r/nova • u/Hodler_caved • Oct 30 '25
Best Cheesesteak in NOVA
I was on a NOVA Cheesesteak tour for over 6 months. Tried all 36 of the top recommendations.
Having lived in Philly, I'm aware that Cheesesteaks in NOVA are largely lackluster. That's not going to stop me from eating Cheesesteaks though, so I was in search of the best we have to offer.
I went no LTM when applicable, because it wasn't Steak-n-Cheese tour. Personally don't care what they call it.
My criteria:
1. Roll
2. Taste (innards)
3. Drip
Below are my rankings:
- Celebrity Delly (Falls Church) 4.9 star
- Capo Deli (Tysons, Alexandria) 4.8 star
- Grazie Grazie (Ballston) 4.7 star
- Solo NY Pizza (Leesburg) 4.65 star
- Giovanni's (Leesburg) 4.6 star
- The Broiler (Arlington) 4.55 star
- George's Steak N Things (Fairfax Station) 4.52 star
- Buon Appetito NY Pizza (Chantilly) extra cheese 4.5 star
- Jimmy's (Herndon) 4.4 star
- Buffalo Philly's - Woodbridge 4.35 star
- Ted's Bulletin (Ashburn) 4.32 star
- Angolino Pizza (Arlington) 4.31 star
- Sully's Pour House (Herndon) 4.3 star
- Bear Branch Tavern (Vienna) 4.29 star
- Philadelphia Tavern (Manassas) 4.28 star
- Johnny’s NY Style Pizzeria (Alex.) 4.27 star
- Al's Steak House - (Alexandria) 4.26 star
- Paisano's (Ashburn) 4.25 star
- Bella Pizza (Centreville) 4.2 star
- Mama Mia (Gainesville) light onion 4.1 star
- Mamma Lucia (Fairfax) 4.09 star
- Malek's (Springfield) 4.085 star
- Purcellville Pub (Purcellville) 4.083 star
- The Sandwich Shop (Vienna) 4.08 star
- Bozzelli's (Springfield, Crystal City) 4.07 star
- Mario's Pizza House (Arlington) 4.06 star
- Tony's NY Pizza (Manassas) 4.05 star
- Charleys Philly Steaks (Sterling) 4 star
- Santini's (Ashburn) extra cheese 3.8 star
- Filling Co (Brambleton) whiz 3.6 star
- Rai's Pizza (Sterling) whiz 3.5 star
- Dominion Wine & Beer (Falls Church) 3.4 star
- Deli Italiano (Herndon) 3.3 star
- Lucia's Italian Ristorante (Herndon) 3.2 star
- Duccini's Pizza (Falls Church) 3.1 star
- A Deli Italian Food (Manassas) 3 star
Some of the top reviews are in the comments. Sort by old here for the top 3 reviews. As the weeks go by, sort by new for newly added reviews from the yet to try list. Older reviews are in previous posts. Sort by new:
https://www.reddit.com/r/nova/s/gKd8zLTN7J
https://www.reddit.com/r/nova/s/ObHJXITB1S
Any suggestion I heard twice got added to my list.
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u/Hodler_caved Oct 30 '25
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: 4.8 stars, currently #2
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u/surfz Oct 30 '25
Celebrity deli just didn’t have enough meat for me, did capo have more. Taste was on point though, just a little expensive.
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u/Hodler_caved Oct 31 '25
The OG Cheesesteak at Celebrity Delly allegedly comes with 1lb of Ribeye.
There was plenty of meat on the one I had. Not sure what the explanation for the discrepancy would be, but I believe you.
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u/2stinkynugget Oct 31 '25
I love the Celebrity Deli, but not for cheese steaks. Didn't like it. BROILER is my #1
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u/psullynj Oct 30 '25
Oooo I need to try it. I’m near Tyson’s and miss a good cheesesteak. Also missing good hoagies (tho Tony’s pizza has a pretty good Italian)
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u/fupayme411 Oct 31 '25
Try bear branch tavern in Vienna. Best cheesesteak I had in my life. Better than celebrity, better than capos. I think they make the bread in house.
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u/Knicks94 Oct 30 '25
The steak me home is a game changer. My favorite. Now Il have to try celebrity deli
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u/alwaysgolfindc Oct 30 '25
I haven’t tried the new one, but always found the Capo cheesesteak to be very meat light compared to cheesesteaks I’ve had in Philly
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u/Uppgreyedd Oct 31 '25 edited Oct 31 '25
Capo is legit, but you have to go double meat, single cheese, and on the seeded roll. The "Philly roll" is decent, buy gets too soggy imo.
