Cafe Carmela, Philadelphia, PA
2024 March Cheesesteak Madness
Philly Region
Contestant video
Still a very good cheesesteak but not the same cheesesteak that won March Cheesesteak Madness 2 years ago. Started by trying to call my order in. I was put on hold. Got there. Still on hold. The hostess was talking to some waitresses. The Mushrooms, I was very disappointed in the mushrooms. I get mushrooms because great mushrooms complement great steak.
Steve’s Prince of Steaks, Philadelphia, PA
2024 March Cheesesteak Madness
Philly Region
Contestant video
I was raised on chopped cheesesteaks and will probably never convert to slabs. But, Steve’s makes a very compelling argument for eating slab cheesesteaks. The last two times I have been to Steve’s I paid close attention to how they make their cheesesteaks. They use a smaller thicker slab that produces a lot of juicy meat flavor. The onions and mushrooms sit on the grill. Fresh roll. All of the things needed for a very good cheesesteak.
Dattilo’s Italian Delicatessen & Catering, Philadelphia, PA
2024 March Cheesesteak Madness
Philly Region
Contestant video
$10.75 for a big good cheesesteak. Everyone there is very helpful. I highly recommend the Rice pudding. Any and every thing you need to cook an Italian dish is here. Bonus video to prove it. Everyday special; 12 inch meatball sandwich. Sorry I forgot the price but it was very reasonable. Great food and fair prices. What more do you want?? And the Flyers were on the TV.
Joe’s Steaks & Soda Shop, Philadelphia, PA
2024 March Cheesesteak Madness
Philly Region
Contestant video
I was a big fan of the Original Joe’s. Every booth being filled at 3 pm on saturday I’m guessing people are a big fan of new(ish) Joe’s. I found a great parking spot but was scared when the first piece of meat I ate off the wrapper was dry and stringy. Not to worry, this was a good cheesesteak. I was surprised it was slabs. The mushrooms spent some time on the grill. Nice fresh roll.
The Sidecar Bar & Grille, Philadelphia, PA
2024 March Cheesesteak Madness
Philly Region
Contestant video
The only thing I don’t like about the Sidecar is that Mike From Mike’s BBQ is here and they don’t have Banana Pudding. This is the unofficial neighborhood clubhouse. The whole neighborhood was here. The woman next to me goes to Sidebar for the happy hour $10 Burger & Beer. The menu looks amazing. The bartenders were great. The young man picked the perfect beer for me. The young woman said; ‘the cheesesteak has saucey areolas.’ That’s what I heard. Watch the video. We loved the cheesesteak.
Jaxxs Steaks Taproom, Philadelphia, PA
2024 March Cheesesteak Madness
Philly Region
Contestant video
This cheesesteak had a lot of good parts. They weren’t mix well together. Good seeded roll. Meat was a little dry. It was cheesey in places. Guest Judge Ed got a lot of mushrooms that he liked. I don’t think I got any mushrooms. The fried onions were standard.
Cleavers, Philadelphia, PA
2024 March Cheesesteak Madness
Philly Region
Contestant video
The first time I went to Cleavers it was a beautiful Sunday morning. I parked on 18th right in front of Cleavers. I got a boozy milkshake with my cheesesteak. I sat outside. I declared Cleavers to be my Brunch spot. Cleavers has most of the things I like; alcohol, inside seating and a bathroom. They don’t have parking. I’m a country mouse and I like my car near me at all times. This was a good cheesesteak. The mushrooms had a great almost wine flavor. I thought the roll was too bready for this cheesesteak.
Callahan’s Grille, Philadelphia, PA
2024 March Cheesesteak Madness
Philly Region
Contestant video
Technically Tom’s Grill inside Callahan’s Grille. This is a great neighborhood/corner bar. The last time I went to Callahan’s it was later and it was packed with people that had just played in a volleyball league. If I was at Callahan’s having a few cocktails I would not hesitate to get a cheesesteak. The cheesesteak we got was the tale of three cheesesteaks. 1. The roll, it looked like they melted the cheese onto the roll. In general, I like that. 2. The meat was a touch dry. 3. They make a very good mushroom.
SQ Philip’s Steaks, Philadelphia, PA
2024 March Cheesesteak Madness
Philly Region
Contestant video
This is a typical old school order through the window city cheesesteak place. My 3 favorite things about SQ’s; 1. I saw Brutus the Barber Beefcakes. 2. I saw Nobs. Hulk Hogan’s friend. 3. A nice young man at the order window let a woman go in the back and use the bathroom. Other than that, I think it is a typical old school cheesesteak.
