Cheesecake Factory Lunch Menu: What You Save Ordering Before 5pm
Lunch Favorites is not a separate menu of lesser dishes. It is the main menu, in a smaller portion, at a lower price and the gap is bigger than most people realise.
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- Author:
- Marcus Goodwin
Short answer
Lunch Favorites runs on weekdays until roughly 5pm and offers 39 dishes at $12.50 – $29.50. 28 of those dishes also appear on the dinner menu, and at lunch they average $5.76 less. Portions are smaller usually 30 to 40 percent fewer calories.
The single most useful thing to know about eating here is that the same plate has two prices depending on when you walk in. Nothing on the menu tells you how big the gap is, so here it is dish by dish.
Lunch versus dinner, dish by dish
These are dishes that appear on both menus. The price shown is the low end of each range, so the comparison is like for like across the same market.
| Dish | Lunch | Dinner | You save | Lunch cal | Dinner cal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana Chicken Pasta | $17.95 | $24.95 | $7.00 | 1,380 | 2,270 |
| Pasta Da Vinci | $17.95 | $24.95 | $7.00 | 1,160 | 1,540 |
| Crusted Chicken Romano | $17.95 | $24.95 | $7.00 | 1,100 | 1,800 |
| Four Cheese Pasta | $17.95 | $22.95 | $5.00 | 950 | 1,280 |
| Spicy Chicken Chipotle Pasta | $17.95 | $24.95 | $7.00 | 1,290 | 1,770 |
| Chicken Piccata | $17.95 | $24.95 | $7.00 | 1,340 | 1,420 |
| Santa Fe Salad | $17.50 | $19.95 | $2.45 | 1,130 | 1,670 |
| Farfalle with Chicken and Roasted Garlic | $20.95 | $24.95 | $4.00 | 1,040 | 1,870 |
| Spicy Rigatoni Vodka | $17.95 | $23.95 | $6.00 | 1,080 | 1,570 |
| Evelyn's Favorite Pasta | $17.95 | $22.95 | $5.00 | 940 | 1,270 |
| Pasta Carbonara | $17.95 | $22.95 | $5.00 | 1,430 | 2,030 |
| Shepherd’s Pie | $17.95 | $21.95 | $4.00 | 1,030 | 1,400 |
| Miso Salmon | $19.95 | $29.95 | $10.00 | 1,000 | 1,340 |
| Orange Chicken | $17.95 | $23.95 | $6.00 | 1,330 | 1,750 |
The largest gap is Miso Salmon at $10.00 less. Note the calorie columns as well the saving is not a discount, it is a smaller plate. For most people that is the better plate anyway.
See all lunch dishes with prices
When lunch pricing applies
- Weekdays only at most restaurants. Weekends run brunch then the full menu.
- Until late afternoon, commonly 5pm. Sitting down at 4.50pm is usually fine; ordering at 5.05pm is not.
- Dine-in and takeout both, though a takeout order placed near the cut-off is priced when it is placed.
- Times are set locally. An airport or mall restaurant may run a different schedule from a standalone one.
Find your restaurant's hours and phone number
The dishes worth ordering at lunch
Some dishes translate to a smaller portion better than others. Pastas and salads work the lunch portion is a complete plate. Dishes built around a single protein can feel thin when scaled down.
| Dish | Price | Calories |
|---|---|---|
| Louisiana Chicken Pasta | $17.95 – $21.95 | 1,380 |
| Pasta Da Vinci | $17.95 – $21.95 | 1,160 |
| Crusted Chicken Romano | $17.95 – $21.95 | 1,100 |
| Four Cheese Pasta | $17.95 – $21.95 | 950 |
| Spicy Chicken Chipotle Pasta | $17.95 – $21.95 | 1,290 |
| Chicken Piccata | $17.95 – $21.95 | 1,340 |
| Santa Fe Salad | $17.50 – $20.95 | 1,130 |
| Farfalle with Chicken and Roasted Garlic | $20.95 – $26.50 | 1,040 |
| Spicy Rigatoni Vodka | $17.95 – $21.95 | 1,080 |
| Evelyn's Favorite Pasta | $17.95 – $21.95 | 940 |
Lunch is not the only way to spend less here
If you are eating in the evening, the two levers left are the SkinnyLicious section, which is priced below the equivalent full-size dishes, and happy hour where the restaurant runs one. Neither is a coupon, and neither requires you to hunt for a code.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What time does lunch end at The Cheesecake Factory?
- Lunch pricing typically runs until late afternoon on weekdays, commonly around 5pm, and is not offered on weekends at most restaurants. Times are set locally, so confirm with your restaurant if you are cutting it fine.
- Is the lunch menu cheaper?
- Yes, substantially. Across 28 dishes offered at both lunch and dinner, the lunch price averages $5.76 lower for the same dish.
- Are lunch portions smaller?
- Yes. The lunch version of a dish is a smaller plate, and the calorie counts confirm it often 30 to 40 percent lower than the dinner portion of the same dish. You are paying less for less food, not getting a discount.
- Is the lunch menu available on weekends?
- Generally no. Weekends run the brunch menu in the morning and the full menu after. Lunch Favorites is a weekday programme at most locations.
- How many dishes are on the lunch menu?
- 39 items, priced $12.50 – $29.50. It covers pastas, salads, sandwiches, flatbreads and a selection of the main specialties.