We Love Food! - Day 9 - Sat 21st May 2022 - The Cheesecake Factory, Dunkin' Donuts, Publix

[Fuellady]

We Love Food - An offsite dining report - May 2022

Day 9 - Saturday 21st May 2022

Villa Breakfast, The Cheesecake Factory, Dunkin’ Donuts, Publix

We had breakfast inside the villa today, at the dining table. We weren’t heading out early as it was Scottish Cup Final day, so we needed to get that over with before we embarked on our day! Our usual villa breakfast fare of toast and fruit.

The Cheesecake Factory, Vineland

After the football had finished, we decided to go out for lunch. I had managed to convince Neil that we should give the new Cheesecake Factory at Vineland a go, so that’s where we headed. We eventually found it up behind the malls - it was a bit of a faff to get to, but that could have been our Sat Nav’s fault!

It was really busy in here, with lots of people waiting (some for takeout), and we were given a buzzer and told it would be a 20-25 minute wait. We sat outside on a bench watching the world go by while we waited. It was very hot, uncomfortably so at times. After 30 minutes, our buzzer buzzed , and we were able to head into the lovely coolness of the restaurant.

I’m sure you all know, the menu at The Cheesecake Factory is extensive…

While we were browsing the menu, we received our drinks (coke for both of us) and the bread service. The brown bread was my favourite, it was absolutely lovely - soft and tasty. The white bread was more crusty, Neil preferred this one.

Remembering that the portions here are huge, we both ordered from the lunch menu, which offers smaller portions of some of their popular meals.

Neil chose the Pasta Carbonara (Spaghetti with smoked bacon, green peas and a garlic-parmesan cream sauce). He added chicken too, and really enjoyed this.

I went for the Famous Factory Meatloaf (served with mashed potatoes, mushroom gravy, grilled onions and fresh buttered corn). This was delicious, very tasty and just the right amount of food.

Now, we had no intention at all of having cheesecake, feeling that a main course here was more than enough. However, even though we were quite full, we now felt that we could maybe squeeze a slice in, if we shared. Our server here was really lovely, and we were having a laugh with her about how we would agree on which cheesecake to share. She recommended the White Chocolate Raspberry Truffle, which is the one I wanted anyway, so that’s what we had! Neil had wanted the strawberry one, but with both me and the server against him, it was a losing battle for him! We both agreed that this was a great choice, it was so good!

At $54.26 + tip, this was one of our more expensive lunches, but well worth it.

Dunkin’ Donuts (Osceola Polk Line/Lake Wilson Rd corner)

Neil loves donut’s and had been desperate to get some from either Krispy Kreme or Dunkin’. We passed a Dunkin’ Donuts on our way home, so we decided to stop in and get some. They didn’t have a great selection, but we ended up with a box of 6 donuts (I think there were a mix of strawberry glaze, apple cinnamon, jelly and cinnamon) and a box of 10 mixed munchkins (donut holes). Looking at the pic, there are a lot more than 10 in the box! This came to $10.20. Unfortunately, I really didn’t rate these, they just didn’t have much flavour and didn't seem all that fresh. Neil agreed, that they aren’t as nice as Krispy Kreme so we’ll stick with those next time.

Publix, Loughman Crossing

Also on our way home, after getting the donuts, we stopped at our local Publix for some beer, crisps and lemonade (just the essentials ). $21.93 for these bits.

Still full from our big lunch, we just shared a bowl of crisps later, while sitting out under the lanai, then some donuts after we came inside.

Total food/drinks spend today $86.39 + tip

[spenners]

Loving your food reports, thank you 😃

[ClaireNJ]

Originally Posted by Fuellady

We Love Food - An offsite dining report - May 2022

Day 9 - Saturday 21st May 2022

Villa Breakfast, The Cheesecake Factory, Dunkin’ Donuts, Publix

We had breakfast inside the villa today, at the dining table. We weren’t heading out early as it was Scottish Cup Final day, so we needed to get that over with before we embarked on our day! Our usual villa breakfast fare of toast and fruit.

The Cheesecake Factory, Vineland

After the football had finished, we decided to go out for lunch. I had managed to convince Neil that we should give the new Cheesecake Factory at Vineland a go, so that’s where we headed. We eventually found it up behind the malls - it was a bit of a faff to get to, but that could have been our Sat Nav’s fault!

It was really busy in here, with lots of people waiting (some for takeout), and we were given a buzzer and told it would be a 20-25 minute wait. We sat outside on a bench watching the world go by while we waited. It was very hot, uncomfortably so at times. After 30 minutes, our buzzer buzzed , and we were able to head into the lovely coolness of the restaurant.

