Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	6 Months Ended
Jul. 02, 2019
Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation	Basis of Presentation The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated and its wholly owned subsidiaries (referred to herein collectively as the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our”) and are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). All intercompany accounts and transactions for the periods presented have been eliminated in consolidation. The unaudited financial statements presented herein include all material adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for the fair statement of the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows for the period. However, these results are not necessarily indicative of results that may be achieved for any other interim period or for the full fiscal year. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been omitted pursuant to the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 1, 2019 filed with the SEC on March 4, 2019 (“fiscal 2018 10-K”). We utilize a 52/53-week fiscal year ending on the Tuesday closest to December 31 for financial reporting purposes. Fiscal 2019 consists of 52 weeks and will end on December 31, 2019. Fiscal 2018, which ended on January 1, 2019, was also a 52-week year. Beginning with our fiscal 2018 10-K, we separately disclosed our investments in unconsolidated affiliates on the consolidated balance sheet and our related share of losses on the consolidated statement of income and statement of cash flow. Corresponding balances for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended July 2, 2018 were reclassified to conform to the current presentation. Beginning with our fiscal 2018 10-K, we corrected an error in our consolidated statements of income by reclassifying complimentary meals out of revenue and other operating expenses. We also reclassified the associated cost of complimentary meals from other operating expenses to cost of sales and labor. The reclassifications had no impact on previously reported income from operations or net income. Corresponding balances for the first two fiscal quarters of 2018 were reclassified to conform to the current presentation.
Use of Estimates	Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions for the reporting periods covered by the financial statements. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and the disclosure of contingent liabilities. Actual results could differ from these estimates.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	Recent Accounting Pronouncements We adopted FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 842, “Leases,” as of January 2, 2019, using the alternative transition method and recorded a cumulative effect adjustment to beginning retained earnings without restating prior periods. We elected the package of practical expedients which allowed us to carry forward our historical lease classification, our assessment of whether a contract is or contains a lease and our initial direct costs for any leases that existed prior to adoption of the new standard. In addition, we elected the hindsight practical expedient, which lengthened the lease term for certain of our leases to include renewal options, and the short-term lease exclusion. Adoption of the new standard resulted in the recognition of operating lease assets and liabilities of $975.1 million and $1,045.4 million, respectively, and a reduction to retained earnings of $41.5 million, net of tax. All prior lease-related balances of $39.2 million of prepaid rent, $140.2 million in property and equipment, net, $6.2 million of intangible assets, net, $82.1 million of deferred rent liabilities and $118.7 million of deemed landlord financing have been reclassified into operating lease assets or eliminated upon ASC 842 adoption.
Leases	Leases We currently lease all our restaurant locations, generally with initial terms of 20 years plus two five-year renewal options. Our leases typically require contingent rent above the minimum base rent payments based on a percentage of revenues, have escalating minimum rent requirements over the term of the lease and require payment for various expenses incidental to the use of the property. A majority of our leases provide for a reduced level of overall rent obligation should specified co-tenancy requirements not be satisfied. We expend cash for leasehold improvements and furniture, fixtures, and equipment to build out and equip our leased premises. We may also expend cash for structural additions that we make to leased premises. Generally, a portion of the leasehold improvements and building costs are reimbursed to us by our landlords as construction contributions. If obtained, landlord construction contributions usually take the form of up-front cash, full or partial credits against our future minimum or percentage rents, or a combination thereof. We do not meet any of the accounting criteria for being the owner of the asset under construction. Many of our leases provide early termination rights permitting us to terminate the lease prior to expiration in the event our revenues are below a stated level for a period of time, generally conditioned upon repayment of the unamortized landlord contributions. In addition to leases for our restaurant locations, we also lease automobiles and certain equipment that is used in the restaurants, bakeries and corporate office. The automobile leases are the only non-real estate leases included in our operating lease assets and liabilities. All other leases are immaterial or qualify for the short-term lease exclusion. The assessment of whether a contract is or contains a lease is performed at contract inception. A lease is defined as a contract that conveys the right to control the use of an identified asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration. Control is defined as having both the right to obtain substantially all the economic benefits from the use of the asset and to direct how and for what purpose the asset is used. At lease commencement, we evaluate each lease to determine its appropriate classification as an operating or finance lease. All our restaurant and automobile leases are classified as operating leases. For restaurant leases existing at transition, we will continue to apply our historical practice of excluding executory costs, and only minimum base rent will be factored into the initial operating lease liability and corresponding lease asset. For restaurant leases beginning after adoption of ASC 842, we have elected the single lease component practical expedient. Operating lease assets and liabilities are recorded on the balance sheet at lease commencement based on the present value of minimum base rent and other fixed payments over the reasonably certain lease term. The difference between the amounts we expend for structural costs and the construction contributions received from our landlords is recorded as an adjustment to the operating lease asset. Lease terms include the build-out period for our leases where no rent payments are typically due under the terms of the lease, as well as options to renew when we deem we have significant economic incentive to exercise the extension. When determining if we have a significant economic incentive, we consider relevant factors, such as contractual, asset, entity and market-based considerations. Option periods are included in the lease term for the majority of our leases. Termination rights have not been factored into the lease terms since based on our probability assessment we are reasonably certain we will not terminate our leases. We cannot determine the interest rate implicit in our leases because we do not have access to the lessor's estimated residual value or the amount of the lessor's deferred initial direct costs. Therefore, we use our incremental borrowing rate as the discount rate for our leases. Our incremental borrowing rate for a lease is the rate of interest we would have to pay on a collateralized basis to borrow an amount equal to the lease payments under similar terms. Because we do not generally borrow on a collateralized basis, we derive an appropriate incremental borrowing rate using the interest rate we pay on our non-collateralized borrowings, adjusted for the amount of the lease payments, the lease term and the effect of designating specific collateral with a value equal to the unpaid lease payments for that lease. We apply the incremental borrowing rate on a portfolio basis given the impact of applying it on a lease by lease basis would be immaterial. We monitor for events or changes in circumstances that require reassessment of our leases. When a reassessment results in the re-measurement of a lease liability, a corresponding adjustment is made to the carrying amount of the operating lease asset. We also assess the potential impairment of our operating lease assets under long-lived asset impairment guidance in ASC 360. Rent expense included in our operating lease assets is recognized on a straight-line basis. Contingent rent expense is recorded as incurred to the extent it exceeds minimum base rent per the lease agreement. Other variable rent expense is recognized as incurred. The reasonably certain lease term and the incremental borrowing rate for each restaurant location require judgment by management and can impact the classification and accounting for a lease as operating or finance, as well as the value of the operating lease asset and liability. These judgments may produce materially different amounts of rent expense than would be reported if different assumptions were used.

Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jul. 02, 2019

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated and its wholly owned subsidiaries (referred to herein collectively as the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our”) and are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). All intercompany accounts and transactions for the periods presented have been eliminated in consolidation. The unaudited financial statements presented herein include all material adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for the fair statement of the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows for the period. However, these results are not necessarily indicative of results that may be achieved for any other interim period or for the full fiscal year. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been omitted pursuant to the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 1, 2019 filed with the SEC on March 4, 2019 (“fiscal 2018 10-K”).

We utilize a 52/53-week fiscal year ending on the Tuesday closest to December 31 for financial reporting purposes. Fiscal 2019 consists of 52 weeks and will end on December 31, 2019. Fiscal 2018, which ended on January 1, 2019, was also a 52-week year.

Beginning with our fiscal 2018 10-K, we separately disclosed our investments in unconsolidated affiliates on the consolidated balance sheet and our related share of losses on the consolidated statement of income and statement of cash flow. Corresponding balances for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended July 2, 2018 were reclassified to conform to the current presentation.

Beginning with our fiscal 2018 10-K, we corrected an error in our consolidated statements of income by reclassifying complimentary meals out of revenue and other operating expenses. We also reclassified the associated cost of complimentary meals from other operating expenses to cost of sales and labor. The reclassifications had no impact on previously reported income from operations or net income. Corresponding balances for the first two fiscal quarters of 2018 were reclassified to conform to the current presentation.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions for the reporting periods covered by the financial statements. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and the disclosure of contingent liabilities. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

We adopted FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 842, “Leases,” as of January 2, 2019, using the alternative transition method and recorded a cumulative effect adjustment to beginning retained earnings without restating prior periods. We elected the package of practical expedients which allowed us to carry forward our historical lease classification, our assessment of whether a contract is or contains a lease and our initial direct costs for any leases that existed prior to adoption of the new standard. In addition, we elected the hindsight practical expedient, which lengthened the lease term for certain of our leases to include renewal options, and the short-term lease exclusion. Adoption of the new standard resulted in the recognition of operating lease assets and liabilities of $975.1 million and $1,045.4 million, respectively, and a reduction to retained earnings of $41.5 million, net of tax. All prior lease-related balances of $39.2 million of prepaid rent, $140.2 million in property and equipment, net, $6.2 million of intangible assets, net, $82.1 million of deferred rent liabilities and $118.7 million of deemed landlord financing have been reclassified into operating lease assets or eliminated upon ASC 842 adoption.

