FOOD: The noble Philly cheesesteak

Philly is known for its culinary options, and cheese steaks are one of them, and there are lots of cheese steak options within a 15 minute walk from our hotel.

While you are at the Digital Family Summit, check out these steak places.
For more about the noble history of the Philly Cheesesteak, check out Visit Philly’s exhaustive article.

PLEASE NOTE:  Pat’s and Geno’s are both about a 30 minute walk from the Sheraton Society Hill, the official hotel of Digital Family Summit.  They are a short car ride/taxi ride away, and because they are the legends of cheese steak joints, we felt compelled to include them.  The other’s are all within a 10 minute walk of the hotel.

Some of the Best Places To Find an Authentic Philadelphia Cheesesteak Experience:
(descriptions courtesy of http://www.visitphilly.com

Pat’s Steaks

The original home of the cheesesteak, Pat’s King of Steaks is still owned and operated by the Olivieri family. Pat’s claim to fame is that its founder, Pat Olivieri, invented the steak sandwich in 1930. Since then, Pat’s has grown from a little stand at the southern end of South Philly’s Italian Market to one of the most famous cheesesteak shops in the world, albeit still in the same location (and still the only location). 9th Street & Passyunk Avenue, (215) 468-1546. More >>

Geno’s Steaks

It may be across the street from the oldest cheesesteak joint in town, but Geno’s Steaks is a formidable competitor going roll-for-roll with Pat’s for more than four decades. Geno’s has been slinging its famous cheesesteaks from the same location here for more than forty years now. Like Pat’s, Geno’s is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week so you can visit whenever you get the urge. 1219 S. 9th Street, (215) 389-0659. More >>

Jim’s Steaks

Jim’s Steaks has multiple locations, but the classic smell of fried onions wafting down South Street makes that location the most memorable. Jim’s Steaks is South Street’s premier cheesesteak shop. The crowds can often mean an extra long wait before you actually get to taste one of Jim’s fine cheesesteak sandwiches, as the line at Jim’s often stretches out the front door and around the corner onto Fourth Street. 400 South Street, (267) 519-9253. More >>

Campo’s

Campo’s Deli is a great spot for anyone looking to sample some authentic Philadelphia flavor without traveling too far to get it. Conveniently located on Market Street in Old City, Campo’s is only three blocks from the Liberty Bell and the Independence Visitor Center. More famous for its creative menu of hoagies, Campo’s Deli cooks up a respectable traditional cheesesteak, and they ship to other cities as well. 214 Market Street, (215) 923-1000, camposdeli.com

Dalessandro’s Steaks

If you’re a savvy enough cheesesteak aficionado, you will no doubt want to make the trek out to Roxborough, near Manayunk in Philadelphia’s northwestern ridge. There, along Henry Avenue, you’ll find Dalessandro’s Steaks. Dalessandro’s has been serving delicious — if sinfully greasy — cheesesteaks from their corner locale for as long as anybody can remember. Legend has it that the grillmasters at Delassandro’s season their sizable flattoped grill with fat before adding the meat. 600 Wendover Street, (215) 482-5407, dalessandros.com

Steaks on South

One might think that Philadelphia already has enough cheesesteak eateries to last it a life time. While that may very well be true, you can never really have too many options for cheesesteak bliss. Enter Steaks on South, a relative newcomer to Philadelphia’s cheesesteak scene, but one that is already turning a lot of heads and filling a lot of stomachs. 308 South Street, (215) 922-7880, steaksonsouth.com

Sonny’s

Founded in 2000, Sonny’s Famous Steaks in Old City offers a fresh, healthier take on the recipe, frying the meat in its own juices rather than in oil. 228 Market Street. (215) 629-5760, sonnysfamoussteaks.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 Adam Gertsacov is the co-founder and co-organizer of Digital Family Summit.  He wears many hats, including those of a professional clown, an author and publisher, an artist/educator, a non-profit administrator, a P.T. Barnum impersonator, a flea circus impresario, and the esteemed hat of the Clown Laureate of Greenbelt, Maryland.