Philly’s has been open for some time now, but it was only recently that we tried out Kayal Street’s latest sandwich shop. For those who have visited Helen’s over the last few weeks, you will not have to go far to reach Philly’s, as it is right next door. Originally named Wrap and Roll, Philly’s revamped itself with a much brighter and more impressive look.
A large cowboy hat rightly gives the impression that Philly’s is an American inspired eatery. The name itself is also a dead giveaway for those who are familiar with the Philly steak sandwich. For this is exactly what they serve up at Philly’s, among others. For the unfamiliar, a Philly Sandwich is basically a cheese steak sandwich and usually served in a long roll or bread bun.
The sandwich originates from the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, hence the name. Some say it was first introduced as early as the 1930s.
History aside, Jeddah now has its very own venue dedicated to the famous sandwich.
Dropping in early one evening, to say the place was quiet would be something of an understatement as we were the only customers in the restaurant.
But then from the look of things, bar stools and high seating suggest this is not a place to linger.
Most probably order takeout and before we had left another customer had joined the queue to do exactly that.
The interior has a jazzy but peculiar feel to it. Glossy blue wall tiles and dim red lighting clash with wooden furniture that would not look out of place at a ranch. This mix contrasts with more modern props, such as sleek flatscreen televisions positioned across the restaurant displaying the latest football matches.
At the counter we ordered the signature dish, the Philly Cheese Steak sandwich (SR20), and added an extra topping of mushrooms for SR3.
We watched in interest as staff in the open plan kitchen cooked the steaks, using fresh baguette buns and adding ingredients like bell peppers and cheese as well as our requested mushrooms.
About 10 minutes later, the food was ready to go but we hesitated for a moment glancing at the desserts on display. To be honest, they did not look half bad but given we had just walked out of Helen’s with a box of cakes, we decided these and our Philly sandwich would be more than enough.
In anticipation of the taste test, we took ours home for unwrapping. Served in a polystyrene box and wrapped in paper, the packaging does its job in keeping the copious amounts of fillings in.
Be sure to have a napkin handy for eating the sandwich is more than slightly messy, but then it is all part of the experience.
Biting into the sandwich, I was a little disappointed at first. It all came across as quite bland, which was a shame as the steak was well cooked, the creamy cheese perfectly melted, mushrooms warm.
However, something was missing. It could be a lack of flavor or the seasoning I was expecting.
The convenience of being at home meant I had the luxury of salt and mustard on hand to perfect an almost perfect sandwich. I would imagine both are probably available at Philly’s if you opt to dine in.
I cannot usually stomach a large sandwich, but with my final touches, I managed to finish it in minutes. For food on the go, expect a longer wait than your average shawarma as the steak has not been rotating all day. The dish is cooked to order, but that being said you do end up with superior cuts of lean meat. However you pay the price — SR20 as opposed to around SR5 for a shawarma.
Philly’s are on to a good thing as freshly cooked steak gives them the edge over other alternative restaurants and the location is great. Whether people will opt to use their vast dining area remains to be seen, but for now the place makes a decent sandwich. Other items like salads and burgers are also available, but we will save those for next time.
