La Porta Via

1192 N Middletown Road
Media, PA 19063
(610) 358-8970
Website

If you like Paesano's, you will love La Porta Via. Located across from La Porta the mother restaurant, this sandwich shop has most of the favorites from the famous Philly stop.

The Italian fry bread makes for an incredible sauce sopping vessel. Covered in parm and herbs, one piece is a meal in and of itself.

Doughy, crispy, and comforting. This is a gluten free dieters nightmare. And while we are on the subject of fad diets, there is nothing vegan here either. Probably.

The daily meat slice of Sicilian style pizza is another quick belly buster. While I am partial to thin crust, this was a damn good hunk of goodness.

The always popular Torrezeaux is a spicy chicken cheesesteak, Italian style. With roasted chicken, mushrooms, sriracha cream, smoked mozzarella, spinach.

As you can see there is no lack of sauce to this sandwich. Creamy, salty, and umami rich, it is a chicken cheesesteak done right.

The Italian Rueben was another stunner. House brisket with sweet and sour kraut, caper mayo, and Swiss on rye. Not for the faint of heart.

Look at those lovely layers. This is sandwich poetry in motion. At this point I have eaten my way around the menu, and you will not go wrong.

Paesano's

I was headed to pick up some pork belly I ordered for my next bacon project, and I wanted something light to off-set the fact that I was buying nearly six pounds of pork fat. My goal was a tofu banh mi at my favorite little joint on 8th and Christian, but alas, they were closed at one on a Thursday.

Not wanting to settle for a slice, I hoofed it down to Paesano's, and they magically had a caprese special. Tomato, fresh mozzarella, garlic mayo and basil pesto on a seeded roll. While not TOO light, it did the trick and left me feeling quite content, happy with my self control, and self conscious about the fact that people ten feet away could smell the garlic on me. I would definitely advise this one to a vegetarian, but I must admit, I was longingly looking at the pulled brisket falling out of the older ladies sandwich across from me, and wondering if she would be willing to let me eat any pieces that fell out. I mean, she was too skinny to finish it on her own, right? Luckily, I overcame my urge, quickly scarfed down my sandwich and was on my way to meat heaven.

Paesano's Italian Market

1017 S 9th St
Philadelphia, PA 19147
(215) 440-0371
Website

Paesano's II, Paesano's Italian Market, Paesano's Philly Style, I am not exactly sure what the name of this location is anymore. I call it Paesano's Italian Market, for obvious reasons. I have written about this spot before, but I haven't given a nod to their chicken of the sea sandwiches yet.

 

They offer two regular menu fish options on the menu, and both sounded delicious, so I dove right in and went all pesce. Well, maybe half Pesce. Note: they say on the website that the pesce is only offered one Fridays but I have seen it numerous times when I wasn't there on the best day of the week. For instance in this case.

The Pesce Fritti is comprised of a crispy tilapia filet, with caper maionese, iceberg, tomatoes, onions, sharp provolone & hot sauce. It's basically an Italian take on a fried fish po' boy. And like everything Paesano's, it does just the trick. The fish is fried to a crispy exterior, with a flaky white interior, having no overtly fishy taste, but not fried to oblivion. The briny maionese mixes with the hot sauce to create a deliciously salty and savory coating. The sharp prov lends some teeth to the whole sandwich, while the vegetables provide a fresh crunch. I would take this over most po' boys any day.

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The Tuna Italiana is on a higher level than any other tuna sandwich you have ever eaten. A seeded hard roll over-filled with Italian-Style Tuna salad (olive oil based), green olives, spicy cheese spread, hard-cooked egg, roasted tomatoes, pepperincino, arugula and chips. This thing is ridiculous. First of all, the tuna is great on its own, but when you add all of the components, the sum is greater than its parts. I would have never thought that hard boiled egg and green olives would complement a tuna sandwich so well, together. The chips add the salty crunch, while the arugula gives this hoagie the much needed punch of peppery greens. This is THE tuna hoagie to beat in my opinion. If anyone knows of a better one in the city, I am all ears. Until then, I will gladly eat this sandwich whenever a hankering for tuna strikes.

