Review of The Cheesecake Factory

The Cheesecake Factory
Perimeter Location
4400 Ashford-Dunwoody Rd., Ste. 3005
(Attached to Perimeter Mall -
facing Ashford-Dunwoody Rd.)
Atlanta, GA 30346-1513
(678) 320-0201
http://www.thecheesecakefactory.com/
Valet service available.

Hours:
Monday - Thursday: 11:00 am - 11:00 pm
Friday & Saturday: 11:00 am - 12:30 am
Sunday: 10:00 am - 11:00 pm







Becca visited The Cheesecake Factory – Perimeter location for dinner on April 6th, 2007 with her mother, Pattie.

What did you order? How was your food?

I ordered a Singapore Sling cocktail from the “Classics” selections. The menu says, “From the Long Bar of the Raffles Hotel in Singapore. An Authentic Blend of Bombay Gin, Cherry Liqueur, Lime and Grapefruit.” This turned out to be a bad choice to accompany my meal. My mom, Pattie, ordered a Bikini Martini - “Malibu and Cruzan Pineapple Rums with Pineapple Juice. Delicious!” She liked it, and my small sip of it confirmed that the Bikini Martini is indeed delicious.

My entrée was the Kobe Burger, “American Kobe Beef with Sauteed Mushrooms and Onions on a Toasted Brioche Bun. Served with Fries,” and my mom’s was the California Omelette, which contains avocados, sautéed mushrooms, green onion, tomato, sour cream, a bit of garlic and shallots, and jack, cheddar, and swiss cheese. For dessert, we shared a slice of Godiva Chocolate Cheesecake, described as “Layers of Flourless Godiva Chocolate Cake, Godiva Chocolate Cheesecake and Chocolate Mousse.”

Everything we ordered was good, especially the delicious cheesecake. What else would you expect from an establishment called “The Cheesecake Factory?” However, there were two items we would not order again – the Singapore Sling was fun because it is a vintage drink, but it was much too sweet to compliment my burger. It resembled cough syrup. Also, my mother did not enjoy the home fries that came with her omelet. She thought they had a bland flavor.

The Kobe Burger was very good and cooked to a perfect medium, but it was not as flavorful as my very favorite burgers, and I was surprised that the Kobe beef was not noticeably different than ordinary beef. Even though I enjoyed it, I would try a different entrée next time to experiment. I think that my mother would be happy to eat the California Omelette again, though, because she loved it. (Anything with avocados is scrumptious, right?). But again, the best thing about our dinner was… CHEESECAKE! I want to try them all!

Describe your impressions of the service. Was anything exceptionally good (or bad) about the quality of service you received?

Service was wonderful, especially for Friday dinner when the restaurant was crowded. There were three hosts at the entrance, each with their own computer, and we were seated immediately. Our server was a pleasant young woman who never left us alone for too long, and other servers assisted in bringing extra condiments and joked with us. When we left, another server and a manager said goodbye to us. The great service made us feel at home, and one especially friendly male server was hilarious.

What do you think of the décor and atmosphere?

The Cheesecake Factory is a family-friendly restaurant, but it’s more upscale than Ruby Tuesday or Chili’s - perhaps a half-step up from Outback, Copeland's or Carrabba's. It definitely has a themed, Disney, theatrical feel inside. The décor is dominated by massive obelisks and Egyptian sculptures. Everything is a warm cream color resembling cheesecake, with hand-painted accents on the King Tut busts and papyrus leaves. In addition, the bar is topped with a metal, whimsical awning in coppery colors, and the windows and glass partitions throughout the restaurant are decorated with etched swans and elegant designs.

The music has a modern R&B feel. Selections included Michael McDonald and an R&B cover of Don Henley’s “The Heart of the Matter.” We were seated in a small booth. It’s casual, but if you dress up you will not feel out of place. The crowning feature is the bakery at the entrance where cheesecakes and other delights are sold. Overall, the atmosphere is pleasant and fun. It's not very romantic because of the volume of the crowd and the lack of intimate atmosphere, but it's perfect for families or groups of friends. There is also an outdoor patio where a group of diners were braving the frigid, hurricane-like winds.

Do you consider this a good value for the money you spent? If no, why not?

Yes. We ended up spending about $50 without tip for dinner for two with dessert, including cocktails. That’s a fair price, especially with the excellent service and the strong cocktails.

On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 1 being the worst and 10 being the best), how would you rate this restaurant compared to the other restaurants you visit on a regular basis.

7.5

This restaurant is best for (Choose all that apply)

• Good food
• Quick bite
• Family-friendly
• Outdoor