Playboy says it knows the best cheesesteak in Philly

Playboy contends that it has settled a debate that has raged in Philadelphia for decades:

Which cheesesteak is best?

The mag had writer Dan McQuade make the call (so it's really McQuade's "best cheesesteak in Philadelphia"). He came up with a collection of 17 contenders that includes the usual suspects - Pat's, Geno's, John's, Dalessandro's, and Tony Luke's - as well as a couple that are often overlooked by the listicle-builders, such as Mike's, on 16th Street between Market Street and JFK Boulevard.

"The one place I think I missed was Philip's [on West Passyunk Avenue]," he said in a phone chat. McQuade previously ran down Philly's dive-bar scene and is next tackling a ranking of Philly pizza ("that's the area I'm most confident about").

Reaction to the cheesesteak article has been "not as angry as I expected," he said.

The precede explains that more than food is at stake. "Eating a cheesesteak is about more than just the sandwich: It's about the atmosphere of the joints you enjoy your sandwich at, the jokes you make with the people making your steaks, the conversations you have with other customers in line."

The winner: Max's Steaks at Erie and Germantown (just off Broad) in North Philadelphia, which McQuade says seems to "embody what a Philadelphia cheesesteak should be. It's also the type of place where, while waiting in line, you can buy a pair of fake Oakleys and a copy of Furious 7."

Manager Dotty Roney, flattered with the mag's attention, said Max's uses Amoroso rolls and beef from Esposito. An 18-inch cheesesteak will set you back $16.95, while a 12-inch version is $8.25.

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