The Curmudgeon And Primanti's

Re:The Curmudgeon And Primanti's (tiki)

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 07:11:52 GMT

Cannibal sandwiches!!!! HAVENT HEARD THAT TERM IN MANY YEARS!!--EATEN A FEW THOUGH!!!Glad to know that i am not the only crazy person out there! It is nice that i can get the meat from ranches i know,fresh and grass fed!A perk of living in cattle country!--Now--if only i could get GOOD RYE!

Re:The Curmudgeon And Primanti's (Foodbme)

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 00:24:44 GMT

Michael Hoffman

Mr. Metroplex, it's not a question of whether I have YET TO EVEN TRY Five Guys. I have no intention of ever crossing the threshhold of a place that I know destroys ground beef patties.

Forget the Burgers. Go for the Hot Dogs. I get the Dogs with Grilled Onions, Mushrooms & Mustard. I'm gonna try some with the Schrooms, Onions and either A-1 Sauce, BBQ Sauce and Hot Sauce next rtime.
They're very good!

Re:The Curmudgeon And Primanti's (Michael Hoffman)

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 15:53:03 GMT

I thought I was the only one who called them cannibal sandwiches. That's what my father called them when I was a kid. I love them -- on white or rye.

Re:The Curmudgeon And Primanti's (ann peeples)

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 14:36:27 GMT

As a certified food handler for the state of Wisconsin, cooking a burger medium rare is not against the law.Its a choice made by the restaurant. Disclaimers are usually made........No disaster, my friend. I still eat cannibal sandwiches....raw ground round on rye with onion, salt and pepper.

Re:The Curmudgeon And Primanti's (Michael Hoffman)

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 19:24:42 GMT

Sorry I've taken so long to repond. Ernie Coli and I have been playing acey-ducey, and I agreed to let him try to get some of his money back. I've been whupping the guy for years, but he never learns.

Now, as to those medium rare burgers at the Waffle House, all I can say is they're delicious with grilled onions and cheese, plus a little mayonnaise, on a toasted bun. Oh, hold the garden, including the pickles.

Re:The Curmudgeon And Primanti's (MetroplexJim)

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 19:17:57 GMT

ann peeples

Waffle House, by the way, has a very high standard of food safety.I worked there.

I have nothing but highest regard for Waffle House and in no way meant to cast an aspersion. However, Mr. Hoffman has expressed an affinity for ordering his Waffle House burgers "rare". And he insists that his local Waffle House accomodates this request.

As Waffle House burgers come into the store frozen and are then thawed in the refridgerator prior to preparation. Frying such a product to anything less than an internal temp of 160F is inviting disaster.

And, of course the fact that Mr. Hoffman is so disdainful of Five Guys that he refuses even to go through their door, is a continuing puzzlement to me. I continue to hope that the open-mindedness he displayed with his'revelation' re: Primanti Bros. may someday lead him to sample Five Guys.

Re:The Curmudgeon And Primanti's (Michael Hoffman)

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 16:30:03 GMT

jimcfs1

buffetbuster

jimcfs1-
As much as I love fish sandwiches, the idea of a Primanti's fish sandwich just doesn't appeal to me. I really do need to try it before I completely dismiss it. Thanks for the reminder and that will be my order the next time I am there.

I think of it as a Buffalo fish fry as a sandwich. Since I get to the 'Burgh a lot more than I get back to WNY anymore, it satisfies the craving.

You really enjoy eating buffalo fish?

Re:The Curmudgeon And Primanti's (buffetbuster)

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 12:59:13 GMT

Suzy Gruyere

Still reeling to know there's a Primanti's in Cranberry Twp now. When I lived there, the only place to eat was Hartner's, and there was much rejoicing when a Burger King opened at the corner of Rt19 and 228.

Cranberry Twp is absolutely being overrun. It is turning into Monroeville. At first, I was happy to have all these new restaurant and shopping choices in the area, but the traffic is out of control. It is now creeping up the Rte. 228 corridor and Mars seems to be next.

Re:The Curmudgeon And Primanti's (jimcfs1)

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 12:19:31 GMT

buffetbuster

jimcfs1-
As much as I love fish sandwiches, the idea of a Primanti's fish sandwich just doesn't appeal to me. I really do need to try it before I completely dismiss it. Thanks for the reminder and that will be my order the next time I am there.

I think of it as a Buffalo fish fry as a sandwich. Since I get to the 'Burgh a lot more than I get back to WNY anymore, it satisfies the craving.

Re:The Curmudgeon And Primanti's (Suzy Gruyere)

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 11:52:40 GMT

Still reeling to know there's a Primanti's in Cranberry Twp now. When I lived there, the only place to eat was Hartner's, and there was much rejoicing when a Burger King opened at the corner of Rt19 and 228.

