The Cheesecake Factory: A Safe Haven for Vegetarians

Being a vegetarian can sometimes be frustrating when eating out, especially when the restaurant chosen-usually by a meat eater-offers nothing but a small green salad for those of us who do not feel comfortable dining on something that once grazed or swam.

Despite the number of restaurants that do little or nothing to accommodate their herbivore cliental, there is one restaurant that is a shining star when it comes to vegetarian options on it's menu-The Cheesecake Factory.

Anyone who has been to The Cheesecake Factory knows that the menu is practically a book containing pages and pages of scrumptious and innovative creations, not to mention the famous cheesecake. But there is something else to sink your teeth into-the abundance of vegetarian dishes available.

There are pizzas, quesadillas, sandwiches, salads, and pastas-all made without meat. Many of the dishes can also be made without cheese and still taste phenomenal.

Here are my personal favorites:

Grilled Portabella Sandwich- In my opinion, this is the very best item on the menu. I order it without the cheese, but it is still delicious, especially the spicy mayonnaise that it comes with. The caramelized onions on the sandwich melt in your mouth-even the bun it comes on is worth mentioning. Word to the wise- it is very messy to eat because there is so much on the sandwich. Ask for extra napkins.

Avocado Egg Rolls-I absolutely love these! They're made with avocado, cilantro, and sun-dried tomatoes and come with a cashew dipping sauce that is unbelievable! This dish is a favorite with meat eaters too!

Traditional Green Salad- This salad is anything but traditional. It comes with the usual salad basics on it, but it also has squash and zucchini slices. Plus, the vegetables are always fresh and the ranch dressing is delicious. Be sure to ask for extra dressing because, like everything else at The Cheesecake Factory, the salads are enormous too!

Thai Lettuce Wraps- Even though one of the ingredients is chicken, you can substitute it for extra of something else. The curry noodles are excellent and the peanut, cashew, and chili sauces that accompany the dish are great.