Bradenton's Boiler Room is the Real Deal for Steak Sandwiches

Pat's King of Steaks today.

BRADENTON -- Having grown up near Philadelphia, I'm usually a bit reluctant to try a Philly Cheesesteak anywhere outside of PA, for fear of bitter disappointment. But seeing the sign on the Boiler Room every day piqued my curiosity enough to give their ”famous“ steak sandwiches a shot.

The Boiler Room doesn't advertise a ”Philly“ sandwich, which is a smart move when marketing it to someone from up north. It keeps them from rolling their eyes and turning up their nose before the sandwich even arrives. However, finally having tried their delicious ribeye cheesesteak, I'll admit that they're one of the only places that actually could get away with it.

Let me explain a real Philly Steak Sandwich for the unacquainted. The sandwich was invented by Pat's King of Steaks founders Pat and Harry Olivieri in 1933. As legend has it, the two brothers who ran a South Philly hot dog stand tried something new by slicing some inexpensive steak and grilling it in onions. The smell attracted a crowd and the ”steak sandwich“ was born once they threw it on a bun.

Catty-corner rival Geno's Steaks opened in 1966

Over the next few decades, the sandwich caught on and has since become a staple offering at any Philadelphia area delicatessen or pizza parlor. A real Philly is topped with either provolone, Cheez Whiz or American cheese, and in addition to grilled onions, standard toppings include mushrooms and green peppers. The traditional drink is a birch beer soda, while a Tastycake is the perfect dessert.

Pat's is still an iconic institution, located on it's original corner, directly across the street from its nemesis, Geno's. Other standard bearers include Jim's on South Street and Steve's Prince of Steaks – less known to tourists, but the favorite of many locals.

Now, what makes a Philly a Philly is the bun. Anyone can competently fry up some sliced ribeye and onions. Every steak sandwich in Philadelphia comes on an Amoroso roll – period – and that is what's impossible to replicate. In fact, South Philly Cheesesteak on 34th Street near SCF actually has them flown in frozen several times a week.

Cheesesteaks in Paradise at the Boiler Room on Manatee Ave.

An Amoroso roll is so perfectly soft with just the right amount of crisp in the crust, that any sub is immediately improved tenfold once it's used. Because Florida bread can be soooooo incredibly bad, especially when compared to that of the Northeast (supposedly owed to the hard water), it's really difficult to call something local a ”Philly.“ But what surprised me most about the Boiler Room's sandwich was the perfect roll, courtesy of St. Armand's Bakery which has been the Boiler Room's trump card and the reason why they've been able to create a sandwich that's been famous for decades.

At $7 for a loaded large, it's also a bargain. Behind the counter, my man Andy is a serious grill master and could probably even hang on South 9th Street. The Boiler Room will be the only place I go when I get a hankering for a Philly Steak from now on. In addition to a perfectly delicious Philly, they've got a full menu of decadent comfort food including their famous hot dogs which are stuffed with Swiss cheese and wrapped in bacon! In fact, there's a whole menu section dedicated to bacon lover's, along with your standard fare like wings, Cubans and burgers.

With incredible happy hour specials and a number of $2 domestic bottles every day, the Boiler Room is a value-driven joint for local comfort food in a cozy atmosphere that aptly conveys its history. Their kitchen often stays open 'til 1 a.m. or later on weekends and they even have a drive-thru window. If you've never been to Philly, but want to know what the fuss is about, check out the Boiler Room, now endorsed by someone intimately familiar with the genuine article.

Boiler Room Bar & Grill

5600 Manatee Avenue West
Bradenton, FL 34209-2537
(941) 792-7176

Dennis Maley is a featured columnist and editor for The Bradenton Times. An archive of his columns is available here. He can be reached at dennis.maley@thebradentontimes.com.