# Who knows about Philadelphia cheesesteaks? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 27, 2011, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-knows-about-philadelphia-cheesesteaks/590455 "2011-07-27T02:38:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-knows-about-philadelphia-cheesesteaks/590455/101 "2011-08-17T16:47:28Z")
Bell Peppers = I ban you from Philly. Come back ONE YEAR! ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2011, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-knows-about-philadelphia-cheesesteaks/590455/102 "2011-08-24T15:04:40Z")
Joey Vento of Geno’s steaks died yesterday of a heart attack: [Eatery owner who once told customers to order in English dies - CNN.com](http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/08/24/pennsylvania.cheesesteak.owner/) ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2011, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-knows-about-philadelphia-cheesesteaks/590455/103 "2011-08-24T17:22:22Z")
So that means Pat’s wins, right? ---
**Author:** ![ministryman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@ministryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ministryman)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2011, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-knows-about-philadelphia-cheesesteaks/590455/104 "2011-08-24T18:11:10Z")
RIP Joey V. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2011, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-knows-about-philadelphia-cheesesteaks/590455/105 "2011-09-03T02:48:27Z")
OP checking in. Just got back from Philly today. Had zero time to seek out a cheesesteak, but I vowed I would grab one on the way out of town. This means I pulled up to Geno’s at 0830 this morning. I chose Geno’s simply because there was a convenient parking spot right in front. Turns out, that is an excellent time to go. Walked right up to the window and ordered. “One Whiz wit.” I felt a little disappointed that the counter folks were semi-polite. The sandwich was over-priced, but outstanding. Loved it. That said, I had recently popped into the new ‘authentic’ Philly Cheeseteak joint that just opened a few miles from my house. This sandwich - which seemed identical to the Philly one (aside from being a tad juicier) - was equally awesome. And it cost $5 vs. $9. And it’s about 585 miles closer to home. By the way, I loved Philadelphia. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2011, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-knows-about-philadelphia-cheesesteaks/590455/106 "2011-09-03T02:56:36Z")
Bookmarking another thread for our trip next April. Writing down Tony Luke’s. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2012, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-knows-about-philadelphia-cheesesteaks/590455/107 "2012-06-16T13:57:43Z")
The wife and I tried both Pat’s and Geno’s two months go. We both agreed that Pat’s has an edge on Geno’s, but Geno’s ain’t too shabby either. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2012, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-knows-about-philadelphia-cheesesteaks/590455/108 "2012-06-16T14:47:27Z")
OP checking in again. So…I’ve been a vegetarian since January. Don’t miss meat at all. Until re-reading this thread, that is. 🙂 mmm ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2012, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-knows-about-philadelphia-cheesesteaks/590455/109 "2012-06-16T23:49:25Z")
I’ll tell you what was a crappy cheesesteak, and that was at Jon’s Bar & Grille on South Street. It stands on the former site of the home where Larry Fine was born. That’s Larry as in Moe, Larry and Curly. We stopped there on a Saturday night to view the sttreet action, and since it was on the menu, I ordered the cheesesteak. Not very good. You just have to go with the real deal or not at all. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2012, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-knows-about-philadelphia-cheesesteaks/590455/110 "2012-06-17T03:36:56Z")
I flew through Philadelphia via Southwest Airlines a couple of years ago. I had a couple of hours before my connecting flight and so I wanted to try an authentic Philly cheesesteak. I asked someone (as I remember, either a security guard or a tourism volunteer), assuming that one of the well-known local restaurants would have a location at the airport. I was told, no. They suggested, if I had time, that I could leave the airport, go to one of the famous locations and get back, but I didn’t want to risk it. That was disappointing. I think every city should try to make sure that its local specialty is available at the airport. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2012, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-knows-about-philadelphia-cheesesteaks/590455/111 "2012-06-17T15:45:56Z")
It would never have worked. Part of what makes the traditional rivals good is the fact that they’re using decades-old equipment that has been used continuously to make the product. Setting up a shiny new location at the airport isn’t going to produce the same quality. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2012, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-knows-about-philadelphia-cheesesteaks/590455/112 "2012-06-17T15:54:10Z")
Well, you would have been able to get a cheesesteak somewhere at the airport, but there’s no guarantees as to its quality. Most of the best places are single-location, not chains, so it’s not a trivial matter to just open up a new branch at the airport. Actually, I’ll go further: There probably is somewhere in the airport that does serve a good cheesesteak (even if not quite as good as one of the greats). But it’d take trial-and-error to find out which place that is. ---
