So where do you eat at 10:30am when you are ravenous and don't want breakfast. You go get a sandwich. Both my husband & I were extremely disappointed w/these cheesesteaks. No sweet peppers on the sandwich as advertised also. It was overly dry and I have had tons of philly cheesesteaks - all of which were better than this one. The meat quality was also extremely poor. I am not a Subway fan but will say subway is better than philadelphia mike's.
(1)
Adrienne L.
Not the worst French dip (or "friendship" if you say it real fast) sandwich I've ever had. The au jus was CRAZY salty, but the sandwich held up on its own. My friends had no complaints about their meals. The French fries were a little more seasoned than I normally like, but I still ate them. The meal was cheap and fast. I'd probably go back.
(3)
Brandon B.
Great food and customer service. I get my lunch there at least once a week.
(5)
Dave S.
It was an okay experience. The New Yorker sandwich was okay. The problem I had was that I ordered a sandwich and chips and was charged for a whole combo. And the place is really in bad repair. Leaky ceiling. I might go back once more just to give it another chance. But after that, no thank you!
(2)
Eileen B.
I work in Bethesda and eat here most days. The prices are reasonable the food is good and the sisters who run it are sweethearts.
(5)
Sebastian P.
This was the first place I went to have some American food after I moved to Bethesda from Europe. Back then it was owned by Walther and he did an amazing job, making it my favorite place to go. When Walther moved out of the area, I kept going there for old time's sake, even though the quality of the food declined a bit and prices went up. Nonetheless, the owners are really nice and the food is still pretty darn good, at least for someone like me who never had a Cheesesteak in Philly.
(4)
Scott E.
I eat here about twice a week and I think it's the best cheesesteak in Bethesda and one of the better in Washington. I am a true philly cheesesteak fan having gone to college in philly (Go Penn) and stayed a life long devotee. I stop at Jim's, Pat's or Tony Lukes every time I drive back and forth to NYC which is several times a year so I know what a good cheesesteak should be. I've also eaten at Philly Mike's since 1986. Yes, I stopped about 10-12 years ago when whoever owned it ruined it but started up again about 2 years when I discovered it has new owners. Bread is freshly baked. People are nice. Meat is good (no mystery bites). Lots of varieties to choose from. Fair prices. Frankly as good as most of what I get in Philly. Tried the newer South Street Steaks in Bethesda - twice - but returned back to Philly Mike's which is so much better. Get the Chicken Cheesesteak (no mayo) if you want to be a little healthy. Get the Pizza Cheesesteak with onions otherwise. They also make a real good Italian Cold Cut.
People seem to have a love-hate relationship with Philadelphia Mike's. I think I can explain why. Philadelphia Mike's is neither "Philadelphia" nor "Mike's". A lot of people are bent out of shape about the cheesesteaks, but I think that has a lot to do with the expectations coming in. If you have "Philadelphia" in your name, be prepared for folks to demand that a lunch that would make 76ers fan nod his head knowingly. And I can assure you that I have never seen a person named "Mike" by his parents at birth behind the counter. If you can get past all that, your experience will be improved dramatically. The food is tasty, the people who work there are generally very friendly, and the location is prime for folks walking to the Norfolk area of Bethesda. The items on the menu are cheap, but I can understand when people complain that the food is a touch more expensive than it should be. Everything is on par for a place where your order comes in a brown paper bag with sporadically placed grease stains. I'll just say this: If you're in the mood for some kind of meet-cheese-bread conglomerate, check this place out. But don't close your eyes and try to pretend you're in Eastern PA.
(3)
Jason G.
Mike is long gone, and the place itself is definitely worse for wear. Maybe I have been on the west coast too long, but I thought the steak and cheese was still pretty good. The roll was fresh, steak and shrooms tasty and the cheese gooey. Thats enough for me.
(4)
Amanda A.
I'm not a die-hard-must-be-philadelphia-cheez-wizz-head-or-it-sucks cheese steak eater. Therefore, I dig Philadelphia Mikes Washington Cheese steak. They were pretty slow considering the place wasn't busy but the food was hot, tasty and worth the 8 bucks or so for sandwich and fries. Also, they use quite a bit of old bay on the fries, which I like, but if you're not into old bay... you'll be disappointed.
(4)
Raymond W.
Complete failure in satisfying my hunger for cheesesteaks. The meat was chopped to tiny shreds and sweet peppers just didn't work when you are more of a purist. $6.35 for a 8" felt like a good size, but I was left hungry. I think i'd rather take a bus to Philly for a cheesesteak before I'd walk 2 blocks to Philadelphia Mike's.
(1)
SR S.
I was a regular customer when it first opened in the 80s. Then it was terrific. Bread baked on premises, as was turkey. And the cheesesteaks, the house specialty were the best around. My most recent indulgence was not close to what I remembered. But it's fine.
(2)
Keith S.
Coming from NJ it's been a mission of mine since I moved here to find a decent cheesesteak in the DC area. Philly Mike's was so so, not the best not the worst but the fries were disgusting. Super salty and not at all crispy.
(2)
Mark D.
Coming to MD, I finally found out why y'all call it Steak and Cheese, instead of a cheesesteak. Even though this place is supposed to serve cheesesteaks, it's kind of the soggy MD version that I'm used to. Not very cheesy, and the fries were okay.
(3)
Michael D.
As background, I first ate at Philadelphia Mike's about 20 years ago at the Bethesda location, when they really did have delicious cheesesteaks. The store has been sold, and re-sold several times. According to the Washington Post, as of Nov 1998, it was run by brothers Mike and Joe Saedlo, who baked their own rolls with dough they imported from Philadelphia, and served up an authentic Philadelphia cheese steak sandwich (that's what I remember). The Saedlos also roasted their own turkey and roast beef on the premises. It also popped up in Phyllis Richmans "My 50 Favorite Restaurants" in 1987. The following year, they opened a branch downtown which Mike ran, while Joe ran Bethesda. In 1989, another mini feature in the Post Magazine interviewed their grill master at the time, Mike Muffah, who said, "The owner himself, Philadelphia Mike [Saedlo], taught me how to cook," noting that Mike was very particular. "He hates for the steaks to be well done because, he says, the customers like to feel the taste of juice in their steaks" They used rib-eye steaks, cooked up on the grill, chopped into nice little pieces while it's still a little bit red. By the 1990's, as I recall, they had sold out to a new owner, and the cheesesteaks went downhill. By 1999, Renee Schettler of the Washington Post wrote an article searching out a good cheesesteak (She liked "Lileons" in Suitland), and she rated Philadelphia Mike's as "unacceptable", alongside with "Philly's Steak Express" and the "Philadelphia Cheesesteak Factory." Apparently they have been resold since.
(1)
Chris B.
super tastee, no pats, geno's or jims, but the best cheesesteaks in the DC maryland area no cheeze whiz is the only drawback
(4)
Jason G.
Philadelphia Mike's is pretty good for cheese steaks in Bethesda. There isn't really another place in the Bethesda/Chevy Chase area that "specializes" in cheese steaks. The employees are really nice and the prices are very average. There are a couple different sizes of sandwiches so it gives everyone some options. Orders are cooked made-to-order, so it takes a little while to receive your order. The french fries are seasoned well and the steaks are greasy... but what do you expect when you get a cheese steak?
(3)
Candace K.
Lately they have been off more than they have been on. So much so that I've decided to write them off completely. There are simply better options and I would rather have them than chance it at Philly Mikes. Sadness..the end of a era!
(2)
Aisha B.
this place is like home...great service, great food and great atmosphere. really recommend the fish and chips on fridays!
(5)
Sarah M.
i absolutely LOVE this place! the food was excellent and original... the service was amazing!!! they have a wide range of good and healthy meals...i had the chicken cheesesteak sub and my friend had the diplomat... we both loved our choices! try them out... also this place is vegetarian and child friendly. i recommend this place to everyone, this was an experience i want to have many more times.
(5)
Gordon K.
Hands down the best steaks in DC. They're not great, but they'll get you by if steak and cheese is what you're after. Oh, and they spice their fries, so five stars. Don't expect perfection, and you'll be more than happy.
(5)
G M.
I've had Pat's/Geno's, Campo's, and Sonny's up in Philly. I've also had the (depending on who you ask) the near-legendary D'Angelo's No. 9. The cheesesteaks at Philly Mike's are more like the D'Angelos version, which is fine and tasty if that's what you're after. The bread could be a little airier to get it closer to Philly-style, but all in all it's a relatively good sandwich for a decent price, though you will feel a little sluggish afterward. Very friendly service.
(4)
K K.
being a fan of authentic philly subs, i'm always trying to find a spot around here that i can call my favorite. the philly cheesesteak factory in DC isn't really clean, and better places like CF's tyson's location or south street steaks (college park) are too far from bethesda for a quick run. i tried to like this place, it seemed clean, decor was cozy, and the people were nice, but the food just ain't all that and yet is still too expensive, as other reviewers also seemed to note. the subs aren't that tasty despite the toppings, and the fries always seem soggy/second-rate.
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Specialities
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
Nicole F.
So where do you eat at 10:30am when you are ravenous and don't want breakfast. You go get a sandwich. Both my husband & I were extremely disappointed w/these cheesesteaks. No sweet peppers on the sandwich as advertised also. It was overly dry and I have had tons of philly cheesesteaks - all of which were better than this one. The meat quality was also extremely poor. I am not a Subway fan but will say subway is better than philadelphia mike's.
