My Next Visit "Frusco's Steaks"

I decided to make my next visit "Frusco's Steaks", located on Frankford Ave in the great Northeast of Philadelphia.  I lived in the Northeast for 17 years, and if you want a cheap, classic Philadelphia Cheesesteak, Frusco's is the place to go!  Frusco's steak's isn't like your typical steak joint, first off they deliver, and on Friday & Saturday's they are open until 3am.  So that means you can fulfill your steak craving after a night-shift or simply a night out, and have it delivered to your door! (If you live close of course)  

Another great aspect of Frusco's is their menu, they have everything from a Caesar salad, to Italian Hoagies, and of course cheesesteaks!  My personal favorite is the Large steak with bacon and cheese whiz, this is the only steak shop where I can actually say I order "Whiz" instead of American cheese.  

Steak toppings include; Sauce, Cheese, Mushrooms, Sweet Peppers, Hot or Sweet Roasted Peppers, Spinach and bacon.  

A lot of steak places charge almost $10 for a steak, which is outrageous!  The best thing about Frusco's is the lunch special.  Plain or Cheese Steak, French Fries & 16 oz soda for $7.50. (make it a shake for $1 extra)

Frusco's Steaks Menu

History of the "Cheesesteak"

Here in Philadelphia, the "Steak-Sandwich" is a cultural obession, tourist draw, and just a way of life. Often found imitated around the world, the cheesesteak is rarely duplicated successfully outside of Philadelphia. So what is an authentic cheesesteak and where did it come from?

The "Cheesesteak"

Photo courtesy of Advance Food Company, Oklahoma City, OK

A cheesesteak is a long, crusty roll filled with thinly sliced ribeye beef and usually melted cheese.  Ribeye, also known as the "Scotch Fillet" is a beef steak from the rib section.  Along with the Ribeeye one usually has various options regarding the cheese, Whiz, American, Provolone, I have even seen Pepper Jack cheese served at Rick's Steaks.  Other toppings may include fried onions, sauteed mushrooms, ketchup and hot or sweet peppers.

The History

The cheesesteak made its debut in 1930.  Pat Olivieri was a South Philadelphia hot dog vendor who one day decided to put some beef from the butcher on his grill.  A taxicab driver noticed the alluring aroma nad asked for his own steak sandwich.  As the story goes, the next day, rumor of the delicious steak had spread, and cabbies around the city came to Oliveri demanding his steak sandwiches.  Soon after Olivieri opened up a shop on 9th Street and Passyunk Avenue, Pat's King of Steaks.  Today Pat's grills are open 24 hours a day, as are Geno's Steaks, the rival shop across the street.  For over 40 years, the two shops have waged a friendly competition to win the title of best cheesesteak in town, with Geno's founder, Joe Vento, claiming it was he, not Olivieri, who first added cheese to the cheesesteak. 

My Next Visit "Rick's Steaks"

I decided that my next stop would be somewhere close to Drexel University, where I attend school.  I stumbled upon Rick's Steaks and how it is walking distance from campus at it's new location 16th & Chestnut Street.  Now I have heard many good things about Rick's Steaks from their time at Reading Terminal Market located at 12th & Arch Streets, and how each day at lunch the line would stretch around the block. Rick's posted shop at the Reading Terminal Market for 25 years, with his last year being this past December.  Rick's opened it's new location at The Shops At Liberty Place on 1625 Chestnut Street, in the food court back in January.

Rick's has been a family owned shop for over 75 years, and with over 45 years experience in cooking steak  sandwiches.  

John's Roast Pork

The History

John's Roast Pork (also known as John's Lunch, The Snyder Avenue Lunch Bar, and the Shack) has been on the corner of Weccacoe and Snyder Avenue since 1930 and has been a family business for three generations according to their website.  There really isn't much history listed on the Internet, so it was hard for me to find information on John's, but let me tell you, the cheesesteaks are to die for!

The "Steak"

John's Roast Pork has various ways that you can order your steak, from adding banana peppars, sharp provolone, to long-hots, they will even add ketchup to your steak!  Let me first off say that they definitely have the meatiest cheesesteak I have ever had, I thought Chink's had the biggest steak, I was wrong.  John's Roast Pork by far adds the most meat to their steaks.  I ordered the a large cheesesteak with American cheese, and no onions, I'm not sure what the steak is seasoned with, but It definitely had a distinct taste, very juicy.  The roll was perfect, similar to a Sarcone's roll, the outside of the roll almost being crispy, and you cant beat the sesame seeds, which add an extra flare to the already perfect cheesesteak.

Now the only downside are John's Roast Pork's hours, they are open Monday-Friday 6:45am-3:00pm, and let me tell you, there is a huge lunch crowd!  I loved John's customer service, yelling out to customers in line, asking if they are ordering roast pork, or cheesesteaks, then yelling your name out when your steak is ready asking if you would like ketchup or peppers added to your all ready jam-packed steak.  They fold the cheese, whether you order American or Provolone, into the steak as it is still hot, so it melts into the meat making the steak tase all the more wonderful! 

