Just in the past couple years, we took him and his wife to Israel for a taste of what you could argue is the Israeli version of cheesesteak, shawarma. I’ve had the pleasure of being friends with Frank for years now. Photo: Pat’s King of Steaksįrom my countless visits, I’ve become friends with Frank Olivieri Jr., the current and third-generation owner. And once you place your order and are waiting off to the side, enjoying your fountain soda, they get to work on your order in a line of tickets, rushing to get the sandwich into your hands so the magic can begin. My order is the “Prov Wit” with a visit to their superb pepper bar to load it up.

You want the ordering process to be as concise as possible, so you do two things: request the type of cheese (Whiz, Prov, American), and say whether or not to add onions (Wit or Witout). Ordering a cheesesteak is truly an experience unlike any other. It’s a 24/7 operation, so you can imagine (when I still drank) how many late nights once ended there. There once was a time when I lived just a few blocks away from Pat’s. From politicians to little leaguers to the post-bar crowd, it’s a rite of passage to eat Pat’s steaks. What I admire most about this 85-year-old business is how you can find all walks of Philadelphia standing in that great long line for cheesesteaks.

Whiz wit