Our first visit to Philadelphia. Our first Philly cheesesteak in Philadelphia. We chose Uncle Gus' in the Reading Market because it had the longest line and because Uncle Gus' uses Cooper sharp cheese, which is supposed to be the cheese that makes these Philly cheesesteaks special. The sandwich did not disappoint. Cheesy. Meaty. We got it with the onions, which were the perfect addition. The bread, coated in sesame seeds, was amazing We will try a few more places during our visit, but this spot hit a home run on the first pitch. Very good. read more

This place is racist towards minority people. I tried to buy a cheesesteak for a yound lady who was standing outside crying who never asked for anything. I asked her was she okay and if she'd like a sandwich and she nodded yes. We go inside and get in line. Then this worker pulls us out of line and asks me what do I want, I said I'm buying her a sandwich and proceeded to tell him the order. He cut me off and said that I can't buy her a sandwich with cash ( I had a 20 bill in my hand). I asked why he said she may try to return it for a refund. So I said we'll Im buying it for me , and he still refused to service us. He said that their customers are not allowed to buy for the homeless with cash. This is wrong on many levels first of all in PA. a restaurant does not have to give refunds on cooked food that's the law. Secondly how on earth did he know she was even homeless and why would that matter anyway. Myself and this young lady were the only blacks in line at the time and there were a dozen people waiting on orders and none of them were black everyone was white. He was loud with me and made sure we were rejected and embarrassed in front of everyone. I find it shocking that in 2026 Uncle Gus is practicing blatant discrimination against black people by using a racist policy not based in law but on bigoted assumptions. Never again will I got to this establishment or recommend it to anyone. It was disgusting and embarrassing the way they treated us. It is also against the law in Philadelphia pa. to refuse to accept cash or deny anyone from buying something for someone else because you think they are homeless. Again in Philadelphia pa all restaurant can refuse refunds on cooked food. This was a cover for *We don't serve Negroes" here !!!! read more

I mean. Delicious. I came for an early dinner for the classic cheesesteak with onions and was not disappointed. Service was very quick and the storefront looked clean and authentic old school Philly. My first Philly cheesesteak did not disappoint!! It was $20, but they loaded it up with so much meat, cheese, and onions that it could definitely be split between two meals or people. Overall: a little pricey but must try if you're in Philly for the first time. read more

Uncle Gus' Steaks - Cheesesteak with cheese and onions - Cheesesteaks Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

If you find yourself within 50 miles of the Reading Terminal Market I recommend you take the time to go and get a cheese steak from Uncle Gus' They make their own seeded rolls which have the perfect level of toast on the outside to give you a crunch. Get the cooper sharp cheese and long hots. The sandwich is moist from the cheese mixed with the steak and the hots give it the right extra spice. I was born and raised in Philly and have never had a cheese steak as good as this one. I've been twice in the last 12 months. I had the second one just to make sure the first wasn't just a fluke and it was not. Both were the best ever. The line can be long at times, but the wait is not. read more

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Another staple when visiting Philly are the cheesesteaks. Uncle Gus' Steaks is located in the Reading Terminal. The sesame bread makes the sandwich. It's crispy, soft, and the right amount of chewy. The combination of steak, fried onions, and mushrooms are perfection. Satisfying every single bite and simply chef's kiss. Definitely a must if you are doing a food tour. read more

Uncle Gus' Steaks - Cheesesteak with mushrooms - Cheesesteaks Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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This was a quick pickup! Not a big line and the cheesesteak was great! 8.7/10 on the Cheesesteak! VERY good exceeded my expectations for sure plus there was maybe a 5 min wait time for a super fresh cheesesteak now that's hard to beat! read more

Uncle Gus' Steaks - Order Area - Cheesesteaks Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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This was so delicious! This was my first Philly cheesesteak ever and it was a great one. The bread is so soft and had the perfect crunch with sesame seeds. The meat itself is juicy and the sauce was so solid. I had such a great experience and would definitely come again if I'm in the area! read more

Uncle Gus' Steaks - Cheesesteaks Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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My daughter and I found ourselves in Philadelphia before a visit to temple university. She mentioned that we had never had an official Philly cheesesteak in Philadelphia. We looked up reviews, and uncle Gus's caught our eye. The service was fast and we did not feel rushed when we placed our order. The cheesesteak was amazing! The cheese was nicely, melted it and the fried onions added a nice kick to the sub. The servers were friendly and the booth was inviting. read more

