Camarota’s of Philadelphia

The Philly Cheesesteak originated in Philadelphia at a place called Pat’s. It was one of those thrown together meals the owner made one day in hunger that became a fan favorite. It started out covered in tomato sauce, but soon customers lobbied for and received cheese as a cover. Pat’s is famous for the way you order. With (wit) or without (wit-out) onions, your choice of cheese, tomatoes and lettuce (if you want but if they have to guess they charge you 50 cents more), and you have to have your money ready when you get to the front. If you miss any one of these steps, you are more than welcomed to try again…after going to the back of the line. As for cheese, Whiz is the cheese of choice, although American and Provolone are accepted as authentic since they were the first cheeses used.

Camarota’s stance is not as hardcore, but their menu is almost as simple. Of course, I had to try my cheesesteak with the Cheese Whiz, peppers and onions. A friend had the chicken cheesesteak with American cheese, and I also tried the Roast Pork Italian sandwich.

There were two things that stood out in my experience with Camarota’s. The first was the quality of the food. All the food was tasty. The cheesesteak bread is soft and delectable, almost worth eating by itself. The steak is very thinly sliced and so tender, you almost don’t have to bite. With the Cheese Whiz added, it’s like there’s cheese in every part of the finely chopped steak sandwich. The hoagie is soft and chewy, but a good support for the juicyness that is the Roast Pork Italian.

Unlike the Cheese Whiz in my Philly Cheesesteak, the sharp provolone that topped my Roast Pork Italian did not flow through every part of my sandwich. The sandwich was stuffed with roast pork and Italian herbs. Marinara sauce soaked the sandwich, and sharp provolone, which has a Parmesan like taste but with better meltability, graced the top. It was delicioso. The Chicken Cheesteak was the most surprising. Flavourful, tender bits of chicken under rich, creamy American cheese and that same great bread was a treat indeed, and different from other chicken cheesesteak style sandwiches by its sheer girth and flavor. There was a lot of food on the plate. I left Camarota’s feeling fed for the day. When I go back, I want to try the cheesesteak with that sharp provolone. Something makes me think that will be mmm mmm delicious.

The second thing that stood out was the service. Though we got our food quickly, and it was definitely hot and fresh, the greeting at the door was lackluster at best. When it comes to customer service, our server really seemed as if she couldn’t be bothered. We Southerners (really anyone, but we more than others) like to feel as if we are important to the establishments we frequent. To owners who are from here, there is no excuse for bad customer service training. Yet I’ve found that people who are not from around here don’t really buy into that concept, sometimes to their detriment. With that understanding in mind, I was willing to not be so put off by the service since they were trying to greet at the door, but I can see how, should the lackluster greeting continue, it could be a detriment to this phenomenal steak shop.

Price wise, Camarota’s is very reasonable, considering how much food you get. Those with smaller appetites will be satisfied with the 6-inch sandwich, priced between $4.25 and $5.50, while those with hearty appetite may find their match in the 12-inch, priced between $6.25 and $7.50. Hoagies are priced comparably for the 6- and 12-inch variety while hoagies are priced closer to the 12-inch sandwiches.

So why should Middle Georgia have a Philly Cheesesteak sandwich shop? If Camarota’s answer holds up, it’s because it’s just plain good and for us Maconites, well worth the drive to Warner Robins. Camarota’s of Philadelphia is located at 2907 Watson Blvd, Suite C in the Kroger shopping center. They can be reached at 478-333-6662.