The dearth of decent desert eating isn't just travel article cliche, it's mostly true -- at least until the arrival last year of Cheeky's, Palm Springs' answer to L.A.'s Square One Dining. Ironically, Cheeky's sprang up on the same block as Jake's Ready-to-eat, which when it opened two years ago was one of the few other places that truly seems to exist in this century rather than the last. Cheeky's is owned by Tara Lazar, a 32-year old former stock trader, and it rated a glowing profile in the Washington Post the day I was there. I was immediately excited by breakfast choices like a flight of four different kinds of bacon, a pumpernickel waffle with smoked salmon or housemade chorizo and eggs. 
My corn pancakes were huge and fluffy, studded with fresh corn kernels -- a little different from cornmeal pancakes I was expecting, but delicious and served with an adorable maple syrup house tin. 
I returned for lunch the next day to try some of the unusual sandwich ideas -- persimmon, prosciutto and brie was one -- and chose duck breast with caramelized plums, shallots and mozzarella. Like the pancakes, it might have sounded a tiny bit better on paper than in the execution, but it's hard to fault a place that's trying this hard in the middle of a food desert.They've just planted herbs next to the patio, which sports pink bowls for doggie diners, and they're putting in a community garden. There's also plans for a pizza annex and wine bar, and why not? At brunch, you can have a mimosa or a bloody mary, while Fat Tire ale and Thomas Kemper rootbeer are on tap.
Cheeky's is only open for breakfast and lunch, and it's closed Tuesdays.
Cheeky's
622 N. Palm Canyon Dr.
Palm Springs
760-327-7595
9 comments:
You had me at flight of bacon. Sounds like a great desert find. Are you sure it wasn't a mirage?
Next time you're there check out The Cowboy Way BBQ joint.......
317 N. Indian Canyon
The owner is a nice guy named Daniel who will talk your ear off if you give him a chance......
But he makes up for it w/interesting specials like......ginger & soy short rib tacos and pulled pork empanadas.......definitely worth a try.
Food GPS, I think I'll be back after Thanksgiving for the bacon flight.
And Slowrider, we walked past the Cowboy Way last night, it smelled really good! So funny that it's in the old Greyhound bus station...
great posts!
but maybe time to invest in a good camera. :)
Oh Feizi STFU, the pictures posted are just fine enough.
Oh I'd been here. I think they're trying a tich too hard--the menu sounds great, but when you get it, um, not so much. But that just means they need a little more time.
Definitely check it out if you have a chance......the guy has a real passion for experimenting w/all things bbq to come up w/interesting specials.
Thanks for writing about Cheeky's! Went to PS on spur of the moment and enjoyed a wonderful breakfast there this morning: maple sausage and yam hash with a poached egg, while my husband had the Benedict on homemade scones. We can't wait to go back!
Tried Cheeky's today. Week 80 menu: great coffee, fresh-baked cinnamon roll was flaky, buttery and not-too-sweet. I had the omelette with goat cheese, spinach and cranberry-fluffy and delicious. Jeff had the huevos rancheros--nicely done. Bacon flight was meh--only ok but we, like most everyone else, cleaned our plates. Definitely worth checking out. Good suggestion Pat!
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