I hear ya. It took us 3 years to make the 30-40 minute trek to visit the one near us. Might go there once a year or so now.

Not yet.
But, its on my list of things to do.
There are two about 30 minutes away.
One; because of traffic congestion from hellI wouldn't go to on-a-bet
ANY
day/time of the week! The other, we've talked about; but, just haven't quite been able to coordinate a mutually convenient "when".
Enduring commercials is the price you pay for free television.

I've been to them a couple of times. The food is good but pricey. The big problem is the ones in the Chicago area lie mainly in extremely crowded shopping malls, so parking is a pain in the ass virtually any time you want to go there.
Just not worth the expense and aggravation for me. Plus, I'm very big on eating in the same locations all the time, typically when they have deals (like wing nights at BWW or $6 cheeseburgers at Chili's).
Chicago Cubs
:
WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS!!!

Yes, I've always wondered about that. It's a pretty fancy place, decoration wise, completely different from the show. The show makes it look like a casual cafe.

No, I have never been to one. There isn't one around me and I was never interested enough to seek one out.

and I dine quite regularly upstairs at the Cheesecake Factory that's across from the Convention Center,
Let's not forget the Daily Grill about a block away. The 522 stops within a couple blocks at 6th & Union. Straight shot from our house.
caution: posts may contain sarcasm

This message has been deleted.

The Cheesecake Factory as a part of the show has always interested me for a few reasons.

1. They had to have gotten clearance from Cheesecake Factory to use the name on the show. You'd think someone with Cheesecake Factory would have supplied them with a set of proper uniforms for the people on the show who work in the restaurant.
2. As mentioned by a few, the restaurant on the show looks nothing like a Cheesecake Factory I've ever been to. I'm surprised the restaurant didn't supply them with a few decorative items in order to make it look more authentic. I'm sure they could have sent a team of their decorators to assist the set crew.
3. I've never seen a Cheesecake Factory commercial during the show. One would have thought they'd run a commercial in order to entice the viewers who may now be interested in the restaurant. They could have even created a special TBBT Cheesecake as a tie-in.
   I think the uniform is what bugs me the most. its such an easy and cheap detail to get accurate.
   You forgot your thingy!- Eddie, Empire Records

Whenever I'm in Seattle, which is usually every other month or so, my friend and I dine quite regularly upstairs at the Cheesecake Factory that's across from the Convention Center, on my last day there. The food is always excellent, the service quick and attentive, and it's right next to transportation for when I leave to come back home.
It has always seemed to me like the writers of the show have never been to one, since the one they depict on the show always looks more like a Denny's. Maybe the name suggests something more tacky to them, but the one in Seattle is quite elegant.
The decorating is not to my personal taste, of course, with that faux-Italian-modernist dcor and murals, and those ugly purple stalactite light fixtures but it's sure a lot nicer than that dump on the show.
One other thing: In all the times we've had dinner there, we have
never even once
had a waitress. It's always been a waiter. And their table-service personnel are always dressed in black pants and a white shirt not that cheap, lunch-counter get-up that Penny always used to wear straight from home, rather to my horror and disgust.

But most of us agree that
How many do you have running around up in there?
Yesterday was windy and rainy and I didn't feel like going out, so I amused myself by baiting you fools longer than I usually would.

And how does this pertain to The Big Bang Theory?
Don't you watch the show? The guys all eat at one regularly and for the first six or seven seasons, the "failed actress" worked in one as a means of making a living. She was always there while they were having dinner, or she was leaving for work in her uniform, or coming back still wearing it.
But most of us agree that none of the restaurants we've been to are as tacky as the one in the show.

And how does this pertain to The Big Bang Theory?

The closest one is about 40-45 minutes away. I've never been, but I've heard nothing but good things about the chain in general.
Same here. Which is why even though it's been open for 3+ years, this was our first visit. It was worth the trip.

I have no desire to derail the whole thread
I'm glad.

That wasn't supposed to be veiled, and frankly, I'm not sure how there could be a discussion. But you're right; I have no desire to derail the whole thread, and if I did want to I should be denied the satisfaction.

It's not a place I've visited when I've been to the US. And the US is not a place I'm likely to visit while they have a psychopath as head of state.
Please, nobody bite on the thinly veiled attempt to spin this off into a political discussion. Let's stay on topic for a change.
Thanks.

My closest is about twelve hours away, if you include getting through passport control and Customs.
It's not a place I've visited when I've been to the US. And the US is not a place I'm likely to visit while they have a psychopath as head of state.

The closest one is about 40-45 minutes away. I've never been, but I've heard nothing but good things about the chain in general.
"Two gin and Frescas"
"Shaken, not ridiculed"

I go there with my husband fairly regularly because we live close to one and we enjoy the atmosphere. It has changed a lot since it first opened, but we still like the food. We try a different cheesecake every time we go.

Used to take mom there for lunch for her birthday, and the Orange Chicken was fairly inexpensive, and the portion size was enough for 2-3 meals for mom. Haven't been for a while, but they just opened a new one in our town, so I will surely be going sometime soon.

Thanks. Sunday Brunch was a crazy time to go. Since it was just my wife and I, we were seated at a small table for 2 almost immediately. Parties of 4+ were waiting 45 minutes - and larger parties had an hour+ wait. The place was PACKED.

It's been a while, but a good option is to go between 4-6 on weekdays for the happy hour menu. It's mostly appetizers, but you can actually make a good meal out of different appetizers.
http://www.thecheesecakefactory.com/media/menus/Happy-Hour/Happy_Hour_V1_STAN_8.16.pdf