I’m the worst kind of restaurant patron…
I’m the worst kind of restaurant patron because I know the business too well, the result of being in the food service profession for decades. I can look at an item and recognize instantly whether it came from US Foods, SYSCO, Restaurant Depot or some other common source. I am also highly critical of the service, both front & back (meaning kitchen staff and waiter/waitress performance). I actually score them on a 1-100 point scale. Yesterday (4/26/26) the impossible happened… The Cheesecake Factory scored a perfect 100. Coming from me, that’s about as rare as seeing Bigfoot riding a unicorn. Our server Sabrina looks like a Sophomore in High School and I wasn’t expecting much. But she upheld all the protocols of high-end, 5-star dining. Things like honoring the 4 minute rule, making sure you are warmly greeted, served water and asked about drinks and appetizers promptly after being seated. Asking the right questions and moving things along in a timely manner…not lingering too long to chat or being absent when we needed something. I even tested her by making overly demanding requests when ordering. I like my filet mignon cooked black & blue (charred on the outside and cool on the inside…almost served raw. Much to my surprise, Sabrina performed more like a seasoned senior waiter usually found in exclusive, private-dining establishments. It’s not common to get such service in an affordable chain restaurant. The orders arrived in exactly the timeframe required (in order for the steaks to properly rest after coming off the flame) and the kitchen crew nailed everything perfectly. Sabrina checked on us periodically without interrupting our conversation and just did a flawless job. I kept waiting for “something”…most servers slip up at some point. Forget to bring something (like a steak knife), or take too long to get something, or asked you to repeat yourself because they weren’t fully focused…there is usually something I can deduct a point for. Nope…not this time. She literally could not have done a better job, zero room for improvement. Like my steak…that’s crazy rare. So impressed with the stellar food and service we received, I asked the Manager how he trains his staff and told him they hire quite well. Many people erroneously consider a job in food service to be a fallback position for those needing any job but at The Cheesecake Factory they select personnel who actually care…who invest themselves in the job and wish to excel. They don’t just hire anybody…they are highly selective and it shows. I have never had a bad experience at The Cheesecake Factory in the Mission Viejo Mall…not one time. They hire right, train right and their employees are highly skilled. If an old, demanding guy like me can leave impressed…you know the restaurant is run right. Go ahead…challenge em…make requests…test them! Just make sure you leave a generous gratuity when they exceed all expectations. The Cheesecake Factory in Mission Viejo…they set the customer service bar so high, those working in other restaurants need to charter a plane just to see it.