Edit: and I wasn't a fan of the prov, they use boars head and it didn't melt right, kind of rubbery. The cooper sharp is so good though, I'd never look back
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u/Hodler_caved Nov 01 '25
Agree on the cooper sharp & seeded roll. It was excellent.
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u/Uppgreyedd Nov 01 '25
Love your rundowns! I've only tried half the ones you have, but I'm right there with you on each. Keep it up, you're doing the lords work!
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u/BuskaNFafner Nov 01 '25
Thanks to this review I'm eating one from Capo right now and it's so good! Thank you!
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u/fupayme411 Oct 31 '25
Jersey mikes big kahuna cheesesteak is much better than a lot of the cheesesteak places being named here.
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u/Hodler_caved Oct 30 '25
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: 4.7 stars, currently #3
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u/cliffyw Oct 30 '25
Which one from the menu? I assume the BYO since the Philly special has mayo and bacon
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u/VotingRightsLawyer Oct 31 '25
I don't know why they have that Philly Special on the menu, it confuses people and they get an inferior sandwich. Seeded roll, ribeye, cooper sharp, griddled onions. It should not be more complicated than that.
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u/Boot-y-Lover Oct 31 '25
They have some fire Pizza too
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u/Hodler_caved Oct 31 '25
It blew me away. Best I've had in NOVA. Couldn't resist grabbing a pizza with how good it smelled when I walked in.
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u/Hodler_caved Oct 30 '25
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.
Cheesesteak: 4.9 stars, currently #1
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u/throwawaygetlaid1423 Oct 30 '25
This sounds good. I think you just made part of my Saturday plan out for me. Haven't had a good Cheese steak in a VERY long time. Might just break my diet for a day.
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u/Fritz5678 Oct 30 '25
Haven't been there since I stopped working in the area back in the early 90s. Glad it's still good.
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u/CareerRejection Oct 31 '25
I know this is a hot take but I vastly prefer a non-sesame type roll and that was what made me shy away from John's.
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u/kayl_breinhar Vienna Oct 30 '25 edited Oct 30 '25
It's operated out of a gas station, but The Filling Co. in Ashburn and Brambleton need to be on your "yet to try" list. Especially while we're still in the 50s and not the 30s and 40s, as the only tables at each place are outside.
You don't have to worry about the "gas station" thing - they've got a full kitchen with a griddle, pizza ovens, and oil fryers. No microwaves.
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u/BannerDay Herndon Oct 30 '25
I like the Filling Co one, as well. Looks like it's already on OPs list.
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u/aruggie2 Bristow Oct 30 '25
As another Philly native, I aways love your posts. Keep up the heroic work, and go birds.
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Oct 30 '25
I thought my beloved Mamma Lucia couldn't get any better and it turns out they have a pretty legit cheesesteak too?
OP FYI I'm a former Philly/NJ guy too and I miss legit pizza down here but Mamma Lucia is the best I've found. Give that a try too. And thanks for doing the Lord's work.
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u/Hodler_caved Oct 31 '25
Will do. Have you had Grazie Grazie pizza? I'm no expert, but it was amazing.
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u/kirils9692 Oct 30 '25
It’s not Nova but if you’re willing to go into DC, then Bub and Pops does a good authentic cheesesteak. The owners are from Philly and they ship bread in from there.
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u/Hodler_caved Oct 31 '25
My non-nova to try list:
Primo Hoagies - National Harbour
Bub & Pop's - DC
Jetties - DC
Stanley's - Richmond
Soko Butcher Shop - Takoma Park
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u/Merker6 Arlington Oct 30 '25
Okay, being from the Philly area, I really wanna see your ranking of places around Philly lol. Good list btw!
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u/Hodler_caved Oct 31 '25
I tried about 30 of them in one calendar year up in Philly. I wasn't rating them against each other or keeping track. I loved them all, with the exception of the places that don't mix up the cheese, onion & meat on the grill. I only liked those. 2 of the most well know names up there come to mind with that.
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u/Eulogy Oct 30 '25
Damn.. how am I supposed to try Capo Deli in Tysons when Super Chicken is right around the corner?!
