The Cheesecake Factory Receives Top Honors from Restaurants and Institutions Magazine's Annual Consumers' Choice in Chains Survey

Business Wire, August 19, 2008

CALABASAS HILLS, Calif. -- The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated (NASDAQ:CAKE) was honored last evening by Restaurants & Institutions as the Platinum award winner in the casual dining category.

More than 3,100 consumers were asked to rate nearly 120 chain restaurants in the magazine's annual Consumers' Choice in Chains survey across eight customer satisfaction attributes: food quality, menu variety, value, service, atmosphere, cleanliness, reputation and convenience. Now in its 28th year, the Restaurants & Institutions award is a highly coveted honor and is recognized as a measure of success and guest satisfaction by restaurant chains across the country.

"We are delighted to once again receive the Platinum award in the Consumers' Choice in Chains survey," said David Overton, Chairman and CEO. "We strive to provide our guests with an exceptional experience and receiving the top overall score in casual dining in a survey voted on by consumers tells us that our brand strategy is as relevant today as it was when our first restaurant opened 30 years ago. We have 33,000 staff members across the country dedicated to a spirit of excellence and quality, and this award comes as a result of their commitment to our Company and our guests."

About The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated

The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated created the upscale casual dining segment in 1978 with the introduction of its namesake concept and continues to define it today with the two highest productivity concepts in the industry. The Company operates 143 restaurants throughout the U.S. under The Cheesecake Factory[R] name with an extensive menu of more than 200 items and fiscal 2007 average annual unit sales of approximately $10.4 million. Grand Lux Cafe[R], the Company's second concept, has 13 units in operation across the U.S. offering a broad menu of more than 150 items and average annual unit sales of approximately $12.7 million in fiscal 2007. The Company also operates one unit of its newest concept, RockSugar Pan Asian Kitchen[TM], and two bakery production facilities in Calabasas Hills, CA and Rocky Mount, NC that produce over 60 varieties of quality cheesecakes and other baked products. Additionally, the Company licenses two bakery cafe outlets to another foodservice operator under The Cheesecake Factory Bakery Cafe[R] mark. For more information, please visit thecheesecakefactory.com.