Restaurants We Didn't Realize Were Owned By The Cheesecake Factory
The Cheesecake Factory is a culinary institution. at least in the sense that the brand name is pretty ubiquitous. While it might not be the most critically acclaimed restaurant chain, name recognition speaks for itself. In fact, the success of The Cheesecake Factory can be demonstrated by how many restaurants are owned by the company that we bet you didn't even know about.
The menu at The Cheesecake Factory expands beyond the slices of cheesecake spinning behind the glass at the restaurant's entrance. You can get everything from indulgent fried apps to American diner classics to Asian and Mexican-inspired salads and side dishes here. Some menu items are great and others you might want to avoid. Aside from its cheesecake, the chain is probably best known for just how overwhelming the book-like menus can be. At the very least, you have an extremely high chance of finding something to your tastes. And dessert? Don't worry about that.
In 2019, The Cheesecake Factory Inc acquired the restaurant group, Fox Restaurant Concepts, for $353 million. With it, the company now owns 15 restaurants and chains. We've researched each one of them and some of these entries might surprise you. Here are the 15 restaurants we didn't realize were owned by the Cheesecake Factory.
Blanco
Blanco Cocina + Cantina is a major Fox Restaurant Concept chain that The Cheesecake Factory brand picked up from the 2019 acquisition. Most of the locations of this Tex-Mex chain are in Arizona, but the brand has stretched as far as California, Texas, Colorado, Tennessee, and Illinois.
The Cocina + Cantina part of the Blanco name implies that there is as much of an emphasis on liquor and cocktails as there is on food. That assessment would be right on the money since tacos and tequila are Blanco's specialty. The menu features all the expected Tex-Mex favorites like tacos, burritos, fajitas, and — of course — guacamole and queso dips. And then there are the cheese crisps, an Arizona specialty that is at the very least served at the Blanco locations in that state.
This Tucson tradition is a simple dish consisting of a flour tortilla that is topped with shredded cheese. Blanco's menu lists other tasty options beyond the basic cheese such as BBQ Pork & Roasted Corn and Roasted Poblano Chile & Tomato. Beyond an enticing menu of both frozen and fresh margs, Blanco naturally has an extensive list of tequila.
North Italia
The Cheesecake Factory was a minority stakeholder in the Italian food brand, North Italia, for years before it was bought as part of the Fox deal. In a different deal in November 2016, the company bought into North Italia and Fox's fast-casual Flower Child. In the years since then, North Italia has more than doubled its operations from a brand with 14 locations to over 30 restaurants. These stretch from the West coast of California and Arizona through to Virginia, Florida, and even Washington D.C., as well as nine other states.
Naturally, North Italia focuses on wood-fired pizza and fresh homemade pasta, as well as traditional Italian-American shared plates and entrees. None of the flavor combinations are going to be new and surprising. North Italia focuses on comfort food. From calamari and meatballs on the starters menu to the elegant prosciutto and fig pizza, there is a wide range of Italian cuisines covered in the (relatively modest for a Cheesecake Factory brand) restaurant menu.
Grand Lux Cafe
One of The Cheesecake Factory company's projects is Grand Lux Cafe, which can essentially be boiled down to a more "high-end" (read: expensive and less greasy) version of the company's main chain of restaurants. To its credit, the spaces at the Grand Lux are more refined and inviting than the sometimes chaotic atmosphere you might find in a Cheesecake Factory.
Whether you call the cuisine international or global, the point of Grand Lux is excess. On the Investors site for the brand, it is listed that Grand Lux Cafe locations have menus of approximately 175 items. That is a remarkable menu, and many of the options read like slightly fancier versions of what you could get at Cheesecake Factory. Take, for example, the Buffalo Chicken Rolls at Grand Lux Cafe, which are a take on a popular Cheesecake Factory concept of taking American bar food and turning it into an egg roll for no discernible reason. So, while you may be surprised to learn that Grand Lux Cafe is a Cheesecake Factory brand, the connection is very direct and obvious once you've dined there.
Social Monk
Social Monk Asia Kitchen is a chain of fast-casual Asian fusion establishments started by The Cheesecake Factory in 2019. Taking from all East Asian cuisines (Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, and China, all included), Social Monk specializes in serving up affordable Americanized eats based on these cultures. Ranging from Sweet and Sour Chicken to Pad Thai, the Social Monk menu spans the globe but skews toward American favorite rice and noodle dishes. In the Westlake Village neighborhood of Los Angeles, though, the restaurant certainly has its fair share of competition when it comes to this type of cuisine. That's why Social Monk focuses on quick meals perfect for lunches.
In fact, Social Monk's biggest draw has to be its lunch boxes. These build-your-own lunch specials let you pick a number of items from a selection of the menu's most popular items. For $12.95 you get to choose one entree and one vegetable or side, but for $3 more, you can upgrade to a Bigger Lunch Box, which also includes a Small Plate appetizer or salad in addition to the other two items. We can't deny this is a pretty good lunch deal for Los Angeles.
