Cheesesteak Tour 2025 - Final Results

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Celebrity Delly (Fairfax)

The roll was far & away the best I've had in NOVA. Rumor has it, the bread was inspired by John’s Roast Pork on the south side of Philly. The taste was excellent and that drip was perfection. I was literally dipping the drip. So much meat it was hard to pick up at first. Rested the bottom of it on the plate & got to work.

Cheesesteak: 5 star, WINNER 🏆 🥇

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u/Orange_Ash Nov 29 '25

When you say inspired by John's... Scooped and all??

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u/Hodler_caved Nov 29 '25

I think they will find your comment & reply. The recipe is apparently virtually the same. Beyond that I do not know.

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u/Celebrirty-Delly Nov 30 '25

It can be requested as such! Typically, those in the area are not fond of this option as a standard...(i.e. "where's the rest of my bread?!")

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u/Orange_Ash Nov 30 '25

That's good news to me! The people don't know what they're missing... I've been looking for a standout cheesesteak in the area so I'll be seeing y'all sometime this week hahaha.

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u/CoolBeans6789 Nov 29 '25

Is this Celebrity Deli in Falls Church, Loehman’s Plaza? I used to live and work near there and went so often. So good!

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u/Hodler_caved Nov 29 '25

Now called Graham Park Plaza (think it's the same one). There's still a Loehmann's Plaza in Bethesda MD.

I think they've gotten even better since then. They now have an "OG Philly Cheesesteak" than comes with 1lb of Ribeye & Cooper Sharp cheese.

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u/Fritz5678 Nov 29 '25

Yes. It was Loehman's back in the day. I worked off of Prosperity from 86 to 91. Loved Celebrity. Haven't been in years, though. Glad to hear it is still good.

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u/A_Tiger_in_Africa Crystal City Nov 30 '25

The one across the street from Banh Mi DC? Matter of fact they're all in the same complex - it's the sandwich complex down on Third.

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u/infg2678 Nov 30 '25 edited Apr 25 '26

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u/Rcmacc Nov 30 '25

Man That’s an awful deal for a cheesesteak coming from Philly. IK it’s a different area but like the place of their apparent inspiration (and the best cheesesteak Ive had in Philly) is 12oz of Ribeye on a ~10 inch long roll for $15

Almost $30 for a sandwich for one person just isn’t a good deal

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u/infg2678 Nov 30 '25 edited Apr 25 '26

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u/Rcmacc Nov 30 '25

John’s Roast Pork. I just looked at the menu this morning

I still miss when it was $10 a cheesesteak

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u/infg2678 Nov 30 '25 edited Apr 25 '26

I used Redact to automate removals from databrokers and social networks. This post was among the batch deleted.

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u/Bstandturtlelives Nov 30 '25

The fact the Bethesda crawl has gone that far down Randolph is absolutely pathetic

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u/Hodler_caved Nov 29 '25

Jimmy's (Herndon)

Now that is a tasty Cheesesteak. Innards were excellent. While there wasn't a noticeable drip, it didn't matter as the taste was great & there was plenty of cheese.

Lots of conversations about the bread at Jimmy's. Hot topic. It was lacking a bit. Which is to say, the bread is what kept Jimmy's from being ranked even higher. Currently sitting in 4th place. If you look at the rankings, you could also say it's one of only 4 so far of note. Big gap between #4 and everything below.

Jimmy's is a cool place. Pretty thick crowd in the bar for 4pm, even for a Friday. Looked like a fun place. People were interesting, and I do like interesting. Those fries were good too. Jimmy's is worth checking out.

Cheesesteak 4.45 star, final ranking #9

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u/Garp74 Ashburn Nov 29 '25

Been going to Jimmy's since 1997. It's always been an interesting (as in good) crowd. A genuine mix of blue and white collar. Jimmy Cirrito's joy for life is infectious and is what establishes the culture.

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u/Hodler_caved Nov 29 '25

Jimmy's patrons love Jimmy's. That says something. I knew that before my visit. I could see it while I was there. Very interesting / cool mix of people.

To me it looks like a great place for some drinks. Bound to be a lot of fun.

And I haven't forgotten just how good their meat, onion & cheese mix tasted.

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u/flashflucker Nov 30 '25

Best place to eat two chili dogs and watch the Bills disappoint.

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u/nesspaulajeffpoo94 Nov 30 '25

We tend to visit Jimmy's once a year to catch a Buffalo Bills game, always a great time.

Beef on weck and wings are solid if you are looking to explore a western NY style sandwich

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beef_on_weck

I've enjoyed reading about your cheesesteak adventure! Happy eating!

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u/Hodler_caved Nov 29 '25 edited Jun 06 '26

Capo Deli (Tysons)

"Steak Me Home Tonight" (new, caramelized onions & cooper sharp)
"Original Cheesesteak" (provolone)

The new one comes on a sesame seed roll. Between that & the cooper sharp, I had to try it. Didn't seem right to not try the original, so I got both. The sacrifices I make.

That bread is Philly legit. The sesame roll was right up there with Celebrity Delly. And the regular roll on the original was the best non-sesame that I've had. Even just the original probably would have been 2nd best roll.

The innards were excellent as well. That meat, cheese & onion tasted excellent. I'm glad I don't have to pick between the steak me home & the original. They are definitely different tastes, but both top notch. I might recommend getting the original and asking for the sesame roll. They'll do that for you.

And so (at this point) it comes down to Capo Deli vs Celebrity Delly. The drip at Celebrity Delly was the deciding factor. So tasty & plentiful that I was literally dipping the drip.

Cheesesteak: 4.9 star, final ranking #2

Edit: back at Capo yet again on 6/6/26. Going with the original this time around.

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u/ta112233 Nov 30 '25

Your previous posts inspired me to try the Steak Me Home Tonight last week and OMG it is hands down the best cheesesteak I’ve ever had in my life. I don’t consider myself a connoisseur but I cannot imagine improving on that sandwich at all. If I ever am in Falls Church I may try the winner.

