Lunch in Philadelphia, The Reading Terminal Market, and Philly Cheesesteaks

I met up with a friend from high school yesterday to make a day trip to Philadelphia and was totally happy with our recommended lunch destination: the Reading Terminal Market.

Walking the aisles, we found several restaurant stands, local produce, baked goods, chocolatiers, gourmet groceries, a beer garden, and cafes all clustered under one roof. Totally a one-stop-shop for local Philadelphians and simply a fun place to walk around for visitors with an appetite. It reminds me somewhat of la Boqueria in Barcelona, or another market I shopped at in Florence. Some people at the Reading Terminal Market were there to grocery shop, others like us were perusing the dining options which included Thanksgiving dinner, Cajun cuisine, Middle Eastern food, Gyros, Authentic Thai and Chinese, and of course, Philly Cheesesteaks.

We stopped at Carmen's Famous Philadelphia Cheesesteaks stand where the guy behind the counter rattled off our options: American, provolone, or Cheese Whiz (the classic Philadelphia cheesesteak choice of cheese), and optional toppings of mushrooms, onions, peppers (spicy or sweet), lettuce, and tomato. I ordered the classic cheesesteak with mushrooms, provolone, onions, sweet peppers, lettuce, and tomato, plus ketchup. Good but frankly not the best I've ever had.

This leads us to the question: where do you find the best Philadelphia Cheesesteak? I've made the trip to that famous corner in Philadelphia where cheesesteaks and ideologies are pitted against each other in the famous Pat's King of Steaks and Geno's Steaks faceoff. I've tried each, on different occasions. Geno's reminds me of a carnival stand, with neon lights and flashing bulbs, whereas Pat's by comparison looks modestly simple yet classic.

The rivalry between Pat's and Geno's reminds me of the Duke/Carolina divide in my hometown: ambivalence is not an option. The choice not only rests on your opinion of the first order of concern (basketball or cheesesteaks), but almost becomes a reflection of values (public vs. private, flashy vs. modest).

I'm totally Team Pat's. I have respect for the place because there's a confidence in its humility, you figure it must be an institution to get so much press...or to make Geno's work that hard to attract your attention. It almost seems like Geno's has focused more on their lighting design than their cheesesteaks.

So here it is, Pat's vs. Geno's: Where does your alliance lie?
Post a comment in reply to cast your vote on where to get the best Philly Cheesesteak!
And, if you're in the greater Philadelphia area and haven't made the trip yet, I plugged it in as the final destination on GoogleMaps for you:  http://tiny.cc/yj45svvbwd
You've got no excuse- get there and make the decision yourself!