Next Door Gastro-Pub and Restaurant, Prospect Park, PA
2024 March Cheesesteak Madness
Delco + 6 Region
Contestant video
Amigo Dan and I went to Next Door. We sat at the bar and had a great time. They made us a Grilled Cheese Cheesesteak. We chose onion rings for our side. The meat had a great smoked flavor. I thought they could do well in March Cheesesteak Madness. Guest Judges Karl and Jordan picked up this cheesesteak. One of them ate the french fries on their way to meet me. The mushrooms and onions were on the side. Unfortunately it did not photograph well. It did have a lot of great flavor. This cheesesteak is a much better sit and enjoy with friend’s at Next Door than a competition cheesesteak.
Centrella’s Deli & Italian Market, Havertown, PA
2024 March Cheesesteak Madness
Delco + 6 Region
Contestant video
If I lived in Havertown I would weigh 400 pounds!! This is one of my favorite finds from my Philadelphia Cheesesteak Adventure. I have enjoyed every interaction with the ladies at Centrella’s. Somehow I have had any of the bakery items. I don’t know how because they look amazing. Guest judge Karl was 50 minutes late meeting me so this cheesesteak sat longer than expected. I was a little worried when I unwrapped it. Holy mackerel wait until you see the center cut photos! This cheesesteak had a good amount of meat. Great flavor. Very fine chop.
Delco Steaks, Broomall, PA
2024 March Cheesesteak Madness
Delco + 6 Region
Contestant video
Delco Steaks. For the 2nd round of 2022 March Cheesesteak Madness Delco steaks made what could have been the perfect cheesesteak. Is this the year they win it all? They make cheesesteaks the way I like them. The roll has a crispy crust with light airy bread. They use a good cut of steak and slice it a little thick so you can taste it. Good amount and melt of cheese. The mushrooms and onions add great flavor to the rest of the cheesesteak.
Leo’s Steak Shop, Folcroft, PA
2024 March Cheesesteak Madness
Delco + 6 Region
Contestant video
Leo’s Steak Shop. The first time I had a Leo’s cheesesteak I called it a ‘cheesesteak’s cheesesteak.’ Leo’s makes a big cheesesteak. They do a good job of mixing everything together. They always pass the eye test. My guest judges picked up the cheesesteak for judging so I didn’t get a chance to check. But the last time I was at Leo’s they had just started offering hand cut french fries. Very good hand cut french fries.
Steaks West Chester, West Chester, PA
2024 March Cheesesteak Madness
Delco + 6 Region
Contestant video I got my standard cheesesteak with mushrooms. Spoiler alert; just like just about everyone else, I liked it. I liked it alot. Their roll supplier has a problem (fire/broken machine, something) so they are using a back up roll. Very good amount of very good meat. Good amount, melt and mix of cheese. The onions and mushrooms spent time together on the grill and added good flavor. All good/very good cheesesteak but a little pizazz somewhere and it could be great.
Providence Pizzeria, Newtown Square, PA
2024 March Cheesesteak Madness
Delco + 6 Region
Contestant video
I had to go into my photo/video archives to get a sign selfie and B roll of Providence Pizzeria. The ironic twist; sign selfie with John, judging with Phil & Dave. We all went to elementary school together. Good little cheesesteak. I wish the mushrooms and onions spent more time on the grill. Watch the video, good commentary by Dave and Phil.
Desert Rose, Media, PA
2024 March Cheesesteak Madness
Delco + 6 Region
Contestant video
Judge Phil is a big fan of Desert Rose’s Shawarma. I’m a fan of their cheesesteak. You’ll hear in the video, it seems to have a seasoning but we couldn’t put our fingers on it. It’s a good cheesesteak. It’s more traditional than you may expect for a Mediterranean restaurant. Very well made.
Lorenzo’s Steaks & Hoagies, West Chester, PA
2024 March Cheesesteak Madness
Delco + 6 Region
Contestant video
I am a Lorenzo’s fan. I think they do a great job. I liked everything on this cheesesteak. Good roll. Meat and cheese worked very well together. I liked the mushrooms. They had a very nice flavor. But, the mushrooms were on top of the cheesesteak and not mixed in well with the meat and cheese.