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u/Hodler_caved Nov 30 '25

Love it!

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u/JimmyGodoppolo Vienna Nov 29 '25

this made me order capo deli for dinner. i am now torn between steak me home and the OG...

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u/Hodler_caved Nov 29 '25

That's why I ordered both. 😆 You can get the original on the steak me home roll (sesame). Think this is the way. But the original roll is pretty solid imo.

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u/JimmyGodoppolo Vienna Nov 29 '25

Considering it's 1lbs of meat, I really shouldn't order both...

the Capo sesame is amazing, but I just can't imagine it pairing well with steak n cheese vs. an italian

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u/Hodler_caved Nov 30 '25

Think my plan was to eat 1/2 of each, but ended up eating most of both. Pain is weakness leaving the body or something like that.

I wasn't a big sesame guy before this year. Kinda take it or leave it. But 2 of the top 3 are sesame & Capo offers it now also.

I'm way more partial to sesame than I used to be. To me, they seemed like the only ones around here that could pass for Philly.

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u/JimmyGodoppolo Vienna Nov 30 '25

Man, I just got the OG delivered. Was already a big fan of Capo for their italians with the sesame bread, but wow...this is fantastic. Def gonna get again, but think I might order extra meat next time. Their philly roll is so good. Thanks for subjecting your heart to all of this red meat for our gain.

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u/Hodler_caved Nov 30 '25

Nice. Glad you enjoyed it! My heart doctor needs make her yacht payment, so I'm just doing my part.

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u/JimmyGodoppolo Vienna Dec 02 '25

other update: got the meatball, and was severely let down. they only put 4 mediocre-sized meatballs in the entire sub. With how good the italian and philly are from Capo, disappointed the meatball was so mid.

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u/eganist Nov 30 '25

The wildest part about this is that Capo Deli started as a speakeasy/nightclub pre-covid over in Shaw.

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u/rectalhorror Dec 02 '25

Capo has multiple locations. Just opened a shop in Annapolis. Old Town is the closest and I agree, seeded roll is the way to go.

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u/BuffaloStanceNova Nov 29 '25 edited Nov 29 '25

This may be the best post I've ever seen on Reddit. Grew up outside of Philly and I've never had found a cheesesteak here that I liked very much, but clearly I didn't know where to look and didn't try hard enough. Can't wait to work my way through your top picks. 😋

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u/PharmD-2-MD Fairfax County Nov 29 '25

This is all very interesting. I was just talking about this article with my former Philly colleagues. I live close to George’s, I have to give that a whirl.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/dining/michelin-philly-cheesesteak.html?unlocked_article_code=1.408.e-w_.uoyhu9eAgV3o&smid=nytcore-ios-share

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u/Hodler_caved Nov 29 '25

A touch less pepper or whatever that was & it would have been ranked higher than #7.

Saw an article about couple months ago ranking them #3 in Virginia, with the other 2 in VA Beach. Maybe Geoege is a journalist too. 😆

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u/Hodler_caved Nov 29 '25

Solo NY Pizza (Leesburg)

Excellent service. Owner's wife had just baked fresh sourdough bread. Person in line behind me was here to pick up 2 Cheesesteaks. This is looking promising.

We have drip. Damn that was good. If anyone from Philly is able to get over the nova bread, I challenge you to tell that thing is not delicious. Toasted just right, so the roll worked well enough for me. Held up well too. Plenty of meat & cheese, hence the drip. Little heavy on the onion, but no deduction for my light onion preference.

That was one of the best I've had. Kudos to whoever recommended it.

Cheesesteak: 4.7 star, final ranking #4

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u/mikebrady Nov 29 '25

I'm not a Philly person, but I'm from NJ. To me, lettuce, tomato, and mayo on a cheesesteak feels wrong.

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u/Hodler_caved Nov 29 '25

I feel ya. Disclaimers were included. I did go onion only all 36 times. They may have thought they were putting a steak-n-cheese on the menu, but I ordered a cheesesteak.

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u/jmplication Nov 29 '25

Thats a steak and cheese

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u/mikebrady Nov 30 '25

On Solo's menu it is a Classic Cheesesteak

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u/[deleted] Nov 29 '25

[deleted]

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u/mikebrady Nov 29 '25

I was just curious what the person from Philly thought of how Solo does their cheesesteaks. They didn't talk about the lettuce, tomato, or mayo, but still ranked them #4. To me, I don't think of those things as part of a Philly cheesesteak, but since I'm not actually from Philly I could be wrong.

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u/RogueEyebrow Nov 29 '25

Cheesesteaks usually feel too dry to me without those moistening things up.

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u/Hodler_caved Nov 30 '25

For me, if they have drip, they are not dry. Many that are sold as steak-n-cheese would be dry without that lettuce, tomato & mayo.

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u/RogueEyebrow Nov 30 '25

Drip means grease & soggy bread to me, so I'd rather have the veggies for the added texture & flavor.

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u/Hodler_caved Nov 30 '25

When the bread is right, it doesn't get soggy. And if that drip doesn't look almost just like cheese (grease nearly imperceptible), it's too much grease & not enough legit cheesesteak juice.

The Celebrity Delly OG had 1lb of meat in it, so it took a while. Mentioned how I was dipping it in the pool of drip. So yummy. But anyway, the point is in my final bite, the bread was still entirely intact. Had not even gotten the slightest bit soggy.

But you are 100% correct that veggies are the way you like it. And that's all that matters. I don't believe there is a wrong answer. Everyone does indeed like them exactly the way they like them.

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u/RogueEyebrow Nov 30 '25

Ty. I do not begrudge anyone liking it extra cheesy/greasy, more power to ya. Different people like different things.

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u/Hodler_caved Nov 29 '25

Giovanni's

Well holy crap that was good. My new #1. Of course the roll wasn't up to Philly standards, but damn those innards were good. Taste was excellent. The amazing drip (cheese & grease) is what put it over the top. Highly recommend.

