I have to confess that I have even less of a yen for cheesesteaks than I do for actual steak at a…read moreplace like Gallagher's or Smith & Wolensky. I've been in Philadelphia numerous times and have never felt an urge to sample for myself and decide which of the "famous" cheesesteak competitors in the city, across the street from each other-- Pat's or Geno's--- is actually the "superior" one. Couldn't have been less interested (unless it was someone offering me free tickets to an Eagles game; THAT I would have been less interested in, given my near-total boredom when it comes to sports of any kind). I did go through a phase during my college years (money ill-spent, given my subsequent "career" trajectory) where I ate lunch often in the cafeteria and invariably ordered a cheesesteak and a piece of German chocolate cake. Not quite sure at this late date what that was all about, but let's just say it's not one of my admittedly few "treasured" memories.
Having said all that, I did order food the other day from Midtown Philly and was well satisfied.
I was at work in Hoboken, suffering through yet another migraine and the nauseating effects of the medication I take for it (I really should have been home in bed, but if I take off every day I have a migraine...which is usually every single week and occasionally 2 or 3 days in a row...I'd be out of my job in no time at all). As I've perhaps mentioned in previous reviews, when I am in the throes of a migraine, it almost never proves deleterious to my appetite. If anything, it enhances it. I glanced over at my co-worker/friend, the former Godfather of Lunch (in his newly found sobriety from gluttony, he has sworn off ordering food to be delivered to our office, calling it "stress eating"). Not expecting an affirmative response, I asked, "You feel like ordering out?" Surprisingly, he immediately replied, "OK. We can't order Lo Fatt Chow anymore. What does that leave?" "What do you want?"
He mentioned Midtown Philly. We had ordered from there before, a long time ago, and I hadn't disliked it, but...as I've said...I rarely, when hungry, say to myself, "What I need right now is a cheesesteak." This time, though, it seemed like an inviting and inspired change of pace, and I responded, "Ok. Let's do it."
I ordered a Pittsburgh cheesesteak, which was the steak (ribeye, as I've learned-- not Steak-umm's, as I once thought), cheese, and tricolor coleslaw. The sandwich was just enough-- not enough to be uncomfortably over-filling, not skimpy enough to leave one hungry and feeling cheated. It was a moist, flavorful sandwich that did assuage my hunger, and left me thinking, "Maybe I need to re-think this lifelong indifference to Philly cheesesteaks!" It was helped by a plentiful side order of French Fries (they have a decent side order selection to choose from, if one is so inclined), which were crisp, just as I like them. They were too many of them, in fact, and I unloaded some on the Godfather, who in turn spooned over his tomatoes to me (don't ask me to explain his antipathy to tomatoes; I don't know! Tomatoes are one of the very few things he won't eat). I also had a lemon-lime Gatorade, which sometimes helps soothe (or so I've thought) a migraine, the electrolyte draining preparation for a colonoscopy, and...in the past...the fierce hangover left by an overindulgence the previous night in alcohol and opioids.
I'm unsure what the Godfather ordered-- either the Diablo cheesesteak or the Volcano cheesesteak-- but it was ... obviously, given the name they've bestowed upon it...very, very hot indeed. Not something my delicate digestive system would have been able to handle (although I do sometimes wish fervently that I could still eat like that). However, the Godfather pronounced himself well satisfied on finishing it and he wasn't breathing fire in my direction. This was one time he didn't chastise me for "pushing" him into ordering food.
They have other items one can order, like Hoagies-- including "Sinatra's Hoagie" (of course; it's Hoboken, after all!), which consists of ham, Genova salami, provolone, lettuce, tomato, raw onions, olive oil, red wine vinegar. Next time, I might be tempted to order it.
Salads too. And desserts.
Prices were reasonable, delivery was quick and efficient, and the food really hit the spot, making the agony of my medicated migraine less intense and debilitating than it otherwise would have been.
I very much recommend Midtown Philly. I look forward to ordering from there again, and I won't let a few years go by before I do so.
And it has the enthusiastic seal of approval from the former Godfather of Lunch! What other recommendation do you really need?
