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Categories: Sandwiches, Bars
Neighborhoods: Theater District, Hell's Kitchen8th Ave-42nd St (A, C, E, 1, 2, 3, S, 7, N, Q, R, W)
Mon-Fri. 10:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Sat-Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
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This is suppose to really be rated 3.5 STARS.
Maybe my girlfriend and I missed something but we didn't think the cheesesteak was all that, in fact, it tasted a tad bit healthy and we had to add hot sauce to enhance our eating experience. It could be that we didn't order it OG say in whiz, regardless, we think Pat and Gino's in Philly and even those sold in the Redding Terminal Market tasted better.
However, there's no denying the awesomeness of the $9 HH deal for a cheesesteak and imported draft beer. Plus, the beer selection and service rock. So if you don't mind eating a "healthier" version of the cheesesteak, you will no doubt dig this place.
Note-- the portion is subject to interpretation. I got hungry again in no time but who knows, maybe I'm just a pig.
So I just moved to the area about 3 months ago or so. I went to Shorty's once when I moved here, for whatever reason I didn't like the food (I think I ordered something really exotic or something). I was mentioning this to a friend when he told me about the place, and he was like "how could you not like THAT?!?!"
So I decided it was worth another shot, went back, ordered a Philly Cheese Steak with Wiz from Danny, and it was all over. I'm hooked. I'm also a big fan of craft beer, which Shorty's is trying to establish themselves as a beer destination (and doing a fine job, there's a Flying Dog night on Monday that you'll find me at). Great food, combined with great beer, and it being literally around the corner from my apartment, make this a place that gets A LOT of my business.
During happy hour (4-7), you can get a Shorty's Special, which is a 6" cheesesteak and a pint of beer for $8 - not too shabby.
Original Philly Cheesesteak with wiz is to DIE for. Such cheesy goodness on fresh baked bread. Way better than my experience in Philly! Who woulda thunk a small little dive bar at Port Authority could produce such heavenly food...
I would have given 5 stars if the ambiance was more like a restaurant!
1/2 a cheesesteak (which is more than enough) + a draft of your fave beer is only $8. Score.
This is my first review on the site. I been dieing to have a philly cheesesteak since I had one a few week ago from Tony L in philly. Its just not the same its a good effort but not worth $10.00
Its an okay place but I wont be back. Is it better the stray Cheesesteak Much better no. So My vote is NOT LIKE Philly but better.
Two ppl (me and the gf)
walked in-its a bar no waitress just ONE bartender watching 30 ppl
weird thing is.... Diet coke tasted like water and her vodka martini (graygoose) was weak too)
Italian Fries
1 foot long cheesesteak
10 buffalo wings
40 dollars including tip
So its okay. more of a bar
3 stars don't expect too much
Amazing cheesesteak. It's the bread, I swear. You can buy all the quality/premium ingredients to make it, but it all comes down to the bread, and Shorty's nails it.
The sandwiches are great, the bartenders are great, the beer is cold and varied, the prices are reasonable and the place is totally chill.
They have some amazing fries...amazing.
I love Shorty's. Any place that has an option of "Cheese Whiz" on their menu is good in my book.
I'm about to make a pretty bold statement.
"Shorty's fries are the best fries I have ever had"
Allow me to start from the beginning. I roll into work in the most unprofessional way, same outfit as the day before, smeared makeup, seven bar stamps tattooed up my arm and my hair smelling like a cancerous lung. I'm in a very bad place. After a quick European Shower, I start to go through the various stages of a truly gnarly hangover, throbbing head, nausea, heavy eyes, and I finally reach that point of complete starvation. I'm beyond ravenous and would probably settle for anything that starts with Mc"blank". Its 10:27 am. My cubemate throws me over a stack of menus and I pick up the first one...Shorty's.
I order a chicken cheese steak and fries to be delivered "as soon as humanly possible". Best decision of my life. The sandwich had a perfect ratio of chicken to cheese on the most delicious French bread. And the fries...omg those fries. They were golden, crispy and tasted so amazing they didn't even need a sauce for dipping. I have lucid dreams about those fries.