Uncle Gus' Steaks - Cheesesteak with Cooper cheese and fried onions - Cheesesteaks Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I only heard of Copper Sharp two years ago and I'm not surprised that it quickly reached #3 on Billboard's Top 40 cheese chart. With the assertive flavor and top-quartile meltability I applaud Uncle Gus' for a taking a stand. The sandwich is all mixed together, there's not a massive cheese lake. I do prefer a large and possibly messy cheese area. I can't say which is the "right" method and accept that this preference may be considered a touristy sin on the level of toasting bagels. read more

This was sooo good! The moment I took a bite it was like omg! I really liked the bread they used too. It added more flavor. It's located inside the Reading Market. Service is fast as I believe there are only 2 cheesesteak options and you can choose between hot peppers and sweet peppers. They call your number out and you're off with your delicious sandwich. Cool place. I highly recommend if you're looking for the best Philly cheesesteak in Philly read more

Uncle Gus' Steaks - Philly cheesesteaks - Cheesesteaks Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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The cheesesteak had a good beef to cheese ratio. It was on a thin seeded bread loaf and a good amount of cheese between all the beef layers. I love how the cheese is sprinkled throughout the beef no just put on top. There was a tad bit more salt than preferred but the beef was very moist and not dry. The richness of the umami is unreal on this sando. Located in Reading Terminal, get ready for long queues watching them churn these sandwiches fresh to order at the window. There's a tiny area to wait for your food like the sad Foodie you are. At least they accept credit cards. Bring your pals, your taste buds and patience. Was 17th in line for sandwich and was told the wait was 10 minutes or so. It's impossible to find anywhere to sit, so grab and go if you can. read more

Uncle Gus' Steaks - Cheesesteak, around $19 - Cheesesteaks Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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I was visiting and wanted a real Philly cheesesteak. The sign gave two choices - Cooper Sharp or Whiz with the option of adding onions, mushrooms and cherry peppers. I ordered the Cooper Sharp at the woman behind the counter's suggestion. It was good, but it also little thick and overpowering for my tastes. An a-ok sandwich, but I was expecting more. read more

Uncle Gus' Steaks - Cheesesteaks Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Eating a Philly cheese steak in Philly is a prerequisite. Eating at Gus' to sample said cheese steak is also a must. While I think my days of craving such a rich sandwich are over, I still think that it was perfectly executed. Being in the Market East building, it represents what markets should represent in the US. It is an amazing representation of the sandwich and an iconic location for both tourists and locals to enjoy - although I assume the locals don't imbibe on the weekends. With it being just a stall in the market, you jump in line to order your sandos, pay, then wait (sometimes several minutes) to pick up your number on the side. The steak sandos are all made fresh and they are piping hot and wrapped when you pick it up. Finding a spot to sit on a Saturday is often difficult task, but not impossible. My wife and I were able to find a location toward the back of the market, where we enjoyed the classic Philly cheese steak (just cheese) and the steak sandwich with peppers. First bite was amazing, the bun is perfectly selected for the steak, with both the sturdiness and the flavor to compliment the messiness of the sandwich. The steak was piping hot, and deliciously decadent. After trading many bites, the conclusion was that the steak and peppers were the winner, but the cheese steak was no slouch. read more

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I'm no Philly cheesesteak expert though I hafta say their cheesesteaks are legit yumm! Came by on a Saturday afternoon in mid-August to grab a couple sandwiches to go, and the entire market was a synthesized traffic jam of locals and tourists. The line at Uncle Gus' peaked at about 20 people deep, not to mention another 20 people waiting around an approx rectangular 10 ft by 5 ft space next to their stall that was demarcated uniquely as their own crowded waiting area. Man they were super busy! The steam from the grill clouded up their prep area--they were that slammed (see my pic of the grill). It took about 10 minutes to order and 10 minutes to wait for 2 cheesesteaks ($18 each plus extra for toppings). I was told by a Philly native that you need to wait a little bit of time instead of eating it right away, so the flavors can meld together more. Dunno about the veracity of that claim though I waited 45 minutes since we went to a BYO food wine garden (review to come for that later) to meet up with some others, so we didn't eat our sandwiches right away. With my first bite I was hooked--the sliced meat was juicy, aided by the mild cheese which had melted and acted almost like a slather of sauce enveloping the meat. The mushrooms (+$2) were well cooked, the long hots (+$2) added a little kick, just enough to break up the heaviness. Caramelized onions off the grill were fabulous to add a bit of sweetness. The roll was perfectly toasted, hefty enough to hold the generous serving of thinly sliced beef, fluffy and chewy on the interior but also with a crisp crust that doesn't scrape the roof of your mouth when you go in for that big satisfying bite. Appreciated that the sandwich wasn't too salty. Didn't have much interaction with the staff, though could see they were pumping out those cheesesteaks as quickly as possible. Who knows when my next Philly cheesesteak experience will be, but I know it'll be hard to top this one! read more

