When a food is as tied to the lore of a city as the Philly cheesesteak, authenticity counts. Most of us have tried a cheesesteak or two, but have you had a real Philly cheesesteak? You know, one you can get from one of only a few shops in that certain part of Philadelphia? Was it available with whiz? Was it on an Amarosa roll?
Str8 Out of Philly strives to provide the real deal Philly cheesesteak for the Richmond crowd. Sure, you can get a streak and cheese hoagie at most any bar in town, but if you long for a steak the way they make it at Geno’s, this is about as close as you are going to get around these parts. Other hoagies including special halal varieties also make an appearance, but the main focus here is on the much revered cheesesteak.
The diminutive building located on 29th Street in Church Hill provides counter service with a small window into the kitchen action. The few tables are mostly occupied by those waiting for their order, so we recommend getting your order to-go. Beyond a few Muhammad Ali posters and pictures of the owners with celebrities from Janet Jackson to Jessica Simpson, there’s not a whole lot of ambiance. But, Libby Hill Park and its gorgeous vistas are only steps away, so this might be a perfect picnic spot.
After giving our order at the counter, we waited what seemed like quite some time for two sandwiches. Sure, when you go to Philly, the wait is half the charm, but the guys at Pat’s could churn out a busload of steaks in the time it took to serve just a few here.
Str8 Out of Philly boasts one of the largest "half" sandwiches we have ever laid eyes on. A full 10 inches stuffed to the gills with deli meats plus a mound of toppings is enough to feed even the hardiest eaters. The half size could likely be split for two; we might be afraid of anyone who can eat a giant.
The cheesesteak ($7.95 for half-size) tasted like Jon’s memories of the real-deal Philly cheesesteak. The thinly sliced seasoned beef, smothered in provolone cheese (Cheez Whiz is available for true purists) satisfied our gluttonous side. An array of toppings ranging from onions and peppers to mayo and mustard can be added to any steak for those needing something more than steak and cheese. If an authentic cheesesteak or even just a hangover cure is what you’re craving, St8 Out of Philly is the place to go.
We also tried out an Italian hoagie ($7.95 for half-size) made with turkey, turkey ham, salami and pastrami. This monster of a sandwich made use of quality meats, but the substitution of turkey ham and salami left the sandwich without the same spice as most Italian hoagies. Some service missteps were also evident with the requested oil and vinegar replaced by a healthy dose of mayo.
Unless you are a fan of Cheez Whiz, avoid the cheese fries ($3). Small crinkle cut fries are doused in whiz, leaving them soggy and unsatisfying. The tangy cheese was a little too much, but the sandwiches are large enough that a simple bag of chips should suffice as a side.
It will not be for everyone, but cheesesteak purists and Philly fanatics will enjoy a bit of the tastes of home at Str8 Out of Philly. These are not your garden variety steak and cheese subs—they take their authenticity very seriously. The service could stand to be a little more efficient, but if you call in and verify your order and arrange for a fun spot to enjoy your hoagie, this shouldn’t damper your fun. It may not be perfect, but it sure beats a drive to Philly.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement