July 31, 2010

Cheesecake Factory

Avocado Eggrolls (avocado, sun-dried tomatoes, red onion, cilantro wrapped in a fried wonton, served w/ tamarind-cashew dipping sauce) - $10

Chicken Piccata (sauteed chicken breast w/ mushrooms, capers and lemon sauce over a bed of angel hair pasta) - $11

Grilled Chicken Avocado Club (chicken breast, tomato, lettuce, avocado, bacon, melted Swiss and herb mayo) w/ fries on the side - $12

Chinese Chicken Salad (sliced chicken breast, lettuce, green onions, bean sprouts, wonton strips, rice noodles, tossed in sweet plum dressing) - $8

I dislike being called a foodie because in my mind, that translates to: snob that only enjoys fine-dining. Even if it's snob that enjoys food, the "snob" part is forever linked w/ "foodie." With that disclaimer, I am ironically going to say something snobby: whenever possible, I prefer not to eat at large restaurant chains. I have nothing against them; I'd just rather eat at some hole-in-the-wall hidden gem, that despite a grade B rating, serves some of the most authentic and mouth-watering dishes that don't taste so... factory-made. No, I am not a foodie.

Last Friday, on National Cheesecake Day, the coworkers and I went to Cheesecake Factory (a huge restaurant chain). Cheesecake's menu is, to say the least, daunting. Granted, a good five or six of the fifteen page menu is filled with pictures, ads, and beverage lists, but after leafing through it once, you'll need to leaf through it again because most likely you got lost in the ridiculous sea of choices. If you look carefully, however, you'll notice that many of the dishes share the same, if not similar, ingredients. That's the only way the dishes stay alive and stay printed on the menu, methinks.

All in all, a decent restaurant that has something that's bound to satisfy everyone. And though I'm not a huge cheesecake lover (too dense), I recommend the Adam's PB Cup Fudge Ripple and the Key Lime cheesecake.


cuisine: uhh... American?
location: National
hours: depends on your location
website: { CF | yelp }
good for: L, D
attire: Casual
parking: street or lot
note: If you're in a big group, arrive early because depending on the location, no reservations.

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