You know, I somewhat see Cheddar's as a paradox. Here's the issue: the food at Cheddar's is AMAZING. The service, however, is quite lacking. It seems that no matter what Cheddar's I go to (since this is a chain), I run into the same problems with service. I'll arrive and sit for nearly 10+ minutes before a server acknowledges I exist (no matter how full or empty the restaurant is), let alone that I'm seated in their area. In fact, recently I had a waitress straight up tell me that she didn't come by my table to wait on me because she had no idea I was there and no one told her she was sat. The issue here grows because you're often forgotten about, and will sit without refills and such throughout your meal. If I had to rate this place solely on service (because the Bloomington location is no exception to my rule), it would probably not be generous. On the flip-side of the coin, though, the food is ALWAYS EXCELLENT. It's hot, it's delicious, and I'm always left a'lickin' my chops after a meal. Each item I've ever ordered - from the classic chicken fingers to the ribs and steak - are cooked to perfection with TONS of flavor. They call this place a "scratch kitchen" because their recipes are made "like yer mama used to make back in the day" all from scratch, and they aren't wrong to boast on this fact. The portion sizes rival ANY plate you'd get from your grandmama's house, meaning there's always some to take home. It's like your own grandmother is in the kitchen making sure you got some food to take home and eat on later because, well, she knows you ain't cooking for yourself. That's what makes rating this place such a hard thing to do. If you have a lot of time on your hands, are a casual person that is quite patient, and want a down-home meal like you got when you were a kid, Cheddar's is a great place to go. Just don't expect speedy service from any of the wait staff. read more

Had lunch today. Couple came in without masks. Our county health department has a mask ordinance. Manager said he would not ask them to wear a mask because corporate said not to. Enter at your own risk. read more

Recently attended this location for dinner. It was a nice evening outside so I thought we might sit outside. The patio said to ask a hostess inside to be seated outside. We were informed that they weren't serving outside. That was a little saddening but I'm glad we were placed inside in the section we were because our server was great. Our server, Morgan, came to introduce herself and she was already a true delight. She was very honestly conversational, in a way that I felt like our small talk wasn't wasted but we were having a real conversation. We ordered our drinks and food all at once and she quickly returned with our drinks. Did I forget to say? Morgan has an injured arm in a sling yet still brought out 2 drinks in one trip. Dedicated server there! Our appetizer and food came out promptly with a few checks from Morgan. Everything was prepared well. For the price you pay on the menu, the food is just okay, it's nothing too stellar. Nothing stands out like fresh ingredients or expensive cuts of meat that would raise the price so high -- the charming atmosphere of the restaurant maybe. No matter the price, I was happy to tip our server Morgan as she was awesome, attentive and was great at getting us what we ordered, but being a fun person to interact with at the same time. Food and beverage selection: 4 Food preparation: 5 Price: 4 Atmosphere: 5 Service: 5 Overall: 4.5 Disclaimer: This review is my opinion and does not reflect the beliefs and values of anything other than myself based on my accounts. I am not compensated in any way by the reviewed or by any third party. read more

It was just ok. I got a burger and fries. So want expecting much. The waitress was friendly and quick with refills.

To be totally honest we haven't been here for a long time! They used to make a BBQ chicken dinner that was wonderful, I would order it a couple times a month. Then they cut it from their lineup. That was the last time we were there! read more

This is a great place to take an entire family to eat! I've been here only twice but was impressed with the service we got. The food is great for the most part. The reason I'm not leaving a 5 star review is our family was there last night and two of my brothers who ate steak got sick. One even puked up his steak. Not sure what was in the meat that caused it but they're not coming back! I'm still fairly impressed with the overall food quality and service. I'll probably be back. read more

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I've been to this location before, and it's always been decent. But tonight the service was atrocious. Dirty dishes covered the entire table long after we were done with dinner, and the manager on duty himself brought out a dessert, then placed it in the middle of all these unbussed dishes without even blinking. Note: Cookie and ice cream doesn't go well with the scent of bleu cheese dressing, shrimp, and cocktail sauce. It was enough of a turnoff that we probably won't go back. read more

