Cheesecake Factory

[beatlebutt81]

How did you get an invitation to the "mock run?" I would've loved to have done that

[Patrick]

Oh well, perhaps the high demand will warrant a second OKC location, perhaps "chain city " aka Bricktown.

Don't email Randy Hogan with your suggestion! LOL!

[metro]

How did you get an invitation to the "mock run?" I would've loved to have done that

Restaurants typically invite families of workers as well as movers and shakers in the community to trial runs so they can work out the kinks. I happen to fall into the latter category.

[keving]

Last night was their grand opening.

I went with two friends of mine for a congratulatory dinner. One of them got a new job and the other got his driver's license (he moved here from Wales).

When we arrived, we were held in the foyer for about 5 minutes to "let the crowd inside die down". However, once allowed in, we were immediately seated. We ordered a bottle of wine and it was eventually brought to our table (15 minutes). The waitress did not know how to open it but there was a guy shadowing her. He didn't sound like he was from this part of the country and there were lots of people like him helping out the actual servers.

Anyway, we ordered the food while waiting for the wine. I got the Chicken Costoletta (very yummy) while my friends ordered the Orange Chicken (he said it as good) and the Chicken Jumbalaya. She said it was good, although it defaults with pasta and she ordered it with rice. However, it came with pasta... one of the servers immediately noticed and offered to fix the problem but she declined fearing a long wait for the correct plate.

We also ordered desserts... We ordered the Toblerone Swiss Almond Cheesecake, Godiva Chocolate Cheesecake and the Apple Crumb with ice cream. I had the Toblerone and it was very good, although there was some sort of icing or ganache on the top that was way to rich to eat in one sitting. The apple crisp looked and tasted delicious. My friend that ordered the Godiva Chocolate Cheesecake loved it and this is coming from a guy that had a really really bad experience with a cheesecake about 10 years ago. So much that the smell of cheesecake made him sick.

So, a bottle of wine, three entrees and three deserts came out a little over $100. We made it out in about 1 hour 40 minutes and had a good time. All in all, the service was good although slow at times and the food was great. The true test will be in about 3-6 months when all the "helpers" are gone and they have settled in.

[y_h]

Keving, for future reference, don't hesitate to send back an item you order at CF. My experience has always been that the kitchen puts those orders at the top of the stack and the turnaround usually isn't long at all. You also usually wind up with a fresh order and a visit from the manager to make sure everything is okay. I would think that would especially be the case with a new location. I recently ate at the recently opened second St. Louis location of CF and my wife had to send her dish back - it came back out within 5 minutes and was comped by the manager without our even requesting a visit from him.

Here's a couple of notes about CF for those who may have never been to one:

1. The "small salads" aren't small. If you want to start your meal with a salad, consider splitting a small with a dining companion.

2. Try the Buffalo Blasts appetizers if your arteries can stand it. Shredded chicken soaked in wing sauce, stuffed into a wonton wrapper, dipped in a spicy chicken fry batter and deep fried. Delicious if you're not a high risk heart patient.

[keving]

We tried talking her into sending back a dish. I told her they would have probably comp'd her for it since it is their opening and that it would also be at the top of the list. However, she declined.

The table next to us ordered some regular salads. They were HUGE!

[John]

The table next to us ordered some regular salads. They were HUGE!

I've never finished a lunch portion of a salad at CF.

You can never go wrong with any of their salads. Talk about a LOT of food!

[Luke]

Having been to several Cheesecake Factories, I looked forward to one being built just down the road from me. Tonight I decided to take my wife on a date. We got there at about 6:30, got seated a little after 7:00 (they were VERY busy) and enjoyed a great meal. The service was decent (they're still learning) and the food was excellent. Knowing the portions are so big, my wife and I split the Chicken Tostada Salad and a Carrot Cake Cheesecake. It was plenty to eat and it was dee-lish! I'm glad they're here.

