Philly Cheesesteak

My husband is from philly. I lived there with him for two years. Had alot of good cheesesteaks, I like Jim's but still want to try more. We had to move back to my area (Carbon County) where all the cheesesteaks come with sauce. Most are OK. In my opinion a good cheesesteak needs good meat with a nice grill taste, not chewy, a great roll and cheese of you choice. You are good to go. What a person puts on it is their choice.

My husband and I have a problem with restaurants and food manufactures. Why does a menu or product the says Philly Cheesesteak contain peppers? That is not Philly style it is an option.

The best Philly Cheesesteak I've ever had is in Phoenix, AZ! Cassella's Italian Deli is owned and operated by Joe & Tina Casella, two former South Philly folks who came to Phoenix over 33 years ago, opened a Sub & Cheesesteak place at:
5905 N. Granite Reef Road
Scottsdale, AZ 85250
(No Web site)
They've been at that same location for over 33 years!. Hardly anything has been in the Valley 33 years! That alone tells you they've been doing something right & good in a town where food joints come & go faster than you can change your underwear!
Their shop is in the Basha's Shopping Center on the Southeast corner of McDonald & Granite Reef in Scottsdale, just off the 101.
Everything is made from Scratch with top quality ingredients incuding Cheesesteaks, Italian Hoagies, Cold Sandwiches, Hot Sandwiches like Italian Sausage, Meatball, Italian Beef, etc. Dinners include Lasagna & Spaghetti & Meatballs. This family run business is open Mon-Fri 11AM to 6 PM, Sat 11 AM to 3 PM Closed Sunday. CASH ONLY no plastic!
http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/22/260796/restaurant/Phoenix/Casellas-Italian-Delicatessen-Scottsdale

I'm not a cheesesteak aficionado, but I enjoy one from time to time. I live in North Jersey and what I'm used to eating probably isn't authentic as far as the bread (sturdier Newark style) and maybe the meat go. I used to go to a place called the Philadelphia Grill which is gone but made what I consider a very good cheesesteak. The only Philly place I've gone to is Steve's about five years which I enjoyed.

This past weekend I had a a cheesesteak at Russo's in Wildwood, N.J. From what I'm told this place has a great reputation for steaks and hoagies. Mine was excellent. Maybe the best I've had. White American cheese, no onions. The roll was an Amoroso's. Softer (somewhat squishy) than what I'm used to, but I really liked it. There was plenty of meat and the cheese was mixed in nicely. The meat was chopped up rather than sliced. I think I prefer this method.

My wife's sub (or hoagie as it's known in South Jersey and Philly) was as good as the best I've had in North Jersey. Has anyone been to Russo's? And if so, how would you rate their cheesesteaks?

Russo's is also a small market. They sell bread from a bakery in Glassboro called Liscio & Velotti although they use Amoroso's for their cheesesteaks and subs. I think Liscio's may supply Steve's Prince of Steaks with their bread. I've heard their bread is used at some South Jersey and Philly steak joints.

Check out their site: http://www.lisciosbakery.com/about/press.html

They are included in the Great Philly Cheesesteak Book due out July 1st. The publishers claim that it's the "first and only comprehensive guide to Philadelphia's favorite food." Some of you might be interested in this book. The link gives info about purchasing it.

I've been to Russos.  Haven't been in years, but my family used to always go to wildwood and we always had to have cheesesteaks from russo's at least one night.  I really like Russo's.  It is one of my top cheesesteak places I'd say.  

John, if you ever happen to be in NYC by times square check out Shorty's. It's on 9th Ave between 41st and 42nd.  

Here is the yelp review http://www.yelp.com/biz/shortys-new-york  

It's the best around these parts.  Go for the bigger sandwich

Please excuse the cellphone shot, but this was my boyfriend's cheesesteak from a real Roadfood stop called El Patio in a little town called Penny Pot, NJ.

 
Sorry, no ketchup on this one lol.

harriet1954 -
It really looks good.  I'll have one of those.

Thanks

  A little...no,A lot! skimpy on the meat.

Billfish


  A little...no,A lot! skimpy on the meat.

