The Cheesecake Factory — Restaurant in Dunwoody

On June 11, 2024, my SO and I, in search of the ideal café setting for writing, found ourselves at the Dunwoody Cheesecake Factory. It was a pleasant late afternoon. It was also a first for me. We were hopeful that the Factory’s patio would be our spot, as we opted to eat outside. I intended to have a good experience even though weeks prior I had suspicion of a Café Intermezzo repeat, with respect to The Experience and organized stalking. Turns out, my suspicion was valid.

Our server was most gracious and attentive, and after simplifying an overwhelming menu, we settled on a margarita flatbread, beet and avocado salad, and a couple of teas between us. (I had wanted a double espresso, but was denied due to unavailability, or so it was explained; but this presented as a long standing tell of The Experience, with denying one the food they favor or like.) We had been writing on our laptops through the ordering and serving of our appetizers, hammering out our stories. It was great, until at some point a group of women (White) sat across from us. They were actually the second group of women.

The women were casual in their dress and presented as typical. Before long, a (Black) person approached them to ask for food. My impression: if the person was homeless (as he had appeared to be) then his indignant disposition was understandable. I didn't think he would just walk up to the patio and beg for food. I also had the impression this wasn't something the Cheesecake Factory tolerated. This happening presented itself as street theater, and the fact that the women asked the man what specifically he wanted off their plates and gave him bread–another tell–spoke to the indoctrination of grooming an individual as an animal. Or in this case, as a stray dog.

Later, the change in our server’s disposition was unmistakable; she was unusually nervous with serving us a slice of cheesecake. She explained to us that it was a (crème) brûlée cheesecake. The slice had the appearance of being homemade, to which I have made cheesecake at home before. It was yellower than usual, too. Perhaps from too many egg yolks. (If you’re treating someone like an animal and want to see that animal suffer, just feed it something in excess, like cholesterol I suppose.) Topping the cheesecake, mixed berries (raspberry [red] and blueberries [blue] in a syrup, and not one, but two puffs of whipped cream. These elements were sweeter than the cheesecake, so we didn't eat the second puff.

Despite my suspicion of the cheesecake slice, it wasn’t half bad. Besides, it was my first cheesecake at the Cheesecake Factory, so I had no reason to doubt or question what was served to us.

Granted, The Experience did not conclude after we left the Cheesecake Factory. It would persist all the way to my SO’s place, where a Domino’s delivery person (Black) had loitered in the lobby of her building. Knowing The Experience and the expectation I was to have had from the event, I was supposed to have drawn the conclusion that the Cheesecake Factory served us flatbread pizza from that pizza franchise. (Let it be understood, I’m well aware of how word has spread such that clowns will go out of their way to “feed” me whatever, sometimes wanting me to eat like them as to exist physically like they do; or to how they see me in their realities.) However, after attempting to take a picture of the delivery person (as best I could), I didn't give the flatbread much thought.

I would later revisit the Dunwoody Cheesecake Factory to question the manager(s) about the cheesecake slice, having learned brûlée and basque cheesecakes are two different types. The Cheesecake Factory had\has on display basque cheesecake. Brûlée cheesecake didn't exist at the restaurant, at least on both visits (The pictures provided with this review were taken during the follow up.)

The Dunwoody Cheesecake Factory is a gorgeous place. My SO says the interior is darker than one she visited elsewhere. Having studied Interior Design in college, I find it chic. I’m on the fence as to whether I would visit it...

