It just goes to show that the kinds of people who like the Cheesecake Factory are also the kinds of people who are willing to shell out good money to access the Zagat website.

This is supposed to be a "Fast Food Survey" and they are talking about "Best Full Service Restaurant"? I have eaten at many Cheesecake Factory locations around the country and, while most of the food has been good, it was nowhere near fast. And that's not counting the waiting for a table. To be blunt I have yet to find a restaurant that's worth waiting more than an hour to be seated, and the ones that are take reservations.

I did the Cheesecake Factory once and was not impressed. I don't get it either. Panera's is decent, but Starbucks? Well, it is usually fast.

Cheesecake Factory is pretty good and their wheat bread when served warm is yummy. Most of the food is good but obviously something was amiss.

They did a food thing here in Arizona and Oregano's (which does have some good food) won virtually every category. It was amusing some of the categories it won (such as fast food since it definitely isn't).

In-N-Out is pretty good and the people working there (at least the ones I visit) always seem to be very polite and efficient. Very well run company (private and family run I believe).

I'm getting Red Robin as the Best Full-Service Burger, when I look at the linked page.

I don't understand the draw of the Cheesecake Factory. The food is decent, I suppose, but as you said, EL, I wouldn't wait an hour to eat there. Has anyone noticed that they always tell you the wait in minutes, such as "The wait is 90-120 minutes" instead of one and one half to two hours? I suppose it sounds better in minutes.

If the Cheesecake Factory didn't tap into some populist mind-control brainwave, they wouldn't have those insane two hour-long waits.

I agree that the food seems more popular than it should be, but if I ever encounter those kinds of crowds at Helmand or Salt or Woodberry or -- Heaven forbid, Chameleon Cafe -- I fear I'd have trouble waiting for a table there, too.

Add to that, the Harborplace location also has a massive tourist factor adding to it. A 'Factory just opened up in my hometown. Crowded and popular, yes -- but hardly the Soviet breadline that one finds at the Pratt Street Pavillion.

As far as CHEESEcake and Baltimore are concerned, most so called diners in this town love huge portions. I have eaten at the Cheese and have had a hard time finishing a half portion or a lunch size entree. Next time, look around, there are quite a few heavy weights cleaning their plates!

I agree with the non-waiters. I refuse to wait in line for up to 2 hours for food that is best ok. Especially when there are so many other places that are as good if not better.

I agree with Panaras as best fast food sandwich. In fact they have what I think is the best and reasonably priced fast food meal. My son and I eat there almost every week and their sandwiches are great and so are most of their soups. We get a really nice meal for around $20.

I think people like Cheesecake Factory because of the breadth of the menu. If you're taking kids or a large group, you're guaranteed to find something that everyone can be at least sort of happy with.

I don't know about your family, WillClark4HOF, but I know that if I were down at Harborplace with some of my younger relatives, they sure wouldn't be "at least sort of happy with" a 2-hour wait just to be seated, let alone to be fed.

Unfortunately, I have had to wait on many a Cheesecake Factory line since I travel a bit, and colleagues/family seem to like it an awful lot.

I'd like to say that the Harborplace location is an anomaly with their long wait time but not so. The Annapolis location is just as bad and I have found the same in King of Prussia, Florida and plenty others.

I think they just happen to choose very well traveled and often tourist-laden locations. Their menu is consistent thus familiar so it appeals to many.

Eh, they're not bad. Certainly never my first choice, and certainly not fast food by any stretch of the imagination (even if there isn't a wait.) But if I'm told that is where we are going to be eating, I eat a snack before heading out the door. Nothing worse that being ravenous and knowing it will be another hour before you even see a morsel.

I have also noticed that some restaurants tell you there is, say, a 45-minute wait but consistently seat you within 30 minutes. Probably psychological to make you think they're being nice. Also means you can't wander about because you don't know when you will be called.

Is the wait just as bad at the new one in Towson?

i was just under the impression that the cheesecake factory was........ahem......no offense........a bit ghetto.

Well, you'd be wrong. EL

I'll gladly pay you Tuesday for a Chipotle burrito today.

If I remember correctly, I panned the Cheesecake Factory's grilled cheese sandwich in the takeout food column a couple years ago. Very meh.

i have only been a witness of the harbor, towson, and king of prussia versions. there are probably better ones out there. sorry about that.

