Why do we allow The Cheesecake Factory to exist?

It's very popular but I've only eaten there once years ago. Expensive and the food was nothing special.

And those decorations!

I thought they announced they were going to stop paying rent. Bankruptcy? I'm sure they were one of the ones that benefitted the most from the relief package and snatched all the funds away from the intended small business owners

Upscale? Oh, honey.

R1 jealousy

R4 pseu·do /ˈso͞odō/ Learn to pronounce INFORMAL adjective not genuine; spurious or sham.

Love Cheesecake Factory 😋

OP, places like Olive Garden, Applebee's, and Cheesecake Factory need to exist, if only to keep the frauen, their husbands and their vile crotch fruit away from the good restaurants.

Oh lord, it's been a million years. Maybe it was in Pasadena?

Anyway, if you're just trying to grab a sandwich and that's where you are, it's fine. I think it was loud and the menu was a novel and the cheesecake was... I can't remember. I'm sure it was fine, I'd remember if I hated it.

“Pseudo upscale”, OP? Really?

Common definitions of words are hard...

I bet the waitstaff work like fiends but make out like bandits - or at least there did...

R12, the one time I was taken to one with three other friends it was a very busy night, one of my friends had his iPhone on the table when 3 or 4 servers arrived with our dinner and hurried away, and the iPhone had disappeared. He called the police but nothing could be done about it, no one could remember who the servers were and they were at our table for less than a minute.

I almost had a heart attack when I looked at the nutrition content of the items.

Every inch of a Cheesecake Factory is under video surveillance. Frozen cheesecake from a central commissary, by the way. One positive thing about them is that their absurdly expansive menu introduces new items/cuisines to rubes, i.e. pad thai.

Blame Americans' immature palates, not the establishments that cater to those baby tastes.

So OP decides if something exists or not? Holy shit such power.

They exist so we can marvel at the incredibly kitsch yet pleasing design

I hear you, OP.

It's right up there with child slavery, female genital mutilation and using 'gift' as a verb.

Sometimes people want a Vegas version of Applebee's.

Reading r19 reminds me that they probably have several menu items that list "veggies" as an ingredient.

I only went once, back in the 20th century, to the one in Chevy Chase. I got in an argument with the waitress over the correct pronunciation of "bruschetta." She kept saying "brooSHEHtuh" over and over, not willing to admit her wrongness. I never went back.

Interesting, R18, to see the Cheesecake Factory architectural aesthetic. Its base is a soffrito of gilded WIlly Wonka Factory, pared down Trader Vic's, and plumped up, Po-Mo'ed ancient ruins, lightened up for the modern heiffer with hand-painted sprigs and delicate floral arabesques and Neo-Grec anthemia, a nod to Chagall's ceiling at the Ópera Garnier, and the to Maxfield Parrish's King Cole Bar mural at the St. Regis, all glazed over with amber washes recalling recalling the Tuscan light of a Frances Mayes novel.

I've never been in a Cheesecake Factory, though have seen herds of people anxiously awaiting their tables. The closest I have come was walking by one in Chicago (N. Michigan Ave.( where, from the sidewalk, you can look down to the outdoor dining area. I have never seen such enormous plates and portions From 20+ feet above they were clearly gigantic piles of food on almost cafeteria sized tray-plates. I was so startled I stood there a long time staring.

I immediately walk out of any restaurant where the waiter can't pronounce the dishes.

I don't even know what the fuck that is.

sorry but I really like the chicken madeira

It only serves as a place for the deplorables to go and stuff their fat faces, far away from me.

The same queens berating The Cheesecake Factory and its clientele as being tasteless, low class trash are the same queens seen crawling on the floor of their local ABS, ass up and pre-lubed, waiting for any and all takers.

You know it's true, bitches.

I kind of like Grand Lux Café though 😳

Such snooty queens. It's an okay restaurant. Not worth waiting more than five minutes to get a table, but okay. It's menu is large enough to have some decent things. No one ever claimed its "fine dining."

