Geno's Steaks

09/25/2008 Posted by rayaskew

I happened to be in Philly for a week and figured I shouldn't leave without having "a genuine Philly cheesesteak" - what a total disappointment. You can read all the other 1-star reviews below and they're pretty much spot on. Regardless of the curt service (which can sometimes be excused if the food is amazing), the sandwich was 1-star at best (almost no meat at all). After trying Geno's I walked across the street and tried Pat's. A HUGE improvement in service and the sandwich too (a TON of meat). But in general, I'm just not impressed. Either the whole Philly cheesesteak thing is blown insanely out of proportion, or these places are just completely off their game. Either way, have dinner elsewhere. Just take a look at the summary and you'll see an equal number of 1-star reviews as 5-star, which should give you a big red flag.

Pros: None really

Cons: No taste, no meat, no value, no clue why i came here

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

08/18/2008 Posted by nospeakenglish

What a huge dissapointment! 2.5 hour drive to eat an overpriced, tasteless with little meat and cheese, and big dry bread. The employees are rude and do not welcome non-English speakers. Geno's restaurant has signs posted all over their windows requiring people to order in English only. It has signs such as "We are in America, Speak English". They also sell "Speak English" tees for $10. Not only was it a non-welcoming feeling (for a bilingual Hispanic) to approach the cashier after waiting in a long line, similar to the ones in Disney World, but the cheese steaks weren't even the best. The place is definitely over-rated. Non-English speakers should definitely buy their steak sandwiches somewhere that accepts your order and money regardless of the language you speak. That's what customer service is really about... pleasing your customers, not pushing away your customers. By the way, who are they to request English only, when they don't even speak English. They speak Philly slang.

Cons: Long lines, rude employees, bad service, non-english not welcomed

07/24/2008 Posted by MrDonCheech

Do yourself a favor; try the steak from Geno's with an open mind. I'm not going to say it's my favorite in town, but I can't stand these people who put the place down.. All of these places are about the same - it's more about how you like the steak prepared.. Geno's, Pat's, Tony Luke's and my fav - Ch*nks (won't let me spell it correctly! lol - guess the PC police don't know cheesesteaks - its on Torresdale) all use sliced beef. SLIGHTLY varying quality, but all sliced into pieces. Jim's, D'Allesandro's etc chop the steak into very small pieces.. Also, some places put the cheese on the outside and some on the inside.. Now - Geno's specifically puts the cheese on the bread (it tends to be less sloppy). I like that. Anyone who tells you that the meat is poor quality and get in your car, turn on the navigation and find some obsure place - is doing you a diservice! These places all use decent meat at best - it's supposed to be that way!!! People just like to seem informed and Geno's (and Pat's) are too obvious an answer.. Another thing - what's with all this talk of "tourist trap" - did I miss something?? Is Philly suddenly the new Paris?!? tourist trap - how absurd.. Try going there after any sporting event and telling the Eagles, Phils, Flyers fans that they are tourists...

Pros: Close to Italian market - can walk off calories

Cons: Lines can be long

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful

07/08/2008 Posted by jafcot

My review of Pats said the same thing...............Pat and Geno's are the worst cheesesteaks in Philadelphia. They live on a tourist reputation of these places as landmarks. The days when they served good cheesesteaks is long gone. As I said before, when local radio stations and publications do a periodic "who has the best cheesesteak?" these two places are never in the top 20. They actually take groups of people out to the various cheesesteak shops to sample the goods. Once that happens it is all over for Pats and Genos. I agree in part with Geno's English only stand, however, I think the main reason he brought this up was to divert everyones attention from the crappy sandwiches. Anybody, who said these are the two best in Philadelphia would not know a good sandwich if it jumped them in the mouth or has a cheerleader agenda. Note to Tourists: If you want to see a show and watch some drunks at night visit Pats and Genos but skip the food. For the food: the best cheesesteaks now are proberly Steves Prince of Steaks and John's. Pats and Geno's quality does not even come close to these two. Or better yet, try a taste test with Pats/Genos against Steve's or John's. After one bite you will throw both Pats and Genos in the trash. Additionally, I can keep hearing good things about Chubby's in Roxborough but I have not tried their steaks yet. ATTENTION: DON CHEECH ABOVE ME IS A CHEERLEADER FOR THIS BAD PLACE. IF YOU WANT A THIRD OPINION GOOGLE OR YAHOO WIP CHEESESTEAK CHALLENGE. THAT IS THE LOCAL PHILADELPHIA SPORTS RADIO STATION. THEY HAD A BEST CHEESESTEAK CHALLENGE MADE UP OF PHILLIES, FLYERS, SIXER, AND EAGLES FANS. LOOK AT THE RANKINGS. PATS AND GENOS ARE NOT EVEN IN TOP 20. OH YES, PHILADELPHIA IS NOT PARIS BUT IT DOES GET TOURISTS, VISITORS, AND BUSINESS MEN FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY WHO KNOW THE CITY IS FAMOUS FOR CHEESESTEAK. I JUST DON'T WANT THEM TO GET AN UNFAVORABLE IMPRESSION EATING THE WORST OUR CITY HAS TO OFFER...THAT WOULD BE PATS STEAKS AND GENOS.

Pros: Neon lights

Cons: Genos and Pats are worst cheesesteaks in town

05/20/2008 Posted by MarkFrancis

...and avoid this place. The meat is thick, tough and not browned, the rolls are cheap and tasteless and the service is intimidating. Without exaggeration, the meat tastes like the cheap, frozen stuff sold in supermarkets. Add to the poor quality the fact that the owner (doubtless a descendant of immigrants) is zenophobic and ignorant. Jim's at 4th and South serves real cheesesteaks, and they're not bigots.

