Last week I went to Gloucester City NJ, right across the river from Philadelphia, for a site visit. We are going to bid on a project there.
I had a really tough choice:
THIS one;
or THAT one:
The photos were taken literally from the same spot, just 180 degrees from one another.
I went to Gino's......next time I'll do Pat's.
** Salivates!! ** :good: :pizza:
I believe I just saw those 2 on a PBS special about good eats.
:beer:
People line up all hours of the day to get their cheese steaks (it's hard to see under the dark canopies, but they're there.
And I went at about 1:30 PM, after the lunch crowd.
Gino's counter people are kind of like the "Soup Nazi", if you are familiar with that character from Seinfeld. You need to know what you want right away, you must speak English, and if you give them even the slightest provocation, they react rudely. It's been getting more pronounced over the years.
I walked away for a second to look at the condiments and got yelled at for leaving before he handed me my sandwich.
Bad on me......another reason to go over to Pat's next time.
I guess it's a Philly thing. They also have signs up all over the place about supporting the Arizona immigration law, and Sheriff Joe Arpaio, along with petitions to be signed supporting same (not to take the thread into P&R!!!).
But the cheese steak sandwich.......excellent!
I'm not a Velveeta on a cheese steak kinda guy... I guess that would relegate me to Pat's (right?).
No, you can get a variety at both. Geno's (I can't believe I misspelled it above!!!) had three kinds of cheese (plus "wit-out).
Pat's claims to have first used the cheese whiz, but they advertise the product as "steak sandwich"..
You can also get mushroom, pepper, pizza, and roast pork, hot dogs and other stuff, but why bother....the cheese steak is why you go there.
For me, as if you could get me into NJ again, it would have to be Pat's. The top sign on Geno's looks like the bottom word is BAIT. I don't do bait.
SJ:-P
Having lived in S. Jersey for a few years and hung around Philly a lot with friends that live there....sorry
I find the Philly Cheese Steak to be very over hyped on the culinary chart.
for some quick and good fast food and endless selections, I go to the Reading Terminal Market on Arch St.
actually, everytime that I go to Phlly.
First went in the 70s and the last time back 2 summers ago..It was a little different but not much.
Of course, some of my favorites were gone but there were other new stands that were interesting.
Carmen's makes a good hoagie.
I think that there are 3 or 4 real deal Philly cheesesteak sandwich counters in th Market.
just my 2 cts
They filmed a scene of first National Treasure in the Reading market.
It was when the leading lady was hiding behind the butcher counter as she was being chased.
[flash width=500 height=405] http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/ZrsDz69yHQs&hl=en_US&fs=1?rel=0&border=1 [/flash]
I think it is...BEST. Not sure, though.
A lot of people like bait fish.
In my "defense", I was just doing the "tourist" thing.I needed to get back to the office, so I picked what I was familiar with.For longer stays, we do the research and try to eat what the locals like.
If one comes to Coney Island, and you want a hot dog, you go to Nathan's.
In NOLA, for a muffelata, you head down to the Central Grocery, or for beignets, you go to Cafe du Monde.
On the ride out of town, I passed a bunch of "real" and "original" cheese steak joints. No way to tell what was good and what wasn't without the element of time.
You will find a lot of tourists and conventioneers at the Reading Market but you will find a lot of locals also.
a friend that lives in Chinatown which is a few blocks north will go there and also a friend who lives in South Philly. He rides his bike.
Whoever, way back when thought of the idea to make this old RR station terminal and retro fit into the open market surely was very bright.
Then the city placing the convention center across the street,sort of sealed the deal for it's success. Very good urban planning.
Tourist Thing
Angelo, since you know all of the good eats in NYC, maybe you can guide us to the right places when we're there in June 2012.
The daughter has chosen a trip to NYC for her senior graduation present and this is where we're going, blindly. (I am gonna be so lost!)
Wendell and I want to try anything that smells and tastes good and isn't too "weird". I'm sure we're going to be doing a lot of walking to burn it all off but it will be worth it! YUM!!
Anyhow we'd enjoy meeting you too of course!! 🙂
