September 17th, 2009:
Cheesecake Factory and Gameworks
Cheesecake Factory and Gameworks
He Said:
I’ve never been one to shy away from a good sized meal. Quite the opposite actually. Back in my hay day, statements like “I’ve never seen someone eat so much” to “I don’t know anyone who can eat more than Lank” through to my favorite “Butter Belly” have been bantered around about the amount of food I’ve consumed in one sitting or another. It really was something to be proud of around the lads. After all, around the lads, who ever can do the most of something or is the quickest at something is the best, right?
The Cheese Cake factory swiftly put me in my place!
Heading down town, Mandy pulled out another cracker of a date night, following up a meal with a visit to Gameworks. For the uninitiated, the Cheese Cake Factory is a “full service” chain restaurant found all across America.
Once we got in, the first thing I noticed was the size of the place.
Along with the food, everything is *ginormous*! I actually think it takes the record for the biggest restaurant I’ve been in. Decorated with obnoxious pillars, grotesque cone-like lights and cheesy wave like art, the theme was unsettlingly surreal.
Be that it was packed with people, I fiercely clung to the hope of getting a good meal. Unfortunately this seemed unfounded as the next sign of my diminishing luck was presented in the form of the menu.
[Holy Menu, Batman!]
It was huge! J R Tolkien himself would have blushed at the size of the thing. Refer back to my Via Tribulani post about keeping it simple. Strike 2, I was pinning my experience on the food and the service. Thankfully the service was fantastic. Our server was polite, quick, and seemed to know most chapters in the novel at hand. Keeping it simple ourselves, I ordered their Steak Dianne and Mandy ordered an Asian Chicken Salad. Both arrived extremely quickly.
[Steak Dianne ($22) and Asian Chicken Salad ($12)]
On a scale from 1 to 10 I’d give my meal a 4. Besides not coming close to finishing it, my steak was extremely salty. This was beyond me, as steaks can take A LOT of salt before you’ll even taste it. God knows how much went into this bad boy. I left the building feeling bloated and parched. Mandy seemed to enjoy her salad a lot more than I did my meal, and complimented the flavor of the dressing.
Would I be back? I don’t think so. There are too many varied and wonderful restaurants in this town. But here’s the thing. 5 years ago, this would have been my favorite place to go. It would have been the number one eatery I would have visited with the lads to eat and get warmed up (lining our stomachs) before a night on the town. How times change.
What’ll never change is my excitement brought on by video arcades.
Gameworks is awesome. It features 2 huge levels of varying video games ranging from the original Pac Man through to state of the art 3D interactive car racing, and everything in between.
[Like a kid in a candy store!]
Some great points to note are that you can get an all-you-can-play pass after 9pm for just $12 bucks. Bargain. And the real winner is there is a full-service bar and diner of which they encourage you to take your drinks anywhere in the venue! Puts a new spin on driving under the influence! I’ll be back ASAP!
Cheers,
Brett
I’ve never been one to shy away from a good sized meal. Quite the opposite actually. Back in my hay day, statements like “I’ve never seen someone eat so much” to “I don’t know anyone who can eat more than Lank” through to my favorite “Butter Belly” have been bantered around about the amount of food I’ve consumed in one sitting or another. It really was something to be proud of around the lads. After all, around the lads, who ever can do the most of something or is the quickest at something is the best, right?
The Cheese Cake factory swiftly put me in my place!
Heading down town, Mandy pulled out another cracker of a date night, following up a meal with a visit to Gameworks. For the uninitiated, the Cheese Cake Factory is a “full service” chain restaurant found all across America.
Once we got in, the first thing I noticed was the size of the place.Along with the food, everything is *ginormous*! I actually think it takes the record for the biggest restaurant I’ve been in. Decorated with obnoxious pillars, grotesque cone-like lights and cheesy wave like art, the theme was unsettlingly surreal.
Be that it was packed with people, I fiercely clung to the hope of getting a good meal. Unfortunately this seemed unfounded as the next sign of my diminishing luck was presented in the form of the menu.
[Holy Menu, Batman!]
It was huge! J R Tolkien himself would have blushed at the size of the thing. Refer back to my Via Tribulani post about keeping it simple. Strike 2, I was pinning my experience on the food and the service. Thankfully the service was fantastic. Our server was polite, quick, and seemed to know most chapters in the novel at hand. Keeping it simple ourselves, I ordered their Steak Dianne and Mandy ordered an Asian Chicken Salad. Both arrived extremely quickly.
[Steak Dianne ($22) and Asian Chicken Salad ($12)]
On a scale from 1 to 10 I’d give my meal a 4. Besides not coming close to finishing it, my steak was extremely salty. This was beyond me, as steaks can take A LOT of salt before you’ll even taste it. God knows how much went into this bad boy. I left the building feeling bloated and parched. Mandy seemed to enjoy her salad a lot more than I did my meal, and complimented the flavor of the dressing.
Would I be back? I don’t think so. There are too many varied and wonderful restaurants in this town. But here’s the thing. 5 years ago, this would have been my favorite place to go. It would have been the number one eatery I would have visited with the lads to eat and get warmed up (lining our stomachs) before a night on the town. How times change.
What’ll never change is my excitement brought on by video arcades.
Gameworks is awesome. It features 2 huge levels of varying video games ranging from the original Pac Man through to state of the art 3D interactive car racing, and everything in between.
Some great points to note are that you can get an all-you-can-play pass after 9pm for just $12 bucks. Bargain. And the real winner is there is a full-service bar and diner of which they encourage you to take your drinks anywhere in the venue! Puts a new spin on driving under the influence! I’ll be back ASAP!
Cheers,Brett
RATINGS:
Cheesecake Factory
700 Pike St,
Seattle, WA
(206) 652-5400
Romance: 2
[despite the photo, wasn't THE most romantic spot.]
Cool Ambiance/Interior: 3
All Around Service: 4
Cost: $$1/2 = entrees from $16 - 25
Would we recommend it? 2: Too many great non-chain restaurants in this city to try!
Cheesecake Factory
700 Pike St,
Seattle, WA
(206) 652-5400
Romance: 2
Cool Ambiance/Interior: 3
All Around Service: 4
Cost: $$1/2 = entrees from $16 - 25
Would we recommend it? 2: Too many great non-chain restaurants in this city to try!
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