The Cheesecake Factory will open in Syracuse with a Big Bang for us

Coming in two weeks. Please, train away, Cheesecake Factory managers.

Coming in two weeks. Please, train away, Cheesecake Factory managers.

A cheer erupted within The Cheesecake Factory-to be at the mega shopping, dining and entertainment complex Destiny USA in Syracuse, N.Y.

This I know because my face was pressed up against the window, like the proverbial kid and the candy store. (Grown me, though, made sure not to leave any tell-tale nose prints.)

We’ve been waiting for this restaurant to open for months now.

My darling daughter Elisabeth and her wonderful boyfriend George even gave us a gift card at Christmas, and I quickly piped up with the promise that once it opens, my dear wife Karen and I will invite them out to The Cheesecake Factory for a double date. (As we’ve already done happily at P.F. Chang’s and Cantina Laredo, I might add, as the new wing of what used to be known as plain, old Carousel Center opened and restaurants not found beforehand in Central New York one-by-one sprung their doors.)

We may have the most anticipation for The Cheesecake Factory.

We have not eaten at one ever before.

Talk about good advertising, Penny. Penny. Penny. (From wiki)

Talk about good advertising, Penny. Penny. Penny. (From wiki)

But all four of us are big fans of CBS comedy “The Big Bang Theory.”

And on that deliciously funny show, Penny long was a waitress at The Cheesecake Factory while she attempted to land acting parts. Boyfriend Leonard and the gang, Sheldon, Amy, Howard, Bernadette, Raj, have eaten there sometimes while Penny’s serving. (The most recent shows saw her quit the waitressing gig to concentrate on acting, but who knows?)

So the question remains: How many people will bore their wait staff in real life Cheesecake Factory situations by blurting out this buzz phrase of Sheldon’s? “Penny. Penny. Penny.” I may. We shall see what the mood around the table is like.

As I power-walked through the new wing this week, the coming-soon boards were down and I spied the outside ambience that will be for our Destiny USA Cheesecake Factory for the first time.

Training is in progress, a placard read. The opening will be Feb. 11.

Learn and keep that cheerful attitude, please and thank you.

Learn and keep that cheerful attitude, please and thank you.

I poked all around. Nice.

Soon after that date, we four will go inside. I will be thinking happy thoughts of Leonard and Penny, and the whole hilarious crew sitting around a table.

Earlier this week, a conversation about the pending opening included a friend who’d experienced what is the Cheesecake Factory in another city.

This opinion was offered. I noticed in his tone a hint of disapproval:

“It’s a slightly nicer Ruby Tuesday’s.”

Goodie. We like Ruby Tuesday’s.

Have you ever eaten at a Cheesecake Factory? What did you think about the food and service if you did? Do you or do you not simply love “The Big Bang Theory” and its funny and quirky cast of characters? Have you said “Penny. Penny. Penny” out loud at any time in your life? Did the people around you get the humor or merely stare at you with that look in their eyes?

One more entry into the ever-growing Destiny USA dining lineup.

One more entry into the ever-growing Destiny USA dining lineup.

32 thoughts on “The Cheesecake Factory will open in Syracuse with a Big Bang for us

  1. Pingback: Awful lived between good bread and great cheesecake | markbialczak

  2. Pingback: Cheesecake Factory, here we come (one perhaps in leather) | markbialczak

  3. Mark … We have a Cheesecake Factory in Orlando. It’s where we celebrated the second part (dessert) of my birthday. The food is decadent, delicious and deadly (as in calories). But, hey! You only live once. Enjoy! 😉

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  4. I have been to the one in Austin many times. It is enormous (as is the menu, as you were told). The last thing I ordered sounded like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Chicken; I can’t recall. They do the walls faux crumbling like you are in an old Egyptian palace. Our waiter was good. His name was Jeshua, which I remember bc that is weird. My biggest CF memory was 7-8 yrs ago and my boss took us all there at XMas for cheesecake. I ordered the dark choc raspberry, and that first bite made me pound my fist against the table like Sally in “When Harry Met Sally.” For once I was like, “I’ll have what I’m having.”

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  5. I do not simply love TBBT. I ABSOLUTELY ADORE LOVE AND CHERISH that show! And I have eaten at the Cheesecake Factory. I’ve always had good luck there with my food. Nothing bad, ever. I’ve always enjoyed my visits there. I’m wondering now if I should probably go just to check it out and make sure it’s up to snuff for you…..I would do that for you.

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  6. exiting news afoot, mark! i think you’ll all love it. i went to one in chicago, and what struck me was how stupefied and overwhelmed i was by the massive menu. i simply could not narrow it down to a category. when our food arrived, everything was equally as massive in size as the menu had been. and i loved it. every bite, and my leftovers too. have fun, good luck with the menu, and tell us all about it ) ps – yes, i love bbt

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  7. You have to love Big Bang Theory, and your being a fan comes out valiantly by quoting and referencing aspects from the show. Many of my friends are Big Bang fans, and my parents sing “Soft Kitty” to Lou, the cat. Big Bang is one of those show where a response, positive or eye-rolls from those around you, should be anticipated and enjoyed. Those who understand appreciate, and those who roll their eyes are simply missing out.

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  8. We have a Cheesecake Factory here in the Tampa Bay area at the International Mall, the lines are always crazy long and people just love it! The food portions are huge, but I get my occasional urge satisfied at the local Starbucks desert counter!

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  9. Crazy timing. I just took one of those Facebook quizzes (I know, I know, welcome back to 2007) about BBT and got told I was Leonard. I haven’t watched since season 1 so I don’t know if that is good or not.

    Now, Cheesecake Factory. I agree with the upscale Ruby Tuesday, but I like RT so that works for me. Depending on what you get, the portions are huge for the entrees. The menu is a mini-notebook and, ten years after they opened in Richmond, there is usually a wait for a table whenever you go.

    Then of course, the cheesecake. Yum. I may go to the one here and just get a slice to go. It’s dairy, so that’s good for me, right?

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