I had just returned home from the completion of my junior year at Emory (and awaiting my status as an indentured servant--er--summer investment banking analyst), when I felt a hankering for a cheesesteak that I couldn't ignore. All too coincidentally, I had an out-of-town visitor who also wanted an authentic Philly cheesesteak, so the two of us followed our cravings to a street corner on Henry Avenue. On any other normal afternoon, I would have been forced to make a critical choice: Chubby's or Dalessandro's? But this was no normal afternoon...
I have eaten at each of these down-and-dirty cheesesteak joints on separate occasions, but have never had the opportunity to compare the two and declare my preference (something that by now you must realize is essential to the way I operate). My ambivalence was put to rest, however, on this one fateful Wednesday.
Chubby's and Dalessandro's are situated across the street from one another on a busy intersection in a borough of Philadelphia. They are two of the lesser-known, hidden gems of the city. Most tourists (and even a few ignorant Philadelphians) cite Jim's, Pat's, or Geno's as their "favorite" spot for cheesesteaks. Just to give you a bit of background, there are two ways a cheesesteak is prepared - with shaved meat and melted cheese, or with slabs of meat and Whiz. I prefer the former, as Whiz gives a cheesesteak a slightly synthetic touch. Thus, by my standards, we can eliminate Pat's from the running. Jim's is good, but they tend to skimp you on the meat, and I've never eaten at Geno's (shhh), so I can't judge just yet. But let it be known, you don't have to travel to the infamous South Street to get a good cheesesteak.
It is for obvious locational reasons that Chubby's and Dalessandro's withhold a traditional rivalry. And so I had to be strategic about my game plan. If I were to eat both cheesesteaks at once, that meant that I could only be in one restaurant. After some debate, I decided to park at Chubby's and get a cheesesteak to go, then make my way over to Dalessandro's, where I could sample both at the same time. I was discreet about my mission, however, as I recognized it was somewhat of a foodie faux-pas. These establishments are no-nonsense, so you can imagine the kind of glances I would get if I were caught smuggling an outsider into either one. And the waitress at Dalessandro's was neither inviting nor polished, when she bid farewell to some regulars by saying, "See yas later" (probably not the best place to sport my Burberry raincoat). Thus, I proceeded with caution.
My friend and I went halfsies, which is probably my favorite way to eat any type of food. My first bite came from the Chubby's cheesesteak.
Parts of the meat were slightly overcooked, and the onions and peppers could have been more thoroughly intertwined with the meat, but it was solid overall. Definitely better than your average cheesesteak. Come to think of it, when my post-prom fell through in May 2007, our party bus changed course to Chubby's. An authentic Philadelphian after-prom, indeed.
I have to give Chubby's some credit, because the steak had been sitting out for about ten minutes before I had the opportunity to sink my teeth into it, as I had been waiting patiently at Dalessandro's. However, my second bite, which came from the Dalessandro's steak, beat Chubby's ten-to-one. This one had more meat, an even spread of cheese and onions, and the restaurant had containers of do-it-yourself shredded assorted peppers that I probably could have eaten plain. And I couldn't help but notice all of the "Zagat-rated" signs on the wall...I was in primal heaven.
I suppose it was beneficial, after all, to have been in Dalessandro's for my moment of truth, otherwise I may have upset some very seriously overweight employees (welcome to Philadelphia). My guest and I both agreed that Dalessandro's had the superior steak.
As most of you are aware, Manhattan is one of my favorite places on earth, and where I'll be spending my summer, but the one thing it lacks is a decent cheesesteak. Sorry, but that bullshit 99 Miles to Philly doesn't quite cut it. New York City will be perfect when Dalessandro's allows me to pioneer its franchise, but even I wouldn't trust myself to uphold its strict standard of abrasiveness and poor grammar/dental hygiene (just picture some of the mouths in Dalessandro's). Until its expansion, however, I'll just have to remain content with venturing to Roxborough. Because after all, who doesn't love a good piece of meat?
Dine at Dalessandro's:
600 Wendover Street
Philadelphia, PA 19128
(215) 482 - 5407
And, if you're up for my cheesesteak challenge,
Dine at Chubby's:
5826 Henry Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19128
(215) 487 - 2575
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