The Barbie Café walked so the Cheez-It Diner could run.
Iconic snack brand Cheez-It just unveiled its first-ever diner, and the pop-up includes an entire menu of all-American fare infused with the cheesy crackers.
On Monday, May 20, the Cheez-In Diner opened its doors for hungry road trippers and New York residents alike for a week-long run in the Catskills. Naturally, I had to stop by the Woodstock location for myself—for research purposes.
A closed-down restaurant was transformed into a diner call the Cheez-In, and it features all the markings of the quintessential American diner and then some: greasy, indulgent food, retro-inspired decor, and even a jukebox that takes crackers for payment (no, really). The pop-up space was revamped from floor to ceiling. Since a picture is worth a thousand words I'll just leave this here:
I sampled every item on the Cheez-In Diner menu so we could break them down together. Let's discuss:
The Deluxe Cheez-It Milkshake was the first thing delivered to our table, and while I'm a girl that loves a salty-sweet combo, I have to admit the vanilla shake and cheese combination wasn't exactly calling to me. The creamy shake included actual Cheez-It crackers blended in, along with a caramel and crushed Cheez-It rim, whipped cream, sprinkles, chocolate sauce, and a chocolate-dipped Cheez-It Cracker. Despite my hesitations, it was actually one of my favorite items on the menu. The Cheez-It flavors were carefully balanced as to not overpower the sweeter notes while the overall flavor profile reminded me of the caramel and cheese Chicago mix popcorn I grew up on.
Next up was the Extra Cheezburger, which combines a perfectly grilled smashburger with a heap of Cheez-It pimento cheese, lettuce, pickles, and an Extra Big Cheez-It cracker on top. The pimento cheese leveled up the otherwise classic menu staple while the Cheez-It ranch, which was served on the side, only made it that much more indulgent. They were served with a side of Cheez-It fries that were perfectly crispy and tossed in ground Cheez-Its for extra flavor. You can opt between the Original, White Cheddar, or Hot & Spicy seasoning for added flavor or load them with melted pimento cheez sauce.
The Big Grilled Cheez, which featured a cracker-coated Texas toast filled with the same Cheez-It pimento cheese as the burger and a crunchy Cheez-It cracker crust, tasted as close to a giant Cheez-It cracker as anything could. Meanwhile, the ultra-crispy Cheezy Chicky Tendies topped my list. The Cheez-It cracker breading made them even crispier than classic tenders. They were served with a side of the Hidden Valley Cheezy Ranch and hot honey (I opted for the latter on this one). I even tossed one of my tenders on the Cheez-It Biscu-it served on the side for a makeshift chicken sandwich.
The Mac & Cheez-It was last on the list before dessert. The pasta was baked in a delicious and creamy White Cheddar Cheez-It cracker sauce with a Cheez-It cracker crumble on top that adds the perfect amount of texture. You can order the dish as a full-blown meal or just a side to pair with your tendies or cheeseburger.
After scarfing down the entire menu, it was time for dessert. As if the milkshake wasn't sweet enough, there was the Sweet-N-Salty Cheezcake, which featured a creamy cheesecake base with a Cheez-It cracker pie crust, caramel, and Extra Big Cheez-It crackers.
I went to the Cheez-It Taste-It Station to load up on my favorite cracker flavors for the car ride home and then hit the merch shop, where I wrote my mom a sweet little postcard (they'll send it for you) and picked up a retro-inspired tie-dye Cheez-It t-shirt to remember my time there.
The Cheez-In Diner will be open from 4 to 9 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 4 p.m. to 12 a.m. through the weekend. The temporary Woodstock, New York, diner—which is located at 261 Tinker Street, not too far from the town's adorable downtown—is open through Sunday, May 26. Get your Cheez-It milkshake while you still can!