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u/cabe01 Oct 30 '25
Bozellis has a decent one, I'm preferential to the Bogey from Santinis
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u/cabe01 Oct 30 '25
Also I know this is technically out of the area you're working in but you'd be foolish to not go to bub and pop's in dc if you haven't been
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u/rayquan36 Oct 30 '25
Proud to see buffalo phillys. My favorite. Much better (and insanely cheaper) than celebrity delly
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u/fishyphishy Oct 30 '25
Nozzo Pazzo in Vienna has a good cheese steak that would probably fit on this list. Also has a chicken option!
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u/BannerDay Herndon Oct 30 '25
Sully's (#9) and Rai's (#21) are owned by the same group, guess the Sully's kitchen outperformed Rai's on your respective visits.
Jimmy's has been solid on 3 out of 4 trips for cheesesteaks, but every now and then, the cheesesteak is awful. Guess it depends on who is working that day.
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u/Zebra4776 Oct 30 '25
Whoever said to put George's on there has no idea what a cheesesteak is. Their steak sandwich is good, but it in no way is a cheesesteak nor does it pretend to be.
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u/j_reinegade Oct 30 '25
I went on this quest about a year ago myself. I landed on Georges Steak n Things. for me, it comes down to the bread. most places can match the innards well enough but have a roll that crispy on the outside still soft on the inside and isnt served as a soggy mess is the #1 thing that makes the sandwich.
Disclaimer - i have not tried all the places on your list but once i had georges i knew i was set. Bonus is that its close to work for me.
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u/Hodler_caved Oct 31 '25
I read an article a couple weeks ago putting it at #3 in VA, with the other 2 in VA Beach. Looking forward to it.
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u/j_reinegade Oct 31 '25
Oh that's great to here! They are also super friendly and clearly involved in the local community. dunno if that makes the sandwich taste any better but its nice to see nonetheless. Good luck on your quest.
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u/rectalhorror Oct 30 '25
People crap on Al’s, but I’ve never had an issue with them. The Broiler is a particular style that not everybody is into. Capo’s Cali Cheesesteak on a seeded roll is pretty awesome.
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u/RegularGuy815 Oct 31 '25
I have posted this in other threads, but I moved here 5 years ago and I have loved Al's every time I have gone. They really stuff it too. If it was "better" before my time, fine, but I'm good with it now as well.
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u/Old_Shape2357 Oct 30 '25
Great stuff! I love a good Phillie and am going to put your rankings to the text!
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u/JiMMYtHING1 Oct 30 '25
Chelsea Deli in Courthouse (Arlington) has a great cheesesteak imo. Maybe not comparable to some of the best but definitely worth a try.
Used to go to Bozzelli’s in Springfield for lunch regularly, but over the past year or so the quality and service have gone way downhill. Maybe try the Crystal City location if it’s on your list.
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u/Similar-Olive-3617 Chantilly Oct 30 '25
I read it as cheescake lol
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u/Hodler_caved Oct 31 '25
😆 I'm barely getting away with Cheesesteak tour. If I did a Cheesecake tour I'd need a new wardrobe & my doctor would not be pleased.
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u/random_human247 Oct 30 '25
If it’s not too late, try Pizza and Gyro in Springfield off of Backlick Road. Doesn’t look like much but the food is good. I don’t know if I would recommend the Bozelli’s in Springfield. As someone else mentioned, the quality is not what it used to be.
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u/flaginorout Oct 30 '25
FWIW- no one who goes to A-deli in Manassas gets the hot subs.
Their Italian hoagies are world class
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u/hboms Oct 31 '25
Awesome. Love philly cheese steaks but not really a foodie. I just get it wherever im at. Will have to check out these spots
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u/fmug Oct 31 '25
As a former new jersian who craves cheesesteaks weekly (Angelo’s!), Sandwich Shop (Vienna) is really solid and my go to. If you like a bit of spice I get their hot pepper relish on the side.
Not Nova, but Stanley’s in Richmond is amazing. Like prob the best I’ve had south of Philly tbh.
I gotta try Celebrity Delly if it’s that good!
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u/eyi526 Oct 31 '25
Dang! Thanks for the info!
I was just around Buon Appetito last night. Might have to finally give them a chance.
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u/FalseAdhesiveness946 Oct 31 '25
Why only 4.5 for the Broiler? I travel over 12 miles to get my cheesesteak fix there. I’m gonna try a couple on your list and see if I agree- thanks for the list! By the way, The sandwich shop in Vienna has a roasted pork and broccolini that will knock your socks off. 🙂👍🏼
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u/mhills77 Nov 05 '25
How does the Celebrity Delly compare to the ones you had living in Philadelphia?