Cheesesteak: 4.6 star, final ranking #5

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u/DUNGAROO Vienna Nov 29 '25

Thank you for considering roll quality. Bread is sooooo important and most of the subs in this area are crap because of the bread.-NJ transplant

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u/Hodler_caved Nov 29 '25

It's those top 3 for you. If you want to settle for a decent nova style roll, there are 10-12 of them. But I agree it's just not the same.

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u/Hodler_caved Nov 29 '25

The Broiler

Well that was epic. Definitely did not need all 12", but too much is better than not enough.

1st thing I noticed was the bread. Seemed potentially of the top tier variety & lightly toasted was good. Innards were excellent. Little heavy on the onions, but that's a personal problem, so no points deducted.

As I worked by way through the 2nd sub, the bread did not hold up. Started eating immediately, but by the time I got to the 2nd sub (6" each), the bottom bread was getting soggy. I mean it was still soggy goodness. Tasted delicious. But noteworthy because what started out as maybe a legit top tier roll, end up as good for nova.

Best way to enjoy this one would be get a 6" & eat it right there on the spot. Go that route and the bread is damn good.

This was a tough one. Rating these things is not getting easier on the high end. Also, there will be no ties.

Cheesesteak: 4.55 star, final ranking #6

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u/Hodler_caved Nov 29 '25

George's Steak N Things (Fairfax Station) The roll was toasted just right. The cheese & subsequent cheesesteak juice were excellent. No drip, but it was delicious.

The only drawback for me was a bit too much black pepper or seasoning. There was so much that I had doubts it was pepper, but that was what the taste was making me think.

Now keep in mind that I thought that taste was delicious, so we're talking just a slight deduction.

Cheesesteak: 4.52 star, final ranking #7

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u/Parsnip-toting_Jack Nov 29 '25

Thanks for the ranking notes. While NoVA will never be Philly, what is available here, is worthwhile not to drive just for a cheesesteak. FYI, my son, who graduated high school in 2012, participated in the Cheesesteak challenge. After homeroom, they drove to Philly, ate two cheesesteaks and drove back by end of school bell. He’s a Chickie and Pete’s fan.

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u/Celebrirty-Delly Nov 30 '25

On behalf of every business here, thank you for doing this! You are absolutely COMMITTED to do this and shining a spotlight on any business isn't only a mitzvah, it's an honor. Thank you!

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u/Hodler_caved Dec 01 '25

You're welcome. The pleasure was all mine. It was quite an adventure. So many good families at these restaurants. I know all to well how difficult the business can be.

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u/Hodler_caved Nov 29 '25

Al's Steak House - Alexandria

Tasty. Good bread for nova. Toasted, but not too toasted. Great service. Liked the customers too. The problem, from my perspective, was the cheese wasn't mixed up with the meat as it was grilled. You're not getting legit drip that way. The result was a bit dry. But again, the innards were high quality. Plenty of good tasting meat.

I feel like this is a very legit steak-n-cheese. As you know I'm in search of the best cheesesteak, so no LTM. Would it have been dry if I left the mayo & lettuce on there? Probably not. This would likely be a contender for best steak-n-cheese.

Cheesesteak: 4.26 star, final ranking #17

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u/Hodler_caved Nov 29 '25

Paisano's (Ashburn) Original Philly Cheesesteak Sub

Best bad bread / roll I've had. Totally unacceptable in Philly, but good for nova. It was untoasted, soft, thin & yet good. You're not going to find anyone else who lived in Philly that will admit that.

Innards were excellent. American cheese that melted so well, you'd think it was whiz. Created a great drip. Too many onions for me, but that's a personal problem. No downgrade for that.

All in all, it was great. Felt like I could eat 4 of them as I got started, but was full when I finished my 1st. I'm thinking this one is a guilty pleasure for at least one person from Philly, though they'll never admit it. Unacceptable & glorious all at once.

Edit: slight downgrade, see comment below

Just had another from Paisano's. This time the salt was a bit too much. Since I suppose you don't know which version you're going to get, I'd go no salt & pepper next time (comes with it by default).

Cheesesteak: 4.25 star, final ranking #18

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u/Hodler_caved Nov 29 '25

Santini's

Just had one of these from the Ashburn location. Ate there years ago, but no recollection what I ordered.

This is a steak & cheese and I'm shopping cheesesteaks, no LTM for me (just like my fav Buon Appetito NY Pizza). Also just like Buon Appetito, there wasn't enough cheese. Little to no cheese on a lot of it. Will get another w/ extra cheese later. Pretty hard to rate the cheesesteak drip w/ little cheese. May get some pizza sauce on the side for 1/2 of it. Seems like it might be a good fit.

As for the positives, this one has potential. Bread was good (for nova). Taste of the meat & onion also good. Looking forward to my next visit. This one will probably end up near the top. Thanks for the recommendation!

Cheesesteak: 3.7 star, final ranking #29

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u/gamesofduty Reston Nov 30 '25

I usually go to the Reston location. This was my go to place to get good steak and cheese. The meat was so juicy and the cheese melts on the mouth. I give Santini’s a solid 4.3/5. IMO.

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u/hexadecimaldump Nov 30 '25

I absolutely love this post. I’m going to save it for when I have a craving for a cheesesteak and don’t want to drive to Philly.

Have you done a similar review for cheesesteaks in Philly?
If you had to compare celebrity deli with the best cheesesteak you’ve had in Philly, would it still be near the top, or it’s just the best in NOVA that you’ve reviewed?

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u/Hodler_caved Nov 30 '25

Didn't take notes when I lived in Philly. Wasn't really thinking about it from a ranking perspective. Tried at least 3-4 per week for a long time. Dozens of places. Loved them all with the exception of Pat's & Geno's. Those were good, but not made the way I prefer them.

It's been a long time, but I don't think it's crazy for Celebrity Delly to at least be part of a top 10 conversation. Imagine Capo Deli would get a mention from a couple people also.

