With the support of the restaurant and cocktail bar’s investors behind them, several members of The Crunkleton’s leadership team are adding a new concept to the brand. Cheat’s Cheesesteak Parlor, a window-order and delivery cheesesteak spot, kicked off over the weekend with its first pop-up. 

Bar manager Ryan Hart, executive chef Greg Balch, and general manager Hannah Smith came up with the idea to fill a gap in the Charlotte market and create a new restaurant that caters to how diners prefer to eat during a pandemic. Their plan is to have a small menu done well, inspired by the business model of decades-old chains like Char-Grill — where Hart worked as a teenager — and the success of simple concepts like Ace No. 3. 

“Anthony Bourdain is famous for saying do a few things and do them very well, and we felt like nobody was doing a great representation of a Philly cheesesteak,” Hart says. 

Cheat’s will source bread from Philadelphia’s Amoroso’s Bakery and cook and slice Certified Angus Beef in-house for the sandwiches, with poblano peppers instead of green peppers being the most significant variation on the classic. Cheese Whiz will be one of the few processed items on the menu for those who prefer their cheesesteaks “Whiz wit.” The focus will be takeout and delivery, and named Cheat’s because the group hopes customers will always want their cheesesteaks on diet cheat day. 

“You crave something that is done right consistently,” Balch says. “Every time you go, it’s going to be great.”

The menu will feature signature cheesesteaks, as well as a build-your-own option, and a classic Italian sandwich. A soft-serve machine will mix up classic cones, with kids meals available that include a sandwich and fries, drink, and cone.

Cheat’s launched as a pop-up at Birdsong Brewing over the weekend, and will continue to serve guests at various locations until signing a lease on a brick-and-mortar location that will fit their window-service-only concept, with delivery available as well. They currently have a lease in the works, and hope to open the sandwich shop close to The Crunkleton, where the Balch, Hart, and Smith will continue their current roles as they open Cheat’s. Stay tuned for more information.

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