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We stayed across from Reading Terminal on a recent visit... dangerous! As Uncle Gus's was literally across the street. We had it twice... it was superb. A perfect conglomeration of beef and cooper sharp, onions fried, and a roll that stood up to a generously filled sandwich. We grabbed another before we departed for the airport. They kindly double wrapped it to help keep it warm... when we ate it at the airport prior to departure, it was still amazing!! No complaints at whatsoever! read more

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Very good. Great stop for a cheesesteak downtown (especially for giving authentic experience to tourists on a quick sojourn). Line up at the counter on the black tape. Cooper sharp or whiz, onions or no onions. Additional toppings available, as well as chips and drinks. Line moves quickly. Then move to the yellow tape box and try to not have a panic attack as you get squished and continually get yelled at to get in the box! I waited about ten minutes from the time I ordered. Bread is a highlight -- very crispy and seeded. The amount of cheese was excellent! The meat was a little overly chewy, but otherwise it was well done. I would have liked some ketchup and a single napkin in the bag would have been nice with a $20 steak. Overall, a great addition to the terminal. read more

Uncle Gus' Steaks - Menu - Cheesesteaks Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Traditional? No. Delicious? Holy mother of God! For the sake of full disclosure I did not come to Redding Terminal Market for a cheesesteak. My plan had been a roast pork sandwich from my favorite place in town. However, by the time I got to the market, my roast pork place had closed for the day. Gah! I didn't even want a cheesesteak. Getting one in the midst of all the options inside the market felt like a copout. And there was a lot about Uncle Gus' that filled me with a deep amount of suspicion. But I was curious. A cheesesteak with sharp cheddar? Welp, consider me converted. Gorgeous fried onions. Toasty sesame seeds on a beautifully crusty roll. Cheese melted into ever nook and cranny of chopped shaved beef, all of which was packed into the roll so it resembled something like a meat torpedo. The thing is glorious. It's also huge. In part I think I would have been happier splitting this monster with someone, but I polished off the whole thing and then took a mighty long walk. Considering this cheesesteak to be a meal for two might help one swallow the almost $20 it will set you back. But food has gotten more expensive. I get that. And good food is worth every penny. I have no regrets. I'd do it again if I were in the market for a cheesesteak, especially if I had a partner in crime to eat the other half. At the end of the day I'm still team roast pork over cheesesteaks, but despite the liberties Uncle Gus has taken with the form, the product there is exceptional. read more

Uncle Gus' Steaks - The meat torpedo - Cheesesteaks Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

While visiting Philadelphia we chose to eat at Uncle Gus's for our second Philly Cheesesteak here. I got the steak sandwich with Cooper Cheese. The sandwich was very large with lots of meat and a whole lot of cheese and man was it messy. I could have just ordered half of this. While I really liked the bread and the meat, I thought there was just way to much cheese, it Overwhelmed the meat. read more

Uncle Gus' Steaks - Philly Cheesesteak with Cooper Cheese - Cheesesteaks Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

In my tour to find the best Philly cheesesteak, I dropped by uncle Gus'. This place was amazing. I ordered mine with mushrooms and cherry peppers. The mix was wonderful and the toasted sesame bread was ideal for soaking up the juices. As an aside, they do not offer a vegetarian option, but I won't hold that against them. Service was friendly and food came out quickly. Definitely swing by here for a sample of some of the best that Philly has to offer. read more

Uncle Gus' Steaks - Cheesesteaks Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I got a cheesesteak with cooper sharp, mushrooms, and no onions (4.5/5); it was really good! The bread was nice and crunchy, and the seeds added to the crunch. The mushrooms further enhanced the flavor of the sandwich, which melted in my mouth. The service was incredibly fast (5/5); they do a great job of making the sandwiches very quick. read more

Uncle Gus' Steaks - Cheesesteak with cooper sharp, mushrooms, and no onions (4.25/5) - Cheesesteaks Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Cheesesteak average, workers rude, long wait to get a sandwich. There are better places in the market for a cheesesteak. Wouldn't go back

I'm visiting from out of town, and ended up stopping at Uncle Gus' Steaks while site seeing. The cheesesteak was delicious. Each sandwich is made to order, they use real cheese, and they make them on sesame seed bread. The people I was visiting said it was one of the best cheesesteaks they've had so far while living here. We ordered and got our food in 10 minutes. The vibes were good since we were already in the market. (it was a large sandwich, even if you're hungry - you may want to considering splitting one with if you're able) read more