Leases

Leases

We currently lease all our restaurant locations, generally with initial terms of 20 years plus two five-year renewal options. Our leases typically require contingent rent above the minimum base rent payments based on a percentage of revenues, have escalating minimum rent requirements over the term of the lease and require payment for various expenses incidental to the use of the property. A majority of our leases provide for a reduced level of overall rent obligation should specified co-tenancy requirements not be satisfied. We expend cash for leasehold improvements and furniture, fixtures, and equipment to build out and equip our leased premises. We may also expend cash for structural additions that we make to leased premises. Generally, a portion of the leasehold improvements and building costs are reimbursed to us by our landlords as construction contributions. If obtained, landlord construction contributions usually take the form of up-front cash, full or partial credits against our future minimum or percentage rents, or a combination thereof. We do not meet any of the accounting criteria for being the owner of the asset under construction. Many of our leases provide early termination rights permitting us to terminate the lease prior to expiration in the event our revenues are below a stated level for a period of time, generally conditioned upon repayment of the unamortized landlord contributions.

In addition to leases for our restaurant locations, we also lease automobiles and certain equipment that is used in the restaurants, bakeries and corporate office. The automobile leases are the only non-real estate leases included in our operating lease assets and liabilities. All other leases are immaterial or qualify for the short-term lease exclusion.

The assessment of whether a contract is or contains a lease is performed at contract inception. A lease is defined as a contract that conveys the right to control the use of an identified asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration. Control is defined as having both the right to obtain substantially all the economic benefits from the use of the asset and to direct how and for what purpose the asset is used.

At lease commencement, we evaluate each lease to determine its appropriate classification as an operating or finance lease. All our restaurant and automobile leases are classified as operating leases. For restaurant leases existing at transition, we will continue to apply our historical practice of excluding executory costs, and only minimum base rent will be factored into the initial operating lease liability and corresponding lease asset. For restaurant leases beginning after adoption of ASC 842, we have elected the single lease component practical expedient. Operating lease assets and liabilities are recorded on the balance sheet at lease commencement based on the present value of minimum base rent and other fixed payments over the reasonably certain lease term. The difference between the amounts we expend for structural costs and the construction contributions received from our landlords is recorded as an adjustment to the operating lease asset. Lease terms include the build-out period for our leases where no rent payments are typically due under the terms of the lease, as well as options to renew when we deem we have significant economic incentive to exercise the extension. When determining if we have a significant economic incentive, we consider relevant factors, such as contractual, asset, entity and market-based considerations. Option periods are included in the lease term for the majority of our leases. Termination rights have not been factored into the lease terms since based on our probability assessment we are reasonably certain we will not terminate our leases.

We cannot determine the interest rate implicit in our leases because we do not have access to the lessor's estimated residual value or the amount of the lessor's deferred initial direct costs. Therefore, we use our incremental borrowing rate as the discount rate for our leases. Our incremental borrowing rate for a lease is the rate of interest we would have to pay on a collateralized basis to borrow an amount equal to the lease payments under similar terms. Because we do not generally borrow on a collateralized basis, we derive an appropriate incremental borrowing rate using the interest rate we pay on our non-collateralized borrowings, adjusted for the amount of the lease payments, the lease term and the effect of designating specific collateral with a value equal to the unpaid lease payments for that lease. We apply the incremental borrowing rate on a portfolio basis given the impact of applying it on a lease by lease basis would be immaterial.

We monitor for events or changes in circumstances that require reassessment of our leases. When a reassessment results in the re-measurement of a lease liability, a corresponding adjustment is made to the carrying amount of the operating lease asset. We also assess the potential impairment of our operating lease assets under long-lived asset impairment guidance in ASC 360.

Rent expense included in our operating lease assets is recognized on a straight-line basis. Contingent rent expense is recorded as incurred to the extent it exceeds minimum base rent per the lease agreement. Other variable rent expense is recognized as incurred. The reasonably certain lease term and the incremental borrowing rate for each restaurant location require judgment by management and can impact the classification and accounting for a lease as operating or finance, as well as the value of the operating lease asset and liability. These judgments may produce materially different amounts of rent expense than would be reported if different assumptions were used.