This Cheddars is part of a group of Cheddar's Restaurants. It has a lot of standard restaurant fares, a bar, but no banquet facilities. It's on the site of a former Scottish Inns (which was completely replaced by the restaurant, which is brand new as of February 2013). There's a drink menu, but we went on the pre-opening day (training day). The food ranges from mostly American dishes like fried chicken, steaks, and big salads to specialty items like "spasanga" which is a lasagna-like dish made with spaghetti instead. We had an appetizer of chips with spinach-cheese dip which was good. I had the bourbon-glazed salmon and my partner, the aforementioned spasagna. Each entre comes with two side orders like fries, or in my case, broccoli and cheese. Flavor quality was good, not foodie-grade, and nothing to apologize for. We didn't sample drinks save for coffee and iced tea-- no alcoholic beverages were available yet. It's not quite a linen napkin place, just under that. There are very many booths-- it's a huge place, but looks like it might be ok for a few large settings. Otherwise, it's mostly comfy booths that would fit four-six per booth. Service was good, but this was training day, so tough to surmise. There are limited vegetarian and almost no genuine vegan items, and menu items aren't well listed for those with food allergies or reservations. Nice place. A large cut above Denny's. Not for the foodie-only crowd. read more

My husband and I decided to try Cheddar's today as it was highly rated in "Consumer Reports." When we arrived, we were quickly seated in an area of the restaurant with a lot of natural light, which was nice. We couldn't help but notice, though, that it took an abnormally long time for the waitress to come and greet us--more than 5 minutes. Our food came out about 15-20 minutes after ordering, by a man who was not our waiter. Obviously, this part was not a problem, but our waitress failed to attend our table until my husband had completely finished eating--His drink was empty before the food came out and wasn't refilled until the waitress noticed it after he had already finished eating. My water glass was also forgotten. I really enjoyed the Monte Cristo and the broccoli casserole. This was probably the best Monte Cristo I've ever had--SO GOOD! My husband, however, said that the BBQ Chicken was just okay and that he's had better elsewhere. Overall, I was just unimpressed with the service. As I can get Traditional American food in many places, the service didn't help convince me that Cheddar's should become one of my "Go-To" restaurants. read more

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen - BBQ Chicken Platter - American Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

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The food was pretty good! I was pretty shocked to see that literally none of the waitstaff were wearing masks. Social distancing was not enforced. If you aren't fully vaccinated, don't go here! read more

The only steak on the menu is a rib eye and that is what I ordered. I received a New York strip. Now this may not seem like the end of the world but there is a big difference between the two, at least to a steak lover. The waiter could not tell the difference and neither could the cook. They must look the same in the frozen plastic container they arrive in. I just don't see how this place gets such high reviews. I know it's not a steak house but they should know the difference between a rib eye and a new york strip. Steak is the only item on the menu that I would even order. Not my kind of food. read more

The whole experience was great. Very relaxing atmosphere. My sirloin steak was perfectly cooked. Even better was the service. Our server Chase was just the best. This is the way dining out should be. read more

IF YOU LOVE RIBS... DON'T GO TO CHEDDARS. I love ribs and previously loved Cheddar's ribs but the last three times I tried them they've been terrible. They are dry and taste like reheated leftovers. They didn't even bother to take off the skin membrane before cooking. THEY JUST DON'T SEEM TO CARE ANYMORE. I won't be going there again. read more

We arrived about 11:45 on a Saturday. It was a bit busy but we were seated right away. Our waiter was very attentive and friendly. We were very impressed that the manager came and checked on all the tables. We ordered the queso dip with chips and the Wisconsin cheese bits for the appetizers. For lunch we had the fried fish, buffalo chicken wrap, and lunch cheddar club. All was great. In all I would recommend this place. We had a great experience. read more

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen - Homemade Wisconsin Cheese Bits - American Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

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I recommend this restaurant , good atmosphere,good food. we we had steak and it was excellent and We each had the chocolate cake. The desert was gigantic so if you want chocolate cake and you should buy 1 piece per two people. read more

Quality in decline, prices rising. There have been several changes to their menu as of late. Items like the quesadilla and tortilla soup are gone. The new chicken noodle soup is a poor replacement. Most item prices are up by a dollar per. Service and ambiance are still good. read more

Usually this place is good but tonight it was only okay mainly due to service. We were seated in the back left corner room. The waitress was not good. She forgot things, was not available, and even charged us twice for an item. The food was prepared as usual. It is good and portion size is large read more

