Ask anyone who loves cheese steak sandwiches and there's no way like the Philly way. For proof, just check out the list of cheese steak myths posted at Philly Way, a new no-frills Philly cheese steak eatery in Walker's Point.
Opened in mid-December by Dave London, who relocated to Milwaukee about a decade ago to work as program director at WQFM, and his partner Sal Monreale, Philly Way (405 S. 2nd St.) is catching on in Milwaukee.
"Business has been great," says London. "On Thursdays and Fridays the line is out the door. We've had Dustin Diamond in here, Tim Thomas, a lot of the TV people."
London, who got his Philly cheese steak doctorate at Pat's in the Italian Market strip in South Philly -- considered by many to be the best cheese steak restaurant in the world -- says things are so good he's planning on replacing two small tables with a higher-capacity bar and is clearing more space in the tiny restaurant to add more tables.
This summer, he'll open a walk-up window and an outdoor patio to accommodate more diners.
After nearly 20 years in radio, London tried his hand at a steak house on Lisbon Avenue, which he says was successful, but too much of a drain on his time and energy. So, he went into the world of Web design and always kept an eye on getting back into the food business.
"I was looking for a long time around, (before) I found this place," he says. "I knew Walker's Point was a hot area."
And it just got a little hotter, especially at lunch time.
In his open kitchen you can watch as London cooks up Philly Cheese Steaks -- made from prime Rib-Eye steaks -- Philly Dogs, 100 percent white breast meat Chicken Philly Cheese Steaks, Philly Style Spaghetti (with peppers, onions and/or mushrooms), Philly Chili (with shredded sirloin) and Philly Fries (long, fries with the skin on -- with or without Cheese Whiz!). He also makes a half-pound Black Angus burger that he unabashedly calls, "The City's BEST Burger."
But stick to the program and get the cheese steak on soft, chewy bread with your choice of American cheese, provolone or Cheese Whiz. You can also get mushrooms, hot peppers or sweet peppers.
Philly Way is open 11 a.m.-10 p.m. They're closed Sundays. Alas, although he tried staying upon after bar time, he was forced to end that, "for security reasons."
{INSERT_RELATED}London does deliver, however, at lunch time and will go almost anywhere if you make it worth his while.
"We had a delivery up in Fox Point," he says. "But it was a $70 order. I told them I couldn't promise they'd get there hot, but they didn't care. They just wanted 'em."
Call them at (414) 273-2355 or fax to 273-9738.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
