Philly cheese steak
 

Is there 2 cheesesteak places that are "famous" as the best? I seem to remember seeing something on the food network one time, that they are kitty corner from each other. Does anyone know what they are called, or where they are? We'll be in Philly for a couple days in may, and cant leave without having one!

Thanks

I live in the Suburbs so I am sure others will chime in from the city--I believe one of them without a doubt would be "Pat's." Yes you must have a cheesesteak if coming to PHL. When you are here if you ask anyone will be able to tell you where the location is--I seem to think it is is around South Street area.

The debate over whether Pat's or Geno's steaks are the best goes on every night. Both are located on Passyunk Avenue near Ninth Street in the heart of South Philly. I recommend trying them both.

If you are a local food enthusiast, also try the Reading Market. In Reading Station in Center City. An excellent experience with dozens of selection. I leave wishing I could have more.

My vote would be Geno's but that is just my opinion

Pat's and Geno's are the most famous, but there are a lot of people who would not name them as the best. Some of the other contenders for that include Jim's on South St, Tony Luke's, Max's at Broad and Erie (not really in the tourist area, ahem) and, well, a bunch of other neighborhood places!

So, depending on your itinerary otherwise, you don't need to make a special trip to Pat's and/or Geno's to get a good cheesesteak. Check out Hollyeats for some recommendations:
http://www.hollyeats.com/Philadelphia.htm

Happy eating!

I 2nd stumpworks73 comments.

Other posters may try to steer you to "better" places, but I think it's about more than the food, and a trip tp Phila. isn't complete without a trip to Pats and/or Genos!

~Liz

Awesome! thanks everyone. We are staying between Rittenhouse square and Thomas Jefferson University.... how's the neighborhood?

In Philadelphia, the area roughly bounded by South Street to the south, Spring Garden Street to the north, and the water to the east and west is considered good.

For food: very strongly recommend going to Reading Terminal Market. Consider any of the following there: DiNic's (get the pork sandwich with aged provolone and greens, arguably the city's best), Bassett's (ice cream), Salumeria (Italian hoagies), Termini Brothers (pastries), Rick's (cheesesteaks), Fisher's Soft Pretzels (pretzels), Dutch Eating Place (Penna Dutch stuff, scrapple and other things), and Famous 4th Street (cookies).

Re cheesesteaks: The subject of "best cheesesteak" is a contentious one on every online forum I've visited. I tried them at five places during a visit to Philly and liked Jim's the best by far, followed by Rick's (very good), Tony Luke's (good), Campo's (OK), and Sonny's (weakest of these). Have seen several negative reactions to Geno's and Pat's but did not try them. Note that the area where Geno's and Pat's are located is below South Street, though the immediate area is apparently OK; no idea what a walk from South Street to there is like, though.

Other food places to consider: Franklin Fountain (for excellent ice cream and old fashioned phosphates). Estia is an excellent if a bit expensive Greek seafood spot. There's also a Chinatown in Philly, and I really liked Rangoon, the one Burmese place there. Many here like Capogiro for gelato: I thought it was OK if not the best I've had.

Great location for being walkable to many different areas of the city!

As to cheesesteaks, Pat's and Geno's are the famous ones, and they are definitely a tourist destination, but almost everyone local would agree they are not the best. And I respectfully disagree that they're a "not-to-be-missed" Philly spot, I think there are many other spots I'd put higher on that list.

If you want to go out of your way for a high quality cheese steak, the biggest winner in recent years in any magazine, on chowhound, and maybe most importantly in a taste test done by high school boys (who would know better!) is a little shack called John's Roast Pork. My stepfather is in his 80s and has lived in Philly his whole life, and when we took him there, he instantly said there was no doubt it was the best he'd ever had. So if you're able to get there, do! Know that it's not a sit-down restaurant tho', it's just a few picnic tables outside.

It's not in the middle of any other tourist destinations, tho', (tho' just a five to ten minute car or cab ride) so if you don't want to take the time, as Amy said, there are many places to get a perfectly fine cheesesteak in almost any neighborhood, so just pick one somewhere you already want to be.

Also, I second stumpworks73's recommendation of Reading Terminal Market, and not only (but true, especially) if you're a local foods enthusiast. It is a Philly special place not to be missed. Btw, if you go there, another less known Philly specialty is a roast pork sandwich with sharp provolone and broccoli rabe, on great South Philly bread, and the Reading Terminal Market has one at a place called DeNic's that is delicious (tho I vote for John's Roast Pork for that one, too!).

If you decide you want to go to Pat's or Geno's anyway, tho', then I recommend going during daytime hours when you'd be able to walk over to the Italian Market and take the feel of that in as well.

Absolutely go to the Reading Terminal Market, but just an addendum to the some of the above: Rick's Steaks is, very sadly, no longer there. After 25 years he had to leave the location, much to the dismay of many, many fans. But you can eat very well at the Market still!

