Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen serves large portions of scratch-cooked comfort food, from steaks and ribs to pasta and seafood. Prices stay built for a family meal out, not just a quick bite. Honey Butter Croissants land at the table before the rest of the order, a signature nearly as old as the chain itself. Chicken, seafood, burgers and homestyle sides round out a menu built around in-house prep rather than reheated, pre-made components.
The chain traces back to a single Arlington, Texas storefront, opened decades before Darden Restaurants brought it into a much larger portfolio. That growth still continues today. Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen’s own history, from that first counter to its current footprint, fills the section below.
Cheddar’s History
Aubrey Good and Doug Rogers opened the first Cheddar’s in Arlington, Texas, in 1979. A local fifth-grade class supplied the name, after the founders polled students for ideas. Cheddar’s Casual Cafe carried that concept for decades, built around large portions and low prices. Franchising followed not long after.
Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen took its current name in 2015, spotlighting a from-scratch cooking philosophy the company says dates back to its 1979 opening. Kitchens run roughly 3,500 square feet with close to double the cook staff found on a typical casual-dining line. Honey Butter Croissants, brushed warm at the table, became the chain’s best-known item along the way. Darden Restaurants bought Cheddar’s in 2017 for $780 million.
Mark Cooper leads Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen today, part of the Darden Restaurants portfolio since April 2017. The chain has grown to 188 restaurants across 28 states since that first Arlington storefront. Texas carries the largest share of locations, followed by Florida and Tennessee. Guests still find the same honey butter croissants that opened the first Cheddar’s decades ago.
Cheddar’s Menus & Details
Two pages carry the detail below, covering the printed menu with prices and the declared allergens behind every dish.
Cheddar’s Menu Prices
Family Bundles, steaks, seafood and homestyle sides all carry one calorie count and one price apiece. The Cheddar’s Menu Prices page lists every section in full.
Cheddar’s Allergen Menu
Ten allergens turn up across the Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen board, from the fryer to the pasta station. The Cheddar’s Allergen Menu covers every item’s declared list.