Now the name of the place is John's Roast Pork, so if their cheesesteak are good, then the roast pork must be amazing.  The Roast Pork is completely homemade.  They use top-choice pork and bone the meat right on the premises.  The pork is seasoned according to an old family recipe and is roasted in their commercial oven daily.  Some time soon I will make a trip to John's for their famous Roast Pork sand which, stay tuned.

John's Roast Pork Menu

My Next Visit "John's Roast Pork"

The next steak shop I will have the opportunity to indulge in is John's Roast Pork.  Don't let the name fool you, they sell everything from roast pork, to cheesesteaks, to breakfast.  John's Rost Pork is located at 14 E.  Snyder Avenue in South Philadelphia, and has been there since 1930.  Now word is, that John's has the BEST roast pork sandwiches in Philadelphia, but what most people do not know is that they also have phenomenal cheesesteaks!  In fact, John's Roast Pork was voted #1 for Best Philly Cheesesteak by the Philadelphia Inquirer in 2002, and their roast pork continues to dominate all others.  John's like other old-time Philadelphia steak shops, does not have the best hours.  They are open from 6:45am (for breakfast) until 3:00pm Monday through Friday, no weekends and no nights.

Stay tuned for my critique of John's Roast Pork!

Chink's Steaks

For the past six decades, Chink's Steaks has been serving the finest cheesesteaks in Philadelphia, and its surrounding areas.  It began in 1949 when the original owner, Samuel "Chink" Sherman, opened a steak shop in the northeast section of Philadelphia.  As a young boy, Chink mastered the art of making cheesesteaks while working at the renowned Pat's Steaks.

After forty-six years of his hard work and dedication, Chink retired from the business.  Shortly after his resignation Chink passed away.  Before he passed, he designated Joe as the new owner.  Joe worked for Chink for over twenty years.  He began his career at Chink's, in his early childhood, cutting meat and peeling onions in the basement.  When Joe became the official owner of Chink's Steaks, he vowed to run the business in the same traditional manner "Chink" once did.

The "Steak"

Chink's use fresh "ribeye" steak, cut fresh daily, and fresh rolls from Liscios Bakery.  The amount of meat that Chink's gives you on their steak is unmatched, with one steak being more than enough for the average or above average eater.  The steak isn't chopped up, it's simply cooked and the cheese is thrown on.  Just as important as the meat, the roll is phenomenal,  a roll from Liscio's Bakery compliments the fresh rib-eye perfectly.   With a variety of cheeses to choose from; American, Provolone, and the *new addition whiz, Chink's is sure to have your taste-buds screaming for more!

The "Shake"

  If Chink's Steaks isn't the best or most recognized Cheesesteak Shop in Philadelphia, It is definitely the most complete-shop there is.  Along with a mammoth-sized cheesesteak, you have the option of ordering a towering milkshake!  And let me tell you folks, these shakes are the best around!  I recommend the chocolate-banana milkshake.

Steve's Prince of Steaks

The History

Steve's Prince of Steaks was founded by Steven lliescu in 1980.  His first shop opened up on the corner of Bustleton and St. Vincent streets in Northeast Philadelphia.  In 1992 Steve's Prince of Steaks was voted "Best Cheesesteak" by Philadelphia Magazine.  On November 27th 1998, the Philadelphia Eagles decided to make the "Worlds Largest Cheesesteak", for the Guinness Book of World Records.  

After years of producing his product, Steve decided to expand by opening up another store.  In 1999, "The Prince" opened his second location, Steve's Comly, at Comly Road and the Roosevelt Blvd.  In 2006, The Food Network aired a show called the Hungry Detective.  During the show Steve's Prince of steaks was highlighted as the best kept secret in Philadelphia cheesesteaks.

As time went on, so did the demand for Philadelphia cheestesteaks outside the city limits.   Steve was able to meet the demands of his loyal subjects by opening yet another store, this time outside the city limits.  The third location, Steve's Langhorne, located at 1617 E. Lincoln Highway, opened in 2006.

The "Steak"

My cheesesteak travels took me to Steve's Prince of Steaks.  I chose to go to their Langhorne location, just because of the convenience, only about a mile away from my current residence in Bucks County.  I have grown up eating Steve's Prince of Steaks, and so have most Northeast Philadelphia residents.  The steak is served on a long kaiser roll, but don't let the roll deceive you, because there is hardly any meat.  Steve's cook their meet in slabs about 3-4 inches across, and put about six total pieces on your roll.  The regular steak is $6.00, for cheese it is an additional 96¢.  I find myself ordering the "Double-Meat" steak with cheese each time I visit Steve's.  The double-meat with cheese is a costly $9.67, but in order to fill your 

appetite, it's well worth it.  

Steve's continues to get awards for the Best Cheesesteak in Philadelphia, but I believe that is mainly because it is the most popular, and most convenient.  Yes everyone thinks about Pats & Geno's steaks when they hear of Philadelphia Cheesesteaks, but people don't have the convenience of going to these "tourist attractions" because of their location.  Steve's Prince of Steaks has three locations, two located in the vast Northeast of Philadelphia, and one located in Upper Bucks County.  Steve's in my book may not have the best cheesesteaks in Philadelphia, but they definitely have the best marketing plan, by spreading out their locations, the convenience of Steve's, make it an easy choice!