Doughbird
If you've ever thought that chicken doesn't belong on pizza, the Doughbird restaurant chain has something to say to you. If you haven't heard of this one — even if you live in the Southwest — we don't blame you. There's only a handful of Doughbird locations currently open; one in Phoenix, one in Tucson, and one in Nashville, TN. The specialty of this chain, if you haven't figured it out, is pizza and rotisserie chicken.
This elevated pizza joint actually has a pretty massive menu at all of its locations. Yes, chicken and pizza each have their own separate sections on the menu. And also yes, you can get rotisserie chicken on your pizza by way of Doughbird's Barbeque Chicken specialty pie, or by building your own creation. The menu also boasts some hearty-sounding salads, entrees, and sandwiches that don't have chicken in them. We would recommend you stick to the specialties if you ever get a chance to eat at a Doughbird.
Olive and Ivy
"Inspired by the French Riviera" and serving up Mediterranean-influenced dishes, Olive and Ivy is another Fox Restaurant Group brand that is owned by Cheesecake Factory Inc. This concept isn't necessarily as widely marketable as the various taco and tequila bars and pizza joints on this list, so you'll find there are only two Olive and Ivy locations on the map and only one is easily accessible to diners. Both are in Arizona — one actual restaurant in Scottsdale and the other at Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix.
The Scottsdale location serves up lunch, dinner, and a daily brunch menu. Dishes Americans commonly associate with Mediterranean cuisine like Gyros, Hummus, and plenty of succulent lamb dishes, however, the lengthy Olive and Ivy menu also includes plenty of American and Italian standards. There is definitely an overlap between those cuisines, featuring dishes such as Bruschetta, but others like Lasagna Bolognese and Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin don't quite evoke the Riviera.
Fly Bye
Fly Bye is a pizza and chicken joint local to Phoenix, AZ. There are three locations in the area and each of them specializes in square-pan pizza and crispy chicken wings. We know it's hard to go wrong with pizza and wings and Fly Bye is right there when the craving kicks in ... as long as you live in the greater Phoenix area, that is.
The menu at Fly Bye is fairly straightforward, especially compared to the overly long-menus of many of these restaurants. They've got pizza, they've got chicken — that's the whole deal. When it comes to fried chicken, you can either get tenders or wings served with one of over a dozen Fly Bye sauces, including Dropout's Famous Cheese Fondue for an extra charge.
What makes Fly Bye stand out as a pizza joint is its commitment to Detroit Style pizza. This not-quite deep-dish pan style is in vogue these days, and Fly Bye has plenty of flavor options. From classic pepperoni to savory Black Truffle Mushroom pizza, there will be something for every type of pizza lover.
Flower Child
From the name, it's not exactly easy to discern what type of cuisine is served at Flower Child. This Fox Restaurant chain is now a part of the Cheesecake Factory Inc. business as of 2019. With over 30 locations across the country, there's a decent chance that if you live in the U.S. and are reading this there might be one nearby. But we still haven't explained the concept.
Flower Child is a fast-casual take on farm-to-table cuisine. Of a type with Sweetgreen, Flower Child is a great pick for a farm-fresh casual dining experience, whether it be for a to-go lunch or a quick dinner. The menus vary from location to location, but they largely consist of salads and bowls of grains and veggies — as well as a protein of choice if you want to add that.
Unlike a Chopped or Sweetgreen, the Flower Child menu features a number of exciting side dishes and small bites that make it more of an all-purpose restaurant, as opposed to a quick lunch stop. From Avocado Toast to the Ginger Miso Crunch salad to the Mother Earth bowl, the food at Flower Child represents a fusion of many different cuisines.
Pushing Daisies
Pushing Daisies is a bit unlike the rest of the restaurants on this list. This is due to the fact that it's not technically a restaurant, considering it doesn't serve food. No, all you'll find at this Margarita bar is a vivacious selection of cocktails and mixed drinks.
Only recently opened up in 2022, this Nashville, TN bar concept from Fox Restaurants has a menu of over 100 tequilas. Once again, The Cheesecake Factory and Fox brands seem to agree that more is always better. Highlights from the Pushing Daisies menu include a whole page dedicated to Margs and shots. If you're not a tequila fanatic, this might not be a place you want to seek out in Nashville. If you wind up there, though, the cocktail section of the menu includes a fine-sounding seasonal sangria. From Skinny Margaritas to Horchata, the selection at Pushing Daisies is mind-numbing.
Zinburger
This bar and restaurant serves up burgers, brews, and shakes, but Zinburger Wine & Burger Bar also boasts an impressive list of cocktails and wines. If there was any question of whether or not Zinburger's name was trying to evoke such a juicy and delicious burger that one would consider it sinful, one look at the menu will put your mind at ease. You can only find this small chain of burger joints in Arizona, in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tucson, and at the Sky Harbor airport.
