I need a new sandwich! (Philadelphia, York: amusement park, home, camp)

[mcguirk]

Originally Posted by Johnny P'unk Square

Wait, I'm not done. A Schmitter from McNally's in Chestnut Hill on Germantown. A really great little pub, the only place I mentioned that you can get your drink on too, except for that kinda tacky sports bar that Tony Luke set up across from his stand on Oregon.

Don't judge a Schmitter from that abomination that they serve at the ballpark. It's a great sandwich when made to order, certainly up there with the best Philly has to offer.

I think that Tony Luke'sbar thing closed down.

[Johnny P'unk Square]

Originally Posted by mcguirk

I think that Tony Luke'sbar thing closed down.

Yeah, I wasn't 100% sure that was still in operation, place didn't have a good vibe.

[Larry Bowa]

Originally Posted by Johnny P'unk Square

Hands down, my 3 favs come from one shop, I'm surprised no one mentioned it. Chickie's Deli, 10th & Federal. The veggie hoagie is legendary (you don't need to be vegetarian to love this, and it sure ain't healthy), the oyster po boy, and the best tuna hoagie ever. They do have bankers hours, best to check the web for hours of operation. I lived across the street from them, but hardly ever ate there because I was always at work when they were open.

After Chickie's, the rest are the usual suspects, Tony Lukes for pork Italian, John's Roast Pork for cheesesteaks, George's on 9th in the Market, next to Lorenzos is great for pork, and of course Sarcone's for anything. All of the places I mentioned I believe use Sarcone's rolls, except for George's and maybe John's.

Sorry everything is in the SP, but you have to go south of South to get the best Philly has to offer, no disrespect to the other 10,000 fine shops in the Delaware Valley.

And stay away from Pat's and Geno's please, don't look like a shoobie.

Last two times I ate @Tony Luke's, I got so sick. Never again. I didn't think they were that good, anyway. The steak @John's was a major disappointment.
And there's nothing wrong with Geno's. They may not be the best, but they deserve better than to be called a "tourist trap." A lot of locals go there.
I definitely need to try George's and Chickie's.

[frankgn87]

Originally Posted by Larry Bowa

Last two times I ate @Tony Luke's, I got so sick. Never again. I didn't think they were that good, anyway. The steak @John's was a major disappointment.
And there's nothing wrong with Geno's. They may not be the best, but they deserve better than to be called a "tourist trap." A lot of locals go there.
I definitely need to try George's and Chickie's.

We feel the same about Lukes. Horrible cheese steaks. Never again.. Tried it many times too

[Johnny P'unk Square]

Originally Posted by frankgn87

We feel the same about Lukes. Horrible cheese steaks. Never again.. Tried it many times too

I've never had a steak at Luke's, just the pork Italian.

I think the marinated pork, sharp provolone and rabe are a citywide treasure. The gravy soaks the roll to make a mushy mess by the time your halfway through. Soooo good.

Never got sick there, only felt better when I left.

[Johnny P'unk Square]

Originally Posted by Larry Bowa

Last two times I ate @Tony Luke's, I got so sick. Never again. I didn't think they were that good, anyway. The steak @John's was a major disappointment.
And there's nothing wrong with Geno's. They may not be the best, but they deserve better than to be called a "tourist trap." A lot of locals go there.
I definitely need to try George's and Chickie's.

There are a lot of old guard South Philly residents who love their pizza from Domino's too, so the fact that locals eat at Geno's means nothing to me.

I like that Pat's and Geno's are there, I used to live on 10th, across from Capitolo Park, so I saw, smelled and dug out trash between my front step from Pat's and Geno's every day. I like the tourist trade they do, love to see the Cadets and Midshipmen line up at 7am on Army-Navy game day. I like the celebrity sightings, the Presidential and VIP limo processions during campaign season, with the Secret Service scoping out my side walk before hand. I like the neon all night, it looks cool. I now live on 11th, so I still get the trash and aroma, just can't see it from my front windows anymore.

That said, I think both have the most overpriced and worst steaks in the Delaware Valley and beyond. When I have out of town friends visit, who just have to go there, I let them order what they want, I get fries and soda, but order my steak from J&J's Pizza on the corner beforehand, a savings of over 3 dollars. I then sit with my friends at a table with my contraband sandwich.

A steak should be made to order, not assembly line, the fault I have with P & G's. The meat needs to be whacked to death with the side of a spatula, then the roll has to sit on the meat, cheese and onions while its on the grill, then covered with a lid, letting the grease soak in and steaming the roll. Then when it's wrapped in foil, it's still cooking, getting more flavor until it's unveiling. You can't tell me that taking pre-cooked, non chopped meat from an insert, tossing a skimpy amount on a roll, throwing wiz on it, then wrapping it in paper is close to being the same. P & G's food sucks. If you really need proof, order a pork at either some time. Vento and Oliveri might as well wipe their azz with a roll, it would taste the same.

I'm very, very serious about my sandwiches.

[Angus215]

Originally Posted by Johnny P'unk Square

There are a lot of old guard South Philly residents who love their pizza from Domino's too, so the fact that locals eat at Geno's means nothing to me.

I like that Pat's and Geno's are there, I used to live on 10th, across from Capitolo Park, so I saw, smelled and dug out trash between my front step from Pat's and Geno's every day. I like the tourist trade they do, love to see the Cadets and Midshipmen line up at 7am on Army-Navy game day. I like the celebrity sightings, the Presidential and VIP limo processions during campaign season, with the Secret Service scoping out my side walk before hand. I like the neon all night, it looks cool. I now live on 11th, so I still get the trash and aroma, just can't see it from my front windows anymore.

That said, I think both have the most overpriced and worst steaks in the Delaware Valley and beyond. When I have out of town friends visit, who just have to go there, I let them order what they want, I get fries and soda, but order my steak from J&J's Pizza on the corner beforehand, a savings of over 3 dollars. I then sit with my friends at a table with my contraband sandwich.

A steak should be made to order, not assembly line, the fault I have with P & G's. The meat needs to be whacked to death with the side of a spatula, then the roll has to sit on the meat, cheese and onions while its on the grill, then covered with a lid, letting the grease soak in and steaming the roll. Then when it's wrapped in foil, it's still cooking, getting more flavor until it's unveiling. You can't tell me that taking pre-cooked, non chopped meat from an insert, tossing a skimpy amount on a roll, throwing wiz on it, then wrapping it in paper is close to being the same. P & G's food sucks. If you really need proof, order a pork at either some time. Vento and Oliveri might as well wipe their azz with a roll, it would taste the same.

I'm very, very serious about my sandwiches.

Quite honestly, most cheesesteaks in philly suck, just as they do in any other part of the country. Most of the big name places you hear about, like Delessandros, Tony Lukes, Jim's, and John's, suck as well (although some have very good roast pork). I actually think that Pat's is better than all of those, not to mention Genos which is the worst i've had other than Jim's. It's difficult to get a good steak, because the quality of the ingredients is so important. Most have dry, overcooked, grissly, unseasoned, tasteless beef (supposedly rib-eye). The best steak I have had to date is Sonny's on Market St, although you don't hear much about them.

[Johnny P'unk Square]

Originally Posted by Angus215

Quite honestly, most cheesesteaks in philly suck, just as they do in any other part of the country. Most of the big name places you hear about, like Delessandros, Tony Lukes, Jim's, and John's, suck as well (although some have very good roast pork). I actually think that Pat's is better than all of those, not to mention Genos which is the worst i've had other than Jim's. It's difficult to get a good steak, because the quality of the ingredients is so important. Most have dry, overcooked, grissly, unseasoned, tasteless beef (supposedly rib-eye). The best steak I have had to date is Sonny's on Market St, although you don't hear much about them.

Well, I don't agree that most suck, but the steak that I and 3 friends swore by was at a cool little deli on Haddon Ave. in Collingswood, long gone. All 4 of us thought it was the best we've ever had, the meat WAS rib-eye, it was juicy and had great mouth feel.

I used to live a few doors from Ceil's Deli, and whenever my friends would drop by, it was a tradition to fortify ourselves with a steak before hitting the bars. Man, they had great steaks, hoagies, hot and cold sandwiches, homemade salads, great deli counter selection and a great pickle barrel. It was cozy, had broken in charm, with hanging plants and lots of old pictures on the wall. Friendly, long time family owned, very busy, always overstaffed, a first name basis kind of place.

In 1993, the family decided to sell and move to the shore. Not trying to be racist, but Indian's bought it and showed everyone how to take a fine business model and destroy it. They cut the deli selection, got rid of the pickle barrel, ditched the pictures and plants, sold expired dairy goods and most criminally, they couldn't make a sandwich for sh1t. The husband and wife owners were it's only employees, and it became a very dirty and depressing place. They really just wanted a place to sell cigarettes, lottery tickets, soda and chips, they tuned it into a damned Kwik-E-Mart. Business had to fall off by 80%. It was a shell of what it once was. There has been a number of owners in that 20 years, none of them have any idea of what they're doing. It's crazy since Collingswood has become kind of chichi. I'm surprised no one has the vision to make it great again.

Whenever I pass there, I always remember how great that place was for steaks.

I'm gonna give Sonny's a try.

[Larry Bowa]

Originally Posted by Johnny P'unk Square

I've never had a steak at Luke's, just the pork Italian.

I think the marinated pork, sharp provolone and rabe are a citywide treasure. The gravy soaks the roll to make a mushy mess by the time your halfway through. Soooo good.

Never got sick there, only felt better when I left.

Try an Arista from Paesano's, JPS.

[Larry Bowa]

Originally Posted by Angus215

Quite honestly, most cheesesteaks in philly suck, just as they do in any other part of the country. Most of the big name places you hear about, like Delessandros, Tony Lukes, Jim's, and John's, suck as well (although some have very good roast pork). I actually think that Pat's is better than all of those, not to mention Genos which is the worst i've had other than Jim's. It's difficult to get a good steak, because the quality of the ingredients is so important. Most have dry, overcooked, grissly, unseasoned, tasteless beef (supposedly rib-eye). The best steak I have had to date is Sonny's on Market St, although you don't hear much about them.

Sounds like you just don't like cheesesteaks. You need to try Steve's or the steak shop formerly known as Chi*nk's.