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The Cheesecake Factory

Engaged employer

Decent money, but get used to holidays and feeling like you don't matter at all. - Bartender/Server The Cheesecake Factory Employee Review

4.0
Apr 6, 2015
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

-decent money -opportunities to move up/ promotions -staff discount -free meals for double shifts -they attempt to train everyone well and give everyone appropriate knowledge to succeed -food is good, easy to sell -overall staff is welcoming and helpful -suggested gratuity is printed on the bottom of every check and credit card receipt -ability to get shifts covered/ flexible schedule (use of hotschedules) -at my location you can get your shifts covered instead of calling out by offering monetary insentives for others to pick up your shifts -aside from holidays, it is almost always quite busy especially compared to other restaurants -health benefits available: you have to pay for them and you are required to work a certain # of hours each week to keep them

Cons

-guests expect everything for free and many are rude and insulting to staff -there are no automatic gratuities any longer -plan on working every holiday for your entire employment w/ this company -vacation time accrues, but who cares because it is only minimum wage, which when taken is completely eaten by taxes. -1) competent kitchen, 2) competent food runners, 3) competent management, 4) busy enough to make money: pick two. -management is mostly extremely poor -knowledge expected by the company is honestly a quite ridiculous amount, even though the training is somewhat thorough, the extensive knowledge required, is for the large part, unattainable -veteran staff are overworked and relied upon with no gratitude shown -management plays favorites often: certain rules only apply to certain people, if you aren't liked you will be fired one way or another, and only certain staff's guest surveys are posted for everyone to read. -Sundays are required because all of the guests on Sundays are difficult to please and a large majority of them don't tip. -if you have a guest walk-out, you are blamed as inattentive server and forced to pay for their meal or be documented -high turn-around -high suggested tip out amounts -if you do not document your cash and credit tips (separately) and tip out amounts each night for your personal records, you are sometimes required to claim more than you make if you fall short of what you "should be making" according to your sales

Explore other reviews about The Cheesecake Factory

5.0
Jun 25, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Flexible schedule, Steady amount of work throughout the year, Supportive team and management, Understanding for employee situations, Predictable workflow

Cons

Mandatory holiday work, Difficult to get weekends off, Restaurant does not close or slow down unless absolutely necessary

5.0
Apr 11, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The Cheesecake Factory is easily the best company I've ever worked for...and I've been through a lot. Beginning with the company culture, and extending all the way through operations and into our restaurants, I've been inspired every day by the approach everyone takes to their positions and their daily interactions. Other companies hold certain values, but everyone at The Cheesecake Factory believes in and lives by them every day. The warmth and dedication to their individual roles and responsibilities is only amplified by their commitment to integrity, decency, and doing whatever it takes to support every single person else around them. Everyone is not just accepted but welcomed with open arms for who they are and what they bring to the office every day. I couldn't say enough good about this place, and I hope to never leave.

Cons

Like every company that's been around for almost 50 years, it's a little slow to adapt to current times when it comes to technology or a few other recent best practices. But no one is closed to new ideas—it just takes a while for them to take hold. Salary levels are fine, but growth takes time at the company—mainly because no one ever leaves (in a good way)—and that may not be the best fit for everyone. But the pros about this place make it worth it.

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