Luigi Ortega's-Closed

Luigi Ortega's 1655 E Colorado Blvd Pasadena 626-396-9669 Luigi Ortega's is across the the street for Pasadena City College, where the great Jackie Robinson, attended before breaking the color line in baseball with the BROOKLYN Dodgers. Luigi Ortega's is an interesting combination of Italian and Mexican food. But what I heard they were known for, is their Philly cheesesteaks and hoagies. Later on, I realized the irony of two Philly staples, cheesesteaks and hoagies, near the school Jackie Robinson attended. Philadelphia is a scumbag racist city. When Jackie Robinson broke the color line in baseball, by far, the city who treated him the worst was Philly. In 1997, when Major League Baseball honored 50th anniversary of Jackie Robinson, breaking the color line, the Philadelphia Phillies apologized to the Robinson family, for the way jerkoffs on the Phillies treated Jackie Robinson. Philly fans maybe less racist but they are still a bunch of scumbags in Philly. From the jerkoff who ran onto the field during a Phillies game and was tasered; which they should do at any moron who runs onto the field, to the idiot who threw up on a father and daughter at a Phillies game, Philly has nothing but no class loser sports fans. Philly cheesesteak, $6.25, with provolone cheese on an Amorosa roll. Amorosa rolls are a must for any cheesesteak. The rolls have the perfect texture, chewy crust with a soft inside. But, a good ratio of cheese to meat, is also important!! On this cheesesteak, there was a decent amount of beef, though I doubt it was ribeye, but there wasn't much provolone cheese. The beef was more like top round or sirlion. It had a good flavor but not bursting with flavor. I asked for the Italian hoagie, $6.99, coppacola, mortadella, Genoa Salami, prosciutto and provolone Cheese on a Amorosa roll, to go. This hoagie had only mayo, lettuce and tomatoes, added. I hate Italian dressing and vinegar on my sandwiches. I don't want something that is too tangy or will make the sandwich soggy. The meats were pretty good but there just wasn't enough of it. I could go to Eastside Italian Market and get a sandwich with the same meats, ok, without the prosciutto, but with much more meat. I'm not saying this hoagie wasn't good, it was, I just don't think it is worth the price. Service is below average. The lady who took my order, had either just started working or is brand new. She was so unsure about how to write my order etc. I asked if they could put the Sunday night baseball game on TV, they were showing stupid X Games, and some other crap on TV. She said sure. But she didn't get to it until taking two orders, then until my cheesesteak was ready. Another lady brought me the cheesesteak and said I don't think we can change the channel. About 2-3 minutes later the channel was finally changed and I got to watch baseball, a real sport, not some bastardized sport made for TV. Of course, I had just about finished my cheesesteak by that time. There is no reason for me to go back to Luigi Ortega's, for anything. Ok, great they use Amorosa rolls but the meats for the cheesesteaks aren't anything great and there isn't enough meat on the hoagies.

Philly's Sandwich and Grill

Philly's Sandwich and Grill
1701 S Grove Ave Ste B
Ontario
909-947-5755

The first time I went to Philly's Sandwich and Grill was on September 11, 2001. Even now, a little over eight years from that terrible day, I can remember everything about going to Philly's Sandwich and Grill.

I went back there today for the first time since Septemeber 11, 2001. I got the large Philly Cheesesteak, $6.99. The cheesesteak took awhile to come. The large cheesesteak is cut in half and seperated. But as you can see it looks as though all the cheese is on one half of the sandwich. Some of the meat, in the half without much cheese, was burnt, charred. Not good. Some of the meat in the other half, was cooked just right. It's almost as though I got two different sandwiches. There is nothing special about these cheesesteak. They won't remind you of being in Philly. But it's a decent enough sandwich, filling.

I sat in the dining area and it was so surreal. The TV was set to a news channel. People were eating and talking about anything and everything. It reminded me so much of the first time I went there. They didn't have a TV back then, but of course people were talking about what happened in New York, Washington D. C. and PA.

Service was good. The young lady who took my order was nice and friendly. She also was working her butt off. I saw her take orders, take orders to people's tables and and out, take out orders. She takes her job seriously. But the wait for the cheesesteak seemed very long. Yes, it was a bit crowded but it shouldn't have taken as long as it did. Of course that's not the young lady's fault.

I doubt I'll come back to Philly's Sandwich and Grill anytime soon. Again, there is nothing special about the food. It's good enough food, prices are reasonable, and the service I got from the cashier was very good. But there are many other places to eat around there.

