Olde Kensington Neighborhood Guide
By Prevu Team onApril 05, 2020
Olde Kensington is located in the Kensington section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and its spelling reflects the historic roots this wonderful neighborhood offers.
The area dates back to colonial Philadelphia. In 1730, Anthony Palmer purchased the land that is now Olde Kensington with the dream of recreating a posh version of London in Philadelphia. His plans did not pan out as the areas proximity to the waterfront and eventual rail lines attracted manufacturing and the neighborhood became an industrial center.
Fast forward, this working-class neighborhood went through a major transition with a wave of deindustrialization post-World War II, and Olde Kensington has begun to see a resurgence in recent years similar to that of its gentrifying neighbors, Fishtown and Northern Liberties. With a mix of new development, restaurants with accolades, and revitalization of historic buildings — there is a noticeable vibrance bringing welcomed attention back to the neighborhood.
So, whats it like living in Olde Kensington? Weve rounded up some of the key trends and characteristics in our Olde Kensington Neighborhood Guide.
Relive The Iconic Super Bowl Parade
Following the 2018 Super Bowl victory, the Eagles paraded north along Broad Street as thousands upon thousands of fans filled the streets, cheering on the team and hoping for a view of the long-awaited Lombardi Trophy. The 5-mile route stretches from Lincoln Financial Field all the way to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Pass popular Philadelphia sites such as the restaurant-lined thoroughfares of Passyunk Avenue and South Street as well as the many performing arts venues that occupy the Avenue of the Arts including the Kimmel Center, Academy of Music, and Miller Theater. The parade then looped around historic City Hall and passed by the iconic LOVE Park before making its final sprint up the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, passing Swann Fountain, the Barnes Foundation, and The Franklin Institute, ultimately ending at the famous Rocky Steps.
Cover photo courtesy of the Philadelphia Eagles.
One of Philadelphias most celebrated restaurants and essential dining experiences, Zahav previous James Beard Award-winner for Outstanding Restaurant is found just off of Dock Street in Society Hill. Chef Michael Solomonov a James Beard Award-winner himself presents an Israeli menu of small plates, grilled vegetables and meat, and freshly whipped humus served with warm, housemade pitas. Reservations for Zahav fill up quickly, so it is best to make plans several months in advance.
Cover photo: Royal Boucherie. Photo by E. Ashleigh.
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Larry Steaks at 920 West Girard Avenue, a branch of the popular St. Josephs University cheesesteak shop was
burglarized early in the morning of Thursday, August 20th. According to the Philadelphia Police, an unknown male gained entry to Larrys Steaks located at 920 West Girard Avenue by shattering the front door glass of the business. Once inside the suspect took two cash registers containing an unknown amount of cash then fled in an unknown direction.
No Belly Fillers were reported taken in the theft.
Video of the break-in at Larrys Steaks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dh3zU6bosOY& feature=youtu.be
Larrys Steaks has been a favorite on St. Joes campus since 1956. In recent years the cheesesteak shop has added locations at 9th and Girard and in Feasterville.
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Watch The Game With Locals
If you cant score tickets to a game or the team is away, dont fret the city is filled with sports bars and restaurants which will assuredly have their TVs tuned to the Eagles on gameday. For a near-stadium experience, head to Xfinity Live! in the sports complex, which is home to over 100 screens, six distinct sections, and a plethora of gameday specials. Nearby is the new Live! Casino & Hotel, home to Sports & Social Philly a sports restaurant, gaming venue and social lounge. Also, in South Philadelphia is Chickies & Petes Crab House and Sports Bar, which was once voted Best Sports Bar in North American by ESPN. Closer to Center City, popular gameday destinations include McGillins Old Ale House, BRU Craft & Wurst, City Tap House, and Cavanaughs.
TIP: Arrive thirsty and bring an appetite, as each location offers their own unique menu of local cuisine and craft beer. For a true Philadelphia experience, seek out any cheesesteaks or roast pork sandwiches and chase them down with a pint of Yards Pale Ale.