[diesel]

Its nice our our Cheesecake Factory is now open but not listed on their website as one that is open or even in Oklahoma.

[diesel]

nice website just got changed...

[labbri_ardenti]

I guess I'm glad it's here, but living in very close proximity, it will impair traffic flow, and I feel the landcaping is far from adequate. There were a number of trees lining the entry of Penn Square - now only a monolithic homage to cheese. We need to enhance our greenbelt requirements (like Edmond) to ensure new construction aesthetically enhances - not detracts - from the environment it is impacting.

[jbrown84]

I was completely pissed and surprised that they ripped all the trees out like that. I was up there the day they did it and was just horrified. Why an upscale restaurant like that doesn't want mature trees in front of it is beyond me. They even ripped out the trees on the opposite side of the road.

[John]

I was completely pissed and surprised that they ripped all the trees out like that. I was up there the day they did it and was just horrified. Why an upscale restaurant like that doesn't want mature trees in front of it is beyond me. They even ripped out the trees on the opposite side of the road.

On the bright side, weren't those just pesky bradford pears? A garbage tree in the landscape world.

[jbrown84]

True, but they look good when they're in bloom.

[Patrick]

On the bright side, weren't those just pesky bradford pears? A garbage tree in the landscape world.

Most restaurants desire good views from the road. The trees were simply in the way. Penn Square mall management is going to start a multimillion dollar outside campus renovation next year, so don't worry about the landscaping.

[rxis]

The food, service, and building is nicer in Dallas but then again its Dallas.
I think its pretty cool that we have a CF here. The service was very slow but they did just open recently so I'll give it some time before judging. Seemed like the staff was excited to get started, no?

[rxis]

oh yea. The salad didn't come out as ordered but they corrected it almost immediately.

[John]

True, but they look good when they're in bloom.

They also smell hideous when in bloom, too! :spin:

[bandnerd]

^^ I had been thinking the same thing. There are prettier trees that have nice flowers AND can stand up to a windstorm. Bradford pears are just SO Edmond, maybe they could do something different?

***The above remark is not meant to be inflammatory or derogatory to Edmondites in any way; but you have to admit, the Bradford pear tree is EVERYWHERE in that town. I speak from personal knowledge as I lived there for 5 years.

[metro]

I ate their again late on Saturday night. The food was as always excellent. I had the fried macaroni and then a piece of Kahlua Coffee Cheesecake. I was a little hesitant about the macaroni but it was amazing and would definitely order it again. Service was extremely slow again however.

[sweetdaisy]

Went to CF tonite with some friends. Food was excellent (Steak Diane and Caramel Heath Cheesecake - OMG!), but our service was horrendous. Our waiter flat stunk. I watched other tables being served quickly and their wait staff was extremely attentive, but our guy just didn't seem all that interested in being a good waiter to our table. By the time we received our $150 check, his tip had dwindled to the size of the tax, which I thought was too much.

Will definately be back, but will make sure he is never my waiter ever again.

[Patrick]

Unfortunately, there is a bad waiter or waitress anywhere you go.

[BDP]

I just wish they would have gone two story with this one. It's going to stay booked up constantly offering the limited space it has.

Yeah, that place is a zoo. I bet they feel stoopid for not entering this market earlier. For better or worse, it's a chain food gold mine.

I'd like to see them and other heavy hitters on the canal in bricktown proper. They would do a nice job with one of the larger rooms and could do it two story. I'm not a fan, but it seems like this is what the canal property owners want. If that's the case, then they need to get some people like CF that know how to do touristy restaurants well.

[y_h]

I'd like to see them and other heavy hitters on the canal in bricktown proper. They would do a nice job with one of the larger rooms and could do it two story.

I can't imagine Bricktown not getting a Cheesecake Factory. Assuming that they maintain a good business at Penn Square they'll almost certainly snag a spot in Bricktown somewhere on the canal. They'd be fools not to.

[John]

Them limiting the size of the Penn Square location could show promise for eventually adding another store in the city.