Review: It's cliche to say the Philadelphian is dirty. Sometimes cliches are true, and this one is. Parts over the grill are blackened by hot grease. The backroom is visible for all to see, and it's stacked to the rafters with junky stuff. But, you know what, sometimes dirty is good. Hole-in-the-wall joints so often produce great, unpretentious food. The Philadelphian delivers on unpretentious food, but only half delivers on great food.
I ordered the cheesesteak with onions, hot peppers, and bell peppers.
A cheesesteak has three primary components: 1. bread, 2. steak, 3. cheese. The bread at the Philadelphian was soft, very soft, too soft. Some people like ultra-soft bread. I'm not one of those people. A bread with a little tooth makes a much more interesting sandwich. The steak was tasty, although a bit dry. The cheese was provolone only. As I eat more cheesesteaks, the more I'm convinced Cheez Whiz is the way to go. There's just something about how it melts into the steak juices that makes the cheesesteak experience special. In all, the cheesesteak was alright.
And then there were the onion rings.
I know. I know. They look like fat fried calamari. Part of the reason they look like this the batter is hand-made in a bucket right before your eyes. It's a beautiful thing to watch. Unfortunately, the batter to onion ratio is about 5 to 1. The onion is simply lost amongst all that batter.
In the end, I liked this place. There's something to be said for small joints churning out pretty good food day after day. But I didn't love this place like I hoped I would.
Rating: 6/10 (5/10 is average)
A cheesesteak has three primary components: 1. bread, 2. steak, 3. cheese. The bread at the Philadelphian was soft, very soft, too soft. Some people like ultra-soft bread. I'm not one of those people. A bread with a little tooth makes a much more interesting sandwich. The steak was tasty, although a bit dry. The cheese was provolone only. As I eat more cheesesteaks, the more I'm convinced Cheez Whiz is the way to go. There's just something about how it melts into the steak juices that makes the cheesesteak experience special. In all, the cheesesteak was alright.
And then there were the onion rings.
I know. I know. They look like fat fried calamari. Part of the reason they look like this the batter is hand-made in a bucket right before your eyes. It's a beautiful thing to watch. Unfortunately, the batter to onion ratio is about 5 to 1. The onion is simply lost amongst all that batter.In the end, I liked this place. There's something to be said for small joints churning out pretty good food day after day. But I didn't love this place like I hoped I would.
Rating: 6/10 (5/10 is average)
Good, trashy food requires good, trashy condiments like Whiz. I've had a lot of cheesesteaks, and there's just no other way to go.
ReplyDeleteI love the Philadelphian. I haven't had a better sandwich. I dis agree with the cheese wiz. It makes the sandwich taste cheap and more like a cheap burito from toco bell. The Philadelphian has more quality and quantity on there sandwich than any other that I have had. I ate at moochos downtown today. It had the cheese wiz on it. It just didn't compare. I give the Phil. Stars. However he is right about something it is a very dirty place. It gives the place character and gives you something to talk about.
ReplyDeleteI love the Philladelphian...I like their recipe not so much the hole in the wall atmosphere. I am not normally a cheese steak fan either. The food is chewy both the sandwich and the onion rings which is one of the reasons next to taste that I love this place! It's my favorite fast food joint. To each their own but it does well because there are enough people addicted to their food.
ReplyDeleteTwo years ago we were in Las Vegas and went to a sandwich shop at the Wynn Casino. I got a French Dip (they call it a Beef Dip, must not like the French) and it had to be the best dip sandwich I've ever had, until I tried the Philadelphian's French Dip. Fantastic bun, more beef than you ever saw in a dip sandwich. So this weekend we went to Vegas again and had to go to the sandwich shop at the Wynn. Got the dip sandwich and it looked like the little brother to the big brother Philadelphian. Plus, it was $13, just for the sandwich. Some are saying in their post the thinly cut beef is dry or tasteless. Try the French Dip and for the money, the best you will ever have.
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