website directly courtesy of The Cheesecake Factory Website).  

My eating mate swears by this dish.  He claims to order it every time.  I have recently decided that I dont really like chicken...no reason...no understanding of why.  A hefty portion.  Those potatoes are ridiculously good.  Like I couldnt stop stealing some off the plate good.  Its topped with a few asparagus spears but I felt like it either should have given more asparagus or just not even included them to start with.  Too much of a teaser.  The sauce was good...but not great IMO.  Those potatoes though....

My choice, Shrimp and Chicken Gumbo (minus the chicken).  Shrimp, Chicken, Andouille Sausage, Tomatoes, Peppers, Onions and Garlic Simmered in a Spicy Cajun Style Broth with Cream. Topped with Steamed White Rice.  They also give you the option of brown rice which is what I chose.  To be healthy duh! Ok so here is the deal about this one.  I liked it better the last time around, but Im not sure if it was b/c I got it at the Fashion Valley location, operator error, maybe the chicken makes it tastes a little better, etc.  I still liked it, but it lacked the creamy factor that I liked in the last time I had this dish.  The shrimp was a good size and they gave you more than enough in the dish.  The portion size was generous as well.  It was definitely missing something this this time around which made me frown a bit.  But dont let that give you the idea that I would order anything else next time around without much consternation.  It still ranks in my top 3 things to order there....

So I lumped the other two photos in the same line.  They always give you complimentary bread while you wait for your food.  I personally prefer the dark oat bread with a dab of butter.  A touch sweet and bready all at once.  It also has a french bread roll accompaniment btw.  The cake was the Black Out Cake.  Chocolate cake with chocolate chips, nuts, whipped cream and a fudge icing layer.  In case you cant tell from the picture, many layers of cake and chocolate in between. Large slice of course.  My friend says that if you take the cake and warm it in the microwave for 27 seconds, it is heaven.  But then again, he doesnt like whipped cream so ya.... just kidding! 

Happy eatings...brain...is...slowly...going....kaput.