Audio By Carbonatix
The Cheesecake Factory
19501 Biscayne Blvd., Aventura
305-792-9696 / thecheesecakefactory.com
For most of the everyday folk (myself included),
The Cheesecake Factory is the kind of place only enjoyed on special occasions. For
me, it was the spot for a graduation dinner, a monumental birthday, or a family
gathering. It was not to be visited on just any
day. But this past week, I had a gnawing Cheesecake
craving and no special occasion to excuse an indulgence. Initially, I called Cheesecake
to explore potential lunch specials, only to be pleasantly surprised that they
had a happy hour as well. The call went something like this:
What does the food
menu include?
“Full portion
appetizers for $5. There is also a small plates and snacks menu with price
ranges from $3.95-$5.95, give or take.”
And the drinks?
“Specialty drinks
include cosmos, margaritas, mojitos, Long Islands, and a few others for $5. We
also have wells on special and drafts.”
And this is at all of
your Dade locations?
“Yes, it is, from 4-6 p.m., Monday through Friday at the bar area
only.”
I visited the Aventura Mall location, feeling like I was onto
some secret code. I almost had the urge to scold those shopping for leather pants. “Come inside senseless
people, why pay full price when you don’t have to?!” I resisted.
Once at the bar, the $5 happy hour menu exploration began.
Food orders included the fried calamari, Tex Mex egg rolls (spicy chicken, corn, black beans, peppers, onions, and
melted cheese), and a sausage and ricotta fresh baked pizzette (fontina,
parmesan and Romano cheeses, and garlic crumbs). Drinks included a Long Island
Ice Tea and a strawberry mojito. As we waited for everything to be served, I anticipated a catch; maybe an eight ounce drink or a smaller portion of
food. Not so. Three people couldn’t
have finished all the food, and one drink was the size equivalent of two
elsewhere.
In the end, there were no tricks, just treats.
the cost with a few gal pals after a shopping trip or with buddies for a quick
meal, and you’ve got a hell of a deal.
Other participating locations:
