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Wit Wiz!
You might wonder what that means, but the following picture should explain it well (http://static.px.yelp....)
But its funny how these two stores across from each other are such big rivals, yet perhaps most of the tourists that come by (since the better philly cheesesteaks, I hear, are elsewhere) tend to get both anyways.
After careful tasting of the two, I must say Geno's is better. Pat's offers thicker cheese and the meat is cooked more in smaller pieces with perhaps a more ground beef texture to it, but it's not the same as Geno's. At least they're different enough that one might not be confused with who to choose. Sorry, Pat, I'm a Geno's fan.
Any legit rating of Pat's should depend solely on how drunk you are when ordering something from here.
Sober Rating / Review: Cheez whiz with less than quality meat on a soggy roll. Disgusting. I wanted to puke afterwards. One Star
Drunk Rating / Review: How do they make cheez whiz on a sandwich taste so good? These people are gods sent from heaven to bestow their amazing angelic sandwich upon us. I still wanted to puke afterwards. Five stars.
Balance these experiences out and you get a rating of three.
Try number two.
Melissa W, such a pro. Orders, "whiz wit" Success.
The sandwich here at least looks like a bit more thought was put behind it, it comes out looking a heck of a lot better than Genos. There is more meat, more appetizing grilled onions. Softer bread. Taste wise, it could use some tang, like come jalapenos or something.
I can't say its the best I've had still. But still a lot more appetizing than Genos. My vote for Philly Sandwiches still lies at Hershels
Sandwiches run about $8 each before adding all the extra toppings
How can the King of Steaks only get 3 1/2 stars. I'm sorry but they get 5 stars for starting it all!! I grew up with Pat's and Geno's. As a matter of fact I remember when Geno's opened. Definitely go do the taste test.
Finally got to try them after hearing all the rave on the food and travel channels. Long lines with just 10-15 min waiting time, not bad. Same for their competitor Geno's across the street. Yes..I had to compare the two while I'm at it. Pat's by day and Geno's by night.
Verdict: Pat's a wet one and Geno's a drier version
Up: Both are nice and hot on fresh bread
Down: There's no real taste to the meat therefore you add the cheese and onions and what not to spice it up a notch
Overall a good sandwich but I've had better.
If I had to choose between the two, it'd be Pat's.
Pat's Steaks were damn good.
As a tourist, I did the rounds of several major cheesesteak spots and can say I thoroughly enjoyed Pat's. Their cheesesteaks were packed! The meat was chopped and packed thick- and it was dripping cheesy goodness! I'm not from Philly, so I can say this without any bias- Pat's was legit.
I'm aware that Pat's is considered a tourist cheesesteak shop, but this is one tourist shop I'll keep coming back to. Out of all the cheesesteaks I tried in Philly, this one was the fattest and cheesiest- I loved it.
I like this place better than Geno's, but that doesn't mean it's great. I tried their Whiz Wit and cheesesteak with mushrooms and provolone. The cheese whiz is the way to go (and I don't even like cheese whiz).
I prefer their chopped steak to Geno's, and their bread and onions are better. I'll never go back to either places though--these cheeseteaks are mediocre at best. At least I can say I tried it!
Pat's certainly ain't all that and a bag of chipes (as the Brits would say). After waiting in line for about 10 minutes, we ordered a couple of provie wits (onions) and fries.
The steak sandwiches were okay, but definitely not worth all the buzz. They were served luke warm and so were the fries. I will say that the bread was soft and fresh and the grilled onions definitely added a little something something to the sandwich.
But let's put it this way. A box of Steak-Ums and some grocery rolls would give this joint a run for its money. And you can take dat to the bank, wit or witout cheese ... as they'd say at this shack.
The best and in my opinion the ONLY cheese steak place worth going to in South Philly.
It's delicious---I am craving the cheese fries as I write this review.
You know the deal, know what you're ordering before you get to the front. Cash only. There's only seating outside.
It's across from Geno's...which has a picture and letter from Joe Arpaio proudly displayed on one of their walls. This is because Geno's started a stir when they began an "English ordering" campaign and other racist crap that I don't want stirred into my cheese wiz...
Reason's why Pat's is the BEST:
*Everything served is really tasty
*It is THE oldest cheese steak place (founded by Pat Olivieri in 1930)
*It does not have affiliations with Joe Arpaio
*It's adorable and makes me really happy--especially when I think about the long lines after an epic Phillies game
*Open 24 hours, 7 days per week--so you can always get that fix any time of the day or night!
