First developed in South Philadelphia, the not-so-humble Philly cheesesteak sandwich, or more commonly called, simply the “cheesesteak,” is having a moment. Here in Connecticut, it’s long been a standard deli item available at most meat-centric sandwich shops. The sandwich traditionally consists of thinly sliced steak strips and onions, sometimes peppers, all topped with a cheese of some type, usually provolone or cheese whip, served in a soft Italian bread roll. However, variations on these building blocks are nearly limitless. It’s easy to see why this has been a popular sandwich since the 1930s, when it was developed. Cheesesteaks are relatively simple to make and they are comfort food crowd pleasers. There are few better combinations of meat, cheese, and bread than a well-made cheesesteak.
I recently went on a quest to find some excellent spots to enjoy cheesesteaks in the area. While many sit-down restaurants are offering great takes on these sandwiches, for this story I focused on the grab-and-go establishments, the type of places serving cheesesteaks to workers on lunch breaks or that you can grab to enjoy at the start of a long ride. •
C&C Deli
40 Danbury Road, New Milford
860-799-6336
Additional locations in Brookfield and Danbury
C&C Deli is well-liked in the Danbury area with locations in New Milford, Danbury and Brookfield. I haven’t tried many other offerings here, but they do a nice job when it comes to their Philly cheesesteak, keeping things simple and traditional with beef topped with melted cheese and mixed with onions and peppers served on a sub roll. The menu warns that this is spicy, and I found just a touch of welcome heat in the flavor, but nothing close to overpowering.
The New Milford C&C is found in a small storefront on a busy stretch of Route 7, and it’s a nice place to add to your itinerary if you’re heading up to Litchfield County for a hike and are craving a steaming hot Philly cheesesteak on the way.
Johnny’s Food Center
1 Brush Hill Rd, New Fairfield
203-746-225
johnnysfoodcenter.com
Johnny’s Food Center in New Fairfield is an underrated gem. It’s been a longtime personal favorite of mine for years. From the classic Italian combo to the fried eggplant sandwich they call Blue Eyes, this spot always delivers big flavors. And, of course, Johnny’s also offers an excellent cheesesteak. Simplicity is the name of the game here. Steak and onions combine with an unassuming hero roll to create a mouthwatering option that is one of my favorites anywhere. Peppers are not included by default, but you can add them on request. Even though I generally like peppers in my cheesesteaks, I don’t do that here because I find there’s something to leaving them out of the equation, as it allows for more of the steak and cheese flavor to shine through.
Gaetano’s Deli
1713 Post Road East, Westport
203-955-1852
gaetanosdelis.com
Additional locations in Stratford
Gaetano’s has three locations and is one of my favorite delis in the state. One of its most popular items is its steak and cheese sandwich, and after trying it in Westport recently, I quickly understood why. This is a bit of a change of pace from the other cheesesteaks featured here. The beef slices are thicker, and it’s all served between a more substantial and tasty hero bread bun that is baked for the deli in Arthur Avenue in the Bronx. Because of this, the final steak sandwich, which also features cheese, onions and peppers, is more steak-forward and meaty. In addition to being delicious, this sandwich is also huge, big enough to eat-one-half-and-still- skip-dinner huge. It’s perfect for cheesesteak fans looking for a slight twist and a bigger sandwich.
Sand-Wedge Deli
1 Ethan Allen Hwy, Ridgefield
203-544-8074
thesandwedge.com
One of the few places in the area to truly specialize in cheesesteaks, Sand-Wedge Deli devotes an entire section of its menu to different takes on the sandwich. First, there’s the classic Philly cheesesteak, here made with American cheese, mayo and peppers in addition to the onions and steak, but that’s just the beginning. There are also cheesesteak variations featuring Sriracha Mayo and jalapenos as well as fried eggs and hash browns. I tried both the classic Philly and the El Camino, which features onion, cheddar and avocado on garlic bread; both are strong offerings. The Philly was perfect for those looking for a nice take on the original with great cheese whip and meat flavor. The El Camino added some intriguing spice to the equation and though I was skeptical at first, the avocado’s presence was subtle and didn’t overpower things. In other words, it all worked really well.
