The occasion of Mrs. K’s birthday had us seeking an extra Happy Hour destination last Tuesday. She decided that we hadn’t been to The Cheesecake Factory in the Fashion Mall in quite a long time (maybe a decade!), so we headed there. Their HH menu online (menu.thecheesecakefactory.com/in/indianapolis-37/happy-hour) was intriguing, with a great many items listed.
The Cheesecake Factory just looks classic in its design. Muted colors, huge pillars … there’s really a comfortable feeling about the place. Happy Hour is held in the bar area Monday through Friday from 4 to 6 pm. Someone told us that it was very popular and to arrive early to get a table. The bar area isn’t large by any means, but it has an outside ring of booths and an inner area of six or seven four-top tables. Also, there are 12 or so bar stools at the bar proper.
The hostess who sat us brought over a handful of menus: food menus that were book-like, a drink menu booklet, and a specials menu. When we told our waitress Siera that we were there for the Happy Hour, she brought over the smaller HH menu, about the size of a large greeting card. It was filled with all the items we had seen on the internet page.
There are 13 appetizers, all priced at $10.95 and 15 “Small Plates and Snacks” at $9.95. That’s an unusually large selection for Happy Hour. We also noticed a dozen or so specials priced at $8.95 on the regular menu. On top of that, there is a list of five specialty cocktails offered for $8.50 including a margarita and a Long Island iced tea. Selected wines are $8.50 for a 6.5-ounce pour.
We ordered our drinks: the birthday girl got her usual – a house brand Chardonnay, while I opted for the margarita. The cocktail arrived in a rocks glass so the lower price is justified by the eight-ounce-sized drink. Both drinks were fine.
Looking over the menu – we both were drawn to the Happy Hour Burger – described as Double Patties, Double Cheese, Grilled Onions and Special Sauce on a Toasted Brioche Bun. It sounded good so we ordered two – I got mine with an order of fries for $2 more – that’s called a Happy Hour Burger Deluxe!
As we settled in, the place did start filling up. By the time we began eating there were only a table or two vacant, and one booth was empty. A couple sat at the bar. At the end, a family of four with two teens came in and sat in the bar area. I guess it’s allowed behind the rail that separates the actual bar from the sitting area.
The food came and the burgers were large and delicious. We both started by cutting them in half and in the end we took the second halves home for lunch the next day. The fries were nothing special – okay when they were hot, blah after. I won’t go Deluxe again. For the price of $10.50 it really was a lot of food.
Being as it was Mrs. K’s birthday, Siera brought out a little cup of ice cream with hot fudge, whipped cream and sprinkles. She put a candle on the top and lit it – saying “Make a wish!” She was a very good server for us.
It all came to just under $45 plus a tip. I think we will need to come back to try some of the many other items on the HH menu. Plus we really enjoyed being there.
Ken Klingenmeier offers this series of columns, called “A Seat at the Table,” wherein he reviews Indy-area restaurants – specifically their Happy Hour offers. Keep reading The Reporter for future restaurant reviews.