I might not even wait for my next hangover to go back!!
OMG!!! SOOOOOO F***N GOOD!!!!! This place made me a believer that NY can make better Philly cheese steaks then Philadelphia. The bread was much better then Genos and Pats. WAYYYY better.
The steak was much better cooked, about the same quality, more cheese and much better tasting. The onion rings was yummy and of course you don't have to drive so far for a less superior cheese steak. GO NOW EVERYONE!!! DO IT DO IT NOW!!!!
Ran in for a quick lunch today. Cheesesteak was ok, but the Chicken Salad and Italian Wedding soup was money. Service was money. Highly recommended it if you're looking for good, quick eats in Hell's Kitchen.
I'm soo hungry!!
Well, after hearing about all the hype I decided to give this place a try. I have no idea why ppl are raving about this place. The service was amoung the worst I've ever experienced. Uhh, why does the waiter look soo pi*sed?? The food was ok, but I've had better philly cheesesteak for a lot less in Philly and even some random midwest mall. The fries where whatever too.
I'm soo angry!!
I warned my friend about this place cuz he wanted to come try this place too. Suprisingly, he said that this place was good. Maybe I came here in a bad day?
Still, for cheesesteaks in NYC, I'd say go to Carl's or 99miles to Philly instead.
I happened upon this place when I moved here in 2006 from PA. I made the mistake of ordering their buffalo wings- I call it a mistake because I can't stop going back now! They do wings the way they're meant to be done: fried, then tossed in a sauce. The result is wings that are full of seasoning and crispiness, with just the right level of heat for my palate. Their cheesesteaks are really good too, but I can't bear to ever order anything other than the wings!
My only problem is that the drinks aren't that strong. When I order a Long Island, I should feel it! Whatever, I go to the dive bar next door and enjoy their drinks beforehand.
Edit: I especially enjoy chatting with the owner, he's super friendly and ensures that his staff is as well
Completely unexpectedly stumbled across Shorty's in the shadiest hell of the kitchen. But got some great beers on tap, sweet-as-pie bartender, and halfway decent cheesesteaks. I thought the sandwiches were toooo bready and way too toasty. I think I made a mistake of going with the sharp cheddar as well (just didn't feel right) and shoulda gone with the original American. The cheese fries were swimming in government-issues cheese goop, making it slightly inedible and part inducing the gag-reflex. Other than that, not a bad spot!
I wish I didn't like this place so much, because the last thing I need during baseball season is a Phillies-phriendly bar with a daily $8 happy hour cheesesteak and any pint of beer deal within walking distance of work.
Scratch that, this place is exactly what I need. Awesome cheesesteaks (not QUITE like in Philly but one of the closest in NYC), great beer on tap, good specials, AND Phillies games on TV? They should rename it heaven.
The place is located just off the back of the Port Authority Bus Terminal so it's definitely not a destination place. The place is a small narrow bar that just happens to have a cut out window in the kitchen to order cheesesteaks.
I had the cheesesteak with broccoli rabe, onions and provolone.
It was a huge hoagie with a lot of meat that could have used just a little bit more seasoning (salt and pepper) for my taste. Don't get me wrong, I wolfed it all down but let's just say Philly has nothing to worry about.
Everyone else I know all seem to love the traditional version with Cheez Wiz. I guess it's true, just stick with the classics.
Cheers!
N.
This place is to beer and cheesesteaks what [your favourite place to get a thing you like] is to [the thing you like].
Good selection of beers - 22 on draft, which change from time to time, and the bartenders are friendly and do actually seem to know what they're talking about if you want some advice. They have about 15 variations on cheesesteak on the menu (steak, chicken, pork, veggie) plus all the variations you'd want (wiz, american, sharp or mild provolone, sweet or hot peppers, broccolli rabe, mushrooms, raw or grilled onions etc). Never been there with anyone who was disappointed with what they ordered.
Also, great fries (try the italian), and burgers or wings if that's your thing. Not tried the wings but the hot sauce they use on the buffalo chickensteak is pretty fine.
