BB's Sandwich Bar (Reported Closed)

Recommends

kimosabe34

Joined 8 years ago

It's affordable and its goooood!!!. They never said this was a philly Cheese steak !!! So I think everyone should stop comparing this sandwich to the Famous Philly one.It's got it NYC twist.It soggy as one should be. And if you can't taste it then you're the only one missing out.Good work for simplicity and excellent job on taking care of the locals especially during a time of a possible recession.

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fishfive

Joined 8 years ago

can't taste the steak and cheese!. I'm from Philly, but I don't really mind that it's not "authentic" or since NYC food is all about fusion anyway. If you're going to do some creative poppy seed bun version of the classic cheesesteak, be my guest. My beef here, no pun intended, is that the cheese and the steak part are so grossly neglected! I mostly got a mouthful of onions and hotsauce, and hardly tasted the cheese and steak part. And that is a cardinal sin, because that's basically what a cheesesteak is. Some of the best in Philly don't even need onions to be great, it's all about the bun, the meat, the cheese, and the way they all melt together and drip out the bun and give you a nice warm fuzzy feeling. This is a good value, but go to South Philly, find Cosmi's Deli, order a "cheesesteak WIDOUT" and get schooled.

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arthurbach

Joined 11 years ago

Not a traditional cheesesteak. I naievely expected a traditional cheesesteak sandwich, but got one that was smothered in one of the few underknown of Heinz's 57 varieties of tomato variants that is only available in institutional sized cans. It was tangy and sweet, and left a bad aftertaste.

The upside is the sandwich was really cheap.

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jhughes11231

Joined 9 years ago

So good, when freshly made. If you order your cheesesteak and they have one pre-made, don't get it. It's likely to be crusty and a bit lukewarm. When fresh, it's heavenly bliss on a bun.....melting cheese, spicy ketchup spilling down your chin.....mmmmmmm.....

It's even better after you've had a few martinis at the Fat Black Pussycat next door.

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billyboy71

Joined 9 years ago

too salty.... Intrigued by the idea of a sandwich shop with only one item, I opened the door. I was somewhat hoping for a Philly Cheesesteak, but this version was ok. For $4, the value was right on, but I found the chili sauce/ketchup to be very salty. It ended up masking the other elements of the sandwich. The meat, onions, and cheese were good as was the roll, but I'd go back if I could forego the sauce.

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Contributor

Joined 10 years ago

Manhattan's mecca for cheesesteak lovers.. The Scene
The steps leading up to BB Sandwich Bar, like the steps leading to a temple, signify that you are entering a higher realm, one you must climb to deserve. Inside, there is no menu; there is no board displaying prices. There's just a few unadorned tables, walls hung with reviews and a line of people waiting to step up to the counter.

The Food
Make no mistake, this is not a Philly cheesesteak. It's better. Gary Thompson, formerly the owner and chef of Sonia Rose, has created an impressive, singular sandwich. The foundation of this carefully constructed specialty is a Kaiser roll; thin slices of beef come next, topped with caramelized onions, a spicy, ketchup-based sauce and white American cheese. The result is well balanced and incredibly flavorful. Your only decisions at BB are how many cheesesteaks you want and where you want to eat them. Don't even think about substitutions.

Doesn't Recommend

mistermatt

Joined 10 years ago

Overrated, Big Time. Much hyped steaks will disappoint. A massive quantity of some type of onion soupy mixture is plopped on your Kaiser roll, along with ketchup (ketchup?!?), some spices, a speck of cheese and a a couple slices of beef (Steak-Ums, perhaps?). Hints: Fried onions, BB, use fried onions. You want to enhance the flavor of the beef, not mask it. Also, Kaiser rolls are good for burgers and cold cuts, invest in some real sub (long) rolls. Add some more meat and cheese (for those who request it). Basically, less condiments and more beef! Want a real steak sandwich? Go to the White House Sub Shop in Atlantic City or Pats or Genos in South Philly. BB translates into Big Bummer.

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jinjingxiu

Joined 11 years ago

mmmmm. The sandwich practically melts in your mouth. The second time around, it was just perfect --not soggy as it had before, and just the right combination of spice (chili ketchup) and smooth (American cheese), covered with the famous sauteed onions. The BB sandwich may not be a classic philly cheese steak, and it's too irreverant to become a classic of its own, but it really hits the spot.

Doesn't Recommend

jgv17

Joined 11 years ago

Disappointing. I wasn't expecting anything like a philly cheesesteak. I wasn't expecting it to be and I do not think that was their intention. I think they just wanted to create a new version of a classic. I personally was disappointed in the sandwich. My cheese was not oozing through the steak and bread. By steak was also not chopped up but just in layers on the hard roll. It wasn't very good. The hot pepper sauce was a nice touch though.

Doesn't Recommend

zeecee

Joined 11 years ago

Totally disappointing. We'd read the mixed reviews, but we live nearby and just went over to see for ourselves. A place that makes only one item should make it well. This place doesn't. The thin slices of meat are tasteless, overwhelmed by mounds of gloppy, fried onions and a strong (but not good) red sauce with a bit of melted cheese on the totally loser of a roll.

Okay, the place has no atmosphere. You place your order and sit at a small table with a can of some beverage. That makes it all the more vital that the sandwich be tasty. This so falls short of the mark. It misses even if you've never had the authentic Philly sandwich.