Cheesecake Factory - I guess I don't get it!
Written: May 23 '03 (Updated Mar 03 '06)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Extensive menu
Cons: No children's menu, long waits, expensive yet average food
The Bottom Line: Mediocre food, long waits, no children's menu, rushed service. Why is this restaurant so popular?
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| modernmarvel's Full Review: Cheesecake Factory |
A few years ago I tried the Cheesecake Factory based on friend's raving recommendations. When we arrived, there was an hour and a half wait. The waiting area was crowded and the few seats were taken. We had arrived hungry so the long wait was almost unbearable. After our name was finally called, we were briskly escorted to our table. Our food was served efficiently. The food itself was only average to poor. Everything was greasy. Plus, they have a gimmick of stacking items one on top of the other. I had a salad layered in my dinner that had wilted from the heat of the entree and was disgusting. The bill was high for what we got and we swore never to return.
Three years later . . .
Cheesecake Factory remains extremely popular. A friend recommended that we go to the Newton, MA location and, my bad memories had begun to dim, so I agreed. A week later my daughter and I were in Providence, RI and it was the only restaurant we could find open at 10:30pm so we stopped in for dinner. The funny thing was, my most recent two experiences were exactly the same as the one three years before: long waits, expensive, yet mediocre food and efficient service.
UPON ARRIVAL
When you arrive, travel a few feet into the restaurant. You are greeted by an efficient hostess planted behind a high desk. A computer system ensures complete efficiency as the hostess takes your name, gives you an estimated wait time and issues a beeper. The beeper does not work outside the restaurant, so there is not a lot to occupy yourself with while you wait. There is a small waiting area that is usually crowded.
When your beeper goes off, head back to the hostess station. Don't expect a smile or warm welcome. The hostess will efficiently take your beeper and direct you to the staging area next to the hostess stand. There, another individual will take you to your seat and provide menus. Your server will show up very quickly to take your order.
MENU
Cheesecake Factory is famous for its extensive menu. The web site claims there are over 200 menu items. The flavors include American, Aisan, Mexican, Canjun, Southern and Italian. Menu categories include Appetizers (egg rolls, burritos, calamari, nachos), Pasta, Pizza, Seafood, Meat, Salads, Sandwiches, Brunch and Desserts. There is also a bar menu that pushes expensive mixed drinks.
I had the pad thai on my first visit. The noodles were orange and swimming in oil. The dish had almost no flavor and was really awful. The lunch portion cost around $9 and I could have gone to almost any Thai restaurant and gotten better food at a cheaper price. On my second visit, I had Miso Salmon. The portion was rather small considering the dish cost around $15. The salmon was stacked on top of a pile of rice and had a salty, yet not miso-flavored, coating. It was really just average. My daughter had a $9 cheese pizza that was fine, but not inspired. My ice tea was unsweetened but has a peach flavor.
Cheesecake Factory started off selling cheesecakes and they have a huge selection as well as other desserts. We didn't try the cheesecakes.
SERVICE
The service, like everything else as Cheesecake Factory, is efficient rather than friendly. They may be friendly, but only if it is efficient to do so. They take the order quickly and with accuracy. The food comes other rather quickly. There is no small talk. The bill efficiently arrives during the last course so you can settle up, well, efficiently. Bottom line: the more times they turn the table, the more money they make. They know this and it shows.
DECOR
The decor is a weird mix of 90's faux finishing and ancient Egyptian symbols. The walls are painted in an orange-yellow sponge painted effect. There are Egyptian symbols on the walls. The booths and woodwork are dark cherry wood. There are art glass inserts and lamps around the restaurant.
The layout is designed to hide the fact that the restaurant is huge by creating several levels and twists and turns. There are both tables and booths. The Providence, RI location had a smoking section. The Newton, MA location did not.
AMBIANCE
The overall feel of the restaurant is casual despite the decor. You will feel comfortable in jeans or dressed-up slightly more. Patrons range from 20-somethings on dates to families to groups of friends.
KID FRIENDLINESS
They have high chairs. The Newton, MA location is mobbed with kids most of the time. They don't have a children's menu. They suggest that you purchase something from the Appetizer list for children. I bought my 3 year old the mini-burgers called Road Side Sliders, which at $7.95 were a lot more expensive than most children's menus at other restaurants. The burgers were greasy, had no french fries or other side dishes and did not come with a drink or dessert. I bought a side dish of french fries for $2.95. The french fries looked like McDonald's fries and were just as greasy but had less flavor. We got a lot of fries and my 3 year old couldn't finish them.
The noise level in the restaurant is high so it would probably drown out any noise your children make. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this restaurant for younger children because there is not much on the menu for them.
WEB SITE
The web site is www.cheesecakefactory.com. There is a full menu on the web site and a listing of their locations.
OTHER INFORMATION
They have a full bar. They take credit cards. They sell logo merchandise including t-shirts, enamel pins and beanie baby copies. You can buy whole cheesecakes to take home or ship them to friends.
FINAL RECOMMENDATION
I don't think we will go back. I don't like long waits for restaurants generally. Plus, the food here is really not that good and it is expensive. Maybe in another three years . . .
HUNGRY FOR MORE? TRY THESE BOSTON-AREA RESTAURANTS:
BOSTON: Radius; Caffe Vitoria; Excelsior; Jacob Wirth; Cottonwood Cafe; Imperial Seafood House; Sibling Rivalry; Fleming’s; 29 Newbury.
BROOKLINE: Mr. Sushi; Fugakyu; Takeshima; Tsunami; Anna's Taqueria; Zaftigs Delicatessen; Bangkok Bistro; Golden Temple.
NEWTON: Appetito; India Paradise; Blue Ribbon Barbeque; Ice Cream Works; Baker's Best; Bill’s Pizzeria; Cafe Nicolas; Union Street; O’Hara’s; Yeradi’s; Johnny’s Luchonette.
CAMBRIDGE: S&S Restaurant; The Japanese Mall; Jasper White’s Summer Shack; Dali .
WEST ROXBURY: Cafe Misono.
BRIGHTON: Tasca.
FRAMINGHAM: The Aegean.
ESSEX: Woodman’s.
SAUGUS: Kowloon; Hilltop Steakhouse.
CHAIN RESTAURANTS: Not Your Average Joe’s; Bertucci’s; Legal Sea Foods; Rainforest Cafe; Fire & Ice; Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse; Friendly’s; Ikea Cafeteria; Longhorn Steakhouse.
COFFEE, BAGELS AND DONUTS: Bruegger’s Bagels; Finagle a Bagel; Dunkin Donuts; Peet’s Coffee and Tea.
Recommended:
No
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modernmarvel
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