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The Cheesecake Factory

Engaged employer

This is the major league of casual fine dining. - Kitchen Manager The Cheesecake Factory Employee Review

4.0
13 Mar 2015
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

People that work there love the food, and there is an abundance of diversity on the menu. People also love the culture, The Cheesecake Factory champions treating their hourly staff the way they should be treated--with respect! Managers are extremely flexible when it comes to scheduling, there are great opportunities for advancement, and servers, bussers, line cooks, kitchen managers and restaurant managers are friendly and promote a fun and safe working environment. This was easily the best company I have ever worked for in the restaurant industry, and I have been doing this for over 9 years. The opportunity for advancement is second-to-none. As a matter of fact, we, as managers were expected to be constantly training ourselves for promotions. I never heard of any manager that had worked for the company for multiple years that was not promoted. They encourage you to learn as much as you can about the food, culture, and systems. Staff are allowed free soup and bread (something you won't always find at other chains) and there's a meal program that takes a small amount of money out of your paycheck each day that you work and allows you to order most of the items on the menu (because just about everyone would take advantage of ordering the high priced items like the filet mignon or the ribeye). I will sorely miss the people, the managers, and the general attitude of every person I worked with, met, and became friends with while I was employed. Cheesecake Rocks!

Cons

The fast pace can be too much for some people and the hours can be long and arduous. As an example, I, as a kitchen manager, worked around 11-14 hours a day and it was exhausting. It was difficult to find the right work/life balance and ultimately I chose life over work. A lot of people in management, because of the long hours and having to work sometimes at home, reported their relationships with their significant other deteriorated and/or ended. While I was there, one of the kitchen managers was going through a rough divorce and a restaurant manager told me about how his wife divorced him because he became a workaholic and he ultimately had to step down as his role as the general manager and was demoted.

Explore other reviews about The Cheesecake Factory

5.0
21 Apr 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great training, great benefits fun coworkers

Cons

Long hours, parking not the best

5.0
11 Apr 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The Cheesecake Factory is easily the best company I've ever worked for...and I've been through a lot. Beginning with the company culture, and extending all the way through operations and into our restaurants, I've been inspired every day by the approach everyone takes to their positions and their daily interactions. Other companies hold certain values, but everyone at The Cheesecake Factory believes in and lives by them every day. The warmth and dedication to their individual roles and responsibilities is only amplified by their commitment to integrity, decency, and doing whatever it takes to support every single person else around them. Everyone is not just accepted but welcomed with open arms for who they are and what they bring to the office every day. I couldn't say enough good about this place, and I hope to never leave.

Cons

Like every company that's been around for almost 50 years, it's a little slow to adapt to current times when it comes to technology or a few other recent best practices. But no one is closed to new ideas—it just takes a while for them to take hold. Salary levels are fine, but growth takes time at the company—mainly because no one ever leaves (in a good way)—and that may not be the best fit for everyone. But the pros about this place make it worth it.

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