Address:
622 North Palm Canyon Drive
Palm Springs, CA 92262
Phone Number:
760 327 7595
Web Site:
View Web Site
Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin are still referenced regularly in Palm Springs, and while there’s always room for the Rat Pack, Tara Lazar is helping to prove that not everything has to be retro in the desert. Pat Saperstein from Eating L.A. tipped me off to Cheeky’s after a recent retreat, and I followed her advice to Lazar’s airy breakfast and lunch spot on Palm Springs’ main drag.
Most diners luxuriate on the patio, which sports candy colored orange and pink furniture. We sat in the contemporary dining room with high ceilings, colorful art, wood shelves and a countertop loaded with fresh baked goods.
Lazar changes her menu weekly and says all the right things, mentioning organic eggs and homemade sausage and thanking local farmers for sustainable produce. This was Week 80 for Cheeky’s.
Cheeky’s is popular, so if you arrive during peak times, expect to wait. We spent a half-hour on the sidewalk, and couldn’t wait to eat. Thankfully, the counter offered sweet relief, hosting cupcakes, an almond cake that was practically a work of art, and spiral-shaped cinnamon rolls. However, we opted for a glazed lemon blueberry cake ($4), which was tangy, not too sweet, and sported plump berries.
If the adage holds true that bacon makes everything better, then surely five kinds of bacon should be a triumph. Right? Lazar subscribes to that belief, offering a bacon flight ($4). A pristine white plate showcases five strips of bacon side-by-side. Clockwise from the left you’ll find spicy jalapeno, overly sweet maple vanilla, smoky applewood, potent roasted garlic and smoky-sweet Nodine’s Smokehouse. Cheeky’s helped to illustrate that not all bacon is created equal. Jalapeno and garlic were my favorite strips, since they had the most aggressive flavors, and the smoky duo had its charms as well.
The Braised Brisket & Brussels Sprout ($12) dish read better than it tasted, touting parsnips, polenta and poached egg. The polenta was grit-like but underseasoned, and the poached egg was over medium when over easy would have worked better. The brisket strips were tender, and the parsnips added some crunch, but overall, the dish didn’t quite coalesce.
The single Buttermilk & Fresh Corn Pancake ($4) was intriguing, a fluffy pancake studded with sweet corn kernels. Blueberries ($1 extra) added dimension.
The beverage options were somewhat unusual, with beakers of fresh-squeezed blood orange and grapefruit juice. I opted for a strawberry mint Agua Fresca ($3), which was just right, not too sweet. We also got a French press of Infused Fresh Lemon Verbena Tea ($3.50), which was a good stomach settler after so much rich food.
This was a devastatingly heavy breakfast, but that was my fault. There was no reason to commit a meat-on-meat crime.
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I agree, the jalapeno bacon was the winner. And it’s true that some of the dishes sound somewhat better than they taste, but it’s definitely still an oasis in the middle of mediocrity. Glad you enjoyed!
Pat, Cheeky’s was clearly my favorite of three weekend meals in the desert. Thanks again for the rec.