OP, you start your list of negatives about the restaurant that are convincing enough for someone to disregard it. But then what’s funny is the last one: “long wait times.”

So you’ve overlooked the kitschiness, the not upscale, unhealthy food made from cheap ingredients and now you’re outraged over having to wait too long for something you shouldn’t have started waiting for in the first place?

The food is terrible and such small portions.

The thawed cheesecakes are so heavily made with cheap gelatin, that it really should be called Jello Factory

OP probably meant to use a word like "faux" (as in: faux upscale). It'd be nice to see people provide a correct alternative to the word(s) being misused, mispronunciated, (R21), or misspelled, instead of just bringing up that it's incorrect. (Bruschetta: BrooSKETtuh NOT broo-shet-tah). At least use call outs as an opportunity to educate people going forward.

Their menu is like reading War & Peace.

It never occurred to me, r33, that anyone on Datalounge would fail to know the correct pronunciation of bruschetta (brooSKETtah). I'll keep your advice in mind. Thank you.

r21

WE don't ALLOW restaurants to exist.

YOU should get over yourself.

We used to go there for work events a lot in the 90s - I really liked their portobello mushroom sandwich

I think I visited one once way back. Found it to be mediocre at best. As a general rule I dislike chain eateries.

Queens who correct other people’s pronunciation are the worst.

Really, r39? You'd rather go through life saying "brooSHETtah" instead of "brooSKETtah"? Suit your own damned self.

It's theme food. I hate theme food restaurants.

"Factory" is the operative word.

foreign food words mangled by a yankee (who is trying) in an industrial chain restaurant, is part of the limited charm on the offer at such eateries. The decor is industrial ersatz as well. We welcome crumbs of pleasure if forced to endure the experience.

Sorry but I LOVE their grilled salmon.

R44 We have to stop apologizing for who we are !

OP if you don’t like it, don’t eat there. Nobody is forcing you. Why do you give a shit where your next door neighbor Karen eats?

Enormous portions equals enormous bms

Never been there.

Never will

Scrumptious

I take all my first dates to Cheesecake Factory. They are beautiful inside with cozy, romantic booths. The food is expensive, but I don't mind splurging to impress my dates.

The food is terrible and such huge portions.

Snobs.

We love letting our kids run all over the Cheesecake Factory after church while we stuff our faces with defrosted cheesecake!

On the flip side, they have everything you can think of on the menu. You can take the pickiest eater there. They have fresher options too, I mean salad doesn’t come out of a can? And if you are watching portions they have a lower calorie menu.

I have a feeling R50 never ends up with second dates.

To me, it's the only chain restaurant that serves edible food.

At the same time, I haven't been there in about 20 years.

Really?? Okay - wow...okay

I love Mario Batali up thread walking out of Cheesecake Factory in Friendship Heights because of how the server pronounced bruschetta. You're in a Cheesecake Factory. Get over it (and yourself).

[quote] You're in a Cheesecake Factory.

No, I'm not! And I never will be.

#1 - Immense quality control. The food is usually prepared perfectly.

#2 - The immense size of the restaurant means there's money for overstaffing as opposed to traditional chains. That's how they institute high quality control on the food that comes out of the kitchen and keep the restaurant spotless. The crazy volume also offers better deals on food products than most chains could get.

#3 Higher price points. The average entree price at CF is over 40% higher than a Chilis or Applebees. Sometimes double the price. And the cheesecake sells very well. The costs of food are probably much higher.

#4 Vegas type operations. I'm too lazy to work on elaborating this, but most chains function like big mom and pop restaurants. CF has more in common with the way a Vegas casino buffet or hotel operates.

#3 Anyone who sees C.F. food on the level of a Chilis or Fridays or Applebees is useless in terms of the conversation here. The quality of the food, and preparation is much, much higher. I go at least once a year for the Miso Salmon. It's always cooked perfectly. I got it after the NY Times said it was one of the best dishes in America and was curious. (And I never eat fish while eating out.) CF is not for someone with an adventurous palate but what you get is usually very good and much higher quality than what you'd find at any other chain. The prices reflect that. Its not cheap.

r60 lost me after "food usually prepared perfectly", not realizing that's just code for 99% of the recipes there being: Thaw, Heat, Serve.

