Real-deal Philly cheesesteak “whiz wit” now open in Charlotte

Why it matters: Cheat’s checks all the boxes a good Philly cheesesteak should, and boy is the demand there. Each one of the pop-ups since they started in October has sold out.

Location: The brick-and-mortar restaurant is between the Elizabeth and Plaza Midwood neighborhoods at 913 Pecan Avenue. It’ll share a parking lot with Rico’s Acai and Villani’s Bakery, co-founder Hannah Smith tells me.

• Of note: There’s plenty of parking on the lot but Smith encourages you to park in the surrounding neighborhood and walk over if you can, in order to take advantage of the walkability the neighborhood has.

Details: The classic “whiz wit” cheesesteaks on Amoroso’s buns are $14 each and cooked in front of guests.

• There’s also a vegan version with Beyond meat.
• They’ll also serve breakfast all day, fries, and soft-serve ice cream (Dole pineapple and vanilla).

Background: Smith, Ryan Hart, and chef Greg Balch created the concept while working together at The Crunkleton. Cheat’s, however, is a separate entity from the popular Elizabeth restaurant and bar.

Emma’s thought bubble: I’m from Philly-adjacent Delaware, and Charlotte’s selection of cheesesteaks has long been disappointing. Cheat’s is doing everything right when it comes to ingredients, and judging by how popular their pop-up events have been, their opening is going to be a big deal.

What’s next: Right now, Cheat’s is grab-and-go but will have a couple of picnic tables outside eventually.

Editor’s note: This article was first published in January 2021, and it was last updated with information on the brick-and-mortar opening on July 11, 2022.

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