The CHEESECAKE FACTORY,......Who cut the Cheese?
Written: Sep 26 '03 (Updated Oct 11 '05)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Excellent value of diverse offerings
Cons: Terribly long waits to get in.
The Bottom Line: The value is a draw but there are many negatives. I won't go unless my wife pulls the ring on my nose.
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| popsrocks's Full Review: Cheesecake Factory |
I have been to only one of the over seventy Cheesecake factory restaurants in the USA. I've been to this one three of four times. Each time I go it takes me about an hour to remember why I go.
IN A NUTSHELL
-The wait is too long.
-The pagers don't work outside the restaurant.
-The noise level is terrible.
-The waiting area is the traffic area for everyone buying cheesecake at the counter, going to and from the restrooms, and food dishes going from the kitchen to the tables. It's crowded, claustrophobic, and uncomfortable because you are constantly being asked to move out of the way of someone.
-The food that is prepared to go to the tables are under heat lamps that are open to the public who are always putting their noses a bit closer to get a look at the fare coming out.
-The service is good and the help is relatively friendly.
-The menu is quite varied and excellent. The prices make the dishes a great value.
-And the cheesecake. Well it's the most varied!
The SET UP
Living on Long Island the closest one to me is in Westbury. It's a beautifully decorated place that take up two floors, has two bars, a wide spiral staircase and an elevator. It is part of a shopping mall with many fine stores and shops that could be of interest while waiting. The restrooms, that are clean and well stocked, are only on the first floor while most of the seating is on the second. The cheesecake displays and sales area is also on the second floor. This is where most of the traffic is. And believe me, there is a lot of it.
You give your name upstairs and a pager is handed to you. We have been to this restaurant at different times of day for lunch and dinner. Most recently we arrived at 8:30PM on a Tuesday night. We were told of a half our wait. We also wanted a booth rather than a table. They are much quieter. The wait we were told would be another fifteen minutes or so.
We were willing to wait. Unfortunately, the pagers, we were told, do not work outside of the restaurant. That kills the option we have of window shopping. That really is a shame because there is so much just outside the doors of the restaurant.
KILLING TIME
There is a bar where you can get a drink. Unfortunately it's in a high traffic area. There is a waiting area upstairs, unfortunately it's in a high traffic area. There is a bar downstairs, not in a high traffic area. It was closed.
The set up in this place has you waiting in an area where people are giving names and being brought to tables and the other side is bordered by the Cheesecake displays. This is also the only way to get to the elevators for the restrooms and it is also where the dishes are brought to the tables from the kitchen!! Right through the crowd!!
Unfortunately this isn't the worst part of it. The acoustics in this area are horrendous!! The tile floors and plaster walls reflect the sound and as you walk up the stairs to get to the waiting area the noise builds up like crazy.
Waiting for seating at this place is a chore. This is the hour, and that is how long the 45 minute wait lasted, that I dread.
Now to be honest, I have no idea as to their reservation policy or if their even is one. Every time we have gone it's been a last minute choice.
PREPARED FOODS OPEN FOR INSPECTION
The set up of this restaurant has the kitchen on one side and the tables on another with traffic isles between both. There is a front and rear entrance to this place. Along the walkway that runs through the middle is the station, about twenty feet long, where prepared dishes are waiting to be brought to the tables. This is a high volume place and there are some twenty dishes on the counter at any given time. These dishes are well prepared and presented. The problem to me is some people waiting use this as the place to decide what to eat, rather than checking the menu.
Hey these people are just killing time, putting their noses closer and closer to food that will ultimately come to you. This is a major downer for me. When a dishes are all set to go to the tables they are run right through the huge crowd waiting to be seated. I'm sorry but to me there is just too many people near the foods before they get to me.
The SEATING
Most of the seating in this place is at small tables for two. If your party is four they simply put two table together. There is little elbow room between you and your neighbors. You may as well talk to your neighbor because at these tables there is no privacy.
I am amazed at how many young couples come to this place. Though the food is a good value the atmosphere is F A R from romantic. It's more like a busy diner shuffle to me.
We ask for the booths because they are roomy. They fit up to four comfortably. The noise level is noticeably quieter in them too.
The MENU
Appetizers
This is where I can give you some good news. The menu and prices are excellent! There is a bit of an international flavor to the items offered. As appetizers they open with Roadside Sliders ala White Castle style. They have Avocado Eggrolls, Fried Calamari, Quesadilla, Tex Mex Egg rolls, Vietnamese Shrimp Summer Rolls, Bruschetta, Pop corn Shrimp, and Thai Lettuce wraps to name a few. These, which are fine for being shared are priced in the $6.00-$10.00 range.
One of our favorites is the Hot Spinach and Cheese dip. It's perfect for two . The dip is made up of spinach, artichoke heart, shallots garlic, and a mixture of cheeses. This hot dip is served with crispy Tortilla Chips and Salsa and goes for $8.95.
Salads
This place offers appetizer salads and they are very popular. The traditional Tossed green, mixed baby lettuce, and Caesar salads are all well presented and offered with a well made and flavorful choice of dressings.
I particular enjoy the Endive, Pecan and Blue Cheese Salad. The different flavors and textures are wonderful. My wife has has the Shanghai Wonton Salad. Again very good especially at a $7.00and-$8.00 price. Many people come in and have these for lunch. These particular ones are the smaller offerings.
What they call lunch size portions, that they serve until 5:PM, cost a bit more at $10.00-13.00. These include Luau salad, Santafe Salad, Cobb Salad, and a Herb-Crusted Salmon Salad among other offerings.
Pizza
I have never had their pizza, for that matter never even noticed it being served. It must be a seller though because it's been on their menu for years. Once again that international cuisine is apparent.
Besides the regular Cheese and pepperoni pizzas they have Tomato and Basil, Barbeque chicken, Thia Chicken pesto chicken and Hawaiian Pizza. Though I don't even know how large these personal pizzas are I can tell you they cost $8.00-$9.00.
SPECIALTIES
These are their everyday dishes. The meats are all certified Angus that are used in the burgers. They have six or seven different types. Their Factoryburger is excellent. It's charbroiled and comes with tomato, cheddar cheese, grilled onions, and is served on either sourdough, French, or wheatloaf breads.
I have to take a moment and tell you their breads are excellent. The table is given a small basket with a couple of different breads and butter. The sourdough is really good. Crispy outside, sweet and tasty in.
Like the salads and appetizers you will notice the flair of world foods in the meat dishes, Pastas, Sandwiches, and Fish and Seafood. Yes even in the Eggs and Omeletts that are served all day.
I counted and the Cheesecake factory has over 75 different dishes to offer. That's without the appetizers and pizzas. The place again is quite diverse. There really is something for everyone.
The main dishes all range in the $9.00-$24.00 prices. Just a couple go over the $20.00 mark. That's the Filet Mignon, Baby-Back Pork Ribs, and Cajun rib-eye steaks. Most of the over fifteen sandwiches offered are $8.00turkey to $12.00 crabcake sandwich.
I have had the Factory meatloaf with mashed potatoes. It wasn't anything special. It was a poor choice. The Cheesecake Factory is a place to try something new and interesting. Maybe something like the Jamaican Black Pepper Shrimp sounds good. It is!! The spicy Cashew Chicken looked great. I have to say most of the dished really did look great. They are all expertly presented. Some dishes have a construction of foods that rise almost a foot above the dish! I'll repeat saying that the dishes offer so many flavors, textures and mixed temperatures that make eating here at times a dining experience. The only problem is that I find it hard to separate the food from the atmosphere.
I couldn't tell you what to have but I can just about guarantee that, with the foods, you will be happy.
DESSERTS
This is the sinful time. Before even thinking cheesecake they have a dozen or so incredibly good desserts. From Fresh Apple Dumpling, to Tiramisu, to Chocolate Mousse cake to Warm apple Crisp. The six and seven dollar desserts are sharable. Yes even this big guy can say that. A few different ice creams are also available. The Factory Mudslide always looked good to me. But alas, my wife want the cheesecake and that's what I share with her. ha, I sound like I may be complaining. I'm not. The cheesecakes are excellent. The problem is deciding on which one of the almost three dozen choices to pick.
This last time we enjoyed the Sticky Chewy Chocolate Pecan Cheesecake. Yes , that's the name. It was perfect.
DRINKS
The factory has a full bar. We haven't had much more than a cold beer of soft drink from it. I did see many of the ladies nursing some king of drinks in martini glasses while waiting for seating. They restaurant does advertise their $5.00 smoothies that look good.
The soft drinks were just $2.25 and were served in large glasses that included free refills. Now that's a bargain at a restaurant.
The factory has an assortment of about ten different ways to have your coffee too. Teas, hot and cold also available.
PEOPLE FRIENDLY?
I have already told you my feeling about the atmosphere. It seems that most people just don't care. This place, in a shopping mall attracts many young people 21-35 that go after work or maybe a break from shopping. Like I said, I wouldn't take a date here. At the same time it's not for young children. I suppose its for those looking for a good meal that is an excellent value, that is if you can survive the wait, the noise and a nose or two in your food!!
More chain eateries by popsrocks
Applebee's / Romano's MACARONI GRILL / KFC / OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE / Wendy's
OUTBACK Restaurant / Cozymel's / Cheesecake Factory / McDonald's / Taco Bell
/ Checkers Burgers / Red Lobster / The White Castle / TGI Friday's / Charlie Browns / Burger King / Arthur Treacher's Fish and Chips / Dunkin' Donuts / / Ralph's Famous Ices / Cold Stone Creamery / Boulder Creek Steakhouse / Waffle House / Krispy Kreme / Friendlies / Nathan's / Jillian's / Katz's Deli A NYC landmark / Ruth's Chris Steak House /Don Juan's / Cracker Barrel / IHOP, International House Of Pancakes / Quizno's
Long Island So much to see and do
Recommended:
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