The Cheesecake Factory
Restaurant · Union Square ·
Vast menu with signature cheesecakes and outdoor patio seating
Vast menu with signature cheesecakes and outdoor patio seating
"There’s nothing sweeter, nothing richer, than San Francisco’s downtown outpost of the internationally renowned Cheesecake Factory. The views of the city are one-of-a-kind, nestled within Union Square’s Macy’s location. The Rotunda is a hit in this neighborhood, too, but what can top a long list of various cheesecakes? There’s even rooftop seating, and the Cookie Dough Lover’s Cheesecake with Pecans goes down all the finer in that rare air. If you’re a card-carrying (do they issue cards anymore?) rewards member, you can make a reservation. Takeout and delivery are also available." - Paolo Bicchieri
"With news that the flagship location of Macy’s will close as early as 2025, many have become nostalgic for the Union Square location of Cheesecake Factory. There are rumors the Cheesecake Factory will be around for another 10 years at that location, but just in case, best to take advantage of the Cheesecake Rewards program for your birthday and receive — what else? — a slice of cheesecake. Indeed, there are plenty to choose from, including an Oreo cheesecake option, key lime, and more. Have it on the restaurant’s gorgeous outdoor patio and you have the makings of a nice meal out." - Dianne de Guzman
"No, it isn’t the best restaurant in San Francisco, but I go to the Cheesecake Factory perched atop the soon-to-close Macy’s just off Union Square for the stuff-of-legend skyline views and an impossibly expansive, nostalgically charming menu; there’s genuine pleasure in buttering up a slice of brown bread and digging into a plate of strawberry shortcake." - Eater Staff
"Perched atop Macy’s department store at Union Square, I visited this Cheesecake Factory on Friday, April 5 around noon and found a place that still feels like an approachable, slightly theatrical institution. I was able to make a reservation by signing up for the Cheesecake Reward program (an email address gets you a booking and, at least on this visit, a $5 discount), and the elevator up to the eighth-floor dining room still delights with photos of dishes lighting up each floor. The decor blends disparate architectural elements—San Francisco Victorian beadboard paneling, Egyptian columns, and French limestone floors—but what sets this location apart is the breathtaking view of Union Square and the city skyline from the patio (in the holidays that view even included the glittering Christmas tree and ice skaters below). Inside, booths were filled with families and a few loud kids, mixed in with work lunches, while innocuous Strokes and Nelly Furtado songs played overhead. The famously chonky menu remains intact: the revered brown bread arrives as a welcome starter, the Chili-Crunch Shrimp Pasta (spaghettini with sautéed shrimp, snow peas, Parmesan, sesame seeds, and crispy garlic) shows the chile-oil trend, and the eggroll sampler presents four crispy, bubble-pocked rolls—avocado-stuffed, Tex-Mex with chicken and peppers, a chicken taquito–style roll, and a cheeseburger-inspired version—each with dipping sauces; there’s even a highlighted section of dishes under $10. Some throwbacks persist—the SkinnyLicious lower-calorie menu feels dated—while the cheesecake offerings remain gloriously untouched and are paired with brands like Ghirardelli, Oreo, Reese’s, Godiva, and Cinnabon, and classics like the vanilla-ice-cream–topped fresh strawberry shortcake still taste bright and sweet. Cheesecake Factory isn’t perfect, but it anchors this landmark space and manages, with surprising aplomb and joie de vivre, to serve a wide range of diners from groups of ten to a solo visitor; staff told me the restaurant was expected to remain open for another ten years until the lease ends, though that wasn’t confirmed by corporate." - Dianne de Guzman
"Uber riders were more keen to visit The Cheesecake Factory than local Lyft riders." - Caleb Pershan