Philly’s Best-Placentia

Philly’s Best
198 Yorba Linda Blvd.
Placentia CA
714-996-3278

Philly's Best has many locations in Orange County and have started to expand to LA County. At all locations the cheesesteaks and hoagies are very good.

Pictured is an American hoagie with ham, salami, bologna and cheese for $5.92. They put mayo, lettuce, tomato, onions and peppers. The onions and peppers, which I decide to try for the first time, really ruin the taste of the hoagie. The peppers have a nasty bitter taste. I took the onions and peppers off after the first bite. The other ingredients were fresh and the hoagie was good. But I think I think the prices are still on the high side and Philly's Best isn't a good value.

Service is OK. The lady who took my order was fine. But it took forever to get my order. The guy who ordered a cheesesteak after me got his order before I did. They didn't have to cook my order so I don't know what took so long!!!

Of the three Philly's Best locations I've been to, San Dimas and Walnut are the others, Placentia is the slowest location in terms of service and I believe they give you less meat on the sandwiches.

There is no reason for me to return to this Philly's Best location.

John’s Philly Grille-Closed

John’s Philly Grille
1784 Euclid Ave
Anaheim, CA 92802
714-491-2733

John's Philly Grill is better than Philly's Best for cheesesteaks. The cheesesteaks are more expensive, the cheesesteak pictured is $7.53 , but bigger and with more meat than Philly's Best. The meat is cut thicker and there is much more of it. John's doesn't add as much cheese but I think overall, John's is better than Philly's Best.

Now this Anaheim location the owner is rude and gives the impression you're bothering him when you're ordering. Or at least he was the day I was there.

There are three other John's Philly Grill in Orange County. Two in the Huntington Beach area. Anaheim is closer to me but I would go to the other locations to see if there is any difference in quality. I'm sure service would be better, it can't really get much worse.

Philly's Best- Walnut-Closed

Philly's Best
368 N Lemon Ave
Unit B
Walnut, CA
909-598-3650

Philly's Best is rapidly expanding and one of their newest locations is in Walnut. The place is kinda of hard to find but it's in the Von's shopping center on the corner of Lemon and La Puente Rd.

As with all Philly's Best location the restaurant is very clean. I ordered the cheesesteak with prolone and easy onions for $5.83. There is no quality difference between the Walnut location and any other Philly's Best locations I've been to. But the amount of meat and cheese seem to have gotten smaller. The San Dimas location you couldn't see any part of the bread since it was covered with meat and cheese. I don't carry around a scale but I would be this cheesesteak weighed less than the San Dimas location. Dispite the small size, the cheesesteak was very good. Nice blending of cheese and meat. All their products are shipped from Philly.

I went back and ordered an American Hoagie, which is ham, salami, bologna and cheese. Top picture. All the ingredients were very fresh. The hoagies come with oil and oregano but I think they overpower the sandwich, so I have them put mayo instead. I like the hoagie but again is on the high side. A good once in awhile place to go.

I asked the cashier, if this owner also owned the San Dimas location. He said no. Then while eating I noticed his t shirt that listed the Walnut and the Buena Park locations. So I assume the same person owns both places. The cashier might want to mention that or the owner might want to inform his employees about that. But the service was good and fast.

As I mentioned in the San Dimas review, the food is good but on the expensive side. I wouldn't make this an everyday place to pick up lunch but they have good quality food and service. Can't ask for much more.

Philly's Best- San Dimas

Philly's Best- San Dimas
806 W. Arrow Hwy Unit C
San Dimas, CA 91773
909-305-8811

I went to Philly's Best in San Dimas today, Sept, 1, 2005. They opened August 26th so less than a week. But as with all Philly's Best locations I've been to the same menu items. Though the San Dimas location about about 20 cents more than the Placentia and Irvine locations. They are located in the Target shopping center off the 57 Freeway at Arrow Hwy.

The sandwiches pictured above are from the San Dimas location. The second picture is an American Hoagie with ham, salami, bogolna, cheese, lettuce and tomato. Mustuard, mayo, onions, oregano, oil and salt and pepper are optional.

The last picture is a cheesesteak with provolone cheese and onions. This location doesn't cheat you out of the steak. They put much more steak onto your cheesesteak than the Placentia location. Maybe that's what accounts for the higher prices.

Very friendly service and good cheesesteaks and hoagies should make this location a hit with the San Dimas community.