Pat's Steaks

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Late night diners crowded in front of Pat's Steaks

Pat's Steaks (or Pat's King of Steaks) is a Philadelphia restaurant founded by Pat Olivieri in 1930. Olivieri claims to be the originator of the sandwich most people associate with the city of Philadelphia, the cheesesteak. Olivieri, who was originally a hot dog vendor, told the story that he decided one day for his own lunch to use chopped-up steak bits instead of a normal wiener. At the suggestion of a cabbie who sampled the new sandwich, he began selling these and opened Pat's Steaks, located at the intersection of 9th Street and Passyunk Avenue. The Olivieri family still owns the establishment.

While it appears that Olivieri's initial creation may simply have been a steak sandwich, the addition of cheese has become standard. The innovation of adding cheese is actually claimed by a competitor, Geno's Steaks, which opened across the street in 1966. The rivalry between the two establishments has gained public attention and fueled debates over who serves the best Philadelphia cheesesteak.

One point of particular interest for cheesesteak connoisseurs is the choice of cheese used in the sandwich. Pat's Steaks provides the traditional Cheez Whiz, while other establishments sometimes also offer Provolone or American. During a campaign stop in Philadelphia on August 11, 2003, Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry requested a cheesesteak with Swiss cheese at Pat's Steaks. In political terms, this nontraditional choice was a serious miscalculation, as it could help reinforce images of Kerry as effete, aloof, and out of touch with the average American. The owner of Pat's Steaks convinced Kerry to change his order, but the incident nevertheless earned Kerry some ridicule in the press.

Numerous celebrities, including N'Sync singer Chris Kirkpatrick, Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell, talk show host Larry King, and Senator John McCain, have dined at Pat's. In addition, scenes from the 1976 movie Rocky were filmed on location here.

Like other establishments, Pat's Steaks provides a choice of Provolone, American cheese, or Cheez Whiz.The New York Times, 1985, op. cit. Cheez Whiz was first introduced in 1952, 22 years after Pat's opened.

When getting a cheesesteak from Pat's, one must know how to order properly. In keeping with the "tough" South Philly stereotype, people have been sent to the back of the line for ordering incorrectly. First, specify if you want your steak with ("wit") or without ("wit-out") onions. Second, specify the cheese or toppings you want on your steak: Plain, American, Provolone, Whiz, or Pizza. Finally, have your money ready and do not order fries or a drink at the first window (order sides and drinks at the second window).

External links

• [Pat's King of Steaks website]
• [Philadelphia Daily News story about Kerry visit]
• [Fortune magazine story on Pat's and Geno's]
• [An opinion on the relative merits of Pat's and Geno's]

References