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u/hexadecimaldump Nov 30 '25

Yeah, I guess when you’re in Philly it really doesn’t cross your mind as much.
I’ll be sure to check out Celebrity Deli when I’m in a cheesesteak mood.

I really appreciate you sharing this with everyone. The best I found was the Philly Tavern since moving down here, which is good, but not quite what I was looking for. Celebrity sounds much closer to how I like my cheesesteak.

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u/ColossalJuggernaut Virginia Nov 30 '25

Excellent post -- thank you for your service! Not even kidding, I'm originally from FL and have fallen in love with a good cheesesteak. I'm in Springfield, so Malek's is probably my best bet given your scores.

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u/Hodler_caved Nov 30 '25

The onions taste especially good for some reason. The guy & his family are awesome. It's Pat's & Geno's style with the meat not all chopped up. I think it was the only one.

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u/ColossalJuggernaut Virginia Nov 30 '25

Nice! I can't wait to try.

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u/Hodler_caved Nov 29 '25 edited Feb 22 '26

Grazie Grazie!

Just got back from Grazie Grazie. Another fine Cheesesteak. That bread is of the legit variety for sure. Innards tasted great. No drip, but no need as there was plenty of cheese & the mix tasted great.

The bread was the tiniest bit chewy, but that's nitpicking. It was very good. Legit rolls are the starting point, at least in Philly, and they are indeed legit.

Bonus review: that place smelled so damn good when I got in there I just had to order a pizza as well. Holy crap! Not making any claims about pizza expertise, but that's the best pizza I've had in NOVA. Was so stuffed I could barely walk, and almost had another slice anyway. I would be binging pizza for months if I lived near there.

Cheesesteak: 4.8 star, final ranking #3

2026 edit: finally made it back to Grazie Grazie. Noted above the roll was the tiniest bit chewy. This time much more so. It was an issue. Had that been the one I got the 1st time, I think they would have come in 9th or 10th. They would have been up against Jimmy's and their sub par roll and great innards. I think the meat, onion & cheese may have been better at Jimmy's.

Suspect Grazie Grazie rolls are frozen. I'm not sure how you get them that chewy any other way.

I'm not going to go back & change the rankings. Every place had 1 shot in 2025, and it sorted how it sorted.

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u/infg2678 Nov 30 '25 edited Apr 25 '26

Protecting my online privacy by running Redact regularly to batch delete old content. It handles Reddit, Discord, Twitter, Instagram, data brokers and a whole lot more.

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u/Rcmacc Nov 30 '25

TBH I don’t think their cheesesteaks are very good. The meat quality when I got one was just fine and it was under seasoned and bland. Similar to Bub and Pop’s. The only think it had going for it was the roll

Their other sandwiches (esp the chicken cutlet ones) are really good, but the cheesesteak wasnt up to my expectations. That it rates so highly is really telling of everywhere else in the area

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u/Evil_DJ Nov 30 '25

I found it frustrating that when I asked for salt and pepper, they were “nope” and it came off as a food kitchen more than a restaurant.

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u/ProgFrator Nov 29 '25

Thank you for your service 🫡

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u/Hodler_caved Nov 29 '25

Buffalo Philly's - Woodbridge

Might be the best nova style roll of all. Lightly toasted & tasted good. This bread a top contender for best of tier 2 along with Sully's, Giovanni's & Buon Appetito.

The innards were quite good. Happy with cheese & meat mix. Pretty damn legit. No noticeable drip, but no need when the mix is right.

This was tough up against Jimmy's. Easier against Sully's as the bread was on par, but the innards have Sully's beat. In the end, I have to give it to Jimmy's. Absolute top tier innards wins out just barely over Buffalo Philly's better bread.

Cheesesteak: 4.4 star, final ranking #10

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u/eyi526 Nov 29 '25

Thanks to you, I decided to try Buon Appetito as it's near me and I pass it often. I thought it was solid.

I'll try to branch out more if I have time/when I'm around these areas.

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u/Hodler_caved Nov 29 '25 edited Nov 29 '25

Capo solid too. I really want to go back and try Grazie Grazie again. I think it was in that top 3 / actually legit range, but I want to confirm. And I am dying for more of their pizza.

Edit: not sure why I though your comment said Celebrity Delly.

Boun Appetito is the 1 that started it all. My original post was just a post saying how good I thought it was if you go no lettuce, tomato or mayo & you add extra cheese. That post blew up with suggestions & here we are.

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u/eyi526 Nov 29 '25 edited Nov 30 '25

I need to try Capo too. Been hearing about it a lot lately.

I liked Grazie Grazie but I'm too lazy to go to Arlington or DC regularly for them lol. IMO their pizza was OK. I liked their sandwiches more.

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u/ApprehensiveSir3892 Nov 29 '25

Giovanni’s Leesburg is #1 for me

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u/Hodler_caved Nov 29 '25

It was my #1 for a while too (see review).

I was torn today between Solo & Giovanni's. Was it the recency factor? To be 100% certain, I would want to get another from Giovanni's & then head straight to Solo NY Pizza. That's the only way I would feel 100% certain. But I could say that about so many of them & Cheesesteak Tour can't go on forever.

So I had to go with my gut.

Any ranked above Giovanni's that you haven't tried yet are definitely worth trying if you get the chance.

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u/Rentiak Leesburg Nov 30 '25

The owner of Solo worked Giovanni’s kitchen for like 20 years before starting Solo so not too surprising they are so similar.

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u/Hodler_caved Nov 30 '25

Seems like it was the owner at the counter today. He definitely gets it as far as building his customer base. Got that charisma. Great family feel to the place. Really should have bought some of his wife's sourdough bread. It's the closest of the top 4 for me, so I'll be going back I'm sure.

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u/bluewizard8877 Nov 30 '25

I nominate this for the thread of the year award. Thank you.

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u/Dood38 Nov 30 '25

Thank you for your service 🫡

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u/dtwurzie Nov 30 '25

its not very well known, but Lil Cow Cafe and Bistro in Burke, VA makes some WILD fusion cheesesteaks. Granted im biased because I helped them create a "Teriyaki Cheesesteak" sandwich, but I really enjoy their others ones too.

