Philly’s Best Cheesesteak Goes To …
What’s a food writer such as myself to do when he finds himself in Philadelphia for an afternoon? Put the city’s top cheesesteaks to a taste test, of course! Now, I should preface this by saying I am a New Yorker, and do not have the cheesesteak pedigree or knowledge that a Philadelphian does. And, I’m a Giants fan (double burn, Philly!) so my opinion already means squat to the Philadelphia locals right off the bat. To counter this, the way I chose these two steaks was straight-up intel from Philly media. Philly Magazine dubbed Cosmi’s Deli — a tiny little, uh, deli in the middle of a not-so-tasty neighborhood — as the best cheesesteak of South Philly in 2004 and 2008. With that decision made, I went with another South Philly joint, the bustling praise-magnet Tony Luke’s as my second and final stop (I’m but one man with one belly, people). The test was delicious, gut-busting … and enlightening. Who won, you ask? Find out in my video After the Jump:
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I have to question the necessity of cheesesteak…and for that matter, of Philadlphia.
Hey, Lewis– Good one, buddy! You really just zinged the hell out of my hometown there! There’s nothing we Philadelphians appreciate more than joke-free reflexive snobbery, so: Way to go!
Mike: Every place on every corner in Philadelphia boasts “the best cheesesteaks in town,” and Tony Luke’s has sort of become the big dog in town in the last decade or so. But the real elites are Pat’s and Geno’s, two longstanding rivals that share a weird triangle-shaped intersection at 9th & Passyunk in South Philly. Geno’s has achieved some national notoriety recently for being the most unrepentently xenophobic business in Philadelphia, which is saying something, believe me. I prefer Pat’s on culinary grounds. Good slivered steak, Cheese Whiz, grilled onions,fresh local rolls, the whole shooting match. Give ‘em a try if you get back out that way.
In response to another comment. See in context »Bill –
I’ve actually had Pat’s (and Jim’s, which came highly recommended) in the past… both were pretty good. For this one I wanted to go with two places I’d recently read about (Cosmi’s was Philly Mag’s pick…. I wasn’t going by the sign). Plus, I refuse to go to Geno’s for the douche of the year English-only thing a while back.
If I’m ever back there (seems like I might be shortly), I’ll revisit Pat’s… got another gem for me?
In response to another comment. See in context »In my family, three generations of Philadelphian relatives have all sworn by a place called Mamma’s Pizzeria (http://www.mamaspizzeria.com/home) for their cheesesteaks. It’s technically just outside of Philly though.
You’ve pretty much covered the majors… If you want to switch gears and get a hoagie that will transform your life, go to Lee’s. There are a few of them, but the closest one to Center City is at 40th & Walnut on the Penn campus, Order the Cheltenham (the half size; the full size is as big as a Louisville Slugger). Be sure to get sauce, not mayo. Onions at your option. It’s transcendent.
I’m intrigued enough to google what’s on it…
Lee’s Italian Cheltenham Lee’s Italian Plus Ham Extra Capicola & American Cheese… . 7.00 14.00
this sauce you speak of must be something magical, because that seems like a fairly standard (and too-overly-stuffed) sammich to me. However, I do not doubt your hoagie (heh… hoagie) prowess, so if I’m back, it’s on my list
In response to another comment. See in context »The description really doesn’t do it justice. It’s a combination of very good meats and cheeses in enormous quantities (a wider variety, I think, than they list on the web site), superb local bread (Amoroso’s, I think), and the sauce, which is a proprietary secret blend. It doesn’t sound like much on paper. But on a plate… mmmboy.
In response to another comment. See in context »I’m also from Philly (and lived in NYC for many years) and if there’s one thing I miss right now it is a Lee’s hoagie. For serious, Mike, you need to try that. And for the best cheesesteak in town, go to Delesandro’s in Roxy. This is not even debatable. I’ll be home for a few weeks in Sept and after six months away and 14 hours of flying, I will stop there for a steak before I even get home to see my family.
Lewis, Philadelphia is only necessary if you view the signing of the Constitution and Declaration of Independence as important. Also The Roots.
Mike, Eli sux.
Also, the Philly sandwich that nobody talks about, but everybody loves is the pork sandwich. Roast pork, provolone, a little jus, it is very, very good. One more thing; Talk of the Town on Broad St, by the stadiums. They have a menu of chicken cutlet sandwiches that will blow your mind.
Having lived in NYC for a long time, I can tell you that Philly sandwiches are far better. Granted, you can’t get decent corned beef or pastrami in Philly, but hoagies/subs? No comparison.
Ok. I’m going back to my kababs and chai now…
P.J. — Nice to meet a homeboy. My Lee’s of choice used to be the one on 17th St. between Chestnut and Market, and it’d always be my first stop, until the day it closed and broke my heart. But I actually go back as far as the original one on Cheltenham Ave. in West Oak Lane, which was my neighborhood hoagie joint a bazillon years ago. Re pork sandwiches: Nick’s at 20th & Jackson used to do a wicked one, although their specialty is an epic roast beef sandwich. It’s more or less comparable to the French Dip at Phillipe’s here in LA, where I live now. (See what you started, Mike?)
In response to another comment. See in context »Duly noted, P.J. Both are now on my list should I return to Philly.
I’m also with you on The Roots, plus one of my favorite bands of all time (Ink & Dagger) came out of Philly. As for Eli sucking… only about 40% of the time.