(1)Adrienne L.
Not the worst French dip (or "friendship" if you say it real fast) sandwich I've ever had. The au jus was CRAZY salty, but the sandwich held up on its own. My friends had no complaints about their meals. The French fries were a little more seasoned than I normally like, but I still ate them. The meal was cheap and fast. I'd probably go back.
(3)Brandon B.
Great food and customer service. I get my lunch there at least once a week.
(5)Dave S.
It was an okay experience. The New Yorker sandwich was okay. The problem I had was that I ordered a sandwich and chips and was charged for a whole combo. And the place is really in bad repair. Leaky ceiling. I might go back once more just to give it another chance. But after that, no thank you!
(2)Eileen B.
I work in Bethesda and eat here most days. The prices are reasonable the food is good and the sisters who run it are sweethearts.
(5)Sebastian P.
This was the first place I went to have some American food after I moved to Bethesda from Europe. Back then it was owned by Walther and he did an amazing job, making it my favorite place to go. When Walther moved out of the area, I kept going there for old time's sake, even though the quality of the food declined a bit and prices went up. Nonetheless, the owners are really nice and the food is still pretty darn good, at least for someone like me who never had a Cheesesteak in Philly.
(4)Scott E.
I eat here about twice a week and I think it's the best cheesesteak in Bethesda and one of the better in Washington. I am a true philly cheesesteak fan having gone to college in philly (Go Penn) and stayed a life long devotee. I stop at Jim's, Pat's or Tony Lukes every time I drive back and forth to NYC which is several times a year so I know what a good cheesesteak should be. I've also eaten at Philly Mike's since 1986. Yes, I stopped about 10-12 years ago when whoever owned it ruined it but started up again about 2 years when I discovered it has new owners. Bread is freshly baked. People are nice. Meat is good (no mystery bites). Lots of varieties to choose from. Fair prices. Frankly as good as most of what I get in Philly. Tried the newer South Street Steaks in Bethesda - twice - but returned back to Philly Mike's which is so much better. Get the Chicken Cheesesteak (no mayo) if you want to be a little healthy. Get the Pizza Cheesesteak with onions otherwise. They also make a real good Italian Cold Cut.
(4)Kathryn C.
Having worked in Bethesda for almost 10 yrs I see a lot of restaurants come and go, but one that has been here for awhile is Philadelphia Mike's. I went here for lunch today and ordered the Diplomat with Fries and a soda. The cashier and cook are both super friendly, the food was made fresh and served hot and they have Birch Beer in the soda machine! This is not a typical Philly cheesesteak so if that's what you're in search of you won't find it here. However the meat was tasty, bread fresh and the mayonnaise was not overwhelming. If you are a fan of Old Bay Seasoned Fries then you must try these; crispy, hot and seasoned just right. Yes the place is not a 5 star restaurant so don't expect fancy tables and fabulous décor but from what it was a few years ago it has definitely improved. Since the current management took over, Philadelphia Mike's has been one dependable lunch choice in Bethesda and I will certainly be returning again and again...
(4)Zach S.
People seem to have a love-hate relationship with Philadelphia Mike's. I think I can explain why. Philadelphia Mike's is neither "Philadelphia" nor "Mike's". A lot of people are bent out of shape about the cheesesteaks, but I think that has a lot to do with the expectations coming in. If you have "Philadelphia" in your name, be prepared for folks to demand that a lunch that would make 76ers fan nod his head knowingly. And I can assure you that I have never seen a person named "Mike" by his parents at birth behind the counter. If you can get past all that, your experience will be improved dramatically. The food is tasty, the people who work there are generally very friendly, and the location is prime for folks walking to the Norfolk area of Bethesda. The items on the menu are cheap, but I can understand when people complain that the food is a touch more expensive than it should be. Everything is on par for a place where your order comes in a brown paper bag with sporadically placed grease stains. I'll just say this: If you're in the mood for some kind of meet-cheese-bread conglomerate, check this place out. But don't close your eyes and try to pretend you're in Eastern PA.
(3)Jason G.
Mike is long gone, and the place itself is definitely worse for wear. Maybe I have been on the west coast too long, but I thought the steak and cheese was still pretty good. The roll was fresh, steak and shrooms tasty and the cheese gooey. Thats enough for me.
(4)Amanda A.
I'm not a die-hard-must-be-philadelphia-cheez-wizz-head-or-it-sucks cheese steak eater. Therefore, I dig Philadelphia Mikes Washington Cheese steak. They were pretty slow considering the place wasn't busy but the food was hot, tasty and worth the 8 bucks or so for sandwich and fries. Also, they use quite a bit of old bay on the fries, which I like, but if you're not into old bay... you'll be disappointed.
(4)Raymond W.
