Alright yall, time for another restaurant review for the deserving! This is how it all started….
So, boyfriend calls me in a frenzy one day saying that after work, we would be heading down to an awesome hidden treasure by way of recommendation from his cousin John. It was a discovery of cultural bliss long missed… It’s been about a year since I’ve eaten in Philadelphia which was a trip worth drooling over…… this means that it’s now time for a side story!!!
One of the things my boyfriend and I bonded over was that fact that we both were from what I like to call “Bubbles”. I’m sure other people have used this term before many times, but let me just tell you about our bubbles in particular. Quite similarly, both Philadelphia and New Orleans are home to people who for the most part are blue collar workers. Growing up in a blue collar New Orleans home, for me, this meant I was surrounded by a people with immense pride for their culture and a knack for being infectiously happy no matter what they were doing--- Garbage Man, Mail Man, Oil Rig worker; it didn’t matter. With a culture and plenty of family firmly planted for over hundreds of years, I’m not sure that there really was much desire to live anywhere else; what for? We had everything we needed and a tight knit family for support. I think this is why places like New Orleans and Philadelphia alike make a mean PoBoy sandwich, or a fantastic Cheese Steak! It’s about pride in everything we have to offer big or small. Anyway back to the point…
One of the things my boyfriend and I bonded over was that fact that we both were from what I like to call “Bubbles”. I’m sure other people have used this term before many times, but let me just tell you about our bubbles in particular. Quite similarly, both Philadelphia and New Orleans are home to people who for the most part are blue collar workers. Growing up in a blue collar New Orleans home, for me, this meant I was surrounded by a people with immense pride for their culture and a knack for being infectiously happy no matter what they were doing--- Garbage Man, Mail Man, Oil Rig worker; it didn’t matter. With a culture and plenty of family firmly planted for over hundreds of years, I’m not sure that there really was much desire to live anywhere else; what for? We had everything we needed and a tight knit family for support. I think this is why places like New Orleans and Philadelphia alike make a mean PoBoy sandwich, or a fantastic Cheese Steak! It’s about pride in everything we have to offer big or small. Anyway back to the point…
After ordering one Italian Hoagie, one Cheese Steak, and an order of Cheese Fries I’m convinced, it really is a little slice of Philly right here in the southern state of Georgia! Just FYI I’m writing this review after going there a second time. “Why the second time?” You might be asking yourself... well the answer is because I couldn’t stop craving it! So, let’s describe the food shall we??
1 Italian Hoagie: with Ham, Salami, Capicola, Lettuce, Onion, Tomato, Pickles, Marinated banana (or mild) peppers, Provolone Cheese, Oregano, Oil and Vinegar, on a Roll
The onions were thin sliced like wisps of paper, sweet and …oniony. (I believe the secret to many foods is in preparation. Shape, size, and amount can make a huge difference in the taste of a dish, or a sandwich!) The peppers were mild, tangy with vinaigrette, and so perfectly crisp to the bite that with the addition of juicy sliced tomato, thin shreds of crunchy lettuce, and firm tart pickles it was a texture explosion! Cool salty deli meats in taste variance, super cheesy provolone (this is not that bland stuff you get at Kroger), and liberal shakes of dried oregano make this sandwich a dream come true…. Just like the last time I had one all the way up in Philly. Yep they got it. Remember, it’s about quality!
1 Cheese Steak: (Kept it simple!) Thin sliced, chopped Steak and American Cheese! On a Roll
We kept this one simple because although this is a little blasphemous I have to say I don’t particularly care for the traditional philly cheese steak which is actually simply chopped steak with a not so noticeable amount of American cheese, and red tomato sauce! The peppers are pickled and usually left out on the table for you to serve yourself should you want them, hot or mild. Granted you can get whatever you want on it but this is how a true cheese steak is served. Still, options include things like cheese (American or Provolone), sauce, bell pepper, and onions.
Despite having ordered the sandwich so plain, it was still amazing! A true cheese steak shrivels a little after being wrapped in the foil paper. Cheesy, Gooey, Beefy, Chewy, Hot, wrinkled but firm to the bite, and even potentially sloppy depending on what or how much extra you get put on the sandwich. Typing this is making me hungry. All I can say is the more I think about it, the more my heart starts to palpitate with anticipation for a future visit!