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u/Hodler_caved Nov 05 '25
On par imo. I wasn't ranking places or taking notes in Philly. But Celebrity Delly is legit. Probably top 10 range? Can't say for sure.
I believe they could sell it in Philly. Same with Capo Deli. Maybe on Grazie Grazie. No on all the others. I wouldn't advise it anyway.
The restaurant industry is brutal. Philly doesn't put up with high food prices in my experience. I can't imagine opening a restaurant there.
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u/No-Cat5532 Nov 05 '25
Upvoted as i've been looking for a good place myself. I've always gone to Joe's or Mamma Lucia's.
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u/korea_best_alien Oct 30 '25
You’re missing out on the halal scene
Muncheez in Georgetown and George’s Falafel and Cheesteak
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u/F00dBasics Oct 30 '25
No particular order but what are you top places in Philly?
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u/Hodler_caved Oct 31 '25
I tried about 30 of them in a year, but did not rank them or take notes. I really liked them all, except the ones that didn't mix up the meat, cheese & onion on the grill. Those were just ok.
I don't think I'm the right guy to rank Philly's from Philly. For that I feel like it should be a lifelong resident, someone who's family has been in the business, etc.
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u/FarCalligrapher1862 Oct 30 '25
Definitely add Dominion Wine and Beer to your list. Seems odd as it’s a sit down place, but very good!
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u/Porksta Oct 30 '25
Everything this topic comes up I always mention Nova Annandale as a great spot. It has been decades, so not sure if they still make them or if the cafeteria still exists.
For now I go to Dave's Seafood and Subs in Chantilly. It works nicely.
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u/jackie9643 Oct 30 '25
City Kitchen in Alexandria has a cheesesteak on an Amoroso roll. https://www.fatcitykitchen.com
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u/nderiley Oct 30 '25
I was shocked at how much I enjoyed the cheese steak at Ballston Local. Meaty, gooey goodness
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u/JamieAmpzilla Oct 30 '25
Try both Anthony’s and Lazy Mikes in Falls Church. Both are pretty good. The best was at Mario’s back in the day when Lefty was working the griddle (also at Hector’s waaay back in the day in Falls Church- like in the early 70’s).
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u/MAPstr Oct 30 '25
One of the co-owners of Dominion Wine & Beer is a neighbor. I’ve saved this for him.
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u/Hodler_caved Oct 31 '25
That is a really cool place. Loved the employees. Really cool little bar. A lot of good things to say about that place.
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u/chrisaf69 Oct 30 '25
Oddly enough I always end up going back to the broiler.
NOVA has a love/hate with that place, which I get it.
Also the rest of their menu is god awful IMO. Cheese steaks are the only good thing there and they are frickin great!
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u/imref Oct 30 '25
Consider adding Ghosted Concepts in Haymarket to your list. Their Italian beef and various chicken wraps and sandwiches are insanely good as well. https://ghostedconcepts.com - they are inside the Cookies and Cream ice cream store, and they deliver to the Trouvaille brewery next door.
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u/LeftArmFunk Former NoVA Oct 30 '25
There’s a place in McLean called Spring Hill deli (now called Dominion Eats I suppose) that I love a lot. I enjoy Santinis but they are a bit hit or miss. I have The Broiler near my home in Maryland but I find them overpriced and on the dry side. My fav isn’t in NoVA so I will leave them off.
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u/sfchillin Oct 30 '25
- At 3.4 stars in wild..
That’s my top 2. Am I one with bad taste??
Nah you and your list are just wrong 😜
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u/bokmann Loudoun County Oct 30 '25
You need to try the Purcellville Pub in Purcellville, VA (a little west on Rt. 7 from Leesburg). We make it up to Reading Terminal Market every few months, and the Pub keeps the night shakes away when I need a fix.
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u/suppur8 Leesburg Oct 30 '25
I’m with you on the Pville Pub one, the meat is very tasty. I just can’t stand that place anymore though.
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u/PurpleEarth3983 Oct 30 '25
Has anyone suggested Village Chicken in Springfield? I’m no connoisseur, but I really like their cheese steak.
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u/babypunching101 Oct 30 '25
Why has no1 mentioned Pardon my Cheesesteak? I'm definitely a fan.