Uncle Gus' Steaks - philly cheesesteak - Cheesesteaks Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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This is probably more a 3.5 stars but I think this has proven to me once and for all that a philly cheesesteak is just not a must get in philly. Granted there was a lot of meat and cheese but honestly the cheese amount and flavor was just so overwhelming I didn't even want to finish it. The one shining aspect which makes sense is the bread was very flavorful, chewy yet dense to hold everything together; well done. However on the whole it just did not have me wanting to eat more. Sorry Philly I need a new thing to try. read more

When is Rome, do as the Romans do. Hopped off an early Thursday am flight into PHI, jumped on the train, landed at Jefferson station. Walked across street on a mission to get a cheesesteak. Enter Uncle Gus' Steaks. Like dodging bullets on a battle field of deliciousness, I reluctantly pass by Thai, ice cream, pizza, tacos, in search of the holy grail. After walking through many of vendors, I find the spot. Line of unsuspecting tourists, myself included, violating the line up rules forming a long snake extending well into the neighboring vendor foot traffic space. Gus' director of line efficiency witnessed the foul, blew the whistle and directed us to the U SHAPED directions on the floor (see attached image). Get cozy, keep it tight & watch the grill as you get closer to the end order spot. Cooper Sharp? Wiz? Onions? Peppers? Many options. 2 cheesesteaks w cooper sharp & onions, a coke. $40, plus tip. Waited 7 minutes, got sandwiches, and found a spot in the seating area in the middle of the reading terminal market. Cracked these babies open & WOW. The sesame bread is hollowed out so less bread, more meat. Not soggy like a Chicago Italian beef. This long, firm vessel of sesame tastiness hugs the tender beef & cheese like your grandma tucking you into bed. Cut in half, the structure of sandwich is impressive. Chew is excellent. Flavor profiles all in harmony. Just what I needed. Hit the spot. The other 2 people in my party enjoyed. Zero complaints, all praise. Thanks Uncle Gus! Now, where's my hotel? read more

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Uncle Gus' Steaks is located in the Reading Terminal. When we went it was at lunchtime and super crowded. The line to order wasn't long but the wait to get the cheesesteak was 15 minutes. We got the steak with copper shark cheese. It was pretty good and I liked the bread was toasted. read more

Uncle Gus' Steaks - Cheesesteak with peppers - Cheesesteaks Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

This was my first time ever trying a cheesesteak, and as a tourist in Philly, it felt like a must. A gentleman from Philadelphia sitting next to me on the flight told me, "You have to try one while you're here," so I took that advice seriously. I ended up at Uncle Gus' in Reading Terminal Market because of the great reviews. When I saw the size of the sandwiches, I hesitated a bit--it looked massive. I asked the woman at the counter if they offered half portions, and although she checked with her colleagues and said no, she went out of her way to point out two or three other places in the market where I might find smaller cheesesteaks. She didn't have to do that, and I really appreciated how kind and patient she was. In the end, I decided to go for the full sandwich here--and I'm so glad I did. The cheesesteak was packed with tender, flavorful beef, perfectly melted cheese, and sweet grilled onions. Everything came together so well. The bread was a standout: slightly crisp on the outside, soft on the inside, with sesame seeds on top that added a really nice extra layer of flavor. It soaked up the juices without falling apart. It was definitely a big portion--I couldn't finish even half of it in one sitting. For a first cheesesteak experience, I couldn't have asked for better. Great sandwich, and even better service. Highly recommend for first-timers like me--just come hungry! One caveat: Reading Terminal Market was quite busy in the afternoon and it was so hard for me to find a seat. But the ambience is vibrant! read more

Uncle Gus' Steaks - Cheesesteak - Cheesesteaks Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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The Philly Cheesesteaks there were amazing. They were massive, but were a good start to food in Philadelphia. read more

Uncle Gus' Steaks - Cooper Steak w/ fried onion - Cheesesteaks Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Not a great steak sandwich. Ordered without cheese but with onions. Bland, dry, on a hard baguette. Lots of meat - $16 before tax. read more

Uncle Gus' Steaks - Steak - Cheesesteaks Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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An absolutely delicious cheesesteak! The process of ordering was extremely efficient and the food came out very quickly. There isn't specific seating attached to Uncle Gus's steaks but if you keep walking around the Reading Terminal Market you'll find seated and standing tables! Everything in the market looked delicious but I am glad I ended up stopping here! read more

