Before you read this and think that clearly I don't know what I'm talking about (people from Philly, this means you) I have eaten (or ATED, in LOLCAT parlance) between 100 and 200 cheesesteaks in Philadelphia. This isn't too impressive until you consider that I have never lived there and have only visited 6 times. I worked out the math, and every day I'm in Philadelphia I eat an average of 6 to 10 cheesesteaks. I love those things. I once consumed two full cheesesteaks at Pat's and promptly walked across the street to Geno's and ate two more. I stopped at four more places on the way back to my hotel and got a cheesesteak; I ate all four over the course of playing cards with my friends during the evening,
I have a decent appetite, but I'm not usually anywhere near that hungry, especially when it comes to sandwiches. Well, unless cheesesteaks are involved.
I will say it, and if I get struck down tomorrow by an errant McNabb pass, so be it. The Cheesesteak Grille is ALMOST as good as Pat's. Almost. In fact, I'm pretty sure it's just as good, but in the end Pat's tastes better because you had to earn the thing form the surly dude behind the counter. The guys at Cheesesteak Grille are friendly, which is a requirement on the West Coast. Nobody west of the Mississippi thinks talking to some self righteous asshole with a spatula is "part of the experience". You Midwesterners and Right Coasters know exactly what I mean. There's no way that a place like International Soup Kitchen (Soup Nazi) or Wiener's Circle (see this video) would ever fly on the West Coast. We're friendly here. "F*** you a**hold c*** s**** *** *** *** **** jerk ** *** *** *** foot **** *** **** mother ******* **** **** grandmother ******* ** ***** *** rectum *** **** ***** *** **** donkey ***** *** **** kitten" doesn't fly as a friendly greeting in California. Unless, of course, you're like my stupid friend from Dallas who decided to show up at Roscoe's House of Chicken n' Waffles in a Confederate flag football jersey.
And you'll have to forgive me, but my good camera was left at home today because I didn't think I was going anywhere interesting for dinner. So instead of nice high rez food porn, you get blurry iPhone pictures.
There's a large supply of condiments available. This is the collection Jody assembled.
This is my classic whiz wit. Beef, grilled onions, cheese whiz and bread. That's it. Amazingly good and juicy. There's more whiz on this sandwich than is readily apparent, but it's on the underside of the beef.
Cross-section...
Jody's had a blue cheese sauce, bacon and provolone. Arguably better than mine, but I'm a cheesesteak purist.
Jody also got a side of potato salad. Seriously the best potato salad I've had in quite a while. I LOVE POTATO SALAAAAAAD. MmmmmMMmmMM
I'm going to go finish my leftovers now. I'm in such a hurry to eat my sandwich that I'm going to skip pasting in the Google map and just post a pic of the front page of their menu. Oh, and for those of you that know what they are, they have Tastykakes!
