I’ve always enjoyed cheesecake, despite its incredibly high calorie count, a slice of which can be anything from 300 to over 1000 calories! So after a disappointing cheesecake experience at a new venue in town, memories of how good the desserts were at ‘The Cheesecake Factory’ came flooding back to me. With this in mind, I thought it was about time to pay them a visit again.
Most people who have lived in Jeddah for more than a few years and are familiar with Tahlia Street should know of the Cheesecake Factory. This American franchise specializes almost exclusively in the delicious (but calorific) dessert.
Set next to Barnies the Tahlia branch of the Cheesecake factory is a smallish venue, however the size of the venue is really not an issue, as few people tend to eat in, as with most patisseries in Jeddah, takeout is the name of the game. Another branch exists in the Red Sea Mall.
There’s a huge range to choose from, and if you don’t fancy gorging on a whole cake, you can simply order a single slice, but at 18 SAR per piece, you may want to watch how much you eat! There’s a small seating area upstairs for those who wish to eat in. Coffee and other hot drinks are also available.
We went for a selection of the available cakes, and purchased individual slices of blueberry, strawberry, chocolate mousse, peanut butter, chocolate fudge brownie, and original cheesecake. Of these the strawberry and original were the best of the bunch, however take note! There’s only so much cheesecake you can eat before feeling rather bloated! So be sure to have milk and sauce on hand!
We started with the cheesecake topped with a glazed fresh strawberry compote, sheer luxury, a smooth and creamy mix atop a soft biscuit base, the ‘compote’ complimenting the cheesecake perfectly, if only they sold it by the jar!
The peanut butter cheesecake in contrast was pretty overpowering, as it is caked (literally) in peanut butter, so it’s quite a sugar shock! As for the chocolate mousse cheesecake, this silky rendition highlights the chef’s (or factory’s) love affair with chocolate!
There are plenty of other flavors we didn’t manage to try and for those looking for a slightly lighter option, a moist carrot cake is also available, with a cream cheese frosting, and the icing alone is delicious!
However, weightwatchers take note! According to the Cheesecake Factory Nutritional Booklet, (which was released on request due to a new restaurant nutrition and calorie facts disclosure law in Washington State in the US), a slice of original cheesecake contains about 700 calories, and the peanut butter cheesecake is listed at over 1300 calories! So tread lightly!
Location: Tahlia Street & Red Sea Mall
Opening Times: 9.30 am to 12am / Thu 9.30 am — 1 am/ Fri 1pm — 12am
Average Price: 18 SR per Slice / Cakes + 100 SR