Where do I begin....well let me first start off by saying the Perimeter Mall location is usually the best location to my husband and I. They've never failed us until this past Sunday. When we arrived (5:30pm), they had quite a few people waiting to be seated. We went and told them the number of our party (2) and checked in. We were told there was a 10 minute wait. We stood there for maybe about 10-15 mins before our names were called to be seated. Not bad at all!!! So when they called us to seat us, we both noticed them walking us to the far left-side of the building near the kitchen area. At that time it was a lot of opened tables for both large and small parties to be seated. We looked around at the patrons awaiting a meal and they looked frustrated. We noticed why after waiting 15-20 minutes for someone to even acknowledge us. The waiters were just casually strolling around as if no one needed serving while sitting at the tables. The waiter that chose to help us took our beverage order and apologized for no one assisting us. Next, the waiter brings our beverages back...my husband tried the new "Cucumber Lemonade" (that's so refreshing and delicious)🤤 and I wanted my favorite Arnold Palmer! He brings the drinks out with which appeared to be sugar around the rims of our glass! But once we tasted our beverages and noticed that they were salty sweet, we then noticed that the sugar appeared to be salt! We flagged the waiter down and told him and once again he apologizes and takes the drinks away. We wait another 5 minutes and our waiter comes back out, but with no drinks! He then goes over to acknowledge a new family of 6 patrons and begins to introduce himself and take their drink order! At this point, my husband and I began to get frustrated! I think the waiter could feel our eyes piercing his soul so he turns around and say "your drinks are coming right out"! At this point, we thought drones were going to deliver them because he sure in the hell didn't have them and we are at a 20-30 minute wait now with no drinks nor food! He hurriedly walks away 🏃🏾‍♂️ and comes back with our drinks. We taste them on the spot to make sure they are indeed right this time and they were! He asks us if we need more time to look at the food options and I think my husband and I were synchronized when saying "NO"! We put our orders in and sit patiently while eating bread and drinking our drinks. Another 15-20 minutes goes by and another waiter or maybe management staff brings our food out to us. He does the whole cheese shredding dance with us onto our food and we indulge finally! 🙄 By this time, we're starving and just ready to eat. We both ordered the same thing which was the "Chicken Alfredo with Broccoli"! The food was warm but not hot and the chicken wasn't seasoned at ALL!! I assume they felt like the salt on the glasses of our beverages would make up for the unseasoned chicken/pasta! At this point we're so hungry we just chose to season our own food with the salt/pepper shakers on the table which was fine at this point! After we finished eating it took the waiter another 20 minutes to acknowledge that we're done eating. He mozzie on over to us and because we've sat there ample enough time waiting, we knew what Cheesecakes we wanted to order and to close out our tabs and bring the check. This location is getting just like the Lenox Mall location when it comes to wait times and customer service....POOR! We like this restaurant but have agreed to take a break from them because they are all progressively giving out poor/slow...

Disappointed and satisfied . We came here March 4th ,2021 . Party of eight 5 kids 3 adults . I called this location 2 days prior to visiting after trying to online reserve and seeing it wouldn't let you for parties over six . It says to call and speak directly with someone . I called and explained the gentleman was very nice he asked how many I said 8 people . He then told me the online reservation won't let more than six I said yes that's why I called I was expecting for him to say let me go ahead and put you in nope smh he said we only can do walk ins for parties over 6 . I think thats kind of weird most places are going to definitely take the large party down to be prepared for a better experience if you know ahead of time you can more properly accommodate. I explained to him it was my daughter's 13th birthday and we had 5 kids and would be driving from Covington ga which is 45 to 50 min drive so I really wanted to get those reservation in because I know an additional wait after a long drive wouldn't be pleasant on anyone he still didn't take it smh . I asked my daughter are you sure she said she really wanted to go so smh ok we go.Im big on birthdays but this year's birthdays are even more important to make special because my mother died in August and my dad in November so my kids have loss a lot and this is the first year of holidays birthdays without grandparents that have been a part of everything each year. So we get there at 8 again I say it's my daughter's birthday party of 8 the guy at the desk says ok 45 min wait maybe sooner ok so we get seated at 9pm . The server was pleasant he asked were we just visiting or celebrating again I say it's my daughter's birthday he says happy birthday ask her age and service begins . Now the reason I give 4 stars and say satisfied is because the food as far as flavor was great . Issues with the food were my sister ordered a ribeye it came with asparagus and mashed potatoes both were cold flavorful but cold . My daughter the birthday girl ordered a chicken but with fries never received the fries but was charged for them . My little cousin ordered his food to go a turkey burger which was told in the actual ordering process was leftist the waiter remember apologized comped it and still forgot the fries smh . At 945 in the middle of eating we were informed that we had to place any order for dessert now because they are basically closed smh and we all placed cheesecake orders yet somehow only 3 cheesecake came out somehow everyone else's wasn't heard or something . While eating they sung Happy Birthday to 3 other tables so of course my daughter was anticipating hers yet again a let down even my 6 year old said they didn't sing Keilah happy birthday smh I always every year make sure we go to places that do . I feel if that first guy we spoke to just would have said let me just take the reservation and note it's 2 over something all this could've been prevented they had an opportunity to deliver quality service and didn't ! Food good but cold , service rushed even if you're closing service should be good to the very last customer is gone smh . Our ticket was 347.00 and I tipped 60$ cash because I know that's how they make their money but I said then soon as I get home I'm definitely reviewing them because this location took something that should of been special and good experience ...