It’s actually been
some time ago- April in fact- since Ken and I went to Cheesecake Factory
specifically so I could do a review. At the time I was still trying to hit
every restaurant on my Top 10 list. But, several “real-life” adventures
interfered in me being able to get the review published. Better late than
never, I always say. To be honest, I
could easily just wrap up this review by saying, “Go there. I love it. You will
love it. It’s one of the best places to eat in the world.” Yes, I am biased.
But, I can honestly say, I have never had a bad experience at The Cheesecake
Factory. And, this visit was no exception.
I don’t entirely
remember what time we arrived, but I believe it may have been a little later
than normal, because we did have to wait about 15 minutes to get a seat. Not a
bad wait at all on a Saturday evening. The wait merely gave us time to peruse
the menu that our local Factory keeps posted just outside its doors on the plaza
beside the Mall St. Mathews. So, we had a pretty good idea of what we were
going to get once we sat down.
Let me start by
mentioning our server, Benjamin. Usually, when me and my posse’ go out for dinner, I prefer to have a female server. If I
have to explain to you why three buddies on “Guys Night Out” prefer a female
server, then just ignore it and skip ahead. But, I will have to say that
Benjamin ranks up there with other servers I have mentioned in the past who are
“true professionals”; courteous, helpful, attentive, informative. I have pretty
specific tastes. When I go out to eat, I am usually in the mood for a particular taste. More than once, Ken has asked the
server, “what do you think? What sounds good? What is good?” And you can always
tell the bull artists from those who have truly eaten the food they serve and
know the difference. Benjamin is one of those guys. He knew the menu well, and
was extremely informative. He kept our tea flowing. He never missed a beat on
timing the dinner.
I think this may
have been when I started on my recent crave-fest for dishes south of the
border. I have only just noticed that I have spent a lot of time preparing,
talking about, and eating such food. I chose the Factory Nachos for my
appetizer. The piping hot Nachos were absolutely covered in cheese, salsa and
jalapenos. I tend to like my tortilla chips a little more crisp, but the
Factory tortilla chips are an exception since they are a special Factory made
chip. Ken was feeling in a particularly healthy mood, and enjoyed a crisp
Little House Salad with mixed greens, tasty balsamic vinaigrette, and fresh
cucumbers & tomatoes.
For the main
course, I opted for the Factory Burrito Grande: a soft flour tortilla stuffed
full of tender chicken, mildly spicy red pepper and tangy, roasted corn salsa.
Ken chose the Stuffed Chicken Tortilla: tender, spicy chicken stuffed into a
fresh corn tortilla and topped with gooey melted cheese, fresh green onion,
tangy Tomatillo sauce, and refreshing cilantro. Truth of the matter is Ken and
I did not talk half as much as we usually do, because we were way to busy
enjoying our delicious food. Our main course was an absolute delight.
You cannot go to
the Cheesecake Factory without having dessert. It would be insane. No, really.
They are, of course, famous for their cheesecake and pastries. As luck would
have it, we did not have the time to sit and enjoy dessert. But, you can bet we
both bought a slice of cheesecake and took home with us. I am usually partial
to the New York Style Traditional Cheesecake, or the Chocolate Cheesecake. This
time around, however, I decided to try something new: Coconut Cheesecake. I was
blown away by the powerful coconut flavor that seeped out of my cheesecake
later that night; sweet, creamy, heaven.
All in all, it was
yet another perfect dining experience at Cheesecake Factory. Still, one of my
favorite places to eat, and well deserved of the #5 spot on my Top Ten Favorite
Restaurants. The average cost of an appetizer is around $8. Entre' cost range from $11 to $20, with some pricier options on the menu. The menu is extensive.
To find out more
about The Cheesecake Factory, take a gander at their menu, or find one near
you, check out their website here: http://www.thecheesecakefactory.com/
My Rating: *
* * * *
Ken’s Rating: * * * * 1/2
No comments:
Post a Comment