Life Focus: Restaurant Review

Overflowing parking lots and long lines at the Galleria Mall had very little to do with the after holiday sales this season.

Since The Cheesecake Factory opened its doors, patrons have endured up to a three-hour wait for a table and it has quickly become one of the area's newest hot spots. Apparently, everyone wants to see what the hype is all about for themselves.

Originally started in Beverly Hills, Cal., the upscale restaurants are now a national chain.

Upon entering the palace-like entryway, guests are floored by a colorful yet classy atmosphere tempting patrons to skip the meal and head right for the dessert. A full glass display case of baked goods filled to the brim with every flavor of cheesecake imaginable brings new meaning to temptation.

A large bar rests in the middle of the room, surrounded by rows of booths and tables. Televisions are hung around the top of the bar broadcasting national sporting events, providing the atmosphere of a mini sports bar.

The servers and hostesses are dressed in white button up dress shirts and slacks. Sounds of families talking while sharing a good meal and dishes clattering flood the room.

The extensive menu, which is more like a book, includes a selection of pastas, seafood, sandwiches, hamburgers and cheesecakes.

And just when you're feeling like a little kid in Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory with all of the choices, there are additional pages full of appetizers, wines and liquors. Some of the specialty selections include fried calamari, Hungarian beef goulash, crab cakes and a breakfast menu.

Although the restaurant isn't just about the cheesecake, it makes up the largest portion of the menu. With pages and pages of varieties of cheesecake and other desserts, even those who aren't typically fond of the creamy creations can find something to enjoy. Here, your every craving can be fulfilled.

On a diet? There is even a "six-carb cheesecake."

While the food is better than the average restaurant, the prices are more as well. Soup or salad can add an extra $8 to the bill. Pasta and seafood options are around $12 to $20. Most breakfast entrees, including omelettes, start at $10.

There are a variety of meal options, however, that will accommodate even the smallest budget. My companion ordered the Renee's Special, one of many all inclusive meal options, combining soup, salad and a sandwich or entr?(c)e for a lower price. She chose a cup of broccoli cheese soup, a house salad and a turkey club sandwich for $10.

My four-cheese pasta dish, which I highly recommend, was $12.95. As a plus, we arrived before the dinner rush and waited a mere half hour.

The portions were generous, with more than enough to share, but remember to leave room for dessert. Luty, Winnie and Ronnie, three girls sitting near our table, chose to split the pesto chicken pizza and a cobb salad.

One of the trademarks of the Cheesecake Factory is its reputation for excellent service. Despite the chaos of the restaurant, the servers were prompt, polite and genuine. The service was matched only by the freshness and taste of the meal.

The only pitfall of the Cheesecake Factory is the size. Although they are able to accommodate more guests than your average restaurant, diners were a bit crammed and the noise level was through the roof. It is just one of those places where you're going to get to know your neighbors in the next booth very well, mostly because you can hear their entire conversation. But, then again, it is a "factory."

Their hours of operation are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Sundays. They are located next to Dick's Sporting Goods at the Walden Galleria Mall in Cheektowaga.

There is valet and self-parking available, as well as a "Curbside To Go Service." Simply call ahead to place an order, park in their allotted curbside to go parking spaces in front of the restaurant and then call their pickup line to let them know you've arrived.

Overall Rating: Three out of four cheesecakes.