First date at Cheesecake Factory? List of worst date spots hits internet amid hot debate

Denver Broncos Quarterback Russell Wilson took his wife Ciara to Waffle House for her birthday this year.

She didn't seem to mind.

"You know my heart, Baby!" she posted on TikTok four days ago with a photo of her kissing her husband's cheek as he holds up the menu of the popular 24/7 restaurant chain specializing in breakfast food.

The star NFL player rented out an entire Waffle House restaurant for his Grammy-winning wife. The move has been seen as thoughtful by many online and is becoming part of a larger discussion about dating etiquette.

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Woman in viral TikTok video unhappy with Cheesecake Factory for first date

Earlier this month, a self-made TikTok video went viral of a woman which showed her sitting in a car, refusing to go inside Cheesecake Factory because her date allegedly took her to the American chain restaurant.

"Who takes someone that looks like this to a chain restaurant?" she says in the video."Look at me I cannot go in Cheesecake Factory. I will die."

The TikTok video shaming the restaurant as a first date location apparently sparked creative minds to create a list of the top 28 worst places to take a woman on a date.

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The viral list: Top 28 places not to take a woman on a first date

Without further ado, here is the list in order starting at what the random survey found to be the Number 1 worst place to take a woman on a first date:

1. Cheesecake Factory
2. Applebee’s
3. Chili’s
4. Chipotle
5. Olive Garden
6. The Movies
7. Your House
8. Any Fast Food Chain
9. Buffalo Wild Wings
10. Wingstop
11. Red Lobster
12. A buffet
13. IHOP
14. Denny’s
15. The gym
16. Church
17. Starbucks
18. Coffee dates
19. Ice cream dates
20. Family functions
21. Movie night (Netflix, Hulu, and etc.)
22. Somewhere that requires a long drive
23. Bowling
24. Nightclubs
25. Hookah Bar
26. A bar for just drinks
27. Waffle House
28. Sports events

It's unclear who created the list of 28 places not to take a woman on a first date, but last week on the daytime talk show The View, the hosts mentioned a few of the names on the list (Chili's, Chipotle and Olive Garden) and Los Angeles radio station Power 106 recently shared it on X and reported “several ladies reached out to help” draft it.

Disclaimer: This reporter, who is female, does not agree with a slew of the places on the list especially No. 28 (sports events) and No. 18 (coffee dates). She does agree with No. 7 (Your house) and No. 20 (family functions).

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Cheesecake Factory fans clap back at TikTok video

After the Cheesecake Factory TikTok rant went viral, the Cheesecake Factory posted the following caption on X: "When you pull up to The Cheesecake Factory for your first date:"

The post included a photo of a young boy wearing a T-shirt with the British flag on it dancing.

On Instagram, Waffle House posted: "if she’s too good for waffle house 🚩🚩🚩🚩and Shake Shack posted: "😮‍💨 We’re in the clear."

Chili's responded, "who hurt u???"

Even fans of some restaurants, including ESPN sports analyst Stephen A. Smith and the Views' Sunny Hostin, clapped back at the list.

"What the hell is wrong with Cheesecake Factory? Ain’t nothing wrong with Cheesecake Factory,” he exclaimed in a clip posted to X. "Not only is nothing wrong with the Cheesecake Factory, The Cheesecake Factory ain't that cheap!"

"I want to stand up for The Cheesecake Factory because I go there every week," Hostin said on air. "(Co-host) Sara (Haines) and I agree that they make the best dirty martini.

However, Haines did agree with a few places on the list including the gym and church.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund.