Anonymous wrote:The only time I've eaten at a Cheesecake Factory was when we were visiting my in-laws and I totally get the appeal. We had six adults and three kids, and we all had things to eat - and you know what? I can be a food snob but my food was pretty good! I wouldn't want to eat there every week but I would gladly go back with the whole family.

I agree! I can be a bit of a food snob and grew up in NYC so never viewed them as fine or exotic dining in the least, but I have fond memories of my college days in DC going up to Friendship Heights with my girlfriends to shop and stopping at Cheesecake for lunch. I got their Cobb salad and thought it was really good! If I worked in the area I would consider getting a takeout order occasionally.

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Anonymous wrote:This is for the tourists right?

Would tourists really go though? I know when I'm a tourist I'd rather eat at local unique places and not the same generic big-chain restaurants that you can dine at back at home.

Lots of tourists like comfort when they travel.

FWIW, are some states that don't have Cheesecake Factory at all, and other states that only have it in 1 or 2 locations. So for some tourists, the Cheesecake Factory IS a new place that they don't have at "home."

I grew up in a small town in upstate New York and as a teenager (early 2000s) I remember being soooo excited to shop at stores like H & M and Nordstrom Rack whenever we did the tourist thing in NYC because all our dinky mall at home had was stores like Sears and JCPenney LOL.

I had a Hard Rock Cafe T-shirt from something like 8 different locations. Same general mindset. Of course, I was a teenager, and didn't know any better.

The only time I've eaten at a Cheesecake Factory was when we were visiting my in-laws and I totally get the appeal. We had six adults and three kids, and we all had things to eat - and you know what? I can be a food snob but my food was pretty good! I wouldn't want to eat there every week but I would gladly go back with the whole family.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is for the tourists right?

Would tourists really go though? I know when I'm a tourist I'd rather eat at local unique places and not the same generic big-chain restaurants that you can dine at back at home.

Lots of tourists like comfort when they travel.

FWIW, are some states that don't have Cheesecake Factory at all, and other states that only have it in 1 or 2 locations. So for some tourists, the Cheesecake Factory IS a new place that they don't have at "home."

I grew up in a small town in upstate New York and as a teenager (early 2000s) I remember being soooo excited to shop at stores like H & M and Nordstrom Rack whenever we did the tourist thing in NYC because all our dinky mall at home had was stores like Sears and JCPenney LOL.

Anonymous wrote:I have never understood it’s longevity or people’s willingness to wait for HOURS.

That said, what used to work at the friendship heights location - put your name on the waitlist , watch a movie at Mazza across the street and by the time the movie was over, your table was ready.

I think the same thing for Cracker Barrell. Why the love? Every item on that menu is deep fried. Really? People stand in line for that?

I have never understood it’s longevity or people’s willingness to wait for HOURS.

That said, what used to work at the friendship heights location - put your name on the waitlist , watch a movie at Mazza across the street and by the time the movie was over, your table was ready.

Anonymous wrote:Cheesecake Factory makes the best burgers of any chain restaurant, plus the lettuce wraps and cheesecake.

A lot of foreign tourists get a big kick out of visiting chain restaurants with enormous portions and going to Costco/warehouse type stores.

I'll take your word for it.

Cheesecake Factory makes the best burgers of any chain restaurant, plus the lettuce wraps and cheesecake.

A lot of foreign tourists get a big kick out of visiting chain restaurants with enormous portions and going to Costco/warehouse type stores.

They'll make bank off of tourists and office group lunches. Everyone in a group can find something they like there.

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Anonymous wrote:Aren't restaurants struggling right now even with to -go orders to barely keep them afloat? Why would you open a restaurant now? And I thought you city slickers hate big-chain restaurants and instead opt for the mom &pop ethnic restaurant instead.

Cheesecake Factory is one of those weird ones. The food is generally tasty and they have such a huge menu that everyone can find something they will eat. It’s one of our concession restaurants and one we take picky eaters. So this way, if someone wants a burger, someone wants pasta, someone wants a salad, someone wants something vaguely Asian or vaguely Tex-Mex, they have it. And the bread basket and a slice of cheesecake to take home. It’s a win for everyone.

More accurately, it's not a huge loss for everyone. No one wins, though, except obesity and heart disease.