I stopped by for a tourist staple and was not disappointed. The entire area was filled with great food options. Our line to buy was quick, but the line to pick up was a little longer. But no big deal as it was pretty busy everywhere. The cheese steak was very good portion size, and very comforting. My only disappointment is that I added a side of peppers and it was neither enough quantity or flavorful enough to bring the acid in an overwhelmingly rich sandwich. I guess the second disappointment is the lack of seating in this food court. Its a dog eat dog fight for the communal tables and they're pretty far away. But it's not really their fault. Either way, if you're in a pinch for a Philly classic this place does the job. But if you have more time I recommend browsing the options first! read more

If you ever find yourself at reading terminal market please please do yourself a favor and stop by at Uncle Gus' Steaks , you won't be disappointed ! great service & great Philly steak sandwiches. read more

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10/10 Philly! The grilled onions, melty cheese, perfectly cooked steak, and thick, crunchy bread were all on point. We grabbed ours at Reading Terminal Market... there was no line, super quick service, and they even offered to split it for our group of three. Fast, easy, and absolutely delicious. Would definitely enjoy again! read more

Uncle Gus' Steaks - Uncle Gus Steaks - Cheesesteaks Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Food halls are often filled with gimmicks, or decent food that would be so much better if it had its own brick and mortar store. Uncle Gus breaks the mold. This is one of my favorite cheesesteaks in all of Philly. If you want any Angelo's but are allergic to lines, you can get a cheesesteak here in 10-15 mins, even during lunch rush. Incredible cheesy, delicious bread, a perfect sandwich. read more

Uncle Gus' Steaks - Sign - Cheesesteaks Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Did a cheesesteak tour and this was number 4 on our list. A solid cheesesteak that I would get again. read more

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We were visiting Philly for a concert and the Uber driver recommended Uncle Gus' at the Reading Terminal Market. We tried several cheesesteaks while we were in Philly and these were our favorite. The bread is different and delicious. The ordering was quick and easy. We ordered ours to go so I am not sure about a seating area but I didn't see one. Definitely worth a visit! read more

Uncle Gus' Steaks - Cheesesteaks Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Went back to Uncle Gus' because I had a visitor who wanted to go to Reading Terminal, and I must say this second visit was better than my first. While my previous cheesesteak from them felt understuffed and oversalted, my more recent one made a better impression. There was a generous amount of meat, and I really liked the melty cheese contributing to the juiciness. Still have my quibbles with them - I prefer the classic unseeded Amoroso rolls to the more "modern" seeded ones and the diced onions could be more incorporated into the meat and cheese to keep them from slipping out. But for a solid cheesesteak in an easily accessible location (my favorites are further out in the city), Uncle Gus can get the job done. read more

Uncle Gus' Steaks - Cheesesteak with cooper sharp and fried onions - Cheesesteaks Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

You certainly get your money's worth!! The Philly steak is to die for at uncle Gus in reading market. When you enter it's a madhouse and so many restaurants to choose from and many ethnicities. Seating is hard to find because it's crazy busy. This steak was juicy, cheesy and loaded with mushrooms. That's what we wanted. They did have the truffle onions and peppers. I asked for American cheese which was creamy. If you want cheez whiz you have to ask for Whiz! The bun was fresh and soft. I recommend one sandwich for two people; that's how big it is with so much steak!!!! Loved it the HALF of the sandwich was as big as my hand. Bon appetito read more

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Went to visit Reading Terminal and noticed the huge line for cheesesteaks. So decided to return later and it did not disappoint. Bread was amazing and help up with the cheese and steak. Yes try it. Also, service was fast. read more

Uncle Gus' Steaks - Waiting on order. - Cheesesteaks Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I ordered the cheesesteak sandwich with crispy onions. It was delicious and fresh. I also ordered the cheesesteak from Down Home (DH) diner at Reading Terminal Market. While this cheesesteak was more expensive, it was better in comparison. Will definitely stop by again when I am in Philadelphia. read more

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This was a must stop for me while I was visiting Pennsylvania. This place is absolutely iconic and I cannot recommend it more. The food was above and beyond divine. I had the cheesesteak with peppers and I don't know how they got so much cheese into the steak, but it was amazing. Also, the bun wasn't just some run of the mill bun, but complemented the meat perfectly. The surface was amazingly quick and efficient. I do not know how they get all that orders done so quickly, but it was super fast. The ambience was inside the Philadelphia market and was bustling with people and smells. I really enjoyed the experience and will definitely make this a stop in the future. read more

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