BB's Sandwich Bar

(212) 473-7500

120 W 3RD St
New York, NY 10012 40.7304 -74.0005

Get Map & Directions »

Neighborhoods: Greenwich Village, Downtown

Price:

$

Last updated 4.20.09

Category:

Restaurants, Delis And Delicatessens

Payment Methods:

Cash

Restaurant Special Features:

Cheap Eats

Cuisine:

Traditional American

What People Are Saying About BB's Sandwich Bar

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

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…

food quality
71.05000019073486% positive
  1. “The sandwiches here were pretty good.”
  2. “That makes it all the more vital that the sandwich be tasty.”
  3. “This is a great sandwich”
  4. “If you are in the village and want to try an interesting steak and cheese, come here.”
  5. “Good onions, spicy sauce, and nice bread.”
  6. “Its ridiculous to call these things cheese steaks, and even more so to say that theyre better than cheese steaks.”
  7. “I've spent several years in Philadelphia eating more than my fair share of authentic cheese steaks.”
  8. “Also, Kaiser rolls are good for burgers and cold cuts, invest in some real sub (long) rolls.”
  9. “no, these aren't authentic philly-style cheesesteaks (nor are they meant to be), but they're good nonetheless, especially if you judge them based solely on taste and not on authenticity.”
  10. “Much hyped steaks will disappoint.”
  11. “Although I grew-up in Philadelphia, Im not one to go so far as to say that the 215-area-code is the only place to get a good steak sandwich because while Tony Lukes and Pats and Genos and Jims and Lees and Mommas are meccas.”
  12. “The meat, onions, and cheese were good as was the roll, but I'd go back if I could forego the sauce.”
  13. “What you get for $4 is a tasty, juicy, delicious cheesesteak.”
  14. “It misses even if you've never had the authentic Philly sandwich.”
  15. “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.”
  16. “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.”
  17. “The fact of the matter is NYC does not have one restaurant serving a decent steak sandwich.”
  18. “It is a pretty good steak sandwich that is smothered in grilled onions, some sort of spicy sauce, cheese, and then served on a roll.”
  19. “Very good sandwich, worth stoping by.”
return potential
100.0% positive
  1. “The meat, onions, and cheese were good as was the roll, but I'd go back if I could forego the sauce.”
value
100.0% positive
  1. “This is a good value, but go to South Philly, find Cosmi's Deli, order a "cheesesteak WIDOUT" and get schooled.”
  2. “Very good sandwich, worth stoping by.”
wait time
50.0% positive
  1. “Also, Kaiser rolls are good for burgers and cold cuts, invest in some real sub (long) rolls.”
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

09/12/08

It's affordable and its goooood!!!

by kimosabe34

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.

  • Pros: When you walk in you already know what ur there for
  • Cons: No parking but the hydrant outside and it's not down here in Miami Beach :(
3 Star Rating: Average

11/07/05

can't taste the steak and cheese!

by fishfive

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.

  • Pros: I like the onions, good sauce, good price
  • Cons: can't taste the meat!
3 Star Rating: Average

04/30/05

Not a traditional cheesesteak

by arthurbach

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.

  • Pros: Cheap
  • Cons: Sauce is gross, Variety
4 Star Rating: Recommended

12/16/04

So good, when freshly made

by jhughes11231

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.

3 Star Rating: Average

08/02/04

too salty...

by billyboy71

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.

  • Pros: cheap, no confusing menus

The Details on BB's Sandwich Bar

Place Categories:

  • pretty good steak sandwich
  • good sauteed onions
  • ridiculous cheese
  • tasteless thin slices
  • gooey thsi stuff
  • disappoint steak
  • nice feeling
  • even papa white house
  • already excellent bb sandwich bar
  • bad aftertaste
  • cold cuts
  • nice bread
  • good value
  • authentic cheese steaks
  • never authentic philly sandwich
  • good spicy sauce
  • good meat
  • order cheesesteak widout
  • not authentic phillystyle cheesesteaks
  • dry cheesesteak
  • good kaiser rolls
Advertisement

Lists In Manhattan

Recent Reviews In Manhattan

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

Curry Dream

66 W. 39th St, New York, NY

4 Star Rating: Recommended

Libation

137 Ludlow St., New York, NY

4 Star Rating: Recommended

Blackstones Pub & Restaurant

245 E 55th St, New York, NY

1 Star Rating: Poor

Garage Restaurant and Cafe

99 7th Avenue South, New York, NY

Advertisement