If you're staying at the DoubleTree, there's a little pizza place across the street (locust, not broad) called Mama Angelina's... they've got a decent steak, and you can't beat the commute. Jim's is my favorite in the city... Pat's and Geno's are fine, but they slice the steak, rather than chop it. I like Jim's chopped version. It's also closer to where you're staying (DoubleTree), at 4th and South, and you can hit Repo Records at 7th and South along the way. I hear great things about John's Roast Pork, although they're always closed when I try to go there... its pretty out of the way, too.
To those expecting to try McFaddens this weekend, you should know that the one in Citizen's Bank Park has a $20 cover during the playoffs (maybe not if you get there well before game time), and will certainly be a shit show for Game 3 saturday night, but maybe a good pre-show stopoff on Friday. They have a "Fireman's" cheasesteak, which is steak, chickensteak, and buffalo wing sauce... nontraditional, but I love it.
Now I'm hungry... I'll probably hit Mama Angelina's before I get on the train for tonight's show. I'm pathetically excited for the next 5 days... saw Bruce's last show in "one of the last great rock and roll arenas" last week... he set the bar high, but I'm pretty sure the place is gonna collapse on our heads Saturday night after the rocking we're all going to give it this week!!!
I've tried to stay out of this debate, until now, but I need to chime in to assist Philly newcomers.
As an earlier poster said, it must be something about a tourist trap for folks to decide to bang on Pat's/Geno's...and it is a bit of blasphemy for local folks to steer anyone to Jim's. If you want a 'chopped grub style steak' that you can get in any pizzeria on the east coast...sure go to Jim's.
The difference with Pat's/Geno's is it is thicker cut steak (yes with a bit of grizzle, yes thick and not easiest to chew) and you will not find a cut of sandwhich steak in many places in the east like it. It is the Amoroso bread from this area of the country that makes it so damn hard to duplicate anywhere else. Many states IMPORT this bread as far as it can be driven fresh.
Don't believe the Jim's hype. Yes there are always lines at Pat's/Geno's but they get steaks out so fast you'll get right through. Pic of a Jim's steak for you to decide if this is better than your town:
I've tried to stay out of this debate, until now, but I need to chime in to assist Philly newcomers.
As an earlier poster said, it must be something about a tourist trap for folks to decide to bang on Pat's/Geno's...and it is a bit of blasphemy for local folks to steer anyone to Jim's. If you want a 'chopped grub style steak' that you can get in any pizzeria on the east coast...sure go to Jim's.
The difference with Pat's/Geno's is it is thicker cut steak (yes with a bit of grizzle, yes thick and not easiest to chew) and you will not find a cut of sandwhich steak in many places in the east like it. It is the Amoroso bread from this area of the country that makes it so damn hard to duplicate anywhere else. Many states IMPORT this bread as far as it can be driven fresh.
Don't believe the Jim's hype. Yes there are always lines at Pat's/Geno's but they get steaks out so fast you'll get right through. Pic of a Jim's steak for you to decide if this is better than your town:
If I had limited it to those two (I prefer Ishkabibbles on South St) I'd pick Pat's for the non-food-related reason that Geno's is a little xenophobic. They even sell stickers about how you better speak English. That certainly may not matter to most, but since I think both of them offer nearly equally average cheesesteaks, it is a tie breaker to me. If it doesn't matter to you, go with whichever line is shorter.
I'll be munching down on my Tony Luke's in the lot tomorrow. Tony Luke's or Jim's by a landslide over the rest. There's a TL not far from the stadium complex.
Renuir is right. Was at Jim's and enjoyed the cheesesteak but the bread killed it. Geno's and Tony Lukes Bread you could put dog shit on and it would be good. Kinda like Arthur Ave in the Bronx.
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2012 - Philadelphia, PA
2013 - Chicago, IL, Philadelphia, PA x2, Hartford, CT 2016 - Philadelphia, PA x2, New York City, NY 2, Fenway 2
I had one of each.. and let me tell you, they both tasted damn fine at 3:00am. I think I liked Pat's better for some reason...but I couldn't tell you why.
Running into all the other PJ fans there wasn't bad either.
