Jonathan L.
Yelp
Summary for the busy executive:
Extraordinarily nice staff, fast service, pretty good food, casual atmosphere, on the pricey side.
Full review:
I don't usually start out a review talking about the service, but I'm compelled to do so this time. The guys here were so incredibly nice from the moment I walked in the door until the moment I walked out, about 40 minutes later. The server walked by me as I entered, and he welcomed me to the restaurant. Another guy behind the counter was busy preparing drinks while the other guy ran the register and took orders, and he took the time to say "hello" and that his colleague would be with me in just a second. When they took my order, they were polite and pleasant. The food came out extremely quickly and once again with a smile. As I left, the guy behind the counter shouted out "Thank you! Have a great afternoon!" For a casual breakfast/lunch place with a fast-food style counter service, these guys are obviously aiming for five stars on service, and they really earn it!
The atmosphere is extremely casual. Menu is a big board hanging on a wall. You order from a fast-food style counter, and then you sit at one of about 15 tables in the place. Drinks are from a fountain in the corner. They bring the food to the table, directly from the kitchen.
The food was exactly what it should be in a place like this: simple, tasty, loaded with cheese and meat and yummy unhealthy things. I had the Chicken Philly Cheesesteak. It came out so quickly that it was steaming; hot off the griddle! The chicken was tender and even on the moist side (a huge accomplishment for this sort of sandwich). Lots of peppers and onions and mushrooms. I was a little surprised that the sandwich was loaded up with jalapeños, which made it actually pretty spicey. But looking back, I saw that this was clearly indicated on the menu board. And it was good (I like spicey!) -- just surprising for a Philly style sandwich.
And now, for the Achilles heel of virtually every lunch experience these days: I had just the sandwich and a free glass of water. No fries or chips or dessert. I gave the guys a smallish tip (slightly under $2). And my bill was $16 or $17. That's a whole lot for just a sandwich, and I found myself sort of hungry a short while later. The restaurant isn't being extravagant--everything seems to be priced this way now, post-pandemic and mid-oil-crisis. It's the new normal, I guess. But I can't afford to eat here regularly, and it's a wee bit too casual to be a special occasion, Sunday brunch sort of spot.
So: Good, solid food. Really great guys. If you can afford to drop $15-$20 on lunch in a super casual setting, then you can't go wrong here.