My daughter turned 11 yesterday, and part of the celebration was she could choose where the family would have dinner.
I dreaded her choice, knowing she held your circus cafeteria in great regard. Too often has she walked by the doors and said in a low tone, CHEESECAKE FACTORY.
I knew we were in for a hostage situation of a meal. Waiting too long, given stale rewarmed bread as we ponder how many ways a breaded chicken portion could be represented. And as so many masochists before us, pay way, way too much for the abuse.
By that’s not why I thank you today Cheesecake Factory. I thank you today for totally blowing it on her birthday.
Our likely overworked and underpaid server was a bit exhausted by the news while ordering dessert that we had a birthday at the table.
I understand, it gets to be a lot forcing smiles while singing happy birthday over and over to strangers. In fact, I wasn’t looking forward to it either.
After we made our choice of slow death by whipped dairy, chocolate mousse, tuxedo, or the clown-like CELEBRATION cheesecake, we thought we knew what was coming.
Imagine our surprise when we only got the cake. My daughters face dropped, where was the candle? the singing? the hastily written “Happy Birthday” in chocolate flavored pancake syrup?
Absent!
“I guess everyone else gets birthday candles at Cheesecake Factory she said.”
WOW
Now as a parent, you want to fix things, and in that moment, I thought about demanding it be taken back. But then, I saw the long road ahead.
So instead I said:
“Cheesecake factory sucks.”
and she AGREED!
So thank you Cheesecake Factory, for showing her what hollow hospitality and fake quality looks like.
I am so happy that that was very likely the last time I have to go to one of your locations.
P.S. I don’t blame our server, I blame the stupid place they are stuck working at. But, full disclosure, their tip was reduced, not eliminated.