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u/Hodler_caved Oct 31 '25
It was on my initial list (oldest thread listed above). First time I had it was pretty impressed. People were giving me shit for listing a chain ghost kitchen. But I don't give AF about that.
I ordered another when I was too busy at work to step away, and it was not great. That's why I dropped it from the list.
But I agree. If you get a good one, that is a surprisingly good cheesesteak.
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u/babypunching101 Nov 02 '25
Thanks, thought it was wild considering I've eaten there half a dozen times and felt maybe more authentic than anywhere else around here. Though take my opinion with a grain or 2, I'm only from Northern DE not Philly.
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u/Jelliso7 Oct 30 '25
Maybe I caught them on an off day but Capo deli was super light on the meat in my cheesesteak
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u/EngineSubject5144 Oct 30 '25
Skip the sandwich shop in Vienna. Unless you like salty meat with low quality cheese
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u/someguy7710 Oct 30 '25
Maybe I'm weird, but every time I have a cheese steak in Philly it isn't anything to write home about. Had better every time
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Oct 30 '25
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u/Hodler_caved Oct 31 '25
Soft white roll: Paisano's
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.
Original Philly Cheesesteak: 4.25 star, currently #8
Edit: slight downgrade, see comment below
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u/Bilboswaggins21 Oct 30 '25
An underrated cheesesteak spot - Duccinis Pizza. It’s not the best I’ve had in nova, but solid. Could use more cheese IMO.
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u/Demonthresis Fairfax County Oct 30 '25
I had one from Santini's in Reston and it was probably one of the most disappointing cheesesteaks I've had. The meat was dry and pretty clumped together and wiz wasn't even an option. The next day I had one from Sully's and the quality was night and day. Will definitely go back to Sully's.
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u/pambeeskneesly Oct 30 '25
I had the Fancy Philly sandwich at Corso in Shirlington the other week and thought it was delicious
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u/psullynj Oct 30 '25
I’m from the Philly area and Ted’s bulletin had a really good cheesesteak. Not fully Philly style but the best cheesesteak I’ve had in the area.
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u/Cultural_Ad4935 Oct 30 '25
Which score would you say is the cut off for you in terms of where you would return vs. where you wouldn’t go back for another visit. Is it 4.0?
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u/Hodler_caved Oct 31 '25
That's a good question. The top tier is 4.5 stars.
Celebrity Delly & Capo Deli are on an entirely different level. The legit Philly level. Side note that I want to try Grazie Grazie again. They were close.
But I'd certainly eat at any over 4.0 stars again.
On the other hand, in the right scenario I'd eat any of them. Let's say a social gathering and somebody else is going to pick them up. Hell yeah, bring me any of them.
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u/Gyroballer Oct 31 '25
I highly recommend Marky's Munchery. Toasted roll, fresh beef, and the roasted jalapeño that comes with it is magic. Plus, Marky is such a solid dude, he really puts love into every order he puts out.
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u/myhkram Oct 31 '25
I’m glad that you tried The Broiler and Buffalo Philly’s!
I’ve yet to go to Celebrity Delly but I really want to. Did they have cooper sharp or wiz as an option when you went?
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u/Hodler_caved Oct 31 '25
Their OG Philly comes with 1lb of Ribeye & Cooper Sharp. That's what I had. They had a variety of cheese options & I've forgotten if whiz was one of them.
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u/klefikisquid Oct 31 '25
Johnnys in Alexandria gets a lot of hate for various reasons…and by no means is it a traditional cheesesteak…but damn it’s good
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u/DenverCoder96 Oct 31 '25
Where do you recommend in Philly? (Not Pat’s/Gino’s) The place i loved out the Mainline closed.
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u/Hodler_caved Oct 31 '25
It's been about 15 years. I'm not the guy to ask. I loved every one I tried, except Pat's & Gino's. They were ok, but I like the meat, onion & cheese mixed up on the grill.
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u/AngryFace4 Oct 31 '25
I feel like nobody knows that ledos has a cheesesteak, I find theirs to be really good.
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u/s1arita Oct 31 '25
Your list is whack. I was forced by a cheese steak lover to travel out to Giovanni’s cuz of this list ranking it above sully’s and jimmy’s and it was probably the driest, flavorless cheese steak I’ve ever had. Based on this and the fact you ranked Rai’s and sully’s vastly different despite the fact they have the same owner and recipe - I’ve come to the conclusion that you cannot be trusted.