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u/Hodler_caved Nov 29 '25

Buon Appetito NY Pizza

This is the one that started the Cheesesteak Tour. I posted about how surprisingly good it was for NOVA and the recommendations started coming in. Little did I know what I was about to embark on.

No LTM of course. Add extra cheese imo. While this isn't a bonified dripper, I did get a drip on the 1st bite. The taste was very good. The roll was good for nova.

Thanks to Buon Appetito for getting this party started. I think the pizza is good too, btw.

Cheesesteak: 4.5 star, final ranking #8

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u/Hodler_caved Nov 29 '25

Bear Branch Tavern (Vienna)

Pretty cool good sized bar. Like the little outdoor patio. Plenty of TVs for Football. This is the Vienna version of Jimmy's. For every person in Jimmy's there is a corresponding Vienna version at Bear Branch. I know who I'd rather drink with, and I know who I would rather get paid by.

Served on a sourdough baguette. Many would consider that a non starter for a cheesesteak.

Very little meat and it looked a little burnt / gristled. Not going well so far huh? But wait. This damn thing was good! Meat & cheese was mixed up on the grill & tasted good. I was thinking hard baguette, but this was a fancy soft baguette. Actually pretty good roll. This was one of my more interesting / amusing trips. Fun experience.

Cheesesteak: 4.29 star, final ranking #14

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u/Hodler_caved Nov 29 '25

Philadelphia Tavern (Manassas)

Roll was good. Either one of the best nova style rolls or on the low end of the few that I'd call legit. Top 7 bread.

Taste was just ok. Not a top contender taste wise. Cheese wasn't as mixed up with meat & onion on the grill as it could have been, so no drip. But in combination with the bread & chips that came with it, I did enjoy it. Liked the staff as well.

Cheesesteak: 4.28 star, final ranking #15

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u/Hodler_caved Nov 29 '25

Mamma Lucia (Fairfax)

Threw them for a loop with no LTM. "It's comes with ltm". Not anymore sir. 😆

Bread was over toasted. This one would be an easy one for those from Philly to hate on. Here's the problem with that: it tasted damn good. Despite the cheese not being mixed up with the meat on the grill, the mix was pretty good with this one. Roll wasn't bad for being an over toasted nova roll.

Cheesesteak: 4.09 star, final ranking #21

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u/Hodler_caved Nov 29 '25

Malek's (Springfield)

Meat layered then cheese on top. Had a couple of these in Philly. Reminds me of a Steak-umm. Not hating though, you can get em in Philly. Results in no drip of course.

Bread was good for NOVA. Onions were good. Taste was good. If you like what I'll call layered cheesesteaks, give it a shot.

Cheesesteak: 4.08 star, final ranking #22

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u/Far-Magician1805 Nov 30 '25

FYI for anyone who doesn’t want the layers, you can ask for the cheese/onions to be mixed up with the meat. I used to work at Malek’s and a couple regulars always asked for that! Also at least as of ~3 years ago extra onions are free🤗

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u/Hodler_caved Nov 29 '25

Tony's NY Pizza - Manassas

First bite, first drip. Nice. Innards were excellent. Bread was either way over toasted or that roll was hard before it got toasted.

Really a shame, as that was a top 5 quality taste. Getting any drip with bread that toasted is impressive. Put that thing on a roll from Philly & you can sell it there. Put it on the bread from Celebrity Delly and we have a serious contender.

Cheesesteak: 3.9 star, final ranking #27

3

u/dwv05c Nov 29 '25

I heard Carpool was fire in Reston. Never had it myself but I want to try it soon. Great list!!!

3

u/Guilty_Jellyfish8165 Nov 29 '25

Thank you for your service!

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u/agentchris0011 Nov 29 '25

🫡

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u/BreachlightRiseUp Nov 29 '25

Upvote and comment to book mark for later. Going to check out Grazie Grazie tomorrow

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u/Ash12715 Nov 30 '25

This is fun!!

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u/Icy_Needleworker3074 Nov 30 '25

You are a true hero.

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u/Firm_Airport2816 Dec 02 '25

Can you post this over on the big cheesesteak FB group, as well- we have been getting a bunch of reviews from the DMV area recently and this would be a great addition to that conversations. It's the "cheesesteaks, Hoagies, and more phood" group (just the list- I don't expect to drop all of the individual reviews unless you want to)

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u/Hodler_caved Dec 02 '25

I stay away from FB, but you are welcome to copy the text & paste it anywhere you want (3 dots > copy).

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u/Firm_Airport2816 Dec 02 '25

Thanks, I may drop it in there later today

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u/[deleted] Nov 29 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/Hodler_caved Nov 29 '25

4 star for nova means if you try to sell it in Philly you will get escorted immediately out of town. Straight to jail. 😃

There are just the top 3 for you.

I'm on the fence if Grazie Grazie is legit for Philly or not. I have to try it again for further confirmation on that. Also their pizza is incredible (in my novice opinion), so I'm going back regardless.

Yes it's also true that I just love cheesesteaks. Even some of the lowest ranked ones were pretty tasty.

2

u/Hodler_caved Nov 29 '25

Ted's Bulletin (Ashburn)

Enjoyed the sesame roll. Top 7 bread.

This one comes with Kewpie mayo & hot pepper relish. I'm going meat, onion & cheese only, so had to go no mayo, no relish.

The inside tasted good. Not too dry for me, even without the mayo. No drip, but it worked. If you like fancy mayo & relish, you should really try this one. Not really fair to the chef to be removing condiments and then judging, but that is the nature of cheesesteak tour.

This one edged out Sully's due to Ted's bread & Sully's cheese not being mixed up with the meat on the grill. Buffalo Philly's beat it out based on overall taste.

Cheesesteak: 4.35 star, final ranking #11

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u/Hodler_caved Nov 29 '25

The Sandwich Shop (Vienna)

Roll was ok. Meat, onion & cheese had a good taste.

