Philly Steakout - Philly Classic

So, I realize you've all sustained yet another long drought of entries here at Rochester's Endless Buffet, and for this I sincerely apologize. To be honest, my life has been busier than normal lately, and finding time to write has become more and more difficult for me. Luckily, I've been documenting reviews of my meals on my phone, and will hopefully be catching up on them all as soon as I find some time to write (and breathe, for that matter). Pardon me ahead of time if this entry is a little on the funky side - I may be a bit rusty.

Morgan and I were watching the Travel Channel (which strangely enough has almost as many shows about food on it as the Food Network), and a bit about Philly cheese steaks came on. Needless to say, we hopped in the car and went to a little place on Long Pond Road in Greece, NY that Morgan's father had told us served a stellar cheese steak. Philly Steakout serves up some authentic Philadelphia flavor to a more than willing Rochester market. Their menu includes favorites, like the cheese steak, but also includes deli sandwiches, chicken-based subs, and a few original recipes as well. The dining room inside is by no measure large, but those with claustrophobia can call ahead of time to place an order for pick-up. Eating there is highly-recommended though, since the open kitchen allows you to watch your fresh food being prepared, and the subway car-esque atmosphere adds some supreme authenticity to the experience.

Since a cheese steak is what I drove out for, a cheese steak is what I ordered - well, kind of. I actually ordered a slight variation called a Philly Classic, which consists of the basic thinly-sliced and chopped steak, and cheese (I went with provolone), but adds the option of peppers (I chose hot peppers), grilled onions, and mushrooms (which I dislike and declined). Being my first time eating at Philly Steakout, I chose to go with a "regular" size portion, as opposed to the "large" cheese steak, despite the heavenly aroma wafting from the kitchen window, beckoning me to do otherwise. The sound of the steak sizzling on the grill, combined with the smell filling that building make it physically impossible to resist ordering something upon entering Philly Steakout.



My sandwich came out of the kitchen piping hot, and dripping mouthwatering juices from its meaty core. The first bite into the Philly Classic made me instantly realize why it became a "classic" - all the different ingredients lent a unique piece to an amazing flavor puzzle. The savory flavor of the tender steak met the crunch and texture of the grilled onions and peppers, which easily could've been overpowering if the rich provolone didn't compliment the bolder flavors so well. The bread was fresh, fluffy, and light, and helped soak up some of the juices from the steak. The Philly Classic was messy, losing bits of meat, onions, peppers, and globs of cheese, and I had no shame in scooping up these delicious scraps with a fork after I finished off the sandwich.

All in all, a great meal, although I found myself craving more after eating only a regular...next time, I will definitely tackle the large. The price wasn't terrible, comparing to most local delis and sandwich shops in quantity and quality. For those looking for a great taste of Philly, who don't want to make the drive or spend the cash on a vacation, I highly recommend stopping by Philly Steakout and showing them some New York love.

Score (out of 10): 8.5

Location: 1595 Long Pond Road, Rochester, NY 14626
Phone Number: (585) 225-6810
Website: http://phillysteakoutny.com/

Bull on the Beach (Ocean City, MD) - Open Pit Beef Platter

In perhaps the most supreme example of procrastination of all time, I bring to you a review of a meal Morgan and I had on our last afternoon in Ocean City, MD, almost a month and a half ago. I remember we were really craving pit beef, since the boardwalk was littered with signs advertising said food item; fortunately for us, several venues along the beach sold open pit beef sandwiches. We were walking along the boardwalk by 2nd Street, when we noticed a little hole-in-the-wall place called Bull on the Beach. Bull on the Beach has a handful of locations throughout Ocean City, each priding themselves on serving up some of Maryland's best open pit beef. The particular boardwalk location we chose is part of the myriad of seasonal businesses that Ocean City is famous for, and is only open from April until October each year. Not wanting to miss out on their specialty, Morgan and I decided to order an Open Pit Beef Platter, which consisted of an open pit beef sandwich and a choice of a side - we chose french fries, since we were sharing the platter between us.

The open pit beef sandwich consists of thinly-sliced, lean, tender, top round beef, cooked on an open pit, and piled extra high on a warm, fluffy bun. The sandwiches are made-to-order, ensuring they're fresh and served steaming hot. The staff when Morgan and I went were all young kids, but they were mostly polite and efficient in what they did. The view of the boardwalk and ocean while we ate was a great feature of this humble, little grill.



A quick lunchtime meal, the Open Pit Beef Platter turned out to be plenty of food for Morgan and I. The fries were a nice starter; lightly-salted and crispy, they served as typical side dish fare. The sandwich itself was essentially a larger version of an Arby's roast beef sandwich - this isn't necessarily a bad thing; I like Arby's roast beef sandwiches. The meat was easy to chew, lean, and full of delicious, robust, savory flavor. The only downside to this meal was that the beef was a little dry, a common negative effect of cooking beef on an open pit for too long. Despite this, the sandwich itself did not suffer any loss of flavor.

For what Morgan and I got, the price was pretty reasonable, especially for a beachfront meal, coming to about $8 and some change. The menu extends far beyond pit beef as well: chicken, ham, and steamed and raw seafood comprise a succulent menu of boardwalk fare. Although not mind-blowing in any aspect, Bull on the Beach proved itself a great place to grab a quick bite to eat, and definitely proved to Morgan and I that Ocean City has more than enough to satiate those looking to enjoy a breath of ocean breeze in good company.

Score (out of 10): 7.5

Location: 2nd Street, Ocean City, MD 21842
Phone Number: (410) 289-2855
Website: http://www.bullonthebeachoc.com/