 
This portion size was quite enough for my 140 lb. boyfriend. And it was very inexpensive and delicious. Any other negative comments you'd like to share? How about some photos of cheesesteak places that have gargantuan portions in Georgetown, Delaware? I'd love to try them!

 

Please allow me to add my negative comment. I agree that the meat does look skimpy relative to the amount of bread.

harriet1954

Billfish


  A little...no,A lot! skimpy on the meat.

 How about some photos of cheesesteak places that have gargantuan portions in Georgetown, Delaware? I'd love to try them! 

 
He can speak for himself but, he would have ready access to Capriotti's which serves up a fairly respectable cheesesteak.  Have to agree though compared  with the other pics in this thread, it is a might bit thin.

Then again, Harriet did say it was very inexpensive compared to other cheesesteaks -- and I would add that I have never been to a cheesesteak joint that did not offer a 'extra meat' or 'double meat' option for those who wanted a humongously overstuffed  sandwich

So I think it's good to have a smaller (and lower priced) option for a lighter eater, or for someone who just happens to be less hungry on a particular visit

What difference does it make you Ding-A-Lings?
They were happy with the price, the tasteL and the overall experience so that's all that matters.
Youze Goof Balls can get your Cheesesteaks any way you want them. Leave the poor girl & her Jockey Boyfriend alone!

Foodbme


What difference does it make you Ding-A-Lings?
They were happy with the price, the tasteL and the overall experience so that's all that matters.
Youze Goof Balls can get your Cheesesteaks any way you want them. Leave the poor girl & her Jockey Boyfriend alone!

lol @ "poor girl" (I'm 56) and also lol @ "jockey boyfriend" (he's 5'9").  I don't think you'd catch him on the back of a horse anytime soon. He's just a thin guy from a thin family. I've seen the size of some of these Roadfooders. Believe me.

Michael Hoffman


Please allow me to add my negative comment. I agree that the meat does look skimpy relative to the amount of bread.

 
Mr. Hoffman, you're the only person on here I wouldn't sass. Or have I?
 
Either way, it was a quick, delicious bite in the middle of the NJ Pine Barrens.

We will be eating at  Tony Luke's this weekend  and I will forego  the  cheeseteak  for  my  favorite...............roast pork and rabe...yum!  The rest of the crew will opt for the cheesesteaks  which are excellent.

harriet1954

Foodbme


What difference does it make you Ding-A-Lings?
They were happy with the price, the taste and the overall experience so that's all that matters.
Youze Goof Balls can get your Cheesesteaks any way you want them. Leave the poor girl & her Jockey Boyfriend alone!

lol @ "poor girl" (I'm 56) and also lol @ "jockey boyfriend" (he's 5'9").  I don't think you'd catch him on the back of a horse anytime soon. He's just a thin guy from a thin family. I've seen the size of some of these Roadfooders. Believe me.

Typical Roadfooder Physique?????------ Can you say "Sumo Wrestler"!!

Greymo


We will be eating at  Tony Luke's this weekend  and I will forego  the  cheeseteak  for  my  favorite...............roast pork and rabe...yum! 

Niiiiice ...

I'll adorn my cheesesteak any way I like.Might get sick but who cares.lol

harriet1954

Michael Hoffman


Please allow me to add my negative comment. I agree that the meat does look skimpy relative to the amount of bread.

 
Mr. Hoffman, you're the only person on here I wouldn't sass. Or have I? 
 

Oh, but I'm quite sassable, and once every three or four years I actually deserve to be sassed.

  Capriotti's cheesesteaks are pretty good:There's better to be had but there's no notable cheesesteaks available in Georgetown.But what has that got to do with the price of nails?Since when does one have to beg forgiveness for noting an apparent dearth of meat in a sandwich? Its not like a personal attack.I reserve the right to make what I believe are constructive comments about the subject at hand (e.g. roadfood) as long as I dont stray from proper decorum.

harriet1954

Foodbme

They were happy with the price, the tasteL and the overall experience so that's all that matters.
Youze Goof Balls can get your Cheesesteaks any way you want them. Leave the poor girl & her Jockey Boyfriend alone!

lol @ "poor girl" (I'm 56) and also lol @ "jockey boyfriend" (he's 5'9").  I don't think you'd catch him on the back of a horse anytime soon. He's just a thin guy from a thin family. I've seen the size of some of these Roadfooders. Believe me.

