What You Need To Know About The Cheesecake Factory Dress Code Before Dining In

Dining in at The Cheesecake Factory is a delectably decadent American experience. From the enormous menu to the wackily excessive interior design, the restaurant chain is wonderfully over-the-top in every way. However, one of the many things you should know before eating at The Cheesecake Factory is how you're expected to dress. Extravagantly decorated Cheesecake Factories certainly have a fancy feel, but how formally are customers really supposed to dress?

According to the chain's Frequently Asked Questions page, The Cheesecake Factory is an "upscale, casual dining restaurant." The restaurant also shared this: "Be comfortable and feel free to come as you are!" This is decidedly vague, but upscale casual can be interpreted as refined yet relaxed everyday attire, the sort of thing you might wear to an informal get-together with friends and family. In other words, you can wear jeans and a t-shirt as long as they're clean and presentable, but it's probably best to leave the sweatpants, flip-flops, and stained shirts at home. The Cheesecake Factory website also notes that the most important thing is to come hungry, which is solid advice considering that the chain offers over 30 decadent varieties of its namesake dessert.

It's safe to say The Cheesecake Factory isn't going to kick paying customers out for wearing tank tops and cut-offs, but some chain dining establishments are stricter when it comes to proper attire. For example, you should know The Capital Grille has a dress code, and the overpriced steakhouse chain once refused to serve former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms for wearing leggings. Still, the reality is that adhering to strict dress codes is largely a restaurant behavior that has faded away, and they're increasingly criticized for being classist, racist, and sexist.

No matter how you feel about restaurant dress codes, the truth is that proper attire is not too much of a concern at The Cheesecake Factory. As long as you wear clean clothes and come hungry, you should be good to go. On the other hand, while there's no need to wear evening gowns or tuxedos, you should certainly feel free to dress up a bit if you like. Most importantly, don't overthink it, because The Cheesecake Factory's ridiculously large menu is overwhelming enough. Now that you know how to dress for success at The Cheesecake Factory, plan your order like a pro with the best and worst Cheesecake Factory menu items.