L L.
Yelp
CASH ONLY!!!!!!
CASH ONLY!!!!!!
CASH ONLY!!!!!!
* * * The following is a cheesesteak review by a Philly native * * *
So the name... it didn't really grab me, not at 1am getting off our plane, without having eaten for over 9 hours. "Philip's Steaks," what, like Uncle Phil from FPoBA? Only Aunt ("awnt") Viv called him "Philip." (I think we can all agree that Aunt Viv was best played by Janet Hubert.) But I digress, that's where my fatigued mind wandered, without food, at 1am.
I was tired, but sober, and hangry. I just got off the shuttle from airport to DoubleTree (where our car was parked) with driver + attendant, who smelled and looked high as kites, driving dangerously with my baby in the van. I was NOT in a good mood.
I have to say, after the initial pain in the rear of getting cash at the ATM (at 7eleven across the street), I was delightfully surprised by Uncle Phil's version of the cheesesteak, fit for a Fresh Prince.
Roll was fresh, soft but with a bit of exterior crunch, good Ital. bread flavor. Meat was in long, thin sheets as opposed to the pre-eaten look when they chop the heck out of it. I prefer it the way Phil does it. Meat tasted quality, too, like real steak, not vague steakish/burgerish flavor. Ratios of meat:cheese:bread were just right, but while tasty, the onions were too plentiful. They dropped out of my sandwich like rain, and I actually shook a few more into my wrapper, because it was a little much for me. Hey, easy edit, and I'd rather too many I can remove than too few. Sandwich was nice and hot, but not burning my mouth, nor steaming up inside the wrapper to make it soggy. They did all that packaging stuff perfectly!
I have to say this was better than my last steak at Sonny's. I was impressed, and super happy to learn about Phil's because they're a 24/7 and that is very handy knowledge for a Philadelphian.
I did have to take a star off for the cash only part. That's my Yelp rule. Otherwise, I would be proud to take an out-of-towner here, for sure!
So Philip, I don't know who you are, but in my mind, you're Uncle Phil (the late James Avery), dishing me up some lovely cheesesteaks, any hour, any day. Thank you, Uncle Phil!