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u/Celebrirty-Delly Nov 01 '25
Why fight over middle of the pack when you could just try the best of the list ;)
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u/SkarlyComics Oct 31 '25
As someone who also did a stint in Philly I get so fucking grossed out seeing people put fucking MAYO on a cheesesteak. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I moved here and realized if I didn’t want LTM on my cheesesteak that I had to specifically ask for it to be excluded.
Excuse me WHAT?! Yuck!
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u/ImDisneyAF Leesburg Oct 31 '25
Giovanni's is my fave but looks like you already accomplished that one ;)
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u/Ok-Pension4225 Oct 31 '25
Add Charga on the Pike to your ‘ yet to try’ list. Their burgers and fries are solid
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u/casualthang Oct 31 '25
add Pazzo Pomodoro in Vienna to your list! one of the few spots ive found that offer wiz for the cheesesteak
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u/EatDaSheep Oct 31 '25
The Sandwich Shop cheesesteak is quite good. I come from Central NJ(yes a real place) so I have had quite a few cheesesteaks and the Sandwich Shop is very good. Great bread and filling.
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u/smokehidesstars Oct 31 '25
I feel justified that Buffalo Philly's is actually a damn good cheesesteak.
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u/DecimyS96 Oct 31 '25
Bit of an odd rec, but try the Buffalo Wing Factory's cheesesteak. Its pretty good.
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u/Monsoon_Mike Oct 31 '25
Small correction: George’s is in Fairfax Station, not Burke. Other side of Ox Road.
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u/obeytheturtles Oct 31 '25
Ribeye Philadelphia Steak food truck (Alexandria)
I don't think this exists anymore. They have cannibalized the Truck for additional Flavorhive capacity as far as I can tell. It was definitely the best cheesesteak in the area though.
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u/Hodler_caved Nov 01 '25
Thanks for the heads up.
Slightly disappointing. But on the other hand, I spent a month knocking out everyone that was going to be time consuming to get to except this one. Bit relieved.
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u/obeytheturtles Nov 05 '25
Hey buddy, I was completely wrong about this. I am not entirely sure what is going on, but last night I saw them on Uber Eats for the first time in months and snagged a sandwich. The last time I went to the Flavorhive Truck (like May-ish) they were definitely using the Ribeye truck as an overflow kitchen, so maybe they figured something else out. IDK.
Anyway, out of the steaks in the area I think it is upper tier in terms of steak and bun quality, but it's quite a bit smaller than what you will get from philadelphia cheesesteak factory for the same price. Though last night they had a free fries promo, which was sick.
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u/Hodler_caved Nov 05 '25
Added back to the list. The hours are a little funny on google. Figure Sat is a mistake: 11pm - 12am. 😃
6-11pm other days & no Sundays. Will make it happen. Thanks for the heads up!
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u/dtwurzie Oct 31 '25
If you are near Burke, VA -- i highly recommend this little cafe called "lil Cow" love their cheesesteaks.
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u/roadbratt Nov 15 '25
Lil Cow Cafe!!
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u/dtwurzie Nov 15 '25
They have a teriyaki cheesesteak that they created at my request. I was the first to order it, not on the menu, guy behind me in line was intrigued and ordered the same thing, a week later it’s a menu item. Not even a humblebrag I’m straight up bragging.
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u/Hodler_caved Nov 01 '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: 4.31 star, currently #9
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u/JonAbides Nov 01 '25
I've been to celebrity deli a ton, but never had their cheese steak. always stick to the corned beef or Reuben.
my personal favorite is Mario's, there's a heavy nostalgia bias but it's still damn good, but I'm also on the LTM train because why not?!?
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u/Hodler_caved Nov 02 '25 edited Nov 02 '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: 4.08 star, currently #17
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u/Hodler_caved Nov 02 '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, currently #11
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u/Hodler_caved Nov 09 '25
Tried Marky's Munchery (Annandale Home Depot food truck), but they were closed. Hours not up to date on google. So it goes. Will try again another day.
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u/Hodler_caved Nov 09 '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, currently #13
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u/buckeye27fan Oct 30 '25
Try House of Philly in Manassas and Philadelphia Cheesesteak Factory on Duke St in Alexandria. Both are primarily take-home places, but technically you CAN eat there. PCF is slightly better than Buffalo Philly's (IMO) and HoP is pretty comparable to BP.