Paulie Gees Soul City Slice Shop
Paulie Gees Soul City Slice Shop In the former Amis space in Washington Square West, this Brooklyn import is a retro pizza parlor with classic and vegan pies, whole and by the slice. It features a full bar and retro video games and offers both delivery and takeout.
Address: 412 South 13th Street, Center City.
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The Best Cheesesteak Sandwiches In Philadelphia
Pats King of SteaksGenos SteaksSteves Prince of SteaksJohns Roast Pork
- 1237 E Passyunk Ave, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- 41 S 16th St, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA
Whiz wit? Prov witout? Whether youre from Philly or just visiting, everyone has an opinion on cheesesteaks. Does it have to be an Amoroso roll? Is cheese wiz better than provolone? Weve compiled a list of what we think are the Best Cheesesteak Sandwiches in Philadelphia some classics, some new on the scene, but all delicious! The list is not ranked in order follow us @americaneats to let us know what you think is number 1!
Continuing To Find That Perfect Cheesesteak In Philadelphia
We are heading into round seven and the last round ofMyPhillyAlives 2020 Philadelphia Cheesesteak Tour, as we search for the perfect Philly Cheesesteak! Does it exist? Could it be sitting on the other side of the river in New Jersey? Inquiring minds and foodies a like want to know!
We have created the ultimate cheesesteak tour, in which many of us will be trying 61 different cheesesteaks in the Philadelphia region in like seven total days! The areas included would be establishments from South Philly, Old City, Center City, Northeast Philadelphia, some of the Philadelphia suburbs such as Bala Cynwyd, Levittown, Colmar, Lansdale, Delco and a handful of places in South Jersey. And those who will be concerned for my arteries, no worries, we will be splitting up the cheesesteaks into thirds most times. But it will still be a lot to eat!
Our goal is to identify a Final 10 of cheesesteaks, then have 6 to 8 judges choose the Tour Champion. The winner will receive a special plaque as the MyPhillyAlive 2020 Best of Cheesesteaks in the Philadelphia region.
This special cheesesteak tour will also have a fundraiser component, in which well be raising money two different ways and the proceeds will go to two different local Philadelphia veterans organizations. The Veterans Multi-Service Center at 213-217 N 4 th St and the VA Vet Center at 801 Arch Street.
The Rossi Scale Rating System
Game On
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Check Out A Massive Eagles Mural
Opposite Lincoln Financial Field along Darien Street, youll find the block-long Our City, Our Team mural one of the largest murals in the country featuring a collage of Eagles moments and related imagery, designed to capture the unique relationship the team has with the city and its fans. It took mural-installation specialists and artists from the Philadelphia Mural Arts Program more than 2,900 hours and 386 gallons of paint to bring the 17,000 square-foot mural to life. Creation began in the fall of 2014, with Eagles players and staff members even helping muralists with the special project. The massive mural was officially dedicated on July 23, 2015.
Larry’s Steaks 920 W Girard Ave Philadelphia
If you’re craving some steak in Philadelphia, then you’ve come to the right place! Larry’s Steaks is known for being an outstanding steak house. They offer multiple other cuisines including American, Take Out, Barbecue, Pizza, and Seafood.
Interested in how much it may cost per person to eat at Larry’s Steaks? The price per item at Larry’s Steaks ranges from $6.00 to $8.00 per item.
In comparison to other steak houses, Larry’s Steaks is reasonably priced.
As an steak house, Larry’s Steaks offers many common menu items you can find at other steak houses, as well as some unique surprises. Here in Philadelphia, Larry’s Steaks offers Popular Items and more. When it comes to some of the best menu items available, you can choose from:
- Spaghetti with Meatballs
If you would like to investigate further on pricing around all menu items, YP.com has provided you with the complete Philadelphia Larry’s Steaks menu.
There are other nearby neighborhoods that Larry’s Steaks in 19123 serves beside Philadelphia, and they include places like Kingsessing, Rittenhouse Square, and Avenue Of The Arts South. If you want to see a complete list of all steak houses in Philadelphia, we have you covered!
