Urgent News! Real Philadelphia Quality Cheesesteak Found in Dorawoodyville

[uOTPia Dweller]

I try to inoculate myself from what I call, Katz Deli Syndrome AKA KDS. Yes as a food snob, it is fair to use the best I have ever had as a measuring stick. But I also can’t set my expectations that high.

Dave’s Philly’s and Water Ice https://www.facebook.com/pages/Daves-Phillys-Water-Ice/731904296901551

It is at Winters Chapel and Peeler, tiny place next to the Shell station. But hell, the first remotely close-to-Philly quality hoagie was at Oak Road and Lester next to a gas station in Larryville.

As a Phillyburbs native, my biggest KDS challenge is when it comes to cheesesteaks. Twenty-seven years and nearly two months an Atlantan, I have had my heart broken so many times since a fellow Delaware Valley native first sent me to Woody’s in very early June of 1988.

Is it every bit as great as Chick’s Deli or Tony Luke’s in Philly metro? No, but I ain’t effing driving 776 miles for a cheesesteak. And have you ever tried to park at Tony Luke’s? Dave's has Amoroso rolls.

Bottom line, I think he tops Stacie’s (RIP) as the best cheesesteak I’ve ever done had in Atlanta. Yes, I’ve had Roy’s, Philly Boys (I think that’s what it was called in West Atlanta), Woody’s, blah, blah…okay I have not had Weeyums Philly Style in Stone Mountain yet.

By default, chef serves a white American, Cheese Wiz ™, and provolone mixture. Very limited menu otherwise, but I did not go for the otherwise. I will try the wooder ice next time.

Not absolute best of DelVal quality, but more than good enough to make it in Philly and certainly a godsend for metro. As a bonus, I like the fact West Philadelphia born and raised chef/owner Derrick named it after his father.

So in other words, run, do not walk to Druckerville.

[rwcohen]

I tried Dave's today for lunch. Pretty good sammy. Seasoned fries were good also. Since it seems that it probably as good as its gonna get for cheesesteaks in the area, I'll go back. For years I was hooked on Philly Connection, but there are none around where I live, Dave's does good.

[FlyinBrian]

Your post was referenced on the Loaf:

http://clatl.com/omnivore/archives/2015/08/05/get-in-ma-mouth-philly-cheesesteak-edition

(I hope these circular references don't open a wormhole or something.)

-B

[uOTPia Dweller]

Your post was referenced on the Loaf:

http://clatl.com/omnivore/archives/2015/08/05/get-in-ma-mouth-philly-cheesesteak-edition

The personable author did give me the heads up before it came out. As the national sites are taking credibility hits because of the proliferation of paid for reviews, perhaps the local posting boards like 285F can make a comeback. Welcome aboard newbies and chime on in.

I did make a second trip with a fellow South Jersey native. He moved here in ’95 and agrees the best he’s had south of Philadelphia. That being said, he would not call himself a foodie. I also had lemon pepper wings the second time. He and I both gave it full approval. It may not be “run don’t walk” like the rare gem cheesesteak, but worth getting.

Truthfully, Derrick I think is the first guy from Philadelphia I have ever, ever heard refer to a cheesesteak as, “a Philly” the plural/possessive confusion aside. I inferred from two trips, he already had a nice local following. Hopefully it has grown much larger.

[Minerva]

Seems BG disagrees.

https://instagram.com/p/6xjECdDC0c/

[uOTPia Dweller]

Happy to report that on the Y website, it’s as close to unanimity as possible for such a no-frills joint, 50-of-58 give it 5*s, five more 4*. Oh the only person less than three said, “great food ! but never open !!!!!!!!!!!” Um, okay I guess that’s the polar opposite of Yogi Berra’s, “Nobody ever goes there anymore. It’s always too crowded.

When your harshest critic admits, it’s great, you must be doing something right. When I send Philly natives, the only thing that varies is the number of years. “Best cheesesteak I’ve had in X years in Atlanta,” has been the clockwork response.

Oh, he changed the name to Big Dave’s, perhaps to correct the grammatical error or maybe I’m not the only one who pointed out he is the first guy from Philly to call a cheesesteak, “a Philly.”

[biskuit]

I was there again this past weekend - cheesesteak was great, service was friendly but completely chaotic (they had messed up a few orders and it ended up taking about 15-20 min to get ours). The only other place I'd rather go is Fred's - but I have a hard time ordering the cheesesteak there over the grinder, or the meatballs, or...

[LizR]

Ooooh, now I have to try Fred's. Was just up in WNY and did not get a proper hogie or meatball sub fix. Did have some great wings, pizza and prime rib, though.

[uOTPia Dweller]

So yeah, the place has officially caught on I think. New location, slightly clarified and grammatically correct name.

https://www.facebook.com/bigdavesphilly/posts/834049020352495

He is supposed to open a location near the original in which he clearly outgrew.

[tanline]

So yeah, the place has officially caught on I think. New location, slightly clarified and grammatically correct name.

https://www.facebook.com/bigdavesphilly/posts/834049020352495

He is supposed to open a location near the original in which he clearly outgrew.

Yep in the H-Mart Shopping Center off Peachtree Industrial (next to BrandSmart or whatever that road is called now...

[uOTPia Dweller]

He's come a long way baby https://whatnowatlanta.com/big-daves-cheesesteaks-peachtree-pavilion-doraville-opening/

[Mike GadgetGeek Stock]

He's come a long way baby https://whatnowatlanta.com/big-daves-cheesesteaks-peachtree-pavilion-doraville-opening/

And a food truck, I'd like to get Dave out here to our hangout and share the goodness..

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