WHIZ-WIT. DONE AND DONE.
Went at 3AM. Still a line of over a dozen people. But please learn how to order if you're waiting in line.
"How to order a steak" by I.M. HUNGRY
Specify if you want yours "wit" or "without" onions, What kind of cheese? Just go Cheese Whiz. If you go with anything else, you might as well order a Philly Cheesteak in another state. They accept CASH ONLY. Cash is king y'all. And if you are just plain confused. Just reroute yourself into the back of the line.
Geno's is across the street and I didn't even bother getting a Philly Cheesesteak over there because it looked way too "Hollywood" with all the bright lights and flashing signs. What really turned me off was a sign on the right side saying "Chilli Cheese Fries" Look. If you are going to excel in something do it right. Do one thing right. Like Pat's, their cheesesteaks. They ain't trying to up-sell you on something else. It's what they are known for. I doubt Geno's Cheese, nor their fries, nor their chili is what makes people go back. People go to Geno's because the line is outrageous over at Pat's. I AM a fan of Pat's. I'm all about it. I won't lie though, I went to Tony Luke's beforehand but it was closed. Until next time, I will have to put them up against eachother. But Pat's is open 24 HOURS. They got the competition on LOCK.
WOOHOO!!! UmmmUUMM HMMM! Its all I can say I pray my personal trainer does not see this, but WTF! I just had to, I had to take my cousin to get her piece of junk of a car fixed. Guess who is on the way back home.. Yep you guessed it Pat's.. I told my cousin she can get one but cant get back in my car with it cus I am trying to eat (( Cough, Cough )) healthy and it would only temp me. But I just could not resist it The nice soft italian roll with the warm wiz and onions. I am ready to get another one just writing about it. I feel pretty guilty because after I ate it I had to go to the gym to meet with my trainer from hell. He asked what did I eat today I lied and said a salad when I was still dreaming about that nice steak sandwich I had. Man I tell you I would to a trillion reps, squats and crunches for just one of those sandwiches..
Geno's Vs. Pat's? Neither. Don't go to Philly for a Philly steak.
Just because they invented it, doesn't mean it was great. The 'steaks' are basically steamed. They cook them for so long they dry out, and have to add water to them periodically. Not to mention they use canned mushrooms and peppers.
Someone must have tasted Pat's one day, and said, 'this is bad, but has a great idea. I can easily make this great.' --after a few years, philly steaks were famous from someone else's doing. Go to Jersey Mikes for a great 'philly' steak.
Pat's Cheese Steak were HELLA good! Especially at 1:30 in the morning. Cheese Fries are good too. The steak was fresh, the bread was soft and the cheese topped it off just right.
I can't wait to go back to Philly next month and stuff my face with one of these!
Had a "Whiz Wit" and liked it better than Geno's. Their hot sauce is NOT hot at all.
OK, and here's my verdict. As far as "Philly Cheesesteaks" go, this was probably the best one I've had, but definitely not by leaps and bounds. The crispy bread was real nice, and the warm sandwich in the cold wind was very pleasant.
However, I've had "Deluxe Cheesesteaks" here in Chicago that I like better, I guess it's more of the style than anything. It's like a Philly but with cooked peppers and mushrooms too. Drip some buffalo sauce on it and it's amazing!
We hit Pat's on the way from metro NYC to Atlantic City this past weekend. The main reason for the route diversion was for the sacred cheesesteak. Brak was not disappointed!
Was there anything particularly special about the food? No. I've had plenty-good cheesesteaks right here in Phoenix and SoCal, by joints run by Philly natives. Pat's was on-par with these joints. Or, to put it another way, they were all very good. But nothing can match the historical significance, the standing in line in the cold and rain, the neighborhood, the gruff service, the birds begging for crumbs as you eat streetside, etc. The entire experience was awesome. If you're ever visiting Philly, Pat's is a MUST-visit, it's that simple. Brak rates Pat's a solid 5-stars on the Brak-o-meter, and will definitely visit again the next time I'm in Philly.
Geno's get my business first, but I still try a Pat's steak now and then.
IMHO..the cheese steak is decent, but I'm partial to Geno's and it's steaks.
Geno's and Pat's is like BMW versus Mercedes.
Everyone always says, "When you go to Philadelphia, you HAVE TO GO to Geno's and Pat's"
Well during my trip to Philadelphia, I WENT TO Tony Luke's, Pat's, and Geno's so I can honnestly say I have had the "big 3" in Philadelphia!
