Pat’s Steaks

Posted by Edmund in Cheesesteak, Featured Articles, Philadelphia, Restaurants | 1 comment

Cuisine: Fast Food Sandwiches.
Specialty: Philly Cheesesteak.
Location: 1237 East Passyunk Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19147-5060.
Price: $8.50 a Cheesesteak, About $3 for Fries.

I had gone to Philadelphia for one reason, and one reason alone: CHEESESTEAK. After spending 22 years deprived of this symbol of American culture, I knew I couldn’t call myself the Food Buster without making at least a small round of the cheesesteak scene.

Unfortunately, when I finally got to Philly for my semi-insane cheesesteak all-nighter, I was disappointed, to say the least. I had decided to sacrifice the warmth of my nice bed in DC to come to Philadelphia without any lodging and to wander the menacing streets at night, searching for the almighty king of cheesesteaks. I had already visited Jim’s and Geno’s, two of the foremost producers of the cheesesteak, only to be left wondering what all the fuss was about over this little steak sandwich. And then, I reached Pat’s Steaks, and it all began to make sense.

Pat’s is located conveniently across the street from Geno’s, its arch-nemesis. The rivalry has spanned decades, as the two original cheesesteak houses decided for whatever reason to ominously face each other, serving as a constant symbol of the intense, even violent battle for cheesesteak supremacy that has managed to divide even the city of brotherly love. While Geno’s flashes out with a large-than-life aura, manifested in its vibrant colors and bright lights, the older and more mature Pat’s retains its original air of simplicity, with much less decoration but also much less over-the-top gaudiness. Still expect to see countless photos of celebrity diners, but not to the point that it becomes burdensome. Instead, you’re more drawn to the sight of the grill, as the cooks prepare large, beautiful chunks of sizzling beef right in front of your eyes, giving you the impression that you’re eating something fresh. To its benefit, then, Pat’s doesn’t seem quite as gimmicky or shady as Geno’s.

And it’s exactly that type of no-frills dining that makes Pat’s cheesesteak memorable. This time around, I decided to add just a little bit of flavor to the typical Philly cheesesteak by ordering the pizza steak, packed not just with whiz cheese and onions, but also with some pizza sauce.

Even with the pizza sauce, though, the steak stands out as the all-star. It’s not minced, coming in big, juicy chunks. While it’s not the most flavorful meat (i.e. it’s not really seasoned), it’s incredibly succulent, to the point that the sandwich constantly drips grease, making a whole puddle of cheese and meat fat on the wrapper.

The other toppings hit the spot, too. The whiz sauce is just right: gooey and fatty, but not overpowering at all because the quantity is a lot less than on the typical cheesesteak. The onions also stand out. They’re grilled well, so you have a nicely greasy oiliness without too much sweetness. Finally, the pizza sauce, while not perfect, definitely adds a lot of flavor—a sweet, tomato, herby quality that gives another layer of complexity. Moreover, since the sauce is poured just on the top, the bottom half of the cheesesteak has a raw meatiness, and the top half a very sweet sauciness, so you can try both to see which you like better.

My one complaint would be with the bread, which is a mixed bag. It’s a big baguette, so it has a bit too much fluff for me. Also, it’s on the crispy side, kind of like a ciabatta. It is thus nice for a crunch, but it really doesn’t mesh with the whole juicy, meaty taste.

Overall, though, you just can’t beat the combo of excellent onions, properly proportioned whiz cheese, and extremely succulent meat. Pat’s Steaks produces by far the best cheesesteak I had in my short time in Philly.

I still don’t know if I’d pay $8.50 for a small steak sub, but if I really had a cheesesteak craving, this would probably be the place I’d go to out of all the well-known cheesesteak houses. It is the one cheesesteak producer that actually satisfies my expectations.

So I left Pat’s with my two friends that night, content that I had finally had the true Philly cheesesteak experience. And it only took me three tries. I guess third time really is the charm!

Scores

Taste: 4.3/5.0
Value: 2.0/5.0
Overall Score: 3.5/5.0