While Chick-fil-A NYC’s long lines are a testament to the power certain restaurants hold over us, there is nothing comparable to the gravitational pull of The Cheesecake Factory.
With its monstrous menu (250 items), calorie-packed fare, and sheer variety (pot sticker to prime rib), the cult status of arguably America’s best restaurant-chain is undeniable. The statistics alone will astound you: 3.1 million pounds of avocado are used each year, and it is also home to the two most caloric dishes in America.
But we don’t need pure numbers to tell you about its appeal—scan the social feeds of any big-time rapper or athlete and you’re bound to come across some profession of love for the cheesecake empire that was started in a Detroit basement in 1940. In fact, celebrities treat it as a destination—like former NBA-star Antoine Walker, who was once spotted by one of our correspondents at a Vegas CF sporting a Gucci fanny pack.
Without further adieu, here are 9 of the most bizarre and wonderful celebrity moments involving The Cheesecake Factory.
Sh*t so good, it makes Nick Young attempt comedy.
Ah, yes. The Swaggy P tweet to end them all. Once upon a time, a fan posted an image of a couple engaging in an explicit act that looked a whole lot like Swaggy P and Iggy Azalea. Alas, it was not them. But even after the couple identified themselves as lookalikes on Twitter, people were still side-eyeing Swaggy and Iggy as they tried to share their nachos at The Cheesecake Factory. The couple is spotted there a lot; a little Google search yields tons of paparazzi pics. So I guess they’ve gotten over their embarrassment?
J. Cole wants to open one in NYC.
Apparently, J. Cole is a big fan of fruity drinks. In particular, he loves himself a Mai Tai from Cheesecake Factory, so much so that he told New York Magazine that he wanted to open a Cheesecake Factory in New York City because “we need to get one.” He looked into franchising, but apparently CF doesn’t buy into that business model. He’ll just have to become an employee and work his way up.
Even CF got in on the Kanye West prank.
Remember Kanye West’s ‘fish dicks’ incident with South Park? In the days of his blog, Kanye went on a rant about how hurtful the episode was. Afterwards, a Cheesecake Factory manager sent him a plate of fish sticks to clown him, to which he responded with the above blog post (now deleted, but preserved forever in Internet memory.) Some people might forget, but Cheesecake Factory never does.
Romeo Miller gave away a bunch of his money outside a CF establishment.
A photo posted by Romeo Miller aka Maserati Rome (@romeomiller) on
A photo posted by Romeo Miller aka Maserati Rome (@romeomiller) on
In a more heartwarming tale, rapper Romeo Miller is a Cheesecake Factory fan, so much so that when he saw kids selling candy outside the establishment, he gave away all the money he had. “So I’m outside of Cheesecake Factory and I see these little kid’s selling chocolate to raise money and it was only right for me to give them all the cash I had in my pockets,” the rapper wrote on Instagram. Probably better than dropping $20 on a cheesecake, but who’s judging?
Vince Young had a serious[ly disturbing] addiction.
In the most tragic of Cheesecake Factory folklore, former American football quarterback, Vince Young, managed to go broke after making roughly $26 million from his professional NFL career. Why? He dropped major racks on The Cheesecake Factory’s splendors. How much? $5,000 a week, even during his rookie season at University of Texas. That’s a lot of cake, no matter how you slice it.
It’s good enough for Amber Rose (and her baby).
Amber Rose is no stranger to good food. As Nicki Minaj would say, she aint missin’ no meals. So it’s no surprise that the famous bad bitch loves her some Cheesecake Factory, especially for dessert, and particularly when she was pregnant with baby Sebastian. She was spotted by paparazzi getting that Cheesecake Factory curbside to go, and looking good while doing it. Salute, Muva.
Former NBA-player Lindsey Hunter has a CF superstition.
NBA baller Lindsey Hunter loved the Cheesecake Factory so much that his fellow Pistons players used to ban him from choosing the restaurant. “That’s the biggest thing if we’re on the road, I’ve got to find a Cheesecake Factory,” Hunter told the Detroit News. Apparently, he’s not alone.
James Harden consoles his misfortune.
Another story of Cheesecake Factory heartbreak. Apparently, James Harden was dining at the fine establishment when he found out he was being traded to the Houston Rockets. In an Oklahoma City Cheesecake Factory location with his family, the shooting guard was stunned at the news. God bless the unlimited baskets of bread to calm his nerves.
Plies knows to ask for intel before posting up.
Plies is not down for your traditional, basic Cheesecake Factory experience. He needs recommendations, and he needs them outside of your basic cheesecake tastes. What’ll it be, guys? BBQ chicken pizza? Steak Diane? Tex-Mex eggrolls? Plies needs answers, damnit. When it comes to the Cheesecake Factory’s mystique, don’t we all?