Pat's it DEFINATELY better then Geno's, but nothing fancy. This place had friendly service, fresh meat, great cheese, and overall was a great expierance.
HOWEVER, if you are in philadelphia DEFINATELY GO TO TONY LUKE'S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - AMAZING!!!!!
I'm not a local, so I can't speak to the Pat's vs. Gino's debate. I went with Pat's, 1) because a friend recommended it and 2) because I was scared by all of the neon lights at Gino's.
Best cheesesteak I've ever had. I haven't had that many, so take that for what its worth. Cheese Whiz appears to be the way to go (a friend got American, didn't look that awesome). They do have soup-nazi style ordering, so you have to be prepared for that.
I will definitely come back next time I'm in Philly.
**3.5 stars**
Pretty darn good, hearty cheesesteak eatery, one of the two famed rivals corner to corner from each other. Of course being from out of town I had to do back-to-back taste tests of the finest cheesesteaks Phiily has to offer, judging for myself which one really IS the best in town.
I found Pat's barely a hair better than Geno's caddy-corner to it, though it does not mean this place has faults that the other can make up for. The Pat's green peppers, mushroom cheesesteak consists of a hearty mix of chopped steak, TONS of Cheez-Whiz, sauteed mushrooms, green peppers and onions all crammed into some bread that barely held it all together. While the flavors were hearty, I found the amount of Cheez-Wiz overwhelmingly obnoxious as it oversalted-overcheesed the flavor of the cheesesteak and dripped off the sandwich onto puddles on my wrapper. They added just the right amount of cheese for their cheese fries, though the fries had better flavor and overall better than what they offer at Geno's.
When it comes down to it, I like the bread texture and the options of mushrooms and green peppers at Pat's but overall flavor is masked by the cheese as opposed to at Geno's. The cheese fries are hands-down better here than Genos. Maybe I have to come back into town and try the Provolone cheese steak for better judgment.
Not sure what I can say about this place that hasn't already been said...
I went to Pat's instead of Geno's because a Philadelphia native friend of mine pointed us towards the former.
And for anyone who might be visiting Philly and thinks that there's no way a Philly cheesesteak can really be THAT good... you're wrong. It is. So. Delectably. Delicious.
I couldn't bring myself to get Cheez Whiz, though I hear that's the authentic way. I got provolone, mushrooms, peppers, and onions, and it was hands down one of the best things I've ever eaten.
Go. Do it.
PDG...whiz, wit!!! not quite Tony Lukes on Oregon Ave, but close...
Super dirty. The pigeons love it!
What's the big deal?? It's another average cheesesteak. I think I could think of two places in NY/MA that offers a better cheesesteak. I went all the way here for some Travel Channel-hyped steak?? ahh...what a bummer.
Like I said in Geno's review, go to Jim's. Don't bother wasting time going to Pat's and Genos.
She Said...." Definitely the best cheese steak I've ever had. I don't think I will be able to order a cheese steak in MD or any other state. If you go here just be ready to know what you want, or else they will pass over you. They have the cheese wiz which is amazing and real steak, not the stringy fake steak. The fries are really good too. We will def make a pit stop here again...only problem was they didn't have coke but we went across the street to their competition Geno's to get a coke, we might have to try that place too."
He Said...."So this place was really, really good. The best cheese steak I've ever had. They quick and efficient with the ordering so be prepared. I had a cheese whiz with onions and its was really good, I had the juices of the cheese steak dripping down to the paper wrapping, that's when you know its done right. I like how you order the drinks and fries in the second window, so that those tourists don't get in the way of regular people. Now driving to this place was interesting; it looked like a trash truck emptied their trash in the middle of the street. You don't need to buy a newspaper in this area because there are minimum of 5 newspapers blowing around in the streets...so just get one of them....I mean a piece of trash got stuck on my leg....and if you drive you can apparently park in the middle of the street or in the intersection in this part of Philly.
These are GOOD... Look if you want the best Philly has to offer well then you found it... This is one of the best out there.
If you can't appreciate a great cheesesteak wit whiz then don't go to Philly stay in your lame little town and get that crap that you call a philly cheesesteak....
You can walk down to DiBruno Bros and get some awesome cheese as well...
I can't wait for the summer and our trips to Philly....
It probably would have been sacrilege to leave Philly without trying a cheesesteak, so I made a 2:30 am, post-karaoke-at-Ray's-Happy-Birthday-Bar visit with friends.