Paesano's

I was back at Paesano's recently, and I have to say, they are still just as good. Even the Italian Market location is still terrific. I just wish they would carry regular soda (at least coke and diet coke), and I would truly be happy. I happen to like, no, NEED caffeine in my soda at lunch, or I will promptly fall asleep with a full stomach. Especially with all of that brisket as shown below in the self named "Paesano" in my gut. Combine tender brisket, roasted tomatos, sharp prov, horseradish mayo and a perfectly runny fried egg and you have gastro-intestinal distress to the max, yet your tastebuds will be dancing. Delicious.


The Tuscan Tony combines hotdog, beef bolognese, sharp prov, long hots and fried sopressata. Salty as hell, and quite delicious. This one is a real "once in a while" sandwich.


The potatoes are still crispy, salty, cheesy, and good. Some might say overkill, I might say perfection.



I had to follow this meal up with a trip to the secret "South Philly Pool" for a couple of thirst quenching beverages. Is it me or is this summer just brutally hot?

Paesano's Burger

Paesano's now has a burger on the menu at their Italian Market location. I had heard this was going to happen months ago, and was anxiously awaiting its arrival. Obviously I went for it as soon as I caught wind of its existence. Two flat grilled patties on a seeded long roll with caramelized onions, Gorgonzola dolle, bacon, and french fries (makes me miss Primanti's!) to round out the sandwich. As you can probably guess, this thing was incredible.





The patties have a nice crust (although they are well done) and is typical of everything I've known to love from Paesano's - there was so much flavor, with an abundance of diverse tastes happening simultaneously. The onions were rich, sweet and earthy, the gorgonzola was terribly rich and decadent, and the french fries were super tasty - not quite crispy, with a texture that complimented the other ingredients well. It was a great spin on burgers and fries, and I would certainly order this sandwich again. There was also a new turkey melt on the menu, which apparently has tuna mayo on it. I will have to investigate that one on a future visit, because there will be countless visits to come.


They have a great selection of sodas, I like the black cherry. And they have RC cola!


This is an awesome photo on the wall at Peasano's.

Look at the globs of cheese. It had a texture that made me think that there was mayo involved somehow. But upon inquiry I was told that it was just a really creamy type of Gorgonzola. SO good.

Italian market street-wear.

Paesano's Italian Market

9th and Christian

Well considering we have had the most snow on record this year, I felt it was the least Mother Nature could do to finally dump snow on a weekday and give us some time off. Well that wish came to fruition this week as we eclipsed the previous record, and there is (possibly) more on the way. So with a Thursday off, I decided to check out the new Paesano's in the Italian Market. I also was pleasantly surprised when my crazy neighbor shoveled my walk, the last 6 inches of snow or so, and with my energy reserves I decided to dig out my smoker. Two hours later, I had the back patio clear and was wrestling with the chimney to get that old thing lit for the first time since last fall. I finally got it lit and decided to walk to the Italian Market for some sort of pork. When I got there, I was hungry from all of the shoveling, and Paesano's was the first stop. I am happy to report, they kept the same menu, with a couple of new items, and it seems to be consistent with previous trips to the original location (amazing). I tried the Paesano and the Daddy Wad, two classics, and they were just as good as always. It helps that the same guy who has been recently running the kitchen at the original location was in the back. The inside of this place is large and nice, good atmosphere, and laid back service. I am in heaven.

(Grand opening, and about time!)

This is the Daddy Wad, a consistently delicious, and perfectly balanced classic Italian hoagie. As good as any you will get in the city. I guarantee it. It has Italian meats, sharp prov, sweet and hot peppers, arugula, tomato and onions, finished with oil and vinegar. Simple and perfect.

(Sandwich master)

Laid back interior (besides the women sitting next to me who were not thrilled with the guy taking pictures of everything)

And here it is. The granddaddy of all sandwiches. The best beef (non-cheesesteak) sandwich I have ever eaten. Quite possibly the best sandwich I have ever eaten. The egg yolk really coats all of the super tender and juicy brisket, while the horseradish mayo is to die for, and the creamy ricotta and roasted tomato just seal the deal. It is by no means a clean eating sandwich, but my word!, it packs an unparalleled flavor punch. Keep in mind that what you see is all egg yolk around the paper and roll. Rich, delicious, egg yolk. Paesano, you are my favorite sandwich in the city.