The Cheesecake Factory debuts low-cal menuThe Cheesecake Factory debuts low-cal menu

Lisa Jennings

The Cheesecake Factory Inc. on Monday announced the roll-out of a new “SkinnyLicious” menu of dishes each with 590 calories or less.

The new line, to debut August 9, includes nearly 50 options on a standalone menu that appears alongside its regular options.

Guests can select from the Small Plates and Appetizers and Flatbreads categories featuring dishes under 490 calories. Entrée salads and main course meals are each 590 calories or less, and a menu of Skinny Cocktails are 150 calories or less.

Among new SkinnyLicious dishes are a Mexican Tortilla Salad, a hamburger and Tuscan Chicken. The menu also includes existing low-calorie Cheesecake Factory items, such as beets with goat cheese, chicken pot stickers and Asian chicken salad.

David Overton, chief executive of the Cheesecake Factory, said the goal was to “deliver an exceptional dining experience to our calorie-conscious guests, without compromising the delicious taste that people have come to expect.”

The chain has long been known for its hearty portions and rich dishes that have become the target of nutrition advocates.

The Washington, D.C.-based Center for Science in the Public Interest gave the Cheesecake Factory two “Xtreme Eating Awards” last month for high-calorie menu items: The Farmhouse Cheeseburger topped with grilled smoked pork belly, cheese, mayo and a fried egg at 1,530 calories, 36 grams of saturated fat and 3,210 milligrams of sodium; and the Ultimate Red Velvet Cake Cheesecake with 1,540 calories and 59 grams of saturated fat.

When asked during an earnings call last month about the chain’s plan to address the upcoming menu labeling mandate, Overton said some Cheesecake Factory locations were already posting calories in jurisdictions where it is required.

The disclosure, however, did not appear to change consumer behavior, Overton said.

“Desserts have stayed strong. [Customers] haven’t even moved around the menu,” he told analysts. “We feel when people go out to eat, it’s very celebratory and they’re eating foods they enjoy. At home, they will eat more low-cal foods.”

Still, the Cheesecake Factory joins a growing number of casual-dining chains that have established low-calorie menus in addition to more indulgent offerings.

BJ’s Restaurants Inc. this spring added a line of lower-calorie Enlightened Entrees, which officials have described as very popular. And California Pizza Kitchen this summer upgraded its menu to include more healthful and low-calorie options.

Calabasas Hills, Calif.-based The Cheesecake Factory Inc. operates 151 namesake restaurants, as well as 13 under the Grand Lux Café brand, and one RockSugar Pan Asian Kitchen.

Contact Lisa Jennings at [email protected].
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