We just left after placing an order for the blackened, grilled white fish, to go. Just got home and opened the to-go box to find literally 2 teaspoons of rice which is supposed to be one of the sides. This may seem like a small thing, but the complete and total lack of care is why I'm taking the time to write. Someone put this take-out order together and seemed to think it was okay to simply throw a spoonful of rice in the box and wrap it up so that we would have no recourse but to drive all the way back to beg for about a cup more of the cheapest thing on the menu. It's filler at best. I'm just tired of people not caring. The fish and potato weren't worth the drive back to complain about the lack of white rice but we were disappointed nonetheless. Lastly- I am in no way easily shocked or offended but while I waited, I heard about 5 F-bombs and a mother-F-er. Just dumb when you consider that there are tables with families within earshot. We won't be back. read more

Between the wait time to be seated (35 minutes in the bar; told it would be 15); wait time for the food (30 mins and still waiting) and poor service, it's a 360 degree experience from our prior visits, which were excellent. You can tell they are just short staffed. Lots of inefficiencies in the whole operation, though. Why make an 83year old stand for 35 minutes when there are plenty of open seats in the bar? We were also told that we could add a salad for extra - when the menu clearly includes one with the pot pie. read more

I'm quite impressed with this place. When my friend wanted to try Cheddar's, my first thought was a bit iffy... I was thinking it diner like place... but WOW not at all what I expected. And people were saying that it's just like Applebee's... I beg to differ. It's much better. The decor is very inviting and comforting. I especially like the fan looking thing in the middle of the restaurant. Quite interesting. Even the outside is cool with the fountain. They have a full range of food on their menu. And not bad either: -Chips with Homemade Queso with ground beef ~ it's okay, I thought the ground beef would be on the chips but instead, they only put a little bit in the queso...That was a disappointment -Shepherd's Pie ~ It's alright. Nothing out of the ordinary though. -Rum Runner ~ Yum! Huge! -Cheddar's Painkiller ~ It's alright. I like the honey rimmed coconut flakes the most.. haha.. it's quite generous... I suppose there's lots of alcohol in this since this was the only thing that had a limit of only 2. HOWEVER the highlight is the homemade croissants! It's is heavenly! It literally just melts in your mouth! They lightly dribble the perfectly lightly sweetened honey butter over it. I personally love the honey butter so I had to ask for more. If you come, you absolutely need to order these. My friend ordered a burger, but I can't remember what exactly he got. He just it was very good! Oh and what makes it all better is the price! It's unbelievable cheap! I feel bad because for such decent food with a good presentation, it feels like I'm robbing them! So go try already! read more

I do not like chain restaurants. I haven't for quite awhile, especially her in Bloomington where independent restaurants rule the streets. I have so many on my list to try I don't have time to waste at national chains. BUT, Cheddar's is my only exception. I simply love this place. I first went here the day I moved to Bloomington. It was right off of 37 and we were looking for a convenient place to stop and eat lunch. I wasn't expecting much but man did Cheddar's deliver. First of all, it is cheap. Most chain restaurants still want to charge high prices for mediocre food. But Cheddar's is right on point with its pricing. I got the jalapeno burger and it was only $5.99; $2.19 extra if you add fries. Most of the other entrees were under $10 besides a few of the fancier options. Besides the prices the food was simply amazing. Everything comes out steaming hot and tastes fresh. The second time I went I got a Monte Cristo and it was by far the best sandwich I have ever had. I mean how can you go wrong with meat and cheese stuffed inside of a doughnut dipped in jam? Okay maybe there are better sandwiches but it hit the spot that day. Both times I have been everyone enjoyed their food and there were no complaints. That never happens. The service is also great. I have heard it gets busy during peak hours but I have always been seated right away and have never been left waiting for anything. (I went at 11:30am and 3:00pm). So if you are thinking about eating at a chain restaurant, look no further than Cheddars, you will not be disappointed! read more

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen - Monte Cristo, absolutely amazing!! - American Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

My waitress, Mary, offered excellent service. She was energetic and gave good advice on what to try. I have been to Cheddar's a few times now, and she was by far the best server I've had there. I had the Tillapia with Mango Salsa, and it was delicious. I also sampled some food from around my table- the Chicken Pot Pie was great. They serve golden brown croissants with a honey butter on them that are addicting. They don't always come with the meal, but on the salads and in special orders. Their Queso Dip was also really good-not too spicy, but very flavorful. When you order the Queso they refill the chips and salsa for free. The best thing for me is that MOST of their menu items are under $10. read more

