Which Chicago company makes Eli's Original Plain Cheesecake?

Eli’s Cheesecake makes Eli’s Original Plain Cheesecake.

The Chicago company grew out of restaurateur Eli Schulman’s restaurants. During the late 1970s, Schulman developed the original plain cheesecake as a signature dessert for Eli’s The Place for Steak. It became closely associated with Chicago dining and later with the city’s Taste of Chicago festival.

Eli’s Cheesecake Company formed soon after the first Taste of Chicago in 1980. The Original Plain variety uses cream cheese, sour cream, eggs, sugar, and vanilla on a butter shortbread-cookie crust. That makes it distinct from brands such as Sara Lee and from New York establishments such as Lindy’s and Junior’s, all of which are separate cheesecake names.

Eli’s now produces many flavors and other desserts, but the plain cheesecake remains its foundational product. The company’s Chicago identity is central to its branding, even though its products are shipped widely beyond Illinois.