After your meal at Larry’s Steaks, don’t forget that Philadelphia has a ton of amazing restaurants to try. Come back to YP.com and find tons of great restaurants in Philadelphia, take out restaurants in Philadelphia, or fast food restaurants in Philadelphia.
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Patriot Games On Friday & Saturday
The competition between Army and Navy begins on Friday and continues on Saturday during the Patriot Games. Cadets and Midshipmen square off in physical and mental challenges, stopping at key landmarks and attractions throughout the city. The team with the most points after the five events wins a trophy thats presented on the field during game along with ultimate bragging rights. All Patriot Games are open to the public and free to attend, except for Saturdays final ticket-holder-only event at Lincoln Financial Field.
Rocky Relay
The Patriot Games begin on Friday, December 9, 2022 with the Rocky Relay up the famous Rocky Steps, testing participants strength and speed.
Time: 8:30 a.m.
Location: Philadelphia Museum of Art, 26thand Ben Franklin Parkway
Indulge In A Local Treat
Order a hometown favorite, crab fries, at Chickies and Petes, a boisterous sports bar voted Best Sports Bar in North America by ESPN and with an outpost in South Philadelphia. Seasoned with a proprietary blend of spices, the signature side is served with a creamy white cheese sauce and partners well with the bars steamed crabs, mussels and lobster pie. You can also savor crabfries at one of Chickies and Petes pop-up locations at seasonal all-ages attractions like BlueCross River Rink and Spruce Street Harbor Park.
Head to Pops Homemade Water Ice in South Philadelphia for a local dessert: water ice. A smoother style of Italian ice, the chilled treat can be traced back to Italian immigrants like Filippo Pop Italiano, who started scooping out water ice from his pushcart in 1932. Today, the walk-up storefront on Oregon Avenue features various flavors of water ice, gelato, soft pretzels and more.
- 1601 Market St, Suite 200Philadelphia, PA 19103
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Dalessandros Steaks And Hoagies
Located on Henry Avenue in the Roxborough section of the city, Dalessandros has been serving up incredible cheesesteaks and hoagies for over 50 years. They focus on super fresh ingredients and cooked-to-order steaks. Of the classic cheesesteak restaurants in the city, Dalessandros is head and shoulders above the rest.
The steaks here come out tender, but not soggy in grease . They differentiate themselves by using large pieces of fried onion that you can really taste. Wiz wit is the best choice here. Also, marinara dipping sauce is a popular addition for many locals. Located at 600 Wendover Street . Learn more.
Get Your Cheesesteak Fix
Visit the site of Americas original cheesesteak rivalry: the corners of 9th and Passyunk in the Italian Market. Here youll find two no-frills walk-up counter spots, Pats King of Steaks and Genos Steaks, both claiming to have perfected the cheesesteak. Equally famous is Jims Steaks South Street, as evidenced by the line of fans waiting outside the Art Deco building for cafeteria style service.
NOTE: Jims is temporarily closed for renovations and projected to reopen Labor Day weekend 2023.
TIP: To eat like a local, order whiz wit, for a steak topped with Cheez Whiz and fried onions. Dont let dietary restrictions stop you from enjoying Philadelphias signature sandwich Campos Philly Cheesesteaks prepares gluten-free and vegan variations of the cheesesteak .
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Joes Steaks + Soda Shop
Dont let the throwback 1950s décor and color schemes fool you, this is serious eats. For decades, this was known by the name Chinks Steaks, after the founder Samuel Chink Sherman. After the owner died, the restaurant was taken over by employee Joe Groh, and the offensive name was retired.
But the quality of steak has never deviated from its path to cheesesteak perfection. The steaks are stuffed full of prime ribeye on a hard roll. Add in whiz and onions, and you cant beat it.
Joes operated the original location on Torresdale Avenue in a working-class section of Northeast Philadelphia for decades. However, the original located closed in 2022, but they still operate a decidedly more upscale location in the Fishtown neighborhood. Located at 1 W. Girard Avenue in Fishtown. Learn more.
