Philly’s A Taste Of Philadelphia

Yes, good stuff. If you are outside Philly, this place won’t disappoint,…nor will it inspire. Really good cheesesteak; overpriced, but very good variations on fries. «Sportsbarish» interior. Good food… just not what the hype describes… go here and try the food. It’s good

The Ivo — delicious
the classic philly — delicious
cheese fries — delicious
I ordered for pickup (they don’t do delivery) and was a fan of the food. I walked in, ambience was different than most places I go to. Clean, which is good, but interesting table and TV set up, it almost seems like people hang out here? The service was nice and quick and people were in and out for their take orders. The prices were somewhat on the pricey side for what I had, but I would pay it again.

WOW !
Have you ever seen a picture of food and say that looks good and when you get it… it looks nothing like the pictures or even worse taste awful… yea that’s not the issue here !
This places might be better then cheesesteaks in philly ! Yea I said it ! they ain’t messin around over there ! You need to try this joint to believe how good it is its gonna blow your mind
The cheese steak fries are just nuts please order them with your cheesesteak thank me after your stomach high fives your heart
This is officially my favorite new cheesesteak the bread, meat, cheese that’s not easy people others have tried to make a good cheesesteak this guy must drive there every day to pick up supply’s and bring it back… I don’t no what you guys do but just keep doing it
ALL IN ALL — DONT MISS A CHANCE TO EAT AT THIS AMAZING PLACE

The BEST Cheesesteaks around. Period. I’ve been to Philadelphia plenty of times and Shem has this down! Phill fries and buffalo fries are awesome too! Go here. You won’t be disappointed. Bread comes from Philly and they use rib eye steak. Yum yum yum!

It’s an 8 minute walk from my house, less than 3 minutes into an afternoon run around the hood. I drive by it at least thirty times a week. Being a fat kid at heart, I have dodged this establishment in my weakest beef and cheese jonesing-​ist moments for years. Last week I finally cracked. I walked in after an insane 24 hours at work, and was immediately greeted at the counter. I ordered The Philly, although I wanted everything on the menu. Had a nice chat with the guy who took my order at the counter while I waited. The owner, maybe? Super clean, casual and friendly atmosphere. The sandwich was gigantic! They clearly use quality beef, the bread is perfectly soft with just the right amount of chew. Excellent for sharing. If you have someone to share it with. If not, poor you. Make friends. Eat here often, because it’s delicious and I can’t because I don’t wanna blow up like a wood tick.

Good customer service, people are very nice, the place is clean and the foods are fresh and tasty.

Ahh Philly’s. Had been meaning to get here for a while based on Daym Drops reviewing the place positively and the Travel Channel rating them as a top sandwich in the country back in 2012. I’ve seen other reviews also which excited me very much to try this place the next time I was anywhere remotely close to Norwich. I’m not cheesesteak connoisseur but I’ve been to Philly a few times and have enjoyed from the big names there (Geno’s, Pat’s, Sonny’s, etc.) I came here hoping for a similar experience. Unfortunately, my experience didn’t quite live up to the hype. The location was off the beaten trail a little but the area it was in was lit well and easily easy to find (it’s a big brightly colored building). I love the décor. It made me feel like I was actually at a ballpark about to watch the game. It had a section with turf outside and the whole place was just very festive and inviting. I walked in and spent about five minutes waiting for somebody… Anybody… To take my order. After sitting a while knowing that somebody would eventually come because other people were inside, I was greeted by a nice fellow. I ordered The Philly cheesesteak and Buffalo Chicken fries based on recommendations. The anticipation built during the 15 min wait, but to make a long story short, neither item blew me away. While I love the fact that they use «whiz» here, the bread kind of killed it for me. Not only was it a little smaller than I was expecting based on pics, but it was a little tough/​chewy. I almost felt as if it had been microwaved. But the steak had good flavor and no fat! I don’t do fatty steak. The fries weren’t a good experience, however. There was a good amount of chicken and the buffalo had great flavor, but the fries needed help. They, by themselves, weren’t hot. A lot of them were burnt and there were bland. I was let down by the fries honestly — didn’t finish them. All in all, I think I was unlucky. I would give Philly’s a second chance if I was already n the area, but I wouldn’t attempt a special trip again…

We had a really great time at Phillys! The staff was so nice and helpful and the restaurant was nice and clean. They take pride in how clean it is, you can tell. We got the classic cheese steak, the Kobe and buffalo fries. We shared and couldn’t decided what we liked best! It was all amazing! The drinks are bottled behind the counter, not fountain so no refills.
We can’t wait to bring visiting friends to Philly’s!

Our first time here based on Unilocal reviews and we were left completely satisfied. The establishment was clean, with a fresh updated look. We were pleasantly greeted as we walked through the door. I’m not sure if the man behind the counter was the owner, but he carried himself like he cared about the customers and made us feel welcome. We placed our orders, we went with basic Philly cheesesteaks to keep it simple on the first visit. Service was fast.
The cheesesteaks were portioned perfectly and well presented. We were just recently in Philly at Pat’s & Geno’s and this cheesesteak made me quickly forget my visit to Philly. One of the best Cheesesteaks that I can remember.
We will definitely back again to try more of the items on their menu.

Hands down, best cheesesteak in CT. My previous favorite was Joey Garlics in Farmington/​Newington which still takes the crown for size. Quality over quantity though and this place doesn’t disappoint! They put cheese whiz on them which is rare around these parts. I got «The Ivo» which comes with provolone, fried onions, mushrooms and cheese whiz. I subbed american for the provolone. I was speechless when eating it. Worst part was when I was done and wanted another. So many other things on the menu I want to come back and try including the Broad Street Bully and the Buffalo Chicken Fries that people rave about. If you are anywhere near Norwich, make a trip to Philly’s IMMEDIATELY.

First impression? Clean, spacious and cool on this hot summer day. Large menu selection my wife and I opted for the standard item «The Philly» and regular fries. The steak was sliced thin and cooked perfectly with the fried onions. Placed inside a firm, chewy Philly roll and slathered with ooey gooey cheez whiz. The sandwich is delicious and filling, you will surely leave satisfied. Definitely authentic. Oh, the fries were a nice and crispy compliment to the already yummy sandwich. I wish i lived closer so I can try the other culinary creations from this awesome shop.

I have watched Shem build this place from the ground up in an local small business industry that has been shrouded by failures. It brings me great joy to see Philly’s succeed over the past years and continue to excel in the world of Cheese Steak. The food is always excellent and high quality, the service is always friendly and speedy, the restaurant is ALWAYS impeccable, and the atmosphere is always pleasant.
WIth all that being said, the owner Shem has gone leaps and bounds to help the local community and deserves the utmost respect and admiration for his support to small businesses in the area and for those in need.
If you ever want some tasty food, Philly’s is the place for you.

This is a great place! You have to try a Philly cheesesteak. The meat is well seasoned, full of flavor and simply delicious. I think the wings are ok and fries are ok. If they served homemade fries– this would give them 6 stars! I’m surprised they don’t since they offer their famous cheesesteaks without the bread on their fries.

Philly should be disappointed; the best cheesesteak I’ve ever had comes from Connecticut! The service, quick. The food, simply awesome!

Definitely the best Philly cheese steak I’ve had so far. The server recommended the Ivo and it was incredible. The meat was hot and moist enough for the bread to be in tact. It doesn’t break apart like those amateur cheese steaks. The cheese wasn’t overly salty like I expected it to be. Plus, the service is really great! The staff was friendly and welcoming.
Would come here again!

One of my favorite places to go. The owner and his crew are friendly and genuine. They know my voice, and when I go to walk in, they already have my order ready to go. I couldn’t ask for a better business to eat lunch at, while working at NFA. Although, most CT residents are used to Philly Cheesesteak’s having american cheese on them, Philly’s is authentic in the way that they use cheese-​wiz.
Another component I’d like to factor in, is their community appeal. Philly’s is a strong supporter of NFA and everything we do here– I love supporting this business, and I highly recommend trying it out!

To ‘cheez whiz’ or not to ‘cheez whiz’? That is the question at Philly’s CT. I’m all about the classic style philly w the wiz but my partner… not so much. These guys know their wiz so bring it on! Best Philly’s in CT. Interior is very nicely laid out, very clean & serval tvs with games on. Highly recommend making a trip to hang out here. Go Team Shem Philly’s Cheesesteaks & More!