A few TVs showing sports, decent music in the background. 41st-42nd on 9th isn't the sexiest location so the bar can be pretty quiet sometimes, but if it helps me getting a seat, fine with me. Also have a takeout window in the back, or delivery (6th to 12th ave, 30-54th st with a $10 minimum). The happy hour is a pint and a shorty (i.e. smaller) cheesteak for $8, early evenings or late nights. Five thumbs up.
This is probably the best cheesesteak in NYC... it does not match up to my fav Philly spot (Jim's) but it does do justice.
This place hits the spot if you are in the mood to channel Philadelphia or need a greasy meal. It is also good for lunch hour take-out in hell's kitchen.
The cheesesteaks are awesome as are the chicken cheesesteaks. I would also suggest getting your sandwich with broccoli rabe and provolone to mix it up. I suggest ordering a bunch of different ones with friends so you can try different variations.
P.S. The Italian fries are awesome!
I have no idea which cheese steak is better, Shorty's or Carl's. I've been to both dozens of times, and whichever one I'm in, I think it has the edge. If you're ever in Carl's when they bring out a tray of beef for the grill, you'll see why theirs is so good. Carl's also has excellent Chili, if a bit $$$. What is certain is that you'll get a first rate sandwhich at either place. But Carl's is a real hole in the wall. If you want a drink, a place to sit, and excellent fries, go to Shorty's.
My friend and I both got the philly cheesesteak, with onions, and cheesewiz! (Get the full length size, not the shorty size.) We got it delivered and they were pretty quick! It was still nice and hot when we received our order and it was quite tasty!
Decent cheesesteak -- the bread isn't as soft as it should be, but the onions were great! They're generous with their wiz too!
The seasoned fries are amazing!! I totally recommend these! Make sure you get a side order of cheese so you can dunk them :-)
I know of a better Philly cheese steak place which I will be reviewing shortly. Give this place a try if you're on the West side and you're craving a cheesesteak!
Shorty's makes the best cheesesteaks for my money. 99 Miles to Philly is more authentic and that's desirable to many, but at Shorty's the seasoning, the fresh ingredients, and the delicious, savory bread make all the difference. I get mine with American cheese, raw onions, green peppers, and the cherry hots. Also highly recommended is the Shorty Amber, the house brew they have on tap.
Talk about a surprise!
I'm rehearsing a play at Theatre Row (42nd/9th ave) this week and it feels like kind of a no man's land over there for food. Each day we've been ordering from that awful Bread Company and while Westbank Cafe is wonderful, I don't have the money or the time to eat lunch there.
So the other day I just decided to run around to that $1 Pizza Slice place at 41st and 9th and as I turned the corner I spotted Shorty's. It looks like all of the other dive bars around 42nd and 9th from the outside. But the chalkboard placard outside read "Best Philly Cheese Steak In the City!!" I thought, "Well, they're confident and I can't have this $1 pizza again." So I jogged across 9th ave to take a look.
I went in and the place lives up to it's look. I thought I was just in a Hells' Kitchen dive bar. It was dark in broad daylight. A bored bartender sat behind the bar looking at her fingernails and wishing someone would sit down and order something.
"This is just a bar." , I thought until I spotted the kitchen window. I picked up a menu and read.... "Bread brought up from Philly daily." O....K.... The rest of the menu was equally enticing. $4.50 for a 6 inch and $9 for a 12 inch...Steak, grilled onions, and Cheese MuFrickin' Wiz. I ordered. I grabbed the hot torpedo and ran back across 9th. I sat down and peeled the wrapper back.
I don't know how to describe what I saw. Heaven. A crisp roll (almost a baguette really) of light airy golden brown was sliced in half and was overflowing with steak, onions, and cheese wiz. I took a bite. I was SOLD. I mean, SOLD. The flavors and textures collided in a symphony of lunchtime luminescence. I ate the whole thing in about five minutes and within ten minutes I was on the floor deep in a beautiful food coma for the remainder of my lunch break.
I have now had this sandwich four days in a row. Whenever I find myself in this neighborhood before a show or...any reason...I will be popping into Shorty's and picking up one of these sublime Philly Cheese Steaks. (EASILY the best I've had in the city.)