Steve’s Prince Of Steaks
Three of the four Steves Prince of Steaks shops are open, including the original on Bustleton Avenue in Northeast Philly, the one on Comly Road, also in the Northeast, and the Langhorne location. This long-running spot uses thin-sliced rib-eye and is known for its crispy french fries with cheese whiz. Call ahead to order in advance and make pickup quicker.
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Steves Prince Of Steaks
With four locations in the Philadelphia area, they churn out cheesesteak sandwiches from all points of the Philadelphia compass. Theyre a two time winner of Philadelphia magazines best cheesesteak award and were founded in 1980 by Steven Iliescu. Fun Fact In 2015 Steves partnered with Amoroso Bakery to create the worlds longest cheesesteak sandwich, a 480 foot delicious monster.
Make It A Little Swanky
Just because kids are in tow doesnt mean you have to skip establishments from Philadelphias acclaimed restaurateurs. The menu at Pizzeria Stella, from James Beard Award winner Stephen Starr, features classic pizza and pasta preparations for less-adventurous eaters alongside more sophisticated pies topped with herbed goat cheese, eggs, and black truffle. An added bonus, the restaurant is within walking distance of Independence Hall and the historic district.
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The Best Cheesesteak In Philadelphia According To A Local
Home » Food & Drink » The Best Cheesesteak in Philadelphia According to a Local
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The Philly cheesesteak. There is no more iconic food in America than this tasty dish. Locals will swear by their favorites and it is the #1 thing on most tourists bucket list. Breaking it down, this is the definitive guide to the best cheesesteak in Philadelphia according to a local.
Cheesesteaks in Philly are an absolute institution in the city and one of the classic Philadelphia foods. And while the tastes vary greatly, they are all basically the same thing. First you start with the beef. The best Philly cheesesteak is made from ribeye steak sliced thin and thoroughly worked on a flat-top grill. Some places will use lesser cuts of meat, such as a chuck roast, to save on food costs, but you can taste the difference with ribeye.
Next is the bread. Nothing but a firm Italian roll will do. You need bread that will hold up to the folding and the grease. The roll is the unsung hero of the sandwich and most of the best Philly cheesesteak places will live and die by their rolls. Die-hard steak lovers even have favorite bakeries Amoroso, Conshohocken Italian Bakery and Sarcones Bakery and will choose their cheesesteak shop based on the bakery.
And here they are, in order, from best to worst:
Philadelphia And Cheesesteaks Just Go Hand In Hand Jim Pappas Has Eaten More Than 1000 Versions Of The Citys Iconic Sandwich On A Quest To Find The Best One
The secret to a crave-worthy Philly cheesesteak isnt locked up in a vault underneath Independence Hall, like some missing scene sitting from a Nicholas Cage movie. The citys iconic sandwich is an approachable meal and easily enjoyed every day of the week. The real key to unlocking its secret appeal lies in the ingredients. And it starts and ends with the meat.
When Jim Pappas started a daily cheesesteak blog back in 2018, he wasnt expecting to be the countrys foremost expert on the subject. The 59-year-old Swarthmore native quit his full-time job 25 years in what he called the corporate rat race and decided to start driving for Uber and Lyft with his kids off at college.
His wife didnt like the sound of his pseudo retirement plan, but Pappas pursued it. They divorced. And he met someone else. Those cheesesteaks werent going to eat themselves. It started with a girl, Pappas said. We had similar interests.
The seeds of his rebellion were planted from a conversation with one of his Uber passengers when he asked him what his favorite cheesesteak was. Following their chat, Pappas clocked out and stopped for lunch at Claymont Steak Shop in Delaware a special place, per Pappas and the Philadelphia Cheesesteak Adventure was off and running.
In the beginning people would message me and say, Want to meet up for a cheesesteak?, Pappas said. But I only had 15 minutes since it was a lunch break thing.
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