Café Carmela

"When you drive by Café Carmela, you’ll see a line that looks like PennDOT on the weekends. And it’s no wonder—they’ve mastered the carb holy trinity of pizza, sandwiches, and pasta. The interiors are a mix of classic Italian red booth seating, checkered tablecloths, and bulb marquees spelling out “pizza” that always gets the attention of kids with their families. There’s not a bad dish on the menu (we checked), but if you stop by and don’t try the American Boy pizza with creamy mozzarella or a cheesesteak with thick cuts of ribeye, you’ll miss out on what everyone in that line is probably waiting around for." - candis mclean

"When people think of cheesesteaks, they don’t always think of the Northeast (or Italian restaurants). But if you stop by this casual spot in a shopping center on Holme Ave., you’ll see a line of people waiting for one like it’s the hottest club in town. The signature here is the Don Cheech’s Steak, an ideal combination of thick-sliced ribeye, melty cooper sharp, and fried onions on a seeded roll. Although there may be a wait to get your hands on one, once you do, you might briefly mistake the Northeast as the center of the universe." - candis mclean, alison kessler

"When you drive by Café Carmela, you’ll see a line that looks like PennDOT on the weekends. And it’s no wonder—they’ve mastered the carb holy trinity of pizza, sandwiches, and pasta. The interiors are a mix of classic Italian red booth seating, checkered tablecloths, and bulb marquees spelling out “pizza” that always gets the attention of kids with their families. There’s not a bad dish on the menu (we checked), but if you stop by and don’t try the American Boy pizza with creamy mozzarella or a cheesesteak with thick cuts of ribeye, you’ll miss out on what everyone in that line is probably waiting around for." - candis mclean, alison kessler

"This notable family-owned restaurant in Northeast Philly is known for its pizza, but has grown a loyal following for its impressive cheesesteaks made with tender ribeye steak. From a traditional cheesesteak made with cooper sharp to speciality ones (such as their Chicago-style version) — they have become instant experts of this Philly favorite." - Ernest Owens, Eater Staff

"Meatball Salad We’re a meat-and-red-sauce town, and that even goes for our salads. Sure, this meatball salad in the Northeast has all the elements of a classic: romaine, a few tomatoes, red onions, red wine vinegar, and EVOO. Cafe Carmela just takes it over the top with saucy meatballs and ricotta cheese. It’s a happy clash of temperatures and toes the line between a light lunch and a comforting Sunday dinner. And in Philly, that makes complete sense. " - candis mclean, alison kessler