No matter how much I try and pretend I am a New Yorker, the truth is I am really from the City of Brotherly Love, where the steak sandwich is king. I was born in New York and lived there for ages but when people ask me where I am from I have to say Haverford, PA!
Philly is where my parents live and when I board that BA flight home for XMAS, the arrival city is PHL. You get it – no hang ups here. So what is a girl to eat when the Cypriot comes along for a visit. Since our favorite show is Man vs. Food at the moment – we decided to take on the Philly challenge and eat everywhere he did. This is what we found.
Philadelphia Restaurants
DINIC’S ROAST PORK SANDWICH
Reading Terminal Market, 51 North 12th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107 215-922-2317
readingterminalmarket.org
The line is wrapped around the whole Reading Terminal (a foodie’s dream spot right in the heart of Philly) for only one place – DINIC’S – and most order the same thing: a hot roast pork sandwich, slices of sharp provolone, broccoli rabe, and a mixture of hot and sweet peppers. Jus is poured over the sandwich but it’s not drenched so the crispy Italian role stays crispy. We were in line by 12 and it still took about 20 minutes to get a sandwich…so go early to avoid the crowds. Voted Best Sandwich in the USA!
Stop by Metropolitan Bakery (www.metropolitanbakery.com) to get yourself a brownie before heading out of the terminal.
TONY LUKE’S – PHILLY CHEESESTEAK
118 S 18th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103; (215) 568-4630
Gotta love a guy who poses with his steak sandwich: great bun, great steak, great cheese, great pizza sauce and a step away from my house. YUM.
FRANKLIN FOUNTAIN
http://www.franklinfountain.com/
116 Market Street, (215) 627-1899
Down in Old City where the Cypriot and I wandered through after the hurricane, heaven exists….it is the Franklin Fountain where they make their own ice cream, hot fudge all served up in a paper Chinese takeaway carton. IT shouldn’t work but it does. Highly recommend the mint chocolate with hot fudge.
Philadelphia’s luxury hotels
You can book here:
Booking.com