Pros: Convenient if you're drunk

Cons: Low quality, xenophoobic owner

05/13/2008 Posted by BBliggity

Don't get me wrong, times change, the economy changes, and their prices from their vendors that they get their product from change...so, the cheesesteaks have changed in quality a little over the years. However, both Pat's and Geno's are the only places that I want a cheesesteak from! Granted, they differ a little from each other, but...the only difference that matters to me is how long the line at either is, and I go with which is shorter. Geno's seems to be a little more in tuned with each other, and their line seems to go a little quicker...but, either is fine with me! Most others don't even carry CheeseWiz, and that's a sin in the cheesesteak world. Greasy is the way I like it, it's the way my father and grandfather liked it, and it will be the way my kids will like it when that time comes. Provolone?! American?! Steak Sandwich is what we call that! Wiz wit or go home! Every Eagles and Flyers game, I go and get them for my parties, and nothing else will be accepted in my house...NOTHING! Unhealthy?! Get up and go to the gym every now and then you lazy people! You don't have to eat horribly everyday, but if you're gonna do it...MAKE IT COUNT! If you're gonna go anywhere else, you may as well go to Florida to get a "Philly Cheesesteak"...LOL! Garbage...seriously! Don't get me wrong... I'm sure the sandwiches are good, but it's not a Philly Cheesesteak unless it comes from Pat's or Geno's...period. Also, the whole thing about Geno's and people only ordering in English...Geno's has MY support! You don't have to agree, and that's one of the great things about individuality. I just believe that when someone comes to this country, we shouldn't have to cater to them. It doesn't happen for me when I go to Costa Rica, Mexico, Germany, or France...so, it shouldn't happen here either. How hard is it to say "wiz wit" anyways?! Even if they chop it up, the person taking the order will know...

04/14/2008 Posted by Vincepapale

Originally Posted 4/14/08 -- For 30 years I wanted to go to Philly & find the best Cheese Steak. Finally making it there this spring, myself and a coworker decided to visit the 3 most popular haunts in walking distance from our hotel downtown. We decided to hike to Geno's, Pat's and Jim's. Geno's was first & we were so disappointed in the steak!!! It was dry - too much bread & it just had little flavor. The locals I asked told us & I must confirm that the price is way too much for what you get. I will say the meat was lean (& sliced), but I can get a better Philly in Denver, CO than at Geno's. My co-worker had the exact same impression. I admire Geno's for their publicity of cops' causes, but I got to wonder if that is more for their own publicity than for the cops. This has nothing to do with the taste test (as I had already had my steak), but it was offensive none the less: Geno's will give out free bumper stickers (1 per customer the sign says), espousing their latest publicity on ordering in English. I saw a fellow in front of me get 5-10 of them. So I asked for 1. The employee turned & asked an old guy (I think it was Joey), if he had any stickers to give out - pointing to me. I guess I didn't look South Philly enough, cause he said "nah, we're out." Very classy Joey!!! I'll just make sure that everyone knows my opinion of Geno's. Since I work in the travel industry, I'll make sure to tell folks where to steer clear in Philly. As for the rest of the Steak trip - the next two were a quantum leap! After Geno's we go across the street to Pat's. The employee greets us with a big smile & takes our order. Oh man - night & day! Pat's was HUGE! They piled it on & yes this is what I was expecting in a steak in SO Philly. Outstanding. After some serious walking, I worked up enough room to venture to Jim's at South & 4th. While not as big as Pat's - it had a certain flavor that just beat out Pat's. Locals say Gooey Louie's (huge & meaty) & Tony Luke's are the best.

Pros: Maybe advocates cops & Vets, lean meat

Cons: Too much bread, dry, poor flavor, MGT are jerks!

03/20/2008 Posted by jerseygirl74

I moved to Atlanta and everytime I come home I stop and get my "philly" fix. Sandwiches are tasty, juicy, and HUGE. I wish every business had an order in English sign. Heck, I wish every business had service in English.

Pros: Great tasitng food

Cons: Stinks on the cold winter days to sit outside

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful

01/24/2008 Posted by bluehydrogen

Geno is doing a diserve to the name of chesesteak. It's the worst. It's a disgrace to Philly. It's a pure lemon. I took my cousin from Canada to Geno. He wondered why anyone in his right mind would pay $7 for 4 piece of meat with cold chese on a hard bun. Maybe we should hand out notice like "Geno is not good presentation of Philly chesesteak" to tourists, so they won't be disappointed. I see some revieweres give Geno five stars. I was curious and looked into their profile. Most of them only have one review. I think they're Geno owner pretend to be customers to blo their own horn. One slipped in his review "We are better than Pat's". lol. I can't believe the owner is so phony and stupid.

Pros: none.

Cons: little meat, cold chese, hard bread, high price

10/16/2007 Posted by goeagles1975

Skip Pat's and Geno's the steak tastes like leather, are small for the price you pay, and are no more than tourist traps. I have never understood why these 2 places are considered good. D'Allesandro's in Roxborough is also over-rated. I am a bit of a cheesteak officianado and have sampled steaks from through the Philadelphia area. Being born and bred in this area and living all around it I must say that as of right now the best I've had are at Chubby's in Roxborough. Chubby's comes with a fork there is so much steak and there isn't a line of people out of the door waiting. The bread is very good and steak is juicy and plentiful. Hot peppers are fantastic too. My main rating factor's include roll selection, meat quality and quantity, and cheese flavor.

Pros: Nothing

Cons: Nothing but a tourist trap with long lines and high prices for a garbage sandwich

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful