The Cheesecake Factory — Restaurant in Chicago

I had the worst experience ever. My family and friends wanted to celebrate our marathon accomplishments, but this joyful occasion turned into a complete nightmare.

Let me preface this by saying that we were hungry, tired, and excited to relax after the race, but nothing could have prepared us for the disrespect and mistreatment we encountered. The service, or lack thereof, was beyond unacceptable. We were a diverse group, clearly looking like foreigners, and while I hesitate to jump to conclusions, the behavior of our server made me feel as though this might have been racially motivated.

Our server was a young and slim Black woman, gave us such poor treatment that I still can’t wrap my head around it. Despite our politeness, her attitude towards us was rude from the start. I am someone who believes in tipping for service no matter what, but I was so close to leaving nothing because of how badly we were treated. However, out of respect for her job, we did tip - but it was infuriating to reward such poor service.

For context — we were seated, and then we waited. And WAITED. For 25 minutes, no one even came to take our order or bring us water, just unattended. I had to personally flag down our server, who nonchalantly told me she’d get to us after handling other tables. I understand being busy, but after waiting almost 30 minutes, her dismissive tone made it feel like we didn’t matter at all. As customers, we shouldn’t have to beg for basic service.

When she finally took our order, it was done with no words, no acknowledgment, just a stone-cold poker face. She took down what we said as if it was a chore, without speaking a word at us. The entire time, her facial expressions screamed disinterest, and she made no effort to interact with us. It felt incredibly targeted because I saw her smiling and chatting with other tables and a colleague. Why not us? What did we do to deserve such blatant disrespect?

We had to ask for napkins after our food was served, which should be standard. Even then, she brought them over with the same poker face and not a word. When it came time for dessert, she didn’t clear our plates from the main course, didn’t bring extra plates for the four of us to share the cake, and didn’t provide additional utensils. We were left awkwardly splitting cake without the basics.

When it was time to settle the bill, she handed us the check on a flimsy piece of paper without the typical check holder or even a pen to leave a tip. I’ve dined at countless restaurants, and I’ve never seen anything like it. There wasn’t even a duplicate receipt for us to keep. It felt like she couldn’t be bothered to follow the most basic protocol.

I’ve never felt compelled to leave such a negative review, but this experience was truly the worst I’ve ever had at any restaurant, let alone a Cheesecake Factory. I’m not one to escalate situations, and I didn’t want to cause a scene by calling the manager on such a busy night, but the owner needs to know about this. This experience ruined what should have been a celebration, and I’m beyond disappointed.

To the management, I suggest you seriously address this kind of service because no one should leave your restaurant feeling like we did — disrespected, ignored, and frustrated. I hope that no one else has to endure the experience we did. I’m happy to be in contact for...

A Decent Dinner After a Sky-High View at The Cheesecake Factory (Chicago)

My wife and I decided to grab dinner at The Cheesecake Factory after taking in the breathtaking views of Chicago from the 94th floor. The location was certainly convenient, and despite it being a weeknight, we were pleasantly surprised by the relatively short 10-minute wait for a table. The atmosphere inside was just as expected – a bustling and lively environment with a good energy. It felt like a comfortable and inviting space for a casual dinner.

When it came to the food, there were definitely some highlights. The Brussel sprouts were a fantastic start. They were perfectly cooked and bursting with flavor, and the complimentary bread and butter served alongside were a nice touch. My Sesame Ginger Chicken was also a winner. The chicken was tender, and the sesame ginger glaze was absolutely delicious – a great balance of sweet and savory. My wife thoroughly enjoyed her Rene's Chicken Sandwich, particularly praising the fresh and flavorful salad that accompanied it. However, not everything was a home run. While the soup was acceptable, it wasn't particularly memorable. The main issue we encountered was with the Rene's Chicken Sandwich itself. While the salad was a hit, the sandwich had a noticeable smell that my wife found off-putting. She still ate it, but it definitely detracted from the overall enjoyment of that dish.

The service, on the other hand, was truly awesome. Our server was attentive, friendly, and efficient, making sure we had everything we needed throughout our meal. Our non-alcoholic cocktails were also well-made and refreshing.

Overall, our experience at The Cheesecake Factory in Chicago was a mixed bag but leaned towards the positive. The convenient location after our visit to the observation deck was a plus, and the short wait time was appreciated. We thoroughly enjoyed some of the dishes, particularly the Brussel sprouts and the Sesame Ginger Chicken, and the service was exceptional. However, the unpleasant smell from the chicken sandwich was a notable downside.

Here's a quick summary: Pros: Convenient location after visiting the Chicago observation deck. Short 10-minute wait time. Good overall environment. Delicious Brussel sprouts with complimentary bread and butter. Excellent Sesame Ginger Chicken. Flavorful salad accompanying the Rene's Chicken Sandwich. Awesome and attentive service. Well-made non-alcoholic cocktails.

Cons: Soup was just okay. The Rene's Chicken Sandwich had an unpleasant smell.

Would we go back? Possibly. We enjoyed enough of the experience, and the service was truly outstanding. However, we would likely steer clear of the Rene's Chicken Sandwich next time. It's a decent option for a casual dinner, especially if you're looking for variety and are...

Hershey's Chocolate Bar Cheesecake: The Cheesecake Factory’s cheesecakes are one of my favorite desserts. I’ve tried most of the flavors that I intend to, as a few just don’t appeal to me (mostly the fruity ones, yuck!). It’s a slow process since I like returning to my favorites rather than risk trying a new one every time I go. Plus, they offer over 30 varieties. The Hershey's Chocolate Bar Cheesecake is listed as "Hershey's Cheesecake between moist chocolate cake with creamy chocolate frosting and chocolate chips". Why has it taken me over 10 years since my first visit to the Cheesecake Factory to try this one? First, it's somewhat similar to one of my favorites, the 30th Anniversary Cheesecake. Second, I loathe dark chocolate, and I was afraid this piece might be too bitter based off other reviews. If you're like me and prefer milk chocolate, don't be timid about trying this one. It's a mix of both milk and dark chocolate flavors and it's so sweet that you won't mind the dark aspect. The actual Hershey's cheesecake portion is surprisingly light, almost like a mousse. You won't get much if any cream cheese flavor and I can't say it reminded me of the classic Hershey taste, but it was delicious. As for the chocolate cake, it was perfectly moist as described. A little darker than the cheesecake, but not too dark. Topping the slice is a creamy and sweet chocolate frosting. Where a hint of bitterness creeps in is the semi-sweet chocolate chips. It works to balance things out though and I like how it contributes a different texture to the mix as the chips are hard, and the rest of the slice is soft as butter. Included is The Factory's fresh whipped cream with a Hershey's version of an oversized M&M (M&Ms are made by Mars and this one also obviously says Hershey). Pairing this with an ice-cold glass of milk and steaming cup of mocha coffee worked nicely. I still prefer the 30th Anniversary Cheesecake, but that doesn't stop this delectable slice from being Doughboy approved My top Cheesecake Factory picks: 1.Adam’s Peanut Butter Cup Fudge Ripple 2.Salted Caramel Cheesecake 3.Cinnabon Swirl Cheesecake 30th Anniversary Cheesecake Pumpkin...