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.
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. Most diners luxuriate on the patio, which sports candy colored orange and pink furniture.
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.
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 showcased five strips of bacon side-by-side.
Beverage options were somewhat unusual, with beakers of fresh-squeezed blood orange and grapefruit juice. We 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.
Blog Comments
Pat
January 21, 2010 at 5:05 PM
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!
Joshua Lurie
January 21, 2010 at 9:47 PM
Pat, Cheeky’s was clearly my favorite of three weekend meals in the desert. Thanks again for the rec.