1 order Cheese Fries: Thin golden fries smothered in that ooey gooey “Yellow-Orange” cheese; not extremely health conscious here my friends but let me tell you, it’s a delicious break from your tedious healthy diet! Try them out when you’d like that extra umph. Simple, but full of salty french fry flavor. Mmmmmm salt.
“So, What’s the big diff!? Why are these better than just making a ham sandwich?”
Here’s why:
If you’ve ever had a Philly Cheese Steak or Hoagie you’d know 85% of it is the roll! I’m talking “different” as in leaps, bounds, jumps, high jumps, pogo stick jumps, and even Kangaroo Jumps different! Yes, you can grab any old roll or two slices of bread and make a sandwich but did you know that location affects baking? Sure you did.
Beside life long secret recipes guarded by families for generations and to the death, one of the factors in the secrets of baking is weather!!!! I really don’t know the exact science behind it but I can deduce after being to Philly a couple of times and growing up in New Orleans that there is one huge weather similarity that both places share… HUMIDITY.
This is a totally uneducated guess… and I’m probably completely wrong but for years all I heard were things like, “It’s in the water, It’s the weather, It’s blah blah blah.” And so far I’ve learned that the more humid a place or tropical a place feels the better the food. Don’t let Philly fool you like it did me, that place is crazy humid in the summer! There’s even a Philly tradition of steamed crabs because there’s seafood up there! Oh what little I knew beforehand. Judging by my origins in New Orleans, here’s my ghetto assumption: humidity + water = good stuff for food. Also pride in little nuances like “shakes of oregano” or homemade oil and vinegar mixtures can make a world of difference!
Yes yall, Philly Favorites, what a savior… the bread is shipped in from Amoroso's Bakery in Philadelphia since attempting to get the rolls “just right” on your own here in Georgia is just about IMPOSSIBLE. Similar to the Po-Boy’s French bread in a lot of ways, a good Philly roll is soft but light, and has pull to its bite. Fantastic. Don’t be fooled by your neighborhood grocery, unless its shipped in, its not the same.
Besides the bread, the sounds at “Favorites” are simply musical; kind of a symphony of anticipation if you will. There’s the clinking and clanking of metal to metal while the steak is chopped and fried on a large grill off to the side. This all happens as the super friendly staff all sing along to the best of old school favorites from stations like Magic107.5 or Kiss104.1 while it plays in the background. Now I really REALLY like it here… I can sing along to some Mint Condition while I wait happily for my food; that gets a “thumbs up”! And who doesn’t like singing along when there’s delicious steak frying in the background, or the smell of marinated peppers is wafting in your face. I can’t complain.
So as you saw pictured above, the food comes and it’s a tray with two long subs wrapped in paper. I like it!! Just like in Philadelphia, it’s simple and to the point. A good sandwich needs no fancy plates, or high prices! My boyfriend and I ordered one of each so that we could have one half of both! Oh the for the love of “Philly Favorites” !! At the end of our meal there was even water ice. I got a small Mango, and the boyfriend got a small (but layered) “Watermelon/Cherry/Blueberry” a sweet, smooth, creamy palette cleanser. The magic is that it’s similar to Italian ice but the ice isn’t shaved, instead it’s mixed and made like ice cream and frozen in vats, awesome just like I remember it a year ago!
Get me wrong you shall not, I have only highlighted a few items on their copious menu; there is something for everyone…. everything from a Corn Beef Reuben to a Flounder Hoagie and a milkshake or ice cream. Best part is, it’s reasonably priced and worth it, independently owned, authentic, and delicious. You may have to leave Atlanta for a little while but what’s a 20 minute drive for delicious bliss, when you can spend 20 minutes just trying to turn at the intersection of Piedmont and Monroe!
Go pay them a visit; you’ll be happy you did.
5851 Buffington Road Ste J
Union City, GA 30349
(404) 305 – 9099
Check them out on Facebook here!… Philly Favorites <3
