However, as I left I couldn't help but wonder if what I ate was the genuine article a diner at, say, Pat's or Geno's in Philadelphia would enjoy. The cheese was white, almost certainly provolone. Although provolone is accepted by many for this sandwich, the default should be Cheese Whiz. Indeed, there was a sign proclaiming the restaurant uses Cheese Whiz, but it wasn't in my sandwich. Also, the cheese should have covered the steak, instead of hiding underneath. Finally, there's the question of heft. Any search on a Philly cheesesteak would reveal that what I had (photo above) didn't carry the weight of what one would find at, say, Pat's (below photo from www.sciencecompanion.com).
All that said, I'd be happy to go back. The fact is, I enjoyed the sandwich and The Cheesecake Shop is located midway between my work and Jenny's. Moreover, Jenny went with the 7" mushroom and she liked her sandwich, too. And, with a 10" classic at $6.29 I'd be hard pressed to find a sandwich more filling.
The Cheesesteak Shop
832 W El Camino Real
Sunnyvale, CA 94087
(408) 530-8159
www.cheesesteakshop.com
