Posted by Stephen Rushmore on August 19, 2007
Whenever I pass through Philadelphia, my traditional list of "must-eats" has included cheese steaks and soft pretzels, but after eating at Tony Luke's, I am adding their roasted pork Italian sandwich to my list.
The local favorite lunch stop, with one ordering window and a few tables of covered outdoor seating, is situated below the interstate with rumbling of 18 wheelers passing by-- giving it a diesel smell, but a convenient location for area workers to have a hearty sandwich. The ordering process is fast-paced-- have your order ready when you approach the front of the line and be ready to pick it up immediately when your number is called. The small establishment is filling hundreds of orders during peak hours and the counter staff don't want to miss a beat with late-collected orders.
Tony Luke's has a respectable Philly cheese steak with whiz: medium-thick sliced beef piled onto a substantial French roll laced with cheese whiz. The firm bread is able to hold the juices from the meat and cheese for a tasty, reasonably mess-free eat.
The highlight of this Philadelphia eatery though was Tony Luke's roasted pork Italian: thinly sliced tender pieces of meat and provolone cheese with one unique addition - broccoli rabe sautéed in garlic. The tender and peppery pork seems to melt with the garlicky greens. The sandwich is held together by a firm piece of French baguette style bread. Quality ingredients and well-balanced spices give this proprietary specialty a winning combination that brings back customers again and again--me included.
Overall: Worth planning a day around
22 out of 23 people found the review helpful. Was it helpful to you?
Reviewers "Must Eats" List
Roasted Pork Sandwich
($5.00)
Cheese steak
($5.00)
Chicken Parm
($5.00)
"Vegetarians can eat as well as meat-eaters at Tony Luke's. This sandwich is called an Uncle Mike. All well-cooked vegetables, and it looks like a mess, but it's high-flavored and soulful eating."
Bruce Bilmes and Susan Boyle
"This tender Roasted Pork Italian is a must eat."
Stephen Rushmore Jr.
"While Tony Luke's is best known for its pork sandwich, the chicken parmesan is not to be ignored."
Stephen Rushmore Jr.
"The Pork Italian Rabe is Tony Luke's signature sandwich. The pork is juicy and garlicky."
Bruce Bilmes and Susan Boyle
"Luke's veal cutlet is excellent, and if that's what you crave, you won't be disappointed. But, for your first visit, you must order a Pork Italian Rabe."
Bruce Bilmes and Susan Boyle
"Tony Luke's makes a very respectible cheese steak "with wiz" (cheese wiz and onions)."
Stephen Rushmore Jr.
"This menu speaks the language of Roadfood."
Stephen Rushmore Jr.
"You will usually wait on a line at the order window. After placing your order, and leaving your name, step back and wait along with the rest of the crowd."
Bruce Bilmes and Susan Boyle
"9pm on a Thursday night and there's a line waiting for those juicy Italian Pork sandwiches!"
KitschKat
"Look for this when you exit off the highway."
Stephen Rushmore Jr.
"Some customers park in the middle of the road in front of Tony Luke's, but the "official" parking is a razor-wire rimmed "lot" beneath Interstate 95. At Luke's, this just seems so right."
Bruce Bilmes and Susan Boyle