Waiting over an hour for our food. Still haven't gotten yet. Other people that came in after us are almost done eating. WILL NOT BE BACK! read more

PREFACE: This is the first and last time my friends and I will be spending out time at Cheddars. Approaching the restaurant, it was obvious that Cheddars had a nice curb appeal/decor. This is usually the sign of a good restaurant, so we were hopefully optimistic. Upon entry, we were seated in a booth of our choice, with the semblance of a Red Lobster. We ordered drinks, and then the fun began. My girlfriend ordered a mixed drink with pineapple, I a beer, and my friend a Mixed drink. Girlfriends drink came back as a bloody mary (wrong drink) and my friend found a fly in his drink. We hoped that the main course could make up for the shaky start. Much to our chagrin: my friend was given the wrong burger toppings, my steak was extremely chewy, the waiter forgot my friends fries and my loaded baked potato toppings. It was most disappointing however, that our waiter showed little sympathy for our troubles: he refused to comp anything, and all of the alcoholic drinks tasted extremely light (perhaps only a single shot of alcohol in each. I hope that other patrons have better service. read more

We were traveling from out of town for a funeral. We stopped in later. My daughter had her eyes set on a desert they were out of. When they heard we were in town for a funeral, they comped our meal and got us a different desert. Amazing service and the owner stopped by multiple times. We always love Cheddars but the service here is next level. Thank you from this tired mom! read more

Great place for lunch or dinner. We've been to several different Cheddar locations and this one was also good. We had a group of 8 and the service and food were both good. I started with their signature "pain killer" drink, the toasted coconut rum was awesome. We had the ribs, fried shrimp, veggie platter, salmon, shrimp & fish combo & burgers. All were served hot & fresh. I love their broccoli casserole & their croissant too stuffed for dessert...maybe next time. read more

Meh. I'll start by saying I have avoided going here since it opened simply because I don't need a chain or franchise with so many awesome options in Bloomington, Indiana. On the flip side, my boyfriend's mom LOVES this place and it is the only place she ever wants to go. Restaurant is very nice and new with cool aquariums and a homey feel. I like the giant fans in the main dining room. I ordered the Hawaiian Chicken Salad ($7.99) and was totally underwhelmed. We make better salads at home and the pineapple was clearly from a can. Everyone else seemed to enjoy their food and while I wouldn't refuse to go back, let's just say it is not on my top 10 (or 20 or 30) list for Bloomington. Staff was wonderful and very attentive, five stars there and the only reason I will give them three total stars (v. two). If you want Southern food and a Bloomington place, try Sweet Grass on the south side. read more

The Cheddar's in Bloomington is less than a year old and the restaurant is very nice inside. It's clean and staff is always friendly. I think what most enjoy about Cheddar's is good food for a really good price. In my opinion they have the best chicken tenders. Their serving sizes are quite generous, in fact, my wife and I typically will share an entree (especially because the sides too are generous). I would recommend it, especially for families or if you're on a budget. read more

Service: Acceptable Food: Terrible I ordered an Asian Chicken & Shrimp Salad for takeout. When I returned my room to eat my salad, I realized that there was no chicken OR shrimp on the salad. To make matters worse, the salad was drenched ["flooded"] in dressing and it was barely edible. Did I also mention that the "mandarin orange" supposedly in the salad was actually mango? I may be used to a high standard of food (I lived in New York City, Chicago, and Tokyo) but what Cheddar's serves is no standard at all. read more

Ask for Pat, he's a wonderful waiter! We frequent this restaurant! It has amazing food, with great prices and generous amounts! The decor is great and the fish tank is a nice feature. The Texas fries are a definite must when dining here. I've had a handful of dishes on the menu and have been satisfied every time! Great dining for families and crowds! read more

