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The D.E.A.L.: From Philly Cheesesteaks & Hoagies to McGillin’s & Zahav

The D.E.A.L. (Dining, Entertainment, Attractions & Lodging): Philadelphia

by Jeanne Brei

Philadelphia began as “Quaker City,” which quickly became the “City of Brotherly Love,” which became the “City of Murals” in 1984, and, in 2015, the first U.S. “UNESCO World Heritage City.” It is most famous for the Liberty Bell, Rocky, Philly cheesesteaks, hoagies, pretzels, franks, Revolutionary War history, sports and the Mummers.

Pats & GenosBut let’s start with the food. The Philly cheesesteak debuted in 1930 when a South Philly hot dog vendor, Pat Olivieri, started grilling steak sandwiches that became so popular he opened up Pat’s King of Steaks on Ninth Street. In 1966, Joe Vento opened rival shop Geno’s across the street and claimed it was he who first added cheese to the Philly cheesesteak. Both shops are open 24/7 except holidays, and their rivalry over the title of best cheesesteak in town has made them a top tourist attraction. They’re very similar but Pat’s chops its steak, while Geno’s serves it sliced—and many tourists get one of each.

Another famous sandwich with Philly origins, the hoagie, has several theories to how it got its name. One is that Italians working on Hog Island in the old Navy Yard introduced the sandwich by putting various meats, cheese and lettuce between two slices of bread. This became known as the “Hog Island” or “hoagie” sandwich. Another theory is that Italian immigrants mispronounced the sandwich made of scraps of cheeses and meats in an Italian bread-roll known as a “hokie” that deli owners would give away to folks “on the hoke” (i.e., on the dole) during the Depression.

McGillin's Olde Ale House One of the advantages of a city with as much history as Philly is that some of the restaurants have become legendary. Philadelphia’s oldest and most famous Irish pub, McGillin’s Olde Ale House (pictured left), opened in 1860 on a narrow alleyway between Sansom and Chestnut streets, and features a roaring fireplace, high-beamed ceilings and an antique mahogany bar. It has a family vibe and serves fresh regional cuisine (including shepherd’s pie) and 22 draft beers.

Ralphs-Italian-RestaurantSpeaking of a family vibe, Italian immigrants opened the iconic Ralph’s (pictured right) in 1900 and pride themselves as being the oldest family-owned restaurant in the country. The Italian-American “red-gravy” recipes have been passed down through four generations and feature giambotte (an omelet stuffed with many Italian ingredients making an entrance) to classic pasta dishes and sandwiches.

Reading Terminal Market’s DiNic’s food stall was hailed by Travel Channel’s Grub Street as having “this country’s greatest sandwich”—a roast pork with broccoli rabe and sharp provolone served on a seeded roll. Now being operated by its fourth generation, the three-day process that goes into making the pork begins with a day of seasoning, a slow roast and rest, and then the meat is thinly sliced and soaked in stock.

The-Olde-Bar-The Olde Bar (pictured left) is a contemporary oyster bar and cocktail lounge housed in a landmark building that was once home to Old Original Bookbinders. The nostalgic atmosphere enhances the classic cocktails and raw bar.

outdoor-seating-at-parcOpenTable rated French cafe Parc (pictured right) one of the most scenic restaurants in the U.S. Located right on Rittenhouse Square, you might think you are in Paris if you sit at a sidewalk table. The baguettes are made in-house and the menu is filled with classics like onion soup, escargots and towering plateaus de fruits de mer. And reservations are needed months in advance for the James Beard Award-winning Zahav restaurant, which serves Israeli and Turkish dishes of hummus, luffa bread and small plates of grilled vegetables and meats.

Nifty Fifties bldgI’d be remiss if I didn’t mention my favorite Philly restaurant—Nifty Fifites authentic 1950s soda shop (pictured right) —down to the décor, handmade food and syrups to make thousands of soda flavors. The original location opened in 1987 and they now have six locations for diners who like to time travel back to the Fifties.

This story originally appeared in the Nov./Dec. 2021 issue of Exhibit City News, p. 62. For original layout, visit https://issuu.com/exhibitcitynews/docs/ecn_nov-dec_2021

 

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