Phil & Jim’s Steaks & Hoagies, Parkside, PA
2024 March Cheesesteak Madness
Delco + 6 Region
Contestant video
I like three things about this cheesesteak; 1. Half of the name. 2. $13.50’ish. 3. And another thing. The mushrooms and onions spent a good amount of time on the grill. They added good flavor. Finely chopped meat. The roll was standard. I didn’t see much cheese but something was holding this cheesesteak together.
Pop’s Pizzeria, Glen Mills, PA
2024 March Cheesesteak Madness
Delco + 6 Region
Contestant video
Pop’s made it into March Cheesesteak Madness on reputation and social media posts. This is one of the few times the internet didn’t lie to me. Pop’s makes a very good cheesesteak. As soon as I unwrapped it, It passed the eye, weight and smell tests. I will be going back for the Pizza.
Michael’s Sandwich Shop, Woodlyn, PA
2024 March Cheesesteak Madness
Delco + 6 Region
Contestant video
The first time my dad took us to Michael’s we thought he was mad at us. I made a video about that story. You can find it on my YouTube channel. Michael’s makes a great neighborhood sandwich shop cheesesteak. Gotta love $12.50. You can see in the video that this cheesesteak doesn’t have much cheese. I called my order in. I hope we had a failure to communicate.
Wolf’s Superior Sandwiches, Aston, PA
2024 March Cheesesteak Madness
Delco + 6 Region
Contestant video
I think I am doing Wolf’s Superior Sandwiches a disservice by ordering a plain cheesesteak. The plain cheesesteak is good but the specials always sound amazing. The first cheesesteak I got at Wolf’s had scrapple on it. It was very good. From now on it is only Wolf’s specials for me.
Ugly Oyster Drafthaus, Reading, PA
2024 March Cheesesteak Madness
Delco + 6 Region
Contestant video
My 1st trip to the Ugly Oyster was one of the most memorable stops on my adventure. Reading (not the hip west side) PA, Guinness painted on the side of the building, a nautical theme inside and they charge 75 cents to put peanuts on your cheesesteak. It’s a party or train wreck. Luckily for me and the people that commented on my 1st post the Ugly Oyster is a party. I got my cheesesteak the way they make it, sauteed in their house sauce. And, of course, PEANUTS! Their cheesesteak has a lot of flavor.
Marrone’s Deli, West Grove, PA
2024 March Cheesesteak Madness
Delco + 6 Region
Contestant video
I talk about Marrone’s all of the time. When people tell me the roll is the important part of the cheesesteak, I tell them to go to Marrone’s and get reminded that cheesesteaks are about the meat. My first trip to Marrone’s was memorable. I was an interesting and very talented guest eater. Very good cheesesteak every trip.
Belly Busters Sub Shoppes, Oxford, PA
2024 March Cheesesteak Madness
Delco + 6 Region
Contestant video
I love this area. I love how well everyone works together. I love how nice they are. I love that the coffee shop on Main St is in a building from 1893. I love that down route 1 at the Conowingo Dam is a winter feeding ground for Bald Eagles. I wish I lived closer to all of this. They make a solid cheesesteak. I think 9 times out of 10 the cheesesteak at Belly Busters is exactly the same. I wish they would spend more time with their mushrooms and onions.
Tony’s of West Reading, West Reading, PA
2024 March Cheesesteak Madness
Delco + 4 Region
Contestant video
I feel like I am in my Greek Grand Mother’s kitchen when I am at Tony’s of West Reading. ‘I just made this, you have to try it.’ ‘I get this sauce from the guy down the street, try it on a pretzel.’ When I am having a deep philosophical discussion about what makes a great cheesesteak. I say it is the grill person and how much they care about making a great cheesesteak. A lot of love goes into everything Tony, and all of the wonderful people that work at Tony’s, make.