I have only been there a few times as there’s only one within a 300 mile radius. The only offensive thing about it was the wait that is never under an hour. Otherwise the food was edible, inexpensive by the standards where I live, large portions where you can take a full meal home, and the cheesecake was good—except that it is way over the top in size and has on average about 1000 calories a slice. I could only eat a few bites of the cheesecake and took the rest home.

r8, I don't get the sexism. Were you immaculately conceived? Weren't you too once a crotch fruit? Most guys decide where to eat in hetero relationships. Why is there so much hate for women on this site?

Consider the nation we're in.

I liked it. The most offensive thing was the decor. I had the above mentioned salmon - and while not art, it was better than I’ve had at any other chain restaurant like Outback or PF Changs. The huge portions are not a bad thing economically speaking. There are much worse - though I don’t understand why people love it. Think it does have a certain Vegas “flair” - overstimulation.

[quote]Most guys decide where to eat in hetero relationships. Why is there so much hate for women on this site?

You have to fight for yourself on a site like DL. You will not change the culture here.

Many here do have healthy relationships with women.

I'm sure you've heard the term Karen that's all the rage as of late. That's merely a manifestation of the Frauen you'll hear about here. Honestly? Suburban white women and their entitlements. They're mainly the subject of DL's rage, and oftentimes deservedly so.

If you have a problem with it, I suggest clutching a nice warm mug of cocoa to your bosom to soothe your nerves.

Also the white man will destroy us all lol.

[quote]I have a feeling [R50] never ends up with second dates.

That's because after fattening them up at CCF, he takes them home, kills them, and eats them.

The Cheesecake Factory is considered fine dining in the Midwest.

It used to be okay around 20 years ago. I was forced to eat there twice last year and it was truly disgusting food. I tasted the cheapness of the ingredients & low quality oil. Truly, disgusting food.

R58 and they will mispronounce it there as well!

Decent food if you stick to basics like burgers and sandwiches. Ridiculous portion size. Good for corporate lunches or fussy eater due to the huge menu. I end up going once or twice a year for work events.

To me, the ridiculous wait for average food, the prices for said food, and the decor are the deal killers.

I know, r70, but who cares!

For the same reason Golden Corral exists.

Big troughs for big, fat fucks to get bigger and fatter.

I was molested at a Cheesecake Factory!

I've heard Ruth's is like the Cheesecake Factory for steakhouses.

The decor is Tuscany meets Napa Valley meets Walnut Creek.

[quote]Overpriced. Unhealthy. Subpar food. Pseudo-upscale. Long wait times.

During this COVID-19 pandemic, every restaurant that is open business should be appreciated.

[quote] I tasted the cheapness of the ingredients & low quality oil.

Ah, yes! THAT is the kind of comment I want when I read Data Lounge. 'I taste the cheapness.' Indeed!

Lol - right R78! “Low quality oil” epitomizes all that is right/wrong with DL.

CF probably has underground tanks of cheap oil at each location.

r61 You're making an assumption about frozen food, which is what Fridays, Chilis and Applebees serve. CF might have enough of a distribution network that they can have non-frozen prepared dishes and get them out to restaurants. The quality disruption of freezing, thawing and recooking something over something that is never frozen in the first place is massive.

r61 There may also be a lot of sous-vide cooking at Cheesecake Factory for items like Salmon. And it really doesn't matter whether they sealed it into a plastic bag in the kitchen there or in a regional distribution kitchen as long as it wasnt frozen.

It's right there in the name. FACTORY.

No thanks. Anyone eating in a place that doesn't even bother to call itself a restaurant is a fool.

I love The Cheesecake Factory. Sorry. The bread is good.