World · North America · 1 hr ago
Boston Globe critic mocked for political Cheesecake Factory review
Boston Globe food critic Devra First reviewed a Cheesecake Factory in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, after the chain became part of a US political dispute.
Former President Barack Obama had joked that Donald Trump’s White House decor looked like “Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory.”
Trump defended the chain, while Vice President JD Vance and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also weighed in.
First said she wanted to review a meal “through the lens of this cultural moment” and went with fellow journalist Meredith Goldstein.
First criticized the restaurant’s decor and called its French dip cheeseburger “wretched.”
Readers mocked the review as snobbish and overly political, and some noted that she did not review the chain’s signature cheesecake.
The review prompted a backlash from readers, but no further response or next step is described.
Boston Globe food critic Devra First was mocked after publishing a review of The Cheesecake Factory that mixed food criticism with political commentary.
First visited the restaurant in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, during the final days of the midterm election campaign.
She described the decor in unflattering terms and called the French dip cheeseburger, priced at $21.50, her choice for the review.
The backlash followed a political dispute sparked by former President Barack Obama’s joke about the chain and President Donald Trump’s response.
- Who
- Boston Globe food critic Devra First, fellow Globe journalist Meredith Goldstein and readers who criticized the review.
- What
- First published a political and restaurant review of The Cheesecake Factory and was mocked by readers.
- When
- The visit took place during the final days of the midterm election campaign. The article was published on November 3, 2026.
- Where
- The Cheesecake Factory in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.
- Why
- The restaurant had become a political talking point after Barack Obama joked about Trump’s White House decor and Trump defended the chain.
Devra First
Critical readers
Review approach
Devra First
First said she had a duty to review the restaurant through the lens of the political moment.
Critical readers
Readers accused her of snobbery and of taking herself too seriously.
Restaurant assessment
Devra First
First criticized the restaurant’s decor and described her chosen French dip cheeseburger as “wretched.
Critical readers
Some readers ridiculed the review, while one praised the restaurant as worthy of First’s talents.
Barack Obama mocked Trump’s taste in interior design by comparing the White House to a Cheesecake Factory.
Trump defended the restaurant chain and criticized Obama.
Devra First and Meredith Goldstein visited The Cheesecake Factory in Chestnut Hill.
The Daily Mail published an account of the review and the backlash from readers.
- Critic
- Devra First
- Restaurant location
- Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
- Chosen dish
- French dip cheeseburger
- Dish price
- $21.50
- Publication date
- November 3, 2026
What people are saying
He's got the White House looking like Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory. Just gold everywhere.
For you to say it's a Cheesecake Factory, that just shows why you were a lousy president
As a food critic and a patriot, I knew it was my duty to review a meal at the restaurant through the lens of this cultural moment
They're giving us extra avocado