Cheat's Cheesesteaks

Cheat’s Cheesesteaks is a small building on its own lot at 913 Pecan Avenue, on the seam between Plaza Midwood and Chantilly. The dog evidence is a single line, and it lives on the menu instead of a policy page. At the bottom of the Drinks section: “Ask about our FREE Pup Cups!” The South End menu carries the same line.

That is the entire published record. The locations page doesn’t mention dogs. Neither does the about page, and there’s no FAQ. Leash rules and water bowls aren’t published one way or the other, which leaves the county ordinance as the operative rule.

Where dogs go is settled by the building rather than by a policy. Axios reported at the July 2022 opening that Cheat’s was grab-and-go with a couple of picnic tables outside still to come. When the South End store was announced in 2024, the same outlet noted that location would be double the size of this one and would add bathrooms inside, which this one doesn’t have. TripAdvisor reviewers describe a few tables with umbrellas set up in front and call the seating very limited. So: order at the window, eat outside, or take it with you. The North Carolina food code allows dogs in outdoor dining areas as long as they’re restrained and don’t pass through any indoor part of the place.

Parking is on the lot. At opening the owner told Axios he’d rather people park in the surrounding neighborhood and walk over, to make use of the walkability.

Hours are 11am to 9pm daily. Frying is done in beef tallow and olive oil — the company posted the move away from seed oils on its homepage. Half-price large chicken cheesesteaks run every Monday.

Resident Culture’s Plaza Midwood taproom is a little over half a mile northeast on Central Avenue, and Birdsong Brewing is about a mile northwest on North Davidson.

Cheat’s publishes no phone number for either store. The only contact channel on the site is info@eatcheats.com.