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Delicious Philly cheesesteak sandwiches! But the atmosphere could have been better. At the time we visited, only outdoor dining was available, and the weather wasn’t very pleasant. I’ve been there almost two years ago, in May.

Amber Hines

We got 2 Philly Cheesesteaks one American and the other provolone both with grilled onions. They were good. I wish there was more flavor to them. Meatball sub was good but wished for more sauce. Fries were fresh and delicious.

I visited this place as one of my friends visiting Philly wanted to try Philly Cheese steak and apparently Pat's and Geno's were famous, at least we were told so. We tried both places in comparison Geno's didn't thrill us much. But it was okay Philly cheese steak, large pieces didn't feel good as you eat it. the staff was friendly in taking the orders. The food was out in no time served at right temperature. There were lot of outdoor seating arrangements throughout the shop. There were condiments and napkins available. Good luck in finding a parking nearby or a restroom. You can take an Uber and visit both Geno's and Pat's. More to get some check mark on legacy of the cheese steak joints.

No hate against Geno's per se, but for clarification, lots of locals, both born and raised as well as those that move here later in life, prefer cheesesteaks where the meat is diced or chopped rather than just sliced. It provides a smoother, more palatable experience and also allows the cheese and other toppings to mix in and is easier to eat. That said, if you're new to Philly or just visiting, go ahead and stop by and try one. If you're with others, you can always split one from here and one from across the street for comparison sake, though neither offer the a top twenty five cheesesteak in most people's opinions. Cool photo spot and some of their food is okay - the bonus is at least they're open late which some places aren't.

Sherry Jankowsky

Well the time came for me to try the cheesesteak war. Geno’s squeaks by Pats and by squeaks I mean because of the amount of grease this sandwich holds. Holy Oil slick Batman! Ordered the cheesesteak with fried onions and cooper sharp. $14. The bread was ok but took a beating from the amount of grease in the meat so it was hard to judge it fairly . The onions had a strange flavor to it. the meat was not tough like Pats but didn’t have a lot of flavor either. At least this sandwich was hotter and melted the cheese (unlike pats). One thing is to be a juicy steak and another is to just be GREASE. This was a fail to me as well as the competition across the street. I think these two places live on the history and the hype. At least the lady taking my order here was friendly. I’m 100% sure there are so many other cheesesteak places that far outrank this place Sure come fill your bucket list and visit just to say you were here. Maybe just take a picture and save your money ! Again. Sorry Philly-not a fan

Jocelyn Munoz

I’m not complaining but I wasn’t a big fan of the place it was OK to stop by and eat because I was in the area but to actually go out of my way for their cheesesteak sandwiches. I would not, however it was good.

Wieczorne Klimaty

Visited Philadelphia for the very first time and decided to try the most famous snack in this region but seriously I was disappointed. The sandwich looked and felt soggy and less appealing that mcdonalds hamburger and the meat looked and tasted like the cheapest kebab beef. Nevertheless, it was edible and tasted ok, and had rich stuffing so you won't feel hungry after such a sandwich. Definitely worth trying while visiting Philly to really feel its vibes. But I am not buying it again, ever.

Christine Falco

In our occasional quest to get to Philadelphia and try a different Philly Cheese steak place ( when in Rome...) on our most recent visit Gino's was decided on. It was a Sunday , late afternoon. We easily found parking directly across the street . There were available tables at their outside only dining areas and absolutely no line!! We ordered our cheese steaks. I got mine with provolone and peppers and onions. Our food was almost instantly ready. At the next window you could order your drinks and any sides. We decided to split an order of French fries and get ourselves drinks. The first thing I noticed about the cheese steak after unwrapping it was that the bottom of the bread was oily/greasy. The second thing was that the cheese was melted on to the bread as opposed to the meat. The bread was soft and fresh, and was not cut in half. The meat was on the fatty side. Not lean. I didn't enjoy it as much as I had hoped to. However the French fries were some of the best I've had.