I’m sure you all know, the menu at The Cheesecake Factory is extensive…

While we were browsing the menu, we received our drinks (coke for both of us) and the bread service. The brown bread was my favourite, it was absolutely lovely - soft and tasty. The white bread was more crusty, Neil preferred this one.

Remembering that the portions here are huge, we both ordered from the lunch menu, which offers smaller portions of some of their popular meals.

Neil chose the Pasta Carbonara (Spaghetti with smoked bacon, green peas and a garlic-parmesan cream sauce). He added chicken too, and really enjoyed this.

I went for the Famous Factory Meatloaf (served with mashed potatoes, mushroom gravy, grilled onions and fresh buttered corn). This was delicious, very tasty and just the right amount of food.

Now, we had no intention at all of having cheesecake, feeling that a main course here was more than enough. However, even though we were quite full, we now felt that we could maybe squeeze a slice in, if we shared. Our server here was really lovely, and we were having a laugh with her about how we would agree on which cheesecake to share. She recommended the White Chocolate Raspberry Truffle, which is the one I wanted anyway, so that’s what we had! Neil had wanted the strawberry one, but with both me and the server against him, it was a losing battle for him! We both agreed that this was a great choice, it was so good!

At $54.26 + tip, this was one of our more expensive lunches, but well worth it.

Dunkin’ Donuts (Osceola Polk Line/Lake Wilson Rd corner)

Neil loves donut’s and had been desperate to get some from either Krispy Kreme or Dunkin’. We passed a Dunkin’ Donuts on our way home, so we decided to stop in and get some. They didn’t have a great selection, but we ended up with a box of 6 donuts (I think there were a mix of strawberry glaze, apple cinnamon, jelly and cinnamon) and a box of 10 mixed munchkins (donut holes). Looking at the pic, there are a lot more than 10 in the box! This came to $10.20. Unfortunately, I really didn’t rate these, they just didn’t have much flavour and didn't seem all that fresh. Neil agreed, that they aren’t as nice as Krispy Kreme so we’ll stick with those next time.

Publix, Loughman Crossing

Also on our way home, after getting the donuts, we stopped at our local Publix for some beer, crisps and lemonade (just the essentials ). $21.93 for these bits.

Still full from our big lunch, we just shared a bowl of crisps later, while sitting out under the lanai, then some donuts after we came inside.

Total food/drinks spend today $86.39 + tip

See more...

That pasta looked Yummy at CF 😋😋
Shame about DD we love them but always go first thing maybe for breakfast and they are fresh
This would’ve been my best day for food
2 of my all time favourites

[mrsdjh]

I had that cheesecake - it was delicious. Shame about the doughnuts though.

[SUPERHOOP66]

Love the Mickey doughnut at the end of your report

[WIGGYSMUM]

What a perfect food day Lynda 😊
I cannot wait to eat at CCF again , I’m usually a pasta girl there but your meatloaf may have persuaded me to veer next visit
I must say I love Dunkin but those donuts did look a little sad it won’t put me off though
Crisps are always at the top of my essentials list
Thanks xx

[MarionG]

Love the cheesecake factory..

[Fuellady]

Originally Posted by spenners

Loving your food reports, thank you 😃

See more...

Thank you for reading along

Originally Posted by ClaireNJ

That pasta looked Yummy at CF 😋😋
Shame about DD we love them but always go first thing maybe for breakfast and they are fresh
This would’ve been my best day for food
2 of my all time favourites

See more...

It was all really good at CF. It was quite late in the day when we bought our donuts, I think you may be right, that we should have got some in the morning.

Originally Posted by mrsdjh

I had that cheesecake - it was delicious. Shame about the doughnuts though.

See more...

The cheesecake was soooo good . I think like Claire said above, the donuts are probably better in the morning.

Originally Posted by SUPERHOOP66

Love the Mickey doughnut at the end of your report

See more...

Haha, I couldn't resist

Originally Posted by WIGGYSMUM

What a perfect food day Lynda 😊
I cannot wait to eat at CCF again , I’m usually a pasta girl there but your meatloaf may have persuaded me to veer next visit
I must say I love Dunkin but those donuts did look a little sad it won’t put me off though
Crisps are always at the top of my essentials list
Thanks xx

See more...

The Cheesecake Factory was great, definitely one of our best meals - you should try the meatloaf, you won't be disappointed

We possibly caught Dunkin' at the wrong time of day, but might well stick to Krispy next time - we'll see!

Originally Posted by MarionG

Love the cheesecake factory..

See more...

It was a great choice for us!

[Goldia]

Beer and lemonade are definitely essentials when you're away. A shame the donuts didn't live up to expectations.

[Lisa29]

I love the Cheesecake Factory and your food looked amazing.

Shame about the Dunkin’ donuts x