Only if we have no self control like you do and clean our plates like piggies. There’s a reason everyone walks out of there with bags of leftovers.

What about my post suggested that I'd eat at the Cheesecake factory? I try very hard to avoid restaurants that serve bland, generic food that tops out at mediocre. And as luck would have it, there are far, far better options very close to both of the DC locations. I am generally in walking distance to one of them (one from my house, one from my office), and there's no reason to go.

You are right. It should have been clear from your earlier posts (and reinforced with your latest) that you are pretentious a$$ who wouldn't be caught dead in a Cheesecake Factory and view that as something to brag about, believing it makes you morally superior.

I only had one prior post. And of course, I'm not morally superior! Morality has nothing to do with it. I'm superior in other ways.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is for the tourists right?

Would tourists really go though? I know when I'm a tourist I'd rather eat at local unique places and not the same generic big-chain restaurants that you can dine at back at home.

My husband used to live in Hawaii. He said the Cheesecake Factory often had a line out the door. I couldn’t believe it. You fly that far and eat at Cheesecake?! Although, it’s possible many of the tourists were foreign and looking for the American chain restaurant experience.

And many were American tourists looking for Cheesecake, not because it was something that was familiar and comfortable, but because it was something they didn't have at home and viewed it as a chance to try it. This wouldn't be the case for more ubiquitous chains like McDonalds, but Cheesecake has a much more limited scope.

While it is not my cup of tea (although I can always find something to eat there) it clearly appeals to a lot of people. My father in law loves eating out but never developed a taste for unique or most ethnic food. If he wants to take us out to dinner there, we happily go and enjoy the food and company. If I am choosing a place, it would be somewhere else. There are also many people who were not raised or live in cities and don’t have many dining out options. For some of them, places like the Cheesecake Factory are a reliable place to go for a night out or a celebration. I am glad there are lots of dining options in most large cities to accommodate all different tastes.

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Anonymous wrote:Aren't restaurants struggling right now even with to -go orders to barely keep them afloat? Why would you open a restaurant now? And I thought you city slickers hate big-chain restaurants and instead opt for the mom &pop ethnic restaurant instead.

Cheesecake Factory is one of those weird ones. The food is generally tasty and they have such a huge menu that everyone can find something they will eat. It’s one of our concession restaurants and one we take picky eaters. So this way, if someone wants a burger, someone wants pasta, someone wants a salad, someone wants something vaguely Asian or vaguely Tex-Mex, they have it. And the bread basket and a slice of cheesecake to take home. It’s a win for everyone.

More accurately, it's not a huge loss for everyone. No one wins, though, except obesity and heart disease.

Only if we have no self control like you do and clean our plates like piggies. There’s a reason everyone walks out of there with bags of leftovers.

What about my post suggested that I'd eat at the Cheesecake factory? I try very hard to avoid restaurants that serve bland, generic food that tops out at mediocre. And as luck would have it, there are far, far better options very close to both of the DC locations. I am generally in walking distance to one of them (one from my house, one from my office), and there's no reason to go.

You are right. It should have been clear from your earlier posts (and reinforced with your latest) that you are pretentious a$$ who wouldn't be caught dead in a Cheesecake Factory and view that as something to brag about, believing it makes you morally superior.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aren't restaurants struggling right now even with to -go orders to barely keep them afloat? Why would you open a restaurant now? And I thought you city slickers hate big-chain restaurants and instead opt for the mom &pop ethnic restaurant instead.

Cheesecake Factory is one of those weird ones. The food is generally tasty and they have such a huge menu that everyone can find something they will eat. It’s one of our concession restaurants and one we take picky eaters. So this way, if someone wants a burger, someone wants pasta, someone wants a salad, someone wants something vaguely Asian or vaguely Tex-Mex, they have it. And the bread basket and a slice of cheesecake to take home. It’s a win for everyone.

More accurately, it's not a huge loss for everyone. No one wins, though, except obesity and heart disease.

Only if we have no self control like you do and clean our plates like piggies. There’s a reason everyone walks out of there with bags of leftovers.

What about my post suggested that I'd eat at the Cheesecake factory? I try very hard to avoid restaurants that serve bland, generic food that tops out at mediocre. And as luck would have it, there are far, far better options very close to both of the DC locations. I am generally in walking distance to one of them (one from my house, one from my office), and there's no reason to go.