3 chains soar in Q3, plus Cheesecake Factory has a big week and more restaurant news

Extra Serving: A restaurant industry podcast · Nov 2, 2026 · 1h

On this week's Extra Serving, NRN editor in chief Sam Oches and executive editor Alicia Kelso discuss the latest restaurant industry news, including Cheesecake Factory’s big results and bright spotlight, three chains that smashed the third quarter out of the park, and two shareholders’ attempted takeover of Wendy’s.

First up is Cheesecake Factory, which unexpectedly found itself at the center of controversy last week after former President Obama made comments comparing the chain unfavorably to changes that President Trump has made to the White House. This came right after the casual-dining…