John's Roast Pork on East Snyder Avenue in South Philadelphia.
Sen. Obama, take note.
In his review, Macnow insisted reputation, including magazine raves and a national award, didn't influence him or his interns: "We were skeptical. No place can be that good. But, tell you what – one whiff of the aroma wafting from John's had us enticed. And one bite of the $7.76 cheesesteak, and we were in gastronomic heaven. This, my friends, is ecstasy on a toasted Carangi's roll."
Completing Macnow's Top 10:
2. Steve's Prince of Steaks, Philadelphia
3. Chink's Steaks, Northeast
4. Talk of the Town, South Philadelphia
5. Grey Lodge Pub, Northeast
6. Slack's Hoagie Shack, Northeast
7. Sonny's Famous Steaks, Old City
8. Tony Luke's, South Philadelphia
9. White House Sub Shop, Atlantic City
10. Dalessandro's, Roxborough
Chink's, Tony Luke's and Dalessandro's impressed LaBan as well.
Cosmi's Deli, which topped a Philadelphia Magazine list in 2004, finished 17th on Macnow's list. The magazine's runners-up were Dakota Pizza Co. in Wynnewood, Lee's Hoagie House in Marlton, the Swann Lounge at the Four Seasons hotel, and Tony Luke's.
Those picks raise a real question about best suburban cheesesteak. Last year, the monthly named a new suburban favorite: Garrett Hill Pizza of Villanova. Macnow, who had more than 200 suggestions, didn't go to Dakota, Lee's or Garrett. His suburban favorite was Donkey's II in Marlton, which finished 11th, five spots above Pepper Mill in West Chester.
For Macnow's full list, go to http://go.philly.com/wipsteaks.
Macnow's most surprising conclusion: Overall, the Northeast has better cheesesteaks than South Philly. The unheralded Grey Lodge Pub was a particularly pleasant discovery, he said.
The Northeast tends to leave its beef sliced, instead of chopping it to bits, which is sometimes a way to cover up inferior meat, Macnow said.
What, no Pat's and Geno's?
