Restaurant Review: Philly's Famous Cheesesteaks

After last week’s review of Seminole Subs and Gyro’s, I’d realized the hole-in-the-wall sandwich bug had bit hard and had not quite let go yet. Upon hearing from a friend about Philly’s Famous Cheesesteaks, the craving hit and it couldn’t be shaken.

Something about a philly cheesesteak, even a terrible one, just perks the ears up and gets the mouth watering. The grilled steak melting and melding with gooey provolone, grilled onions and peppers, on that soft roll; it’s simple, but perfect that way. It awakens our hard-wired desire for savory fats, delectable protein and cheap carbs.

You’ve probably seen this place on the South side of Bay Drive in Largo.  It’s tiny, almost too tiny, but stands out with a vibrant roadside signage listing all the terrible-for-you, but absolutely delicious goods they serve up. Pizza, ice cream, cheesesteaks, shakes, it goes on and on.  They’ve also got a drive through making it ideal, or even all the more tempting, for a quick-stop shot of soul comforting fare.

Just out of curiosity, I opted for the drive through.  Although being the only one, the service was surprisingly quick, about five minutes total between placing the order and having the food in hand.

First in line was the Philly Cheesesteak.  All kidding aside, this is easily the best cheesesteak in Largo.  For one, the steak is anything but lacking in the flavor department.

That’s always been a common gripe. Many of the cheesesteaks I’ve sampled in Largo are great for the most part, hugely portioned, artfully crafted, but the steak just lacks any discerning flavor.  The cheesesteak at Philly’s Famous was packed with little bits of salty savory-ness balanced perfectly with the creamy melting of American cheese. Extra points for the use of that classic, uber-soft Philly roll, too.           

A slice of plain cheese pizza was surprisingly large and definitely on par with that of any NY-style pizza joint in the area.  The use of fresh mozzarella was a nice touch and the from-scratch dough added a respectable touch.

As for sides, they serve a schmorgasboard of deep-fried greasy delights including fries, onion rings, and the like, but the first thing that caught my eye were the fried green beans, a new addition to the menu.  Might as well be a little healthy, right?

They were quite scrumptious with the peas still sweet and crunchy under a perfect, non-overbearing coat of seasoned breading.  They provide a side of ranch dressing with it, but these things really hold up just fine on their own. It's definitely an inventive side that’s anything but a cheap novelty.

Philly’s Famous Cheesesteaks definitely lives up to its name.  With classic cheesesteaks bursting with flavor in every aspect, homestyle pizza, and inventive sides like the fried green beans, they’re not only a top cheesesteak purveyor, but a multi-faceted Mecca of greasy, soul-comforting food done right and affordably.