{"id":24063,"date":"2017-08-21T02:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-08-21T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/?p=24063"},"modified":"2023-08-28T16:32:23","modified_gmt":"2023-08-29T02:32:23","slug":"review-the-spotted-cheetah-a-restaurant-by-cheetos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/2017\/08\/21\/review-the-spotted-cheetah-a-restaurant-by-cheetos\/","title":{"rendered":"REVIEW: The Spotted Cheetah, A Restaurant By Cheetos"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"The<\/p>\n

I love a good gimmick. If it\u2019s temporary or new and has a hook, I\u2019m there. Super-long line? No problem. Thai Rolled Ice Cream. The Oreo Wonder Vault. Rainbow Bagels. The Hello Kitty Caf\u00e9 Truck. Cronuts. I\u2019ve done them all.<\/p>\n

Some gimmicks turn out better than anticipated. Some fall short of the mark. Some defy your expectations altogether. That was the case with the Spotted Cheetah, a Cheetos-centric pop-up restaurant in Manhattan. I assumed it would be a garish publicity stunt with ridiculous \u201cfood.\u201d <\/p>\n

When I heard about this 3-night-only event, I wanted in. A menu of 4 appetizers, 4 entrees and 3 desserts, each made with Cheetos products. I like to repurpose foods into other forms, so this was right up my alley.<\/p>\n

Any other week, The Spotted Cheetah is known as Distilled \u2013 an upscale but casual Tribeca restaurant that I\u2019m only now realizing I\u2019ve eaten in before. As I approached this night, I readied myself for typical NYC event line-waiting and passive-aggressive jockeying for position. Everyone here is important, after all, and we MUST get in ASAP. <\/p>\n

To my delight, no one was corralled within the velvet ropes. Shocking considering how much media attention this place has gotten. After a quick chat with the clipboard guy, I glided into a seat at the bar. <\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

Crystal Pepsi \u2013 of course.<\/p>\n

The menu was designed by Food Network chef Anne Burrell. All I know about her is: 1) her hair and 2) she hosted Worst Cooks in America \u2013 for which I once volunteered to test a challenge before shooting started, and failed miserably at everything. <\/p>\n

I ordered the Cheetos Crusted Fried Pickles, Cheetos Mix-Ups Crusted Chicken Milanese, and the Cheetos Sweetos Crusted Cheesecake. Apparently I\u2019m a glutton for crusting. <\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

While I waited for my food, I watched patrons talk to a live-animated Chester Cheetah on a TV screen near the entrance. <\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

Normally I despise things that aggressively interact with me, but I was fascinated by this technology. Chester\u2019s mouth and body moved in real-time from a motion capture of the person speaking. I wondered where he was hiding out. <\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The fried pickles arrived and I dove in, expecting a rubber-mallet-to-the-head of Cheetos flavor. What I got were lovely, tangy, crusty, greasy frickles in a slightly orangier (spellcheck tells me this isn\u2019t a word, I disagree) than normal hue. They were delicious, but only whispered \u2018Cheetos.\u2019 <\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

Next up \u2013 the Chicken Milanese. A beautifully-dressed salad and Cheetos piled atop a slab of extra-crunchy breaded chicken. I pushed the salad off and sliced into just the chicken. Again, it was a wonderful dish, I enjoyed every bite, but I didn\u2019t taste the Cheetos in the breading. <\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

This could appear in any restaurant and no one would say \u201cExcuse me \u2013 are there CHEETOS in this??\u201d I started taking bits of Cheetos from on top with each mouthful and ended up with the flavor I expected. <\/p>\n

An order of the Flamin\u2019 Hot Limon Chicken Tacos arrived for the couple next to me and I was gripped with jealousy. They looked so tempting. <\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The cheesecake came closest to capturing the product it was based on. The crust definitely had the churro-ish cinnamon flavor of the Sweetos. It was also a great dish \u2013 sweet and tangy cheese with a rich blueberry sauce.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The d\u00e9cor was just subtle enough that it didn\u2019t feel cheesy (pun intended), but there were cute touches all around. <\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t a crowded circus. The food was real. It was like a Friday night out at a nice restaurant, but with a wise-cracking animated cheetah. <\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

I do wish the Cheetos were a bit more present in the dishes I tried, since this was the point of all of this, but I had fun and walked away with a happy belly. I was given a printed book of the menu recipes on the way out \u2013 it\u2019s also available <\/a>on their site. If you\u2019re trying the recipes at home, go a bit heavier on the Cheetos \u2013 I\u2019m guessing as junk food fans, you\u2019ll want to know they\u2019re there. <\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

(Nutrition Facts – Oof. I couldn\u2019t even begin to calculate this.)<\/small><\/p>\n

Purchased Price:<\/b> $8 (Fried Pickles), $22 (Chicken Milanese, and $8 (Cheesecake)
\nRating:<\/b> 8 out of 10
\nPros:<\/b> REALLY good food. High-tech cheetah. Thrill of experiencing something that makes half my friends say \u201cEw. That\u2019s disgusting.\u201d
\nCons:<\/b> Expected to leave covered in Cheetos dust inside & out, didn\u2019t, hence slightly disappointed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I love a good gimmick. If it\u2019s temporary or new and has a hook, I\u2019m there. Super-long line? No problem. Thai Rolled Ice Cream. The Oreo Wonder Vault. Rainbow Bagels. The Hello Kitty Caf\u00e9 Truck. Cronuts. I\u2019ve done them all. Some gimmicks turn out better than anticipated. Some fall short of the mark. Some defy […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":40,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1440],"tags":[1535,1474,1594],"class_list":["post-24063","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews","tag-cheetos","tag-chips","tag-frito-lay"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":9520,"url":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/2011\/06\/14\/news-if-winnie-the-pooh-was-a-bad-ass-hed-fight-chester-cheetah-for-his-new-honey-bbq-cheetos\/","url_meta":{"origin":24063,"position":0},"title":"NEWS: If Winnie the Pooh Was A Bad Ass, He’d Fight Chester Cheetah for His New Honey BBQ Cheetos","author":"Marvo","date":"June 14, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"The new Honey BBQ Cheetos Puffs surprised me because it seemed like a weird flavor for Cheetos to produce. Every variety I can think of has been cheese-based or based on a food that has lots of cheese, like pizza. Honey BBQ Cheetos still has cheese flavoring, but it's not\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Spotted on Shelves"","block_context":{"text":"Spotted on Shelves","link":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/category\/spotted-on-shelves\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":50269,"url":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/2022\/02\/25\/spotted-cheetos-popcorn-cheddar-jalapeno\/","url_meta":{"origin":24063,"position":1},"title":"SPOTTED: Cheetos Popcorn Cheddar Jalapeno","author":"Marvo","date":"February 25, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Have you ever tried to eat popcorn like how Chester Cheetah is doing it on the front of this bag? It's not efficient. Sometimes you'll get lucky and a piece of popcorn will land in the mouth or stick to the tongue, but for the most part, the tongue gets\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Spotted on Shelves"","block_context":{"text":"Spotted on Shelves","link":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/category\/spotted-on-shelves\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/cheepopchedjala.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/cheepopchedjala.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/cheepopchedjala.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/cheepopchedjala.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/cheepopchedjala.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":54344,"url":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/2023\/01\/03\/spotted-cheetos-flamin-hot-tangy-chili-fusion\/","url_meta":{"origin":24063,"position":2},"title":"SPOTTED: Cheetos Flamin’ Hot Tangy Chili Fusion","author":"Marvo","date":"January 3, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"This looks interesting. But the only fusion I'd like to see that involves Chester Cheetah is teaming up with Tony the Tiger for a buddy cop movie. (Spotted by Matt S at Walmart.)","rel":"","context":"In "Spotted on Shelves"","block_context":{"text":"Spotted on Shelves","link":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/category\/spotted-on-shelves\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/cheefhtangychilifusion-600x600.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/cheefhtangychilifusion-600x600.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/cheefhtangychilifusion-600x600.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":18070,"url":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/2015\/02\/17\/spotted-on-shelves-cheetos-sweetos-cinnamon-sugar-puffs\/","url_meta":{"origin":24063,"position":3},"title":"SPOTTED ON SHELVES: Cheetos Sweetos Cinnamon Sugar Puffs","author":"Marvo","date":"February 17, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Since it ain't easy bein' cheesy, Chester Cheetah decided to have some easy fun with cinnamon. (Spotted by Travis at Stop & Shop.) If you\u2019re out shopping and see an interesting new or limited edition product on the shelf, snap a picture of it, and send us an email (theimpulsivebuy@gmail.com)\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Spotted on Shelves"","block_context":{"text":"Spotted on Shelves","link":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/category\/spotted-on-shelves\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Cheetos Sweetos Cinnamon Sugar Puffs","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farm9.staticflickr.com\/8674\/15934634854_8593d0b1d3_z.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1218,"url":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/2008\/11\/02\/cheetos-now-has-a-flavor-that-doesnt-look-radioactive\/","url_meta":{"origin":24063,"position":4},"title":"Cheetos Now Has A Flavor That Doesn’t Look Radioactive","author":"Marvo","date":"November 2, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Is it just me or is Chester Cheetah too much into cheese? Look at him on the packaging of the new limited edition Cheetos Crunchy Mozzarella, which I took a picture of in Wal-Mart when the folks in blue vests weren't looking. Now I don't mean a connoisseur of cheese,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Spotted on Shelves"","block_context":{"text":"Spotted on Shelves","link":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/category\/spotted-on-shelves\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":20224,"url":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/2016\/06\/24\/review-burger-king-mac-n-cheetos\/","url_meta":{"origin":24063,"position":5},"title":"REVIEW: Burger King Mac n’ Cheetos","author":"Marvo","date":"June 24, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"The more I look at Burger King's new Mac n' Cheetos, the more I want to call them Mac n' Cheeturds. I assume they're supposed to look like Cheetos Puffs, but they're not orange enough or curved enough, which gives me the urge to rename them. The fast food side\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Reviews"","block_context":{"text":"Reviews","link":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/category\/reviews\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Burger King Mac n' Cheetos","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farm8.staticflickr.com\/7294\/27836525906_4140c13c9c_z.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farm8.staticflickr.com\/7294\/27836525906_4140c13c9c_z.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farm8.staticflickr.com\/7294\/27836525906_4140c13c9c_z.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24063","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/40"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24063"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24063\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24063"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24063"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24063"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}