Gilben’s Bakery and Specialty Sandwiches, Philadelphia, PA
2024 March Cheesesteak Madness
Philly Region
Contestant video
A cheesesteak made by a New Orleans creative genius?!?! I don’t know the whole story but the Gilben’s spent time in Louisiana. While there, they learned to cook. The cheesesteak comes on their home made garlic bread roll. The meat looks and tastes like it just got back from Mardi Gras. You need to eat it relatively soon or the buttery garlic awesomeness will soak through the roll.
Avenue Steaks & Pizza, Philadelphia, PA
2024 March Cheesesteak Madness
Other Counties Region
Contestant video
Cheesesteak traditionalists meet the 21st century. Avenue Steaks was one of the 1st traditional Philadelphia cheesesteaks I liked. It helped gain an appreciation for ordering thru a window and getting a slab (ribbon) of steak with whiz on a roll. This was a completely different experience. Ordering on a kiosk. Options; seeded roll, chop meat, sandwich cut or not. I felt like I was blasted into the future of cheesesteaks. Very good cheesesteak. I have to start going very hungry so I can get a piece of pizza while I wait for my cheesesteak.
Dalessandro’s Steaks, Philadelphia, PA
2024 March Cheesesteak Madness
Other Counties Region
Contestant video
When I started my Philadelphia Cheesesteak Adventure 5+ years ago, 3 out of 5 people said Dalessandro’s was their favorite cheesesteak. The 1st time I went to Dalessandro’s I got to sit inside at the counter. I saw the big pile of meat on the grill and it instantly brought back great childhood memories of my local cheesesteak shop. Unfortunately for me and Dalessandro’s it has been downhill since then. Big huge chunks of fried onions layed on top of the cheesesteak. I don’t get it.
ByGeorge!, Reading Terminal Market, Philadelphia, PA
2024 March Cheesesteak Madness
Philadelphia Region
Contestant video
Let’s get it out of the way. I’m a big ByGeorge fan. This was not their best effort. It was the tale of two cheesesteaks. The top was dry. The bottom was cheesey and awesome. What I did like; 1. Bill Belichick looked amazing in his The Cheesey Life hoodie. 2. Drinking beer from Molly Malloy’s. 3. The greatest deal in Philadelphia. $7 for 2 hours of parking in one of the lots near Reading Terminal Market. Park. Take your parking ticket. Spend $10 at a Reading Terminal Market vendor. Get your parking ticket validated. Go get your car.
Tony & Nick’s, Philadelphia, PA
2024 March Cheesesteak Madness
Philadelphia Region
Contestant video
I’ve liked my last 3 cheesesteaks from Tony & Nick’s for three different reasons. This was a very good fundamentally sound cheesesteak. It sat in the car for at least half an hour while we drove to Wilmington Brew Works. We got a cheesesteak with mushrooms. Webster’s, the dictionary people, could take a picture of this cheesesteak and put it in the dictionary next to the definition of a cheesesteak. Everything on this cheesesteak played well together.
Angelo’s Pizzeria, Philadelphia, PA
2024 March Cheesesteak Madness
Philadelphia Region
Contestant video
The alleged GOAT laid an egg. They burnt my cheesesteak. I like that they put cheesesteaks in the pizza oven to get the roll crispy. But, come on me! Amigo Dan says it in the video, once you bite a burnt sesame seed you can’t get that taste out of your mouth. Plus it was very greasy. I have a bonus picture of the greasy bag in the video. The worst part is; this is at least my 4th trip to Angelo’s. I never had their pizza. The owner is known for his roll/dough. I’ve been kicking myself for never getting the pizza. This time I got a pepperoni pizza. The pizza was well done and greasy. $40 for GOAT poo.
John’s Roast Pork, Philadelphia, PA
2024 March Cheesesteak Madness
Philadelphia Region
Contestant video
The James Beard award winning John’s Roast Pork. Everyone has JRP in their top three cheesesteaks. I usually order a cheesesteak with fried onions and mushrooms. This was a very good cheesesteak except for the canned mushrooms laid on top of the cheesesteak. Copy and pasted from James Beard website; ‘The James Beard Awards recognizes exceptional talent and achievement in the culinary arts.’ I think laying canned mushrooms on top of a cheesesteak is the opposite of ‘exceptional talent and achievement.’ If you don’t want to put effort into mushrooms, take them off the menu. For those of you about to comment and message how stupid I am, It’s okay. I understand it is a ‘you problem.’ I AM sorry someone hurt you and you think abusive relationships are normal. We all deserve to be in relationships where both entities are putting maximum effort into the relationship. I highly recommend via the Aaron Rodgers Tuesday book club on the Pat McAfee show; The Four Agreements by Don Miquel Ruiz.