Between the cheesesteaks, onion rings, cheese fries and tons of beers on tap I'm a total fan of Shorty's. We had a huge group, which is tough to walk into Shorty's with on a Friday lunch, but we did it and all found seats. I'm anxious to try different variations of shorty's, but the classic was a hit and I don't think anyone in the group of 10 had anything they didn't love. Probably the only thing about it is I'm sure that getting seats as easily as we did doesn't happen often and since it's mostly bar space I could see it getting tight. Another spot that I will add to my arsenal of NYC places I will certainly return to.
The sandwiches are pretty good and the I like the variety of beers they have on tap. I just wish you got more than 6 mozzerella triangles though they're rather delicious. Also the bartenders are very cool people I've enjoyed each time I was there.
I'm not an expert on cheesesteaks. In fact, I've never been to philly. I do however, have tastebuds--many of them, and they sang in ecstatic chorus when i had a cheeesteak with onions and provalone. When it arrives tightly wrapped, it looks almost wimpy: kinda narrow, not that long (please lower your eyebrow, naughty!). But don't be fooled! These steaks are dense and pack a punch. It will hit the spot, and then some. I've seen grown men struggle to down one of these bad boys with an order of fries. B-T-dubs; the italian fries are orgasmic, no ketchup needed.
About two thirds of the way through, you'll feel yourself approach miocardial infarction, maybe some minor tunnel vision. That's just initial fat-shock. Once you level out, the thrill of being on the brink of death via cheesteak makes these even more enjoyable. Wash it down with one of the many, many brews and fight the 'itis watching the game in HD. Sounds good to me!
I am no cheesesteak aficionado, saying that I REALLY like the cheesesteak I had here. It was much better than the cheesesteak place in Hoboken my friends rave about. I'm from the West Coast and we tend to add all the 'little extras' to our cheesesteaks - mushrooms, onions, bell peppers - so that's how I order them. My boyfriend just had onions on his and he was definitely jealous of my sandwich. I don't think he wanted to pay extra for the mushrooms and peppers, but he'll definitely be adding them next time!
I can't wait to go back to try the broccoli rabe cheesesteak and also drop by for their happy hour special - 6" cheesesteak and beer for $8. Perfect.
The cheesesteak was soooo good! I think the best part of it was the toasted bread cuz the cheesesteak I had in Philly was stale. O man was the cheese fries good! and so was the beer battered onion rings! wow...great experience. I just wish that the place was less sports bar-ish which is not a bad thing...but i prefer booths. damn good food though! I would so come back!
after seeing some truly terrible theatre, all one wants to do is hit the nearest watering hole and talk some shit. for this purpose, shorty's is awesome. incidentally, if that shit-talking should continue to the slurred-speech stage, shorty's provides all manner of nosh appropriate for soaking up alcohol -- i recommend the fried cheese or the italian fries. delish. plus, shorty's has a home-brew lager AND they offer a delightful variety of beer flights, which may have contributed to my achieving the slur. it can get rowdy, but plenty of nypd patrolling behind port auth make you feel right comfortable. i plan on returning with semi-regularity.
I really liked this place the moment I walked in. Perhaps due to my unhealthy attachment to wings, fries, cheesesteaks wiz wit, beer, alcohol......
Anyways, I digress. This place claims to have NYC's only authentic cheesesteak, but similar to how a true New Yorker won't order pizza outside of NYC, a true Philly homie can't order a cheesesteak outta Philly. Yup, I just referred to myself as a homie.
So I ended up walking out with:
- Wings, hot: size, thumbs up. sauce with a slight, slight buffalo kick, thumbs up. these were good wings. fried just enough to melt off the fattiness, but not so much that they were dry.
- Italian Fries: WoW! I dedicate this review to Tony C. for putting the bug in my head to try these fries. French fry perfection; crispy, and substantial enough without being a steak fry. dusted with a smattering of Romano cheese and Italian seasoning. The aroma alone was to die for!
Be forewarned: This is a walk-up take out food window that happens to be situated at the back of a real laid-back kind of bar. With the $4 draft beer and $5 martini/cosmo happy hour special from 4-7pm, it took EXTREME willpower not to sip on a martini while waiting for my order! Maybe it was the down-to-earth staff, the Yuengling, the sight of cheesesteaks, wiz, or the mention of hoagies, but I felt like I was back in a bar in the City of Brotherly Love.
I've been there three times now for exactly the same thing Cheesesteak & a Pint. I am not qualified to say "best cheesesteak in New York" but it is the best I've had by far. Very consistent & great /friendly service. They have a "happy hour special" twice a day 4-7PM & 11-2AM where you get a small Cheese Steak sandwich & a pint for $8. They renovated their bar recently & now have 20 beers on tap.
I'm going to Philadelphia in a couple of weeks & I'll update this then
UPDATE. Better than the one I had in Philly.
Good cheesesteaks, good beer selection, and great friendly service. I am far from a cheesesteak expert, but I've had some great ones (Philly wow!) and some horrible ones and this place is definitely good. The bread (french bread type roll) is amazing! Next time I'm in the area I might just order some loafs with the cheesteak on the side. What I really liked, was the service, the bar tender was very cool and helpful, went over their beer selection with me, didn't hesistate once with all my questions. When you get tired of the hot dog carts & pizza be sure to check this place out.
Finally no more need to go all the way to philly for a good cheesesteak. This place is a great find. Best I've had in NY and better then any in nnj. This place had an ok selection of beers on tap. Will definitely be going back :)
For this and many more great reviews & photos go to http://NYCFoodGuy.com
New Yorkers rejoice, Shorty's has answered your cheese steak prayers. Midtown's version of "wiz wit", a cheese steak with cheese whiz and fried onions, is the truest version of the Philadelphia classic NYC Food Guy has encountered thus far. I'm yet to try 99 miles to philly or Wogie's, but until then I'm ready to hand Shorty's the crown for the best cheese steak and some of the crispiest fries I've had in this city.
I'm confident in that statement because I've never even eaten Shorty's in-store, I've only had it delivered from their 9th Avenue and 42nd St. location to my office on 6th Avenue and 51st St.. With at least 30 separate orders to my office over the past few months, the three avenue, 9 block trek hasn't yielded one unsatisfied eater. If that's not a true barometer for success, what is? Read on to find out why Shorty's is so delicious.
I've only had two Shorty's sandwiches: The Classic Cheese Steak ($7.99), "wiz wit" style, and the Roast Pork Special ($9.50). The cheese steak was awesome. An abundance of moist, thinly sliced sirloin mixed with sweet, flavorful fried onion, swimming in a perfectly portioned schmear of cheese whiz. The bread was the only weak point, slightly crisp, but nowhere near the point of cracking.
Shorty's used to be a franchise of the Philly legend Tony Luke's, but franchise fees are fruitless once you have a following, and that's how Shorty's was born. Unfortunately, this may have led to the death of their heralded Roast Pork Special (thinly sliced, seasoned pork in a spicy au jus, Broccoli rabe, and sharp provolone) which was a flavorless grease bomb. I strongly recommend you avoid it.
My co-workers have had everything from the Pizza Steak ($8.50) with pepperoni (+$1.50) to the Buffalo Chicken Steak ($7.99) and the Chicken Steak Club ($8.99, below).
Everyone's been overly pleased with their order and a debt of that gratitude goes to the fries. Somehow these fries ($3.00) continuously survive the delivery and reach us crisp and piping hot. I've honestly never encountered such consistently amazing delivery fries. Forget the Italian fries ($4.00), mixed with Italian seasoning and Romano cheese and the Mozzarella triangles ($4.99, below), the latter of which are the only thing that failed the delivery. Whether you're a cheese steak lover or a novice, you can feel comfortable knowing that Shorty's will provide you with the genuine article.
For this and many more great reviews & photos go to http://NYCFoodGuy.com
The irony of Tony Luke's is that they are famous for their Philly cheesesteaks, yet their cheesesteak does not even compare to the best sandwich on the menu.
