<p>Me and my wife are planning to visit Philly in April or sooner. We have a couple of days there. Are Pats and Geno’s tourist traps ? Where to get the real deal with good value far as cheese steaks goes ?</p>
<p>Also any suggestions on where to go, see and do will be highly appreciated.</p>
<p>Pat’s and Geno’s are good. You can go to the Reading Terminal Market and I think there is a Pat’s there. I actually think most places (Italian restaurant/joints) have great cheesesteaks. Try a hoagie, too.</p>
<p>I would strongly suggest anywhere but Pat’s and Geno’s. Their reputations far exceed their actual taste. We went to both, had two bites and threw the rest in the trash. I have been eating cheesesteaks for about 50 years and those were not good. My wife who also is from NJ and has eaten many cheesesteaks agreed.</p>
<p>Jim’s Steaks is my favorite sandwich. on south street. very popular place. although many swear by Dalessandro’s Steaks as well. in terms of quality, Dalessandro’s is probably the best, though i like the vibe better at Jim’s.</p>
<p>I find both Pat’s and Geno’s to sell tasty but fatty steaks. the first two I mentioned have better quality imo, with less fat and gristle. i wouldn’t go so far as to call pat’s and geno’s tourist traps, but if you’re looking for the best, they’re not it.</p>
<p>I second Jim’s - it’s on 4th and South.</p>
<p>Thanks for suggestions. Jim’s sounds like a winner. I am rail thin and don’t mind fatty steaks once a while. Actually in Japan there’s beef bowl chain that sells marinated fatty beef over sushi rice. The meat is fatty but yum! It couldn’t sell here. But if you think about it, a lean piece of meat topped off with American cheese is same or worst than a fatty beef bowl.</p>
<p>OK. My FA lived next to Pat, and he was always the ultimate gentleman. I never left his store without special cheeses and bread. I probably can’t or shouldn’t speak to 3rd generation.</p>
<p>If in suburbs, Rizzo’s is the best.</p>
<p>I made my version of mushroom, onion, & pizza sauce Philly steaks last nite, which is served at Rizzo’s. If u see Cheese Whiz in any restaurant, run.</p>
<p>I like Tony Luke’s…but Reading Terminal Market is the place to go (for Delilah’s mac and cheese)mmmmm.</p>
<p>This is an age old question. I also recommend a visit to Reading Terminal on an empty stomach. You be the judge.</p>
<p>O’neil’s, on 4th near South (heading south). Best.</p>
<p>Rick’s is the place you are talking about in Reading Terminal Market. [Regular</a> Joe’s Guide: Rick’s Original Philly Steaks, Cheesesteak, Reading Terminal Market, Philadelphia, PA](<a href=“http://regularjoesguide.blogspot.com/2008/08/ricks-original-philly-steaks.html]Regular”>Regular Joe's Guide: Rick's Original Philly Steaks ~ Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ***CLOSED***) My son had a cheesesteak there when we stopped in Philly in September. It looked good, he said it was great. I ate his french fries, they were also good! Just make sure you know what you want by the time you get to the counter, it’s a real busy place and the customers behind you in line will be in a hurry.</p>
<p>Jim’s for cheesesteaks, but Tony Luke’s for the best sandwich of them all: roast pork, provolone, and broccoli rabe.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that many if not all of the food places at Reading Terminal are closed on Sundays.</p>
<p>I’m with Barrons with regard to either Pat’s or Geno’s. And the staff at Pat’s weren’t particularly chipper. I did see an episode of a Bobby Flay show where he tasted the goods at Delassandros (I think) and was hooked.</p>
<p>Jim’s - with “Whiz” !!!</p>
<p>I think the Whiz thing is funny. I grew up in Philly (albeit Northeast) and never once heard of putting yellow/orange Cheez Whiz on cheesesteaks! We put white melted provolone.</p>
<p>And yeah, Pat’s and Geno’s are more touristy than anything else. They’re not really any better than many neighborhood places. Nonetheless they can be fun the way that going to the Cafe du Monde in NOLA is fun – yeah, you know it’s touristy, but snap a few pictures, whatever.</p>
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<p>So true, pizzagirl! I grew up in South Jersey and there was no way that any self-respecting restaurant used Cheez Whiz on a cheesesteak. Sliced white provolone was always added in the final seconds of cooking, just enough to melt. I don’t understand where/when/how this Whiz/cheese sauce thing entered the picture.</p>
<p>I really think Philadelphia hoagies are just as unique to the area as cheesesteaks. They are just better than the “subs” you get everywhere else. Someone please FedEx me 1 Italian hoagie, light oil, no onions.</p>
<p>And some Tastykakes (peanut butter KandyKakes) please.</p>
<p>Only if they’re from Wawa!</p>
<p>MOWC, I agree about hoagies. You really can’t find a good hoagie outside of the Philly/south Jersey area. You can order Tastykakes online.</p>
<p>[url=<a href=“http://www.tastykake.com/]Tastykake.com[/url”>http://www.tastykake.com/]Tastykake.com[/url</a>]</p>
<p>If you find someone who will FedEx Italian hoagies, let me know! :)</p>