Re:The Curmudgeon And Primanti's (ann peeples)

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 10:47:28 GMT

Waffle House, by the way, has a very high standard of food safety.I worked there.

Re:The Curmudgeon And Primanti's (MetroplexJim)

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 07:32:45 GMT

Michael Hoffman

Mr. Metroplex, it's not a question of whether I have YET TO EVEN TRY Five Guys. I have no intention of ever crossing the threshhold of a place that I know destroys ground beef patties.

O.K., but if you keep on eating those frozen, then thawed, patties from Waffle House "cooked" medium rare I regret to say that I see a little E-Coli in your future.

Truth is, I saw this thread as a golden opportunity for me to win the Nobel Peace Prize. Clearly, I failed .

Re:The Curmudgeon And Primanti's (buffetbuster)

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 04:46:44 GMT

joerogo-
Yes, that is mayo on the slaw, but it was nice and crispyand wasn't what I would call a wet slaw. Otherwise, it wouldn't have worked. I do still prefer the vinegar slaw on the sandwich.

jimcfs1-
As much as I love fish sandwiches, the idea of a Primanti's fish sandwich just doesn't appeal to me. I really do need to try it before I completely dismiss it. Thanks for the reminder and that will be my order the next time I am there.

Re:The Curmudgeon And Primanti's (buffetbuster)

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 04:40:06 GMT

jm199-
You are 100% correct about late at night (especially on weekends) being the best time to visit the original Primanti's. I didn't start going there until college and all my visits there were at 2:00 in the morning when the place was filled with drunks. It was shocking to go there the first time during the day to see families.

lleechef-
Porky's is a local smokehouse that has a small regular menu, but is at its best with three lunch specials and two dinner specials every weekday. This was the first time I had seen the Primanti-like sliders. I sure hope they have them again. The owner is a CIA graduate and their food is so much better than the typical local restaurant.

Re:The Curmudgeon And Primanti's (lleechef)

Tue, 30 Oct 2012 17:23:38 GMT

bb
Those sliders look great!! We'll have to try Porky's next time we're in the area. That is, if I can drag the curmudgeon away from Primanti's!

Re:The Curmudgeon And Primanti's (Michael Hoffman)

Tue, 30 Oct 2012 16:14:11 GMT

Heck, it was like that last Thursday afternoon.

Re:The Curmudgeon And Primanti's (jm199)

Tue, 30 Oct 2012 15:59:53 GMT

If you want a truly unique, zany experience at Pirmantis, go to the original one in Pittsburgh's Strip District one Saturday nite/Sunday moring after midnite. There you will find the store PACKED with drunken college students, wedding parties, people in black tie and gowns who were at the Opera or Symphony and late night owls looking for a sandwich. You could cast a movie with all the characters in that place!

Re:The Curmudgeon And Primanti's (joerogo)

Tue, 30 Oct 2012 15:30:47 GMT

I just can't understand calling a nice fellow like Mr Hoffman "The Curmodgeon"!

Cliff, looks like mayo on that slaw

Re:The Curmudgeon And Primanti's (buffetbuster)

Tue, 30 Oct 2012 12:56:05 GMT

My lunch today.....

There are many restaurants in Western Pennsylvania that make Primanti sandwich knockoffs. But, this is the first time I have ever seen them in slider form. And they were excellent! They were from Porky's Smokehouse, just south of Butler.

Re:The Curmudgeon And Primanti's (jimcfs1)

Sat, 27 Oct 2012 15:24:30 GMT

My goto at Primanti's is the Colossial Fish and Cheese. My son will mix things up and try different things, but always without the slaw. He hasn't learned to appreciate the joy of vegetables at almost 12, so he misses out on the full experience.

We have been to several of their different restaurants, but our favorite is still the original in the Strip District. The last time we were there in June, we got the opportunity to sit at the counter and watch the action at lunch time.

Now, Five Guys... they do make a damn good burger!! I cannot eat at places like McDonalds at the like (nor would I want to anymore), but Five Guys is a different story. The fries with the Cajun seasoning are excellent! Burger quality is usually the same from place to place, which is important. I'm glad we don't have one in my town (as I'd be there a couple times a week), so until a couple of weeks ago when they opened in Beckley, the closest one was in Blacksburg.

Re:The Curmudgeon And Primanti's (Michael Hoffman)

Sat, 27 Oct 2012 11:18:58 GMT

Mr. Metroplex, it's not a question of whether I have YET TO EVEN TRY Five Guys. I have no intention of ever crossing the threshhold of a place that I know destroys ground beef patties.

Re:The Curmudgeon And Primanti's (MetroplexJim)

Sat, 27 Oct 2012 10:28:20 GMT

Even though I am a native and generally love all things Pittsburgh I am one of those curmudgeons who asks for his friens "on the side" when I visit Primanti's.. Yes, I know that is a 'violation', but I am sitting in a restaurant eating, not gnashing at a 'meal between bread' while driving a truck.

