The wait at each of the PA places is insane. 30-45 min for a cheesesteak. They asked for a 30% tip… really good. Nice bread (non seeded roll). Good meat and cheese taste. Reminds me of Brynn and pretty grizzly. Looks like a big sloppy mess, smells terrible
After Angelo’s, it was time for a short trip up 95 to The Great Northeast. Admittedly I don’t know this part of the city very well. Cafe Carmela has also been a recent name in cheesesteaks. The restaurant feels more of a sit down place, and we wanted our sandwich to go. After all the order was placed, we were told 35-45 minutes, and the wait was every bit of it! But was it worth it? A longer wait than the King of the New Era of Cheesesteaks?
When the sandwich came out, it was a huge sloppy mess. Good thing I brought paper plates! The roll was non-seeded, but very fresh (at 5 PM) and very durable under the massive pile of meat and cheese. The chop of the steak was just right, with solid flavor, but a little more gristle than I’d prefer. The flavor of the cheese also shined through and held the pile of meat together.
Overall, it works perfectly together. And there couldn’t be a more fair comparison, only 1 hour after Angelo’s. At least within the City Limits of Philadelphia, Cafe Carmela takes the win!