I was already aware (gratis Food Network) of Pat's ordering lingo ("wit / witout" for your onion preference), but there was a helpful if longwinded sign to remind me as well.
The guy ahead of us had just stepped off from the ordering window and the hard-bitten old dude was already barking at me to get up there. Geez, 'tude. I successfully ordered my "provie wit", but he was still giving me the stink eye, so I figured WTF and called him on it. He said, "No, If I was giving you the stink eye you'd know it" and kinda grinned. I said, "Okay, just checking." We got my order and left, but my friend (who lives around the block) said, "Wow, that's the nicest I've ever seen him!"
As to the steak itself, it was okay. Gotta say, I've had better tasting sandwiches. (Sorry, it's true.) But now I can say I've had the genuine article, with the genuine experience to go with it.
This was the first stop in my cheese steak tour of Philly (Pat's-Geno's-Jim's in one night). I made the mistake of fumbling my order and got called out by the cashier. Maybe I over-prepared for the moment. But the ribbing was in good fun - just part of the experience.
The cheese steak with wiz was delicious. It's easy to see why this place spawned so many imitators. As good as it was though, I'd have to rank it 2nd on the list to Jim's that night. But if you're actually on Passyunk deciding between Pat's and Geno's - go to Pat's. Geno's comes a distant 3rd - not even close.
I'm basically writing the same review for Pat's as I am for Geno's because they're basically the same restaurant. Only the photos are different. What's more, I was fairly unimpressed with either place.
I was introduced to Pat's and Geno's in Rick Sebak's 2002 PBS documentary, Sandwiches That You Will Like. Well, the cheesesteak at these two places I can't really say I liked.
I had a "provolone wit" (i.e., cheesesteak sandwich with provolone cheese and grilled onions). The bread was stale and the cheese not melted. Frankly, I've had better cheesesteaks at the mall in Albuquerque (seriously!). For a better cheesesteak in the Philly area, try Dalessandro's. Or skip the cheesesteak and get a fantastic hoagie at Primo's!!! .... Maybe I should've had it with whiz.
Of all the Rick Sebak documented sandwiches, Pat's and Geno's have been the only disappointments as of yet. Still, these are both institutions in their own right, so I'm glad I came --- only because now I can say I've been here.
Oh, and be prepared for ridiculously long lines and a long walk to find parking. There is no indoor seating. Tables outside only (if you can find a free table). Also (and I don't mean this as a criticism) if you're not from the area, you may perceive employees' manner as rude. It really isn't. It's just part of the South Philly 'tude. Just roll wit it.
I honestly think the only reason Pat's is popular is because it is directly across the street from geno's. Now I'm not expecting fine dining when it comes to this food but I was pretty disappointed overall. Did not see what the big deal was about pat's, let alone cheese steaks at all. Sure it would be something that tasted great when you are hammered at 2am but when I'm stone cold sober at 1pm on a saturday afternoon it's a different story. I won't be coming back here because frankly this food doesn't do anything for me.
Oh pats king of steaks, how i miss you so... It was love at 1st bite, was there the fall of '05 then again last month ( GO DODGERS!!) it was my 1st stop from the airport. going back again next spring, cant wait to have my Whiz Wit out and cheese fries..
I've been to both Geno's and Pat's. They both tasted...kinda the same. I was told that the locals in Philly like Pat's better. The good thing about the two is that they are both opened late so that is where we headed after a night of drinking at the bars.
I'd recommend Fat's Sandwich over at Rutgers if you get the chance. They are about 5000 calories per sandwich...but well worth it.
Jim's? Pat's? Geno's? I've never been to Jim's but I think that's where I'd rather be compared to those other two losers.
Everyone loves Pat's better. Why didn't it live up to it's name? I walked a long way to get there, stood in a longass line, let the man touch my sandwich after he handled my money (no gloves at all) and sat on a stoop while grease and cheese dripped all over the ground. It was unsanitary at its best.
My whiz wit and mushroom cheesesteak was a colossal disappointment. Why don't they chop up the meat? Are their tendons in it? I was pulling out huge chunks of fat and ligament types off of my steak. The meat was tough, it was bland and the sandwich overall was cold. Plus, my mushrooms looked like they came out of a can. Pooey.
Wack. Philly may be the birthplace of the cheesesteak but like all other copycats, I'm almost betting that some of the wannabes improved on the recipe. In fact I know where the better cheesesteak lives and it's my secret (to be revealed in my review of Geno's)!
The best place in town to get a cheesesteak. Geno's is a close second, but Pat's is the place. Wiz with..... amazing.
Did the Geno's - Pat's challenge. Pat's wins hands down. The meat is thicker, bread chewier, and whiz more liberal. On top of that, more places to sit and a topping bar.
Had a cheesesteak wit whiz, and a cup of cheese fries.
I will be back. I cannot say the same for the "Freedom Loving" Geno's.
For an out of towner, this place was a no-brainer. I've been back every time I have a reason to visit Philly, and I still look forward to it every time.
True, they probably cater to mostly to tourists (a lot of them too apparently, the line was ridiculous), but I guess its kind of an institution that you have to come visit.
Its like coming to SF and not seeing the gays. C'mon!
I went to Philly strictly for Cheesesteaks and I heard Pat's is THE best. Once I arrived, seeing a line of like 100 people (this was just the soda and french fries line), I was like whoa..this place is going to be good. So we got on the line of 100 people (the one that actually is for cheesesteaks), and we are patiently waiting to place our order. The anticipation is building...
The cheesesteaks were really really good!! Really good! But...not phenomonal. Not, let's drive from NYC to Philly cuz we are crazy and want authentic Philly Cheesesteaks good. They were just good. This is simply a tourist place that you need to go to at least once, and I'm sure it's great for a drunken night, but maybe my expectations were too high. Don't get me wrong..it was still really really good.
Don't forget to read the sign of "How to Order"...they're a little like Cheesesteak Nazi's and hated me cuz it took me 10 seconds to get my money out of my purse. Granted, I was warned to have my money ready, so I blame myself.
I didn't get my cheesesteak "wit whiz" b/c Cheese Whiz looks disgusting, it's a shade of yellow/orange that isn't found in nature (the thought of which is making my stomach turn right now). I got it with provolone, which i could not taste, the sandwich was dry and tasteless, until the last few bites which was heavily seasoned with heart burn and upset stomach inducing grease. But the fries were good.
I went to this place last week. I had my first cheesesteak at Tony Luke's, but didn't review because I had no real comparison. Anyway, went there on a saturday night at around 10 ish. Waited online for about 15 minutes and when I finally got to the counter there was an old thuggish man at the cashier who mumbled my order. Just to make sure, I repeated myself and he gave me a ridiculous attitude, trying to play me like I was a teenage kid. Anyway, I stupidly said I was from NY and he started babbling about the Phillies and how the Yankees suck. He said, "We're gonna get another ring this year. One for each finger." And he stuck up his middle fingers in my face. Is that a joke? I mean I don't expect much class, but I don't expect to be given the finger while I'm trying to order dinner. I'm there for a sandwich, not to talk about your loser life and how baseball is the high point in your day. I hated the service, it was slow(er than Geno's even though the line was twice as long) and this guy just really irked me...
I gotta say though, out of Geno's and Pat's their steaks are better. More meat, more cheese. It was pretty tasty. Not to mention their fries are nice and crispy.
Wait..
Did I order a mushroom cheese steak or a grease sandwich?
Given. This sandwich is not intended for health conscious individuals but you don't want a quadruple by pass from this sucker either.
Being extrememly famished and super hyped about this place, I ran to the counter to get the mushroom cheese steak with provolone minus onions *was tryna get my groove on with the mister ;)*
Anyhoo, the sandwich is good but it's not the best :( What really turned me off about it is, *yes, I do get turned on by food, so what? Don't judge me :|* was that from the moment I picked up the sandwich to the last bite, the sandwich leaked grease all over my hands, table and paper AND I was still able to squeeze out more grease towards the end.
*sigh* I'm still in search of the BEST cheese steak sandwich.
Cheese
Steak
Bread
how can you go wrong with that combination?? being as touristy as we can, my sister and i practiced the "local" lingo and made sure we ordered our steak with WHIZ. def not for the faint of heart.
the steak pieces were thick and juicy and filled up to both ends of the bread roll, the whiz on top was the cherry on the icing. you know you got yourself some good grub when you feel the grease, taste the grease and still keep shoving the food down.
though we were ambitious to do an iron chef competition of genos vs pats. we were both too stuffed to attempt a second cheesesteak. next time ...
Philadelphia, PA
Category: Sandwiches
Neighborhood: Pennsport
Category: Sandwiches
Philadelphia, PA
Category: Sandwiches
Neighborhood: South Street District
Category: Sandwiches
Philadelphia, PA
Category: Food
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