We Tasted Cheesecake Factory’s New Menu—And This Is Hands Down the Perfect Order

Want to feel like you’re on vacation, even if you’re in the middle of a mall in New Jersey? (Or, in our case, a conference room in the middle of the work day?) Order this non-alcoholic, surprisingly Instagrammable drink, which takes on a magenta-ish hue, thanks to its combination of citrus, pomegranate and pineapple juices. It’s on the sweeter side, but not cloyingly so, earning rave reviews for its crisp, tropical flavor.

I know, I know—I’m telling you to order a salad when there are dishes like Cajun Salmon and creamy, Italian Sausage and Fresh Mushroom Rigatoni on the menu. I’m as surprised as you are, but our team couldn’t get enough of this salad’s fresh flavors. It’s by no means diet food—the dish will set you back 930 calories—but that’s not what we’re here for anyway. It boasts major flavor and crunch, thanks to the combo of fire-roasted corn, jicama, diced onion, white beans, pepitas and avocado, all tossed with mixed greens and coated with a chile-lime vinaigrette and Cotija cheese.

You can choose to get it topped with a protein, like steak, shrimp, chicken or salmon, though we loved it as is. It’s zesty and refreshing, with a little creaminess from the beans and avocado, making it a nice palate cleanser before dessert.

Personally, I’m a Cookie Dough Lover’s Cheesecake with Pecans stan, but that’s just because I love gobs of cookie dough and feeling vaguely rebellious (“yes, Mom, I am eating cookie dough!”) in a completely nonthreatening way (“yes, Mom, it is safe to consume…”). But the votes won out, and by and large, people went wild for the Oreo Dream Extreme Cheesecake.

It’s been around for a few years, though we felt the need to call it out from the sea of cheesecake options because it’s that good. “I don’t even like Oreos and I can’t stop eating it,” one PureWow editor confessed. It starts with a layer of decadent, Bruce Bogtrotter-worthy chocolate cake, topped with a fudgy layer of whipped ganache, then cheesecake studded with whole Oreos—that soften in the cheesecake like Nilla wafers in banana pudding—and it doesn’t stop there. The whole thing’s topped with cookies and cream mouse and gilded with ganache. You might need to take breaks between bites, it’s so rich, and you’ll definitely want to share.

If you’re not sold on our perfect order (fiiine), here are some other menu items worth considering:

• Loaded Mashed Potato Omelette — Oh, you thought The Bear’s potato chip-topped omelette was a surprising mashup? Cheesecake Factory one-ups the show with a fluffy egg pocket filled with mashed potatoes, bacon, grilled onions and Monterey Jack cheese.
• Bistro Burger — Ketchup and mustard is fine, until you top a patty with bacon, caramelized onions, arugula, steak sauce and garlic aioli.
• Spicy Cashew Chicken — If you prefer dishes with a little kick, look no further. Spicy, crispy chicken is served on a bed of rice with snow peas, mushrooms, green onions, roasted cashews and a dusting of sesame seeds.