+4

Brett

Genos I assume to be a good cheesesteak place but I had asked for no onions 3 times and I still got onions in my steak. It was wrapped poorly and the roll was basically falling apart when I tried to eat it. They did have a topping bar out in the street which I thought was a pretty neat idea but I still can’t say my experience was any better from it. The street and tables however were very clean and it seemed the kitchen was as well which I have to give them points for. However To have to travel to phillie for an authentic phillie cheesesteak all I thought was I stayed at home and ate one I made instead.

Michael Clancy

I took my family to Geno's because, as a cheesesteak enthusiast, I felt it was important for them to experience what many people call the best. However, I believe that reputation is largely inflated by visitors from out of town. In my opinion, the cheesesteak was lacking in crucial areas. There was not enough steak, the roll was overly dominant and of mediocre quality, and the cheese was barely noticeable. A better cheese-to-steak ratio would have made a significant difference. Moreover, the onions were all on one side, which didn't work for me. I can't give this more than a two-star rating. The hype surrounding Geno's is beyond me, except for the pride locals may have in their steak shop.

Marc H

I’ve tried Geno’s and Pat’s during a couple visits to Philly as a tourist, and wondered how such an underwhelming sandwich could be so famous. Then on this visit I got smart and asked some locals who had the best cheese steak and Angelo’s on S 9th was at the top of everyone’s list. And they were right—it was amazing. I’m sure Geno’s (and Pat’s) was good back in the day, but they are now just mailing it in with the least amount of effort and expense: lots of unappetizing bun with very little meat and cheese. By all means go see Geno’s and Pat’s—it’s kitschy and fun (don’t bother eating the whole thing), but then walk to Angelo’s for a taste comparison and be prepared to be blown away by the difference. I did this and have posted the photos: Pic 1: Geno’s Pic 2: Angelo’s

Like so many others, I ventured here because of the hype. I was THOROUGHLY disappointed. First, customer service was just nonexistent. I’ve received warm & friendly welcomes pretty much everywhere I’ve gone in Philly. Not here. Woman that took my order was rude—no greeting, no nothing. She sat and talked for a few minutes to the cook while I was waiting at the window. When she was ready, I received a “what do you want.” Ok, let that one slide. I then asked for a bag for my fries (they’re served in a cup with a fork) and I can hear the cook yelling “she don’t need no bag.” Sir, 🙄😒 Second, the food. You could go to Jersey Mike’s in ANY state (I’ve gone to several) & have a better tasting Philly. Geno’s had ZERO flavor. NONE. Onions and peppers were overcooked—super soggy. This place was an absolute miss for me. I will say, the steak used is a quite fresh but that’s about all the positivity they’ll get from me. The $25 spent was just not worth the money. & why the fries and cheesesteaks are ordered at separate windows is beyond me. Very congested area w/no parking.

J

Being the tourist I was when visiting Philly and having heard about these “rivals” I tried both Geno’s and Pats, to see which I thought was the best. I have to say I was sorely disappointed. Both are well below average Philly cheesesteak sandwiches that I have had throughout my life. If these are representatives of what the Philly cheesesteak sandwich should be like, then the city and state and all those that take any amount of pride that a sandwich has your name on it, should hold their heads in shame. Both Pat’s and Geno’s steak had no flavor, seemed steamed or boiled. Geno’s had very little cheese or onions and the bread was tough and chewy. Pat’s had good amount of cheese and onions. The bread was not tough or chewy. I do not recommend either, I would suggest finding the local favorite because my son had mentioned even before I went to Philly that people he knows that went to both said they were not good, but because I fell into the rivalry and wanted to see who I thought was better, I went any way. All I got out of it was now I can say I tried them both, if it ever comes up, and they both sucked. Save yourself time and money and pass.

David Butz

Horrible service. Granted it was at the airport but you still owe it to your patrons to give great service and food no matter where. 25 minutes for luke warm sandwich and ice cold fries that were not edible and a clump of cold cheese. Persons passing through for a taste of Philly get a bad experience. Never again. Do better. P.S. born and raised in Philly, passing through on a trip.