Calorie Counting 

Seeing How It All Adds Up in the Gables’ Chain Restaurants 

We all must eat. And for some of us, that task is a favorite pastime, especially dining out. The problem is that most of us eat too much, or at least too many calories. 

In 2014, the FDA established the “Menu Labeling Final Rule,” which requires that food establishments that are part of a chain of 20 or more locations must provide nutritional disclosure for each menu item. Specifically, they must list the number of calories in each dish. The objective is to provide the consumer with the information they need to make healthy eating choices. 

We decided to venture to three Coral Gables chain restaurants to see just how many calories they were serving up: The Cheesecake Factory, Seasons 52, and the Yard House. To put the calorie counts in context, keep in mind that the FDA-recommended daily intake is 2,000 calories for women and 2,500 calories for men – though this can vary depending on age, height, metabolism, and lifestyle, among other things. 

To say the least, we were shocked with how high someof the calorie counts were. At the Cheesecake Factory, they have made a conscious effort to offer a “Skinnylicious” menu. The oversized Asian Chicken Salad is just 590 calories, for example. But this is cheesecake central, and most slices of those delicious desserts come in at well over 1,000 calories. The Godiva chocolate cheesecake tips the scales at 1,760, almost a day’s worth for you ladies. The fried shrimp platter, at 1,920 calories, is also almost a day’s worth, while the pasta Napolentana hits it for men at 2,480 calories. And then there is the Italian Trio, which consists of Chicken Parmesan, Lasagna, and Linguini Alfredo. At 2,800 calories, you’ll need to fast for the rest of the day. 

On the other hand, if you’re looking to make lighter choices, Seasons 52 provides just that. Their delicious Cedar Plank Salmon is 600 calories, and not one single menu item exceeds this count, not even the adorable mini portioned desserts. Other entrée items include the Caramelized Grilled Scallops for 460 and a rotisserie half chicken with wild rice and green beans at 590. Their flat breads range from 410 to 580 calories. Even their Wood-Grilled Steak Tacos are just 540 calories, less than one third the calories of that slice of chocolate cheesecake. 

Yard House, the last place we visited, had a widespread of caloric intake numbers. If you want to go big, you can order the beer-battered fish & chips with 2,000 calories. You can also cut that in half with a plain hamburger for 1,030 calories. Or you can go lighter still, and get the Steak Bowl at just 560, or the Cobb Salad smaller portion at 410 calories. 

We asked our waitresses which dishes were more popular, and guess what, they were usually those with the highest calories. At the endof the day (or the night) it’sup to us to make friends with calories, by watching what and how much we eat. But it seems that for most customers, being informed of the calorie intake makes little difference in their choices.