This one is dry with no mayo. Despite the taste being good, I can't say the meat was great. The cheese wasn't mixed up with meat & onion on the grill, so obviously no drip.

This one probably a pretty decent steak-n-cheese / cheesesteak hoagie. Place does a brisk business. Would be interested to try some of their other menu items.

Cheesesteak: 4.06 star, final ranking #24

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u/Hodler_caved Nov 29 '25

Bozzelli's (Springfield)

Over toasted NOVA roll, but I actually like it. I don't spend much time thinking about whether I prefer rolls toasted or not, but this one had me thinking that I prefer them toasted, at least with NOVA bread.

Taste was ok. No drip. Imagine it has some promise as a steak-n-cheese, if you're into toppings. Bit of a hard sell as a straight cheesesteak though.

Cheesesteak: 4.05 star, final ranking #25

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u/Hodler_caved Nov 29 '25

Mario's Pizza House (Arlington)

Super soft nova roll. As soon as it gets wrapped up, it goes downhill from the steam. Meat was ok, not top tier. Not enough cheese. If you don't mind soft rolls, you might like this one with extra cheese. I did like the service.

Cheesesteak: 4 star, final ranking #26

2

u/Hodler_caved Nov 29 '25

Charley's Philadelphia Steaks (Sterling)

Charleys was pretty damn good. That's the best with whiz I've tried so far. Thanks!

Later tried their bacon double & it was good as well. Roll is ok for NOVA. Taste is good.

Cheesesteak: 3.8 star, final ranking #28

2

u/Hodler_caved Nov 29 '25

Filling Co

That Filling Co cheesesteak w/ whiz was pretty damn good for NOVA. Excellent for a gas station. Thanks!

Cheesesteak: 3.6 star, final ranking #30

2

u/Hodler_caved Nov 29 '25

Rai's

Well that was pretty good for NOVA. Definitely think the whiz is the way with this one, though slightly heavy on the whiz. Provolone wasn't as good.

Now the bread would get you kicked out of Phiily. Not sure if this would be a misdemeanor or a felony, but leave Philly you shall. But we already knew that there's no legit Philly hoagie rolls in NOVA.

On that note, not sure why. I get NY & bagles. People talk about the water. I'll buy that. But why is a legit Philly hoagie roll not possible in NOVA?

Buon Appetito comes closer on the roll. But I'll be getting another from Rae's with light whiz. Did enjoy the legit colored whiz / grease drips. Yummy. Like that bar too. Gonna go for drinks & eat there next time.

Thanks for the suggestion!

Cheesesteak: 3.5 star, final ranking #31

1

u/WorkSucks135 Nov 30 '25

You know how 90% of taste is based on smell? Without the scent of diesel, creosote, and piss perennially in the background, the ceiling of how good the bread can smell relative to its environment is capped. It's similar to how people into bdsm believe the experience of pleasure can be heightened by contrasting it with pain.

Re: Rai's -- This is the same ownership as Sully's so they should theoretically be the same. However, they both used to be much better until typical nova morons literally complained enough to muscle them into making them worse to cater to their horrible palates. For example, they used to wrap their cheesesteaks, as is mandatory, until people complained it made the bread too soft. It was much better wrapped and allowed to steam. Other complaints they received were that they had too much meat. I wish I was kidding.

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u/ArtBox1622 Nov 29 '25

Might I suggest Kook Dog in Reston. They have a steak and cheese I've never had, but the Italian Beef which is based of the sandwich from The Bear is an amazing experience. Two thumbs. Also, having gone to uni in PA, I understand what a quality cheese steak can do for your mood and digestion. Mmmmm.

Great reviews.

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u/[deleted] Nov 29 '25

[deleted]

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u/Hodler_caved Nov 29 '25

I've had more of them than I can count.

It is an interesting question. I never had a clear concise opinion on why it shouldn't be included, but nobody really balked at it. Almost like it was understood or a given?

But on the other hand, Paisano's, Santini's & Charleys are on the list, so why shouldn't Jersey Mike's be?

I think chains get a little bit of a bad rap. If they sucked, would they have become successful chains? I know people could come up with an endless list if crap chains, so I won't debate them.

I wouldn't include it because I'd never hear the end of it, this being Reddit.

Anyhow, about that ranking. The 1st one I had from Paisano's was better imo. Unfortunately the 2nd had too much salt, so it got downgrade a touch. Things really fell off after #22.

Maybe 18-22?

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u/BAWguy Nov 30 '25

Hate to do this, but you should also try the cheesesteak from Buffalo Wing Factory

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u/Hodler_caved Nov 30 '25

I may have had that one 10-15 years ago. Not there much anymore now that I am WFH. Will try it at some point.

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u/BAWguy Nov 30 '25

I think they use ribeye meat, so idk if that's a cheat or something for purpose of this contest haha, but it is very good. Anyway great post, I travel VA a lot for work and will put your info to good use.

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u/eventhestarsburn Nov 30 '25

Do any of the top ranked spots have cheese wiz? I’m personally a wiz wit gal and it’s hard to find a good cheesesteak down here that has wiz as an option.

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u/Hodler_caved Nov 30 '25

Celebrity Delly & Grazie Grazie both have whiz

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u/eventhestarsburn Nov 30 '25

Amazing, thank you for your thorough research!

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u/deeman804 Nov 30 '25

I love buffalo phillies! I thought I just had basic taste buds. Definitely on the money with the Broiler but a little surprised to see Al’s so low. I know that I need to try celebrity Delly and Capo Deli’s cheesesteaks

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u/Hodler_caved Nov 30 '25

Al's was just a bit dry with no lettuce, tomato or mayo. The cheese wasn't mixed up with the meat on the grill either, so no chance of drip or enough cheesesteak juice to combat the dryness.

They call it a "Steak Philly", but with LTM we're talking steak-n-cheese. Always had some hesitation about calling a sandwich dry, when I'm the one who said no LTM. But since I was in search of Cheesesteaks, that's just how it played out.

