First Street Steaks: Cheesesteaks under the El
Steve Rodriguez, a designer on a mission to elevate the classic Philly sandwich shop, soft-opens his baby next to the Girard Avenue El stop.
Steve Rodriguez, a designer on a mission to elevate the classic Philly sandwich shop, soft-opens his baby - First Street Steaks (1204 N. Front St., 215-839-9868) - midday on Friday, Sept. 19.
He'll open for lunch and dinner at first.
Next week (9/22) come the regular hours and breakfast: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
Decor is that familar throwback-contemporary look - Edison lights and subway tiles. Though the subway tiles actually make sense here because First Street is next door to the steps leading to the Market-Frankford El's Girard Station.
Menu is blown up on his website. He's doing that Chipotle-style customization that other fast-casuals swear by: pick your roll or bowl, add a protein, a sauce, a cheese, toppings, etc.
He has two versions of the steak sandwich: a fresh, center-cut sirloin (typical cheesesteak meat) as well as a filet "tip" that is cubed and pounded into thin patties and served medium rare. (The former steakhouse Union Trust used to offer a sandwich like this.)
Turkeys will be broiled on site every morning (six hours) and hand-pulled 50/50 white and dark meat to make a pilgrim sandwich.
The area, by the way, has become a sandwich destination. Besides Paesano's two blocks away on West Girard, and Sketch Burger about four blocks away on East Girard, in the not-too-distant future, there will be a branch of Joe's Steaks at Frankford and Girard.