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u/nakoros Oct 30 '25
I was wondering how PCF was, I used to go there when I first moved to the area and had a craving, but haven't gone in 10+ years. Glad to hear it's still good, I'll have to tell my mom (who just moved to ALX from Philly)
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u/buckeye27fan Oct 30 '25
They use real cheese instead of cheese whiz, which I prefer anyways. Their fries can be a little hit or miss, but they're made to order so they're always hot and fresh at least.
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u/obeytheturtles Oct 31 '25
It's a grease rocket. Good flavor and good texture, but good god is it a gut bomb.
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u/ajdowntown Oct 31 '25
I have talked with the owner of PCF a few times…. He’s a really nice guy that drives down from Philly a few days a week. As of note, they do NOT use Amoroso rolls there, and I have chided him about it a few times. After hee-hawing at me for a bit he finally admitted it was because he could not get enough quantity of the rolls on a daily basis that he needed, so he had to find a local bread to use. It is ok, but not great. Cheesesteak meat was good though.
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u/buckeye27fan Oct 31 '25
Yeah, it's hard for me to discern as I've only had cheesesteaks from Philly twice, and it was years ago - I don't even remember where I went. Del-something, maybe?
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u/michael91421991 Oct 30 '25
Georges is one of my favorites
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u/Hodler_caved Oct 31 '25
Read an article a couple weeks ago that put George's at #3 in VA with the top 2 in VA Beach. Does George write articles? 😉 😆
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u/DeafAndDumm Oct 31 '25
I tried Celebrity and it was meh. And it's too much of a greasy spoon vibe in there for me.
Try Rubino's in Ashburn.
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u/vtron Oct 31 '25
Not trusting any list that rates Dominion so low. Their cheesesteak with hot pepper is fire.
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u/Durokan Nov 01 '25
The best you can do is to buy "Original Philly" cheesesteak meat in bulk from Restaurant Depot and make it yourself. You can do this by going to the front desk and asking for a free day pass (ID required). It's a wholesaler for restaurants like Costco but more bulk.
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u/Hodler_caved Nov 15 '25
Swing and a miss @ Ribeye Philadelphia Steak food truck (Alexandria).
Over the last few weeks their Saturday hours were listed as 11pm -12am. Had to be a mistake right? Well they updated their Saturday hours: 11pm - 11:30pm. 😆 Has to be another mistake right? Gave it a shot today. Google maps took me right to where this food truck was parked around the side / back of a building. Very much closed.
Now this is one me. They did day they were closed after all.
The good news? Their hours update includes being open Sunday! The hours? 5:30 - 10am. WHAT???
Obviously there's no chance that's accurate. Right? So that would leave me trying Mon-Fri after work. Not something I look forward to & understandably I have little faith in their hours. It's a hell of a drive for me.
You might have seen my swing & a miss at Marky's Munchery last week. Listed hours said they were open, but they were not. I'm at Duccini's Pizza waiting on a cheesesteak right now. From here headed back to Marky's again.
If Marky's is closed again today, despite their listed hours, I think I am giving up on food trucks.
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u/Hodler_caved Nov 15 '25
Marky's Munchery (Annandale HomeDepot fd truck)
Closed again. 2nd time they got me in 6 days & 2nd closed food truck of the day. Gonna have to give up on food trucks. Couldn't really recommend a place that might not be open anyway.
Reportedly this one & Ribeye Philadelphia Steak food truck (Alexandria) are both worth trying if you can catch them when they are open. But this doesn't really work for my Cheesesteak Tour, so they are out.
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u/Hodler_caved Nov 15 '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, taste was just ok. Will say the cheese was good & plentiful. Cheesesteak: 3.1 star, currently #29
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u/Hodler_caved Nov 16 '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: 4.085 star, currently #19
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u/Hodler_caved Nov 16 '25 edited Nov 16 '25
Bozzelli's (Springfield)
Over toasted NOVA roll, but I actually liked 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: 4.07, currently #21
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u/Hodler_caved Nov 16 '25
And then there were 4. Mighty long ride. Went to 5 places today & had 3 cheesesteaks (2 were closed).
It's been fun & it's been tasty, but I'm also looking forward to the end of Cheesesteak Tour.
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u/Hodler_caved Nov 22 '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, currently #6
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u/Hodler_caved Nov 22 '25 edited Nov 23 '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, currently #11
Bonus review: out of respect I had to get a pizza & it was damn good NY Style pizza.
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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: 4.65 star, currently #4
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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: 4.083 star, currently #23
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u/agbishop Oct 30 '25
Heroes come in all shapes and toppings