So this weekend we went to Cheddars for dinner with family. For 5 of the 6 in our party, it was the first time to this Cheddars, and for 2 of 6, first time ever. This visit was truly a 5 star experience for us. Our party of 6 was quoted a 20-25 minute wait, and we were seated in 15. Our server greeted us promptly, and had drinks and our appetizer back to us promptly.This was really good because the children were hungry. We got the chips, salsa and queso dip. The queso was a bit like Velveeta and Rotel, but the salsa was very good. Our server kept us well stocked on chips and on drinks until the meal arrived. Everyone was pleased with the meal. I branched out to the Buffalo Chicken Wrap, which was tasty, spicy enough , but not overpowering and big enough to be that nights meal and the next day's lunch. My wife enjoyed the lemon pepper grilled chicken, my dad really liked the ribs and his wife enjoyed the Spasagne- and also had lunch for the next day. Back to the ribs- the menu said "fall off the bone" and as I've said before, I'm always skeptical of this. But these were. My dad couldn't stop talking about them. Then as we finished up , the check came right on time. No waiting or fidgeting this time, our check was ready for us when we were . This is my biggest pet peeve other places but Cheddars was right on top of it. So tonight was a job well done and ended with 6 happy returning customers read more

Fresh food at a value. Yet much comfort food. Always a wait during popular hours. The best items: burgers - 1/2 pound and a value but fries add $2.09; Key West shrimp - tasty and lighter fare; ribs - surprisingly good for not slow & low; pot pie - nicely done. Not so much: fried chicken is more like a chicken breast patty - just nothing like Southeen fare; shepherd's pie - bowl of mashed with some corn, peas and a bit of meat underneath -Brits might hate this one. Dininf room service seems like untrained teens. Bar staff has been good. Head for the bar and order carefully & you'll get a value. Go early or later - or wait read more

I've always liked Cheddar's; the architecture and design aspect of it, in and of itself, has always made it an enjoyable experience. I've also been impressed with the waiting staff as well. In respect to food, though, I can say unequivocally that the chicken alfredo is immensely disappointing. Maybe I am spoiled because of Italian heritage, but I've made chicken alfredo better than this on my own many times. Theirs was bland and dry, even with salt, and the chicken wasn't even entirely cut up. Lastly, the garlic bread was very hard. I almost asked for a refund, but decided to stomach it. They do, however, offer amazing onion rings, and the queso appetizer is marvelous. :) read more

Had not been to Cheddar's for a while & I now know why. Arrived with my family (2 adults/one child). Was promptly seated and the rest of our experience went down hill. Waited over 10 minutes for our server to greet and take drink orders. We decided to order food with our drink order since we had been sitting for awhile. The server was not happy to do in such order. We ordered an appetizer of onion rings, chicken tenders, grilled cheese and a club sandwich. Waited 15minutes for our onions rings. We finished our entire appetizer and waited another 15 minutes for our meal. The food was meh. Server had an attitude and would sigh when we asked for H2O refills. Overall, I didn't feel like a guest more of a bother. Will not be back anytime soon. read more

I've been here many times over the past year or so since they opened. I noticed recently that there has been a significant change in their staff..for the better. The servers are much more attentive and the food is more consistent. If you've never been to Cheddar's, the prices are low and the quality of the food is good. Portions are significant and the vibe is much more casual then you may think. read more

This was really great. Salsa was just short of too hot, just the way it should be. Mango tea was the best I tasted. I ordered the half Hickory ribs with sirloin steak. While the ribs were a little greasy, nothing to complain about. I ordered the science of mac & cheese and beans and rice. American cheese was alright , but I don't think beans and rice should be like a soup. The seasoning and taste was more than satisfactory. I really wish they had one of these chains around my hometown read more

Absolutely love their potato skins. A lot of places have too much potato and not enough cheese and bacon. Cheddar's has the perfect balance. Last time I went I tried their potato soup for the first time. It was top notch. Our server was Kaleb and he did a really good job with our child who was with us. At one point she knocked her head on the table and the hostess got a stuffed animal and calmed her down. Between the top of the line service and the fish tank, it's definitely a family friendly restaurant. read more

Unfortunately, what I thought was some decent food was ruined by a fly found in an alcohol beverage I had ordered as well as a friend receiving the wrong drink in the first place. Initially, I was also served the wrong burger, then when the correct burger was brought out, it was missing the fries. Although I eventually received my food, there was no attempt from the staff to reconcile the situation besides a feint apology from our waiter. They also offered no form of compensation for the inconvenience. read more

I had pickles put in my wrap, that I did not want. They took my plate back to the kitchen, removed the pickles and then brought the same plate back to me. Unsanitary. read more

We received horrible service, and the food was below average. I would not recommend this place.