Quote:Originally posted by CorinneM1:
[b]MommaBear--
Which location did you go to? The North Shore or Downtown?[/b]
Woodfield. I'm planning on lunching with the cubs and grandma at Oak Brook soon....
Again, no advice, just my own personal, highly individual and possibly unique situation. IMMV.

Cheesecake Factory in Minneapolis is the only restaurant that has ever declined to serve me. We were going there for a family function and I called ahead. Spoke with the manager and he stated that due to the variety of items on their menu that the restaurant could not assume any responsibility for the chance of cross-contamination with peanuts and that I should simply avoid eating there. That's customer service.

Quote:Originally posted by stimpsjd:
[b]Cheesecake Factory in Minneapolis is the only restaurant that has ever declined to serve me. We were going there for a family function and I called ahead. Spoke with the manager and he stated that due to the variety of items on their menu that the restaurant could not assume any responsibility for the chance of cross-contamination with peanuts and that I should simply avoid eating there. That's customer service.[/b]
It's an annoying and frustrating response from the manager, but really, wouldn't you rather he/they be honest with you about it rather than give you a false promise of no cross-contamination? For me, I prefer that if they don't feel comfortable guaranteeing a peanut and cross-x meal for me, that they tell me. I'm ok with places telling me it's not safe for me to eat there. It's really their right to refuse to serve, even if it seems unfair to us PA folks.
Adrienne
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30-year old survivor of severe peanut/tree nut allergy

FWIW, i've always found Cheesecake Factory very accomodating, but it's important to notify them of the allergy *even if you think the food you're ordering should be safe.* We go to the location in Westbury, NY.
My girl always gets penne with butter sauce (ahh, toddler food) and one day at CF, she stuck her fork in and found a whole peanut smack in the middle of her pasta. 8| As it turns out, we hadn't mentioned it that say -- we're there a lot and got to feeling a little too safe -- and the staff was very apologetic. It turns out that pasta is made at stations where various garnishes are available. I wouldn't have dreamed it.
And, go figure, if you don't tell them to be extra-careful, they'll have no reason to think of it...
Anyway, my girl fihed the peanut out with a fork, not her fingers, and showed it to me before she ate anything. No reaction. She got special rewards that day for doing exactly the right thing, and we still go back -- but now she takes extra care to tell them she's allergic to peanuts her own self.
Comfort zones & YMMV, yadda yadda. I'm still comfortable going there, though we order a limited number of things. Some of you might take my story and never go back, though.

My son had his first reaction at The Cheesecake Factory in Minneapolis. He started coughing and sneezing the minute we walked in the door.
We were very new to PA at the time so we stayed. We ended up getting our food to go because his reaction was getting worse. In my opinion I think all the peanut butter contained in the cheesecakes contaminate the entire restaurant. We will not be going there again.
Donna

Quote:Originally posted by notnutty:
[b] In my opinion I think all the peanut butter contained in the cheesecakes contaminate the entire restaurant. We will not be going there again.
Donna[/b]
for me, it's the peanut sauce that's in a few dishes...
Adrienne
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30-year old survivor of severe peanut/tree nut allergy

My MIL's new husband's son is a Cheesecake factory manager. His wife bought us a huge chocolate cheesecake but said they cannot and do not guarantee it is not contaminated with nuts.

double post
[This message has been edited by baer5 (edited January 19, 2007).]

My husband works for CCF, and we will not allow our 4 year PA son to eat there. They have chopped peanuts at every food prep station and store dressings and other foods with peanut ingredients next to non peanut foods. I would not recommend it. THey are very aware and try to be accomodating but why risk it.