Complete failure in satisfying my hunger for cheesesteaks. The meat was chopped to tiny shreds and sweet peppers just didn't work when you are more of a purist. $6.35 for a 8" felt like a good size, but I was left hungry. I think i'd rather take a bus to Philly for a cheesesteak before I'd walk 2 blocks to Philadelphia Mike's.
(1)SR S.
I was a regular customer when it first opened in the 80s. Then it was terrific. Bread baked on premises, as was turkey. And the cheesesteaks, the house specialty were the best around. My most recent indulgence was not close to what I remembered. But it's fine.
(2)Keith S.
Coming from NJ it's been a mission of mine since I moved here to find a decent cheesesteak in the DC area. Philly Mike's was so so, not the best not the worst but the fries were disgusting. Super salty and not at all crispy.
(2)Mark D.
Coming to MD, I finally found out why y'all call it Steak and Cheese, instead of a cheesesteak. Even though this place is supposed to serve cheesesteaks, it's kind of the soggy MD version that I'm used to. Not very cheesy, and the fries were okay.
(3)Michael D.
As background, I first ate at Philadelphia Mike's about 20 years ago at the Bethesda location, when they really did have delicious cheesesteaks. The store has been sold, and re-sold several times. According to the Washington Post, as of Nov 1998, it was run by brothers Mike and Joe Saedlo, who baked their own rolls with dough they imported from Philadelphia, and served up an authentic Philadelphia cheese steak sandwich (that's what I remember). The Saedlos also roasted their own turkey and roast beef on the premises. It also popped up in Phyllis Richmans "My 50 Favorite Restaurants" in 1987. The following year, they opened a branch downtown which Mike ran, while Joe ran Bethesda. In 1989, another mini feature in the Post Magazine interviewed their grill master at the time, Mike Muffah, who said, "The owner himself, Philadelphia Mike [Saedlo], taught me how to cook," noting that Mike was very particular. "He hates for the steaks to be well done because, he says, the customers like to feel the taste of juice in their steaks" They used rib-eye steaks, cooked up on the grill, chopped into nice little pieces while it's still a little bit red. By the 1990's, as I recall, they had sold out to a new owner, and the cheesesteaks went downhill. By 1999, Renee Schettler of the Washington Post wrote an article searching out a good cheesesteak (She liked "Lileons" in Suitland), and she rated Philadelphia Mike's as "unacceptable", alongside with "Philly's Steak Express" and the "Philadelphia Cheesesteak Factory." Apparently they have been resold since.
(1)Chris B.
super tastee, no pats, geno's or jims, but the best cheesesteaks in the DC maryland area no cheeze whiz is the only drawback
(4)Jason G.
Philadelphia Mike's is pretty good for cheese steaks in Bethesda. There isn't really another place in the Bethesda/Chevy Chase area that "specializes" in cheese steaks. The employees are really nice and the prices are very average. There are a couple different sizes of sandwiches so it gives everyone some options. Orders are cooked made-to-order, so it takes a little while to receive your order. The french fries are seasoned well and the steaks are greasy... but what do you expect when you get a cheese steak?
(3)Candace K.
Lately they have been off more than they have been on. So much so that I've decided to write them off completely. There are simply better options and I would rather have them than chance it at Philly Mikes. Sadness..the end of a era!
(2)Aisha B.
this place is like home...great service, great food and great atmosphere. really recommend the fish and chips on fridays!
(5)Sarah M.
i absolutely LOVE this place! the food was excellent and original... the service was amazing!!! they have a wide range of good and healthy meals...i had the chicken cheesesteak sub and my friend had the diplomat... we both loved our choices! try them out... also this place is vegetarian and child friendly. i recommend this place to everyone, this was an experience i want to have many more times.
(5)Gordon K.
Hands down the best steaks in DC. They're not great, but they'll get you by if steak and cheese is what you're after. Oh, and they spice their fries, so five stars. Don't expect perfection, and you'll be more than happy.
(5)G M.
I've had Pat's/Geno's, Campo's, and Sonny's up in Philly. I've also had the (depending on who you ask) the near-legendary D'Angelo's No. 9. The cheesesteaks at Philly Mike's are more like the D'Angelos version, which is fine and tasty if that's what you're after. The bread could be a little airier to get it closer to Philly-style, but all in all it's a relatively good sandwich for a decent price, though you will feel a little sluggish afterward. Very friendly service.
(4)K K.
being a fan of authentic philly subs, i'm always trying to find a spot around here that i can call my favorite. the philly cheesesteak factory in DC isn't really clean, and better places like CF's tyson's location or south street steaks (college park) are too far from bethesda for a quick run. i tried to like this place, it seemed clean, decor was cozy, and the people were nice, but the food just ain't all that and yet is still too expensive, as other reviewers also seemed to note. the subs aren't that tasty despite the toppings, and the fries always seem soggy/second-rate.
(2)