As for the cheeseburger, I thought it was terrific. The meat was a huge chunk of tender beef with, even though husband said "well done", a slightly pink inside. Of course husband didn't like it because how that man likes a cheeseburger is beyond description. Suffice it to say that his pronouncement that the cheeseburger was not as good as mine was greeted with a smile of the compliment. Take it from me, TGIF makes a great cheeseburger. For people of normal taste, that is.
For the final choice of my three course meal deal, I chose a slice of cheesecake. My cheesecake of choice is one of New York style, a not too sweet concoction unadorned by the riff-raff of cherries and other such ungodly toppings. As might be expected, the TGIF cheesecake was nothing like this. The so-called cheesecake was some sort of sweet thing filled with peanut butter and crispy stuff. I took a few bites of the dessert. The sweetness went fine after the spiciness of the pot stickers and mellow taste of the Jack Daniels flavored pulled pork. Beyond that this dessert was strictly mass-produced schlock deserving of no greater grade than a "C".
Yes, I'd go to TGIF again. The place has an extensive menu and every eater should find something that is filling and pleasing to the palate.
Pat Fish is a published author and her books have drawn attention from her fellow reviewers on Blogcritics. Reviews of Memoirs of Josephine Fish and Mystery and Mirth have been conveniently provided for your reading pleasure.
Article comments
1 - chantal stone
nice review, Patfish...i work at Friday's and you summed it up fairly well. just because i work there doesn't mean i think the food is incredible, but like you surmised, you get what you pay for, all within a fun atmosphere.
the wings, by the way, are fried, then coated in a pretty good buffalo wing sauce. yours should have been crisp...i would have sent them back.
2 - A Nelson
Please do not write if you cannot spell.
3 - Nancy
In that case, BC would have a lot fewer contributors - possibly including you.
Good review. I've always liked TGIF when I went there. As chains go, it's pretty good. I'd have to agree you either have to have gotten some very badly prepared stuff or be a complete tastebud moron not to like the majority of their food. (I've found that few places, including Cracker Barrel, can do up a really knockout dessert, simply because they keep trying to make it too over-the-top, which ruins most desserts). And I've never had an unpleasant server, either. Nice people, nice food for the price. What more?
4 - Mark Saleski
fun review.
that said, i avoid corporate food if i can help it.
5 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Nice review.
It wouldn't get me in the door, but that is not the fault of the review. You couldn't get me to pay 61 shekels ($12.95) for a pork sandwich of any kind and pot stickers. That amount of money would get me a huge lasagna (with no meat - otherise, it wouldn't be kosher) a huge salad.
Hell, I'll have to review a regular restaurant here for you guys - and maybe one of your chains here.
6 - Marla Slit
TGIF discriminates. I will never eat there again.
We went there for a late lunch today (around 2 pm to the one on Cronw Valley, Laguna Niguel, California) and were seated after a few minutes wait. Then began the nightmare. We waited for 30 minutes without being approached even by a waiter/waitress, while people arriving after us were served immediately. A couple of other guests seeing us ignored told their waitress but she couldn't be bothered. As we continued to wait. We left without being served. We told the hostess our story but it was clear that like the waitress she couldn't be bothered either. If this is how they're front staff is I shudder to think about their quality of service in the kitchen and what they really are putting in that food!
P.S. We're not white folks.
7 - Read this
Previous poster - good point. Did you know
they found a finger in TGIF food served to the guests?
8 - RUTH
WE ATE AT OUR FIRST TGIF TODAY AND WE DEFINATELY GIVE THEM A 10. THE FOOD WAS DELICIOUS AND SERVICE WAS GREAT. WE WILL SURELY GO BACK. BY THE WAY THE CHICKEN/SHRIMP DINNERS WE HAD WERE BETTER THAN ANY DINNER WE HAVE HAD AT OUTBACK AND IS CHEAPER.
9 - Kaonashi
Wow. You've never heard of pico de gallo?
10 - karla
Was dissapointed in the waitresses service. I asked for a 2nd glass of water and it took him 5
minutes to bring that, without a lemon. I asked for the lemon and it was never brought. I asked for a box to put the remaining amount. I would have liked to have taken some of it home. I
never received a box to put it in so I had to sit and eat all of it while the rest of the people that was with me had to wait. If I would have been paying for it there would not have been any tip.
11 - Anna
Well I just tonight for a birthday celebration. Our party had 12 family members and the service sucked. The table next to us that arrived 20min later, was served before us. After I asked for the manager, they showed up with our food -cold and old like the entire restaurant. I personally would not ever go back.
12 - Billchecker
Notice the receipt.It is confusing.Who knows soda is classified as food at TGIF.I don't know how accounting works at this restaurant
13 - Jane
Hate your new classic wedge salad, yuck...Go back to the old one please...