PJ: St. Paul 6.16.2003, St. Paul 6.26.2006, St. Paul 6.27.2006, Hartford 6.27.2008, Mansfield 6.28.2008, Mansfield 6.30.2008, Beacon Theater 7.1.2008, Toronto 8.21.2009, Chicago 8.23.2009, Chicago 8.24.2009, Philly 10.30.2009, Philly 10.31.2009, Columbus 5.6.2010, Noblesville 5.7.2010
EV: Los Angeles 4.12.2008, Los Angeles 4.13.2008, Nashville 6.17.2009, Nashville 6.18.2009, Memphis 6.20.2009
i had tony lukes and larry's when i went.
i had heard alot about tony lukes and loved it.
larry's i had never heard of, but it was right near st. joe's and i tried it. AMAZING. even better
2006: Hartford
2008: MSG 1, Hartford, Mansfield 2, Ed Solo NYC 1
2009: London (O2), Philly 1, 2, 3, & 4
2010: Hartford, Boston, MSG 1 & 2
2011: Ed Solo Hartford
2012: Philly (MIA Fest)
2013: Worcester 2, Brooklyn 1 & 2, Hartford
I had Pat's before and it was TERRIBLE! You couldn't even chew through the steak.
Go to Jim's or Campos.
My experience exactly. I prefer Jim's and with Wiz.
Up here so high I start to shake, Up here so high the sky I scrape, I've no fear but for falling down, So look out below I am falling now, Falling down,...not staying down, Could’ve held me up, rather tear me down, Drown in the river
Got a Pat's on Wednesday afternoon (5 p.m.?) and there was no line. Whiz wit out, and it was awesome.
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06: Camden, Washington DC, 08: Va Beach, Washington DC
09: Philly 2+3, 10: Bristow, 11: East Troy PJ20 1+2, 13: Baltimore, Charlottesville
Gozzo
Montreal '98
Toronto '00
Buffalo Toronto '03
Kitchener London Hamilton Toronto '05
Late Show NYC Toronto x2 Cleveland Pittsburgh Mountain View '06
Hartford Mansfield '08
Toronto Philadelphia x3 '09
Cleveland Buffalo Mountain View x2 '10
East Troy x2 Toronto x2 Ottawa Hamilton '11
London Buffalo '13
Jim's cis o.k. but can't compete w/ the bread used by Genos, Pats and Tony Lukes. The bread makes it . Period. you could put dog shit on a good roll and it would be awesome.
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I've tried to stay out of this debate, until now, but I need to chime in to assist Philly newcomers.
As an earlier poster said, it must be something about a tourist trap for folks to decide to bang on Pat's/Geno's...and it is a bit of blasphemy for local folks to steer anyone to Jim's. If you want a 'chopped grub style steak' that you can get in any pizzeria on the east coast...sure go to Jim's.
The difference with Pat's/Geno's is it is thicker cut steak (yes with a bit of grizzle, yes thick and not easiest to chew) and you will not find a cut of sandwhich steak in many places in the east like it. It is the Amoroso bread from this area of the country that makes it so damn hard to duplicate anywhere else. Many states IMPORT this bread as far as it can be driven fresh.
Don't believe the Jim's hype. Yes there are always lines at Pat's/Geno's but they get steaks out so fast you'll get right through. Pic of a Jim's steak for you to decide if this is better than your town:
Amoroso is played. It's good if you're anywhere but Philly. Better rolls than Amoroso's - Sarcone, Carangi(the best out of any of them), Liscio's and Cashia's.
Did 2 PJ weekends if Philly this past year....one for EV at Tower & the Spectrum shows. Researched the cheesesteak spots heavily. My fav sandwich of all time. Anyway,....went to Jim's twice, Tony Lukes twice, Pats and Gino's twice over the course of my 2 weekends!!
My personal fav was Pats. Thought it tasted the freshest and love how they bought Wiz on the roll and steak! Kinda craving one right now!
PJ - 36
EV - 5
(**Letterman'02, Irving Plaza, Storytellers, Beacon, ACL, Spectrum 3&4, Bridge School '10**)
"Constant recoil,..sometimes life don't leave you alone."
Let's connect on twitter - @Jeffgorra
between Pat and Genos id have to pick Pats wit wiz. But i definetly would take either at this very moment!
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Comments
To those expecting to try McFaddens this weekend, you should know that the one in Citizen's Bank Park has a $20 cover during the playoffs (maybe not if you get there well before game time), and will certainly be a shit show for Game 3 saturday night, but maybe a good pre-show stopoff on Friday. They have a "Fireman's" cheasesteak, which is steak, chickensteak, and buffalo wing sauce... nontraditional, but I love it.
