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LAURENCE KESTERSON / Inquirer Staff Photographer

Rick Olivieri serving up a cheesesteaks at Rick's Steaks at Reading Terminal Market last July. Although Rick's finished No. 30 on WIP's list, that was higher than Geno's or Pat's.

Craig LaBan's cheesesteak project (2002)
Craig LaBan's favorite burgers (2007)
Obama: I'll try that cheesesteak next time
A little Brotherly advice

READER FEEDBACK

What cheese belongs on a cheesesteak?

Forget what traditionalists tell tourists. Which do you like best?

After 45 cheesesteaks, the best were ...

By Peter Mucha

Inquirer Staff Writer

Barack Obama vows he shall return and sample a cheesesteak.

Just one?

Yesterday, sports talker Glen Macnow of WIP (610 AM) posted his nearly final rankings of 45 cheesesteaks sampled between West Chester to Atlantic City.

Only the order of the top six could change, pending a final on-air showdown at noon on Saturday, April 19.

Interestingly, ranked No. 1 was also the place that finished first with Inquirer restaurant critic Craig LaBan after his 2002 whirlwind tour of 23 eateries:

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.

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Comments

Comment removed.

Posted by Loren 12:28 PM, 04/04/2008

MacNow will forever be a tool. It's obvious he has Slack's ranked high because they have been in association with WIP for several years.

Comment removed.

Posted by prez_beck 01:31 PM, 04/04/2008

I wonder if he ever tried Paganos in West Oak Lane...

Posted by Michael S. 02:01 PM, 04/04/2008

Go Steve's! My favorite from there is a pepperoni & mozzarella (no sauce), wit. And don't forget the spicy fries with Whiz on the side.

Posted by Reggie 02:05 PM, 04/04/2008

Pagano's is #43 on the full list, below Pat's, which just isn't right...good list though for the most part, although I think D'alessandros should have made top 5...

Comment removed.

Posted by fabulousdee 02:27 PM, 04/04/2008

try a Tony's cheesesteak in Port Richmond... Belgrade & Clementine

Posted by stevie06 03:00 PM, 04/04/2008

I think Frank's Pizza in Quakertown has the best cheesesteaks. Try a weber, alittle messy but well worth it.

Posted by Joe 03:43 PM, 04/04/2008

Hey, Reggie...right on, D'alessandros is the best!

Comment removed.

Posted by Ray 04:20 PM, 04/04/2008

Slacks does blow.

Posted by JFranklin 04:56 PM, 04/04/2008

Why would anyone go to Pepper Mill? Place survives on its past reputation alone, its been going downhill for years. If you dont step on any rodents between your car and the counter, watch out for 'foreign objects' in your sandwich.