If one enters Tony Luke's, he or she needs only to remember three simple words to leave in an aura of culinary euphoria - ROAST PORK ITALIAN. This sandwich consists of three ingredients - sliced pork, sharp provolone and the most sensational broccoli rabe that I have ever tasted (my apologies to all the proud Italian grandmothers reading this).
Just remember, Tony Luke's is all about Philly and even just a little Philly is often too much. So make sure you get in and get out before you have a chance to be hypnotized into growing a cheesy mustache or teasing your hair like it's 1985 and you're getting ready for a Motley Crue concert.
Shorty's New England Clam Chowder:
This chowder starts off with a creamy, cheese-based, intro. It's a nice surprise, and it keeps my chowder journey interesting. The rest of the experience, however, could be described as mediocre, at best. Will not buy chowder from here again.
Shorty's Italian Fries:
I was about to retire my Best of NYC French Fries list. However, I found this on Shorty's menu, "Italian Fries - italian seasoning mixed with Romano cheese on crispy-coated fries." Too enticing a description to pass up.
The experience: Whoa! What an amazing crunch. Hands down, these are the crunchiest fries I have ever had. The next flavor hit is from the Romano cheese. Very different, very welcomed. I like it. And, the last palate attack comes in the form of Italian seasoning. It was a nice change. A tad salty for my bland-biased palate, however, I'm not complaining. It's good.
4.5 stars (price coming down a bit would get them to 5) The cheesesteaks here might be a tiny shorter and a couple dollars more than in Philly but I promise they are just as authentic and good (if not better) than the best places in Philly. They even have all the traditional Philly options from wiz and sharp provolone to broccoli rabe and everything in between. In typical Philly style they have a great selection of beers on tap and the bartender was a total sweetie. Awesome place, fantastic food!
One of the best cheesesteaks in NYC!! I also love the buffalo chicken cheesesteak. Their fries are really crispy and get even better when topped with their excellent cheese sauce. They offer the sandwiches in half and whole sizes so I like to mix it up and order two different half sandwiches. Wash it all down with one of the many cold beers on tap and you've got yourself a recipe for a good time in my book!
Big fan of Shorty's here. I've had the cheesesteak with onions and provolone which was pretty friggin awesome. I've also had it with the cheeze wiz. Cheese fries are worth the bump up in your cholesterol.
Very good cheesesteak, great pork and broccoli rabe sandwich. I don't muchcare for the frathouse-in-the-ghetto vibe though.
On one of the coldest nights of the week, I walked to the station and needed a quick bite, so I thought, "Why not? I've passed here enough times." Indeed, I have for over a year so I stepped in and recall seeing the Yelper remarks on this place so I stepped in from the arctic and ordered myself one of those cheesesteaks and fries from a very friendly staff.
I didn't eat there, but let me tell you: It. Was. Magnificent. Whether it was hunger or the cold or the fact that it really was that good, I devoured a footlong thing dripping with grease and loved it with a passion only befitting a trashy romance novel. Surprisingly, the food didn't bog me down (again, perhaps because of the cold), and I continued the rest of the night very happy and full. Try it for yourself and bring an appetite.
Their name, by the way, was changed to Shorty's. If you ever charge your card here, though, it'll still bear the name we know and love, but for you new folks: consider yourself warned.
Edit: I tried there again very recently. The sandwiches are no longer soggy! Perhaps out of politeness or general wrongness, the sandwich lacks the juiciness for more snap of the toasted bun. I do still like it, but it loses its charm when it's no longer a nice messy philly.
I've heard raves about the roast pork sandwiches but I hear Philly and my mind goes straight to cheesesteaks. I've had their cheesesteaks twice and they were solid. Very good bread, meat was good, stingy on the whiz. Fries were pretty good.
The place itself was nicer than I thought it would be. I'd recommend for a local cheesesteak but wouldn't make a pilgrimage here. I'd take a Philly Slim or Carl's cheese steak over this place.
But if I ever get around to trying the roast pork, maybe i'll bump it up to a 4th star....
In a word, or two: Cheesesteak Heaven. The "Italian fries" are spectacular and overall the food, although likely to give you a stroke, is pretty awesome.
I had a great time, but when your friend proposes to the waitress it's hard not to.
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