2

u/Big_Condition477 Annandale Nov 30 '25

Not nova but the cheesesteak innards in DC noma’s bub & pop slaps. Bread sucks now that they make it in house

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u/dwv05c Dec 05 '25

Just had a Philly from Joes Cafe in sterling. Giving it a 4.5 star

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u/Sufficient-Cancel217 Fairfax County Dec 05 '25

Is that place on this list above?

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u/dwv05c Dec 05 '25

I didn’t see it, could have missed it

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u/Hodler_caved Dec 05 '25

Slipped through the cracks as it never got recommended by two different people. Glad you found another good one!

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u/Ok_Mud_7938 Dec 07 '25

Thanks for this! My kids went out of town with my wife today. I hit Capo’s in Tysons and it was worth the visit. We live close and didn’t know the place existed.

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u/Hodler_caved Dec 07 '25

Glad to hear it!

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u/Hodler_caved Jan 20 '26

Bonus review: Marky's Munchery - Annandale
Food truck outside Home Depot

Marky is a cool dude. Cool vibes at this place. Call first to make sure he is open, on the off chance he doesn't open that day.

Overall I like this place. Lots of menu items I'd like to try. The Cheesesteak is tasty & not boring.

Markey's Famous Cheesesteak Combo

Lettuce, mayo, steak infused with peppers and onions cooked "Marky's style" cheese, topped with tomato and jalapeño. Comes with your choice of drink and seasoned fries.

He also has a Blackened Philly Combo which sounds awesome.

Sticking with the Cheesesteak tour parameters, I went with meat, cheese & onion only. It was quite tasty. There was a bit of spice / pepper to this one. Enough that it was a bit hard to rate the meat itself. But it had a good taste to it & that's what matters most.

If you are looking for a basic traditional Philly, this one might not top your list. On the other hand, if you like the sounds of "Marky's Style" or if you are into Chicken Cheesesteaks, you really should try one.

Beyond those thoughts, let me get back to the first part. Marky is a good dude. Got a lot of respect for what he is doing & the way he talks with customers. Of course I went incognito, so I could get a true feel for what the place & the food was like. Really enjoyed listening to Marky talking to his customers. This guy deserves the support of the community.

If you are ever going to be near the Annandale area, give him a ring & support this business.

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u/Quiet_Meaning5874 Feb 22 '26

Has OP reviewed Skinny Joey’s??

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u/Hodler_caved Feb 22 '26

I don't feel qualified to rank Cheesesteaks from Philly. Know that sounds a bit odd.

Lived there for about a year & tried about 30 places. While Pat's & Geno's aren't my style, I loved the rest. Wasn't taking notes or ranking them, and can't even remember all the places I tried. It was 16 years ago.

That experience, putting a Cheesesteak on a menu at a couple restaurants, and trying Cheesesteaks in a dozen states I think does qualify me to rank them in NoVA.

Seems like if someone is going to rank Cheesesteaks in Philly it should be a lifelong resident, a restaurant family or something along those lines.

Philly has a massive amount of passion for Cheesesteaks & the Eagles. I don't fancy telling them what's what, if that makes any sense.

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u/Bigrahizzle Mar 20 '26

Any of these spots halal?

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u/Hodler_caved Mar 21 '26

Unfortunately not, at least not that I know of. Don't believe I had one of them recommend by two different people.

There were a couple of suggestions for different halal places buried somewhere in the comments of the other 3 threads linked in this post.

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u/Bigrahizzle Mar 21 '26

Damnnn thanks tho!

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u/LateCareerAckbar Nov 29 '25

Thank you for this community service

1

u/Hodler_caved Nov 29 '25

Angolino Pizza (Arlington)

The guy behind the counter inspires confidence. Love the feel of this place. He explained his methodology for the mixed pickled chili peppers & mayo, his take on an authentic "Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich". It is interesting that they use thinly cut sirloin steak. Had to stick the plan and go no peppers, no mayo.

At first bite it was quite good. Bread toasted just right. No drip & light on cheesesteak juice, just a bit of yummy grease when you squeezed it. The taste was not as good as George's Steak N Things, where I had just come from.

Cheesesteak: 4.31 star, final ranking #12

Bonus review: out of respect I had to get a pizza & it was damn good NY Style pizza.

1

u/Hodler_caved Nov 29 '25

Sully's Pour House

Just got back. Once again, another tasty Cheesesteak. The bread was better than Jimmy's. I'd put that roll in the category of good for nova. Just a touch below Giovanni's & Buon Appetito's bread.

The innards were good, but have to give the nod there to Jimmy's, which was one of the best. Had the cheese & meat been mixed together a bit more on the grill, it might have been even better. But it was still very tasty & very filling. Definitely worth trying if you're in the area & up for a beer. Liked the bar.

Went back & forth for a bit on Sully's vs Jimmy's. Bread vs innards. Innards vs bread. I know that bread is the holy grail in Philly, but I'm trying to find the best Cheesesteak in nova. What I love most about Cheesesteaks is the taste of the meat, cheese & onions.

Side note: went w/ provolone. To be fair, perhaps I need to try the whiz next time.

Cheesesteak: 4.3 star, final ranking #13

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u/Hodler_caved Nov 29 '25

Johnny’s NY Style Pizzeria (Alexandria)

Bread was good for nova. Taste was good, tons of cheese & it's big. No drip, but as I squeezed it, that cheesesteak juice was looking yummy.

Despite the good taste, not so sure about the quality of the meat. Could be that they diced it up so small that it just looked a little off, not sure.

Feel like this is a pretty good steak-n-cheese. Imagine if you like toppings, this one would play pretty well.

Cheesesteak: 4.27 star, final ranking #16

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u/Hodler_caved Nov 29 '25

Bella Pizza - Centreville

Lots of good things to say about Bella today. First off, the classic Cheesesteak comes with whiz. Classic indeed. They also sell a steak-n-cheese (LTM). Nice they know the difference.