The trademark Zinburger deal is what the chain calls Pitchers+Pull-Aparts. On Mondays and Tuesdays, at every Zinburger location in Arizona, you can get a pitcher of draught beer or sangria, four cheeseburger pull-parts, and a basket of hand-cut fries all for $22. It's a good deal but if you are splitting it between more than two people, the food is not going to go that far. Time to order something else while you finish up your drinks. We see what you're up to, Zinburger.
The Arrogant Butcher
Unlike a number of entries on this list, this steakhouse in Phoenix, Arizona isn't a chain. There's only one Arrogant Butcher location and you need to go to Phoenix to get the goods. One of the businesses Cheesecake Factory Inc. picked up with the Fox acquisition, The Arrogant Butcher is a premium steakhouse that serves up bites that are a bit more high-end than your standard Cheesecake Factory fare.
The menu at The Arrogant Butcher isn't just limited to steaks, meats, and cheeses. There is also a delectable selection of seafood options that give the menu a wide range. This butcher shop and steakhouse also has a huge selection of cocktails and liquors. There is a menu option that lets you upgrade any of their high-end Whiskey into a Manhattan or Old-Fashioned. Be it Bourbon or Rye, The Arrogant Butcher has you covered. The size of the menu might actually be one of the things The Arrogant Butcher has in common with Cheesecake Factory restaurants — even if it can't quite compete.
Wildflower
In Tucson, AZ you will find a little restaurant called Wildflower. Perhaps you live there or have visited, but we bet you didn't know that this one-off restaurant is a Fox Group brand and by extension owned by The Cheesecake Factory Inc.Wildflower is serving up fine New American and California-inspired cuisine for a decent price point for Tucson locals.
Providing a wide variety of gluten-free menu options and vegetarian dishes, Wildflower's menu also features such succulent entrees as lemongrass skewered scallops with "forbidden" black rice. What perks our ears up the most is the list of enticing appetizers, featuring the ahi tuna & charred avocado crudo with candied lemon jam, Fresno chile, cider ponzu, pistachio & crushed wasabi pea. If that doesn't scream fine dining, we don't know what does. And for under $20, that dish is the perfect representation of the level of food Wildflower is trying to serve up for its clientele.
The Greene House
The Greene House is another restaurant owned by The Cheesecake Factory that has just one location. There is only one city you can visit (or happen to live in) to get this restaurant's California-inspired cuisine and that is in Scottsdale, AZ. Like Wildflower, The Greene House is one of the more refined and inauspicious Cheesecake Factory brand restaurants. In fact, if you look closely you'll see that both of these fine dining concepts share menu items — like the Mediterranean Cauliflower entree.
Since its menu shares a great deal with Wildflower, The Greene House is also home to plenty of options for diners with different dietary restrictions. Pretty much all of the salad and fish entree options on the menu are gluten-free. Others, like the Homemade Pot Pie with slow-roasted chicken and sweet potatoes, just straight up sound delectable. With unique sides like Sautéed Green Beans with Marcona Almonds, The Greene House certainly stands out from the many Cheesecake Factory-owned restaurants.
Culinary Dropout
Culinary Dropout is a chain of gastropubs found in Arizona and Texas but will be expanding beyond the Southwest into the American South. Soon there will be brand new locations in four cities across as many states; Birmingham, Atlanta, Charlotte, and Dallas. Perhaps there is one coming to a city near you in the near future if you're lucky.
In addition to brews and Detroit-style pizzas, Culinary Dropout has a large menu featuring all the game-day favorites you would expect from a pub. Here you can find anything from American comfort classics, like meatloaf and ribs, to fusion inspirations like the Spicy Vegan Curry. The chain also does brunch and has some generous happy hour specials. The brunch menu somehow features both southwest brunch options and an entire Antipasto section. From sickly sweet to salaciously savory, the Culinary Dropout menu has got your hangover cravings covered to the max.
The Henry
The pitch for The Henry is to make the "greatest neighborhood restaurant" a refined establishment that still feels like home. Where exactly that neighborhood varies since the chain has locations in California, Arizona, and Texas. The Henry is very soon to hit the Eastern seaboard with a brand new location in Florida.
Serving up riffs on classic American cuisine, The Henry features a distinct emphasis on seafood. Open up the dinner menu and you will immediately see something none of these other Cheesecake Factory brand restaurants have — a raw bar. At The Henry, you can start your meal off with Oysters straight out of the shell or Wild Mexican Shrimp Cocktail. The entire menu is pretty elevated and features some impressive ingredients. From indulgent Black Truffle Cheese Fondue to the fresh Salmon Crudo, these are just some examples of the seasonal ingredient-forward dishes served at The Henry.