I've
been eating at The Cheesecake Factory for over 16 years and even had my
'Sweet 16' Leap Year birthday there in 2000. Hands down it is one of my
favorite restaurants for lunch, dinner or a snack, not to forget the
cheesecake!

Thanks
to Chris for sending me a gift certificate for my unbirthday which
enabled us to go  there yesterday after the movie. They basically had 3
menus to choose from; their regular menu consisting of 200+ items, a
lunch menu which are smaller sizes and prices of their salads, pasta
and a few other dishes and a separate menu testing other items which,
if popular, would be put on the regular menu.

We
were seated promptly as it was that in-between hour--too late for lunch
and too early for dinner. Our server, Herbert, took our drink order
with Allen having his diet soda ($2.95) and me my coffee ($2.95) and
served them by which time we were ready to order. We decided to share
the three items we ordered and told that to Herbert.

The
first course we had was a Chinese chicken salad (lunch portion --$9.95)
with Mandarin oranges and  piled high with crisp white noodles and the
latter gave Allen a hard time going all over the place. Unfortunately
the waiter did not bring us extra plates. Along with the salad we were
given a basket of white and pumpernickel bread and Allen dove into the
dark bread so I reminded him there was cheesecake ahead. I am so
considerate, aren't I?

We
were next served our two main courses with 2 small extra oval plates.
We split the tomato basil pasta ($11.95) and the only way I was able to
get rid of the empty plate, to have room on the table, was to hold it
up in the air and a waitress eventually took it. The pasta was oily and
sort of bland. After that our only choice of splitting the shrimp
Franchese ($13.95) was using the previously used dishes as Herbert did
not check back. The shrimps were plump and tasty surrounding a good
portion of linguine.

When
we were finished the waiter finally came over, cleaned off the dishes
and, finally, refilled our empty drinks. Allen ordered the chocolate
coconut cream cheesecake ($6.95) and I ordered the blueberry white
chocolate truffle cheesecake ($6.95) and was served pretty quickly.

I
very seldom have any problems with the food at The Cheesecake Factory
and, if I do, like with the bland basil pasta, the cheesecake always
makes up for it.  Service is usually right on the ball but there were
enough problems with the service we didn't get---not checking back
after serving food items to see how it was--not seeing if we needed
anything, like clean, extra plates--not refilling our drinks--not
removing empty plates--that I had second thoughts about the size of tip
I was leaving. Having been a waiter, a professional one, for many years
I am usually very lenient with less than great service but there are
certain things I expect that are just basics of good service--serving
food and after 2-3 minutes to check back, to look at a customer's table
when going by, keeping drinks filled, seeing to a customer's needs such
as extra plates, etc.

The check came to
$58.99 and normally when I am using a gift certificate, I would tip a
bit more but in this case, unhappy with the service I left a straight
20%.

The only complaint I have with The
Cheesecake Factory is the tremendous turnover of servers and for which
I can only guess at the reasons, which usually leads to management, but
as long as they serve good food, good portions and have delicious
cheesecake I'll go there to eat.

Thanks, Chris--and I will also blame you for the weight gain! LOL