Secrets of the City

Caffrey’s makes a mighty good cheesesteak sandwich. Definitely recommend going there.

I’m not sure if they got cheesesteak, but wally’s in bloomington has got some amazing roast beef.

Galooney’s on Hennepin. Additionally, their roasted veggie pita is to die for.

I second Galooney’s, it’s a favorite of some of my cheesesteak loving friends.

Ask Philly. But he probably doesn’t know any more about food then he does merging into traffic.

There’s something called cooking.

Cooking would be great if I had a nice griddle and the patience to freeze and slice steaks.

Alas, cheesesteaks are not easy to make in one’s kitchen.

On the Northside’s main drag, West Broadway, sits a little take out restaurant called Slice of Chicago. Great wings, great cheese steak. I recommend calling ahead and ordering as to minimize your wait – the clientelle tends to be questionable in character.

Them things’ll kill ya. A good cheesesteak is awfully greasy.

I’m immediately suspicious, though, when you suggest it needs to have good provolone. As everyone knows, a real cheesesteak is made with CheeseWhiz.

Another thing missing in Minnesota is good bread. I would kill for a local (I’m out in the sticks) source for bread other than this sludgy, gooey, pale, over-processed stuff with gummy crusts that is ALL THEY SELL OUT HERE.

The Mayslack’s folk probably put the wrong cheese on it, right? (Or you’re not a fan of garlic?)

Believe it or not, the Cabela’s in Rogers has a cheese steak. I haven’t had it but I saw one being made and it sort of made my arteries hard just watching. I did have elk sandwich, which was great.

Every time you take a bite of that cheesesteak, your arteries slam shut. And PZ, try the Bread Smith on Grand and Snelling in St. Paul. Hmm Hmm Hmm Hmm Hmm.

I wholeheartedly disagree with the cheez whiz thing – but our disagreement is not a solitary one – it seems the cheez whiz vs white cheese debate is quite lively, even in philly itself.

I would say that both provolone and cheeze whiz both constitute a “real” cheesesteak. I personally abhor cheeze whiz.

mazasapa, I think part of the cheesesteak experience is enjoying the feeling of your arteries slamming shut.

Franklin Street Bakery has good bread. It goes to 50% off in the afternoon.

I just had the cheesesteak at Jersey Mike’s. There’s one on Lowry right before it turns into St Anthony. It was extremely good. I recommend.

Try the cheesesteak at Pracna on St. Anthony Main. V. good.

PZ is resident of a town of about 5000 people 150 miles west of the Cities. When I lived there fine cuisine was the buffet at the Pizza Ranch.

try subway

The Steak Knife in Dinkytown (4th and 14th) does a nice Philly. It does not exactly meet your specifications. Cubed steak, rather than sliced. But the meat and bread quality are good, they use a white cheese (probably provolone, though I’m not sure), plus onions and green peppers. Pretty tasty.

To make a cheese steak sandwich, you need:

Good bread.
Thin sliced steak.
Onions.
Green Peppers.
Provolone (or some other cheese substitute like Cheese Wiz™)
Hot griddle.

Yeah, that sounds tough to make yourself…

i’ll second Jersey Mike’s. easily the best cheesesteak in the cities

i didn’t know there was on on Lowry, that’s great. i go to the one up off New Brighton Blvd.

the Big Kahuna (cheesesteak w/ mushrooms & jalapenos) is my fave

and i’ll disagree on the cheese-whiz thing too, i’ve had Gino’s & Pat’s, cheese-whiz on a cheesesteak = gross. just because they say it’s the “right way” in Philly, doesn’t make it better

actually, nm Adam, the one you are talking about is the same one i go to (and the only one in Minnesota as far as i was aware).

all hail Jersey Mike’s!

I had heard about T.O.P.S. Pizza & Hoagies at work after I assume the person read about this place in this blurb.

We got there right at 7:10 and walked in. It’s a true hole-in-the-wall pizza joint that specializes in some greek foods and Philly Cheesesteaks.

I’m a *huge* fan of good cheesesteak and any good food is few and far between out here, especially stuff that is close to my east coast heart.