Now I'm hungry... I'll probably hit Mama Angelina's before I get on the train for tonight's show. I'm pathetically excited for the next 5 days... saw Bruce's last show in "one of the last great rock and roll arenas" last week... he set the bar high, but I'm pretty sure the place is gonna collapse on our heads Saturday night after the rocking we're all going to give it this week!!!
As an earlier poster said, it must be something about a tourist trap for folks to decide to bang on Pat's/Geno's...and it is a bit of blasphemy for local folks to steer anyone to Jim's. If you want a 'chopped grub style steak' that you can get in any pizzeria on the east coast...sure go to Jim's.
The difference with Pat's/Geno's is it is thicker cut steak (yes with a bit of grizzle, yes thick and not easiest to chew) and you will not find a cut of sandwhich steak in many places in the east like it. It is the Amoroso bread from this area of the country that makes it so damn hard to duplicate anywhere else. Many states IMPORT this bread as far as it can be driven fresh.
Don't believe the Jim's hype. Yes there are always lines at Pat's/Geno's but they get steaks out so fast you'll get right through. Pic of a Jim's steak for you to decide if this is better than your town:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24807026@N08/4051557598/
Unless you're talking about big ass dice. Ha, and I don't work for Pat's.
listen to reniur, he nailed it
ABSO-F'n-LUTELY!
and genos, pats on sat before i left
had 3 cheesesteaks ,
liked tony lukes the best
We went to Philips after the Friday show, and Tony Lukes before Saturdays. Both were extremely good.
Typo Man: "Thanks kidz, but remembir, stay in skool!"
mmm mmm good!
2009 - Philadelphia, PA x4
2010 - Newark, NJ, New York City, NY x2
2012 - Philadelphia, PA
2013 - Chicago, IL, Philadelphia, PA x2, Hartford, CT
2016 - Philadelphia, PA x2, New York City, NY 2, Fenway 2
What You Giving
I suggest you step out on your Porch.
Run away my son. See it all. Oh, See the World!
Tony Lukes was much, much better.
Running into all the other PJ fans there wasn't bad either.
EV: Los Angeles 4.12.2008, Los Angeles 4.13.2008, Nashville 6.17.2009, Nashville 6.18.2009, Memphis 6.20.2009
i had heard alot about tony lukes and loved it.
larry's i had never heard of, but it was right near st. joe's and i tried it. AMAZING. even better
2008: MSG 1, Hartford, Mansfield 2, Ed Solo NYC 1
2009: London (O2), Philly 1, 2, 3, & 4
2010: Hartford, Boston, MSG 1 & 2
2011: Ed Solo Hartford
2012: Philly (MIA Fest)
2013: Worcester 2, Brooklyn 1 & 2, Hartford
My experience exactly. I prefer Jim's and with Wiz.
06: Camden, Washington DC, 08: Va Beach, Washington DC
09: Philly 2+3, 10: Bristow, 11: East Troy PJ20 1+2, 13: Baltimore, Charlottesville
Montreal '98
Toronto '00
Buffalo Toronto '03
Kitchener London Hamilton Toronto '05
Late Show NYC Toronto x2 Cleveland Pittsburgh Mountain View '06
Hartford Mansfield '08
Toronto Philadelphia x3 '09
Cleveland Buffalo Mountain View x2 '10
East Troy x2 Toronto x2 Ottawa Hamilton '11
London Buffalo '13
[80]
Wow. Off by a mile. Pat's uses Liscio's.
Amoroso is played. It's good if you're anywhere but Philly. Better rolls than Amoroso's - Sarcone, Carangi(the best out of any of them), Liscio's and Cashia's.
My personal fav was Pats. Thought it tasted the freshest and love how they bought Wiz on the roll and steak! Kinda craving one right now!
EV - 5
(**Letterman'02, Irving Plaza, Storytellers, Beacon, ACL, Spectrum 3&4, Bridge School '10**)
"Constant recoil,..sometimes life don't leave you alone."
Let's connect on twitter - @Jeffgorra
Isn't it "Wiz wit"...meaing cheese wiz with onions...not "wit wiz"...that was my understanding anyhow.
You are correct.