Reviews for Primanti Brothers

12/12/2023 - MenuPix User

08/21/2013 - GregS18348
Yeah, I know, it’s the famous “Primanti Brothers.” An institution in Pittsburgh. A rite of passage for locals and travelers alike. To be revered and spoken of in only the most reverent tones. I have several Pittsburgh born co-workers who know my love for food and recommend this as the “best sandwich in the ‘Burgh. Started as a 3 a.m to 3 p.m. food cart for nearby late night truckers in the 1930’s, Primanti’s has grown tremendously, and everyone, foodie or not, has to go there. Or so it seems. Adam from Man vs. Food; Rachel Ray; National Geographic – they’ve all been to the “Shrine of the Primanti’s”. Well now I have, too.

Although they have expanded to 20 stores in PA, and three in Florida, If I am making the trek, I might as well trek to Mecca – The original Primanti’s in the Strip District, just a mile or so northeast of downtown. Brightly illuminated and highly visible with enough exterior neon to make a strip club jealous, the Strip’s Primanti’s sits in what deceptively looks like a “rough neighborhood”. Nearby are a number of nice little restaurants and bars, and if you stay reasonably close, there is nothing to fear, appearances aside. Walking in you will find nothing special. Brightly lit with a food prep area and a couple of employees behind a counter with bar height backless stools on the left. A moderate amount of evenly spaced tables and chairs along the wall to the right and down the center aisle. The menu, as well as some minimally artful local sports depictions, are painted on the wall. There is a moderate selection of sandwiches, with soup, chili and fries available here. None of the Nachos, salads, wings and deep fried items that are available in the suburban stores. No, not here. No Potato Boats, Hoagies or Pizzas. No kids menu. Exotic here is chili and cheese on the side order of fries.

After sitting for several minutes in a relatively empty restaurant, I finally walked up and got myself a beer at the counter. I picked Iron City Beer, a premium lager from a local brewery, the Pittsburgh Brewing Company. The beer was pretty good for what it was. A working man’s beer in the Pabst Blue Ribbon or Old Milwaukee style. Nothing wrong with that. It goes perfectly with the Primanti Bros. Experience. A Young’s Double Chocolate Stout or something similar would be entirely out of place here, as would the person ordering it. I placed my order when the beer showed up. I stuck with a classic: Pastrami and Swiss. I was told – “Sorry, no Swiss – only provolone.” The menu mentions Swiss, but tonight, for some reason, it was only Provolone. Missing the sharp bite that Swiss provides, I pass on the cheese. Bread is thick cut Italian, no other option. Cole slaw and the fries (a Primanti “Secret to their success”), comes on there too, unless you ask otherwise. Onions on request – so of course - I request.

Served on a piece of paper, the sandwich doesn’t look like anything special. I tear open a few packets of Grey Poupon, spread those around, and dig in. And the pronouncement on the Legendary Primanti Pastrami is ----Meh. Bread is OK, a little dry. The fries add nothing, they are better eaten off the sandwich. The slaw is fine, it’s actually quite nicely seasoned, and there is a single tomato. The sandwich is cut in half. The pastrami itself? Pretty good, but not as much Pastrami on there as you would think upon first look. While the sandwich seems thick, the meat is more of a “ball” in the center giving the sandwich it’s height, than it is a “crust to crust” adventure. It’s maybe a 5 on a scale of 1 to 10. I would be disappointed if this is what I made at home and served to friends. And they would get it for free. Almost $7.00, and completely overpriced compared to an equivalent elsewhere.

Apparently a life changing event for some, I found myself deeply disappointed after all of the hype. Even based on the “Diner or Dive” scale, I was still less than impressed.

I leave, pushing past the semi-drunk crowd of younger folks pushing in for a late night bite. Perhaps they’ll think it’s great, I certainly did not. I wanted to, I really, really wanted to. But sadly, I did not. Sorry my friends, I tried.