Well, this place was a *huge disappointment* for me. Not only were the cheesesteaks bad but the service in the nearly empty restaurant was slow. Very very slow. They were very friendly and personable though.

I do *not* recommend their dry and greaseless cheesesteaks or their fries. Their baklava was just ok. I didn’t try their pizza but Kim and I will try that the next time.

Our bill, for two drinks, two 9″ cheesesteaks, an order of fries, and a slice of baklava was $23.00. Entirely too pricey for a completely overrated experience.

Being that many of you have never had a cheesesteak, let alone a real one, YMMV.

I travel to the east coast for business quite a bit and I haven’t found a good authentic cheesesteak place in the Twin Cities.

I don’t think it exists.

I’m not talking about the touristy cheesesteak places — i love the local, non-descript kitchens/diners and other cheesesteak places on the Jersey side of Philly

P.S. –

Someone needs to go out to Philly and learn the art of cheesteak. Bring it back here — and open a place.

I think it would do well.

cossettas downtown saint paul, amazing rolls

Bill, I’ve had quite a few steaks at TOPS and I never found them to be “dry”, in fact quite the opposite, drippy and greasy, in fact, they serve their “full” steak on a tray so that you have somewhere to let it drip. Heh. Maybe you went on a bad night or something?

Yeah, the service sometimes is slow, but that seems to be kinda the way Mediterranean/middle eastern restaurants are run. At least, every one that I’ve been to around here. Either way, I like how friendly they are there. I certainly don’t go there if I’m on a schedule.

Maybe not being a native east-coaster my perceptions are wrong, but I personally find their steaks to be delicious, as well as their pizza. I’d go there all the time if it wasn’t so far away. But again, it’s good to hear a perspective of someone who knows what a good steak is actually all about. If you ever find a place that DOES make something close to a real philly, let me know, please.

Also, I’m totally not being paid to pimp TOPS, I just really like it there. LOL

I like the Steak Knife in Dinkeytown too. If you’re looking for a quick lunch-time downtown cheesesteak-type thing… I always like Charley’s in the skyway. It’s in the US Bank building. The fries are good.

Try Pappy’s on the East Side of St. Paul. 94 to White Bear Avenue, go north on White Bear Avenue a few miles, it will be on the right hand side of the road. I pick one up and take it home once in a while and it’s still piping hot when I eat it. They also have a great Chicago dog and I love their fries.

I just found the best Philly Cheesesteaks without a plane ticket! Steve’s Philadelphia Steaks and Hoagies in Lexington, MN 55014, call 763-785-1453. He makes him right in front of you with all the fixing to have it exactly like you remember. I like mine with marinara and banana peppers. He uses only the freshest meats. His hoagies are also excellent.
http://www.stevessteaks.com
It is worth the drive from anywhere- even Philadelphia.

Just moved from Philly to back to MSP so am loking for a good cheesesteak: provolone “wit” and extra sauce. Ok, will probably have to make some Minnesota compromises like no Amoroso bread and no sauce but that’s ok if it still good.

Have read the comments so will have to check them out. The best seem to be a good distance from me though. While Cheez Wiz is the original cheese, provolone is certainly authentic as well.

Anybody been to Pudge’s, Delasandro’s or Fiesta west of PHL? all good steaks.

Joey D’s – 3101 East 42nd Street, Mpls.

First things first, CHEESESTEAKS ARE NOT MADE WITH CHEESE WHIZ ORIGINALLY! Look, Cheese Whiz was invented in the 1950’s while the cheesesteak was invented in the 1930’s. Therefore, REAL cheesesteaks are not made with cheesewhiz!!!! They are made with a sharper provolone cheese. You may have grown up with that, but that is the modified non-original recipe!!! Ask you grandparents, or parents! You may have come from the east coast, but you have no clue of what a real cheesesteak is!!! ALL of you DONT KNOW FOOD!!!

These things with those new fangled mag wheels, you can’t even call them cars!! REAL CARS have SPOKES on the WHEELS!!!

CHEESESTEAKS WEREN’T INVENTED IN THE 1930’s you moron, the steak sandwich was. Cheese was added in the 50’s and the first cheese was wiz. Get your facts straight so-called real Philly man. Damn, some people.

Time for a Wikipedia intervention?