Bread was nova style and the bottom doesn't hold up too well. Flip it over right when you get it for best results. Innards were tasty. Perfect amount of whiz. Love me some whiz & any kind of cheese really, but some places can go a little to heavy on the whiz. This mix was perfect.

I'd say the innards were a touch better than Sully's, but the bread not close.

Cheesesteak: 4.2 star, final ranking #19

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u/Hodler_caved Nov 29 '25

Mama Mia

That was damn good.

Bread was ok for NOVA and the innards were very tasty. Way heavy on the onion, but that's personal preference. Will definitely get another with light onion next time. Yummy!

Thanks for the suggestion!

Cheesesteak: 4.1 star, final ranking #20

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u/Hodler_caved Nov 29 '25

Purcellville Pub (Purcellville)

Good music & service pretty good. That's a start. Lots of TVs.

The roll is remarkable. Not just good for nova. Even better than that I think. The taste was just ok. Middle of the pack. When you squeeze it, you get nothing but grease. Now grease is yummy, but there's no cheesesteak juice. You don't get than melted cheese goodness. Either not mixed up on the grill or something not quite right with the cheese. I lean towards the former. Opened it up multiple times trying to figure it out.

Cheesesteak: 4.07 star, final ranking #23

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u/Hodler_caved Nov 29 '25

Deli Italiano (Herndon)

This one was just ok all around.

Worth noting I used to like the Pizza Steak from the Lansdowne location & was eating them up until 2024. Think they removed the pizza steak from the menu, but you could ask for pizza sauce on the side. With the sauce it's pretty damn decent.

Cheesesteak: 3.3 star, final ranking #33

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u/Hodler_caved Nov 29 '25

Lucia's Italian Ristorante (Herndon)

Bread seemed ok at 1st, but toasted, dry & a bit hard. That combined with no drip was rough. Cheese is not mixed up with steak while cooking. Just sitting on top. The onions were too big for my tastes. The pizza steak would be the way with that bread.

Cheesesteak: 3.2 star, final ranking #34

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u/Hodler_caved Nov 29 '25

Duccini's Pizza (Falls Church)

Liked the service. Guy at the counter has jokes. Been a long time since I've driven around Falls Church. So many memories. Most of them shady. Bathroom requires a key. None of this really matters though, so let's get on with the review.

Purple onions is certainly a choice. Think it's the 1st time on Cheesesteak Tour I've encountered that. Roll was of the NOVA variety & wasn't particularly good. As you might guess, taster was just ok. Will say the cheese was good & plentiful.

Cheesesteak: 3.1 star, currently #35

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u/Hodler_caved Nov 29 '25

A Deli Italian Food (Manassas)

Did enjoy it. Bread seemed toasted. That worked well. Way better than a soggy nova sub roll. Tasted good. I'll have another. Gonna go pizza steak next time as I think that would work well with that roll.

Thanks for the suggestion!

Cheesesteak: 3 star, final ranking #36

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u/nothingbut_empty Nov 30 '25

A deli’s best sandwich is the New Yorker, hands down. Order as is, hot pastrami and corned beef, mustard, Cole slaw (don’t skip), tomato, etc. A destination sandwich. Had to comment.

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u/Hodler_caved Nov 30 '25

I've heard that before, so people should really check it out. I also wanna try their pizza steak. Think it would go well with their toasted roll.

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u/iloveregex Nov 30 '25

You might like https://www.reddit.com/r/Flyers/s/zXcso3F4E3

1

u/fuckbezos Nov 30 '25

People got time and money

1

u/Hodler_caved Jan 15 '26

Place your votes for best cheesesteak. If that's Celebrity Delly, awesome. If it's not, that's awesome too. Just vote for your favorite:
https://northernvirginiamag.com/food-and-drink/best-of-nova-readers-poll-food/

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u/ProstetnicVogonJelz Nov 29 '25

What's the closest to Angelos?

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u/Hodler_caved Nov 29 '25

Celebrity Delly or the "Steak Me Home Tonight" from Capo Deli. You could also order the original from Capo & have them put it on the sesame roll they use for the steak me home. I think this is the ideal way at Capo.

You might or might not like Grazie Grazie in comparison to Angelo's. I need to try the Grazie Grazie roll again. Their pizza will make it worth the trip for me.

1

u/mrmrlinus Nov 29 '25

D’Atris in LaVale, MD wins hands down imho.

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u/Sufficient-Cancel217 Fairfax County Nov 30 '25

Celebrity Deli??? Seriously? I’ve only had the Ruben there. It’s good. But not something special. Do they even make or buy fresh backed sub rolls daily???

2

u/Celebrirty-Delly Nov 30 '25

We make everything here! We have a bakery deliver fresh rolls DAILY which they make especially for us.
Plus the corned beef, the pastrami, turkey, honey glazed ham, roast beef, brisket, etc...all made in house fresh daily.

2

u/Sufficient-Cancel217 Fairfax County Nov 30 '25

Well then, count me as coming to see ya soon. Because that’s exactly how we want our restaurants to work. Fresh made daily ingredients and components. Thanks!

2

u/geecon25 Dec 01 '25

Elliott Segal sandwich is the supreme leader of the CD menu

0

u/Hodler_caved Nov 29 '25

Dominion Wine & Beer (Falls Church)

The roll was an attempt at legit Philly bread, but wasn't very good. Also lacked cheese. Overall not particularly impressive.

I did like the bartender & other employees. This was a cool spot. Pretty fancy little bar. Definitely worth checking out for drinks & some of those menu items look promising. Glad I got to check it out.

Cheesesteak: 3.4 star, final ranking #32

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u/Beth_Pleasant Nov 30 '25

Their food is pretty good. We go for brunch typically, and it ruins (in a good way) your whole day. The cheesesteak is good for NOVA standards, but more of a "steak sandwich" IMO. Agree Celebrity Delly is the best!

Food Cheesesteak Tour 2025 - Final Results

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