Cheese-steaks in Phila.
 

<BR> WE are going to be in the Phila. area for a couple of days. Although used to live there lost touch with the best place for cheese <BR>steaks. Also something fun for 19 and 16 year<BR>beside historical and Mom's old haunts

For food suggestions, go to chowhounds.com . Loads of Phila eating recommendations there.

Pat's and Geno's are right across the street from one another. I prefer Pat’s, some prefer Geno’s. As my husband says, a Pat’s cheesesteak is a “little piece of heaven on the side of the street”. Everyone just stands around and eats. Its fabulous!

Everyone loves Pats. Take your kids to SOUTH St; they will love it, but its very crowded on Saturday nights with lots of cops and very weird people on the sidewalks.

I love cheesesteaks. Have had them all over the country, usually defined as Philadelphia style. Have been to both Pat's and Geno's. What a joke. Give me real cheese on my cheesesteak, not that melted velveeta stuff like cheese whiz. How disgusting. I guess if you perpetuate a myth long enough, people will fall for it.

I'd suggest you go to the big farmers market downtown. You can find lots of different Philly foods there.<BR><BR><BR>

I like Jim's cheesesteaks, not necessarily because they're the best, but because Jim's is on South Street, so it's fun walking around there.

rent bikes and bike through wissahickon park..or fish the river or both. Cheesesteaks at nearby Deallesandros are my favorite.

I forget the name but the place in Reading Railroad has some very tasty Cheesesteaks! They have a sign saying they were among the first or some such nonsense but good none the less. Maybe they have more in other locations?

I'm a fan of Jim's--for the atmosphere as much as the steaks. Sorry xxx, but the big vat of melted cheese is part of the experience. However, if you must have "real" cheese, ask for Provolone. Pronounce it the Philly way--"proovoloone". <BR>Your kids should enjoy South Street, but avoid it week-end nights, it does get a little rough. Also take them over to Penn and let them wander around the campus area shops and cafes on their own for a couple of hours--let them feel like part of the campus scene. <BR>Go to La Colombe for coffee on 19th and Walnut (entrance on 19th street). It's a big hangout for Philly's Eurocrowd. Gets smokey, though (see above, Eurocrowd), as the day goes on. But lots of fun if you can snag a table. <BR>Great pizza at Mama Palma's on 23rd and Spruce--has won loads of awards for best pizza in town. Reading Terminal is fun, as everyone has noted. Something for everyone. If you'll be in Philly over a Sunday, check whether the Plough and Star on 2nd and Chestnut is having live music. It can turn into a real (safe, not rowdy) party scene, lots of fun (but I'm not sure if your under-age kids will be allowed--better ask). If they (and you) like Japanese food, go to Genji's on Sansom street and sit at the sushi bar (reservations needed). The sushi chefs there are pretty entertaining. Good food (I love their spider--aka [cooked] soft shell crab--roll). Do your kids rollerblade? They can join in with the rollerbladers along Kelly Drive near Boathouse Row and the Art Museum.

I vote for Tony Luke's! Good Cheesesteaks, but try the Italian Pork Sandwich with Broccoli Rabe and Provolone. Beats the cheesesteak anytime.

To BTilke: I agree with xxx. I grew up in Philly and never heard of a cheesteak with icky Cheez Whiz. ALWAYS came with white American cheese. I like Cheesesteak Hoagies, that is, Cheesesteak with Lettuce, tomato, and raw onions. Aaahhh! BTW, they're good ANYWHERE. No need to go to Pat's & Genos, any hole-in-the-wall with the scent of fried onions will do! Just my humble opinion!

The best: Worst House near Osage Avenue in West Philly. I have missed those darned things so much, plus their grilled cheeses. Wow, I wish I had one of each right now - I have World Cup hangover, and a cheese steak would put me back on my feet for tomorrow's matches - 2:30 a.m. is just killing me!! The USA better pass through on Friday or I'll have to Amtrak to Philly for a cheese steak just to dull the pain.

Just wanted to chime in on the Cheese wiz thing- I spent alot of nights in South Philly between 1986 and 1989, and at that time, Cheese Wiz was commonly used at Pat's, as a matter of fact I think it was the "default" cheese, you would only get american, prvolone, or swiss if you specifically asked for it. Later, when I moved to Florida, plenty of people used to ask me "What's the deal with you Philly people and cheese wiz?" so I KNOW the processed cheese-glop thing is indeed part of the Philly cheese steak experience. Personally I prefer a "provalone with" myself (provalone with oinions) at any place where you walk up to the window; no sit down joints, the window thing is part of the experience.

Larry and I are in the same time frame. My peak cheesesteak years were in the mid 1980s, when I was living just off South Street in the little street behind South Street Souvlaki. The default cheese at Jim's was always the big vat o'whiz, with proovaloone as the second choice. I've never had American cheese on a cheesesteak! Have it any way you like, just don't get one of those "upscale" cheesesteaks that come with Brie or some such thing. A true Philly cheesesteak is a big, gooey, juicy, artery hardening mess and why have it any other way?

The best cheesesteaks in Philly are at Genos (9th and Passyunk).

I very much like Tony Luke's and Jim's for their cheesesteaks and pepper steaks. However, Jim's Steaks seems to have a long line every time I pass by. Has anyone ever tried the following?<BR><BR>(1) Dalessandro's Steaks on Henry Ave. in the East Falls section of the city (up the hill from Manayunk) <BR><BR>(2) John's Pork Roast on Snyder Avenue near the Delaware River<BR><BR>

Wasn't John's voted the best cheesesteak by the Inquirer magazine? A group of high school students decided to find the best Philly cheesesteak and write about it for a senior thesis. They went around with a reporter and tried dozens of steaks. Jim's, Pat's, and Geno's rated very poorly. Dalessandros rated higher but some pork roast place had the best rating.

dam, I'm getting hungry!<BR><BR>I was stationed at the Navy Base 1971-1972. Two favorite places, probably neither in existence anymore, were<BR>&quot;Celebris&quot; (or something like that) on Packer Ave, a little west of Broad.<BR><BR>The other was called (on the base anyways) &quot;Blind Mans&quot; - (it was run by Pennsylvania Assos for Blind, or something like that). Pizza @ celebri's was good too. It was in a little strip mall that also had a &quot;Bambi Laundromat&quot; - how the heck to I remember these things??? &lt;g&gt;<BR><BR>

I agree with drive down any street and pull into the first place you see. How can you go wrong? I just follow the scent of the onions. Don't give a damn about the cheese, never noticed it.