Sorry, but 5'9" is tiny,  most guys are about 6ft or so around here in Manly Delaware, LOL.   I'm 6'3".   I'm in no way related to Billfish btw.   
 
a) You've not lived til you've had a Capriotti's sub...  I have to drive 40 min to the closest one and believe me it's well worth the drive, and i come back with an entire cooler full for everyone, my bill is usually about $100.  (40min is a long drive for us, we're used to being where we want in less than 10 around here.   You're looking at a 2 hr round trip)  Everyone I work with or am related to hears I'm going and wants one for that night, and another for lunch the next day.   That's the 10" size and you're beyond full.   The 20" will last you 2 days.
 
b) I would put almost any Delaware sub shop up against Philly for a Cheesesteak...   first off a steak sub should have Provolone on it, not Whiz, that's just nasty.    Whenever we've taken a trip to philly, been too Geno's, Pat's and Jim's we've been very disappointed.  I really don't understand the hype.   Small, flavorless, tough meat, and pricey.
 
Then again that other Philly export - Wawa - which we have plenty of around here, has gotten beyond inedible as well.   Extremely cheap slimy meats, bagged lettuce with a horrible chemical taste, etc.  I know I shouldn't expect much from a convience store - but man, Wawa USED TO BE awesome, nothing better at 2am.
 
If I hear one more thing about Amoroso Rolls, or the Schuylkill River water making the bread so awesome I'm going to scream...   really it's just bread, and they ain't that great.      Now I will give it up to Philly Soft Pretzels, better than anywhere else in the world.
 

bwave



Sorry, but 5'9" is tiny,  most guys are about 6ft or so around here in Manly Delaware, LOL.   I'm 6'3".   I'm in no way related to Billfish btw.   

Funny you should say that- I'm 6'2" or 6'3" or possibly 6'4". I've always thought I was 6'2" until I stand next to people who say they're taller and I'm actually taller than they are. I've lived all over (Long Island, Pitsburgh, Rhode Island, Seattle and Albuquerque) and with the exception of Seattle, just about every guy I knew was shorter than me, most were in fact under 6'.

I guess that I am lost.  What does the height of a man have to do with a cheesesteak?   I guess that I missed somehting along the way.

Being a Guy from Philly,I still cant do the wiz

Greymo


I guess that I am lost.  What does the height of a man have to do with a cheesesteak?   I guess that I missed somehting along the way.

Just  some "dinner table" conversation.....

In response to Brad Olsens question,I have seen a jar of steak sandwich sauce in our local grocery store made by Tallaricos I believe out of Boyertown Pa.I never tried it but it does appear to be tomato based.

Average height of an adult male in the US is 5 feet 9.2 inches

http://pediatrics.about.com/cs/growthcharts2/f/avg_ht_male.htm


As far as pat's, Geno's, Jim's, everyone from the philly area knows those places are garbage.  Tourist traps.  There are MUCH better places for cheesesteaks in philly and south jersey.

Also, I'd rather have a cheesesteak that is has a smaller portion of quality meat on a quality roll than a cheesesteak overflowing with crappy meat on a crappy roll.  So while that cheesesteak Harriet took a pic of isn't the biggest sandwich I've ever seen, it does look like it tastes pretty good.  Smaller portions aren't always a bad thing people 

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3594/3630201362_f53378906a_o.jpg

Neither do I.. Like puttin' Ketchup on a Hot Dog.. Yuuuk!!! 

John,
The book came out last year. I contributed to it - but said I was from Roadfood and that's what she listed in the credits.

The Liscio's story is one that is very interesting. The grandson of the founder of Vilotti's Bakery opened Liscio's. They make a fine roll. The roll that Steve's uses is a custom roll based on the Vilotti's recipe. It is not a Liscio's roll per se. Steve won't say who is baking his rolls for him and Liscio's isn't claiming it either. Pat's went to Liscio's for their rolls along with a few other busy shops after the quality of the former supplier's became inconsistent. Liscio's business exploded over the past few years. On Sundays, Pat's get their rolls from D'Ambrosio's, as do others who are Liscio's customers.