July 26, 2005
Who's Eating a New York Cheesesteak?
The latest New York magazine has a feature on cheap eats in the Big Apple... with a special article about Philly cheesesteaks. That's right - New Yorkers are hungry for cheesesteaks, and several sandwich places have popped up in New York claiming to offer the real thing.
According to the article, New York cheesesteaks are just as good as their Philly counterparts - though the authors give the Tony Luke's Manhattan outpost a mere 2.5 stars. They also say that with the standard ingredients, "How bad can any cheesesteak be?" We've got a better question: how many cheesesteak connoisseurs do you know in New York?
Phillyist thinks that New Yorkers who want a real cheesesteak should hop on the Chinatown bus and experience the steak as it's meant to be eaten - in Philly.
Photo credit: Virtualtourist.com
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Of course, these people asking "how bad can any cheesesteak be?" are the same people who bitch about not being able to find good pizza outside of New York.
Viva la cheesesteak.
This post is a sham!! The author has never had a cheesesteak in her life. I have proof.
I'm one of those people who bitch about not being able to find good pizza outside of NY with any consistency. If you want a cheesesteak, Philly's your place. If you want a slice [and I'm not talking brick oven] or a bagel, NY is the place to be.
I've found two decent slices here in Philly to my liking out of about 16 different establishments. But that's to my liking, not to a native Philadelhpean's liking.
I don't recall ever having a good 'steak in NYC, but then again, I can't remember EVER ordering a 'steak up there.
Ah, I still remeber driving back from North Carolina one year and seeing a sign for "Genuine Philie Cheesesteaks". So sad.
As an ex-Philadelphian living in NYC:
99 Miles to Philly on 2nd Avenue gets it almost right. The meat and the cheese are perfect and they even chop up the steak and melt the whiz on the grill with it, Lorenzo's-style.
But the bread? It's too good - just too classy. More baguette than Amoroso's, y'know?
But two out of three isn't bad at all, and cheaper than a $20 bus fare...
Yeah, as an ex-new yorker, the pizza here stinks. Cheese steaks are great but you can't score one for $2... both are terrible for you.