Looks like Bachslunch and I posted simultaneously, and with some of the same thoughts.

But on one thing I beg to differ...I love Capogiro's, and this is the first time ever I've heard anyone consider it only ok. The only better I've ever had was in Rome, and even that was close. Bachslunch, when you say you've had better, do you mean right here in Philly? If so, where, because I'll want to try it!

I grew up on Geno's. It is where my friends and I always went. (Cousin Muffy used to throw her leftovers at passing cars whilst she drove down Broad Street.) My brother, Joey, always liked Pat's better. When he was alive, he prolly ate at Pat's twice a week.

To be honest, though, I haven't had a cheesesteak samich in YEARS.

Don't forget your Tasty Kakes and Wise potato chips.

Thin

Hi go_laura--

Re Capogiro, I was thinking along two lines:

-how they compare to other gelato places, including ones in Italy I've tried. I'd take Vivoli in Florence over Capogiro any day.

-which ice cream place I'd go to first if I went back to Philadelphia. Of the three spots I went to, I'd choose Franklin Fountain, Bassett's, and Capogiro in that order. Not saying that Capogiro is terrible or anything, but that's how I'd rank them, at least. It's like the difference between say, the scotches Glenlivet, Chivas Regal, and Dewars. There's absolutely nothing wrong with Dewars in this threesome, and I'd certainly drink it, but I prefer the other two, myself. It's certainly not the equivalent of S.S. Pierce brand scotch.

Note that I tend to prefer ice cream with higher butterfat content (that is, richer mouth feel) and more vivid flavor, so that's where my ice cream biases lie.

I tried both Pat's and Geno's and found neither of them too exciting. Then a bus driver told me about Jim's and I think I found the best cheesesteak in Philadelphia.

Twelveoaks, you'll have to come back to try the cheesesteak at John's Roast Pork (and honestly, I have no stock :-) I've yet to meet someone who's had both Jim's and theirs and has picked Jim's. Tho' Jim's is fine if you're in that neighborhood.

And bachslunch, when *you* come back, given your preference for higher butterfat content, you absolutely must go to a place called "More Than Just Ice Cream" on Locust St (somewhere around 10th or so, I'd have to look it up to be exact). If you like coconut, that's the flavor to get.

But, not fair to compare gelato with ice cream, since by definition gelato (which for others who may not know is what they serve at Capogiro's) is much less butterfat. However, the comparison with the place in Florence is fair enough, would that it could be that I could be there or one of the Rome places, tomorrow!

Hi go_laura--

The regular ice cream vs. gelato circumstance is actually an interesting one to discuss further. Gelato is indeed much lower in butterfat than normal ice cream -- but despite this, it can taste richer and more intense than regular ice cream because it is much denser, containing less air than regular ice cream. Here are a couple online links about this:

http://www.alottogelato.biz/site/ind...d=14&Itemid=33

http://www.straight.com/article/ice-...nd-so-decadent

I didn't experience Capogiro's gelato as seemingly rich and intensely flavored as the other two Philly ice creams I sampled. Maybe it was too cold when I tried it? Not sure, myself. Maybe another sampling is in order next time I'm in town.

Am reviving this thread on cheesesteaks to report on some other spots tried not that long ago.

Had spoken positively about Jim's (would still consider it at the top on my personal list) and thought Tony Luke's (tried it at the ballpark) was good. Less taken with Sonny's or Campo's, though they're the ones most easily reached from the Old City area. Rick's has indeed closed, sorry to report.

Will say I very much liked one I had at Cosmi's Deli (close to the top of ones I've had) -- but note well that it's a grungy hole-in-the-wall in a very scuzzy area of South Philadelphia well south of the Italian Market area and there's absolutely no seating there (nor would you want to), so it's strictly take-out and preferably gone to via car -- nice roll, good quality and tender meat with no fat or gristle, minimal cheese whiz but just enough. Dolce Carini was good, about the level of Tony Luke's at the ballpark -- it's not far from Rittenhouse Square -- good meat, heavy on the whiz, though wasn't taken with the doughy roll. Also tried Geno's and Pat's, and was not impressed -- Pat's has a little better roll than Geno's (less doughy), decent amount of whiz, but both had tough and stringy meat with some gristle and/or fat.

I'd rank them in order as follows: Jim's, Cosmi's Deli, Tony Luke's ballpark, Dolce Carini, Campo's, Sonny's, Pat's, Geno's.

The scuttlebut about Geno's and Pat's not being all they're cracked up to be would seem to be in line with my recent experience. Wouldn't go back to either.

I am sitting here hungry and you had to bring up this thread...Thanks. I need to get back to Philadelphia soon.

Eat scrapple..it is even more of a Philadelphia and area tradition than those cheesesteaks..some of the people who LIVE in Philadelphia are too wussy to eat the stuff.

Rick's closed? What happened?