As Pittsburgh joints go, I prefer the Dirty O.

Re:The Curmudgeon And Primanti's (MetroplexJim)

Sat, 27 Oct 2012 10:13:14 GMT

Michael Hoffman

There will never be a day when I'd have anything nice to say about Five Guys, or any other place where they squeeze the good stuff out of their meat. As to your partial quote from my original post on this thread, you left out what was important: "...were cemented by an experience I had at a short-lived sandwich shop that opened here in Gahanna, Ohio several years back." The important part of that is the fact that this place made Primanti's style sandwiches -- the bread, the meat, the potatoes, the slaw and the tomatoes. That's why I said what I did about not wanting to go to Primanti's.

So, after all these years, may I continue to assume that you have yet even to try Five Guys

Re:The Curmudgeon And Primanti's (lleechef)

Sat, 27 Oct 2012 10:11:24 GMT

Everything at the Back Door Tavern is gargantuan. Their fish sandwich is easily 3 times larger than Wholey's.
I noticed the Red Devil on the table but didn't use it. I will next time.
gostillerz
We stopped at Oram's for a doughnut and then wished we had bought a dozen to bring home!

Re:The Curmudgeon And Primanti's (gostillerz)

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 22:34:58 GMT

When I lived in Bloomfield, I'd go to Primanti's maybe 4 days a week. I go to the Primanti's in Cranberry now since it's the closest one to me, and the suburban ones have some really good wings. I do hate how they ask if you've ever been there before. The city joints have a much better atmosphere though. Everyone has to go to the one in the Strip sometime but my favorite is the one down Southside. It's 1/2 restaurant, 1/2 blues bar (even sell cigars there). They put on the most meat I've noticed as well.

All of them are better with egg and a healthy amount of Red Devil, but my favorites by far are the pastrami or corned beef. Capicola, salami and kielbasa are good as well, and I agree with the hot sausage. The only brand I really like so far is Uncle Charley's extra hot. BB, I think you might become a pastrami convert!

To anyone who hasn't visited yet....Absolutely stay away from the cheesesteak (just a hamburger patty), and the Cajun chicken one.

In Beaver county, there are 2 bars that copy Primanti's that are very good too. Bowser's near the mall in Monaca which loads up on the meat, and the Back Door Tavern in Fallston. They make it into a hoagie, but their half is almost twice the size of Primanti's. Neither have as big of a meat selection though.

Sorry if I rambled too much, had a long day :(

Re:The Curmudgeon And Primanti's (buffetbuster)

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 21:05:11 GMT

Ralph, I will have to try that Genoa salami. That sounds rather good!

Re:The Curmudgeon And Primanti's (Michael Hoffman)

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 20:17:12 GMT

There will never be a day when I'd have anything nice to say about Five Guys, or any other place where they squeeze the good stuff out of their meat. As to your partial quote from my original post on this thread, you left out what was important: "...were cemented by an experience I had at a short-lived sandwich shop that opened here in Gahanna, Ohio several years back." The important part of that is the fact that this place made Primanti's style sandwiches -- the bread, the meat, the potatoes, the slaw and the tomatoes. That's why I said what I did about not wanting to go to Primanti's.

Re:The Curmudgeon And Primanti's (Michael Hoffman)

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 20:11:54 GMT

ann peeples

Did you have the fries on any of your sandwiches? Thats what freaks me out-dont like fries much.........

The fries come on all their sandwiches. By the way, I'm not a fan of fries, and even when I do eat some I want vinegar on them. But these were really good fries, and they were just right on the sandwich I ate..

Re:The Curmudgeon And Primanti's (MetroplexJim)

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 20:06:05 GMT

Michael Hoffman

OK, so for years I've been putting down the whole Primanti Brothers thing ...

My feelings about Primanti's, never having been there ...

And after all these years of thinking Pittsburgers were nuts I apologize, and say from the bottom of my heart, they were right and I was an idiot.

Wow! I'm going to read this whole thread in the morning, but () I can't resist asking if we are soon going to see Mr. Hoffman start another thread that would begin something like this:

"OK, so for years I've been putting down the whole ~~Primanti Brothers~~ Five Guys thing ...
My feelings about ~~Primanti's~~ Five Guys, never having been there ...
And after all these years of thinking ~~Pittsburgers~~ Five Guys Fans were nuts I apologize, and say from the bottom of my heart, they were right and I was an idiot".

-----------------------------

We only kid the ones we love.
Thank you, Michael, for all your contributions to this site!

Re:The Curmudgeon And Primanti's (ann peeples)

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 19:49:34 GMT

Did you have the fries on any of your sandwiches? Thats what freaks me out-dont like fries much.........