Ben and I went to the Cheesecake Factory for dinner tonight. It’s kind of like our special place because Ben was thisclose to proposing here on a date, but got cold feet! (He ended up asking me the next day.) I think it’s where it should have happened though 
We went to the one at the Irvine Spectrum. Right now the ice rink is open, the ferris wheel is running and the palm trees are full of lights. Orange County is good 🙂
Tonight I was pleasantly surprised that they gave us a Nutritional Guide with our menus.
Well, I was pleasantly surprised until I actually opened it up and saw the numbers. OUCH! I made the tragic mistake of looking at the Cheesecake calorie information. OUCH x100.
Unfortunately those facts didn’t keep me from ordering a piece to go. If you’re at a factory for something (i.e. Cheesecake) you should get one. I’m glad I’m at least an informed consumer 
Our meal started off the with usual and amazing bread. I am a sucker for bread.
We ordered a pizzette to start. This was amazing – I’m glad it’s small
And for the main event I got the Carlton salad. It had greens, feta, pecans, oranges, avocado (barely), raisins and pears. I LOVE salads ordering salads that have toppings I don’t usually have around the house!
We ordered our dessert to go and headed home to watch a movie. But, first I offered to go on the ferris wheel with my date…
He said it was too cold! We are wimps with cold weather 
Maybe next time – I really want to ride it now!
We ordered the 30th Anniversary Cheesecake for dessert.
Layers of Our Original Cheesecake, Fudge Cake and Chocolate Truffle Cream.
Ben knew I read the nutritionals and asked me approximately how many calories this has. When I answered he thought I was talking about the whole cake!
Totally.worth.it.
brown bread is crack. i have a soft spot in my heart for the irvine spectrum b/c my movie “white on rice” played there and the audience was so sweet! that place is a monster – i haven’t been back since!
DANGEROUS!!! Oh my god cheesecake is one of my weaknesses. That and a bread basket. 😀 Everything looks good!
my fiance and i LURVE cheesecake factory! i always order the cobb salad – it hits the spot every time. their 30th anniversary cheesecake is one of our faves – also the red velvet cheesecake. my mouth is watering just thinking about it.!
That looks so good! I’ve been craving cheesecake for the past week. You’re so lucky you live near a Cheesecake Factory!
Lucky? I dunno after reading that nutrition book… 🙂
I’ve only been to the CCF once but it was amazing. Jealous that you live near one!
Cheesecake is ALWAYS worth it. Calorie free!
I’ve seen the nutrition stats for CCF and they are crazy. But their food is so good, especially the cheesecake. I know I’m not eating those types of things every day so I always go for it. Always worth it.
I love the side braid, very cute!
I think the nutritional info at Cheesecake is depressing, even for the salads. In that case, I think a certain level of ignorance is bliss, especially considering how infrequently I dine there 🙂
I want that cheesecake. It looks amazing.
I love the Irvine Spectrum. Whenever we drive to San Diego, we stop there to eat or shop. I really want to try that Veggie Grill place over there.
I’ve been to the other Veggie Grill Irvine location and like it! Next time you stop by call me!
I love The Cheesecake Factory! Their nutrionals do scare me. It’s like, “what the heck do I order here??” I usually get the Herb Crusted Salmon salad. 🙂 And I LOVE their wheat bread in the bread basket.
Now I’m dying to know the actual calorie count!
so love the irvine spectrum! my parents live in orange county and when i go visit my hubs and i must go to pinkberrys at the spectrum! i bet it looks beautiful there with all the lights. how fun 🙂
Every time you have a post that shows pictures of how pretty (and snow-free) it is there, I feel like you’re just rubbing it in my face and trying to convince me more & more to move. 🙂 I LOVE LIGHTS ON PALM TREES!! lol
Guilty as charged 🙂
I had no idea they started giving out a separate menu for nutrition. That’s a great idea! Well, actually, not sure how good of an idea that is at The Cheesecake Factory but I’m with you. It wouldn’t stop me from eating the cheesecake. Nothing would stop me! 😉
Oh yeah, that looks totally worth it.
I don’t like plain cheesecake, but when it has fudge cake and chocolate truffle cream, I’d be all over it.
It looks like you guys had a great time! The lights outside are beautiful and the cheesecake inside looks fabulous. We have a New Orleans Cheesecake Bistro and it is TO DIE for. My fave cheesecake is the pralines and cream 🙂
Im actually not a cheesecake fan : p but I do love cheesecake factory for their yummy salads, the chinese chicken one is yummy!!!!
I love the cheesecake factory and have eaten there probably about 2 times. I shocked by their calories and the 2nd time my hubby and I ate here we ended up spliting a meal and cheesecake.
We are total cold wusses, too.
My favorite game is to find the most caloric thing on a menu. It’s disturbing.
That place is amazing!! They should leave the calorie count out for the dessert! The bread is my favorite! Glad you had a fun night!
Yeah, knowing the calories for cheesecake takes some of the bliss out of it. Well, it was still pretty blissful though…
I agree! Good cheesecake is a “worth it” for me. So is good bread.
Out of curiosity, what are some of your “not worth its”? I think mine are salad dressings (I’d rather use salsa).
Cheese is usually not worth it for me, but I have been slacking on asking for ‘no cheese’ on salads. I think I end up using less dressing when it’s there.
I love the Irvine Spectrum…I especially LOVE cheesecake! 🙂 What a great date, too bad you didnt get to go on the ferris wheel. Its always a treat! I do have a question, and I bet its a simple answer…..how did you get to be so comfortable with taking pictures of your food in a restaurant? Does Ben think its odd, or is he used to it? Hope thats not too personal! 😀 Thanks!
I have no willpower- if I ordered the cheesecake, it would be gone as soon as it was set in front of me 🙂
I love the cheesecake factory 🙂 their cheesecake is so yummy. I like to think they are calorie free 🙂
I’m going with your calorie free theory on this one 🙂
Ahhh cheesecake factory cheesecake <3 it's always worth it!
ahhh cheesecake factory cheesecake <3 it's always worth it.
still have not eaten at cheesecake factory ( hey I live in BFE) but I have to say that cheesecake in any form is totally worth the insane calorie count. Sounds like a fun evening out.
LOVE to hear the actual proposal story 🙂