Philly Style Subs- Reading

Overview

Philly Style Subs- Reading is a family-owned restaurant located at 3400 Plaza Dr in Reading, Pennsylvania. The establishment specializes in Philadelphia-style sandwiches, particularly cheesesteaks, along with wings, burgers, and various sides. The restaurant brings the culinary traditions of Philadelphia's sandwich culture to Berks County, offering interpretations of classic hoagies and cheesesteaks that draw on the city's distinctive approach to these iconic foods.

The restaurant operates under the ownership of Rob and Morgan, who maintain a hands-on presence in the daily operations. This direct involvement by the proprietors shapes the establishment's character, creating an atmosphere that reflects personal attention rather than corporate standardization. The business follows certain old-school practices, including whole dollar pricing on menu items, which speaks to a straightforward, no-frills approach to running a sandwich shop.

Menu and Culinary Approach

The menu at Philly Style Subs centers on the cheesesteak, the sandwich that has become synonymous with Philadelphia's food identity. The restaurant offers multiple variations of this classic, incorporating different cheese options that are fundamental to the Philadelphia cheesesteak tradition. These include Cheez Whiz, the processed cheese spread that became a cheesesteak staple in the mid-20th century, as well as Cooper Sharp, a particularly sharp American cheese that originated in Philadelphia and has developed a devoted following among cheesesteak enthusiasts.

Among the signature offerings is the R&R cheesesteak, which combines smoked Cooper Sharp cheese with Cheez Whiz, creating a dual-cheese approach that layers different flavor profiles and textures. This combination represents a departure from the traditional single-cheese cheesesteak, offering a more complex taste experience while remaining within the bounds of Philadelphia sandwich conventions.

The Port Richmond sandwich stands as another distinctive menu item, named after the Philadelphia neighborhood known for its Polish-American heritage. This sandwich features chopped kielbasa with sautéed onions and Cooper Whiz, representing a fusion of Philadelphia's cheesesteak tradition with the Eastern European culinary influences that have long been part of the city's food landscape. The use of kielbasa in place of the traditional ribeye steak creates a sandwich that pays homage to Philadelphia's diverse neighborhood food cultures.

Beyond cheesesteaks, the menu extends to chicken wings, which have become a significant part of the restaurant's offerings. The wing selection includes various flavor preparations, with hot garlic wings and hot honey variations among the options. The restaurant also serves burgers and maintains a selection of sides, including fresh-cut fries that are prepared on-site rather than from frozen, pre-cut supplies.

The bread used for sandwiches follows Philadelphia tradition, with the restaurant utilizing Liscio's rolls, a bakery supplier known throughout the Philadelphia region for producing the soft Italian rolls that are considered essential to an authentic cheesesteak. The seeded roll option provides an additional texture element that some customers prefer. This attention to bread sourcing reflects an understanding that in Philadelphia sandwich culture, the roll is considered as important as the filling.

Portion Philosophy and Value

The restaurant has developed a reputation for substantial portion sizes. The serving philosophy appears to prioritize generosity, with sandwiches and sides sized to provide what many customers describe as multiple meals from a single order. This approach to portioning represents a particular value proposition, especially given the pricing structure. For customers seeking quantity alongside quality, this sizing strategy distinguishes the establishment from competitors who may offer smaller portions at similar price points.

Location and Accessibility

The Reading location on Plaza Drive positions the restaurant within a commercial area of the city. The facility has been designed or adapted to accommodate customers with mobility needs, featuring wheelchair accessible elements throughout the premises. This includes accessible parking in the lot, an entrance that accommodates wheelchairs, seating areas designed for wheelchair users, and restroom facilities that meet accessibility standards. This comprehensive approach to accessibility ensures that customers with various physical needs can fully access the restaurant's services.

The establishment maintains an LGBTQ+ friendly environment, reflecting an inclusive approach to customer service that welcomes all members of the community.

Philadelphia Sandwich Tradition

To understand what Philly Style Subs offers requires some context about Philadelphia's sandwich heritage. The cheesesteak, invented in Philadelphia in the 1930s, has evolved into one of America's most recognized regional foods. The basic formula of thinly sliced or chopped beef on a long Italian roll with melted cheese has spawned countless variations and imitators, but the Philadelphia version maintains certain characteristics that distinguish it from interpretations found elsewhere.

The choice of cheese remains one of the most debated elements of cheesesteak orthodoxy. Cheez Whiz, introduced to cheesesteaks in the 1950s, provides a creamy, tangy element that melts uniformly across the meat. Cooper Sharp, with its more pronounced flavor, appeals to those who prefer a sharper cheese taste. Provolone represents another traditional option. The combination of multiple cheeses, as seen in the R&R sandwich, represents a more contemporary approach that seeks to capture the benefits of different cheese characteristics.

The bread question is equally significant in Philadelphia sandwich culture. The ideal cheesesteak roll must be soft enough to bite through easily while maintaining enough structural integrity to contain the filling without becoming soggy. Liscio's Bakery, whose rolls the restaurant uses, has been supplying Philadelphia-area sandwich shops for decades and is considered one of the benchmark providers of authentic cheesesteak rolls.

Operational Considerations

As a smaller, family-operated establishment, Philly Style Subs operates with a lean staffing model. The restaurant's size and staffing levels mean that during peak periods, customers should anticipate that preparation times may vary based on order volume. The trade-off for this smaller operation is the direct involvement of ownership in daily operations and food preparation, which contributes to consistency in product quality.

The restaurant can be reached by phone at +1 484-614-5554 for inquiries or orders. Customers planning visits during peak meal times may wish to call ahead to check on current wait times or to place advance orders.

Regional Context

Reading, located approximately 60 miles northwest of Philadelphia, has historically maintained culinary connections to the larger city while developing its own food traditions. The presence of Philadelphia-style sandwich shops in Reading reflects the broader influence of Philadelphia food culture throughout southeastern Pennsylvania. For residents of Berks County seeking Philadelphia-style cheesesteaks without the drive to the city, establishments like Philly Style Subs provide local access to this regional specialty.

The restaurant contributes to Reading's dining landscape by offering a specialized focus on a particular food tradition, complementing the area's other dining options with a dedicated approach to Philadelphia sandwich preparation. The family ownership model also reflects a broader pattern in the sandwich shop tradition, where individual proprietors rather than corporate chains have historically driven innovation and maintained quality standards in this culinary category.