Some longtime fans of The Cheesecake Factory say the popular chain is serving up smaller portions without lowering prices. Loyal customers have taken to Reddit to call out what they believe is another case of “shrinkflation.” The term refers to when products or portions get smaller, but the cost stays the same—or even rises.
The Cheesecake Factory, known for its massive menu and large servings, has over 200 locations nationwide. But several customers in a Reddit group dedicated to the restaurant claim something has changed. A user posted a photo of a cheesecake slice in a to-go box and said it looked about half the usual size. Others quickly chimed in with similar complaints.
“The last couple of times I got a slice of cheesecake it was about half the size of the usual slice,” the original post said. The user added that past comments suggested machine misalignment might be to blame. “Have others continued to experience smaller slices? What is more disturbing is that the calories per slice listed on their website have not changed, which would make one assume they should be getting the same size of slices.”
That concern hit a nerve with the group’s 4,000 members. Dozens of replies echoed the sentiment, with one Redditor claiming, “The cheesecakes used to have 8 slices in each. Now it’s 12 slices for each.” Another agreed, adding, “And of course the price has only gone up.”
Many said the change wasn’t recent. “If memory serves, I think the slices got smaller years ago,” one commenter wrote. Another user shared, “Yes!! A month ago, I was SHOCKED at the size of the to-go slices we were handed at the counter.” Several people remembered when one slice could be shared between two people. Now, they say, it’s just a few bites.
Others in the thread speculated about ingredient costs. One baker explained that cheesecake, while simple to bake, is expensive because of how much cream cheese it requires. “I bake a lot and cheesecake is actually one of the simpler things to bake well so long as you follow instructions,” they wrote. “It is essentially cream cheese and you need a lot of it.”
This isn’t the first food chain to face shrinkflation claims. PepsiCo dealt with similar backlash last year and eventually added more chips to its bags. Their CEO admitted that inflation and rising borrowing costs were affecting consumer behavior and business decisions.
The Cheesecake Factory, which opened its first restaurant in Beverly Hills back in 1978, hasn’t responded publicly to the Reddit thread. But with more customers noticing the change, it may not stay quiet for long.