"Restaurant" by CAKE: No Thanksgiving Radio Tradition in Cincinnati

There's no Cincinnati radio station that plays "Restaurant" by CAKE as a Thanksgiving tradition—because no such tradition exists. The song, released in 1996 on the album "Fashion Nugget," has no lyrical, thematic, or historical connection to Thanksgiving, Cincinnati, or any holiday custom.

About the Song

"Restaurant" features CAKE's signature deadpan vocal delivery, funky guitar riffs, and trumpet accents. Lyrically, it describes a dysfunctional dining experience with lines like "The restaurant is the place / Where you can see the look on the face / Of the waiter who brings you the food / That you didn't order." It's satirical social commentary, not holiday fare.

How the Myth Might Spread

Such misconceptions often arise from:

• Misheard lyrics or titles confused with actual holiday songs
• Local DJ inside jokes that listeners misinterpret as traditions
• Internet misinformation amplified through forums and social media
• Conflation with "Alice's Restaurant" by Arlo Guthrie—an actual Thanksgiving radio staple

Actual Cincinnati Thanksgiving Radio

Local stations like WUBE (B-105), WGRR (103.5), or WRRM (Warm 98) typically feature standard holiday programming: classic Thanksgiving-themed episodes of "WKRP in Cincinnati" (the turkey drop), Arlo Guthrie's 18-minute "Alice's Restaurant," and curated holiday playlists—not CAKE's alternative rock catalog.