Family Philly Cheese Steak Place (Philadelphia, Reading: apartment, house, shop)

[Patch2007]

Hello

I have planned a quick family trip to Philadeplphia. It would be horrible to go to Philly and not try a Philly Cheese Steak. I am looking for a place that is family friendly with a childrens menu with sit down service. I will be at the Franklin Science Center, so a place near there would be great. Thank so much!

[cynicalwench]

Depending on your nationality and what language you speak, Geno's for English speaking only with no accent, or Pat's for everyone.

[WVUPharm2007]

As an outside person that married into the Philly area, I've found that that the more famous it is, the less likely it is to actually be good. The best cheesesteaks I've had are the ones that come from the hole in the wall, mom and pop Italian joints you've never heard of. Big, fat Italian dude, sweat from his brow dripping onto the meat...that's authentic, dammit.

[ApartmentNomad]

Forget Geno's. There was a recent article in the Inquirer listing the 45 best cheesesteaks:

After 45 cheesesteaks, the best were ... | Philadelphia Inquirer | 04/04/2008

These came out as the top ten (as judged by a local radio personality anyway):

1. John's Roast Pork on East Snyder Avenue in South Philadelphia.

2. Steve's Prince of Steaks, Philadelphia

3. *****'s Steaks, Northeast

4. Talk of the Town, South Philadelphia

5. Grey Lodge Pub, Northeast

6. Slack's Hoagie Shack, Northeast

7. Sonny's Famous Steaks, Old City

8. Tony Luke's, South Philadelphia

9. White House Sub Shop, Atlantic City

10. Dalessandro's, Roxborough


Note: I haven't even tried most of these. I don't eat that many cheesesteaks; I have enough trouble not gaining weight as it is.

Also, what WVUPharm2007 said. When I used to eat cheesesteaks regularly, I generally got them at food trucks (especially when I was going to Temple, and then Drexel) or whatever place was handy, and some of them were pretty good.

[Patch2007]

Originally Posted by cynicalwench

Depending on your nationality and what language you speak, Geno's for English speaking only with no accent, or Pat's for everyone.

Humm....that is an odd response. I might be missing some inside information here....

ApartmentNomad: Thanks so much. I will see which place fits my needs. American, English Speaking, with child and accessible.

[Pat_in_Pa]

If you want an adventure, and you're an athletic family, head on over to the Reading Terminal Market. Rick's is in there. It's a nice long walk this time of year for walkers (about a mile). Reading Terminal Market › Home
You have to get your hand stamped when you leave the Franklin Institute for lunch, and then they let you back in.

If you're not athletic, and you're going on a weekday, just a few blocks south of the museum, pick a vendor with a line of business people at his cart and then sit outside the Institute. Maybe John's at 18th x Market would be a ten minute walk if you go right down 20 and hang a left at Market.

[Tone509]

What cynicalwench is referring to is a recent controversy where Geno's Steaks posted a sign saying that they only takes orders in English. The story made national news for a brief time. In fact, there is a thread on this forum about it that has just been updated.

Originally Posted by Patch2007

Humm....that is an odd response. I might be missing some inside information here....

ApartmentNomad: Thanks so much. I will see which place fits my needs. American, English Speaking, with child and accessible.

[juniperbleu]

I personally like Tony Luke's, although it's not really near anything (it's under I-95), so it'd be a trip down instead of a quick lunch. The main problem there is deciding between a cheesesteak or the Italian pork.

However, Pat's is the general go-to for visitors. I never thought it was that bad (some have strong feelings), and it's generally the place you see when candidates/celebrities make a photo-op out of it.

[newmarlig]

The only time Pats or Geno's are good is 3:00 a.m. and only if you are drunk. Will you have a car?

[orrmobl]

Second on skipping Pat's, never had Geno's. Rick's in Reading Terminal is good, as is Jim's on South Street, but that would be a tour for another day or night...