I can sincerely say I’ve never had a bad meal here. I switch back and forth between sandwiches and nachos, and my stomach is more than satisfied each time.
My mom was raised in south jersey, so we make frequent trips. I pick and choose my cheesesteak hoagie joints in Philly based on one thing, and this happens to be my favorite thing about this establishment as well. This thing is that the steak is not long stringy strips of meat. The steak is extremely cut up, smooth, and just overall exactly what my favorite Philadelphia cheesesteak joint has!
I rarely steer away from the Barkley… steak, chicken, multiple cheeses, mayo, ketchup… I’m getting hungry discussing it. The creation of nachos was phenomenal. I’m guessing they sold so well at Dodd that they were added to the menu.
Customer service here is also above average. Regardless of who’s there, everyone is down to earth. The best part here is that you guys hire kids to work, and train them as responsible, and respectful employees. They’re all great!
I’ve never tried the Philly bread, which is a dessert that is raved about… but I know it’ll eventually happen!
Overall, you guys rock. Great business, great staff, and top notch.

I ate here on Friday 2÷27÷15. I was really not impressed. The food was decent but nothing I would go out of my way for. I was at Backus Hospital for the birth of my child. I was going to order take-​out from this place but their menu said «ready in 5 minutes» for the items I wanted so I just went and ordered in person to-​go. I had the traditional philly and a small order of fries. It took 30 minutes for me to get my order. Additionally, the four people that ordered after me got their order first.
It’s a cheesesteak and fries! This is all you make! It isn’t that complicated!
I can’t speak for the authenticity but I really didn’t think the cheesesteak was that great. Having tried the authentic cheesesteak now, I actually prefer American cheese over the cheese-​whiz.
You can say I’m being difficult in my 2-​star rating but the 30 minute wait and other people getting their order before me really rubbed me the wrong way. For my next kid, I will go to Subway for a «steak and cheese» because I honestly think Subway tastes the same, if not better, and I know I won’t wait 30 minutes for otherwise average food. A better customer experience would have saved the third star.

Perhaps others can stomach it better than I can but the whole self importance of this place is nauseating. Bleeech. OK I get it. The owner was born in Philadelphia and like every other Philadelphian he thinks he knows the secret to making a good cheesesteak. I get it. But there’s a tactful way to promote a business and there’s an obnoxious in-​your-​face way to promote a business. I’m afraid Philly’s takes the later approach.
Let me explain. First when you walk into this place you’re hit immediately with all the excessive advertising, bragging, and self gloating. I mean c’mon, t-​shirts? Hoodies? Sheesh. If I didn’t know any better I’d say from the looks of it this place it has a long storied history. But it doesn’t. I believe Philly’s has only been in operation for 4 years. Yes 4 years. All the logos, signs, and the little P’s in the custom wall trim (yes little P’s in the custom wall trim) are over-​the-​top for such a new place with a small reputation outside of Norwich. I only learned of this place because of Unilocal.
Secondly the sign in front is just sad. «Voted America’s #1 Sandwich by the Travel Channel.» The owner must think customers are idiots. Because if one were to view the Travel Channel’s website they’d learn that any weirdo can upload a sandwich submission. But the best part is that ONLY 58 people voted for Philly’s cheesesteak. Yes that’s right. Apparently America is 58 people. Big whoop de do. Was it 58 of the owner’s closest friends? Beats me. I just know it’s very sad. With such a small sampling if enough people coordinated together they could probably vote a «green turd sandwich» into first place. So the whole Travel Channel accolade is silly and if more people knew its details they’d realize how little merit it truly has. Smell the smoke yet?
In marketing circles there’s a saying «perception is reality.» I suppose if people hear that a place is #1 repeatedly over and over, they will automatically start to believe it. Philly’s is #1, Philly’s is #1, Philly’s is #1… etc. Get the picture?
So how are the cheesesteaks? They’re OK. Do they sit at some divine level next to God like these guys hype them up to be? Definitely not. And yes, I’ve had cheesesteaks in Philadelphia. However some of the best cheesesteaks I’ve ever had were not from the 215 area code. Philly’s makes an OK cheesesteak. It’s hard to compare with other local businesses because there really aren’t any in this neck of the woods. Plus with something as greasy and grimey as a cheesesteak it’s hard to screw them up, especially when crappy Cheese Wiz smothers the main ingredients. Although I did experience some fatty sections in my steak. Their bread is «eh». I find it really hard to believe no suitable bread could be found between Philadelphia and Norwich, especially when a super-​megatropolis like NYC sits smack dab in the middle. But hey if that’s all part of their «shtick», that’s fine.
I simply didn’t walk away with the OMG feeling like others have felt. I walked away detecting a slight hint of smoke in the air. And I don’t think it was smoke from the grills. It was smoke from somebody trying to blow smoke up my @%$.