**Author:** ![Cleophus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e57/32.png) [@Cleophus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cleophus)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2012, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-knows-about-philadelphia-cheesesteaks/590455/113 "2012-06-17T20:07:21Z")
The thing about cheesesteaks is that they’re not hard to make, but easy to get wrong. It’s a very simple sandwich: roll, steak, cheese. You absolutely need the correct type of roll. A soft hoagie roll will get soggy from the grease and is too bready. A crusty roll with a chewy interior is needed. This is probably the biggest problem when you get a cheesesteak away from Philadelphia. The roll style isn’t common outside of Philly. The meat has to be from a steak-type cut of meat, preferably ribeye. It stops being a cheese **steak** when you use deli cuts like roast beef. Cheese is normally not a problem unless something crazy is going on. American, provolone, whiz = fine. Swiss = ok. Brie = what? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2012, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-knows-about-philadelphia-cheesesteaks/590455/114 "2012-06-17T20:57:43Z")
> [@](#): > > This is probably the biggest problem when you get a cheesesteak away from Philadelphia. Actually, I’d say the biggest problem is that most places try to make it too complicated. The basic ingredients should just be meat, cheese, and roll, and even the cheese can be omitted. Onions and mushrooms are fine. Peppers are really stretching it, and lettuce, tomatoes, or other vegetables, or any sort of condiment, are right out. But yeah, the roll is important, too. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2012, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-knows-about-philadelphia-cheesesteaks/590455/115 "2012-06-17T21:04:42Z")
And you know you’re going to get a substandard product from any place that lists on its menu a “chicken cheesesteak” or “chickensteak.” Even if you were going to concoct such a comestible, you should call it what it is—grilled chicken sub or something like that. Or even a “cheesebreast” if you need the parallel. But “chickensteak”? No way. ---
**Author:** ![Cleophus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e57/32.png) [@Cleophus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cleophus)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2012, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-knows-about-philadelphia-cheesesteaks/590455/116 "2012-06-17T21:21:24Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > And you know you’re going to get a substandard product from any place that lists on its menu a “chicken cheesesteak” or “chickensteak.” > > Even if you were going to concoct such a comestible, you should call it what it is—grilled chicken sub or something like that. Or even a “cheesebreast” if you need the parallel. But “chickensteak”? No way. A lot of chicken cheesesteaks are actually made from chopped and formed chicken breasts. They’re formed into thin sheets and cooked much the same way as a beef cheesesteak. Pizza shops and food carts typically serve these, along with cheesesteaks using similarly formed beef. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2012, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-knows-about-philadelphia-cheesesteaks/590455/117 "2012-06-17T21:24:09Z")
The point is that there’s no “steak” in something made from chicken. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2012, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-knows-about-philadelphia-cheesesteaks/590455/118 "2012-06-17T22:12:28Z")
And you guys talked me into it. I just had a cheesesteak for supper. There’s a sandwich shop around here that gets it _almost_ right. ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2012, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-knows-about-philadelphia-cheesesteaks/590455/119 "2012-06-18T19:38:08Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I flew through Philadelphia via Southwest Airlines a couple of years ago. I had a couple of hours before my connecting flight and so I wanted to try an authentic Philly cheesesteak. I asked someone (as I remember, either a security guard or a tourism volunteer), assuming that one of the well-known local restaurants would have a location at the airport. I was told, no. They suggested, if I had time, that I could leave the airport, go to one of the famous locations and get back, but I didn’t want to risk it. > > That was disappointing. I think every city should try to make sure that its local specialty is available at the airport. There are TWO Chickie’s and Pete’s at PHL. I was just at the one in Terminal D last week. I don’t know how their sandwich is viewed by the locals, but it is certainly possible to get a cheesesteak at PHL ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2012, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-knows-about-philadelphia-cheesesteaks/590455/120 "2012-06-18T20:05:41Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > even the cheese can be omitted. I am not changing my handle to SteakSandwich, the cheese stays. With that out of the way, you are totally right, cheesesteaks are like pizzas. You have a simple dish with just 3 ingredients. Make it right, it’s fantastic without any toppings. Toppings should be used to add a little twist, they should not be the main attraction. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-knows-about-philadelphia-cheesesteaks/590455.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-knows-about-philadelphia-cheesesteaks/590455.md?page=7)