Ghetto? What does that mean, low-income? Cheesecake Factory isn't cheap, is it? And Towson isn't real low-income either, dunno. Seems like an odd impression to have...

I agree with Maggi. If the group I am with insists on Cheesecake Factory I know I will get something good to eat. The black pepper shrimp is really very good. Good selection of wines by the glass and usually atleast one local brew on tap. Certainly not worth a long wait but if you go at an off time you can get a good lunch for a reasonable price. I do prefer it to the Pratt Street Alehouse by the stadium. If in the Towson area I know I would rather go there than the Blue Stone in Timonium, Graystone in Hunt Valley or Michaels on York Road.

I agree with you Pokey. There is also one in Columbia, which is far from "Ghetto"! I have only been there once for a work lunch, and we did not have to wait at all. Service was quick and efficient for a group of 8, and my meal was average. I would not go out of my way to eat there, but many in my group swear by their food.

I ate at the harbor Cheesecake Factory once, it was about 10 of us for a work luncheon. We got there early, like 11:30 or so and there wasn't but a few minutes' wait. By the time we left, the place had a big line.

And the portions are huge. I remember I got some kind of chicken (marsala maybe?) and it was four (albeit rather small) boneless breasts resting on what appeared to be a whole box of cooked pasta.

Like Phillips in OC, I won't wait two hours to eat okay food.

Speaking of over rated places with long waits, a couple of years ago I visited a cousin in Miami. She, along with many others, said I simply must eat at the stone crab place. (Can't even remember the name) After waiting 90 minutes (1 1/2 hrs in real time), I wandered by the front desk to check on our status and saw many people slipping money to the seating guy and getting fast seats. I was furious. Once we got our food I did not like any of it, the crabs or the sides. Double bleh.

Tweety Cat - that's Joe's Stone Crabs. None of the locals really eat there, I think. It's all tourists. There's another stone crab place nearby and it's half the price and none of the wait!

Stone crabs are ok, but they sure aint steamed blue crabs!

Tweety Cat,
I've heard of that place too. I think its called Joe's Stone Crabs. Which is different (I think) from the Joe's Crab Shack chain.

Joe's Stone Crab is different from the Joe's Crab Shack chain. It has been a staple in Miami/South Beach for years and isn't worth the wait or the price! Just my opinion...

Re: Cheesecake Factory is 'ghetto'

I suppose if one uses the term metaphorically, referring to either the populism of the menu (it's not exactly highbrow), or the broad demographic of its patrons.

A serious food snob could probably find all manner of reasons to look down at the Factory, but one can't deny the simple observation that a whole mess o' people like the joint.

Also, the waits for the 'Factory seem largely confined to the Pratt Street location. Other locations seem nowhere near as persistently busy -- not just Columbia, but locations I've visited in other parts of the country.

I have trouble eating anywhere called a "factory". I don't understand why a place would try to execute a menu the size of a small phone book with ok results, when if they condensed the menu down to say a brochure, they could probably perform that menu with good to great results. As far as ghetto I view the entire harbor place as ghetto. By ghetto meaning kids screaming, tourists not looking where they're going or what they're doing. I do everything to avoid that area like the plague.

I've been to Cheesecake Factory only once, several years ago. My husband and I decided to see the tall ships and celebrate my birthday, and it was mid-week. We wandered all over the place and decided to have early dinner at CF. The line was very short and we got a table pretty fast. Our meals were delicious, and HUGE! We brought the other half of our meals home to enjoy another day. So, the upshot is, my sole experience at CF was a hit. I've wanted to go since, but no meal is worth a 2+ hour wait, so no dice. There's my two-cents worth.

So, I put my cup down near the coffee pot this morning, and there was a full-color tri-fold brochure with gift cards from The Cheesecake factory. Not a clue where it came from. I didn’t have my glasses with me, so I can’t tell you what the text said, but one gift card – already claimed – was for something strawberry. The unclaimed gift card was for one small plate with the purchase of two entrees. Not the greatest bargain, I don’t think, but perhaps it will lengthen those lines a little.

Joe's Stone Crab - Dreaming about that mustard sauce they are dipped in. Yummmm. Worth the flight to Miami