pellmell Just like Olive Garden, it's popular with senior citizens. If you like food avoid it like the plague.
I'm 63 so maybe that's why I like both the Olive Garden and Cheesecake Factory. π You can't beat the Olive Garden for lunch.
The all you can eat soup and salad is a great deal ($8.99) and the Meatball breadstick sandwich with fries and all you can eat soup or salad can't be beat for $6.99. I like the Zuppa Toscana (potato, sausage and kale) soup myself.
As for the Cheesecake Factory. Typically the larger the menu the worse the food. Cheesecake is the exception. They do everything well IMO. I consider both Olive Garden and Cheesecake Factory decent chain restaurants. Good value and good food.
Disclaimer. I live in Florida which just might be the capital of chain restaurants. BTW my favorite chain steakhouse is Longhorn. You name it we probably have it here in the Sunshine state.