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FM
Former Member

We went to the swanky Cheetos restaurant where there's a 1,000 person waitlist for a reservation — here's the verdict

, Aug. 16, 2017, 12:24 PM, http://www.thisisinsider.com/c...nt-nyc-review-2017-8

Cheetos Restaurant 3Chester, Cheetos' mascot, watching over the restaurant's bar. Sarah Schmalbruch/INSIDER

The Spotted Cheetah opened yesterday in New York City's Tribeca neighborhood.

The first-ever restaurant "devoted to all things Cheetos," The Spotted Cheetah is a collaboration between celebrity chef Anne Burrell and the Cheetos brand.

The restaurant's three-course menu features appetizers, entrees, and desserts all inspired by Cheetos.

We were lucky enough to snag a spot during opening night — reservations sold out the night they became available, and the restaurant is only open for three days.

Keep scrolling to read our thoughts.

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The first thing we noticed inside was a screen with an interactive version of Chester, the Cheetos mascot. Diners were having full conversations with him.

The first thing we noticed inside was a screen with an interactive version of Chester, the Cheetos mascot. Diners were having full conversations with him.
The interactive version of Chester talks back to diners.
Sarah Schmalbruch/INSIDER
FM

We were big fans of the tipsy citrus, a sweet frozen drink made with tequila, Aperol, orange juice, and lime juice.

We were big fans of the tipsy citrus, a sweet frozen drink made with tequila, Aperol, orange juice, and lime juice.
The restaurant's only frozen drink, the tipsy citrus.
Sarah Schmalbruch/INSIDER
FM

Not surprisingly, the restaurant was decked out in orange. Everything seemed to adhere to a Cheetos aesthetic. From the tables...

Not surprisingly, the restaurant was decked out in orange. Everything seemed to adhere to a Cheetos aesthetic. From the tables...
The inside of the restaurant.
Sarah Schmalbruch/INSIDER
FM

Anne Burrell, the chef behind the Spotted Cheetah, said she had a blast creating and testing the menu.

Anne Burrell, the chef behind the Spotted Cheetah, said she had a blast creating and testing the menu.
Burrell said she loved having bags and bags of Cheetos all over while creating the restaurant's menu.
Sarah Schmalbruch/INSIDER
FM

We eventually made our way to our seats, which were marked with name tags and a gift bag that included an apron and a recipe book featuring all of the restaurant's food.

We eventually made our way to our seats, which were marked with name tags and a gift bag that included an apron and a recipe book featuring all of the restaurant's food.
Each place setting had a name tag and a gift bag.
Sarah Schmalbruch/INSIDER
FM

We started with the Cheetos meatballs. Topped with ricotta and Cheetos, these beef, veal, and pork meatballs were delicious, but didn't have a very strong Cheeto taste.

We started with the Cheetos meatballs. Topped with ricotta and Cheetos, these beef, veal, and pork meatballs were delicious, but didn't have a very strong Cheeto taste.
The Cheetos meatballs.
Sarah Schmalbruch/INSIDER
FM

Then came the Cheetos grilled cheese, served submerged in a shot of tomato soup. We loved the bacon and cheddar cheese on the sandwich, but the taste of the cheddar jalapeño Cheeto pieces was lost in the other ingredients.

Then came the Cheetos grilled cheese, served submerged in a shot of tomato soup. We loved the bacon and cheddar cheese on the sandwich, but the taste of the cheddar jalapeño Cheeto pieces was lost in the other ingredients.
The Cheetos grilled cheese.
Sarah Schmalbruch/INSIDER
FM

The "purrfectly" fried green tomatoes were indeed fried just right, but if we didn't already know the breadcrumbs used to fry them were made with jalapeño white cheddar Cheetos, we wouldn't have known from just the taste.

The
The purrfectly fried green tomatoes.
Sarah Schmalbruch/INSIDER
FM

The flamin' hot mac n' Cheetos was a big hit. The dish was made with three cheeses and two different kinds of Cheetos: white cheddar puffs and flamin' hot chipotle ranch.

The flamin' hot mac n' Cheetos was a big hit. The dish was made with three cheeses and two different kinds of Cheetos: white cheddar puffs and flamin' hot chipotle ranch.
The flamin' hot mac n' Cheetos.
Sarah Schmalbruch/INSIDER
FM

The flamin' hot limón chicken tacos were a letdown. Even though the tacos were stuffed with beans, chicken, sour cream, and flamin' hot limón Cheetos, all we could taste were the beans.

The flamin' hot limón chicken tacos were a letdown. Even though the tacos were stuffed with beans, chicken, sour cream, and flamin' hot limón Cheetos, all we could taste were the beans.
The flamin' hot limón chicken tacos.
Sarah Schmalbruch/INSIDER
FM

Dessert started with Cheetos Sweetos, sweet and salty cookies that were made with caramel-flavored Cheetos Sweetos — the brand's sweet version of the snack.

Dessert started with Cheetos Sweetos, sweet and salty cookies that were made with caramel-flavored Cheetos Sweetos — the brand's sweet version of the snack.
The Cheetos Sweetos sweet and salty cookies.
Sarah Schmalbruch/INSIDER
FM

White cheddar Cheetos and Cheetos Sweetos apple crepes finished off the meal. These were buttery and sweet, and the mascarpone added a good creaminess.

White cheddar Cheetos and Cheetos Sweetos apple crepes finished off the meal. These were buttery and sweet, and the mascarpone added a good creaminess.
The white cheddar Cheetos and Cheetos Sweetos apple crepes.
Sarah Schmalbruch/INSIDER
FM

All in all, we enjoyed most of the food. We were expecting a stronger Cheetos flavor in the dishes, but on second thought, we were impressed that the food still tasted good, despite being prepared with such an unusual ingredient.

All in all, we enjoyed most of the food. We were expecting a stronger Cheetos flavor in the dishes, but on second thought, we were impressed that the food still tasted good, despite being prepared with such an unusual ingredient.
Even the hand wipes were Cheetos branded.
Sarah Schmalbruch/INSIDER
FM

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