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OT Uncle Sams

If cheese whiz is a definitive requirement for a legitimate Philly Cheesesteak, then triple-ugh. I’ve never been able to handle that vile gunk
 
I went to Pitt in the early to mid 1990s and Hemingway’s was where your parents and professors went. It was way more “upscale” than other places on campus. It was nice inside.

I lived above there my Sr. year and stumbled upon it. It was a goldmine for us. Never crowded, ~$1.00 beers.

I went there several years ago during a football weekend and it became CJ’s.
Lived there for 4 years in early 2000s, after CJs got shut down, Hemingway's was always packed with the line blocking our entrance from Thursday-Saturday night. Easily one of the most crowded bars during my tenure.
 
There was no other cheesesteak in Oakland, unless you are playing fast and loose with the definition of a cheesesteak.

Hoagie does not = cheesesteak. Uncle Sams wasn't exactly a traditional Philly one either.

there was a place on the Southside, I think it was called South Side Steaks, that did a pretty authentic Philly Cheesesteak. Just the basics, onion and chees wiz, of course you could change it up if you wanted. Decent fries too. Been closed for a while now.
 
I always seek out the shaker of their seasoned salt. There's usually 1-2 bottles of it floating around each restaurant. Stuff is fantastic. Granted, it makes my ankles swell up like balloons, but thats okay.
 
Man. In the minority here but I hated Hemingways I was at Pitt. Got sick the first time I ate there. Hated the food every time I went after that. Carried over to my feelings towards it as a place to drink too.
 
Man. In the minority here but I hated Hemingways I was at Pitt. Got sick the first time I ate there. Hated the food every time I went after that. Carried over to my feelings towards it as a place to drink too.
I was always impressed with the two bartenders who were there for at least 15 years. One was a tall brunette.
A machine.
Some of the best high volume bartenders you can find
 
What's up with people who went to Pitt thinking Uncle Sam's is good or better than average?
To each their own- but it was awesome in my day - still hit waterworks from time to time.

I remember Pitt football / basketball players eating there all the time. Burt Grossman and Mark Spindler ate there a lot .

In high school, we would hit uncle Sams like every day ( goodness- to be young !)
 
What's up with people who went to Pitt thinking Uncle Sam's is good or better than average?
Ok, I'm breaking my self imposed posting ban on the BB board (silly superstition because the team's been winning and I didn't want to jinx them).

Speaking for early to mid 90's, it was the best sandwich for the money in Oakland. Hands down, can't compare. Steak and cheese on Mancini's bread with crispy shoestring fries for $5 or so.

Regarding the other cheesesteak discussion, give me a Tony Luke's Italian cheesesteak with provolone and broccoli rabe.
 
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I went to Pitt in the early to mid 1990s and Hemingway’s was where your parents and professors went. It was way more “upscale” than other places on campus. It was nice inside.

I lived above there my Sr. year and stumbled upon it. It was a goldmine for us. Never crowded, ~$1.00 beers.

I went there several years ago during a football weekend and it became CJ’s.

Yeah it was definitely the place to go for cheap dates with my gf (given their half price food was way earlier than Fuel and Fuddle…like 7-9). I just remember the food being decent but not great. And it was never crowded.
 
What's up with people who went to Pitt thinking Uncle Sam's is good or better than average?

Outside of O fries, uncle sams was my absolute favorite place. The hot italian (I kinda think it was called something else) sub was hands down one of the best sandwiches I ever had. I honestly never gotten another sub from there in my nearly 100 trips there, so couldnt tell you if anything else was good, but all my friends, roommates, and gf over the years all loved it too.
 
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Outside of O fries, uncle sams was my absolute favorite place. The hot italian (I kinda think it was called something else) sub was hands down one of the best sandwiches I ever had. I honestly never gotten another sub from there in my nearly 100 trips there, so couldnt tell you if anything else was good, but all my friends, roommates, and gf over the years all loved it too.
Some real nostalgia from you Pitt bois.
Understandable
 
Some real nostalgia from you Pitt bois.
Understandable
Angelo’s tinkers with the pizza a bit too much for me .
I like their seasoned mayo - but it’s not a reason to prefer their hoagies .

I do enjoy their Sicilian style pizza preferentially .
But honestly think Spak brothers or graziani’s pizza for regular pizzas

Go ahead a mock me - but I’ll go to Jersey Mike’s for a cheesesteak in Bloomfield before Angelo’s
 
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Angelo’s tinkers with the pizza a bit too much for me .
I like their seasoned mayo - but it’s not a reason to prefer their hoagies .

I do enjoy their Sicilian style pizza preferentially .
But honestly think Spak brothers or graziani’s pizza for regular pizzas

Go ahead a mock me - but I’ll go to Jersey Mike’s for a cheesesteak in Bloomfield before Angelo’s
I tried Jersey Mike's the other day and couldn't get thru it.
 
Lots of nostalgia in this thread. I was there from ‘98-‘02 and remember taking my first serious girlfriend in college to Uncle Sam’s on our first date. Anybody from that era remember Sorrento’s or Cumpie’s? Also just saw that Mad Mex is closing, such a shame.
 
Lots of nostalgia in this thread. I was there from ‘98-‘02 and remember taking my first serious girlfriend in college to Uncle Sam’s on our first date. Anybody from that era remember Sorrento’s or Cumpie’s? Also just saw that Mad Mex is closing, such a shame.

Yep. Do you remember when Cumpies lost their liquor license for a while and operated as a produce market? At least I think that happened? The memories are all a little fuzzy at this point. I was there 97-01.

I remember the sushi place next to Sorrentos as well. Good for a “fancy” date.
 
Yep. Do you remember when Cumpies lost their liquor license for a while and operated as a produce market? At least I think that happened? The memories are all a little fuzzy at this point. I was there 97-01.

I remember the sushi place next to Sorrentos as well. Good for a “fancy” date.

Yes I do remember when that happened. One of my friends applied to work at Cumpies and the owner was living in the back room, sleeping on a cot. Lol.

I think the Japanese place was called Ginza?
 
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really? I think Jersey's is one of the better "chain" hoagie shops. Now Subway on the other hand is the most bland, tasteless sandwich known to mankind. No matter what bread you chose, or toppings, it just tastes the same.
I hated the bread and it was bland.
I'd rather just go to Penn Station at that point
 
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